By Doug Petrowski

The City of Mountlake Terrace is now accepting nominations for its 4th Annual Evergreen Awards, given to residents and business owners who take great care of their properties within the city. Nominations can be made through May 25; awards will be presented in September.

Anyone can nominate a property owner, even themselves. Nomination forms are available at various city facilities and online at www.cityofmlt.com.

Previous Evergreen Award winners Edd and Leanne Hopkins proudly display their plaque in a front window. “It’s a great program,” said Leanne. “I enjoy driving around and seeing the yards of the other award winners.”

The awards program was established in 2009 to recognize owners of well-kept property in Mountlake Terrace and to encourage an upgrade in community perception of the city’s appearance. In 2007, only 36 percent of Mountlake Terrace residents rated the overall appearance of the city as “good” or “excellent;” in 2011 that number increased to 47 percent.

There are five categories to the Evergreen Awards: Best Maintained Residence, Best Maintained Business, Best Maintained Multifamily Property, Most Sustainable Property, and Best Transformation. The “Best Maintained” awards go to those properties that reflect high standards for building and yard maintenance; the “Most Sustainable” awards go to properties best utilizing “green” features (such as solar heating), natural cooling and native landscaping; the “Best Transformation” awards go to significantly improved or renovated properties that had been neglected.

Nominees are judged against properties within the same neighborhood: Cedar Terrace, Gateway, Lake Ballinger, Melody Hill, Cascade View and Town Center.
The Mountlake Terrace Evergreen Awards are partially funded by a grant from the Snohomish County-Camano Association of Realtors (SCCAR).
You can find more information on the Evergreen Awards here.