Port of Everett

The Port of Everett was established on July 13, 1918, via a referendum of Everett citizens. The port was formed in hopes of luring a naval shipyard amid a maritime boom caused by World War I, which would end a few months later.{{cite web |last=Riddle |first=Margaret |date=May 4, 2010 |title=Port of Everett is created by a special election held on July 13, 1918. |url=https://historylink.org/File/9407 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=November 22, 2017}} The new port instead became a major lumber trader in the 1920s, owing to the dominant industry in Everett at the time. A major shipbuilder, the Everett-Pacific Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, operated from 1942 to 1949 as part of the national response to World War II, but did not remain in place after the end of the war. The port later became dependent on importing parts for Boeing's aircraft assembly business in Everett, which also required rebuilding of several terminal facilities.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=July 3, 2018 |title=By export value, Everett's 'quiet' port surpasses Seattle's |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/by-export-value-everetts-quiet-port-surpasses-seattles/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=April 12, 2020}}

The port sold {{convert|110|acre|ha}} to the U.S. Navy in 1987 for the creation of Naval Station Everett, a military installation that opened in 1991. The Port of Everett acquired the {{convert|58|acre|ha|adj=mid}} Kimberly-Clark mill site in 2019 with plans for a redeveloped office park and other uses.{{cite news |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=November 11, 2019 |title=Port hopes to ready Kimberly-Clark site for jobs by mid-2021 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/port-hopes-to-ready-kimberly-clark-site-for-jobs-by-mid-2021/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=April 12, 2020}}

A referendum to increase the size of the Port of Everett's boundaries to encompass the rest of Snohomish County—excluding the existing Port of Edmonds—was placed on the August 2024 ballot. The port commission proposed the expansion to enlarge its tax base and provide services to a wider area.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=December 20, 2023 |title=Should Port of Everett expand its boundaries? Voters to decide |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/should-port-of-everett-expand-its-boundaries-voters-to-decide/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=December 21, 2023}} The proposal received opposition from the Tulalip Tribes.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Expand the Port of Everett's boundaries? Voters must decide |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/expand-the-port-of-everetts-boundaries-voters-must-decide/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=July 25, 2024}}

The Port of Everett includes both a deep-water commercial seaport and a marina with over 2,300 slips, which is the largest public marina on the United States' West Coast.[https://www.portofeverett.com/home/index.asp?page=4 Port of Everett – Marina] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629215830/https://www.portofeverett.com/home/index.asp?page=4 |date=June 29, 2007 }}{{cite news |date=July 3, 2018 |title=Everett's economic anchor: Big ships, big marina, big impact |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/everetts-economic-anchor-big-ships-big-marina-big-impact/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 27, 2020}} Ambitious redevelopment began in 2006 to convert the north end of the waterfront into a community of maritime businesses, retail shops and condominiums, beginning with the Port of Everett's Port Gardner Wharf. In 2006, the seaport received 119 ships and 59 barges, totaling some 192,000 short tons of cargo.{{cite web |url=https://www.portofeverett.com/home/index.asp?page=167 |title=Port of Everett – Cargo Statistics |accessdate=February 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235529/https://www.portofeverett.com/home/index.asp?page=167 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} The port's renovated South Terminal was opened in April 2021, featuring a set of {{convert|214|ft|m|adj=mid}} cranes and a new dock.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Renovated Port of Everett terminal gets first cargo customer |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/renovated-port-of-everett-terminal-gets-first-cargo-customer/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=April 12, 2021}}

The port also operates a boat launch on 10th Street; it serves a ferry to Jetty Island, an artificial island that was originally constructed in 1895 to help create an easier navigating experience for commercial ships.{{cite news |last1=Benbow |first1=Mike |date=January 12, 2010 |title=$3 parking fee to be added at Everett boat launch |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/3-parking-fee-to-be-added-at-everett-boat-launch/ |access-date=April 14, 2021 |work=The Everett Herald}}{{cite news |last1=Schwarzen |first1=Christopher |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Everett's Treasured island |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/everetts-treasured-island/ |access-date=April 14, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}

The waterfront is also home to the Everett Yacht Club, which was founded in 1907, although it existed in some form as early as 1895.{{cite web |url=https://www.everettyachtclub.com/New_History_Page.html |title=Home – Everett Yacht Club |publisher= |access-date=July 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630003547/http://www.everettyachtclub.com/New_History_Page.html |archive-date=June 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }} During summer months, the marina is home to the Waterfront Concert Series, part of a citywide free concert series.{{cite web |url=https://www.everettwa.org/default.aspx?ID=1152 |title=Sunday Afternoon Waterfront Series in Everett |publisher= |accessdate=February 19, 2018}} Each September, Tenth Street Park on the waterfront is home to the annual Everett Coho Derby,{{cite web |url=https://www.everettcohoderby.com/ |title=Home |last=Administrator |publisher=}} while each August the marina promenade is gowned in local art during the Fresh Paint Festival of Artists.{{cite web |url=https://www.freshpaint.org/ |title=FRESH PAINT |publisher=}}

Residential apartments were first built at the port in 2021.{{cite news | last1=Podsada |first1=Janice |date=May 27, 2021 |title=A first for the Port of Everett: Housing on the waterfront |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/a-first-for-the-port-of-everett-housing-on-the-waterfront/ |work=The Daily Herald |accessdate = August 28, 2023 }} The Port added housing as part of a larger push towards neighborhood and commercial development.{{cite news | last1=Hendry |first1=Surya |date=June 28, 2023|title=Amid massive changes, Port of Everett to host open house| url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/amid-massive-changes-port-of-everett-to-host-open-house/ |work=The Daily Herald |accessdate=August 28, 2023}}

OceanGate, a private submersible manufacturer and operator, moved to the Port of Everett in 2015 and built several vessels at their Everett facility.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Andrea |last2=Podsada |first2=Janice |date=June 22, 2023 |title=OceanGate's neighbors, used to privacy, thrust into the spotlight |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/oceangates-neighbors-used-to-privacy-thrust-into-the-spotlight/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=June 22, 2023}} Following the destruction of their submersible Titan in June 2023 the company's offices were closed indefinitely.{{cite news |last=Rosenblatt |first=Lauren |date=June 22, 2023 |title=OceanGate office in Everett closed indefinitely following CEO death |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/oceangate-office-in-everett-closed-indefinitely-following-ceo-death/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 22, 2023}}

The Port of Everett has several redevelopment programs for {{convert|65|acre|ha}} of the waterfront, named districts, that have been underway since the 2010s; they aim to add mixed-use buildings and non-industrial businesses to the waterfront area.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Debra |date=June 17, 2012 |title=Port of Everett resumes waterfront development |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/port-of-everett-resumes-waterfront-development/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 12, 2024}} A 142-room hotel opened in late 2019 at Waterfront Place, the first portion of the redeveloped waterfront.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=October 2, 2019 |title=Area's largest waterfront hotel debuts with a splash |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/areas-largest-waterfront-hotel-debuts-with-a-splash/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 12, 2024}} It was followed by two apartment buildings with 249 units that opened in 2021 and a restaurant row opened in 2023.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=May 27, 2021 |title=A first for the Port of Everett: Housing on the waterfront |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/a-first-for-the-port-of-everett-housing-on-the-waterfront/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 12, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Haun |first=Riley |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Port of Everett reels in two new tenants for Restaurant Row |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/port-of-everett-reels-in-two-new-tenants-for-restaurant-row/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 12, 2024}} The second major area of the redevelopment, named the Millwright District, is scheduled to open beginning in 2026 once construction of new buildings and roads is completed. It is planned to have {{convert|40,000|sqft|sqm}} of retail space, office space, and 200 housing units.{{cite news |last=Hendry |first=Surya |date=August 3, 2023 |title=Housing, new roads coming to Everett waterfront's Millwright District |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/housing-new-roads-coming-to-everett-waterfronts-millwright-district/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 12, 2024}}

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{{Everett, Washington}}

{{Washington State port authorities}}

Category:1918 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Everett, Washington

Category:Government agencies established in 1918

Everett