November 5, 2025

Port of Everett wants you to develop ‘retail-tainment' building at Waterfront Place

Images via Port of Everett [enlarge]

Looking roughly south, the intended corner site is in the sun, at the bottom of frame, above the dryland boatyard area.

Up in Everett, the ongoing 65-acre Waterfront Place redevelopment from the Port of Everett has lots of zones and names and parts and pieces. It thus far features a recent Hotel Indigo, various new eateries, Boxcar Park, the relocated former Weyerhaeuser Building (aka Weyerhaeuser Muse), small commercial buildings and a pair of fairly new midrise apartment buildings with 266 units. (Another 300-plus apartments are planned.)

LPC West, architect RIOS, SeaLevel Properties, Gracorp, Tiscareno Associates, Graham Construction, BCRA, Landau Associates, Faber Construction and Schuster Group are among the parties who've worked there over the past half dozen-plus years. MZA/JDA was the architect team and Ferguson Construction was the general contractor on Hotel Indigo.

The Indigo and apartments are closest to the shore, railroad tracks and West Marine View Drive, in what the port calls the Fisherman's Harbor district. There, in a request for qualifications issued at the end of last month, the port is now seeking a ground-lease developer for a new commercial building (not apartments).

The public notice for the RFQ ran in the DJC on Oct. 31.

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Separately, the Phase II Millwright District, with offices, retail and over 300 apartments, might begin next year.

Statements of qualifications are due by Dec. 9. For that RFQ, a site tour will be conducted on Nov. 13. The port hopes to select a developer in February of next year. After that, there's no stated timeline for construction. One or more structures are possible.

The roughly 1.2-acre site, on the corner of 13th Street (leading to a roundabout), is north of the apartments. It could be slightly enlarged, says the port. Zoning allows construction up to 45 feet. There's not yet an estimate, in square feet, as to a possible project size. The initial ground lease would have an 80-year term.

The port says it's looking for some combination of a “boutique grocer, pet store and supporting retail shopping and/or ‘retail-tainment' to enhance existing on-site multifamily and retail elements.”

And more, “Concepts with public space and art elements are desired. Projects that meet these needs while delivering active, street-level engagement will be strongly considered.” Structured parking is encouraged.

Separately, in the Millwright District to the west, some 313 apartments might begin construction next year, along with a possible 120,000 square feet of office and commercial space. For the latter, a pre-leasing effort was announced this spring. No tenants have been announced; nor has a builder been tipped for that Phase II endeavor. (Phase I is Fisherman's Harbor, to the east.)

If fully realized, new construction at Waterfront Place could hit 1.5 million square feet. That's on top of existing maritime/industrial components, and “the largest public marina on the West Coast.” The port values the effort at around $1 billion.