MOUNT VERNON, Wash. Skagit County is teaming up with the Housing Authority of Skagit County to map out what comes next for the Mount Vernon Senior Center property at 1401 Cleveland Ave., according to goSkagit.
The Board of Commissioners signed an interim agreement Monday that spells out each party's role in planning and developing a project that would combine affordable housing with a senior and community center on the site, where the existing senior center has stood since the late 1930s.
The county has secured funding from the state Department of Commerce for predevelopment and design work, and commissioners agreed to dedicate $1 million to the project once its full scope is determined. Some early work is already underway, including property inspections, a rezoning application, title reports and feasibility studies.
Under the agreement, the county intends for the Housing Authority to serve as the long-term owner and developer, responsible for completing the remaining predevelopment, design, permitting, construction and financing, and eventually operating and managing the housing units created.
What the finished project will look like remains an open question. The agreement notes the final scope and configuration could change based on feasibility, funding, community needs and site constraints, and says it may include a senior and community center component, or may instead consist of affordable housing serving seniors or other low-income individuals without one.
The Skagit Council on Aging will continue to operate and occupy the property through Dec. 31, 2027. The agreement also commits the partners to organizing a public outreach and community engagement effort on transitioning senior center activities to a new location no later than Jan. 1, 2028.