December 1, 2004

Edmonds School District Property Study:
Proposed Recommendations Going to School Board

A study of ten Edmonds School District properties has resulted in the development of several recommendations aimed toward leveraging potential revenue to address capital project needs.

Among the staff recommendations planned to be made to the Edmonds School District Board of Directors during a December 7 study session is to relocate Lynnwood High School and leverage ground lease revenue from the property of the existing site. Lynnwood High would be rebuilt at the North Road site, approximately 41 acres already owned by the district in southeast Snohomish County .

Initial review of the property study earlier this month indicated that a combination of property lease, sale, and taxpayer support would be necessary to build a new Lynnwood and Scriber Lake high schools and address other capital project needs. A ballpark estimate of potential revenue generated by these recommendations is $35 million.

“The Board will still need to decide which if any of the recommendations to pursue,” Superintendent Nick Brossoit said. “We want to be sensitive to taxpayers, but we still need community support to address our facility needs.”

The study, completed by the property assessment/development firm BJSS Duarte Bryant was launched in September. The assignment was to look at the 10 sites totaling nearly 143 acres and determine the range of opportunities for property use at each site.

The former Woodway Elementary property has stirred interest in the southwest corner of the District from Edmonds citizens interested in seeing the nearly 10 acres converted into a community park. District officials are recommending the property be sold and are currently talking with Edmonds city officials about the potential shared use of the property for both park and development purposes.

“The results of this study have been very helpful for us as we develop recommendations and explore options,” Brossoit said.

For more information on the property study and the ongoing work to develop a recommendation please contact Marla Miller, executive director of business and operations at 425-431-7036 or millerm@edmonds.wednet.edu.