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Rosehill inches to ballot

Published 11:19 pm Thursday, November 29, 2007

By Scott Pesznecker Herald Writer

MUKILTEO — If voters are to decide what happens to the aging Rosehill Community Center, which choices should they have to choose from?

On Monday, the Mukilteo City Council is scheduled to begin discussing those choices. Voters could decide in a February election whether to renovate or rebuild the former school building at 304 Lincoln Ave. in Old Town.

Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine said he’d prefer to keep the ballot measure simple. Voters could be asked whether they’d rather spend up to $17 million to renovate or rebuild Rosehill, and the City Council could work out the finer details from there, he said.

But this is Rosehill. After more than 15 years of debate over what to do with the old building, Marine doesn’t expect Monday’s discussion to be quick and easy.

“It’s Rosehill,” he said. “I expect it to be controversial.”

The history

In 1893, Rosehill opened as a school with 29 students.

The school burned down March 17, 1928, but was rebuilt that summer.

Concerned over the growing number of students in the Mukilteo School District, officials replaced Rosehill with Explorer School in 1973.

After standing empty for a few years, the building has been used as a community center since the late 1970s.

Plans on the table

Here are previous plans that the city has studied:

  • Option 1: Renovate and preserve the building as it is, which would cost an estimated $13 million.

  • Option 2: Renovate the outside and remodel the interior, which would cost an estimated $15.3 million.

  • Option 3: Tear down the existing building and build a new community center, which would cost an estimated $16.2 million.

    The next steps

    At the meeting, the council is expected to shape what will be voted on and also how to pay for any construction at Rosehill.

    The city must finalize the wording of its ballot measure by mid-December to hold an election in February.

    Information about the different design options is expected to be placed on the city’s Web site, www.ci.mukilteo.wa.us. A newsletter with information about Rosehill is expected to be sent to city residents.

    Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

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