Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

New hotel in downtown Everett's future?

A developer wants to build an 8-story building downtown.

By David Chircop
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- The Everett City Council on Wednesday will consider giving the mayor's office the final go-ahead to sell a chunk of downtown land to Seattle developer Touchstone Corp.

The company, which is proposing to build an eight-story hotel, has apparently offered to pay $1.6 million for the sunken parking lot on the southeast corner of Colby Avenue and Wall Street, behind the Everett Police Station.

In June, the city and Touchstone began negotiations for a sales and development agreement. Negotiations for the land known as the Allen Buick property were extended last month.

The city originally proposed selling the .44 acre property only to developers who agreed to construct a building at least 10 stories tall. The negotiated agreement now calls for an eight-story hotel.

Touchstone's original plan called for 150 to 180 hotel rooms under the direction of a national chain with an indoor swimming pool, a restaurant and an underground parking garage.

The contract before the City Council this week includes a list of 37 prohibited hotel franchisees, among them: Motel 6, Holiday Inn Express and Econo Lodge.

Touchstone has completed successful developments in the Puget Sound area, including a 150-room, three-story hotel in Kirkland and a six-story office-retail building in Seattle's Belltown district.

By spring, it plans to open a 28-story office building in downtown Seattle's Denny Triangle neighborhood.

Everett's Office of Economic Development first pitched selling the city's land in early 2007.

Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.

If you go

Everett City Council, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 3002 Wetmore Ave.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA