The Slow Shrink

The Slow Shrink is a public tracking project built to document how places in Everett change over time, especially the slow, quiet kind of change that is easy to miss until it starts to feel normal.

The map collects community-submitted observations across five categories:

• Long-term vacant or abandoned properties

• Underused spaces or reduced upkeep

• Trash cleanup needs and cleanup progress

• Area nominations

• Murals (nominated, in progress, completed)

Visitors can view the map by turning categories on or off, clicking individual locations to see more detail, and zooming in to explore patterns at the neighborhood level.

The goal is to keep track of what is empty, what keeps needing care, and where people are still showing up, so patterns are visible and conversations can start from shared information instead of assumptions.

This is not a code enforcement tool, a complaint system, or a way to report violations or penalties. It does not replace, and is not affiliated with, the City of Everett’s Everett At Work portal. Submissions are reviewed before appearing publicly and are intended to document observable conditions from public space, not assign blame.

Over time, The Slow Shrink is meant to help residents and partners identify where needs repeat, where maintenance and amenities have been scaled back, and where temporary or creative uses, such as murals or pop-up activation, could help bring some level of use back to spaces that are currently underused.

Note: Reports for Vacant or Abandoned Properties and Underused or Reduced Upkeep spaces are reviewed individually before being approved and displayed publicly. This review helps ensure submissions focus on observable conditions and avoid code enforcement, compliance, or unfair characterization.