Everett waterfront project in limbo, but Port says improvements for boaters remain a priority
The Port Gardner Wharf project, which would add up to 660 condos and townhouses on Everett's waterfront, is on hold.
It’s an ambitious project intended to serve boaters, reconnect Everett residents with the city’s waterfront and transform a former industrial area into a vibrant new neighborhood destination.
The $400 million Port Gardner Wharf project calls for a mix of condos, townhouses, office space, shops, restaurants, inns, a marine-related “Craftsmen District” and a network of walkways and other amenities in the city’s north marina area.
But what was set to become a waterfront jewel is now in limbo, after the project’s developer, Everett Maritime, filed for bankruptcy in late May. The move followed numerous delays and unsuccessful efforts by the developer to secure financing after Merrill Lynch Capital withdrew its funding for the project in late 2007.
“A project that began in the good times drifted its way into the poorer times,” Port Commissioner Connie Niva said. “It couldn’t have been a worse time.”
Everett Maritime, a subsidiary of Maritime Trust Company, has worked with the Port of Everett since 2000 in an effort to revitalize the north marina area. The Port Gardner Wharf development is slated for construction on a 65-acre site between 10th and 15th streets and West Marine Drive.
But in early May, the Port served the developer with notice for failing to make a $1.1 million payment. Everett Maritime had 30 days to come up with the funds but instead filed for bankruptcy.
The Port’s Executive Director, John Mohr, said that while the project is stalled, the Port has made substantial improvements that benefit boaters and will continue to do so. Those include constructing the 12th Street Yacht Basin, a new marina that opened in 2007 to accommodate larger boats.
A first phase of improvements to the existing southeast marina was finished in mid-June and included rebuilding slips, installing a gangway to accommodate people with disabilities, removing creosote pilings and upgrading mechanical and electrical systems. The next phase will add extra flotation to docks, replace roofs and provide additional electrical upgrades.
Other completed improvements include a new boatlift and a boatyard with a water system that collects, treats and diverts runoff to prevent it from flowing into Puget Sound.
Room with a view: the Port Gardner Wharf site features breathtaking vistas of the Olympic Mountains.
The Craftsmen District now houses the Port’s newly constructed operations center, along with anchor tenant Bayside Marine’s new custom-built retail store, service shop and indoor boat storage facility. In fall, the Port expects to start renovations on the old Marine Sales & Repair Center building, with the view of consolidating nearby boat service businesses in the Craftsmen District.
Mohr said taking care of boaters’ needs remains a top priority. Port Gardner Wharf was planned to ensure there would be adequate space for marina parking, boat repair and haul-out facilities and other marine businesses, he said.
“I think people look at Port Gardner and say, ‘Oh my god, they’re throwing out all these boat repair people and they’re putting in high-end condominiums.’ We know that we need to be able to take care of our boaters. It’s been a key issue since the beginning.”
It remains to be seen whether Everett Maritime will survive and build the Port Gardner Wharf project, or whether the Port will have to look for another partner. Mohr said the delay has created some advantages—the Port has completed about $7 million of environmental clean-up work on the site and was able to save costs and do a thorough job without being squeezed by deadlines, he said.
The Port Gardner Wharf project is not a matter of if, but when, Mohr believes.
“I don’t think we’ve lost anything other than time on this,” he said. “The development will eventually take place. It’s just not on the timeline we originally envisioned.”
Niva agrees. “We have a wonderful piece of property. It’s almost totally cleaned up and it’s permitted, which in this day and age is an unusual thing,” she said.
“I have no doubt that there will be someone coming forward who is able to get financing, whether it’s (Everett) Maritime or not, and proceed with this project. It’s a great project.”
Most all of the businessse that left the marina area were not marina supprt businesses. The compnanies that were moved included American Construction, a marine construction company, Puget Sound Truck Lines, American Boiler Works, a design and manufacturing company primarily serving aerospace and other industrial companies, and Everett Engineering, a custom machining and metal fabrication company. The industrial buildings that they occupied have either been torn down or will be torn down to do environmental clean up. To date the Port of Everett has done over 7 million dollars of environmental clean up in the North Marina/Port Gardner Wharf area. During that same time the Port has spent over sixty million dollars on projects that are specifically for the marina, including the new 12th Street Yacht basin, 14th St. Bulk head a new 75 ton Travel lift and Travel lift dock and the only zero discharge boat yard on Puget Sound.
[...] Bach has the story at Three Sheets Northwest: It’s an ambitious project intended to serve boaters, reconnect [...]
My wife and I were just talking about this the other day, wondering what ever happened to it. It’s a shame the businesses on the wharf were forced out for what may look like nothing but another failed venture.