10 years ago 1997
A chapter in the long saga of the former Hewlett Packard complex ended when the property was finally sold to a developer last week. The buildings, which were at the center of intense negotiations between the city of Marysville and the Tulalip Tribes, sold for $4.75 million to John Pietromonaco, a Seattle-area developer who has already agreed to lease out one of the buildings to the Boeing Company. According to realtors familiar with the deal, the airplane manufacturer agreed to lease the 70,000-square-foot rear building as a training center calls to Boeing officials were not returned last week. The property, on 35th Avenue NE and west of I-5 across from the Tulalip Casino, is within the boundaries of the Tulalip Reservation but hasnt belonged to the Tribes or Tribal members for decades. The Tribal board offered to buy the complex last spring and was considering moving part of their casino or bingo into one of the buildings. Al Hodges, who represented Pietromonaco, said the building became more attractive as rents to the south increased. Drawing a good tenant was the key to selling the properties and Hodges said a renter could find rates half of comparable buildings in Bothell and Woodenville. The Tribes are still looking for a new building, but spokesperson John McCoy said the board has no immediate plans for moving the casino. The offer by the Tribes to buy the property itself fell apart over demands by the city in return for increasing the water and sewer flows. Scott was relieved to have finally sold the property. This one went so far it was almost a killer, a mind killer, he said. Despite being vacant for years, Hodges said the building was in good shape. It actually looked more run down than it was, he said. Pietromonaco is a specialist in upgrading buildings, Hodges said, and the ample parking, access to the freeway and a labor market made the property appealing. Scott said he was sorry the deal with the Tribes fell through. I wanted to do business with the Tribes.

25 years ago 1982
Has the city bitten off more than they can chew with its downtown redevelopment project? Thats the question members of the Planning Commission and certain property owners are asking themselves. Baxters Auto Shop and Burger Stop are two businesses who hoped the commission could re-do its plan so they can continue to exist as there are now. The plan calls for a parking lot in each of the business locations. City Administrator Rick Deming said the commission should not lock itself in, but consider changes as long as parking, design and square footage are all taken into account. Deming added as the plan progresses it touches businesses more specifically and theres bound to be more people who are not happy. At its Monday meeting, the commission voted to incorporate Baxters Auto Shop and Burger Stop property into the plan since it does not conflict with the overall plan. Project consultant Tom Beckwith said the scheme the downtown commission is working with is only a concept and is subject to change. Commission member Deebe Anderson said she wanted the property owners to know the commission wanted to hear their comments and work with them, not against them. Id like to hear from Bill Geddes on the marina, Anderson said, turning to where Geddes was sitting. About 10 years ago I considered this same marina plan, Geddes began. What you havent considered is you have a 15-foot tide wall. I cant see spending millions to dredge when it wont advertise itself. It wont sell itself. Theres other places you can put an office complex without water and theres other places you can put commercial without water, Beckwith said. But with the waterfront potential, the interstate visibility and the pedestrian visibility, that per se, cant be done anywhere else. Geddes said he is not against dressing up the marina and making some changes. At Mondays meeting he presented a list of wet and dry storage members who stated they would go along with any theme, improvements and expansion of the marina when the economy permits and as he and the other marina users see fit. Were willing to dress it up, tear buildings down, whatever is feasible, he said.

50 years ago 1957
Asking people to come in and get something for nothing will be the task of volunteer committees now being formed in the Marysville district. They will serve as hosts and hostesses, on phone committees, as baby sitters and as car pool members on the coming mass chest x-ray survey. A unit will start in the Marysville High School Tuesday, Oct. 29, moving to Carters Jewelry store Wednesday and Thursday Oct. 30-31. The unit will be at the B&M Shopping Center Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2. Tuesday, Nov. 5, the unit will be located at Priest Point Grange Hall, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m.