Local projects will help heal hurting economy

Everyone, even the president, is telling us to get back to our normal routines after the Sept. 11 attacks. Most of us are still trying to figure out what normal is, especially following announcements of major layoffs at Boeing. In one week the entire country witnessed the domino effect a catastrophic event on one coast can have on the opposite coast and around the world.

No matter how unsettling and uncertain the news is, we must do all we can to keep our economy going. We think now is not the time to stop work on local projects that showed such promise just two weeks earlier.

Word that Everett city council members and officials are re-examining the financial viability of a new arena for hockey and entertainment purposes was at first discouraging, but certainly understandable. Our leaders are responsible for making sure our money is wisely spent. That they are examining the project in light of the impending job cuts shows prudence and accountability. There is still much reason to hope the project will proceed and, as councilman Ron Gipson said, the construction of the arena will create jobs. Jobs that perhaps could tide some families over until the economy and the airline industry get back on their feet.

Another major project still in the works is the Port of Everett’s exciting marina development plan that will give the area a facelift — make that a new identity.

Just back from a trip to Japan, Port Executive Director John Mohr said it’s tough to say for certain what impact the Boeing news will have on the marina project, but it’s going forward as planned. In fact, this is one time the permitting process might be a real blessing. The port is anywhere from 18 months to two years from breaking ground on the project and at least three years from having a final product. By that time the market should be in good shape, Mohr said.

"We think we’ve got a good plan," he said. "It’s not a matter of if, but when."

The private-public partnership project features a "craftsman district" where work on boats will occur, areas for office space, restaurants, a hotel, a public market and even a residential neighborhood. And, in keeping with public requests, planners included plenty of local access for walking and biking. Talk of amphitheater is still in the works. And the design promises more facilities to support bigger boats, too.

The diversity of the plan to accommodate the community, trades people and boat owners, shows that port officials were listening to people in the area who expressed concerns.

To fail to go forward with such projects would only encourage the economic domino effect. It would suggest we don’t believe our economy will rebound. And that’s something we can’t afford.

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