School bus barn work begins on 15-acre spot in Lynnwood

By Rikki King

Herald Writer

LYNNWOOD — The Edmonds School District is developing a 15-acre property in Lynnwood.

The site at 20601 52nd Ave. W. will become home to the maintenance and transportation departments, including the district’s fleet of 148 school buses, spokeswoman DJ Jakala said.

Construction started in May and will continue into summer 2016. They are aiming for the maintenance department to move in by next May, Jakala said.

The total price of the project is about $30 million. Of that, $22 million is for construction costs. The money comes from the capital funding bond approved by voters last year.

The move will free up the 9-acre site on Alderwood Mall Boulevard that houses the buses. It’s in a prime location near the mall, visible from I-5.

The district will either sell the property or seek to sign a long-term lease, similar to what’s in place at the old Lynnwood High School site, Jakala said.

A Costco and an apartment complex are being built at the former campus north of the mall, along with a new road.

The district has been planning to develop the property along 52nd for about a decade. Originally, they talked about moving the district headquarters there, but that idea is on hold for now.

The new transportation facility is among $102 million in construction so far approved in Lynnwood this year, according to a city memo.

A hotel and the CityCenter Apartments also are planned for land in Lynnwood that was until recently owned by the school district. There are two portions of property near the Lynnwood Convention Center related to those projects. One is sold, and the other is being sold, Jakala said.

The apartments are set for construction to start this summer, with the hotel to follow.

Meanwhile in the district, two former elementary school properties also have been sold.

Those are the former Evergreen Elementary, next to the I-5 off ramp at 236th Street SW, and the old Melody Hill Elementary site, at the I-5 on ramp at 220th Street SW.

The developer, Devco Inc., of Bellevue, has indicated its plans to build affordable housing there.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

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