This Friday residents of Mountlake Terrace will bid farewell to the building that held the name “City Hall” for the past 50 years. A brief ceremony will take place at noon this Friday, February 12 in front of the old city hall building. The city’s purpose of the ceremony is to “honor the past and look to the future,” the old city hall will soon be demolished.

The old city hall was built 50 years ago, in 1961, when voters approved a bond issue to build the new city hall. The dedication ceremony was attended by senator Henry M. Jackson (who later was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972 and 1976.)

The City says that there is no specific date for demolition, as the city and contractor are working with the Department of Labor and Industries to remove hazardous materials and bring the building down safely in stages.

The old city hall is located at 23204 58th Ave W.

Here is more on the City’s future plans for a new City Hall.