Bonney Lake Justice Center Opens for Business

On May 10, the City of Bonney Lake officially declared its open for business.

Follow of the with Patch and Community Development director John Vodopich.

City employees, residents and Bonney Lake supporters gathered on the sidewalk outside the Justice Center at 9002 Main Street to watch Mayor Neil Johnson and city council members – current and former – cut the ceremonial ribbon.

“This is a huge step in beginning the downtown plan,” said Johnson. “It may take 10, 15 or 20 years… we may all be in crutches and wheelchairs when it actually happens, but someday the downtown plan will be in existence.”

Johnson stated that while city administrative offices have moved into the new location, the “current, main use” is for municipal court proceedings.

The new retail space on the bottom floor that the council and city hoped would be filled with a restaurant or coffee shop by now has not manifested. While the city of Bonney Lake still wants to find a retail partner to fill the space, the council is planning on finding other uses for the empty rooms.

“While we wanted a retail partner, we’re finding that might not happen,” said Johnson. “We might begin to look at moving the other city offices into [the Justice Center] to alleviate some pressure off the other city buildings.”