Update: Tribe's First Street property

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s First Street property will get a cosmetic makeover early in 2019, once the Town of La Conner changes its administrative code to exempt buildings with small footprints from onsite parking requirements.

“Within a few weeks of the Town amending the code we’ll take those structures down,” said Allan Olson, general manager for the Tribe. He said no action has been taken out of deadline concerns for modifying the property after demolition and the parking space requirement.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas wants the code changed to encourage First Street business development “and not devote space to parking lots,” he wrote in an email. He projects the planning commission will develop recommendations for Town Council after the comprehensive plan is approved in January.

One possibility for the property is a welcome center, which Tribal Senator Leon John discussed in a June interview with the Weekly News. A consulting firm’s initial cost estimate ranges to $8 million. Olson said a tour of the Tulalip cultural center last fall provided perspective and “the $8 million is not as out of line as we figured.” A decision is needed for locating the welcome center on the property or “the west side of the channel,” Olson said.

He reiterated, “we will take those structures down and make it more attractive and safe,” once the parking issue is resolved.

The Weekly News spoke with Olson as a follow up to its August story on the South First Street lot in the 700 block with two dilapidated wooden structures and ripped canvas tarps. Orange construction barrels, caution tape and barricade traffic and no trespassing signs have been ineffectual in preventing people from cutting through. The property has been owned by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for generations. It has not been used for decades.