Mountlake Terrace: Not What It Used To Be

Hi neighbors,

Recently there was a “Reader View” by Steve Mosman published on MLTnews that sparked a fair number of comments. It was titled “Don’t Try Turning Mountlake Terrace Into Something It’s Not.” Steve argued that spending $68,000 on marketing is a waste because Mountlake Terrace is not, and never will be, a tourist destination. Many of you agreed with him, pointing out other priorities like fixing streets, lowering water rates, and keeping costs down.

I hear those concerns. They are real. But I see this a little differently.

This investment is not about chasing tourists. It is not about trying to be Edmonds or Seattle. It is about telling our story and showing potential businesses, developers, service providers, and grant makers who we are today and who we are becoming.

Mountlake Terrace has always changed. At one point it was forest. Then it was a postwar suburb. Then it was known mostly as a bedroom community. Along the way it even picked up some unflattering nicknames. Now it is a light rail city with a growing town center. Change is not optional. The question is whether we shape it in ways that benefit residents, or let it happen without us.

Some commenters made that point well. Jorge wrote, “I don’t expect us to turn into downtown Edmonds 2.0, but a lot of my neighbors and I wish we had a little bit more to connect with… When we invest in economically diverse, walkable neighborhoods, we prioritize residents.” Sam Doyle added, “If we had more choices here, we wouldn’t be as likely to spend money elsewhere. I would love to see more small businesses — this benefits residents, job-seekers, business owners, and the city.”

Others reminded us that the basics matter. Wilma said, “That money could be used for fixing the aging water infrastructure and lower our water/sewer base rates!” Kim echoed that, urging the city to “fix our streets” and “fix our community pool.” They are right. Those needs are real. The way to fix our streets, support our pool, and keep services affordable is to grow the tax base and attract outside investment so costs aren’t borne only by homeowners. That means creating the kind of environment where businesses want to locate here, and where the state or federal government sees Mountlake Terrace as a worthy partner for funding.

At the September 18 council meeting, Councilmember Laura Sonmore said: “If you look at our 50th birthday, we have our story out there. Our story really hasn’t changed a whole lot.”

The city’s 50th anniversary was in 2004. A lot has changed since then. Mountlake Terrace has added thousands of residents, welcomed more diversity, and transformed from a car-commuter suburb into a light rail city with a growing town center. Councilmember Sonmore has been on the dais since 2000. But the reality is that much has changed in the 25 years since she first joined the council.

Mountlake Terrace today is not the same city it was in 2000. Back then we had about 20,000 residents, most of them White, most of them homeowners. By 2025 we are approaching 25,000 residents, far more diverse, with nearly half of our homes renter-occupied and many newer households drawn here by transit access and town center development. Eighty-three percent of our current residents lived somewhere else in 2000. Our community looks different, speaks more languages, and lives in a wider variety of housing than it did a generation ago.

A lot of the pushback comes from a desire to hold on to “the Mountlake Terrace we used to know.” I understand that feeling. Anyone who has lived here a long time has seen change — new apartments, different faces in the neighborhood. Change can be unsettling. But part of what makes Mountlake Terrace strong is the mix of people who have put down roots and stayed, alongside those who have arrived more recently and brought new energy. The real work is not preserving an old version of ourselves, but making sure that as we grow, we stay rooted in the values that make this a great place to live: being community focused, welcoming, and connected.

Mountlake Terrace is not what it used to be. And that is okay. The real task is making sure the next chapter reflects our values, that we remain affordable and livable while also welcoming the kind of investment that keeps our community strong.

This marketing effort is not about changing who we are. It is about investing in our future by making sure others see us clearly for who we are today and who we want to be tomorrow.

Until next time,

Dustin