A Future Tides map: The maritime infrastructure of tomorrow

Coast Salish villages. Mosquito fleet piers. Lumber mills. Naval outposts.

All of these types of shoreline infrastructure have been built over and on top of as Washington’s waterways evolve. That process continues as docks age, habitats are restored and the vacuum of industries or military installations becomes someone else’s opportunity.

The large scale, ambitious projects that transform shorelines and access to the water are not short stories. They take years, face challenges, demand collaboration and sometimes, don’t come to fruition.

Keeping tabs on a project for years isn’t easy. This new Future Tides’ map is a start. It begins to answer, what’s in the works? Is it proposed or being built? When might it be completed and who will it serve?

There are more projects underway, help me learn about them. Contribute to this map by contacting me at cara@futuretides.org about any major maritime-related projects in Washington state that you hear about. Including the project partners, website links, press release, news articles or a project contact are all helpful.

Map key:

1. The Port of Port Angeles Marine Trade Industrial Park — A 19-acre former plywood mill site, the Port landed a $7.3 million federal grant to make infrastructure improvements that will begin to turn the vacant space into a new center for marine trades. More from KNKX Public Radio
2. Lakebay Marina in Mayo Cove — Established in 1928, the historic marina spent recent years in a state of significant disrepair. After a period of uncertainty, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Recreational Boating Association of Washington acquired the facility in December 2021. The state agencies will restore the marina, protect wetlands and ensure public access to the site. More from Key Peninsula News.
3. The Maritime Innovation Center — Funded by the Port of Seattle and State of Washington, the more than 100-year old Ship Supply Building at Fishermen’s Terminal will be redeveloped into a space that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in the region’s maritime industry. Due to open in 2023. More from Puget Sound Business Journal.
4. New Green Lake Small Craft Center — Seattle Parks, with input and fundraising from Green Lake community groups, developed plans to replace the aging and earthquake-damaged sailing and rowing facility. Funding challenges have delayed demolition and construction. A Seattle Parks representative told Future Tides they implemented some changes to lower the costs and plan to put the revised project out to bid in Spring 2022. More from City of Seattle.
5. Foss Maritime Shipyard Closure — When Saltchuk-owned Foss Maritime closed its Seattle shipyard, which employed 115 people, it marked the end of an era. King County last appraised the land value of the 19.6 acre property at $30.4 million. The parcel is zoned as General Industrial 1 which is intended “to protect marine and rail-related industrial areas from an inappropriate level of unrelated retail and commercial uses.”  More from The Seattle Times.
6. Northwest Native Canoe Center — Seattle Parks and United Indians of All Tribes are partnering on a new project in Lake Union Park to celebrate the Pacific Northwest coastal tribes’ canoe culture. Seattle Parks provided an update on April 19, 2022 that the first phase, building a Canoe Carving House, “is moving forward with the goal of being under construction in 2022.” More from Seattle Parks.
7. Norton Terminal — The Port of Everett is construction the new 66-acre Norton Terminal on a former mill site which required toxic cleanup. It is expected to open in Fall 2022 and provide additional marine cargo capacity at the state’s third largest container port. Part of a four-year capital improvement plan, the Port of Everett is also developing other parts of its property for mixed-used. More from The Everett Herald.
8. Olympia Community Sailing Center — Founded in 2019, Olympia Community Sailing is a non-profit offering youth sailing programs in Thurston County. Supported by Olympia Yacht Club, the organization’s vision is to build a local sailing center that provides public access to boating equipment and expand programs to get on the water in the South Sound.