The Herald asked a number of people who participated in the newspaper’s Waterfront Renaissance project for their thoughts six months later about the future of the area’s waterfronts.
Here’s what some of them had to say:
“The immediate need is for places where good people can enjoy citizen camaraderie – ball parks, boat launches and the restaurants and gift shops that follow, and kite flying or open places with toilets, parking and a welcome, safe, patrolled aura.”
– Craig Nuttal, Bothell
“Six months later, I still feel the same way – that the more diverse the waterfront areas become, the more it will benefit our community.”
– Tina Baxter, Everett
“I continue to have occasional hopes about how nice it would be to have a more vibrant and diversified waterfront with retail shops, dining and nice hotels or B&Bs. Sort of a smaller version of Seattle’s Pike Place Market and surrounding area, or La Conner’s picturesque waterfront with its antique shops and charming B&Bs.”
– Pete Guerin, Everett
“I think the current plans for the Mukilteo Landing project are not in the best interest of the citizens of Mukilteo or to current residents of Whidbey Island. The current plans call for entirely too much emphasis on public transportation, particularly the relocation of the ferry terminal and its 400-vehicle parking lot. This is simply not the best use of prime waterfront land.”
– Emory Cole, Mukilteo
“I still think that the waterfront project should first and foremost be a river/salmon restoration project. Salmon are a worldwide food source, and it is criminal to drive them to extinction for a few short-term bucks. As much land as possible should be restored to wetlands and estuary. The remainder of our publicly owned land should be planted with trees that will one day provide large woody debris for the river. However. I am under no delusion that anything of the sort will ever happen.”
– Bruce Tipton, Marysville
“I remain strong in my beliefs that this is one of Everett’s most important projects. Except for a few small parcels of land, the waterfront has not been considered people-friendly. It is important that the city continue to push hard on this project, and that the people find ways to integrate ideas and insights.”
– Lloyd Weller, Everett
“Everett is so fortunate to have so much valuable waterfront property that is not developed. How wonderful it would be to have open-air concerts in the summer with the setting sun slipping behind the Olympics and the stars slowly coming out. It would be as close to heavenly as is possible here.”
– Diana Routledge, Camano Island
“I have hoped that the requests six months ago were not a pipe dream, but a true hope to expand and create new activity areas in Everett. Another thought, watching New Year’s celebrations around the world, was it would be nice to have a place to celebrate, memorialize and gather. Everyone gathers around a monument or attraction (Space Needle, Waterfront Park, Pioneer Square in Portland). Especially after Sept. 11, it would be great if there was a place people could gather to welcome the sailors home or celebrate in the summer.”
– Tim Serban, Marysville
“A healthy community would be looking seriously at how best to invest in its natural assets, especially those that set it apart from potential competition such as our saltwater-freshwater- estuary shoreline. … The city of Everett and Port of Everett seem little interested in input other than from major property owners or prospective financiers of revenue-producing redevelopment (even regarding use of publicly owned shoreline – the one category that should most logically support other uses in the public interest).”
– Peggy Toepel, Everett
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