EVERETT — The Everett School Board approved the sale of one of its former administration buildings to the YMCA of Snohomish County on Thursday.
The board voted in a special meeting to declare the building at 4730 Colby Ave. surplus, clearing the way for the district to enact a purchase-and-sale agreement.
The district and YMCA broadly agreed in May to sell the 8.1-acre parcel for $3.325 million. The deal includes the land, the 51-year-old main building and two portable buildings.
The deal is scheduled to close Dec. 4. The money will be returned to the district’s capital budget.
The district received six letters of interest, and negotiated an increase in the YMCA’s initial $3 million offer.
The YMCA has been looking for a site to build a new Everett facility to replace its nearly 100-year-old building downtown, part of which is not accessible to people with disabilities.
The district has also tried to sell its historic Longfellow building, but has not received any viable offers. The building at 3715 Oakes Ave. is still sitting vacant and occasionally used for police or fire training exercises.
The district’s initial plan for Longfellow was to knock it down and create more parking for nearby athletic fields. Those plans were put on hold after public protests last December.
The school board vote was 4-0, district spokeswoman Mary Waggoner said. Board member Ted Wenta recused himself from discussions and voting on the deal because he works as the vice president of operations for the YMCA.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.
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