Old Milltown Courtyard Seen as a Gateway to Edmonds and Gathering Place for the Public

Gateways are important to the city of Edmonds.

Within the past year, the City Council has asked and received public comment on —the Westgate area on Edmonds Way (SR 104), and Five Corners, which is .

Now, city leaders are focused on another gateway, this one directly in the heart of downtown: The courtyard of historic Old Milltown on Fifth Avenue South between Maple and Dayton streets. Although the idea of sprucing up the courtyard is not a new idea, it is now close to fruition.

Last month, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services director Carrie Hite presented a preferred design to City Council members as a result of a consensus recommendation from a 20-member committee. Members represented the Economic Development Commission (EDC), downtown businesses, the Floretum Garden Club, Edmonds in Bloom, Chamber of Commerce, and two horticulturists from the Parks Department.

The design selected by the committee has yet to be approved. The public can provide input during the City Council weekly meeting on Aug. 23.

“If you look around downtown, we don’t have a lot of gathering places where people can just sit,” said Hite. “Starbucks draws a lot of people because they have tables and chairs outside. But if people are shopping and mingling and going to art galleries, there’s really no place to rest your feet unless you go into a business and find a table and have a drink.”

Hite also sees the courtyard as an economic driver for Edmonds.

Hite says the Floretum Club wanted to purchase the courtyard area in the past when it was in foreclosure. “There was some concern by the city and community members that it would be purchased by developers, and development would come all the way to the sidewalk.”

The city of Edmonds purchased the courtyard area of Old Milltown from Cascade Bank for $235,000 in November 2008. (The northern end of the courtyard is still owned by the bank to allow it to be used as a courtyard/seating/eating area for a possible restaurant lease in the future.)

In December 2010, the Edmonds City Council allocated $40,000 to complete the courtyard. Hite says the total cost of the project is $120,000, with half of the money allocated at this point. Further funds are being sought from the Hubbard Foundation and the Hazel Miller Foundation.

Proposed designs have changed in the past nine months. One design called for a second gazebo to be added to one already in place. New plans don’t call for gazebos, and one that held center court for years has since been dismantled and replaced by a picnic table.

“The preferred design brings together some of the art emphasis that Edmonds puts on public spaces,” said Hite. “There is also a garden area and water features. It would just be a really nice area esthetically for shoppers, tourists, businesses and anybody else who wants to come here and relax.”

A boardwalk to tie into Old Milltown’s appearance is also part of the design.

Not all are in agreement on the courtyard’s design, including some members of City Council, who have debated the idea of a park for children versus one for adults. Hite says she’s also received comments from citizens, who she hopes will have their voices heard on Aug. 23.

“This community has a lot of strong public involvement,” said Hite, “which has makes our job easier in city government. We want to hear what the public wants instead of trying to guess what they want.”