Students make downtown dorms home

Published 8:41 pm Friday, September 19, 2008

EVERETT — Emily Vernon, 20, is helping to usher in a new era for downtown Everett.

Over the summer, Trinity Lutheran, an independent Bible-based liberal arts college, moved to Everett from Issaquah.

Vernon, a junior studying social work, lives in one of two apartment buildings on Hoyt Avenue that function as the college’s dorms.

Another Everett-based Christian college that closed its doors last year briefly operated nine student apartments on Hewitt Avenue. Other than that, Everett has never had a college with a full-fledged student dormitory downtown — at least that anyone can remember.

“There may have been some sort of housing arrangements for students of Columbia College, but that would have been decades ago, pre-Depression,” said David Dilgard, a local historian.

Trinity was founded in 1944 and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities at the baccalaureate level, said John Stamm, president since 1999. Its new academic center is on California Avenue in what is known as the old Bon Marche building.

For its “urban plunge” to Everett, the college remodeled both the campus building and the dorms to accommodate students aiming for degrees in psychology, communications, business, youth and family services, intercultural studies, education, music and worship and Biblical studies.

For Vernon and other students, the downtown apartments are quite swanky compared to their previous digs in an old convent in Issaquah, said Stamm.

The dorms, a five-minute walk from the campus, feature studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. Many have hardwood floors, walk-in closets, separate dining rooms, large living rooms — and a view.

On Thursday, classes were in session when Stamm walked through the freshly remodeled academic building. He noted the walls awaiting artwork and classrooms and other areas waiting for furniture.

“You can see we haven’t completely moved in yet,” he said. “It’s a huge effort to move an entire college campus.”

The college looked pretty good, considering it only received its final occupancy permit on Labor Day. Classes started Sept. 10.

In record time, Trinity transformed the five-story, former department store on California Street into a modern, high-tech campus fitted with fiber optic cable, a student commons area, a commercial kitchen, a bookstore, several libraries and computer labs.

In the basement, there are music labs with pianos and other musical instruments for students in the music and worship program. There also is a student activity room.

Trinity plans to finish buying the building by Oct. 1, Stamm said.

The college currently leases all but the second floor of the building, which instead houses private tenants. It also plans to purchase the Port Gardner Parking Garage across Wetmore Avenue.

Vernon works in the bookstore and is the section lead in the college’s 30-member choir in which she sings alto. She said she’s excited to live downtown.

Her new apartment is very nice compared to the old convent, she said.

Everett’s urban setting made it a good fit, Stamm said.

“Every student engages in a service learning practicum every semester,” he said. “It’s not just something we talk about, it’s something we do.”

Students can meet members from local nonprofits and service agencies at a forum next week.

“The board decided Everett was a perfect fit with the college’s mission, which is to prepare Christian leaders in the world,” Stamm said.

And so far, the students love it here, he added.

Reporter Leita Hermanson-Crossfield: 425-339-3449 or lcrossfield@heraldnet.com.