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Ownership and Land Use of Project Areas
<br /> The city of Everett began in 1992 to purchase and assemble the several parcels that make up the
<br /> Riverfront Development site. The riverfront area had, and has, multiple ownerships. The Burlington
<br /> Northern Santa Fe Railway has vacated rail lines, but retains ownership of new and existing railroad
<br /> rights-of-way as well as designated wetland mitigation sites. The Washington State Department of
<br /> Transportation has ownership of the recently installed water quality and detention ponds, located just
<br /> north of Lowell Riverfront Park, and Washington State Parks retains ownership of the Snohomish River
<br /> shore.
<br /> The Washington State Department of Ecology, responding to concerns about potential post-industrial
<br /> contaminants, designated two areas near the Simpson Pad as Restrictive Covenant areas. The larger
<br /> of the two areas encompasses most of Wetland D, between the Simpson Pad and the railroad tracks to
<br /> the west; the second is a small area just off the northwest corner of the pad, at the edge of Wetland C.
<br /> These restrictions make any proposed excavation subject to a careful testing and review process, a
<br /> qualifying procedure that effectively prohibits certain kinds of development within the Restrictive
<br /> Covenant boundaries.
<br /> On the bank of the Snohomish River, southeast of the Simpson Pad, is another area which has
<br /> inherent limitations. Archival aerial photographs show industrial structures in this area. The remnant
<br /> foundations of these lumber mill and shipping facility buildings exist below grade, their full extent and
<br /> exact locations unknown. Because construction activities in this area would be at risk of unanticipated
<br /> costs and delays due to the subgrade obstacles, the Public Amenities Master Plan proposes to leave
<br /> the area wholly undisturbed and fenced to restrict access by the public.
<br /> The site has significant economic and civic potential despite the constraints of multiple ownerships and
<br /> regulatory restrictions. In 2004 the city advertised a competitive Request for Qualifications, and the next
<br /> year awarded developer OliverMcMillan the contract to pursue design of a multi-acre mixed use project
<br /> consistent with the municipality's urban waterfront development goals.
<br /> The private developer, in keeping with the city vision, has proposed a mixed-use development of up to
<br /> 900,000 square feet of retail/office space and up to 200 residential units on the post-industrial, upland
<br /> portions of the assembled site. The developer has deeded back to the city the extensive abutting
<br /> wetland areas, along with easements for utilities, public streets, and river access. The private
<br /> developer's purchase agreement with the city includes the provision of 1.5 acres of public space, along
<br /> with integrated access to and from the public amenities elsewhere on the Riverfront Development site.
<br /> See the larger image following for ownerships and easements on the Riverfront Development site.
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<br /> Aerial phonograph of the site, circa 1938.
<br /> R iveriront Development Public amenities Vaster f=lan 9
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