There’s a lot of love in that building

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

EVERETT — Jerry Kunkle doesn’t really consider himself much of a political activist.

But this time he’s making an exception.

Kunkle, a leading member of the Ancient Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Everett, said Thursday that he would personally mail every one of the fraternity’s 504 members a petition so voters across the city get the chance to sign up and block construction of a sports arena on Hewitt Avenue.

"There’s a lot of love in that building and I want to see it remain and the area maintained as a historical area," Kunkle said.

On Wednesday, Everett City Council members voted 6 to 1 to demolish the 91-year-old Scottish Rite Temple on Oakes Avenue where members have gathered since 1922. The temple and other historic structures, including two on the city’s register of historic places, are set to be cleared away for a $75 million arena for hockey, concerts and trade shows.

The arena, paid for largely by a state-mandated sales tax rebate, is expected to revitalize downtown Everett and provide local entertainment with 8,000 seats for hockey and 10,000 seats for concerts.

But the project also has crystallized passions, as those who favor historic preservation are pitted against those who see the new project as an improvement on the old.

Those in favor of preserving history want the project moved off Hewitt Avenue. They have started a petition drive to get an initiative on the March ballot that, if passed, would eliminate Hewitt Avenue as a site for the project.

The group, Citizens for a Better Arena, has so far collected 1,500 signatures and they need 2,829. They have set a Dec. 20 deadline to reach their goal.

"I’d like to present the council with 10,000 signatures," group spokesman Michael Cox said Thursday.

Everett city attorney Mark Soine couldn’t say with certainty whether the initiative, if validated, would stall the project.

"We will evaluate the set of facts when we receive the petition on the 20th," Soine said Thursday.

In addition to the initiative drive, opponents of the arena’s location also are considering an appeal of the council’s decision. Under state law, an appeal can be filed through the Land Use Petition Act, otherwise known as LUPA. The appeal would be heard in Snohomish County Superior Court.

"We’re investigating the possibilities of such an action and balancing that against what’s best for historic preservation in this community," said David Blacker, chairman of the Everett Historical Commission.

The city and public facilities district board had asked the commission for a waiver to demolish the two structures listed on the historic register that are in the way of the project, the Moffat Building and Stovie’s Stove Shop, both on Hewitt. But the commission recommended that the buildings be saved.

With almost no discussion after listening to nearly seven hours of passionate testimony, the council Wednesday decided to reject the commission’s recommendation and continue with demolition.

"The lack of discussion surprised me because I expected more in appearance of fairness from the council," Blacker said.

In proceeding with demolition, the council also decided not to accept a proposal from the public facilities district that the project be moved 20 feet out of the way of the Scottish Rite Temple so that building could remain standing. Nor did the council accept the idea of combining the facades of the Moffat Building and Stovie’s Stove Shop into the final design of the arena, which resembles a ship with masts jutting from the roof.

Those alterations to the design would have cost about $2.1 million.

Councilman Doug Campbell said Thursday that part of the council’s concern about altering the design was the cost. But Campbell said moving the project would have also meant less room on Hewitt. Currently, the design calls for a 50-foot plaza on Hewitt and moving the arena would have reduced that to 30 feet.

"We want to build a quality project and we don’t want to end up piecing something together and it ending up costing us in the end," Campbell said. "I hope this project comes off as one of the best things Everett has seen and I want everybody to have a good positive feeling."

Public facilities board Chairman Earl Dutton agreed. He is an Everett native and still gets nostalgic about losing part of history but believes this is best for the city.

"This is just a whole lot like a patch of fruit trees," Dutton said. "Sometimes you’ve got to thin the crop to keep it alive. If we keep every old building, we’ll let the town die."

But Larry Cort, who testified in favor of preserving the Hewitt corridor as a member of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, was disappointed with the council’s decision.

"It’s the first time we’ve seen an applicant offer something in the way of mitigation and then to have a legislative body turn it down," said Cort, adding that his organization would support a legal challenge to the council’s decision.

Soine said testimony and written material support the city’s decision.

"From a legal point, the council’s actions are fully supportable and defensible."

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097

or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.