Keep up with the latest news and updates
February 2, 2010
First the signs in the window read “Watch for the Monkey,” Then the monkey told us to “Watch for the flow.” After months of debate as to what would follow the late Opal Bistro, which closed back on Halloween night, I’ve finally gotten to the bottom of the monkey mystery at the corner of Boston
February 2, 2010
Tonight, Tuesday, February 2 Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Center are hosting a public meeting to discuss the Memorial Stadium deal and the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (.pdf) concerning the redevelopment of the site. Seattle Public Schools currently own the stadium, deeded to the district by the city for use as an athletic stadium in 1946, and has been in talks with Seattle Center for several years over an ownership negotiation.
Tonight’s meeting will go over the elements of the proposed agreement (MOA), which plans to turn the stadium site into a “green, integrated, multi-functional space that provides for year-round community and school activities” to be shared between the School District and Seattle Center.
Under the MOA, the City of Seattle would have six years to determine public and private funding for the Memorial Stadium site development. The Seattle School District would have priority use of the new stadium between just after Labor Day to just before Memorial Day, as well as for graduations held in June. For the remainder of the year the Seattle Center would have priority use over the stadium, which would be converted into a concert venue.
The MOA also tackles one controversial issue in the community – the Memorial Wall – calling for it to be preserved and moved to a “respectful location on the Seattle Center grounds, in consultation with veterans groups.”
In addition to owning the stadium, which many argue is underused, Seattle Public Schools also own a parking lost just east of Memorial Stadium on Mercer St. that would also be incorporated into the new green space, the details of which are still being negotiated between the two organizations. Under the proposal to be discussed tonight, Seattle Center would gain ownership of the existing stadium for the redevelopment and lease the parking lot from the School District for an estimated $2.5 million annually (plus escalation), over the next 60 years. Meanwhile, Seattle Center would handle the construction and operation of the new facility, which would include an underground garage, for the length of the lease, currently set at 99 years. When the new facility is completed, the existing garage would be torn down and Seattle Center would transfer ownership of half of the new garage to the School District.
February 2, 2010
A few weeks ago we reported on some principal changes the Seattle School District has been planning for a few schools in the neighborhood, including the head of The Center School, who as of next Tuesday, will be leaving to co-lead Rainier Beach High School. Lisa Escobar, who has been at The Center School for
February 2, 2010
This is just a reminder that the Seattle Public Library will be changing the operating hours at many of its branches across the city as of tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3, as a result of a $1.7 million cut to SPL’s 2010 budget. The Queen Anne branch, located at 400 W. Garfield St, is currently open
February 2, 2010
The Ethnic Arts Connection, a free one-day celebration of the Northwest’s performing and visual artists, is looking for artistic performers for it’s biennial event on Wednesday, March 10 at Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavillion. The event includes art presentations by regional and local artists working in “culturally specific traditions” and will include 15-minute juried performances, visual