ESDA’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan
Mission
Bring together businesses, property owners, residents, and other stakeholders to creatively solve problems, manage change, and plan for a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous Everett Station District neighborhood.
Vision
The Everett Station District neighborhood will be a vital economic engine for the region; a major regional transit hub; a home for industry and residents; a great place to live, work, and play; and a model for how natural systems can flourish in an urban context, supporting human health and resilience.
Vision for 2037
What the Everett Station District Will Look Like in 2037. As the northern terminus of the Sound Transit light rail system, the District will be a community with thousands of homes and jobs, connected by walkable streets, parks, and public plazas. The District will support entrepreneurism, jobs, and social services to enable opportunities for all. Nature will be integrated throughout the district, for example, through the use of tree canopy, rain gardens, and native plants.
Leverage Property to Create Civic Value. North of 33rd Street, a public-private partnership (PPP) will proactively redevelop publicly-owned land and coordinate with private owners to redevelop underutilized properties, in fulfillment of the neighborhood vision for housing, jobs, and public spaces. This development will spur progress towards key local and regional policy goals, including economic opportunity, housing affordability, access to healthy food options, social equity, and climate action. In particular, ESDA envisions the following PPP developments:
The area between Everett Station and the Angel of the Winds Arena will become a mixed-use, mixed-income community, serving as an attractive hub where people gather, live, work, commute, and network.
The Everett Station West Lot A P&R and parcels immediately north of 32nd Street will transform into a mixed-use, mixed-income complex with small storefronts for restaurants and retail businesses and shared office space for nonprofit organizations.
The area of the current Everett Public Works Cedar Street Campus will incubate new light industrial businesses, and be complemented with workforce training and higher education programs.
Maximize Economic Opportunity. The neighborhood will contribute its share toward the regional goal of 75% of the region’s employment growth occurring within a walking distance of high-capacity transit and in regional growth centers. New development will benefit employees and residents who live and work in the neighborhood. Jobs and training programs for youth and adults, child programs, and amenities will create a vibrant ambiance, supporting the success of businesses and housing programs.
Stimulate and Support Entrepreneurship. A mix of business uses, including light industrial uses and related commercial activities, will continue to be supported through land use policy and transportation infrastructure. Businesses will thrive during and after the construction of the Everett Link Extension. New light industrial and retail business will be incubated by creating adaptive makers spaces; the makers spaces will be subsidized and sized with smaller footprints to ensure affordability for entrepreneurs from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Enable Housing Choice. The neighborhood will contribute its share toward the regional goal of 65% of the region’s population growth occurring within a walking distance of high-capacity transit and in regional growth centers. Residential options will be available for all economic sectors including market rate and affordable housing located adjacent to transit. A balance of rental and home ownership opportunities will enable residential flexibility, pathways to building wealth, and neighborhood pride. Live-work opportunities will enhance economic well-being.
Build Great Streetscapes & Public Spaces. Attractive, walkable streetscapes with trees, pedestrian lighting, and little vehicular traffic will be lined with ground floor eateries, retail shops, other businesses, live-work units, townhomes, and service programs. From Broadway to Smith Avenue, 32nd Street will be a pedestrianized public plaza, creating a neighborhood town square where people gather, relax, eat outside, and hold community events.
Achieve Climate Action Goals. The greening of the neighborhood will include pocket parks, increased tree canopy, rain gardens, community solar programs, and car trip reduction programs. A strategic plan to achieve the City of Everett’s Climate Action Plan and address air pollution will guide development.
Enhance Mobility. The neighborhood will prioritize walking, biking, shared micromobility, and zero-emission transit over cars and parking to create a vibrant urban lifestyle without the need for a private vehicle. Transit and bikeway networks will provide easy access to areas beyond the neighborhood.
Minimize Light Rail Disruption and Maximize Transit-Oriented Development. By using existing public right-of-way for the light rail guideway, disruption to existing businesses and the loss of developable parcels will be minimized. The light rail station will be located and sized to maximize residential and commercial development adjacent to the site and to support an integrated grid-based bus network.
Complete Light Rail by 2037. Civic leaders will ensure completion of the light rail to the neighborhood by 2037 through a combination of securing the necessary funding, minimizing costs by using public right-of-way, reducing permit costs and delays, and other necessary measures.
Create an Equitable Neighborhood. The neighborhood will be a place where all individuals and families can thrive. Development will be inclusive, community-driven, and responsive to the needs and aspirations of all community members, including the most vulnerable.
Values
Social equity. We embrace diversity, promote equity, and invite inclusion of all economic and social sectors of our community.
Collaboration. We achieve more by working together.
Industry. We value the business activities for creating and selling products which are the neighborhood’s heritage and will continue into the future.
Community. We believe in the character and diversity of both people and place are critical to creating a great neighborhood.
Growth. We embrace change, encourage new business and residents in our neighborhood, and seek to shape it for future prosperity.
Respect. We respect the opinions of all stakeholders and recognize the importance of property rights.
Environment. We believe a healthy environment is crucial to human well-being and prosperous businesses in the long-run.
Transparency. We engage in clear, robust, and timely communication to establish a bedrock of trust and confidence.
Consensus building. We work toward consensus among stakeholders to generate support for the long-term success of the neighborhood
Principles for Equitable Development
Our efforts aim to transform ideas of equity in community planning, policy development, and resource allocation. The compounding effects of historic social injustices are challenges we must address together, particularly with those facing poverty, communities of colors, and all other historically marginalized populations. As an allied community, we can begin to create generational power and wealth — a future where everyone’s contribution matters and people can take ownership of what they make.
Center Community: Actively engage the local community in decision-making, planning, and policy-making to ensure those who have been historically marginalized, including people with disabilities, indigenous populations, and communities of color, etc. are central to decision-making
Design for All: Following principles of Universal Design, design engagement processes and the built environment for people of all ages, abilities, and languages so that they may fully participate in the community and safely and easily access jobs, shopping, and services.
Create Housing Abundance and Affordability: Proactively build enough housing for people of all incomes to meet the region’s and City’s needs, with prioritization of building housing near light rail. Prevent discrimination in housing opportunities, especially for people of color, immigrants, and households with low income. Provide a range of unit sizes and of rental and ownership opportunities and to support families and generational wealth creation.
Provide Affordable and Convenient Transportation Options: Ensure all households have access to conveniently and safely walk, bike, and ride transit from their homes to destinations of work, school, shops, and other services.
Support a Just and Equitable Economy: Support the building of generational wealth for those who have been the most economically disadvantaged by providing career pathways through education and training, supporting existing and incubating new minority-owned businesses, and supporting new community-based business models.
Cultivate Safe and Healthy Environments: Create or renovate accessible open spaces and recreational facilities, such as schools, parks, healthcare, libraries, and fresh food opportunities, to promote community health.
Promote Environmental Justice: Address environmental health disparities for underserved communities by creating sustainable development and attaining resources to alleviate environmental health risks.
Preserve, Sustain, and Utilize Local Assets: Support arts and cultural programs to address the needs of diverse populations that can strengthen and preserve existing cultural landscapes. Acknowledging indigenous voices and recognizing the history of this land and how it ties into the lives of the people past and present are crucial in doing so.
2023-2027 Strategic Objectives
Adopted by the ESDA Board of Directors on September 21, 2023.
SAFETY: Ensure the safety and cleanliness of the neighborhood.
PLACEMAKING: Build a sense of neighborhood-ness through physical placemaking improvements and community-centered events.
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT: Support equitable community development.
PARTNERSHIPS: Be a partner to our neighborhood residents, workers, businesses, property owners, city, and region.
ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENT: Engage in a process of continuous organizational improvement towards excellence.