Sites for UW branch narrowed to nine

A new University of Washington branch campus, sought by cities throughout the north end, will wind up in Snohomish County.

The university and the state's Office of Financial Management trimmed the list of sites under consideration from 73 to nine — six in Marysville, two in Everett and one in Arlington.

The state has appropriated $4 million for the new branch, intended to serve students in north Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties, which will focus on science, technology and mathematics.

Spurred by the possibility of landing the institution in their backyards, some cities hired lobbyists and consultants to draw attention to their locations.

The committee that made the cuts said it evaluated the sites based on several factors, such as whether it was near employment opportunities, transportation capacity and long-term-development potential.

These selected areas "possess the highest existing and forecasted densities of population and employment opportunities within the Snohomish-Island-Skagit County regions," the Office of Financial Management said in a statement.

Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall was delighted about the news that six of the sites were in his city.

"I have some good odds," he said.

Of the Marysville sites on the pared-down list, Kendall favors the site in Lakewood, between 156th Street Northeast and 164th Street Northeast. New retail development has sprouted up there, the site has good freeway access, and the utilities are set up, he said.

None of the eight sites proposed in Skagit County was selected.

"I think in general there's a lot of disappointment," said Skagit County Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt. "Certainly, Skagit County provided the most centralized location."

Dahlstedt hopes the committee will wind up choosing the northernmost site, Arlington's Crown Park, since it would make for a faster commute for students living in Skagit and Island counties.

The preliminary academic plan and site recommendations for the campus are due to Gov. Christine Gregoire and the Legislature Nov. 15.

Christina Siderius: csiderius@seattletimes.com