Capital construction projects in Edmonds left in limbo

EDMONDS — A new community center is one of three construction projects here left in limbo due to an impasse in Olympia blocking passage of a capital budget.

The biggest city project is a new $11 million waterfront community center, which is planned on the site of the current Edmonds Senior Center on Railroad Avenue.

The state construction budget had queued up $2.25 million for it, but even that isn’t the whole story, said Farrell Fleming, the senior center’s executive director.

“The reality is even larger,” he said.

In part that’s because the project had been promised a $1.25 million state grant for the budget year ending June 30. But the money wasn’t spent. Typically that’s rolled over into the new budget, meaning the project was hoping to get a total of $3.5 million in state money, he said.

The money wasn’t spent because the state money is used to reimburse local projects. Until the money is actually spent for part of the project, no state money is received, Fleming said.

“Projects take a while and they take a while to get other funding sources in place,” he said. In May, backers said $5.1 million had been raised.

Once the legislative impasse over state money is resolved, Fleming said he hopes to begin construction in the summer of 2018.

“The worst case it puts it off a year,” he said. “Prices go up.”

A general contractor has just been hired to provide a more up-to-date estimate of buildings costs, Fleming said.

Lawmakers left town last month without passing the $4.2 billion construction budget due to a disagreement over how to respond to a state Supreme Court decision.

That ruling said counties must determine whether there’s enough water available for a new well. Each county must come up with its own system for predicting the impact on water flowing to nearby streams or available to existing wells.

No fix could be found before the end of the longest legislative session in state history, so construction projects statewide are on hold.

“We’re in this no man’s land. It’s never happened before,” said Carrie Hite, Edmonds Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services director.

The city had planned to get underway with a beach restoration project near the senior center next year with $500,000 in state money.

Now, she said, that won’t happen.

The project calls for reconstructing the parking lot adjacent to the senior center, part of which rests on a creosote pier, which will be removed. More beach habitat would be added in the area, along with reconnecting a walkway that now stops short of the senior center.

A rain garden would be added to help cleanse runoff from the new parking lot. Now runoff goes into a storm drain and directly into Puget Sound, she said.

The timing of getting the state money is critical because construction must occur between July and September to prevent conflicts with fisheries and other habitat issues.

The only thing that would prevent the project being delayed from 2018 to 2019 is if the Legislature approves the money early in its next session, which begins in January, she said.

Of the three projects in Edmonds awaiting state money, Mayor Dave Earling said $390,000 for a new roof on the Frances Anderson Center, a recreation and arts center, is the least expensive but nonetheless critical.

Its roof is leaking. “Even though we keep making repairs, we’ve had extensive damage in the electrical system,” he said. “It needs to be taken care of.”

Meanwhile, construction of three news schools in the Edmonds School District won’t be slowed due to the budget issues in Olympia, although $17.7 million in state money is designated for the projects.

Construction work will proceed on Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace elementary schools and Madrona, a school for kindergarten through 8th grade students, said Stewart Mhyre, the district’s executive director of business and operations.

Current projects won’t be affected because the district pays for construction with 2014 bond funds and then is reimbursed for a portion of those costs by the state.

All three schools are scheduled to open in September 2018.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

More in Local News

A few weeks before what could be her final professional UFC fight, Miranda Granger grimaces as she pushes a 45-pound plate up her driveway on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Her daughter Austin, age 11 months, is strapped to her back. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Daily Herald staff wins 5 honors at annual journalism competition

The Herald got one first-place win and four runner-up spots in SPJ’s Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest.

Panelists from different areas of mental health care speak at the Herald Forum about mental health care on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
At panel, mental health experts brainstorm answers to staff shortages

Workforce shortages, insurance coverage and crisis response were in focus at the Snohomish forum hosted by The Daily Herald.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Report of downed hot air balloon turns up farmer’s tarp near Snohomish

Two 911 callers believed they saw a hot air balloon crash, leading to a major search-and-rescue response. It was a false alarm.

People gather for a color throw at Stanwood and Camano’s first-ever Pride celebration on Saturday, June 4, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘We’ve at least come a little ways’: Snohomish to host first Pride event

A 10 a.m. parade on First Street will be followed by a pop-up market with 60 vendors, a downtown wine walk, queer cabaret and more.

The site of a former 76 gas station and a handful of century old buildings will be the location for new apartments buildings at the corner of Pacific and Rucker on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Old gas station demolished for apartments in downtown Everett

A 200-unit apartment complex between three and seven stories tall is proposed at Pacific and Rucker avenues.

Kamiak High School is pictured Friday, July 8, 2022, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Kamiak football coach fired amid sexual misconduct investigation

Police believe Julian Willis, 34, sexually abused the student in portable classrooms on Kamiak High School’s campus.

Marysville
Police: Marysville man fist-bumped cop, exposing tattoos of wanted robber

The suspect told police he robbed three stores to pay off a drug debt. He’d just been released from federal prison for another armed robbery.

People begin marching down First Street with a giant balloon “PRIDE” during Snohomish’s inaugural Pride celebration on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in downtown Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
GALLERY: Snohomish hosts first official Pride celebration

Scenes from the parade and other events celebrating LGBTQIA culture and people in downtown Snohomish.

Everett
Cat killed, 9 people displaced after duplex fire in Everett

None of the people were injured in the fire reported around 1:15 a.m. in the 11500 block of Meridian Avenue S.

Most Read