City seeks name for plaza EVERETT - The city wants ideas on what to name its new downtown plaza.
So far, some of the suggestions include Wetmore Plaza and Theater Plaza. The plaza is next to the Everett Performing Arts Center on Wetmore Avenue; it will open to the public next week for the city’s Wintertide celebration Thursday, Dec. 13.
Nobody likes the city’s generic suggestion of City Plaza, from comments submitted so far.
The Historical Commission tried finding a name last week. The City Council will have the final say next year after the parks board discusses it in December and the Historical Commission meets again in January.
Dave Ramstad, a historical commissioner, suggested the Charles W. Wetmore Plaza. Wetmore was one of the cities’ founding fathers and one of John D. Rockefeller’s friends.
Commissioner Gary Meisner said Theater Plaza is more straightforward. Ramstad said that could confuse people with the Historic Everett Theater on Colby Avenue.
Commissioner Paul-Erick Johnson said the site isn’t a plaza at all. He suggested it be called an agora, which is a meeting place.
Some other suggestions from planning commission chair Michelle Sosin include the Fountain Plaza, Village Center Plaza, Center Stage Plaza and Moon Gate Plaza. The last name would reflect the mosaic wall called a “moon gate” there.
Whidbey Island artist Linda Beaumont is building a fountain and the mosaic wall into the plaza. The city allocated $2.7 million for the plaza, which has been in the works for more than six years. The project faced numerous delays since construction started in 2010.
The quarter-of-a-block plaza should be finished by next spring, parks director Paul Kaftanski said.
Construction at the plaza stirred controversy last month after workers were told to toss out bricks laid for Everett’s 1993 centennial paid for by numerous residents.
People can submit name suggestions to the historical commission, parks board or cultural arts manager Carol Thomas at City Hall.
People also can contribute to the mosaic wall at a Dec. 27 workshop. The workshop runs from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Anderson Room at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. Materials such as glass pieces will be given to create artwork, and people can bring their own hard materials to add as well. Perishable materials such as cloth, paper, plastic and fabric will not last.
The parks board meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Spruce Hall in Forest Park.
The Historical Commission next meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29 on the eighth floor of City Hall, 2930 Wetmore Ave.
