Published September 2003

Lynnwood PFD plans land purchase, selects operator

SCBJ Staff

The long struggle to buy out a Video Only store and clear the way for construction of a new convention center could end soon.

The Lynnwood Public Facilities District Board in August authorized its executive director, Bill Evans, to begin drafting papers to close the sale of the property at the corner of 36th Avenue W. and 196th Street SW.

The board also approved SMG as operator of the convention center, assuming a contract can be worked out. SMG is a Philadelphia-based convention center operator that was a finalist to run the new Everett Regional Special Events Center.

The PFD’s condemnation of the Video Only property has been in the courts for nearly a year. Procuring the Video Only site was the last step before starting construction on the convention center. All of the other properties required for the convention center have been purchased, said Mike Echelbarger, the board’s chairman.

Echelbarger said the management of Video Only asked the PFD to make the offer. He declined to mention specific figures.

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