Modern Multi-Use Complex Going Up in Historic Arlington Downtown

Arlington Residents Sound off on New Mixed Use Development Building Going Up Downtown

At 104 Olympia Ave in Arlington, Grandview North LLC is putting up the first mixed use building to be added to Arlington in a couple decades. This
move comes directly on the heels of the City Council updating the mixed-use development regulations.

The new and tasteful building, which is to have shrouded refuse bins, custom “turn of the century” lamp posts, and a forty-space parking lot by Legion
park, is being met with mixed reviews. Many residents believe the charm that lies in the pretty hamlet might be affected by it’s modern and enormous
footprint, which comes in at a hefty 10,218 square feet. Others go on to reason that change, especially positive change for communities, is supposed
to look different.

The development, currently slotted as “Emory Lofts” will boast three stories, the top two of which will hold forty studio apartments with the bottom
floor slotted for commercial space. The developers, Grandview North, are relying heavily on the foot-traffic friendly nature of the town to draw
in young people, and besides the new lot, also added a forty-slot indoor bike rack to actively encourage biking.

If you were to take a walking tour of Arlington, you’d see progress and development adding layers to the town in the form of eras. For example, the
downtown area holds historical buildings from near the turn of the century just as Arlington was being platted and separating itself from Haller
City. Follow this by the post-war era homes from the fifties flank that, then the development that came along in the 1960s, when Hwy 9 and I-5
came together top off the whole area.

Arlington positioned itself as a sleeper town with lower costs of living for those interested in commuting to Everett or Seattle for work. Lastly,
consider the annexation of Smokey Point and Island Crossing, to be the outermost layer. In essence, Arlington has been growing and changing all
along, and Emory Lofts seem to signify the ushering in of the newest era. 

http://www.arlingtonwa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02062018-294?packet=true

Arlington.wa.gov