Everett is Evolving

Here is an editorial that was published in the Seattle Times this week about Everett's growth:

Snohomish County opinion
Everett: proud and poised
By Ray Stephanson, Mayor of Everett

Everett received some very positive attention recently when it was recognized for officially passing the 100,000 population mark. Growing from 97,500 to 101,100 is nice, but more illustrative than population numbers is the fact that Everett has changed dramatically along the way. I suppose you could say we are now the "City of Everett," with a capital C. This is home to the Everett Events Center, the Everett Silvertips and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. We are home to young and old, American-born and foreign-born, working and nonworking, content and malcontent.

With all our differences, we have many similarities. Signs of an improving quality of life in Everett are everywhere. People are working, buying homes and spending their money.
Our mindset is changing in Everett right along with our familiar skyline. We're working to assure that both are changing for the better.

Pride is a good part of what's happening here. In Everett, we don't have one minor-league sports team — we have three: the Everett AquaSox in baseball, Silvertips in hockey, and Everett Hawks in football. We don't play host to just a few interesting concerts. We hear Dolly Parton and Rod Stewart, Santana and Bette Midler, Cher and Martina McBride!

You want interaction? Come dance with us to a salsa band on the waterfront pier, or experience the Nubian Jam in Forest Park. Music lovers can hear the Everett Symphony perform in New York's Carnegie Hall or here at home in the Everett Civic Auditorium. Children are delighted by the nationally acclaimed productions of Disney on Ice, and fascinated by our homegrown Imagine Children's Museum.

The sights and sounds of Everett are both natural and well-orchestrated. Everett is blessed with beautiful Port Gardner Bay. It's here we host the West Coast's second-largest marina, warm saltwater beaches of Jetty Island, restaurants, shops and walking paths sharing the waterfront with Naval Station Everett and international shipping.

Our waterfront affects all our lives. Consider the Port of Everett's $300 million Port Gardner Wharf development. This project will set the standard for mixed-use development within the city, with public open spaces, new parks and gathering spaces.

Everett's own riverfront property, 96 gorgeous acres along the Snohomish River, is under serious consideration by a national development company. Another freshwater jewel, Silver Lake in south Everett, is an urban oasis with new boulevard access, shoreside walking paths and park improvements.

Innovation is crucial to a thriving community. Today, Everett has an ambitious downtown redevelopment plan that envisions new buildings along the Colby Avenue Ridge that could rise above 300 feet — double the height of downtown's tallest buildings. Following environmentally friendly building standards could qualify projects for height bonuses.

Of course, Everett does not have the luxury of attending to just one front at a time. With the Arts Council of Snohomish County, we partner on Artspace, an artists' live-work space and community arts-education center project; our downtown sculpture walk and art shows invigorate the downtown community and draw new visitors to Everett; and we are one of only four cities in the state with a thriving professional theater company.

This is not the Everett our residents and visitors have known in the past. The Boeing Dreamliner project has captured the attention and admiration of the world. Providence Everett Medical Center is a regional hospital that attracts patients from far afield, while providing first-class medical care to Everett residents. Everett Mall has expanded with national name stores and theater complex. Long awaited Interstate 5 improvements will greatly reduce North Sound congestion. The classy Everett Station serves rail and transit users from throughout the region.

It's imperative that we continue to look ahead. Local community leaders are deeply committed to expanding education opportunities for students, families and employers with a four-year regional university. We are working to enhance the city's quality of life in profound and meaningful ways.

The incredible range of issues that challenge and inspire a city keep us all energized. We hope residents and visitors to our city will continue to see more successes in Everett in the months and years ahead. There is much to do and, happily, there are many people throughout our community who care to see it accomplished well.