Arena Sports and Magnuson Park's Building 27 were the hot topics on Nov. 28 when community members gathered for the third and final open-house discussion of proposed changes for the park.
Eric Friedli, Seattle Parks and Recreation's Enterprise Division director, led the discussion and provided answers to questions about the estimated $42 million needed for park renovations.
"[The renovations] will take Magnuson to the next level of development," he said. "We will use these proposals to bring high-quality programs into the park."
'A critical juncture'
Arena Sports - represented by numerous children, teens and parents all wearing uniforms at the meeting - is currently located in Building 2 at the park and hopes to renovate Building 27 into a multi-use recreation facility.
The proposal for the 80,000-square-foot facility includes two indoor sports arenas, a hard-surface indoor court for basketball and volleyball, a baseball infield, fitness center, playground and limited food service.
Renovation cost for the building is estimated at $6.8 million, to be funded completely by Arena Sports, which has been in Magnuson Park for nine years.
According to Arena Sports CEO Don Crowe, Building 2 is "not holding up well" and will cost nearly three times as much to renovate as Building 27. He explained that for the company, it is now an all-or-nothing endeavor.
"There's a lifespan to all buildings; with the absence of this proposal it is difficult to think where Arena Sports would go," said Meg O'Conor Bannecker, Arena Sports public-affairs representative.
Arena Sports would use the building 363 days a year for events, said Crowe, who added that the company currently serves 300,000 people a year through its sports programs.
"We really are at a critical juncture," said Bannecker, noting that thousands of people's athletic programs could be displaced.
Unexplored options
Though Arena Sports renovations would alleviate Building 27's financial burden, community members expressed concern that sole ownership would take away from the smaller organizations that already uses the building.
Hangar 30 for Arena Sports, an organization that began in response to the Building 27 proposal, says there are alternative options for Arena Sports.
"[Building 27] should stay as it is now: a shared space," David Lefebvre said. He is a member of the Hangar 30 for Arena Sports who uses Building 27 to fly model airplanes.
Lefebvre said he is confident there are people in his organization who will help with upgrades and raising the money to keep the space available.
"All options haven't been explored. Anyone who gains control will be able to market the building better than it is now and raise money," said Wyatt Wood, a member who spoke on behalf the Rat City Roller Girls.
According to Wood, Hangar 30 for Arena Sports is backed by nearly 20 community councils in the surrounding areas, including Friends of Magnuson Park, and he feels that they are well-supported by City Council members.
However, improvements to Hangar 30, estimated at $2.7 million, were recently approved by the City Council.
Hangar 30 will be converted into a multi-arts use facility, said Julianna Ross, a member of the nonprofit Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange (SPACE).
SPACE, which has been in various buildings at Magnuson Park, will call Building 30 its permanent home. The renovated building will have a gallery and event space, a studio open for resident artists, an outdoor sculpture space and youth programs.
Improvements, to be completed in 2009, will include renovation of all flooring, new wiring, plumbing, and heating and ventilation systems.
Recreational uses
Also already approved are changes for Building 67 to be utilized by The Mountaineers, an outdoor recreation club. A 30-year agreement was signed in 2005 that included $1.7 million for the construction of a rock-climbing plaza that will be open for public use.
"This is a big step forward," said Mountaineers Magnuson project manager Gene Yore.
The building will also serve as the headquarters of The Mountaineers and will have a bookstore, library, meeting room and auditoriums for public use.
Construction for Building 67 is set to begin early next year, with occupation intended for late 2008.
Not only will Seattleites be able to scale walls at Magnuson Park in Building 67, but they will be able to scale mountains - or at least prepare to.
Cascade Bicycle Club hopes to take over the vacant Building 18, proposing a facility that would include offices for both the club and other cycling organizations, a coffee shop, classrooms, a bike-repair shop and training center.
Renovations for Building 18 are estimated at $3 million. Cascade Bicycle Club plans to assess the amount they could earn in fund-raising for the facility. That amount will be shown to the city to use for deductions to its overall contribution.
Public tennis courts
The final proposal displayed Wednesday evening is for a rare opportunity in the Seattle area, according to Seattle Court Sports managing director Scott Marshall: the opportunity to play tennis without a wait or a lengthy drive.
"The whole North Seattle community really has no place to go," Marshall said.
Seattle Court Sports' proposals for Building 41, the current headquarters for Magnuson Park staff, would turn the building into a tennis center.
The facility will contain six indoor and four outdoor tennis courts including a pro-shop and food service. Nine hours a week will be devoted to public use, where free court time for anyone will be allowed.
Pending council approval
Though Building 27 turned out to be the evening's main focus, proposals for both Buildings 18 and 41 must be approved by the City Council before renovations can begin.
City Council hearings are set to begin in late January.
For more information, visit www.cityofseattle.net/parks/magnuson/historicDistrict.htm.
"[The renovations] will take Magnuson to the next level of development," he said. "We will use these proposals to bring high-quality programs into the park."
'A critical juncture'
Arena Sports - represented by numerous children, teens and parents all wearing uniforms at the meeting - is currently located in Building 2 at the park and hopes to renovate Building 27 into a multi-use recreation facility.
The proposal for the 80,000-square-foot facility includes two indoor sports arenas, a hard-surface indoor court for basketball and volleyball, a baseball infield, fitness center, playground and limited food service.
Renovation cost for the building is estimated at $6.8 million, to be funded completely by Arena Sports, which has been in Magnuson Park for nine years.
According to Arena Sports CEO Don Crowe, Building 2 is "not holding up well" and will cost nearly three times as much to renovate as Building 27. He explained that for the company, it is now an all-or-nothing endeavor.
"There's a lifespan to all buildings; with the absence of this proposal it is difficult to think where Arena Sports would go," said Meg O'Conor Bannecker, Arena Sports public-affairs representative.
Arena Sports would use the building 363 days a year for events, said Crowe, who added that the company currently serves 300,000 people a year through its sports programs.
"We really are at a critical juncture," said Bannecker, noting that thousands of people's athletic programs could be displaced.
Unexplored options
Though Arena Sports renovations would alleviate Building 27's financial burden, community members expressed concern that sole ownership would take away from the smaller organizations that already uses the building.
Hangar 30 for Arena Sports, an organization that began in response to the Building 27 proposal, says there are alternative options for Arena Sports.
"[Building 27] should stay as it is now: a shared space," David Lefebvre said. He is a member of the Hangar 30 for Arena Sports who uses Building 27 to fly model airplanes.
Lefebvre said he is confident there are people in his organization who will help with upgrades and raising the money to keep the space available.
"All options haven't been explored. Anyone who gains control will be able to market the building better than it is now and raise money," said Wyatt Wood, a member who spoke on behalf the Rat City Roller Girls.
According to Wood, Hangar 30 for Arena Sports is backed by nearly 20 community councils in the surrounding areas, including Friends of Magnuson Park, and he feels that they are well-supported by City Council members.
However, improvements to Hangar 30, estimated at $2.7 million, were recently approved by the City Council.
Hangar 30 will be converted into a multi-arts use facility, said Julianna Ross, a member of the nonprofit Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange (SPACE).
SPACE, which has been in various buildings at Magnuson Park, will call Building 30 its permanent home. The renovated building will have a gallery and event space, a studio open for resident artists, an outdoor sculpture space and youth programs.
Improvements, to be completed in 2009, will include renovation of all flooring, new wiring, plumbing, and heating and ventilation systems.
Recreational uses
Also already approved are changes for Building 67 to be utilized by The Mountaineers, an outdoor recreation club. A 30-year agreement was signed in 2005 that included $1.7 million for the construction of a rock-climbing plaza that will be open for public use.
"This is a big step forward," said Mountaineers Magnuson project manager Gene Yore.
The building will also serve as the headquarters of The Mountaineers and will have a bookstore, library, meeting room and auditoriums for public use.
Construction for Building 67 is set to begin early next year, with occupation intended for late 2008.
Not only will Seattleites be able to scale walls at Magnuson Park in Building 67, but they will be able to scale mountains - or at least prepare to.
Cascade Bicycle Club hopes to take over the vacant Building 18, proposing a facility that would include offices for both the club and other cycling organizations, a coffee shop, classrooms, a bike-repair shop and training center.
Renovations for Building 18 are estimated at $3 million. Cascade Bicycle Club plans to assess the amount they could earn in fund-raising for the facility. That amount will be shown to the city to use for deductions to its overall contribution.
Public tennis courts
The final proposal displayed Wednesday evening is for a rare opportunity in the Seattle area, according to Seattle Court Sports managing director Scott Marshall: the opportunity to play tennis without a wait or a lengthy drive.
"The whole North Seattle community really has no place to go," Marshall said.
Seattle Court Sports' proposals for Building 41, the current headquarters for Magnuson Park staff, would turn the building into a tennis center.
The facility will contain six indoor and four outdoor tennis courts including a pro-shop and food service. Nine hours a week will be devoted to public use, where free court time for anyone will be allowed.
Pending council approval
Though Building 27 turned out to be the evening's main focus, proposals for both Buildings 18 and 41 must be approved by the City Council before renovations can begin.
City Council hearings are set to begin in late January.
For more information, visit www.cityofseattle.net/parks/magnuson/historicDistrict.htm.
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