EVERETT – Usually, few items on Everett City Council agendas are as routine as a request to close part of a street for a festival or parade.
But faced with opposition from three downtown business owners Wednesday, the council delayed action yet again on a proposal to close Colby Avenue between Everett and Pacific avenues for the Snohomish Artist Guild’s second annual Pop &Arts Street Festival Sept. 10-12.
The council, which hopes to discuss the matter again next week, tabled a similar motion two weeks ago.
Judy Matheson, owner of J. Matheson Gifts, said last year’s festival cut her Saturday business in half, and she feared the same thing would happen this year.
“We want festivals,” Councilwoman Brenda Stonecipher said. “But we don’t want to do it on the backs of the retailers who are here all year round.”
But Joel Starr, owner of the Flying Pig Brewing Co., said the festival brings more customers into restaurants and barssuch as his.
Cliff Verhoeff, director of the Snohomish Artist Guild, said he would be happy to move the festival next year to Wetmore Avenue, where there are fewer businesses. But he said he’s already told vendors the festival will be on Colby.
Pop &Arts wasn’t the only event that caused controversy.
Dale Preboski said Sunday’s fifth annual Cruzin’ to Colby, an antique-car cruise, would hurt business at the Beyond the Blue bridal shop she owns at Hewitt and Wetmore avenues.
Organizers of the 3 p.m. event agreed to delay the street closure from noon to 2:30 p.m. this year and to 4 p.m. next year. But Preboski said, “For a retail business, that’s a poor compromise. I know we’ll lose business.”
On the other hand, Walt Blush, owner of the Horseshoe Saloon, 1805 Hewitt Ave., said he welcomed Cruzin’ to Colby and expected it to bring in customers Sunday, a day when his restaurant and bar is normally closed.
Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com.
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