Providence foresees growth in Smokey Point

Published 11:11 pm Sunday, December 2, 2007

MARYSVILLE — Providence Health &Services has bought 8.7 acres near Smokey Point Boulevard for $3.9 million, part of a long-range plan by the organization to provide outpatient services in the community.

The land was purchased by the Washington and Montana branch of Providence Health &Services, which is based in Renton. Providence Health &Services is the parent organization to Providence Everett Medical Center.

There are no immediate plans for the land. The time line for development is expected to be in the next five to 10 years, said Karina Jennings, spokeswoman for the regional Providence organization.

“We think the needs will be greatest in primary care,” she said. Other outpatient services could be based there, she said, such as physical therapy, rehabilitation, and services that don’t require patients to be hospitalized.

The parcel is on the east side of Smokey Point Boulevard north of 152nd Street NE, Jennings said. The deal closed Nov. 7.

“It was purchased in preparation for the future, to make sure we can meet the needs of northwest Washington,” Jennings said.

Backers of the campaign to bring a University of Washington campus to Marysville say a Providence medical building would be near the entrance to the proposed college site. One of the goals of the UW branch campus is to find “experiential learning” opportunities in the community for students while they are still in school.

The Marysville site ranked second to the Everett Station site in a consultant’s review of four sites across Snohomish County. Marysville officials say they will try to convince the Legislature that their site should still be considered for the university.

Gloria Hirashima, planning director for the city of Marysville, said she has been told the Providence building would be about 60,000 square feet.

“What they have told me is this is part of their future plan,” Hirashima said. “They purchased the land because they want to make sure they can be here, but they are not going to start building right away.”

Other businesses that could work well with a university and give students work opportunities have been considering buying land in the same general area, Hirashima said.

Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or e-mail salyer@heraldnet.com.