Research park tied to UW eyed north of Seattle

EVERETT — To nurture synergies between academic
research and high-tech commercial development, the
University of Washington could build a 100-acre research
and technology park in Snohomish County.

By Diane Brooks
Seattle Times Snohomish County reporter

The project, which would be the first of its type in Western Washington, is purely theoretical at this
point. But about 30 business, academic and government leaders are excited enough by its
prospect to attend a two-day workshop led by national experts.

"This is very important to the state," said Martha Choe, head of the state Department of Trade &
Economic Development, during a break in yesterday’s session in Everett. "We find when companies
are looking for a place to relocate, they ask, ‘What are your research institutions?’ "

Washington must distinguish itself from other regions by emphasizing its "knowledge-based
economy," Choe said. Biotechnology, aerospace and semiconductors are high-growth fields that
create many well-paying jobs, she said, and the proposed center could "cluster" those businesses
with related research and financial resources.

The workshop is to continue today with tours of two possible sites: the Wellington Hills Golf Course,
just north of Woodinville, and Snohomish County’s Cathcart landfill property off Highway 9, along
a future extension of 132nd Street Southeast.

The UW already owns the 100-acre Wellington Hills site, purchased for a branch campus that
instead was built in Bothell. The 550-acre Cathcart site includes a closed dump and a never-used
regional landfill. The county has studied retail, residential and business uses for it.

Nationally, the most successful research parks include Stanford Research Park, the University of
Wisconsin’s University Research Park and Research Triangle Park, which is centered between Duke
University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Washington State University has a smaller-scale research park, with an agricultural focus. In
Portland, the Oregon Health Sciences University is planning a $500 million biotech research
center.

Snohomish County, the UW and the Economic Development Council of Snohomish County spent
six months planning the workshop. Yesterday’s session included overviews of the research industry,
real-estate development strategies, case histories of two research centers and ways local
governments have invested in parks.

In Canada, a company called Discovery Parks has built six research parks, including at the
University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. President Mark Betteridge explained
how Discovery assumes virtually all financial risks in its projects, using its own equity to raise funds.

Other financing models could include private-sector development and joint ventures among the
UW, Snohomish County and business interests. The county and state could use tax-exempt bonds
for the project, said Steve Holt, a top aide to Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel. The UW
sent a large contingent to the workshop, including officials from real estate, research, treasury and
financial planning.

David Thorud, former dean of UW’s College of Forest Resources, moderated part of the morning
session.

"This could play a useful role for everybody — the economy, the university," he said, during a
break.

"This provides faculty with access to research-support dollars, employment opportunities for
students, and training and internships for students," Thorud said. "It’s a way for the university to
play a constructive role in the economy of the region."

Diane Brooks can be reached at 206-464-2567 or [email protected].

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