End near for co-op’s old home in Arlington

By BRIAN KELLY

Herald Writer

ARLINGTON – The death knell will start ringing for the old Cenex Co-op Supply building next to City Hall as demolition bgins Monday.

A crew of minimum security inmates from the prison in Monroe will help remove asbestos-laden material from the building during the demolition.

The 10-member team is state-certified for the work, and one of two that do such jobs for governments across Washington, said Larry McKinstry, acting assistant program administrator for the Correctional Industries Program.

It’s expected to cost $89,000 for the demolition and removal of the building, said Arlington spokeswoman Kristin Hanson. Cenex will pay 60 percent, and the city will pick up the rest.

Although the Olympic Avenue building has housed a farmer’s supply store since the 1950s, Cenex has owned the building only since 1982.

The co-op moved a little less than two blocks away on Olympic Avenue earlier this year.

The city owns the land beneath the building, having purchased it from the railroad. Another adjoining building on the property also will be torn down as part of the project.

No local streets will be closed, but parking nearby may be restricted, Hanson said.

"We’re not going to have a Kingdome implosion," she said.

Prison workers have been used in the past on city projects, she added.

‘We’ve used them a couple of times out at the airport, and they’ve done a great job," Hanson said.

The demolition is expected to take about a week, and the site should be clear of debris after two, Hanson said.

Part of the vacated property may be used for Centennial Trail.

You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to

kelly@heraldnet.com.