Everett plans new use for Army Reserve site
Published 11:14 pm Monday, February 25, 2008
EVERETT — The U.S. Army Reserve center in north Everett could be turned over to the Salvation Army, the Snohomish County Center for Battered Women, Everett Community College or some other group.
Prospective tenants are lining up three years after Maj. David P. Oswald United States Army Reserve Center at 1110 Rainier Ave. appeared on the Defense Department’s base closure list.
The Everett City Council is scheduled on March 14 to consider forming what’s known as a Local Redevelopment Authority to ultimately recommend a final use for the property.
“We want to assume the role because we feel it’s our responsibility to plan for land use,” city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said.
Because no federal agencies expressed an interest in reusing the 3-acre site, the federal government is expected to soon declare the property surplus.
But first, the community must form a redevelopment authority to decide how the base will be reused.
The process established by the Defense Department requires a balancing of homeless assistance needs with those of economic development.
The land includes four buildings constructed between 1959 and 1990 with a total of 14,600 square feet. It is currently zoned for multi-family, commercial, retail and office buildings.
Michael Kerns, Everett Community College’s vice president of administration, said the college sent a letter to the U.S. Army last year expressing interest in buying the land for long-term development.
It sits next to the 17-acre College Plaza Shopping Center, which the college hopes to use over the next decade.
“We’re one of the more congested community colleges in the state and we need to grow to meet the demand of the community,” said Kerns, adding that fall semester was the busiest for the college ever.
Capt. Dana Libby with The Salvation Army in Everett said the base would be an ideal place to relocate the faith-based charity’s current soup kitchen, food bank, church and administrative headquarters from 2525 Rucker Ave.
He said the site on Rainier Avenue is close to bus lines, Everett Community College and the regional Department of Social and Health Services office. It also has ample parking, something the Salvation Army’s current facility lacks.
“It could be a one-stop location for people in that area to be able to contact human services,” Libby said. “And it would allow us to serve our neighbors much better than we do now.”
The Snohomish County Center for Battered Women has also expressed interest in redeveloping the site.
The process is expected to take 18 months to two years, Reardon said.
While it hasn’t officially endorsed a specific plan for the site, the Everett Housing Authority, which owns 600 apartments near the base, does have a preferred use.
“We’re supportive of efforts to provide housing for homeless families,” said Bud Alkire, executive director of the housing agency.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
