OLYMPIA — Four Snohomish County sites emerged Monday as finalists in the competition for a proposed University of Washington campus.
Proposals on two properties in Everett and one each in Lake Stevens and Marysville are the last of 84 submitted to the state for consideration as a home for the four-year college that could begin teaching students next fall.
Representatives of the Office of Financial Management, the UW and a state-hired consultant will spend the next seven weeks figuring out what each could look like with a college sitting on it.
For each site, the consultant will examine the potential cost of constructing buildings, dealing with environmental issues and providing opportunities for student life, including dormitories.
“At this point the belief is any one of these four sites can work and now you really run them through the ringer,” said Deb Merle, higher education policy adviser to Gov. Chris Gregoire.
By Nov. 15, a report is due to the governor and the Legislature with the pluses and minuses of each of the four sites. It is anticipated the consultant, NBBJ of Seattle, will suggest its preferred site.
State and UW officials are not likely to take sides.
Merle said they want to make sure the legislators know “the pros and cons” on each of the four and can decide how to proceed.
Everett leaders glowed Monday at news the two city-owned sites they’ve pushed for months survived the semi-final cut.
Their proposals are Everett Station and a site they call Riverside Point, the former Kimberly Clark plant east of E. Grand Avenue.
“The reality of having a university in Everett is within reach,” said Mayor Ray Stephanson, who last year hired lobbyists to assist the city in bring the UW to town.
“We have really believed our two sites are obviously the best sites and are the most suitable for students,” he said.
City leaders in Lake Stevens and Snohomish were pretty happy, too. Their initial proposal failed to pass muster with the site selection team. They made revisions, resubmitted their proposal and earned their way into contention.
Their property sits at the northeast intersection of 20th Street SE and Cavalero Road. It includes 20 acres owned by the Lake Stevens School District and is near the new Cavelero Mid-High School.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” said state Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, who’s been assisting backers of this location. “I’m just happy we’re getting a branch campus in Snohomish County.”
The Marysville proposal fuses three contiguous properties whose owners had submitted separate plans to the state. All three are privately owned.
One portion of the land borders Smokey Point Boulevard and includes acreage once eyed for a NASCAR racetrack.
The Legislature approved $1 million to find a site and another $3 million to begin developing it. Some of the money could also go to starting classes at an interim site in fall 2008.
While the selection process has garnered much of the community focus, work continues on devising the academic program of the campus. It will combine liberal arts with an emphasis of science, technology, engineering, math and experiential learning.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfieldheraldnet.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
