EVERETT — One of the buildings in conceptual plans for the Baker Heights housing redevelopment has jumped to 12 stories tall, which stunned residents at a public meeting last week.
The Everett Housing Authority would need to obtain the city’s permission to build that tall in the Delta Neighborhood.
Even so, drawings shown last week had the tallest building residents have seen yet. The tallest buildings would be in the center of the development. The perimeter has smaller buildings. For example, it could have two-to-three-story townhouses east of Poplar Street.
Overall, the project to add upwards of 1,000 residential units in a half-dozen buildings would take beyond 2030 to finish.
A plan for Baker Heights is expected to go before the Everett Housing Authority’s board within the next three months.
Baker Heights formerly was a row of bungalows which were cleared of tenants in 2019. It’s understood the residents were relocated by the Housing Authority. Those buildings will be torn down soon, GGLO Architects senior associate Jon Hall said.
In the plans, Poplar Street could be lined with ground-floor retail shops.
The meeting last week asked residents what they want to see at the site. The responses included a coffee shop, coin-operated laundry services, child care and post office services.
The height, though, had neighbors such as Delta Neighborhood vice chair Alyssa Gray questioning why.
“If you jump from a single-family home to a 12-story building, that’s very jarring,” she said.
Hall replied that his firm has heard the city needs more housing, and this is one way to get there “to help the housing crisis.”
Clarification from the city on whether it is pushing the Everett Housing Authority for increased density was not answered by deadline.
The Friendship Garden at the northeast corner of the property may be relocated to 14th and Fir streets, Delta Neighborhood Chair Ryan Weber said in the meeting’s chatroom. Neighbors asked if that could stay put, too.
Project planners noted Baker Heights’ location is close enough to be walkable to Everett Community College, nearby elementary schools and the Everett Boys & Girls Club.
A planned future bicycle path could come across the north side of the development. A safe crosswalk to Wiggums Hollow Park is also proposed.
The center could feature a walking path down the middle of the redevelopment.
Separately, Washington State University last year backed out of buying part of the Baker Heights land to expand its campus.
More than 40 residents attended last week’s meeting.
