King County cities on hunt for new jail site

A group of King County cities has begun looking for a possible jail site in Bellevue, Seattle, Shoreline and an unincorporated area near Kirkland and Redmond.

Representatives from Seattle, King County, Bellevue, Shoreline and Kirkland presented the options at a Thursday news conference. The cities now contract with King County to house their misdemeanor prisoners.

Because of a growing number of felony inmates at the main county jail, the county plans to end that contract in four years, prompting the cities' site search. Studies have shown a new jail may cost $174 million.

These are the sites the cities are considering:

• Downtown Seattle: a new King County Jail Annex, southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Jefferson Street.

• Bellevue: 555 116th Ave. N.E.

• Shoreline: 2545 N.E. 200th St.

• Unincorporated King County near Kirkland and Redmond: 13225 N.E. 126th Place

In addition, Seattle earlier this year identified four possible sites for a jail. Two of those, on Aurora Avenue North and Myers Way South, have been dropped. Two others will go forward for further study:

• Seattle Interbay: 1600 W. Armory Way

• South Seattle: Highland Park Way Southwest and West Marginal Way Southwest.

The northeast cities group will conduct environmental studies on each site, including several public meetings in December for community members to present their concerns.

"The alternative is to say, 'No, we're not going to comply with state law or book anyone on DUI or (misdemeanor) domestic violence,' "said Catherine Cornwall, senior policy adviser to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com