LYNNWOOD— As first reported by KING 5, more than 40 drivers faced unexpected fees exceeding $400 each after their vehicles were towed from a seemingly vacant lot adjacent to the new Lynnwood City Center light rail station following Wednesday’s Seattle Mariners game. The Seattle Mariners loss to the Toronto Blue Jays 4-13 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at T-Mobile Park that night.
Image of vacant lot where cars were towed on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. The fencing was down at the time the vehicles were towed. Source: Google Maps.
The incident unfolded as the 1,900-space park-and-ride garage at the station reached capacity, prompting fans to seek alternative parking spots across the street. What appeared to be an open lot turned out to be private property, leading to the overnight removal of 45 vehicles by Mary’s Towing, a local company contracted by the landowner.
According to Mary’s Towing, the firm was summoned by the property owner to clear the site. Towing fees, which align with Washington state regulations, averaged around $400 per vehicle, resulting in an estimated $18,000 in charges for the single operation. Some affected drivers reported paying between $500 and $600 to retrieve their cars, including additional storage and release costs.
Destiny, one of the impacted drivers who had attended a concert rather than the baseball game, expressed frustration upon discovering her vehicle missing. “I’m pretty pissed! I’ve never had my car towed there before,” she said.
Mark, another driver caught in the sweep, described his surprise at the lack of clear warnings. “I was shocked. I thought at least there would be a sign,” he added.
A KING 5 visit to the site before sunrise on Thursday revealed several “No Parking” signs posted along the perimeter, alongside a knocked-down fence and erosion control barriers delineating the property’s boundaries. Snohomish County records indicate the land previously housed a strip mall that has since been demolished, leaving the area in a transitional state.
The towed vehicles originated from a fenced-off section next to Lynnwood Square, designated as the future site for Northline Village, a mixed-use development originally slated for completion in 2024. Construction delays have prevented groundbreaking to date, contributing to the site’s undeveloped appearance.
Ownership of the parcel traces back to MGP XI US Properties, LLC, a San Francisco-based real estate firm that purchased it in 2016 for $41 million from Alderwood Plaza LLC. County records further show that MGP XI US Properties has assembled a larger portfolio in the area, acquiring all adjacent parcels between 44th Avenue West and 46th Avenue West along 200th Street Southwest—excluding the Shell gas station—for a total of $56.5 million.
