Editing Mill Creek, Washington (section)

==History==

===Development===

The Mill Creek area was originally settled in the early 20th century by various farming families, from whom several local placenames are now derived. After the construction of the [[Washington State Route 527|Bothell–Everett Highway]] in 1913 as part of the [[Pacific Highway (United States)|Pacific Highway]], two junctions at Murphy's Corner and Wintermute's Corner gained small stores and [[filling station]]s to serve visitors.<ref name="Times-SR527">{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=May 25, 2006 |title=Loggers to latte stands: Route spans history |page=B4 |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20060524/highway24n/loggers-to-latte-stands-route-spans-history |access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> In 1931, Doctor Manch N. Garhart acquired {{convert|800|acre|ha}} in the area and used it to grow [[Gravenstein|Gravenstein apples]] and [[Bartlett pears]] while also raising cattle.<ref name="PI-2003">{{cite news |last=Lyke |first=M. L. |date=September 26, 2003 |title=Mill Creek works to stay 'nice' |page=A1 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Mill-Creek-works-to-stay-nice-1125505.php |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref><ref name="ComprehensivePlan">{{cite web |date=December 18, 2015 |title=City of Mill Creek Comprehensive Plan |url=https://www.cityofmillcreek.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_9100852/File/City%20Government/Public%20Works%20&%20Development%20Services/Planning%20and%20Development/2015%20Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf |publisher=City of Mill Creek |ref={{SfnRef|City of Mill Creek Comprehensive Plan|2015}} |access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> The Garhart property, named Lake Dell Farm for a small [[reservoir]] built by local families, was later sold in 1967 to [[real estate developer]]s after the market for local lumber and fruits had declined.<ref>{{cite news |last=Santana |first=John |date=February 26, 2008 |title='There used to be a farm here' |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/uncategorized/there-used-to-be-a-farm-here/ |work=Mill Creek Enterprise |access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nile |first=Amy |date=April 26, 2015 |title=Buffalo Park hearkens back to Mill Creek's beginnings |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/buffalo-park-hearkens-back-to-mill-creeks-beginnings/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref>

The Garhart property, along with several neighboring farms, were optioned by various real estate developers in the 1960s and 1970s as a potential [[master planned community]] due to its proximity to the recently completed [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=May 15, 1966 |title=Area Still Bucolic, But New Town Promises Hustle-Bustle |page=5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> It would be the first modern planned city in Washington state, following in the footsteps of earlier planned cities like [[Longview, Washington|Longview]], built in 1918.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Polly |date=March 19, 1968 |title=Utility District At Olympus Gets OK |page=8 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The community, named "Olympus", was planned to include {{convert|3,300|acre}} in its first phase with {{convert|1,300|acre}} for homes, an industrial park, a shopping center, and a [[golf course]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=June 11, 1967 |title=New Planned Town Will Have First Homes Ready in Spring |page=88 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> After a local recession in the early 1970s, the development project was sold in 1973 to [[Tokyu Group|Tokyu Land Development]] and designed by a subsidiary of the [[Obayashi Corporation]] named United Development.{{sfnp|City of Mill Creek Comprehensive Plan|2015|page=III-2}} The development was renamed "Mill Creek", beating out the [[Chinook Jargon]] word "[[Klahanie, Washington|Klahanie]]",<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cameron |first1=David A. |last2=Grimes |first2=Lynne |last3=Wyatt |first3=Jane |year=2005 |title=Snohomish County: An Illustrated History |page=344 |publisher=Kelcema Books |location=Index, Washington |isbn=0-9766700-0-3 |oclc=62728798}}</ref> although there had never been a mill in the vicinity<ref name="Times-Seven">{{cite news |last=Seven |first=Richard |date=January 19, 2003 |title=Call It What You Will: A place has a name for a reason |page=10 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/pacificnw/2003/0119/cover.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406232720/http://old.seattletimes.com/pacificnw/2003/0119/cover.html |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a waterway of that name was not present in the area until the 2000 renaming of Smokehouse Creek.<ref name="DJC-2002">{{cite news |last=Nabbefeld |first=Joe |date=August 8, 2002 |title=Creating a town center for Mill Creek |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/11136112.html |work=[[Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce]] |access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref>

Mill Creek's master plan was submitted to the county council in January 1974.{{sfnp|City of Mill Creek Comprehensive Plan|2015|page=III-2}} A [[homeowners association]] was established in December 1974 with funding from United Development to manage the area's security patrol, street maintenance, and other tasks.<ref name="Times-Gift2003">{{cite news |last=Moriarty |first=Leslie |date=September 3, 2003 |title=Mill Creek's 20th-birthday gift to itself: a sports park |page=I16 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref name="Times-Growing83">{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=May 18, 1983 |title=Mill Creek, growing in population, proposed as new city |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The initial plan included consist of 4,600 homes, with eventual plans to house 12,000 people, a {{convert|260|acre|ha|adj=mid}} park, and an 18-hole golf course.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Polly |date=January 20, 1974 |title=Residential project of 1,000 acres planned |page=H2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Construction began in early 1975 on the golf course and adjoining [[country club]], while the first homes were under construction by the following year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Polly |date=April 6, 1975 |title=Builders invited to Mill Creek |page=C10 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 29, 1976 |title=First 17 homes being built |page=D2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The first set of homes were designed to resemble country residences, with large floorplans and prominent use of wood furnishings, and sold for an average of $65,000 (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|65000|1976|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|US}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Heilman |first=Robert |date=September 12, 1976 |title=Entry, windows, set off 'country' home |page=G16 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 11, 1976 |title=Mill Creek going like hot cakes |page=D1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Tokyu Land Development later re-used these home designs for the domestic market in Japan, where they were sold under the "Mill Creek" brand in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=ミルクリークのあゆみ |language=ja |trans-title=History of Mill Creek |url=http://www.millcreek.jp/about/history.html |publisher=[[Tokyu Group|Tokyu Homes]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017083124/http://www.millcreek.jp/about/history.html |archive-date=October 17, 2009 |access-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref> The final phase of the original Mill Creek development, consisting of 33 condominiums, was completed in late 2003.<ref name="Times-Gift2003"/>

===Incorporation and annexations===

A majority of the first phase's 1,767 homes and [[Condominium (living space)|condominium]]s were completed by early 1983, when an  [[municipal incorporation|incorporation]] petition was submitted by residents after reaching the population threshold of 3,000 needed for cityhood.<ref name="Times-Growing83"/> At the time, the homeowners association and county government had already provided much of the area's infrastructure and maintenance requirements, but local residents resisted attempts to raise property tax assessments.<ref name="Times-Growing83"/> Mill Creek was officially incorporated as a city on September 30, 1983, ten days after a vote of residents passed, and encompassed {{convert|1.92|sqmi|sqkm}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=September 14, 1983 |title=Mill Creek cityhood is on Tuesday ballot |page=G5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=December 14, 1983 |title=New city of Mill Creek has veteran police force already |page=G1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Mill Creek was the first new city to be incorporated in Snohomish County since [[Brier, Washington|Brier]] in 1965 and the newest in the state since [[Ocean Shores, Washington|Ocean Shores]] in 1970.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=October 12, 1983 |title=Mill Creek setting up shop as state's newest city |page=G1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

In the years following incorporation, Mill Creek reduced its property tax rates and formed its own [[police department]], [[library]], postal address, and land-use board.<ref>{{cite news |last=Godes |first=Kerry |date=March 1, 1989 |title=Mill Creek, the city, likes it that way |page=B2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The city's [[telephone]] system was split between three [[long-distance calling]] areas by [[GTE]] until the [[Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission|state utilities and transportation commission]] approved a consolidated calling area for toll-free service.<ref>{{cite news |last=Koch |first=Anne |date=August 24, 1988 |title=Mill Creek phone system on the line |page=F1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Koch |first=Anne |date=December 20, 1988 |title=Utilities commission hangs up on citizens |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Sid Hanson, the chairman of the incorporation committee, was elected as the city's first mayor and served a single term until declining to run for re-election in 1987.<ref name="Times-Hanson">{{cite news |last=Casey |first=Carolyn |date=December 23, 1987 |title=Sid Hanson: The father of his city |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The city government's offices moved four times by the end of the decade, between various leased buildings that all served as temporary [[city hall]]s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Judd |first=Ron |date=September 19, 1989 |title=Chaos reigns while city hall moves |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><!--Permanent city hall?--> A separate [[post office]] serving the city was promised at the time of incorporation, but was not opened until 1994.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scattarella |first=Christy |date=August 9, 1994 |title=Petition provides reprieve for privately run post office |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

The city attempted its first [[annexation]]s in 1986, but an [[referendum|advisory vote]] of existing residents rejected one proposal and the city council deferred action on another.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=December 3, 1986 |title=Annexation proposal rejected |page=H5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Mill Creek approved its first annexation, an {{convert|88|acre|ha|adj=mid}} parcel southeast of the main development, in July 1987, while the nearby city of [[Everett, Washington|Everett]] began its own annexations of areas to the north of Mill Creek.<ref>{{cite news |last=Casey |first=Carolyn |date=July 23, 1987 |title=Mill Creekers feel Everett is gaining on them |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> In 1989, the city proposed a major annexation of {{convert|350|acre|ha}}, a 25 percent increase in size, to add undeveloped commercial parcels on the west side of the Bothell–Everett Highway.<ref>{{cite news |last=Casey |first=Carolyn |date=November 30, 1987 |title=Mill Creek considers 25% leap in size |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The western annexation was initially opposed by the county government, but was approved alongside four other annexations after Mill Creek agreed to share costs for road improvements to handle additional traffic demand.<ref>{{cite news |last=Judd |first=Ron |date=August 10, 1989 |title=Mill Creek takes breather in annexation rush |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref name="AnnexationMap">{{cite map |year=2013 |title=City of Mill Creek Annexation History |url=https://www.cityofmillcreek.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_9100852/File/City%20Government/Public%20Works%20&%20Development%20Services/Planning%20and%20Development/Maps/Annexations%20by%20Year_201306251429218182.pdf |publisher=City of Mill Creek |access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref>

Everett attempted to annex the entire Murphy's Corner area in the late 1980s, but was forced to split the neighborhood at 132nd Street with Mill Creek after a decision by the state court of appeals and additional arbitration by boundary review boards.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=May 21, 1991 |title=County, Mill Creek upheld |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=October 29, 1993 |title=Cities agree to boundaries |page=B2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The [[Henry M. Jackson High School]] was opened in 1994 and is located on the Mill Creek side of Murphy's Corner, which was annexed the following year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bjorhus |first=Jennifer |date=January 12, 1995 |title=Growing Mill Creek swallows 2 schools |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> A private high school, [[Archbishop Murphy High School]], was opened in 1999 on a {{convert|22|acre|ha|adj=mid}} campus in northeastern Mill Creek.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 9, 1998 |title=New school building named for archbishop |page=B2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The {{convert|553|acre|ha|adj=mid}} Thomas Lake area in the northeastern corner of the city,<ref name="AnnexationMap"/> bordered to the north by 132nd Street and east by Seattle Hill Road, was annexed in 2005 and added 2,200 residents to the city's population.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 2, 2005 |title=Mill Creek will grow by 553 acres next month |page=H11 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The annexations of other developed [[subdivision (land)|subdivision]]s, lacking the original development's upscale image, created a divide between residents on the issue of further growth.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ho |first=Vanessa |date=June 10, 1992 |title=Growth pains original settlers of heavily planned Mill Creek |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Residents in several potential annexation targets preferred to be left alone by Mill Creek, due to its "snobbish" reputation, which faded as new neighborhoods were absorbed into the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=November 11, 1991 |title=Neighbors resort to end run against Mill Creek 'snobbery' |page=A1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

===21st century===

In the late 1980s, Mill Creek drafted a [[comprehensive plan]] that would transform its newly-annexed commercial area into a [[mixed-use development|mixed-use]] downtown area to support the growing city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Casey |first=Carolyn |date=July 11, 1988 |title=A vision of Mill Creek's future is ready today |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The {{convert|23|acre|ha|adj=mid}} downtown development would include a large public [[park]], shopping areas, recreational facilities, [[multi-use trail]]s, and office buildings.<ref name="PI-1996">{{cite news |last=Carlton Harrell |first=Debera |date=December 7, 1996 |title=Clean and tidy community is a 'suburban nirvana' |page=D1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> After difficulty in finding a suitable developer,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lobos |first=Ignacio |date=January 10, 1994 |title=Search on for help in finding 'heart' of Mill Creek |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> the [[Mill Creek Town Center]] began construction in 2001 and the first phase opened three years later.<ref name="DJC-2002"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Bishop |first=Todd |date=August 28, 2002 |title=A city without a center no longer |page=E1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The second phase was completed in 2007, with 26 retail buildings, a medical [[clinic]], condominiums, and a downtown plaza.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moreira |first=Naila |date=March 14, 2007 |title=Pedestrian-friendly center becomes gathering place |page=H14 |url=http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003616171_millcreek14n.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407035622/http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003616171_millcreek14n.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Bothell–Everett Highway (now State Route 527) remained a two-lane rural highway through Mill Creek until the start of an expansion and improvement program in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 9, 1991 |title=State to outline plans for widening highway |page=C3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> It was widened to four lanes with a [[center turn lane]], and also gained [[bicycle lane]]s, sidewalks, and new landscaping features.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=January 6, 1993 |title=Mill Creek roadwork to be revived |page=C3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The section through Mill Creek, from 164th Street to 132nd Street, was completed in 2006 and required the construction of [[retaining wall]]s and [[detention pond]]s due to the limited space for the road.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kapralos |first=Krista |date=May 17, 2006 |title=Highway widening project completed |work=The Everett Herald}}</ref> The project also included new [[bus stop]]s that were later upgraded with the opening of the [[Swift Green Line]] [[bus rapid transit]] system in March 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Giordano |first=Lizz |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Swift Green Line starts rolling, from Bothell to Boeing |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/swift-green-line-starts-rolling-from-bothell-to-boeing/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 6, 2019}}</ref>

The city government began planning for a second [[urban village]], to be located in newly-annexed areas at the northeast edge of the city, in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pesznecker |first=Scott |date=July 7, 2008 |title=Mill Creek planning for a second 'urban village' |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080707/NEWS01/574547947 |work=The Everett Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322112740/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080707/NEWS01/574547947 |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |access-date=April 6, 2019}}</ref> The retail and residential development, named the East Gateway, would have been located on {{convert|52|acre|ha}} along 132nd Street, and was originally slated to be anchored by a [[Wal-Mart]] until the company scrapped plans after protests from local residents.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fetters |first=Eric |date=December 7, 2007 |title=Wal-Mart retreats from county |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071207/BIZ/712070070 |work=The Everett Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210205528/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071207/BIZ/712070070 |archive-date=December 10, 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2019}}</ref> The eastern half of the development began construction in 2012 and will encompass 210 apartments, 104 [[townhouse]]s, office space, and retail.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=October 4, 2012 |title=Work begins on 52-acre Mill Creek 'urban village' |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/work-begins-on-52-acre-mill-creek-urban-village/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Batdorf |first=Kurt |date=June 13, 2013 |title=Mill Creek's East Village sees first building rise |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/uncategorized/mill-creeks-east-village-sees-first-building-rise/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 6, 2019}}</ref> Development of the remaining western half was approved in 2019 and branded as "The Farm at Mill Creek", consisting of 354 apartments, retail space, [[workforce housing]] units, and office space.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=March 29, 2019 |title=Split Mill Creek City Council approves mixed-use development |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/split-mill-creek-city-council-approves-mixed-use-development/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 6, 2019}}</ref> It will be anchored by the first suburban [[Amazon Go]] in the state, and a hotel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Allison |first=Jacqueline |date=February 2, 2022 |title=Convenient or creepy? Cashier-less Amazon Go coming to Mill Creek |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/convenient-or-creepy-cashier-less-amazon-go-coming-to-mill-creek/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 2, 2022}}</ref>