Acquisition of the old Edmonds Junior High auditorium is being considered by the Edmonds Public Facilities District. To provide partial funding, the PFD has discussed a ballot measure to increase the local sales tax. Residents of Edmonds should reject any effort by the PFD to increase or use existing taxes to acquire the auditorium.
Acquiring the auditorium is the responsibility of Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson. Several months ago a prospective buyer of the entire Puget Sound Christian College complex offered to negotiate with Edmonds to save the auditorium for public use. The offer was to preserve the auditorium and attached gymnasium in exchange for a relaxed height limit on proposed new construction at the site. An underground parking garage for public use was also part of the proposition.
The mayor didn’t bother to explore the proposal. He didn’t bother to ask for such details as: What height increase was requested? Would Edmonds own or lease the auditorium? Would it be an even swap or might some public funds be needed? How much? Regardless of whether or not the prospective buyer was the ultimate purchaser, the mayor could have learned some useful comparative facts to consider in future negotiations. He didn’t. Nor did he inform the city council of the proposal that had been made to the city.
The law that established the PFD requires that it must spend at least $10 million to acquire, build or renovate a performing arts/convention center. There is a cheaper alternative to that inflexible requirement.
The new owner of the former Christian college property also wants to negotiate with the city to preserve the auditorium. A mayor has powerful negotiating tools at his disposal; Mayor Haakenson should use them to save the historic auditorium and to save taxpayer dollars.
Edmonds
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