A key feature of the City Council-approved 5-year Work Program for the Edmonds Creative District is redevelopment of the Fourth Avenue Cultural Corridor - a reinvention of the street improvements in Fourth Avenue North between the Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) and Main Street to become a unique destination within Downtown Edmonds. A key purpose of this project is to make this important pedestrian connection between Downtown Edmonds' premier arts/culture venue and the restaurant, shops and services of Main Street and the heart of Downtown Edmonds a safer, more welcoming, more inviting, and more interesting pedestrian experience. This will, in turn, help maximize the connectivity between Downtown and the ECA. Another important purpose is to create a special linear venue that could accommodate celebrations, events, art, and performance - all resulting in Fourth Avenue becoming a destination unto itself, only steps away from the waterfront and the future Civic Park.
A survey and public open house were conducted in late Summer 2020. The information gathered was presented to City Council in March 2021, who is expected to provide direction for further steps, including design development in Spring 2021.
History of Fourth Avenue Cultural Corridor
The original idea for the 4th Avenue Cultural Corridor emerged in 2003-04 when the Parks Department, Edmonds Arts Commission, and Planning Board were looking at the ways the then proposed Edmonds Center for the Arts facility could be better linked to downtown retail shops, restaurants and services. The Planning Board subsequently integrated that initial concept into their downtown / waterfront activity center planning - part of the land use element of the city's comprehensive plan.
2006 - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Service Department updated the Streetscape Plan, adding new appendices, one of which is the 4th Avenue Arts Corridor concept plan [4th Avenue Arts Corridor Concept Plan (2006)].
2007 - City received a matching grant for $50,000 from the National Park Service's Preserve America program to develop the 4th Avenue Cultural Corridor Implementation and Funding Plan, adopted in 2009 [4th Avenue Cultural Corridor Implementation & Funding Plan (2009)]
2014 - The updated Community Cultural Plan placed a high priority on interim steps to implement the 4th Ave Cultural Corridor Plan.
2016 - Interim Public Art Project funded by EAC and Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation, "Luminous Forest" by artist Iole Alessandrini, is installed on 4th Ave N to highlight the connection between Main St and Edmonds Center for the Arts.
2016 - City partners with Western Washington University and Association of WA Cities on Sustainable Cities Partnership. Students in the Public Relations Research and Campaigns Course developed four potential public relations campaigns to promote the 4th Avenue N Cultural Corridor.
2018 - Governor Jay Inslee announces that Edmonds is selected as Washington's first Certified Creative District. A key feature of the City Council-approved 5-year Work Program for the Edmonds Creative District is development of the Fourth Avenue Cultural Corridor.
2019 - The City commissions a survey of 4th Avenue North from Main Street to 3rd Avenue. City works with the Edmonds Cultural District Advisory Committee (ECDAC) and community members to explore desirable programming and activities for the Avenue.
2020 - An interdepartmental Technical Advisory Committee reviews standards and other technical issues that will influence the design of the corridor. Community input is sought to review options for a refined concept master plan.