Cold Storage Operation Coming To Part of Kimberly-Clark Property

Earlier this month we reported on the status of the Kimberly-Clark property on the Everett Waterfront. At that time both the Port of Everett and Kimberly-Clark reported ongoing talks but little progress.

This morning we received a press release that a third of the property will be used as a cold storage operation. Here is the information provided to us…

In a deal that will jump-start the revitalization of the Everett waterfront, create roughly 100 family-wage jobs for the community and bring nearly $500,000 in yearly tax revenue to the city, Everett Terminals and Cold Storage announced today a long-term lease agreement with Kimberly-Clark to develop part of the former mill site.

Everett Terminals, a subsidiary of North American Stevedoring Co., intends to put 20 acres of the 66-acre mill site immediately back to work by building and operating a 160,000 to 200,000 sq./ft. cold-storage, warehousing, trucking and breakbulk shipping facility. The project will create about 100 highly paid construction jobs and approximately 100 direct, family-wage jobs at full operations, with the potential for even more jobs.

“With its proximity to Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound shipping channels, direct access to the Interstate 5 corridor and on-site rail, this site in Everett is ideally located for our operation to meet the growing demand for cold storage and breakbulk shipping in the region,” said Steve Abernathy, vice president of North American Stevedoring. “We plan to invest in the community, and look forward to working with the city to bring family-wage jobs to Everett and beginning construction and operations.”

North American Stevedoring plans to move its corporate headquarters from Seattle to Everett and as soon as possible submit shoreline development and building permit applications to the city, state and federal governments to build the facility and reinforce and repair the existing dock. Project permitting is expected to be completed in 2018, with a six month to year-long construction period.

The project will generate nearly half a million in new annual tax revenue to the city, where vital services were squeezed after the loss of the Kimberly-Clark revenue.

“This announcement is great news for Everett as we believe Everett Terminals’ operations will be a catalyst for future development on the site and create additional maritime-related jobs,” said Bob Brand, spokesman for the company. “Kimberly-Clark appreciates the support we’ve received from Mayor Stephanson and his team at the City and look forward to continue to work with them as we market the remaining sections of the site.”

With a more than 20-year record of successful and safe operations, North American Stevedoring has a long history handling both fresh and frozen breakbulk cargo, cold storage and terminal operations.

Lisa Lefeber with the Port of Everett tells MyEverettNews.com that the Port is still actively pursuing the remaining portion of the site.