Hopes dim for Falls Crossing sale

Published 2:24 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE — Chances that a conservancy group will purchase

a significant portion of the proposed Falls Crossing development are

fading as negotiations between Puget Western Inc. (PWI) and the

unnamed buyers appear to be stalled.

“We’re still in discussions,” said PWI President Bob Boyd. “There is

a draft agreement in front of the buyer. They’re in the review process now.”

Boyd took City Council members by surprise Nov. 13 when he

announced the potential sale of an undisclosed portion of the 182-acre

site and told the city that a decision had to be reached by the end of the year.

Located on Snoqualmie Parkway near State Route 202, part of the

property is situated directly across from Snoqualmie Falls. The

controversial development would include retail space, offices and about 280

multi- and single-family homes.

PWI officials had asked the council to set up a series of special

meetings to consider a scaled-back version of their development application.

Stating that any incentive to sell part of the land to a coalition of

conservancy groups would be greatly diminished after Jan. 1, PWI attorney Tom

Pors urged the City Council to make a final decision by Dec. 21. But

scheduled meetings were canceled without notice when PWI and the

interested parties failed to reach an agreement.

Although still in the negotiating stages, time is running out and

there is dwindling hope for review of any agreement before January.

“I’d say the chances of something happening now are about

50-50,” Boyd said. “At least we’re

hopeful that’s still the case.”

City officials said they were disappointed by the news, but said

they have not given up hope for some resolution in the future.

“We don’t have any meetings scheduled, and I don’t see

anything happening that would create the need for any special meetings before the

end of the year,” said City Manager Gary Armstrong. “But we’re certainly

interested in anything that will preserve the Falls Crossing site, or at least a

major portion of it. From the city’s position, we have no artificial deadline.”