WOODWAY — The corporate owner of a century-old petroleum and asphalt facility on Puget Sound is gradually moving along plans to transform it into high-end condos, shops and offices.
The first of two meetings on the possible future of Point Wells is scheduled for next week in Edmonds, followed by another in September in Shoreline. Initially, the owner’s representatives won’t have any designs to unveil; they mainly want to hear what the community has to say.
“This first meeting in particular, we’re going to be doing a lot of listening,” said Barry Bartlett, a spokesman for the project. “We know that this is a long-term transformation of the property. That’s part of what of what we’re going to be conveying to residents, that this process simply is not going to be happening overnight.”
The outreach is not required, Bartlett stressed.
The Save Richmond Beach community group represents the Shoreline neighborhood that stands to be affected most by any Point Wells development.
“We’re waiting on them to show us their hand to see what they’re really planning,” said Caycee Holt, a representative from the group.
Currently, most of the site is devoted to storing and transferring marine fuel. There are 80 or so multi-story fuel tanks, about half of them in use. There’s also a small asphalt plant and an easement for King County’s Brightwater sewer project.
Last year, Snohomish County changed the property’s zoning from industrial to an urban center, a type of dense, mixed-use development that would allow up to 3,500 condo units. Neighbors worry about traffic, since Point Wells is essentially a cul-de-sac reached by a two-lane road in Shoreline. They’re also concerned the development could roughly double Richmond Beach’s population.
The property recently changed hands between affiliates in the Alon Group, an Israeli holding company. It’s now under BSRE Point Wells, part of Blue Square Real Estate, instead of Paramount of Washington.
If permission is granted to redevelop Point Wells, the owner has promised extensive environmental cleanup as well as public access to a pier and about three-quarters of a mile of sandy beach.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Public meetings
July 27, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave. N.
Sept. 23, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Shoreline Conference Center, 18560 First Ave. NE.
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