2023 Annual Report
2023 was a transformative year for the Everett Station District.
Keeping our neighborhood clean, safe, and hospitable is our top priority. With the launch of our neighborhood services program — funded by the ratepayers of the newly created business improvement area (BIA) — in June, we contracted for neighborhood ambassadors who walk and bike our neighborhood, helping people in need by providing them directions to social services as well anti-overdose medication, picking up litter, locating graffiti, reporting improperly parked vehicles, and working closely with businesses and the police. Each night, a security officer patrols the neighborhood in vehicle, reporting any potentially criminal behavior and property damage to ESDA and the Everett Police Department.
We also have a keen eye on the future as we look to strengthen our neighborhood assets of good-paying industrial and related commercial jobs and business activity while growing gracefully to accommodate our share of the city’s and region’s employment and residential growth as a current and future high-capacity transit center. Here’s the major community development happening now:
This winter the City of Everett is improving the walking, biking, and accessibility connections between Everett Station and the Arena.
Everett Gospel Mission doubled the capacity of its Palisades Village shelters.
Kaiser Permanente is expanding its medical facility by 165,000 sf for outpatient services. In addition, Compass Health is adding a 72,000 sf intensive behavioral health facility that will serve 1,300 people each year. Both are set to open in 2025.
The AquaSox need an upgraded stadium under construction within the next couple years.
The target year for light rail arriving to Everett Station is now just 13 years away. Sound Transit has narrowed the potential station locations down to three.
To build neighborhood consensus for our neighborhood’s future, we established the Convergence Collaborative in 2022. Convergence a partnership between businesses, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community members to foster the development of the neighborhood as a prosperous, sustainable, and equitable community. During 2023, we focused on building a neighborhood workforce development program, which will bear fruit in 2024.
You also undoubtedly saw a major visual change to the neighborhood. Four murals were installed on Community Paint Day in June, sparking colorful joy as you walk under the Pacific Ave bridge. One of the murals also won a national award. The Yard at Everett Station, the conversion of 32nd Street between Smith and Paine Avenues into a park, provided much needed green space that we activated with Town Hall Day, weekly farmers markets, and a weekly food truck and music performance. When not activated, people regularly ate their lunches, held business meetings, or simply relaxed on the picnic tables and FieldTurf grass.
Although not flashy, our biggest improvements were operational. Our budget grew, we added a second employee, and the Board adopted 5-year strategic objectives and financial policies.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our board members and the support of and partnerships with the City of Everett, Kaiser Permanente, and BECU. To them — and to you — we give our greatest gratitude.