YMCA to buy Colby property for construction of new facility

EVERETT — The YMCA of Snohomish County has agreed to buy the Everett school district’s former administration building at 4730 Colby Avenue.

The youth organization is offering to pay $3.325 million for the 8.1-acre parcel, which includes the 51-year-old main building and two portable buildings.

All the buildings would likely be torn down and replaced with a new YMCA, which will replace the organization’s nearly 100-year-old facility in downtown Everett.

YMCA CEO Scott Washburn said that if the deal closed, construction of a new facility would likely be three or four years away.

The YMCA estimates a new building will cost at least $25 million to build.

The nonprofit is in the middle of a capital campaign, with about $3 million raised so far from a small number of donors. It plans to raise about $10.5 million and fund the remainder of the building with loans and some existing assets.

The full purchase price for the Colby building will be due when the deal closes, which could take several months.

But the YMCA’s cash position is strong, with $9.3 million on the books at the end of 2014.

“We can write that check,” Washburn said.

The district decided to sell the Colby building and also its historic Longfellow building last year. In January, the district issued a request for letters of interest.

The district estimated the Colby building and its lot are worth between $2.2 million and $3.9 million.

There were six offers for Colby, ranging from $1.1 million to $3 million.

The Longfellow building only drew one offer, which was not considered to be viable.

Aside from the YMCA, which made the top offer, other offers came from developers seeking to subdivide the lot and build single-family residential housing, in one case for seniors only.

Everett Public Schools Superintendent Gary Cohn said the price was the primary factor in selecting the YMCA, although they did want to sell to something that would benefit the community.

“We were hoping that whatever came to us in this process would be something that would be of value and make neighbors happy,” he said.

The YMCA’s initial $3 million offer included a clause to consider a price up to 5 percent above the highest qualified competing final offer.

“It was that big of a priority for us,” Washburn said.

The district made counteroffers to the YMCA and Natural 9 Holdings LLC, a Lake Stevens-based developer that made the second-highest bid of $2.95 million. Natural 9 agreed to $3.3 million and the YMCA agreed to the final purchase price of $3.32 million.

The Everett School Board will be asked at its May 26 meeting to approve the negotiation of the purchase and sale agreement.

It will likely take several months to close the deal.

The YMCA’s aging downtown facility has 3,600 members, the smallest number of any YMCA in Snohomish County. Moving to the Colby building could increase the membership by about 15 percent, just by being closer to the geographic center of the city, Washburn said.

Because the old YMCA has no elevator, about 30 percent to 40 percent of the 100,000-square-foot facility is only used for storage.

The new YMCA would include an aquatic center, a youth and teen center for after-school and weekend programs, a gymnasium, a drop-in center for infants and children up to age 10, community rooms and fitness studios.

It might have smaller square footage, but it would be more accessible and the large lot will allow potential future expansion.

Plus, it’ll be new.

“It’s going to be more energy-efficient, we won’t have the same repair issues, it’ll be a smarter investment of our resource dollars,” Washburn said.

Throughout the process of negotiating and selling the building, School Board member Ted Wenta has recused himself from all discussions and decisions because he works as the vice president of operations for the YMCA.

Cohn, who also sits on the board of trustees for YMCA, took an extended leave of absence from that board while the sale process developed.

“I haven’t attended a board meeting for a year or so,” Cohn said.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.