I’ve heard it said that, “Change is inevitable and growth is optional.” In the case of our beloved city of Marysville optional is not a choice.
As the desire for attainable housing continues to pressure home buyers to our area it escalates demand, which increases home values. That’s great news if you are already a homeowner not so good news if you are home buyer. The median home sales price in our area is right around $405,000. The total number of available homes is down 13.19% compared to this time last year.
As our population organically grows by household we are also experiencing a surge in population. This is largely due to the prices of homes in our neighborhoods compared to similar homes in south Snohomish County where the median home sales price is around $613,622. A homebuyer can save over $200,000 buying a similar home in our area compared to just down the freeway. Also, we will soon begin to see a proliferation of residents moving in to fill the manufacturing living-wage jobs that will be a result of the Cascade Industrial Center. The CIC is 4,000 acres between Marysville and Arlington in the Smokey Point area. The development of the CIC by 2035 will produce more than 25,000 new jobs. That’s going to require more housing for the workforce.
In 1890 Marysville had 262 residents and by 1940 the population jumped to 1,748. In the following 40 years Marysville grew to 5,080 people. From 1990 with a population of 14,244 to the end of 2000 the population grew expeditiously to 47,847 residents. Currently with 69,779 people, Marysville is the 17th-most populated city in the state out of 619 cities. With housing so expensive, people look to cheaper options like condos. But the number of available condominiums in Marysville is only eight. So the discussion of affordable/attainable housing comes down to how the city plans to tackle this need. We hear about how high homes prices are and how this next generation cannot afford to buy a home because of this and because of that. I understand and I feel it almost on a daily basis.
By 2035 it is projected that Marysville will have a population right around 90,000 people. We are going to need to have affordable housing for this growing need. Here’s my take on a solution: Really open up the opportunity for high-density living between 88th and 4th from the freeway to State Avenue. The HDL areas will have less impact on streets and keep this style of living close to freeway access and to our growing downtown and waterfront amenities.
Todd Fahlman is a local real estate agent. His column runs monthly.
