South County Fire is investigating the cause of a fire that occurred around 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 at the former Family Fun Center off 220th Street Southwest near Highway 99. No one was injured.
South County Fire spokesperson Christie Veley said that 220th Street Southwest east of Highway 99 was closed while firefighters worked to control the blaze.
Fires have been reported inside the building before, including a blaze in December 2021 that caused $200,000 damage and a fire in September 2023.
“There were two other incidents of fires reported at the same address in January 2023 and May 2023. Firefighters responded and, in both of those cases, the fires were outside of the building and were already extinguished when we arrived,” Veley said.
It’s time to tear that building down and replace it with housing. What is the hold up on that? It seems we need spots to build?? Well, there’s one for you. I don’t care what or who is housed just do it. 4 times now…This is a serious situation and well it could get much worse. I thought I had heard a group, or something planned to build there?? This is Edmonds correct? Get on it. Perhaps one of the 5 story buildings suggested could be there. It’s on the bus line right? It’s close to services grocery store large one. Pharmacy, Other amenities all up and down that area. Why is it so hard to figure this stuff out? Why not? 3 years fires and destruction and people apparently looking for places to live? I am growing weary from waiting and discussing. Action Now.
I totally agree, Deborah. I went to the town meeting today about building more housing in Edmonds. This would work.
It is no secret this property is overrun with squatters. Ask anyone who lives in the area or uses the Interurban. It’s time to condemn and tear down this property.
I am sorry, but to me, this building and this site are a perfect example of how ‘development’ [or in this case redevelopment] occurs, or in this case not. In all likelihood this building and the ‘dirt’ (ie, site) upon which it sits are owned by a private party. Only WHEN and IF this property is sold to some other party that wants to redevelop [like housing?] on this ‘dirt’ can the process be undertaken. Of course the current owner could opt to redevelop the property him/her self and figure out how to finance same.
Is there any private building/land owner in Edmonds that wants to ‘gift’ his or her old building and site for any kind of redevelopment– like maybe the Burlington Coat factory building[?]–I doubt it. So all now we all wait and hope that the current owner/seller can do a deal with some buyer who wants to redevelop the property.
Meanwhile, we just keep putting out fires and ‘squatters’!!
We do have codes however that need to be followed, and if the city wanted to push this issue they could. They could force the owner to secure the property, clean it up, or tear it down. Just because it’s privately owned that doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want, and certainly if it’s to the point that it is that derelict and causing a public safety nuisance. In addition, since this property has gotten so bad, we’ve seen an increase in crime and vandalism as far down the trail as in the Lake Ballinger neighborhood. I hope the city will consider what its options are to correct this situation.
As Theresa notes, the property is already well into the permitting process for redevelopment. I’m excited to welcome these new neighbors as I walk past the site as part of my commute.
As long as it is not what is there currently, I candidly, couldn’t care less what occupies that space. The benefit of some housing would be that there would be more users of the Interurban and hopefully push some change and management of the area around 220th. I am sure if you commute through there regularly, you are aware of the wall completely covered in graffiti from top to bottom, in addition to the underpass that is regularly filled with human waste and drug paraphernalia, to the issues further north along the side of the trail from previous and active encampments. I use the trail for recreation and bike with my kids on it regularly, but no longer go past 228th for the reasons noted above. It is just too unpredictable.
This building is already slated for redevelopment – but in the interim, who pays for the nuisance – the surrounding businesses and communities. It could mean a need for a faster permitting process, a more equitable fine/penalty process, additional patrolling at the expense of the landowner, or both. It is good that there is redevelopment coming – but in the interim, there should still be some government action taken on private landowners who fail to meet minimum public safety requirements. Then again, I am not sure squatting is really considered illegal in Washington State.
Agreed. Redevelopment is great, but this situation has been festering for years. Just because something MIGHT happen, doesn’t mean that it should be a free pass in the interim. Also to note, this is certainly not the only example of a property in Edmonds that suffers from these issues.
the current owners are redeveloping it into two 7 story buildings and a mini storage unit building. it has passed the critical area review and design review is underway. follow the status on mybuildingpermit.com
Edmonds code clearly says the owner could have been forced to secure the property and clean up the public nuisance starting several years ago after the street people first moved in. The City did nothing for years despite complaints from taxpayers.
I agree it is time to clean up this nuisance property and bill or lien the owner for the cost of the cleanup.
I don’t have much of a choice about walking through that area although that will change when the 405 bus route is eliminated this fall. Agree that housing and more people using the trail would be great—graffiti is awful, especially on the Edmonds side. I haven’t used the underpass as I walk from 224th to 220th but lots of garbage lately on the trail. Also, I just learned that the dental lab building at the dead end of 224th is slated to house a private school and summer camp supposedly starting this summer. (I don’t know more than what’s on the banner on the building and some brochures in a box on the fence next to the trail. )