Everett site too small for college

Published 1:48 pm Friday, January 18, 2008

It will come as no surprise that many Washingtonians think the “No Basic Business Judgment” (NBBJ) consultant firm out of Seattle came to an incorrect conclusion for a new college campus, which is fundamentally unsupportable in north Snohomish, Skagit and Island counties.

Perhaps a due diligence process that included employees in the Everett Station building would have been useful. The building suffers from internal air quality problems likely involving proximity to numerous standing buses and trains.

The sliver of land proposed behind Everett Station is better suited for a University of Phoenix location than a UW branch location with some measure of collegiate ambiance and growth potential. Trust that the Marysville location will be close enough for adult students to attach to the business internships/connections that are being suggested as a reason for this Everett “postage stamp” site.

Let’s do what is right for the best future of all who’ll be affected for decades to come. This is not about a University of Phoenix or ITT site, is it?

Christopher Mietus