A recent unscientific survey asked people what downtown they would like Everett’s downtown to resemble as the city works on its downtown plan. Choices included Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and Vancouver, B.C.
The No. 1 response to that question was “other.” Thank goodness. Everett has its own history, charm and distinct downtown, which will continue to evolve into its own civic self, thank you very much.
Troubling is the No. 2 response to that question: Bellevue. Bellevue!? Oh, come on. Even if it was realistic, who wants it? Yes, downtown Bellevue is pretty and shiny and new. But that mall dominates the downtown. It may make for good retail shopping, but you don’t see too many people walking around downtown. Yes, there is a beautiful park next to that mall, but that’s only because the city could afford to demolish the old junior high school that sat there and replace it with a park. Bellevue is the kind of place that can be dissatisfied with a brand-new arts museum, gut it and start over.
Everett is not that kind of place, thank goodness. The historic buildings add so much to our downtown. Let’s start there. “Other” is not a bad thing. It’s us.
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