Published: Thursday, July 26, 2007
Former mental hospital offered as UW branch site
SEDRO-WOOLLEY - A former Skagit County asylum has been offered as a home for a new University of Washington branch campus.
Northern State Hospital, which closed in 1973, is a series of existing two-story buildings situated on 135 acres of developable land owned and managed by the state Department of General Administration.
Water, sewer, electricity and Internet services exist on the site.
The main 112,000-square-foot hospital building is vacant and, some insist, haunted.
"A lot of ghost hunters go up there," said Steve Valendra, spokesman for the state agency.
Producers of the television show "Ghost Hunters" recently filmed a segment at the hospital that is scheduled to air in September, he said.
General Administration sent in its proposal - without mention of ghosts - last week. Linda Villegas Bremer, the agency's director, approved its submission.
"We thought we'd offer this up and see what might happen," Valendra said.
The hospital is on the grounds of the 227-acre North Cascades Gateway Center located six miles east of the interchange of I-5 and Highway 20.
It joins a growing number of suitors looking to impress the state and UW with their sites for a permanent campus by Nov. 15.
Everett, Stanwood, the cities of Lake Stevens and Snohomish, and Snohomish County all intend to submit proposals for properties.
Friday is the deadline for submissions to the state-hired site-selection consultant.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Northern State Hospital, which closed in 1973, is a series of existing two-story buildings situated on 135 acres of developable land owned and managed by the state Department of General Administration.
Water, sewer, electricity and Internet services exist on the site.
The main 112,000-square-foot hospital building is vacant and, some insist, haunted.
"A lot of ghost hunters go up there," said Steve Valendra, spokesman for the state agency.
Producers of the television show "Ghost Hunters" recently filmed a segment at the hospital that is scheduled to air in September, he said.
General Administration sent in its proposal - without mention of ghosts - last week. Linda Villegas Bremer, the agency's director, approved its submission.
"We thought we'd offer this up and see what might happen," Valendra said.
The hospital is on the grounds of the 227-acre North Cascades Gateway Center located six miles east of the interchange of I-5 and Highway 20.
It joins a growing number of suitors looking to impress the state and UW with their sites for a permanent campus by Nov. 15.
Everett, Stanwood, the cities of Lake Stevens and Snohomish, and Snohomish County all intend to submit proposals for properties.
Friday is the deadline for submissions to the state-hired site-selection consultant.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Story tags »
• University of Washington-Everett • Sedro-WoolleyRelated
- Down to 9 spots for UW branch 8/30/07
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