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Spearheading the transformation of a 55-acre farm into a $25
million “village” of stores, professional services, restaurants,
banks, a retirement center, movie complex, health club and a
manufacturing company has attracted a lot of attention for Sol
Baron, President of Stanwood’s Lindstrom Development Group
Inc.
And a lot of admiration from the Snohomish County Economic
Development Council, the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce and
others.
“He’s really been a catalyst for the entire development there in
Stanwood, quality stuff, nothing on the cheap but with an eye to
the long-term good of the community,” said Michael
Cade, Vice
President of the Snohomish County Economic Development
Council. “He thought if he did a quality development, people would
be attracted. He was right.
“Many people no longer have to drive south on I-5 to go to work,”
Cade said. “He’s demonstrated that companies will go out of the
Seattle area (for new locations). He definitely has done some
good investment work in his community.”
Mary Anderson, President of Index Sensors & Controls, the firm
that left Redmond last fall to occupy the entire first phase of the
industrial and office-park sector of the Stanwood-Camano Village,
said both she and the employees are pleased with the move.
“It’s certainly a very pleasant working environment, with trails and
other amenities. I like looking out my windows and seeing trees
and eagles, a nice change. It’s also a well-designed center. The
employees like it here, too,” she said.
Stanwood Mayor Matthew McCune agrees that Baron has been a
major benefit to the community.
“He’s created jobs, opportunities for our youth. Many of them
start their working careers here at fast-food restaurants or
Haggen. He keeps jobs in town; plus, he brought in the Index plant
and created new opportunities for folks, primary-income jobs,”
McCune said.
The village also has given people the opportunity to “stay in town
for shopping, banking and doctoring,” he said.
Laura Byers, President of the 110-member Stanwood Chamber of
Commerce, agreed that Baron has “done some wonderful things
for the community.”
“He’s certainly brought in new business, and bringing Index to the
community was a wonderful accomplishment,” Byers said. “The
‘village’ has brought reasons for all of the businesses in the
community to work together.”
Dave Pinkham, owner and publisher of the Stanwood-Camano
News, said he has worked with Baron on several committees in
the community.
“We’ve had a lot of business and civic dealings. He’s a great
person, very active in the community ... good leadership in the
business community. Merrill Gardens, Haggen, the theater
complex, the Sports Club (are great) — we never had anything
like those before in Stanwood,” Pinkham said. “They do enhance
the quality of life here.”
George Kramer, President of BFC Frontier of Lynnwood, the
dominant builder of the Stanwood-Camano Village, recalled the
years he has worked with Baron:
“One of the earliest things that impressed me about Sol was his
ability to put teams together to get the jobs done, to select good
people and just turn them loose, although he provided strong
oversight and guidance. I was also impressed with the different
perspective he had, his vision for that area. The economy was
very different when he started the project, but he saw its potential,
took the risks and carried on,” Kramer said.
Kramer also likes working with Baron because “he’s building
quality, not just things for the sake of building but also things that
contribute to the local community that he’s so concerned about. ...
I’ve certainly witnessed other developers who build a little
different and with less care than Sol does.” |
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