Dan Eernissee’s Top 10 Things That’ll Change Everett in 2020-2021

When I arrived at the Downtown Everett Association’s (DEA) annual meeting a few minutes late, Dan Eernissee, the City of Everett’s Economic Development Director, was already blasting through his list of the top things that changed Everett in 2019.

The new YMCA, more lenient food truck regulations, and the addition of commercial air at Paine Field were just a few.

Dan also went on to share his top 10 things in the works that will change Everett in 2020-2021.

10. Everett Station District Alliance- BIA

The Everett Station District has a group of folks focused on the future of the Everett Station area where the light rail station will eventually be built. They’re working on getting their own designated BIA (Business Improvement Area) to help address some of what Dan referred to as the on-street challenges in that area.

9. Everett Mall

Dan’s excited to see what’s going to happen with the Everett Mall within the next couple of years. A company out of California that specializes in repositioning these types of sites now owns the mall.

8. EPIC (Everett Point Industrial Center)

The City of Everett owns 65 acres on the far East end of Everett Avenue (East of the train tracks, along the river). A site that was once home to a Kimberly Clark mill. The City of Everett Public Works Department will be moving there. They only need 15 acres, which will leave 50 acres for other development and this will free up the old Public Works location on Cedar Street. The site will need a bridge to be built for access.

Future site of the Public Works Department // Google Maps

7. Boeing’s 737 MAX

Even though the 737 MAX is built in Renton, it will affect things here in Everett. Boeing performance has a significant impact on our Everett economy so we wish them success.

Read about Richard Porter’s Boeing Tour.

6. Angel of the “Women” arena.

Might as well give it a new name! The Seattle Storm are coming back. Cher’s coming to town as well as Camila Cabello. Serena Williams was here for the Fed Cup. Lots of good things happening at the arena.

5. Creative District

The BIA (Business Improvement Area, that is, the existing downtown BIA) is pursuing with the state, a “Creative District” designation of an area equal to the current downtown BIA. You can learn more about what a Creative District is and does here.

4. Sound Transit’s Light Rail opening in Northgate.

Everett commuters will discover the impact that light rail will have on the Northgate area. It will be a strong foreshadowing of what it’s going to be like when light rails makes it to Everett. This is also going to make commuting into Seattle easier for North-Enders.

3. CRA (Community Renewal Area)

In January, city council designated the area of the downtown BIA (Business Improvement Area) as the Community Renewal Area. However, specifics on the plan are not yet available, but there will likely be open houses coming up in the near future fleshing out the details.

2. Parking

“We’ll be making some tough choices related to parking... it’s my job to create parking problems,” Dan shared. Half-jokingly, half-serious.

After Dan finished his presentation, Kern McGee, a Civil Engineer who is the chair of the DEA’s Parking and Transportation Committee and a member of the City’s Parking Task Force, shared some updates about a parking study the city had conducted recently. The study found an additional parking garage wouldn’t be cost-effective, but that paid parking would generate at least $400,000/year in profits.

1. You

“You can actually make a difference in Everett,” Dan emphasized the opportunity any and everyone has to make a difference in our city.

So how about you? Are there any changes you would like to contribute to Everett in the coming years?

Thanks to Dan for sharing, and the DEA for holding the meeting. And to Cafe uu for providing food. Stay tuned for future DEA meetings by following their Facebook page. You can also learn more about the DEA on their website, or in our interview with them on the Live in Everett Podcast.

Garret is a business broker with KR Brokers, a business consultant, and co-founder/CEO of Live in Everett. He grew up in the North end of Snohomish County and lives in Everett’s Bayside neighborhood.

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