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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Once Collins Building is gone, Port can never bring it back By Julie Muhlstein, Herald Columnist People who love treasures of the past have fought against long odds and tough arguments to save the Collins Building. When members of Historic Everett, a preservation group, and their backers rallied outside the 75-year-old landmark a few months ago, I wasn't there. I didn't weigh in on their cause, or on the Port of Everett's decision to soon tear down the former casket company on the city's waterfront. I'm late to say a word about it. Last week's news that Everett Maritime had filed for bankruptcy protection had me thinking anew about an issue I earlier dismissed as all but settled. Everett Maritime, a subsidiary of Maritime Trust of Chicago, had planned to build 660 luxury condominiums and other buildings on the waterfront. Thursday's Herald headline, "Blow to waterfront plans," was too big to ignore. When I read about the condo project being kaput, at least for now, I immediately thought of the Collins Building. The Herald reported in February that the Collins Building was likely to be torn down by the end of the year. It's on property the port is redeveloping as a craftsman district for boat-related businesses. If the condos aren't coming anytime soon, what's the rush to raze the Collins Building? The old net sheds, used for generations by Everett's fishing families, and the marina's covered boathouses have been cleared away. The Collins Building can always be ripped down, but once it's gone it can't be brought back. "It seems like a great opportunity to review the whole project," said Valerie Steel, who serves on the Historic Everett Collins Committee. Steel believes having the waterfront condo project on hold should buy time to save the three-story wood-frame Collins Building. Under direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the port and historic groups have long been grappling with the issue. Historic Everett hopes to see the Collins Building left standing on its original site, where it could be used for a farmers market, shops or other businesses. John Mohr, executive director of the Port of Everett, said Tuesday that the Collins Building would be prohibitively expensive to restore and bring up to modern safety standards. He also said the issue is now unrelated to the condo proposal. "There seems to be a misunderstanding about the connection between Everett Maritime and the Collins Building," Mohr said. Originally, the area where the old building stands was part of the company's agreement with the port. In 2008, though, as Everett Maritime's financial woes became clear, "the port commission approved a change of agreement to have the port take over that area known as the craftsman area," he said. Mohr said one big goal in the port's clearing of the craftsman area was to keep runoff from parking and boat yards from polluting Port Gardner. While the port is committed to working with Historic Everett and another group working to commemorate Everett's fishing legacy to develop historical displays, Mohr said money can't be ignored. He said estimates for restoring the Collins Building range from $12 million to $15 million. "There's about a $9 million gap between the value of the building and the cost to do the redevelopment," he said. The Collins Building sustained significant damage during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, Mohr said. "If we were to wait until something happened, and create a safety hazard for the community, nobody would remember that we were well intentioned," he said. Steel doesn't buy the port's stance. "People are starting to recognize that sustainability begins with preservation," she said. She thinks time is on the preservationists' side. Earlier this year, Steel said, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the creation of a privately funded Preservation Green Lab in the Seattle area to promote energy efficient projects for old buildings. The Collins Building "is a hammer-ready project," she said. "I love this place, but it breaks my heart sometimes." Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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