McMenamins Announcement Raises the Question: Why Bothell Grows and Kenmore Stagnates
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A number of recent articles on the Bothell Reporter, Portland Business Journal and Kenmore’s KBIN sites raise some serious questions about the way in which our neighbour, Bothell, WA has been able to capitalize on one of its landmark assets, the W.A. Anderson Building, by striking a deal with a well-regarded regional developer such as McMenamins while the City of Kenmore seems incapable of moving substantive projects into reality. The recent move by the Kenmore City Council to entrench Urban Partners LLC into our community with a “ground lease” for Kenmore Village illustrates an inability of our City to think outside the box and exercise economic leadership.
According to the Portland Business Journal article, here’s what McMenamins will be doing in Bothell:
McMenamins is planning to buy a school in Bothell, Wash., and convert it into a 70-room hotel, restaurant, pub, and movie theater, according to a report in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.
The 5.5-acre complex will also have a live music venue and spa, according to the report.
McMenamins, a Portland-based developer of brewpubs, microbreweries and other entertainment venues, is buying the property of the Anderson School for $2.3 million. As part of the deal, the company will also “provide $4.7 million worth of community benefits,” the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce reports.
June 13th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
This is sad and pathetic. I don’t know who you guys have running the city of Kenmore, but from what it sounds they are not doing a very good job at it. I hope next election cycle the voters of Kenmore will wake up and actually vote in people who are willing to get the job done in order to put Kenmore on the map. Here’s an idea…Mr. Lupori for mayor!
June 13th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
The Kenmore City Council and the city managers never seemed comfortable or competent with regard to economic development. Granted, these have been some difficult financial times, but I wonder why it is that Kenmore seems to be “locked-in-time.” The fiasco with the Kenmore Village which, IMO was an incredible opportunity wasted by the council’s lack of vision, is a textbook case of “agendas” trumping city interests.
June 14th, 2010 at 6:39 am
Kenmore had a chance to have McMenamins come in a take over the Seminary buildng. But at the meetings that were held to discuss this issue, the neo-prohibitions came out in force and decried the inclusion of demon-liquor at the Seminary. Of course there were the arguments over the traffic issue, but that wasn’t the touchstone for those who opposed McMenamins, it was that they were going to set up a beer palace.
As for the traffic issues, they are real and Bastyr University feels that pinch everyday. I heard rumors that they are trying to put in a new entrance to their campus straight to Juanita. Parking and amenities are lacking at St Edward Park, they do need to be updated. But unless someone else will foot the bill, they aren’t going to happen.
June 14th, 2010 at 7:10 am
After having grown up in UT and enduring a local culture that abhors drinking (even though the very “mini-bottle” drinks mandated by the state inebriate people faster than liquor-by-the-drink) I have never found the “evils-of-drinking” argument to hold water. I realize we have a number of Council members who may have problems with alcohol consumption and this probably colours their decisions; but this should not stop Kenmore from becoming a City that embodies intelligent, effective and common-sense decision-making.
Even though the Seminary may not have been “ideal,” what is the City doing to attract developers similar to McMenamins who have a transformative vision and might develop some nice enterprises here in the city? Heck, even Bothell’s Country Village embodies that spirit. Where’s ours?
June 15th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
McMenamins was stopped by a group of people that had never visited one of their wonderful, inviting and well maintained properties. And now the seminary rots away at St Edward Park. I do not blame McMenamins for not wanting to get involved with a group of such small minded people and politicians. But, it would have been a beautiful property and a destination for many people and families (which is good for a city by the way).
Congratulations to Bothell. It is a great start to their downtown revitalization and I will participate in McMenamins success.
Cheers.
June 15th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Hi Jason – Thanks for the comment. I don’t know what it is about Kenmore. A good friend of mine says it’s the only town he knows of where fast food restaurants fail.
The residents of Kenmore need to start paying more attention the future needs of our city. There are all sorts of creative ways to blend business needs and community needs, but if the City leaders can’t get past their own hang-ups, Kenmore will continue to be a slow spot in the road that people can’t wait to get through.
June 18th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
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