EVERETT -In an effort to save a block of historic homes in north Everett, neighbors are opening their kitchens and living rooms for public tours from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Residents hope that by showing off the insides of their “distinctive, sturdy, historical” cottages, they’ll save 20 such homes from demolition.
Providence Everett Medical Center, as part of its 20-year growth plan, has proposed tearing down more than a block of the historic district’s homes to build a parking lot.
Residents argue that losing the block would eliminate 25 percent of the historic Donovan district, which has a place on the Everett Historic Register. The district was named for a well-known real estate developer, Edward Donovan, who built the homes and others in the area between 1925 and 1931.
The Donovan district homes tour comes less than a week after a heated meeting between hospital officials and neighbors.
The clash between Donovan district neighbors and the hospital’s growth plans may persist; the matter will be discussed Nov. 10 at the Everett Historical Commission meeting.
Hospital officials had no comment about the homes tour.
When Donovan district residents attended Wednesday’s Everett City Council meeting to invite members to the homes tour, City Attorney Jim Iles advised council members not to go because they might one day have to make a decision on the homes.
Nevertheless, neighbors are banding together. They’ve purchased 50 “Save the Donovan District” yard signs, and have 25 more on order.
Homeowners will attend the Northwest Neighborhood Association meeting Tuesday night to recruit help with saving the homes.
Sunday’s tour will feature up to a dozen homes in the 1300 and 1400 block of Oakes and Lombard avenues. The homes open for tours will have balloons attached to yard signs.
“Look for the balloons,” said 29-year Lombard Avenue resident Nancy Hecht. “We want people to come into these houses and to see what a shame it would be to destroy the Donovan district.”
Her across-the-street neighbor of 25 years, Jeanne Wohl, wondered why anyone would think of tearing down livable urban homes in an age of commuters and suburban sprawl.
“In this day and age, you don’t tear down historic houses in anyone’s neighborhood for a flat-top parking lot,” Wohl said.
The houses proposed for demolition are in the block directly east of the hospital’s parking garage, between Rockefeller and Oakes avenues south of 13th Street.
The hospital owns and rents 20 of the 22 houses on the block.
Donovan homes are distinguishable by their gabled roofs, unique tile fireplaces, cove ceilings, arched doorways, breakfast nooks and full basements.
And the tight-knit residents are distinguishable by their zeal for their sturdy little cottages.
“We all know each other,” Hecht said, standing in her front yard and waving to a neighbor driving past. “And this has brought us even closer.”
Reporter Jennifer Warnick: 425-339-3429 or jwarnick@heraldnet.com.
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