SEQUIM — Developer Jerry Hann extended the invitation, and the city seized it fast.
Hann, builder of the Solana housing and commercial development near Sequim’s east entrance, also hopes to develop a new shopping center called Bell Creek Village.
His plan is for a pedestrian mall — “no big box stores; all small stores in a village atmosphere,” he said — on land just east of South Sequim Avenue and south of Hammond Street.
The development could include a civic center comprising a new City Hall, museum arts center and the Sequim library, Hann said.
The museum and arts center and library boards of directors already have expressed interest in being part of his project.
Hann would sell shares of a 25-acre parcel to the three entities for $1 each.
‘Are you interested?’
“At this point, it’s a matter of asking, ‘Are you interested?”‘ Hann told the City Council at its Monday night meeting.
The council members were speechless for a moment.
Then they voted unanimously to send a letter of interest to Hann and his company, Land Strategies of Clinton.
“This is a nonbinding agreement; it doesn’t bind either side,” Mayor Walt Schubert told the council.
In an interview, Schubert said he found the civic center idea appealing, but didn’t want to push for it yet.
“I want to keep everyone’s mind open. I don’t want to say, ‘I think you should do this.’
“Otherwise, why have a public process?” he asked.
