By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Writer
EVERETT — Promoters for the Cruzin’ to Colby car show were ecstatic that the annual event brought 8,000 people downtown over the Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, only six people showed up at Club Broadway for a Sunday sock hop.
That saddens Club Broadway owner Allan Hemmat. He spent $500 on a band and more on food and labor to prepare his restaurant for the 100 people he expected for dinner.
"I lost my shirt," Hemmat said Tuesday. "Nobody showed up."
That’s why Hemmat and other downtown business owners are asking why they have to be "double-taxed" to pay for marketing to promote downtown Everett when that money never seems to do what it’s supposed to: bring more people downtown.
Hemmat and 32 other members have signed a petition to eliminate the Downtown Everett Association, a nonprofit group whose mission is to promote downtown by using tax proceeds collected from the membership.
That money helped the association accumulate about $140,000 in reserves to date, said Ted Trepanier, a member who is spearheading the petition drive. At least $60,000 is earmarked for a collaborative project with the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce to promote downtown and to create an Everett Sports Council to help market sporting events at the new sports arena.
Lanie McMullin, the city’s executive administrator for economic development, said the project will promote downtown activities and encourage tourists to stay overnight.
"It’s just the beginning to grow these off-season tourist events, and then people perceive there’s activity downtown," McMullin said.
Chamber President Louise Stanton-Masten said the marketing effort for downtown benefits everyone who owns property.
Stanton-Masten also said she spoke with businesses that saw lots of traffic because of the Cruzin’ to Colby event.
"Ultimately, this effort will increase property values for anyone who owns property in the downtown," she said.
But those in favor of disbanding the Downtown Everett Association and abolishing the Business Improvement Area — which allows property owners to tax themselves for the marketing effort — say they pay double. In addition to the property taxes, they also pay annual dues based on the front footage of their stores.
Hemmat, for example, pays $26,000 a year in basic property taxes and an additional $6,000 in association assessments.
"The mission of the DEA is confused now," said Trepanier, who hopes to collect signatures from at least 80 percent of the membership over the next few months.
When Trepanier presented a copy of the petition last week, Everett City Council member Arlan Hatloe asked how the downtown can promote itself without an organization like the Downtown Everett Association.
"That will just create the opposite effect — a loss of business," said Hatloe, a businessman and the immediate past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.
Association board member and Cascade Bank Chairman Frank McCord said the organization is necessary.
"You’ve got to spend those marketing dollars," McCord said. "Nobody likes to pay taxes, but this is a really good investment."
You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097 or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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