Volunteers of America representatives present to the neighborhood at a meeting about the shelter plans held the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Northshore Church in the neighborhood.
Photo by Michael Whitney.
EVERETT — In March, the city reached a settlement with the nonprofit group Friends of Phil Johnson Ballpark, clearing the way for a Pallet shelter project to move forward.
While the terms of the settlement were not disclosed in detail, city spokeswoman Simone Tarver confirmed it allows the city to proceed with constructing the shelters.
The 20 shelters are intended to provide temporary housing for women and children experiencing homelessness and would be operated by Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW).
An opposition fight began in June 2022, when the Everett City Council proposed placing 20 Pallet shelters on city-owned land near Glenwood Avenue and Sievers-Duecy Boulevard.
In January 2024, the city’s planning director approved the proposal. But soon after, nearby residents formed the nonprofit Friends of Phil Johnson Ballpark Phase II, arguing the land had been promised as a future park expansion and should not be used for shelter housing.
Months later, the appeal was denied after going to the hearing examiner.
The group then appealed the decision and took it to county superior court. The legal proceedings remained quiet for months until the settlement.
An attorney representing Friends of Phil Johnson Ballpark did not respond to inquiries from a Tribune reporter. A VOAWW spokesperson declined comment.
Once completed, the shelters will be permitted to operate for two years, offering transitional housing to vulnerable women and children. The city has not yet announced when construction will begin.
The settlement highlights the ongoing tensions in the region over how cities respond to homelessness while addressing community concerns.
