Issaquah council approves purchase of 1055 Northwest Maple Street for new city hall, $12.975 million

The Issaquah City Council voted unanimously April 20 to approve a purchase and sale agreement for 1055 Northwest Maple Street, a 21,000‑square‑foot office building commonly referred to as the Ednetics building, for $12.975 million plus closing costs.

Administrative Services Director Autumn Monahan presented the recommendation, describing a multi‑year space‑needs process that began in 2018 and a council‑approved goal to address police operational needs first while identifying a suitable site for city hall. Monahan told the council the building “meets a lot of our goals for space needs” and is centrally located near transit and parks; staff recommended financing the purchase with one‑time funds previously set aside for facility needs.

Monahan said the proposal uses proceeds from the city’s prior sale of City Hall Northwest and other one‑time sources, with up to $16.3 million available for facility needs; the $12.975 million purchase price and anticipated tenant improvements fit within those one‑time funds. The purchase includes a seven‑year lease back to the seller for a 4,400‑square‑foot ground‑floor family office; the earnest money is $500,000 and the due‑diligence period is 20 days.

Council members asked detailed questions during the meeting, including whether the adjacent stormwater facility is passive or active and whether an easement would obligate the city to maintain infrastructure not on the acquired parcel. Community Planning and Development Director Minnie Dali explained that rezoning to a community‑facilities designation would provide more flexibility for future public‑use conversions, while noting any redevelopment would still need to meet code and environmental buffers.

Council President Martz moved to approve the purchase and sale agreement with DWP LLC (King County tax parcel 2824069326) and to authorize the mayor to execute the lease and related documents. The motion passed unanimously. Monahan said staff had already started due diligence work, including a building condition assessment and a Phase I environmental review, and that the city would return with a space‑planning and tenant‑improvement schedule if the sale closes.

Key details

- Address: 1055 Northwest Maple Street (King County parcel 2824069326) - Purchase price: $12,975,000 plus closing costs - Funding: one‑time facility funds (proceeds from prior property sales, mitigation fees, interest); up to $16.3 million available - Due diligence: 20 days (earnest money $500,000 refundable during diligence) - Zoning: current urban core; rezoning to community facilities discussed as a future option

Next steps: complete due diligence, finalize title and permit review, engage an architect for space planning and return to council with tenant‑improvement and move plans for approval.