EVERETT – This month, the Port of Everett Commission took three major actions to advance development plans and deliver the community’s vision for the Mukilteo waterfront, including accepting the transfer of the former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) site, and unanimously authorizing acquisition of additional property to support a meaningful and cohesive waterfront development.
Together, these strategic property gains secure key pieces of shoreline that provide the Port greater flexibility to shape the future of the waterfront in alignment with the community’s vision. Future development of the Port’s properties will align with the vision and guiding principles established through a comprehensive community outreach and visioning effort completed in partnership with the City of Mukilteo in 2022. The Port’s redevelopment plans will highlight the area’s unique, beachy charm, and create a balanced waterfront that supports economic development, public access, and environmental stewardship.
The Port is working with architecture and planning firm NBBJ, the same company that helped lead the visioning effort, to move the project forward. The Port will begin a formal process to seek a development partner for its Mukilteo properties this spring.
“The Port listened, took the time to secure the right properties, and is now creating a path forward to deliver what the community has been asking for: a welcoming and convenient gathering place for Mukilteo,” Port Commissioner Tom Stiger said.
NOAA Property Conveyance
On February 3, 2026, the Port Commission authorized the transfer and acceptance of the former NOAA site from the federal government via quit claim deed. The property, a 1.1-acre stretch to the east of the Silver Cloud Hotel, was originally conveyed to NOAA by the U.S. Air Force in 2013, with plans for a NOAA research facility. Under congressional directive, if NOAA should not move forward with the research facility, the site was to be conveyed to the Port so it could be developed for public use. NOAA’s decision not to pursue a research facility triggered the process of conveying the property to the Port. The process was completed in early February and, following formal public hearing, the Port Commission voted on Feb. 10, 2026, to incorporate the property into the Port’s Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements.
While development planning gets underway, the Port team is currently exploring interim use opportunities for the property.
Commission Approves Purchase and Sale Agreement of MSI Mukilteo, LLC Property
On Feb. 3, 2026, the Port Commission also unanimously voted to authorize the Port staff to enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to secure an additional .55-acre property, home to Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing, from MSI Mukilteo, LLC.
The agreement includes a 9,637 square foot building, parking lot, and a long-term lease with Ivar’s, which has been, and will continue to be, a staple of the Mukilteo waterfront for decades to come. The property is located at 710 Front Street in Mukilteo and is adjacent to the Port’s Mukilteo parklet and interim parking lot sites in the site of the former Washington State Ferry terminal and holding lanes – both parcels of which the Port acquired back in 2022 to preserve for future waterfront redevelopment.
The Port anticipates closing on the sale in July 2026, pending a due diligence period now underway. This property acquisition was a key piece the Port needed to be able to move forward with a meaningful and cohesive waterfront development.
Port Hires Waterfront Architect, Prepares for Request for Qualified Developers
In February, the Port Commission also authorized staff to begin preparation for a formal solicitation process to identify a private development partner to bring the community’s vision for the Mukilteo waterfront to life. The Port will put out a formal call for interested developers this spring. The Port will retain control of the real estate and its future uses.
The Port’s waterfront parcels will be developed following the vision and guiding principles that came out of the community visioning effort in 2022. The Port has hired architecture and planning firm NBBJ through a competitive process to support this development effort.
The Port will include its current slate of properties in the development offering. The adjacent City-owned parcels that the Port donated to them in 2016 are not included in the Port’s current redevelopment plans.
These moves reaffirm the Port’s commitment to revitalizing the Mukilteo waterfront while delivering on its mission of economic development. Future amenities on the Port’s properties include plans for a pedestrian-oriented Front Street tied to the waterfront, with restaurants, retail, small-scale housing, and a bustling promenade outfitted with a unique, beachy charm. The Port’s waterfront development efforts would reflect the community’s desires for a welcoming and convenient gathering place that promotes culture, recreational opportunities, local business, and the area’s natural beauty. The Port’s role is to balance those qualities with opportunities for local businesses and long-term economic sustainability.
“Real estate is a critical part of economic development, and that’s what ports in Washinton state are chartered to do,” Port of Everett CEO/Executive Director Lisa Lefeber said. “These properties allow the Port to activate the Mukilteo waterfront in a way that benefits the community, promotes public access, and honors Mukilteo’s unique, historic, and beachy charm.”
Source: Port of Everett
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
