Arts center points to community's future

By JOHN IWASAKI
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A proposed regional performing arts and convention center could be the catalyst to shape Lynnwood's future.

"You can look at Lynnwood today and (see) a rough comparison to Bellevue of 20 to 25 years ago," says Mike Echelbarger, president of a family business that developed retail strip malls in and around Lynnwood.

Bellevue's downtown core evolved from strip malls to shimmering office towers and upscale shops, he says. While the demographics are different, "Lynnwood is on the brink of the same kind of re-emergence," Echelbarger believes, particularly if the bond measure passes.

Bond proceeds would finance a performing arts theater with up to 900 seats and a convention hall that could accommodate as many as 1,200 people. For now, south county arts groups, such as the Cascade Symphony, perform in school gyms and auditoriums or head to Everett or Seattle.

A gleaming new facility would give Lynnwood the cachet to go along with the cash that comes to the city from sales tax revenues. Last year, the city's portion of the tax was nearly $11.9 million.