The question of what to do with the Edmonds waterfront — and who should be the one to do it — has been a thorn in the city’s side for more than a year now.
On Aug. 5, that question rolls around again as the City Council is set to discuss whether it should play a larger role in the development process by buying the waterfront properties.
The council initially stepped back from the issue in 2006, but stepped forward again after council members were unhappy with the design brought forth by the Port of Edmonds, property owners and involved citizens.
Excluding Harbor Square, it could still cost tens of millions of dollars to purchase the Skippers or Antique Mall sites, not including the additional funds needed to actually develop the property.
The debate swirling around the waterfront raises more questions than answers: Is it worth spending taxpayer money to maintain Edmonds’ small-town feel and maintain a uniform look to the city’s downtown? Can private developers build it better — and faster — than a public entity? Would the site be better utilized as public or commercial space?
Much has already been said on both sides of the controversy, but we’ll throw in our two cents as well: With the inevitable belt-tightening facing local cities these days, Edmonds can’t afford to spend millions on a property purchase while removing those properties from the tax rolls and losing the potential revenue commercial businesses could bring in.
There are other projects around the city that need funding, such as the Fourth Avenue Arts Corridor, a new aquatic center and needed improvements to the city’s other parks and infrastructure. Tacking on an expensive property purchase only stretches city funds and staff further toward the breaking point.
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