Bellevue developer eyes Tumwater brewery site

A Bellevue developer has expressed interest in building a 500,000-square-foot shopping mall at the old Tumwater brewery site, provided that the city will allow construction on the property within the 100-year floodplain.

Mon Wig, owner of Wig Properties LLC, told the Tumwater City Council during Tuesday's meeting that the deal isn't done, but he is in discussions with the owner of the Tumwater brewery to purchase and develop the property if it would be possible to build a shopping center there.

Wig said that his company is looking at possible roadblocks of the plan before proceeding.

"It's a complicated site," he said, mentioning the railroad and the Deschutes River, both of which run through the property. "If we cannot build, we cannot develop."

It was unclear whether the development would include the old brewhouse, which ceased making beer in 2003, or whether it would include only the brewery property south of Custer Way. Wig has mentioned both possibilities to the city, Planning and Facilities director Mike Matlock told the council.

Wig Properties developed Southcenter Square in Tukwila, which has Nordstrom Rack, DSW Shoes and Kohl's as tenants. The developer also owns two strip malls in Olympia: West Olympia Place at 1001 Cooper Point Road S.W. and Cooper Point Pavilion at 1620 Cooper Point Road S.W.

The City Council unanimously approved allowing the city's planning department to consider the issue, with Mayor Ralph Osgood and Councilwoman Joan Cathey absent.

"It's exciting that someone is interested in the property," said Mayor Pro Tem Pete Kmet.

Councilwoman Karen Valenzuela asked Wig whether the Deschutes could be accessible to the public with the development.

"It's been our hope and vision that we can restore public access to this river eventually," she said.

Wig said the company would look at that.

City manager Doug Baker, who was absent, wrote in a memo to the council that he would expect a development agreement defining what would be constructed and where, and any amendments to regulations would need a public hearing and a decision by the council.