McMenamins Deal Closes In Bothell

McMenamins, the well-known Oregon brewpub and hotel company paid Bothell more than $7 million in cash and in non-monetary compensation for the 5.41 acre Anderson School site in downtown, as part of the city's redevelopment plan. Additionally, McMenamins will provide non-monetary compensation including access to some of the McMenamins’ facilities at no charge to Bothell residents for 15 years.  

McMenamins submitted a proposal to the city in a competitive process in 2009. McMenamins operates brew pubs in the Northwest with its chain of hotels primarily in Oregon. The hotel in Bothell will be their first in the Puget Sound and will serve as a flagship in the region. Facilities are to be open for business no later than August 2014 in accordance with the Development Agreement

The City’s development agreement preserves the historic (red brick) art deco façade of the Anderson School Building, which originally opened its doors in 1931 and which was remodeled in 1992. The campus includes five buildings for reuse totaling 65,597 square feet and will include:

• The main school structure 28,155 square feet (3 stories)
• The cafeteria 6,967 square feet
• The shop and class rooms 5,669 square feet
• The gym and locker areas 10,106 square feet
• Pool building 14,700 square feet 

This is the first parcel to close from the City of Bothell’s 25 acre surplus properties. New development in the downtown pipeline includes $207 million in private sector residential and commercial mixed use proposed by a number of private developers, including Main Street Properties, Pacific Northwest Construction, and Weidner Apartment Homes.

A 1.65 acre parcel, immediately to the south of Anderson, Block L, is currently available for sale by the city.

Bothell claims to be leading the largest municipal downtown project in the state, and announced in April it’s on target for reaching the for the redevelopment project. 

Will having a new, affordably-priced hotel so close to Woodinville put a damper on that city attracting a hotel developer for the now defunct ?