LYNNWOOD — A $960,000 check delivered Thursday ended an 18-month battle between an electronics store and the Lynnwood Public Facilities District, which sought the property for the city’s new $31 million convention center.
The Lynnwood Public Facilities District board on Wednesday night authorized payment for the property and made plans to demolish the building.
"It should be down and gone by the end of the month," said Grant Dull, executive director of the district.
With the final obstacle cleared, Dull said the district is looking for a contractor to begin construction. The work is expected to start in March; Dull said he expects no further delays.
The Lynnwood Convention Center is expected to bring more than 40,000 people a year to the city and generate $9 million to $13 million in additional revenue from tourists.
The state Supreme Court on Jan. 6 refused to hear Video Only’s final appeal of previous decisions that supported the public facilities district’s right to take over the land at a fair price.
"It was an uphill battle the whole way, but Video Only is happily conducting business on the other side of I-5," said Katherine Clark, Video Only’s attorney throughout the 18-month ordeal.
"It’s unfortunate that it was so hard-fought. But to me it was a big success for a business owner, because they preserved the jobs of their employees and maintained a presence in the city of Lynnwood."
The location in dispute is on 196th Street SW just west of I-5. Video Only moved to a new site on Alderwood Mall Parkway on the other side of I-5 late in 2003, but still owned the other property.
A trial is scheduled for Jan. 27 in Snohomish County Superior Court to determine a fair price for the property, but it is unlikely the trial will occur.
The public facilities district decided to pay $960,000, roughly the midpoint between the appraisals of both sides — $985,000 from Video Only and $930,000 from the public facilities district.
If a jury were to decide the land is worth more than $960,000, the district would have to pay more; if the decision is that it’s worth less, Video Only would refund the difference.
Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
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