MOUNTLAKE TERRACE
July 16, 2008, a ceiling collapse here rendered a section of City Hall impassable.
Still, the building stayed open — city government had nowhere else to go.
That’s not true anymore.
The old City Hall closed July 18, and work crews spent the weekend moving the city out of its worn, 48-year-old home.
The city was expected to reopen for business in a new, temporary City Hall on Tuesday. Government offices will be in part of the Redstone Building, 6100 219th St. SW, Suite 200.
The city has signed a five-year, $2.2 million lease for space in the building.
The lease began July 1. Mountlake Terrace City Council has been meeting in the new City Hall for all of July.
Since the ceiling collapse closed the old City Council Chambers, the council has met in multiple places. Sometimes they’ve crammed into a meeting room that had little room for spectators.
While the council has effectively moved already, city staff have been in transition for weeks, organizing and packing.
“We’ve been up to our eyeballs in boxes,” said Virginia Olsen, the city clerk.
Mountlake Terrace’s next City Hall is already planned, although it hasn’t been funded.
A $40 million Civic Center complex was endorsed in December by a city facilities task force.
The project would include a new police station and a new community center in addition to City Hall.
Chris Fyall writes for the Herald of Everett.
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