The Waits Motel at 1301 Lombard in Everett, Washington
Last week MyEverettNews.com sat down with Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and Director of Community Development Julie Willie to talk about the process. The City also provided MyEverettNews.com with a printed timeline going back to March of 2022 of the steps taken in relation issues at the Waits Motel. You can see a full copy of the timeline provided below.
08312023_Waits Motel timeline
According to the timeline provided, the City of Everett approached the owner of the Waits to negotiate a sale of the Waits Motel on March 8th of 2023 and sent an offer on May 19th 2023 which was not accepted by the owner.
Per the timeline, on July 12th 2023 the owner of the Motel and Elah Valley, LLC signed a purchase and sale agreement for $2 million dollars. No money down was required but $51,000.00 in earnest money was due on August 11th 2023. Also on July 12th, 2023 the Everett City Council adopted resolution declaring the Waits Motel a neighborhood blight. Two days prior on July 10th the City of Everett did a news release and Mayor Franklin posted on Facebook about the resolution coming forward.
On July 19th the City Council had the first reading of the condemnation ordinance, a second reading was held on July 26th and the third and final reading, public hearing and vote to condemn was passed by the City Council on August 2md 2023.
Here’s the full timeline as provided by the City:
• March 2022: 16 calls for service
• April 2022: 5 calls for service
• May 2022: 13 calls for service
• June 2022: 24 calls for service
• July 2022: 21 calls for service
• August 2022: Chief of Police sent a notice and demand letter to property owner stating that the Chief has determined the property is a Chronic Nuisance Property under EMC 9.64. This requires cease and desist nuisance activities. (Note: 16 calls for service in August)
• September – December 2022: Calls remained elevated and there were numerous serious incidents at the property in the following months, including overdoses, drug busts and assaults.
o September 2022: 25 calls for service
o October 2022: 19 calls for service
o November 2022: 18 calls for service
o December 2022: 9 calls for service
• Early 2023: Calls remained elevated (January: 18, February: 18, March: 19)
• February 15, 2023: Everett Fire Dept. conducted an inspection on the property and found multiple violations including lacking a manual pull fire alarm system and all 3 smoke alarms in units that were tested were not operational.
• February 27, 2023: Washington State Dept. of Health conducted an inspection on the Waits Motel. They were only provided access to one room (#3) out of 24 and multiple violations were found including no evidence of a smoke detector.
• March 8, 2023: City approached owner to negotiate sale.
• March 2023: Snohomish County Health Department issued a Notice of Potential Chemical Contamination. This notice was provided to the property manager and mailed to the owner, EPD and WA DOH.
• April 2023: Snohomish County Health Department issued a Health Officer’s Order No. 23-008 prohibiting use and requiring decontamination of units 7, 8, 14 and 15.
• May 2023: Appraisal completed. Note: the appraisal is not subject to public disclosure. It’s exempt pursuant to RCW 42.56.260(1)(a).
• May 19, 2023: Appraisal and draft purchase and sale provided to owner (note: if seller had signed, the contract would have gone before Council.)
• Mid 2023: Between April and July, service calls do decrease (April: 11, May: 4, June: 6, July: 5). Note: Calls have decreased in the past as well, but it was always temporary.
• Early July 2023: Police investigate a report of potential underaged prostitution, however determine female was 22 years old. Also in early July, police take a report regarding a past potential sexual assault of a minor occurring at the property.
• July 6, 2023: Chief signs declaration regarding Waits Motel and Mayor signs an “Executive Determination” that Waits Motel is a threat to public health, safety and welfare.
• July 12, 2023: the owner and Elah Valley LLC (associated with motel manager) signed purchase and sale agreement for $2 million. No money down, but $51k earnest money was due Aug. 11, 2023. Unclear if buyer had money to close. Also, the owner submits letter to Council stating decontamination had occurred.
• July 12, 2023: City Council adopted resolution declaring Waits Motel constitutes neighborhood blight and that acquisition is necessary to eliminate neighborhood blight.
• July 19, 2023: First reading of the condemnation ordinance (certified mail notice to owner was sent and first notice published in the Herald as well)
• July 26, 2023: Second reading of condemnation ordinance (second notice posted in the Herald)
• August 2, 2023: Third reading and public hearing at council meeting. City Council adopted the ordinance, approving the acquisition of the Waits Motel using eminent domain.
Current status:
• This week, the City of Everett filed condemnation paperwork in the Snohomish County Superior Court. The condemnation action is only about the Waits Motel and does not concern other nearby properties.
• Negotiations continue with the property owner. We are working to come to an agreement on a purchase price for the property.
• We recently contracted with a relocation agent to assist with the relocation of the long-term residents of the Waits Motel.
• We are currently in the planning stages to determine our process for reaching out to the long-term residents.
Next steps:
• Once we are able to come to an agreement with the property owner on a purchase price, a purchase and sale agreement will come before the City Council.
• If we are not able to reach an agreement on the purchase price, the price will be determined in the Snohomish County Superior Court.
• Relocation assistance for long-term residents that are being displaced is regulated under state and federal law and the City of Everett will be following the law and providing all required relocation assistance as well as ensuring these individuals are aware of available social services.
• Standard relocation processes exist and are routinely used every day by other government agencies.
• The relocation process will be led by the relocation agent. Relocation specialists will meet with long-term residents to determine their housing needs and ensure they’re aware of the support available.
• Long-term residents will be offered a functional, safe living place and with our understanding of their current living situation, this will likely be an improvement for individuals that choose to accept the help available.
• The intent is for the relocation agent to work in tandem with City Community Development staff to also connect long-term residents with available social services.
End of Timeline provided by the City of Everett.
“The Waits Motel has been a problem property for decades,” Mayor Franklin explained. “We have not been able to protect the health and safety of the neighborhood and I have been hearing from neighbors about this particular property back to when I was first running for Everett City Council, well before I was elected Mayor.”
Community Development Director Willie advised that over the last two years, complaints about the Waits have increased to various departments in the City. MyEverettNews.com found this story from nearly twenty years ago in The Herald detailing problems with many Motels in the north Broadway corridor.
“Condemnation only happens under the most extreme circumstances,” said Mayor Franklin. “You can see from the timeline that we’ve tried several different avenues to address the issues at the Waits – including an attempt to purchase the property. It takes political will and timing to take this kind of action. Ultimately, this was our best option to help the surrounding neighborhood as well as the long-term residents.”
Last week the City of Everett hired a relocation agent to work with the remaining long term residents of the Motel to find a new place to live. The City expects those contacts to begin this week. Negotiations with the Motel owner will continue. If the two sides can’t agree on a price then the case will go to Superior Court and a jury will set the price.
As far as keeping this from happening at other properties in Everett the Mayor says there are concerns over other Motels but the City of Everett only has control over so much.
“Though the City does not utilize motels to shelter individuals or families long term, many of our partners have relied on them as a quick, more-readily available option,” said Mayor Franklin who pushed back on WSDOT over the practice last year. “We want shelter programs to be successful, so we require providers to do a management plan as a condition for permitting. This plan helps ensure best practices are being employed and that community impacts are mitigated. The City doesn’t have a hotel voucher program, but sometimes Community Support or COET may use client flex funds to temporarily place an individual in a motel as they’re waiting to enter treatment, permanent housing or other necessary services. As a side note, the City hasn’t used the Waits Motel for this purpose since 2020 and once the County learned of the chronic nuisance and drug activity at this location, they also stopped.”
As far as the fate of the Waits property. “The future use of the property has not been determined but it won’t be a treatment facility, temporary housing or similar,” Mayor Franklin stated. “It is zoned residential and that is expected to remain, with the ultimate use to be determined and approved by the Everett City Council.”
MyEverettNews.com spoke with Emily Simpson last week who expressed her ongoing frustration with the City and this entire process. She has also been attending City Council meetings every week to explain her position and ask for more time. Given the vote and ongoing legal action it does not appear there is any more time left. Here’s a YouTube Video posted two months ago where she explains her vision for the Waits.
September 6, 2023
Everett, Everett Government