By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Writer
EVERETT — A new citizens group is collecting signatures to file an initiative with the city that would prevent construction of a proposed hockey arena and special events center on Hewitt Avenue.
The leader of the initiative campaign said the group isn’t opposed to the city building a $75 million hockey arena in Everett. But the fast-track placement of the arena will force the destruction of buildings in a two-block section of historic Hewitt Avenue.
Initiative rules
The rules on filing an initiative with the city of Everett are:
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"If the city wants a hockey arena, they will have to prove to the citizens that we need one and can afford a hockey arena," campaign spokesman Michael Cox said. "The initiative process affords them every chance to do so, with the hard facts. The initiative process gives a voice to the citizens on this important project."
City leaders believe the construction of the hockey arena and special events center will bring jobs to the city at a time when the economy could use a boost, and they believe the project will help revitalize downtown. A public ice rink will be included in the center and is expected to be a big draw for the city.
The initiative wouldn’t prevent the city from building a hockey arena and events center. The initiative would, however, eliminate Hewitt Avenue as a site. To make the initiative valid, members of the political action group Citizens for a Better Arena need 2,829 signatures. Signature gathering began Thanksgiving Day. As of Monday, about 218 signatures had been collected.
The citizens group has set a Dec.20 deadline to reach their goal. Construction on the hockey arena and events center, which would seat 8,000 for hockey and 10,000 for trade shows and concerts, is tentatively scheduled to begin in March.
Greg McGoff, a member of the citizens group, said he was confident they would get the needed signatures.
"I’m not concerned, not at this point. It would be a concern Dec. 19, but not at this point," McGoff said. "I don’t think a slow start is indicative of anything."
Historic tour planned
The Everett Historical Commission will provide a tour of two sites on the Everett Register of Historical Properties at 4:15 p.m. today. The tour will cover the Moffat Building, 1908 and 1910 Hewitt Ave., and the Stovie’s Building, 1922 Hewitt Ave. Those taking the tour should wear flat shoes and meet in front of the buildings. The tour will occur before the Historical Commission is set to meet and take public testimony on whether to approve of waivers to demolish these two historic structures. That meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. For more information on the tour call Gary Doughty at 425-257-7132.
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Even city attorney Mark Soine said it was a "good time to collect signatures," because many people are out shopping. But Soine didn’t want to guess what the council might do should the initiative be validated.
"The city charter makes provisions for citizens to act in this way, and we’ll simply see how it all comes out," Soine said. "But the general feeling is within city government that this is a good project that will help the city of Everett and be good for the citizens and good for the folks in Snohomish County."
The citizens group will collect signatures without help from professional campaign sponsors. McGoff said he called initiative czar and Mukilteo watch salesman Tim Eyman to ask for advice, but Eyman gave McGoff the "bum’s rush."
"He was in a real hurry to get me off the phone," McGoff said.
McGoff said he became involved in the initiative campaign because of his interest in preserving historic structures. Coming from California, McGoff said he’s seen his share of historic buildings go down in the name of progress.
"This is an old game in a new package," McGoff said.
The city is in the process of buying properties within the two-block area of the proposed arena. Cox said the ultimate goal of the initiative campaign is to have the city stop spending millions just to demolish buildings and put that money back into the arena relocation.
"The city has never really asked the citizens if they want a $75 million hockey arena, or if they want to place the arena in a location which forces the destruction of historic buildings," Cox said. "Instead of hard facts, the citizens are given dancing sugarplum phrases akin to ‘no new taxes.’"
But one observer of this initiative process isn’t convinced the members who are canvassing for signatures are presenting both sides of the events center issue.
David Anderson, son of city council member Frank Anderson, attended a meeting this week held by the citizens group. He said before he went to the meeting his mind wasn’t made up on the events center. But now, Anderson says he won’t sign the petition.
"They’re saying the people on the council are mean, horrible people who just want to tear down historical buildings," Anderson said. "But the other side is there are no outlets for the traffic at the other site (on Cedar Avenue, and it’s terrible where they want it.
"The city council are good, honest people, even the ones I disagree with," Anderson said. "They care about the city."
You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097
or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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