By BRIAN KELLY
Herald Writer
ARLINGTON – As the owner of a hardware store, Mike Jones knows there’s a place for everything and everything has its place.
But the best spot for his land along the Stillaguamish River isn’t in his hands, he said, but the city’s.
Jones wants to give Arlington 13 lots located in the old Haller City section of town. The property lies smack dab next to the Butler property, a 20-acre riverfront parcel at the northwest end of Arlington that the city bought for $350,000 in September.
The city may use the Butler property for a park or other purposes. And Jones’ property is a critical link between the Butler property and city limits.
“It doesn’t do me much good,” Jones said of his neighboring lots. “And it will be a nice piece to allow that park to have some additional river frontage.”
“I felt like that’s really where it belongs,” he said.
Jones, the owner of Arlington Hardware &Lumber, has owned the property for about 12 years. It’s valued at approximately $30,000.
Although the land once had a mill on it years ago, its location next to the river in a flood-prone zone prevents development.
Still, it should be a sweet spot for picnics or other recreational uses.
Land gifts are rare in Arlington, said Kristin Hanson, assistant city administrator.
“We’ve done a lot of purchases for land, but not very often do we end up with land donated to the city,” she said.
The city council will consider accepting the gift at the council meeting on Dec. 4.
“Arlington has been really great to us as a family,” said Jones, a father of five and a longtime supporter of local schools.
“I’m excited about it,” he said.
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