Lynnwood Convention Center
| Lynnwood Convention Center | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Address | 3711 196th Street Southwest |
| Location | Lynnwood, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°49′17.4″N 122°17′01.3″W / 47.821500°N 122.283694°WCoordinates: 47°49′17.4″N 122°17′01.3″W / 47.821500°N 122.283694°W |
| Owner | City of Lynnwood |
| Operator | SMG |
| Built | 2004–2005 |
| Opened | April 30, 2005 |
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Construction cost
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$31 million |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 53,985 square feet (5,015.4 m2) |
| Website | |
| lynnwoodcc |
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Lynnwood Convention Center is a suburban convention center located in Lynnwood, Washington, near Seattle. The $31 million facility opened in 2005 and is managed by SMG. The convention center was first proposed in the 1980s, but was rejected by voters on three occasions; the formation of a public facilities district in 1999 funded its construction.
Lynnwood, historically a bedroom community of Seattle and nearby Everett, began pursuing a convention center and performing arts venue in the late 1960s. Boosters from the Edmonds Community College attempted to lure a state-sponsored "festival center" in 1977, but failed to garner support over a site near Federal Way. A 3,000-seat arts-and-convention center on the college campus was also proposed in 1980, but failed to receive funds from the Washington State Legislature. In the November 1982 election, voters in south Snohomish County (including Lynnwood and nearby cities) rejected the formation of a special district to develop the arts-and-convention center, and also repealed a local sales tax, planned to be used to fund its construction. The boosters later decided against scheduling another public vote on the arts-and-convention center, and ultimately decided in 1985 to split the projects into two: a performing arts center on the college campus, and a convention center elsewhere in Lynnwood. A ballot measure was attempted again in 1988, but failed because of low voter turnout.
A second, major campaign to build a 800-seat, $45 million arts-and-convention center in Lynnwood began in 1998. The proposal was sent to local voters in May 1998, with mixed support from politicians, and was rejected by 75 percent. In 1999, the city government established a public facilities district, a type of local special district that would be able to fund a convention center using a state sales tax rebate. The estimated cost of the 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) convention center led the city to reconsider its plans in 2000, instead opting for a smaller, 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) facility costing $32 million. The final design for the convention center, with 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2) of total meeting space, was unveiled to the public in November 2002. The convention center was funded by $27.9 million in issued bonds, as well as rebate sales taxes from the state government and hotel-motel taxes collected by the county and city.
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