LYNNWOOD – It would be a great place for a community center.
So says Jacquie Powers, who lives near a site that the city of Lynnwood is considering for a $12 million community gathering place.
Lynnwood is lacking in gathering places, she said.
City staff have asked the City Council for permission to appraise six parcels between 196th Street SW and 198th Street SW, and Scriber Lake Road and Scriber Lake. One of the parcels is occupied by an Office Depot store, which plans to move across Scriber Lake Road to a shopping center.
The council will consider the request Sept. 7.
Councilman Jim Smith said the council wants to build a center, it’s just a matter of how much the property will cost.
The idea surfaced more than 10 years ago and later was written into the city’s master plan as an official goal, city parks director Craig Larsen said.
Beginning last September, an advisory group of residents and officials was assembled and held public meetings. A consultant, NW Architects, was hired for $100,000 to study sites and do preliminary designs for a community center and a proposed remodeling of the city’s recreation center at 18900 44th Ave. W.
The community center would include a new senior center and other features. The $6.2 million recreation center remodeling, if approved, would include an indoor pool and a retractable roof over the outdoor summer pool.
The designs for both were shown to the public and city advisory boards in the spring, and most of those who responded to a citizen survey liked the ideas.
Larsen said the sites under consideration include about seven acres between 196th and 198th streets, and 18 acres near I-5, Cedar Valley Road and the Lynnwood park-and-ride. About seven acres are needed for the center, he said.
The 196th-198th street properties, which are next to Scriber Lake Park, are assessed at $3.7 million, according to the city. Eleven businesses occupy the area, including Office Depot.
A full appraisal would cost $30,000, which Smith said he isn’t willing to authorize unless he knows the sellers are serious and will ask a reasonable price.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity for all the folks here,” said resident Iris Taylor, a member of the advisory panel.
Contact reporter Bill Sheets at 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
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