Colleges work together to add parking space at EvCC

EVERETT — Crews are putting the final touches on new and expanded parking lots for Everett Community College students.

And when the work is done, there will be a few more spaces for students to choose from when they begin classes next week.

Washington State University is precipitating the changes with construction of its Everett University Center in the College Plaza shopping center on North Broadway. Erecting the four-story building is eliminating 198 spots in the College Plaza lot, also known as Lot K.

To offset the loss, EvCC and WSU came up with 214 replacement spaces spread out on three sites on the main campus and nearby.

“It is one of those opportunities where various partners came to the table with good intentions and got it taken care of,” said Jennifer Howard, vice president of administrative services. “We’re just finishing up (the work) and making sure it’s ready for the students.

Here’s how it will shake out.

WSU is paying to create a new 63-space lot on North Broadway behind the retail center with a Subway restaurant and a 7-Eleven. This will be known as Lot L.

The university also covered the cost of adding 81 spaces to Lot D next to Index Hall. This expansion is a gravel lot and will remain that way for the school year.

WSU will spend $400,000 on these efforts, according to Randy Bolerjack, communications director for WSU North Puget Sound at Everett. The money is part of the $54.6 million in state funds WSU received to build the Everett University Center. A groundbreaking for the project is scheduled Sept. 22 with work expected to be complete by the start of 2017 school year, Bolerjack said.

Finally, the community college came up with another 70 spaces in front of the building that houses the school’s Advanced Manufacturing Training and Education Center and the Providence Regional Medical Center Business Office.

Providence leases those spaces from EvCC and the lease agreement is getting revised, Howard said. These spaces will be considered an extension of Lot K and signage will be installed identifying the student parking section.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.