Group sues to stop south Everett Pallet shelter on vacant city property

A legal dispute is currently unfolding in Everett, Washington, as the Friends of Phil Johnson Ballpark Phase II have filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking the city’s plans to establish a temporary shelter for women and children near the Phil Johnson Ballfields. The city has earmarked $3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund this shelter, which would feature 20 tiny houses and essential support facilities. The nonprofit claims that the city’s comprehensive plan restricts the land's use for temporary shelters and raises concerns about the potential permanence of the solution. Despite the lawsuit, city spokesperson Simone Tarver emphasized the project's importance in providing immediate relief to unsheltered women and children. The shelter's design includes administrative buildings and on-site staff to enforce rules regarding substance use.

The city contends that the remaining park acreage meets open space requirements, countering the nonprofit's claims. A hearing date has not yet been set for the case in Snohomish County Superior Court, leaving the shelter's future uncertain. This situation highlights broader issues of homelessness and community resource allocation within Everett.