April 27

Seattle Center now seeking proposals for redevelopment of remaining Fun Forest area

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[Editor’s note: This story has been edited since it was originally posted in order to clarify a few points concerning the various Seattle Center RFPs.]

Back in December Seattle Center cleared away the rides in the north section of the Fun Forest, now known as Center Square, to make way for an array of project proposals for “interesting installations and activities to carry the space through to 2012, when Seattle Center will make use of the space to house activities related to the 50th anniversary celebration,” wrote Director of Communications Deborah Daoust. Center Square is intended to be used as public space, and according to Daoust, it will maintain this role after the 50th anniversary celebrations conclude.

Center representatives hoped to fill the space by testing a range of one-time events as well as longer installations, but admitted being “disappointed” by the lack of variety in the proposals they received. According to Daoust, though the Cente rwidely promoted the call for RFPs, only eight proposals were submitted.

This search for RFPs happened to coincide with another large and widely debated proposal for a 44,000 square foot glass house on the Center campus that would include, among other amenities, a Dale Chihuly exhibit. But Daoust says this project is not t0 be confused with the open and public Center Square space.

The proposal for the Chihuly Exhibition was first presented to Seattle Center in the summer of 2009.  After the Mayor’s Office and City Council gave Seattle Center the go ahead to pursue the proposal, Seattle Center worked with the Wright family on an agreement for a long-term lease (5 years, with 3 5-year options) of the space.  As the proposal became public, it received some opposition, and so Seattle Center decided to expand the public process and issue the RFP to allow others to come forward with their proposals. These proposals must be fully funded (no city contribution), and they can provide revenue and public benefits in varying degrees.

(Photo from the Seattle Center website).

Just last week the Center continued its effort to find a number of suitable bids for the space, issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of “all or some portion of the 1 ½ acre Fun Forest south area” on Friday, April 23. According to the Center, the rides still remaining in the area south of the Seattle Center Monorail station, including 21,600 square-foot open space and concrete brick arcade building located southeast of Center House, will be removed by the end of September 2010 to accommodate new exhibits. Here’s a little information on what the Center is looking for:

Seattle Center, a City of Seattle department, will consider a broad range of proposals for temporary, long-term use (up to 20 years) of the area in keeping with the vision and mission of the department and the aspirations of the Seattle Center Century 21 Master Plan.

Seattle Center will accept proposals for revenue generating activities as well as those that return substantial public benefits. Selection criteria include a proponent’s demonstrated ability to fully fund, implement and operate the proposal.

The RFP states the preference for public use of the space to commence no later than summer 2011. The desire is to have a completed attraction in place by the six-month celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair in 2012.

Proposals are due by June 4, 2010. For more information on the RFP process and how to submit, check the project page or contact Neal Erickson at Neal.Erickson@seattle.gov.


Tags

"glass house", Daly Chihuly exhibit, Fun Forest, Request for Proposals, RFP, Seattle Center, World's Fair 50th Anniversary


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