EVERETT – Work on two high-rise condos and a new shopping and office center on the north shore of Silver Lake was supposed to start last spring.
That was before the Seattle architect leading the development decided to go back to the drawing board, after the city’s engineering department rejected an application for a construction permit in March.
The city wanted several technical details in the plan revised.
Instead of making those changes, the developer decided to revise the entire plan.
Alan Clark, head of Arca Architecture Planning and Urban Design, added more retail space, another half-floor of underground parking, and hopes to bump up the building heights.
The city agreed with the changes and forwarded the file to the state Department of Ecology, which issued a new shoreline permit this month.
Now it appears the project is back on track and moving forward. If the permit isn’t appealed by Oct. 3, the project will move into a detailed plan review process with the city.
Construction could start as early as spring.
Clark has not returned several calls seeking comment on the project.
The development, called Silver Lake Center, calls for two eight-story condominium towers, retail and office space, 21/2 floors of underground parking with more than 1,100 parking spaces, and landscaping dotted with fountains and pools, according to plans submitted to the city.
At 114 feet tall, the project’s twin towers are comparable to the city’s black box Wall Street Building on Wetmore Avenue in downtown Everett.
More than 200 condo units are planned for the property.
The development would ultimately stretch south from 110th Street SE to Highway 527, which borders Silver Lake, and from Highway 527 on the west to Romio’s Restaurant and the edge of an apartment complex.
Earlier this summer contractors cleared trees and began grading.
Gerry Ervine, Everett’s land-use manager, said permits will have to be issued before more significant work is done.
A stream will have to be relocated first. The Safeway supermarket on 19th Avenue SE will also have to be torn down and rebuilt northeast of where it sits now.
Dorthy Vandeventer, with the Silver Lake Action Committee, said the state’s $20 million widening project on Highway 527, which was completed this summer, will likely jump-start the project.
The road, also known as Bothell-Everett Highway, straddles two sides of Clark’s property.
“If what he builds is comparable to what is shown, it will be a quality project,” Vandeventer said.
Silver Lake Center has similarities to two other mixed-use developments under design or construction in Everett.
A project along the Snohomish River, east of downtown, and the North Marina project also plan to incorporate retail, office and high-density residential developments.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.
