Harbour Pointe's growing influence worries some

By MARK HIGGINS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Mukilteo's north and south end neighborhoods are part of the same city, but to hear some old-timers and newcomers talk, they are worlds apart. Longtime residents fear that Harbour Pointe is gaining in political clout at their expense.

After all, City Hall and the police department left the old town and moved to leased warehouse space in Harbour Pointe. The post office moved up the hill, too, as did the only bank branch. And the site for a new public library is Harbour Pointe.

C.E. "Mic" Heffron, director of the Rosehill Community Center, got an earful when he suggested the city change the route of the annual summertime parade from downtown to Harbour Pointe.

"Mukilteo is a town with a lot of traditions," Heffron says. The idea of moving the parade was to reach out to Harbour Pointe and get residents there involved in community activities. The route also would be safer and easy to control, Heffron reasoned.

Nonetheless, it took a vote of the City Council to approve the parade route change.

"I look at this place and say we could be everything that Edmonds is and more if we could all get along," Heffron says. "Mukilteo has so much potential."

Continued:

• New meets old in this waterfront town
• Railroad, shoreline helped city grow
• Commuter hub hardly at a standstill
• Most residents happy with tranquil lifestyle