The City of Tukwila has now added a smoke shop to four motels it has purchased on Tukwila International Boulevard in an effort to reduce crime on that major thoroughfare and elsewhere in the city.
The city purchased for $388,875 Sam’s Smoke Shop, 14452 Tukwila International Blvd., using money from its general fund, according to city spokeswoman Rachel Bianchi.
The city earlier purchased the Great Bear, Boulevard and Traveler’s Choice motels, which were seized in a multi-agency raid in August 2013, and the Spruce Motel.
The city also took possession of smoke shop’s building, which was included in the City’s Urban Renewal project.
The City Council will be asked in November to award a bid to demolish the motels and the smoke shop.
“Two other motels and a pawn shop were included in the council’s authorization for purchase under condemnation in 2013, but the city has no plans to acquire them at this time,” Bianchi said.
The city will be seeking developers for the vacant sites in 2016.
