When The Northwest Church announced its intention to move to a new Lynnwood location next year, Shoreline Water District agreed to purchase the church’s existing 3.2 acre site in order to address their long-standing maintenance facility needs.

The Northwest Church has been located in the heart of Shoreline for more than 30 years, providing a place for people in the Shoreline Community to discuss faith and interact with each other, and hosting community events including Christmas Musicals, Shoreline Community Care, the Puget Sound Mobile Medical Clinic, an annual Block Party, and an annual Trunk or Treat event.

Shoreline Water District has been serving people within the cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park since 1931, managing the water supply, maintaining infrastructure, hosting community events, providing water education, and encouraging conservation. As a public water district, we operate entirely independent from both cities.

Realizing a Dream on Both Sides

A long standing dream of The Northwest Church is to develop a facility that serves as a “third-place” for the surrounding community—featuring more modern standards for its children’s programs and student ministries, along with expanded space that can be utilized on a daily basis by multiple groups, rather than exclusively for church use.

Purchasing the new site located at 19820 Scriber Lake Road in Lynnwood will allow them to accomplish all of these goals, by nearly doubling their existing square footage once the new facility is completed.

Above: The Northwest Church’s new location

The new location is near the new Lynnwood Crossroads intersection of Highway 99 and 196th Street SW— one of the busiest intersections in the state. Bill Lawrence, Associate Pastor and Shoreline resident for more than 33 years, states, “This isn’t a move out of Shoreline as much as it is a shift from the local neighborhood into the heart of the regional marketplace, where the church can continue to serve not only the cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, but also the communities of Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo and Brier.”

Meanwhile Shoreline Water District has long been searching for property that would enable the District to update our maintenance facility. We explored a variety of options, including the purchase of several parcels adjacent to their existing facility, as well as co-locating with other local governments on a different parcel in Shoreline.

When the option for purchasing the church property arose, it was quickly apparent this was the best possible choice.

Above: the church’s previous site… future home of Shoreline Water District’s Maintenance Facility

Located immediately southwest of Hamlin Park, off 15th Avenue NE in Shoreline, the 3.2 acre parcel is amply sized to accommodate the District’s needs, conveniently located near the District’s current Administration Office, has little or no use restrictions (such as wetlands or steep slopes), and offers two ingress/egress points which would allow larger vehicles to drive through the site with ease.

Shoreline Water District’s sound financial position enabled us to pay cash for the church’s land and its existing facility, for a total cost of $3.3 million. Funding for facility construction is also already covered. “There will be no increase in water rates arising from the purchase and construction of a new maintenance facility,” states Larry Schoonmaker, President of Shoreline Water District’s Board of Commissioners.

Shortly after the contract was signed, the District asked three architects from our consultant roster (Gabbert Architects & Planners, Rolluda Architects Inc., and The Driftmier Architects) to begin exploring whether the church’s existing facilities could be readily converted for maintenance facility needs, or if a new facility would need to be constructed. Upon review of these firms’ recommendations, our Board of Commissioners will determine the best course of action.

The scope of the Maintenance Facility will include field staff office space, a library for Operations and Maintenance related items, secured area for inventoried items, a shop facility to repair items such as hydrants, and a backup generator.

Once construction is complete, the District anticipates selling its existing maintenance facility site—located at 15th Avenue NE and NE 169th Street—likely within the next 24 months.

The Northwest Church has asked Merrick Lentz Architect to renovate their new facility into one that meets the needs of both the church and the community. Both the Church and the District will work closely with the local neighborhood and community to gather input as they begin the process of renovation or design and construction.

Serving the Community from Both Properties

The Northwest Church and Shoreline Water District look forward to expanding their current capacities in service to their respective communities. If you have any questions about The Northwest Church or its future Lynnwood location, please contact the church at 206.364.2275 or visit its website www.nwchurch.net.

If you have any questions about Shoreline Water District’s new maintenance facility property located just southwest of Hamlin Park in Shoreline, please contact Diane Pottinger, PE, District Manager at 206.362.8100.