PUD Purchases Former Mobilisa Building

With a 100′ radio tower, 16 offices, and two dedicated server rooms, PUD General Manager Kevin Streett admitted he’d been eying the 5,800 sq ft building at 191 Otto Street for some time while it was vacant.

Streett was familiar with the building when it served as the network hub for all internet traffic coming over the PUD’s fiber network. At the time, Streett explained, NoaNet (a nonprofit formed by PUD’s to provide network management) had rented space in the building for their equipment. Previously, the building had served as the local headquarters of Mobilisa, a technology company that at one time provided wireless internet service for the state ferry system.

The PUD purchased the building for $1.3M in February. Streett hopes to wrap the cost in with the meter loan. The building will serve as the PUD’s broadband network hub, meter shop, and admin center. Streett expects staff to begin moving in during April and May.