By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Writer
EVERETT — Hewitt Avenue is about to undergo a facelift, and the city wants residents to view the before and after.
Artists’ renditions of Hewitt’s future look, along with historic and landscaping displays, will be showcased during an open house today at the Everett Senior Center.
Hewitt Avenue’s new look will follow an extensive $10.5 million project involving sewer and water line replacement and underground utility replacement between the seven-block area of Rucker Avenue and Broadway. The project is scheduled to begin in the spring and last until fall 2002.
Because the project’s design is yet to be complete — it’s 60 percent done — the time is now for the city to hear comments and concerns from the public, said Marla Carter, public works information officer.
| Open house
The City of Everett Public Works Department is holding an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Everett Senior Center, 3025 Lombard Ave. The public is invited to view and comment on the preliminary design of Hewitt Avenue’s street improvement project.
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"There’s still time to make adjustments," Carter said. "If there are any major concerns that we’re overlooking, we can build them into the project as opposed to waiting until it’s too late."
In addition to what’s going to take place underground, major street and sidewalk improvements are also on tap. The trees along the median of Hewitt will be replaced with more column-shaped trees — a red sunset variety of Maple — that won’t block business signs from potential customers, Carter said. And Raywood Ash trees will be planted along the sidewalk.
Other touches include period light poles to match those along Colby Avenue with clocks and brass street names embedded into the concrete on the street corners, Carter said.
At the open house, the public can mill around separate display stations and learn about various aspects of the project.
And those who use Hewitt as a major east-west commute corridor or who own businesses along the avenue can also learn about how the project will affect them.
The initial plan calls for Hewitt to remain open to one-lane traffic throughout the project. The project is also being planned in sections to continue to allow public access to businesses, Carter said.
"It will be messy, but the goal is to keep it open and accessible and really make it nice," Carter said.
You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097
or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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