Moving forward with what was billed as the next major step in the revitalization of downtown Bothell, city officials are seeking formal Requests for Concepts (RFC) for the redevelopment of the W.A. Anderson School and three adjacent buildings at 18603 Bothell Way Northeast.
In a press release, Bothell Public Information Officer Joyce Goedeke said the city is seeking “early stage development ideas” for the 3.8-acre location.
In total, the four buildings contain about 50,000 square feet. Goedeke’s written call for proposals also mentions the “Northshore Pool site adjacent to the north of the Anderson school,” which adds about another three acres to the total parcel potentially available.
Does the inclusion of the pool property in the call for proposals mean the end of the pool?
“Absolutely not,” said Mayor Mark Lamb.
He added that the city actually is hoping that whoever takes over the Anderson building will not only preserve that structure, but also take on pool operations.
Current pool managers Northwest Centers of Seattle announced in late June they would be walking away from the pool for economic reasons.
No one from the city of Bothell or its partners in the pool — namely, the city of Woodinville and the school district — has said the pool will close, but Northwest plans to stop its oversight of building operations Aug. 31.
Including West Coast Aquatics (which operates the Wald Pool in St. Edward Park), the Northshore YMCA and the Kirkland based WAVE Aquatics, a few potential new operators have expressed interest in possibly taking over the pool. But Lamb said July 14 no entity had yet to reach a definitive decision regarding the facility.
As for the Anderson building itself, built in 1931 as Bothell Junior High School and later renamed after its first principal, the school is the target of efforts to save it, efforts mounted by the Bothell Landmark Preservation Board.
In June, a dozen or so supporters gathered outside the school with signs proclaiming “This Place Matters.”
Home to the Northshore School District’s Secondary Academy for Success, the Anderson building and the adjacent property is part of the 18 acres for which Bothell has a purchase agreement with the schools.
The total purchased property runs along the west side of Bothell Way from Main Street to Pop Keeney Field.
In the past, City Manager Bob Stowe has said the Anderson building is in no danger of disappearing.
“That was one of the reasons we bought the building,” Stowe said, adding city officials felt the purchase was the best route toward preservation of the structure.
The RFC gives a few details as to what type of proposals the city might entertain, reading in part that “the new downtown code provides many options for the site to bring retail, office or residential users to this structure.”
“Specifically, through this RFC, the city seeks concepts from experienced developers, companies or teams willing and able to engage in a discussion with the city,” the letter continues.
The city is calling for developers to have their projects completed and open for business between 2011 and 2012.
According to Goedeke, a pre-submittal briefing and tour of the site for those interested will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 24, meeting at the Anderson building. The city set Aug. 26 as the final deadline for questions related to the RFC. The submittal deadline is Sept. 17.
Goedeke said that following a review of submissions, officials will contact potential candidates for presentations in late September. A decision is expected in October. For those interested in further information or the full RFC, visit the city’s Web site at www.ci.bothell.wa.us.
