Passion for Place, Passion for People – Mukilteo waterfront
Passion for Place, Passion for People – Mukilteo waterfront
The Mukilteo waterfront is entering a new chapter, with the Port of Everett acquiring key sites and advancing plans shaped by years of community visioning. Think pedestrian spaces, local shops, and shoreline access. It’s a project designed to balance growth with the character people already love.
Port of Everett committed to bringing community’s vision to life for Mukilteo waterfront
By Catherine Soper
The Mukilteo waterfront is a study in western Washington charm: gulls fly overhead, ferries glide across Possession Sound, and both the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges stand blue in the distance. It’s a postcard scene that draws visitors from all over the world, and one that the local community doesn’t take for granted.
People are passionate about this place, and its future deserves a steady hand to guide it forward.
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The Port of Everett’s recent moves to accept the transfer of a former National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) site, as well as to acquire the property that is home to Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing (which will remain), signals the next chapter of the waterfront is soon to begin. For the Port, the Mukilteo waterfront is more than a redevelopment project. It’s a commitment rooted in a passion for placemaking and for the people in the Port District who call it home.
For decades, a 22-acre stretch of the waterfront was known for the U.S. Air Force Mukilteo Tank Farm until operations concluded in 1989 and clean-up efforts began. In 2000, Congress passed legislation to convey the property to the Port for public use. It took more than a decade for the Port to secure the property for the community; that transfer occurred in 2013. In 2016, the Port conveyed the to area stakeholders in consideration of its public purpose, including the land for the new Washington State Ferry terminal and Sounder train station, to facilitate commerce, transportation and economic development. Part of the land had been slated for a NOAA research facility, but those plans were abandoned in 2020. What followed was a complex, multi-year transfer process to convey the property to the Port so it could be developed for public use per Congressional order. In early 2026, the Port became the owners of a 1.1-acre stretch of shoreline to the east of Silver Cloud Hotel.
Looking to the future
Between 2022 and 2026, the Port moved forward with strategic property acquisitions to create a meaningful and cohesive waterfront development. During this time, the Port also led a community visioning effort to establish a unified vision for the waterfront. The outcomes of that effort, done in partnership with the City of Mukilteo, will be the guiding principles for the Port’s redevelopment efforts of its Mukilteo properties. With ownership of key properties now secured, the Port can move forward with bringing the community’s vision to life.
“The Mukilteo waterfront already has a strong sense of place, and our redevelopment efforts will continue to build upon that in a way that is uniquely Mukilteo,” said Port of Everett CEO/Executive Director Lisa Lefeber.
“Placemaking is more than buildings – it’s about creating spaces where families gather, local businesses thrive, visitors enjoy, and the community feels a sense of pride and belonging.”
Waterfront redevelopment projects are complex and timely. In the spirit of delivering the future amenity as soon as possible, the Port has selected Seattle-based architecture and design firm NBBJ to aid its planning efforts – the same firm that helped the Port lead the visioning effort in 2022. The work with NBBJ will feed into a formal selection process for a development partner for the project. The Port will retain control of the real estate.
What’s to come
Imagine 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. Thoughtfully designed overlooks would invite visitors to step aside and admire views of the Salish Sea. Public art highlights local culture. Pathways would maximize Mukilteo’s reputation as a transportation and maritime hub, while protecting the sense of peace and tranquility inherent to living by the water.
All of it 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.
“The Mukilteo waterfront belongs to those most passionate about it – the community,” Port Commissioner Tom Stiger said. “The Port of Everett team is committed to delivering a Mukilteo waterfront that aligns with the community’s vision and is a good steward of everything the area has to offer.”
The work reflects the Port’s broader mission. In Washington state, ports have the unique charter to deliver economic development. Though this is achieved in many ways, one of the most impactful ones is through transforming real estate for the public good – promoting local business, public access, ensuring environmental stewardship, and more.
Passion is often described in sentimental terms with sunsets, shorelines, small-town charm.
For the Port of Everett, passion shows up in strategic action, due diligence, transparency, and thoughtful planning to ensure the waterfront matches community vision.
With these two properties now in sight, the Port is ready to let its passion begin the work to bring the community’s vision for the Mukilteo waterfront to life.
