This diagram from contractor Hoffman Construction shows key features of the major Snohomish County courthouse renovation set to begin in downtown Everett, at Wall Street and Wetmore Avenue, next month. (Hoffman Construction)

This diagram from contractor Hoffman Construction shows key features of the major Snohomish County courthouse renovation set to begin in downtown Everett, at Wall Street and Wetmore Avenue, next month. (Hoffman Construction)

Snohomish County courthouse construction starts next month

The project in downtown Everett will add a five-story wing, to be completed in 2020.

EVERETT — Get ready for the next big downtown construction project.

Work on a five-story addition to the Snohomish County courthouse is set to begin in earnest next month.

County officials have prepared a briefing for the Everett City Council. They plan to present it at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers — directly across Wetmore Avenue from the future construction.

The first major change is set for later this month. A ceremony is scheduled at noon July 27 to decommission the veterans memorial in the courthouse plaza. A new memorial, with an eternal flame and flags, eventually will be rebuilt between the current plaza and the amphitheater outside the county administration buildings.

Construction fencing is set to go up around the north side of the courthouse during the following week, on Aug. 1.

“We expect it to be up until the end of the project,” county spokesman Kent Patton said.

That probably means until some time in 2020. Renovation work on the adjoining 1967 courthouse is expected to continue for up to another year.

The fencing in front of the courthouse will take out all of the nose-in angle parking spaces along the south side of Wall Street, between Wetmore and Rockefeller avenues. A few spaces on the east side of Wetmore, near the intersection with Wall, also will wind up behind temporary fences.

There’s no expected effect on the bus stop on Wetmore.

Contractors are preparing to start breaking concrete and moving dirt in mid-August.

Until the new wing is finished, visitors will have to use a temporary public entrance between the courthouse and the historic mission building.

No official groundbreaking date has been set.

The project has a $72 million budget. That’s in addition to more than $12 million the county spent on plans to build a new courthouse at Rockefeller Avenue and Wall Street. Those plans were abandoned over parking and cost concerns.

The main feature of the renovation project is a five-story tower on the north side of the building with a security screening area, as well as modern elevators and restrooms.

Crews in March demolished two buildings on Rockefeller Avenue to make room for the work.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@herald net.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.

Meeting

The special meeting of the Everett City Council, which is being held outside of its normal Wednesday time slot, is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at 2930 Wetmore Ave.

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