The Port of Everett is pulling key pieces of Mukilteo's shoreline under one roof and getting ready to call in private developers to help remake the waterfront. Port leaders are pitching the effort as a way to boost public access, line the shore with new restaurants and retail, and still safeguard the area's environmental health.
At recent meetings, the Port Commission signed off on the transfer of the former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research site and voted to fold that land into the Port's Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements. The roughly 1.1-acre property, just east of the Silver Cloud Hotel, reverted to the Port after NOAA backed away from building a new research facility, with the quitclaim deed finalized in early February. The Commission also moved to lock up neighboring parcels to create a cleaner, more workable redevelopment footprint, according to Lynnwood Times.
The Port also approved a purchase and sale agreement for about 0.55 acres that include Ivar's Mukilteo Landing, keeping the restaurant's long-term lease in place while pulling the property into the wider plan. The deal covers a 9,637-square-foot building plus parking, with closing targeted for July 2026, pending due diligence. Those acquisitions give the Port more room to shape a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented Front Street, as reported by ConnectCRE.
The Port has hired Seattle design firm NBBJ, the same architecture team that led earlier public visioning work, and staff now have the green light to draft a formal solicitation to find a private development partner. "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. Port officials say they intend to keep firm control over land use while courting partners whose proposals respect public access and environmental stewardship, according to ConnectCRE.
Staff told commissioners that a request for qualifications, or a similar call for developers, is slated for this spring and that temporary uses for the NOAA parcel are on the table while longer-term planning plays out. The Port stressed it wants a partner aligned with the community's 2022 vision and guiding principles, including year-round public amenities and strong pedestrian connections to the water. Closing on the Ivar's property remains contingent on due diligence and is expected in mid-2026, per Lynnwood Times.
Where The Idea Came From
The Mukilteo waterfront has been under the microscope since 2022, when the Port and the City launched a round of public outreach, pulled in local stakeholders, and hired NBBJ to draw up concept renderings and a shared vision statement. Those guiding principles, including pedestrian-first design, an authentic local feel, and environmental responsibility, have shaped which parcels the Port has worked to consolidate and how it is approaching redevelopment. The earlier renderings, reviewed by the Daily Journal of Commerce, show how that vision is feeding directly into the current planning, according to Daily Journal of Commerce.
What Residents Should Expect Next
Port officials say that by pulling these properties together, they can create more continuous public space and a reworked Front Street that ties shops, dining, and beach access into a smoother experience. Any private development will likely arrive with environmental cleanup costs and public infrastructure work baked in, and the Port has already flagged waterfront investments in recent budget talks. Coverage of the Port's 2026 capital priorities points to funding for waterfront infrastructure and remediation, according to MarinaWorld.
The next big moment for residents will be the Port's RFQ and the short list of developers invited to submit designs, which should finally offer a clearer sense of what might actually get built and on what timeline. For a deeper look at the concept images and how the planning process took shape, see the overview of Mukilteo waterfront visioning work from the Daily Journal of Commerce.
