City staff presented options on May 13 for the city-owned community facility at 122 Twentieth Avenue Northeast after Central Washington University ends its lease June 30, and several residents urged the Council to place community programs — including a thrift shop proposed by Sammamish Friends — in the building.

Janie Walzer, management analyst for the Parks and Recreation Department, told the Sammamish City Council the city bought the building in 2015 for "a little over $6,000,000," that it measures about 31,000 square feet, sits adjacent to wetlands, and is sited on roughly 22 acres. She said the lot is zoned residential and the university operated under a conditional use permit issued in 2017; after CWU vacates, the building would be a nonconforming use that can remain occupied for 12 months unless the city takes other action.

Walzer outlined three broad options: find a single anchor tenant to rent the whole facility, sell the property, or maintain city ownership and operate the building. She said initial transition costs to keep the facility open — "the bare minimum" — were estimated between "$175,000 and $275,000," ongoing facility operations would be about "$190,000 a year," and a 2022 facility assessment identified roughly "$5,000,000 in estimated needs" over a 15‑year horizon (costs not adjusted for inflation).

Public commenters urged community uses if the city retains the site. Sally Farrell, who identified herself as board president of Sammamish Friends, said the nonprofit has drafted a longer proposal and presented an executive summary asking the city to allocate space at the former CWU building for a thrift shop run under Sammamish Friends’ 501(c)(3). "The thrift shop is something that's been on our mind for a while," Farrell said, adding the group would staff the operation with volunteers and would use net proceeds to support human services and senior programs.

Other speakers described expected benefits. Nicola Weiss said the thrift shop would operate under Sammamish Friends’ nonprofit status and supply funds for senior services and other local nonprofits. High‑school volunteers Ayush Agua and Andrew Wang said the shop would provide volunteering and gathering opportunities for youth and help bring foot traffic to the site. Several residents recommended the city consider a senior center, meeting spaces, and performance uses for the gym stage.

Council members asked operational and financial questions and generally expressed interest in retaining the building while staff refines costs. Council member Sid Gupta said, "I do support the city maintaining ownership and operations." Council member Rosheen O'Farrell said she "fully support[s]" exploring a city‑owned community facility. Mayor Karen Howe said the opportunity was "almost too good ... to pass on" but cautioned the council will need to budget for long‑term subsidy if the city operates the center.

Staff told the council that maintaining ownership would likely require rezoning or a new conditional use permit to allow continued community use beyond the 12‑month nonconforming period and that any plan to expand operations or invest in capital improvements should be integrated into Community Development's work plan and future budgets. Staff also suggested a Metropolitan Parks District as a long‑term funding mechanism.

No formal council decision to buy, sell, or rent the property was made at the meeting. City staff said they would proceed with short‑term transition steps to secure the building and return in the fall with more detailed cost estimates, permitting implications and a community engagement plan to help determine long‑term uses.

Background: the facility was constructed in 2008, served as a CWU satellite campus under a lease‑to‑own arrangement, and the city purchased it in 2015. Current subleases include the YMCA operating the community and aquatic center, small classroom rentals and a Microsoft commuter parking agreement. Staff cautioned the council that the $5,000,000 condition assessment figure is a planning estimate from 2022 and does not include transition‑specific items that staff identified separately.

Community members and councilors suggested several near‑term uses that could require minimal investment, including staging community rentals, off‑site city records storage, and targeted safety improvements to lighting and locks. Council members repeatedly emphasized the need for community engagement before committing to significant capital work or a change in land use.

The council did not vote on long‑term ownership or disposition at the May 13 meeting. Staff will return with more detailed pricing, a community engagement timeline and permitting analysis if council confirms it wants the city to retain the building.