City Manager Rob Karlinsey delivered his State of the City of Kenmore address to members of the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce and other attendees at a luncheon hosted by the chamber on Jan. 18.
“2016 was a fun year, and 2017 is going to be just as fun,” he said after giving those in attendance a rundown of some of the projects in the works for Kenmore.
Karlinsey hit all the high notes in his music-themed address, highlighting the city’s AAA bond rating tied to the voter-approved Walkways and Waterways initiative, the living history mural unveiled last year on the side of the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and the upcoming transformation of the St. Edward Seminary into the Lodge at St. Edward, as approved last month by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
“This will be pretty cool for our city,” Karlinsey said of the latter.
He also highlighted the newly created Kenmore Town Square and the general growth in downtown Kenmore, saying $100 million has been invested within one block of the square.
“Lots of exciting things (are happening) downtown,” Karlinsey said. “I think it will continue to be a work in progress.”
One of Kenmore’s development projects in the works is Lakepointe, which would be a mixed-use development of 45 acres on Lake Washington where the Sammamish River enters the lake, just east of the Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane terminal. The property is owned by Pioneer Towing Company, and Weidner Apartment Homes is the potential developer. The project is currently in the planning stage, and it has been in the works since 1989.
“The Weidner team has been great to work with,” Karlinsey said. “(The project) has got extraordinary costs associated with it. … The city is behind it, and we really want to make it happen.”
In his address, Karlinsey also pointed out how Puget Sound Energy is working to make sure the electricity reliability issues that have plagued Kenmore are being resolved.
“That’s been a serious concern in the city,” he said, adding he hopes to see PSE’s improvements come to fruition to make the situation a “turnaround story.”
Karlinsey thanked both the Kenmore City Council and city staff for being unified on working to make the city an ideal place to live and work.
“They are in alignment on the big picture, which makes things so much easier for me,” he said of the councilmembers, a statement he echoed when praising staff.
More information about upcoming projects and initiatives in the City of Kenmore can be found online at www.kenmorewa.gov.
State of Bothell
New City Manager Jennifer Phillips will deliver the State of the City of Bothell address on March 8. The Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce is hosting a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Rosewood Room in the Country Village Shops.
Admission is $25 for chamber members and $35 for non-members. To register or for more information, visit bothellchamber.com.
