Sale to Mukilteo will preserve Japanese Gulch

MUKILTEO — The dream of preserving a large chunk of land in Japanese Gulch for recreation has finally been realized.

The city of Mukilteo recently completed a purchase of 98 acres on the west side of the wooded ravine for $5.4 million.

The land, owned by Metropolitan Creditors Trust of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was zoned for light industry. For several years, gulch enthusiasts feared the company would sell the property for development. The parcel borders areas popular with hikers and mountain bikers.

An agreement on the sale was reached Friday.

“It’s something we worked on for quite awhile,” outgoing Mayor Joe Marine said.

Earlier estimates placed the potential cost of the land at $6 million or higher.

The city and company communicated over the years, but for much of that time the city didn’t have the money to buy the land.

In August, the city received a $2.5 million grant from the Snohomish County Conservation Futures fund for Japanese Gulch. On top of $1 million it already had received from the county and another $1 million received from the state earlier this year, the city suddenly had $4.5 million in hand.

Negotiations intensified and the city scraped together $900,000 in money from its real-estate excise tax and park-acquisition funds, mayor-elect Jennifer Gregerson said.

“We thought it could cost $8 million, recently we talked about $6 million, so I think the $5.4 million is great,” said Gregerson, who worked on the plan while on the City Council. “And we didn’t raise taxes, we used funds that we had.”

A property tax ballot measure to raise $3.2 million to buy the gulch narrowly failed in the fall of 2012. The measure received 58 percent of the vote, but as a tax levy it was required to gain a 60 percent majority.

Despite the show of support, city officials decided against putting another measure on the ballot this year.

Marine said he was involved in the negotiations from the beginning. The two sides started about $750,000 apart. “I would say in the end, they gave up more, definitely,” he said.

Marine said he was glad to be able to help make the purchase happen before leaving office.

“A lot of people put a lot of effort into acquiring that property,” he said.

State Sen. Paull Shin, state Rep. Marko Liias, Snohomish County councilmen Brian Sullivan and John Koster, along with Marine, serve as advisory, non-voting board members of the Japanese Gulch Group. The non-profit organization has promoted preserving the gulch.

“We really couldn’t have done it without all of them supporting this project,” said outgoing City Councilman Richard Emery, a longtime gulch advocate.

Emery said community support, including last year’s vote, was instrumental in showing elected officials that many people valued the gulch.

“This is going to be a resource and recreational opportunity and natural space now forever,” Emery said. “It’s just a jewel for everyone to have.”

Gregerson said the next step will be for the city and gulch supporters to develop a plan to integrate trails into the new property. Athletic fields have been mentioned as a possibility, she said.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; bsheets@heraldnet.com.

Learn more

A few years ago The Herald shared the history of Japanese Gulch through the story of Mukilteo pioneer Masaru “Mas” Odoi, in a two-part story, “A Place of Happiness and Peace.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.