The Port of Everett agreed Tuesday to build a new administration building on the waterfront for about $3 million and to sell the existing one for about $2.5 million.
But the decision didn’t come without a little suspense.
Port Commissioner Phil Bannan opposed the move. “I don’t see the need for a public agency to occupy Class A space,” he said. “I just can’t get over it.”
Commissioner Connie Niva supported it. “I think this would be an efficient way for the port to do business,” she said. “The money is there, the appropriateness is there and it’s an easy decision.”
Commissioner Michael Hoffmann let some time elapse before recording the deciding positive vote. “For me, it’s six of one thing, half-dozen of the other,” he said.
Hoffmann said he didn’t have enough information to decide whether the move was a good one financially. “I don’t think this analysis of the costs reflects all the costs,” he said. “At least we would be down there creating some stability as a major tenant in the Craftsman District.”
Port staff, including John Mohr, the director, had pushed the idea of a new building in the area that’s part of a $400 million redevelopment. Mohr said his staff is too spread out and that a new building would allow everyone to work together more efficiently.
The port’s Larry Crawford said a financial analysis showed that the port would save about $117,500 a year in the new building, as well as enjoy the benefit of putting the staff back in one place.
The plan calls for the port to refurbish an existing concrete building, adding the administration building as a new wing in what had been the Marine Spill Response Center. The port would share a mezzanine, restrooms and other space with new tenants of the remodeled center, intended to be a place for marine-related businesses such as boat sales and repair firms.
The complete project would cost about $8.4 million. The commissioners had earlier approved the remodeling for other tenants, but it wanted to study whether the port should be part of the project.
In addition to building a new administration building, the port agreed to sell the existing building at 2911 Bond St. to Bauer and Evans Inc., a tenant that already uses part of the Bond Street space. The company would take over the building when the new one is occupied by the port in about two years. The sale would include the parking lot across the street.
As it does now, the port would lease part of its space near the waterfront to other tenants.
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