REPORTER
Mercer Island
Wednesday, march 21, 2012 | 75¢
Schools to add temp classrooms this fall
A changing view
40th annual Rotary Run is this weekend
World’s Fair event at Island Books tonight The “Where Were You in ’62” event at Island Books is tonight begins at 7 p.m. There will be a slideshow and presentation centering around the book, “The Future Remembered.” The event benefits the Senior Foundation.
Matt Brashears/Contributed Photo
A worker climbs the crane at the Aviara mixed-use development along 76th Avenue S.E. facing the senior living building, Aljoya. The Mercer Phase II mixed-use development will be built to the south of Aljoya.
More Town Center construction ahead Mercer Phase II project will bring apartments on 76th Ave. S.E. block to 365 By Mary L. Grady
editor@mi-reporter.com
More construction will begin soon in Mercer Island’s Town Center. Phase II of The Mercer is in the process of finalizing its design to meet city building codes. A building permit is in process but has yet to be issued, city planners said. The site for the residential project is along 76th Avenue S.E. and is bounded on the north by Aljoya, on the south by the Starbucks drive-thru and on the east by its sister building, The Mercer. Demolition of buildings that
remain on the site is nearly complete. Drawings of the project under review at the city indicate that the four-plus-story, 138,000-squarefoot building will include 85 apartments. The drawings indicate the building will use the maximum height allowed by zoning, which is 65 feet in elevation. The design also includes 44,500 square feet of parking underground for 151 cars; 1,884 square feet of office space and 1,739 square feet of professional services space. Of the 85 apartments, 34 are studios, 35 are one-bedroom and 15 are two bedrooms. George Steirer, principal planner for the city, said that once the final building permit is issued, it will likely take 18 months for construction.
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Both The Mercer and its sister development are owned by James Cassan and Dollar Development of Mercer Island. Across the street from the newest building site, construction on the Aviara mixed-use project continues. The finished building will have an estimated 166 residential units, and 312 parking spaces with 85 set aside for business customers. A total of 12,000 square feet will be for retail spaces, a restaurant or professional offices. To the south of Aviara is the Hudsman property, the site of the strip mall at the corner of S.E. 27th Street and 76th Avenue S.E. It sold late last year. The property includes the Islander Pub, the True Value hardware store, and a Washington state liquor store. According to the King County Assessor’s office, the parcel sold on Nov. 8, 2011, for $8 million to an entity called MI 2615 LLC. It will most likely be developed to a mixed-use residential over
Portables | Page 2
REPORTER
Youth Theatre Northwest will be offering a free show of the newest production, “Urinetown,” on Thursday, March 22. The show starts at 10 a.m. To learn more, visit www. youththeatre.org.
By Reporter Staff
On March 16, the Mercer Island School District announced that it will place additional portable classrooms at three Island schools. The announcement, posted on the school district’s website, said, “Due to growing enrollment and lack of classroom space at LR, IP and IMS, two portable classrooms (a double-wide portable building) will be placed on the school campuses this summer. The district is presently working with the City of Mercer Island regarding the locations of the portable classrooms. The district projects that it will
Mercer Island
YTN is offering a free show of ‘Urinetown’
Three $100,000 ‘portable’ classrooms to be added at three schools to address overcrowding
Paid Advertisement
The 40th annual Mercer Island Half Marathon Rotary Run will take place Sunday, March 25. The event kicks off with the Pre-Race Expo at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center on Saturday, March 24. The expo runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Race day begins Sunday with ‘day of’ registration at 6:30 a.m. at the MICEC. Various streets and areas will be closed on Sunday. Those include: West Mercer Way exit from I-90 will be closed from 7:45 a.m. until noon; avoid the 77th Avenue S.E. exit from I-90 after 8 a.m.; the Community Center parking lot will be closed all day; westbound traffic on I-90 should use the East Mercer Way exit or Island Crest Way. The first race is the half marathon walk at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Kids Dash at 8 a.m. and the 10k run at 8:30 a.m. The half marathon run begins at 9 a.m., followed by the 5k run and walk at 9:30 a.m. Learn more online at www. mercerislandhalf.com. Results will be posted online on Monday.
One year $39, two years just $59
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Construction | Page 2
Your child lost in the crowd? Tearing down schools assures over-crowding for eight more years and locks in building MEGA SCHOOLS! See better options @ www.no-mi-school-tear-down.com - VOTE NO on this School Bond!