This Pierce County city might condemn and buy defunct strip mall to build downtown park

The Lakewood City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that would grant the city approval to condemn property to make room for a new downtown park if the city cannot reach a sale price with the property owner.

As previously reported by The News Tribune, in April the city announced it offered $1.35 million to Emmert Lakewood Center LLC to purchase part of the former QFC-anchored strip mall at 9320 through 9330 Bridgeport Way SW. That mall was where beloved Cascade Bagel & Deli once stood.

According to the ordinance, Lakewood obtained an appraisal of the property’s market value and “has attempted, and continues to attempt, to negotiate in good faith with the owner of the Parcel for the voluntary acquisition” of the property, but “the City has, to date, been unable to reach a negotiated voluntary resolution.”

At Monday’s meeting, city attorney Heidi Wachter told the council if the city couldn’t acquire the property for fair market value or an agreed upon price, the case might be taken to court. A judge would analyze if the city is acquiring the property for public purposes and determine a fair price. Wachter said the city can’t pay significantly more than market value.

Terry Emmert, of Emmert Lakewood Center LLC, told The News Tribune on Tuesday he had no comment.

Wachter said Lakewood purchasing the parcel would round out the Colonial Plaza area and provide more space for Downtown Park.

Under the city’s Legacy Plan and Downtown Subarea Plan, Downtown Park could include multi-use plazas, courtyards, walkways, landscaped areas, public art, a spray park, a dog park, public restrooms and connections to other points of interest like libraries, community centers and theaters.

“For lack of a better way of putting it, it’s a standard garden variety exercise of the city’s authority to acquire property to enhance its parks,” Wachter said at the meeting.

Unlike Lakewood’s decision in April to use eminent domain to condemn and acquire a private residential property to improve Edgewater Park, this case involves a commercial property which was “arguably going to be marketed at some point,” Wachter said.

Mayor Jason Whalen said at the meeting that acquiring this property “makes great sense” given Lakewood’s plans to bring more amenities in the central part of the city.

“I look very much forward to turning this into a wonderful park area with a variety of amenities for the benefit of residents in this local-adjacent neighborhood area,” he said.