Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bothell council approves $1.6 million purchase of downtown parcel for redevelopment
Summary
The Bothell City Council voted 7–0 to authorize purchase of King County parcel 08260596 for $1.6 million, adding nearly 1.4 acres to a downtown redevelopment site. A Phase II environmental review found trace contaminants tied to a nearby dry-cleaner plume but no on-site cleanup requirements.
The Bothell City Council voted unanimously June 2 to authorize the purchase of King County parcel number 08260596 from TRF Equities for $1.6 million, combining it with adjacent city-owned lots to create a larger redevelopment parcel downtown.
City staff told council the parcel sits next to the city’s Triangle Junction and is strategically positioned for future redevelopment. The Phase II environmental site assessment completed during due diligence found groundwater at the parcel’s western edge exceeded cleanup levels for a dry-cleaning solvent, likely connected to a nearby remediated dry-cleaner plume. Staff said no on-site soil or groundwater cleanup was required and that low-level petroleum residues detected were far below Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) limits.
“This purchase will combine three parcels into a nearly 1.4-acre site and gives us a much larger palette for redevelopment options,” the city manager said during the presentation. Staff told council the appraisal supported the $1.6 million offer and that the city plans to close in cash and later reimburse the general fund by issuing taxable bonds; repayment is expected to come from proceeds of a future sale or development transaction, acknowledging market and timing uncertainty.
Council member Dodd moved the recommended action; the motion was seconded and the clerk recorded a roll-call vote of yes from Council Members Angulari, Mayor Thompson, Deputy Mayor Alderks, Kurd, Miles, Dodd and Alcabra. The motion passed 7–0.
Council members asked staff to continue due-diligence work and noted the purchase will allow more flexibility when the city markets the combined sites to prospective developers. Staff said demolition and further investigation would occur if and when redevelopment planning begins and that any conditions would be disclosed to potential partners.
Next steps: staff said they expect to return to council the following week to finish closing paperwork and to bring forward any financing authorization needed to reimburse the general fund.
