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VOL. 16, NO. 47
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Editorial: Questions for city officials on Town Center purchase [4]
POLICE | Man arrested for allegedly raping teen [20] COMMUNITY | Character comes first for Decatur cheer team [8]
SPORTS | Beamer takes playoff BUSINESS | Local artists draw up plan to build live FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014 | 75¢ victory, loses to Gonzaga [6] art venue [12]
Council approves $8.2 million purchase of downtown property Former-Target site to complete 21 acres of “Town Center” BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
T
he Federal Way City Council voted 6-1 on the $8.2 million purchase of the former Target property on Tuesday. The 7.48 acre space is one of four properties the city is proposing for “Town Center,” 21 acres that will make up the core of Federal Way’s downtown. The area is already home to Town Square Park, the Transit Center and the future Performing Arts and Conference Center. Several Council members echoed Mayor Jim Ferrell’s reasons for the purchase in that it will take away the city’s “blight,” revitalize the downtown and stimulate the economy. “I think this is a really smart thing to do,” said Councilman Martin Moore. “One of the reasons I ran
A 3D model of the potential plan for the 7.48 acre site where a Target once was. The city of Federal Way purchased the property on Tuesday for $8.2 million. Courtesy of the city of Federal Way for office is we need to do something with downtown. This will create jobs in the future … We’ve all seen it here for the last several years, the empty storefronts and that’s a concern I hear. I think by investing and being proactive and being smart and strategic about this, it will allow us to start moving in the direction of filling up our storefronts, investing in our downtown and providing jobs for our community and the people in here.” Scott Clark, a partner
with Clark Design Group, presented a hypothetical plan to show the potential of the site during the Council meeting, which included buildings 3-7 stories high with apartment or condos on top and commercial retail on the bottom. “You have the absolute luxury of opportunity” for the site, Clark told the Council, with the mayor adding it could also serve as a college branch campus. While development
Decatur cheer
The Decatur cheerleading team rehearses stunts during practice. The girls are getting ready to cheer for girls and boys basketball, gymnastics and wrestling. More story, page 8. SARAH KEHOE, the Mirror
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Man with gunshot wound dumped in Federal Way, possible suspect in Lakewood robbery BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@fedwaymirror.com
A man who died from a gunshot wound in a home invasion robbery was dropped off at Club Palisades Apartment in Federal Way Nov. 18, police said. Cathy Schrock, a spokes-
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woman with the Federal Way Police Department, said it appears the man was shot during a home invasion robbery in Lakewood and was “dumped” by his associates at the apartments at around 11 p.m. The Lakewood Police Department identified the suspect as Taijon Voorhees, 19. The apartments are located in the 2200 block of S. Star Lake Road in Federal Way.
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Police initially received reports that a witness heard gunshots, looked outside and saw a person fall to the ground before a vehicle drove away. Voorhees received immediate aid from officers after they arrived but was pronounced dead at the scene. Lakewood Police say Voorhees is one of three male suspects from a home invasion robbery that
occurred in Lakewood around 9:34 p.m. that same night. Lakewood Police said they learned the identity of one of the other suspects because he confessed his involvement to the crime with a few people. Detectives also learned he previously served time at the Regional Justice Center on a Department of Corrections hold. He is now serving time at the Pierce
County Jail and expected to appear in court Nov. 27. The third suspect is still unknown. Lakewood police responded to a 911 call claiming a home invasion robbery occurred and shots were fired at a house in the 11000 block of Briar Road Southwest. The victims reported three black males knocked on their door and forced their way into the home.
One of the males had a handgun and another carried a knife. The husband was hit on the head with the gun and the wife was cut on the hand by the knife. They were then tied up as the suspects searched the house for valuables, according to a Lakewood Police report. When the suspects stepped outside, the husband freed himself and [ more SHOOTING, page 9 ]
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