Everett took a crucial step in its downtown revitalization efforts last Wednesday when the city council rejected an initiative attempt to block a planned events center. Now it’s time to go ahead with the project.
Attempts to move the project off the Hewitt Avenue site via the initiative, thereby killing it, were late at best and fraught with other legal problems. Although legal questions are still being argued, precedent suggests the outcome will favor the center at its selected location.
For some, the sight of fencing going up around the two-block radius this week will be upsetting. For others, it will signify the positive change theyhave been waiting so long to see. Argue the question of how many warm seats each hockey game will bring all you want. But the fact remains that nothing else thus far has promised so much business, hospitality, retail and entertainment potential for Everett in a long time. Not to mention the possibility of restoring the many other older structures in Everett that would otherwise likely continue to fall into disrepair. Watching the three historic buildings on the Hewitt site come down will be difficult for everyone — no matter what side of the issue people are on.
The city council’s unanimous decision that the initiative was not only way too late, but invalid, was a wise one. We’re fortunate to have a council that can make the decisions voters elect it to make rather than dumping issues back in their laps. Voters knew what they were doing when they elected the current council and mayor last fall.
All along, the city has been open about the project and the Public Facilities District has sought and incorporated public input — up until the very last minute, regarding architectural design and a city museum. And a recent analysis by a Herald reporter shows that the district is doing its job in negotiating solid legal contracts that will ensure things are done right the first time. Don Hale, the district’s executive director, is smoothing out the finishing touches but his hectic schedule probably won’t let up for a while since the event center has to be up and running by September 2003.
"We can’t miss a day," Hale said. "We’ve been working really hard to make sure we stay on track … It really is here."
With this administration, the phrase "on time and on budget" is becoming almost commonplace thanks to its record on projects such as the Pacific Overpass and the Everett Station. But it’s exactly what we should and do expect from Everett’s leaders. So let’s get on with it.
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