Bothell council approves sale of Lot P South to United Methodist Church and Bridge Housing, 5-2

The Bothell City Council voted 5-2 on Jan. 21 to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign a purchase-and-sale agreement with Bothell United Methodist Church and Bridge Housing for Lot P South in downtown Bothell.

The resolution authorizes a deal in which the city sets the purchase price at $0 in exchange for long-term public benefits. Under the agreement the property would be restricted by an affordable housing covenant for 99 years and must be used for housing affordable at least to households earning 80% of area median income (AMI) or less. The agreement names the church as buyer and Bridge Housing as the developer partner; the packet indicates the development partner will lead fundraising and project development.

City Manager (name listed in the transcript as city manager) told the council the agreement "satisfies the parameters of the letter of intent" negotiated after council direction in May 2022 and explained key milestones in the timeline. The agreement establishes a 180-day due-diligence and inspection period for the purchaser that runs to roughly the fourth week of July; if the purchaser proceeds, the next major steps will be fundraising rounds this fall and the permitting process.

The agreement provides that the city will retain ownership of the land until specified requirements are met and the project is ready to build. The contract includes a buyer-remedy cap of $750,000 to reimburse certain out-of-pocket expenses to the developer in the event of a seller default, which the city manager described as "a cap of which the city would be agreeing to reimburse for actual expenses to the developer."

Public comment at the start of the meeting included supporters and opponents of the sale. Reverend Joe Kim, lead pastor at Bothell United Methodist Church, urged council to "continue to trust us as a partner" and to authorize the city manager to sign the purchase-and-sale agreement. Reverend Kristen Joyner, also representing Bothell United Methodist Church, said the project would provide affordable housing near transit and ground-floor community space and asked council to "vote yes tonight on AB 25-014." Residents at the podium raised questions about process and transparency; one attendee asked why city-owned land was being transferred for no purchase price and whether a broader competitive process had been used.

Council discussion ranged from procedural objections to affirmations of the need for new affordable housing. Two council members voted no and cited process concerns and the perceived risk of conveying valuable city land without receiving monetary compensation; other council members emphasized the need to produce affordable units and thanked the church and Bridge Housing for their commitment and willingness to continue through a prolonged negotiation process.

The final roll call was recorded as: Council member Zorns — No; Mayor Thompson — Yes; Council member Alderks — Yes; Council member Kurt — Yes; Council member Manke — No; Council member Dodd — Yes; Deputy Mayor Alcobra — Yes. The motion passed 5–2.

Next steps identified in the purchase-and-sale agreement include the buyer's 180-day inspection period (to July) and anticipated participation in fall funding rounds. The agreement requires the developer to seek all permits and approvals at its expense; standard public-notice and permitting steps will apply and provide opportunity for neighbor comment during the permitting process.

Clarifying details about unit count, precise affordability levels under specific funders, and a final construction schedule were not specified in the meeting and will be determined as Bridge Housing and the church finalize financing and permits.