Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund is searched for people who may have historical information on the south fork of Thornton Creek north and west of Northgate Mall.

Thornton Creek is presented entombed in a pipe under Northgate Mall's south parking lot, between NE 103rd and NE 100th streets to the north and south, and 1st and 5th avenues NE to the west and east.

Specifically, we are interested in recollections, photos, written information, etc. on where Thornton Creek once flowed through the present Mall site and to the west and north of the Mall.

It would be extremely helpful if you have any recollections, photos, etc., about fishing in the creek, seeing fish in the creek, and more specifically knowledge or photos of salmon in Thornton Creek west and north of the present Mall site.

We need this information in our Supreme Court challenge to the Seattle Hearing Examiner ruling that "Thornton Creek does not exist on this site (under the Mall south parking lot and to the west and north), and has not for 60 years."

If you have information about the existence and path of Thornton Creek from the 1920s on, please call me at 206-522-5919, Janet Way at 206-365-4477, or Jane Lotter at 206-524-8583.

Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund is seeking to have Thornton Creek brought to the surface ("daylighted") in conjunction with (Northgate Mall's) redevelopment of the south parking lot. Mall owner Simon Property Group's proposed plans for the south parking lot include two levels of underground parking with 2,570 stalls, 450 residential units, a 6,000-seat multiplex movie theater, a 120-foot-tall office building, and a 216-room, 120-foot-tall hotel.

In addition, Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund is asking for full detention and retention of storm water coming from the entire Mall site (67-acres) that for the past 50 years has entered Thornton Creek untreated and undetained, and greater open space and pedestrian and bicycle access (which could be in part provided by a "daylighted" creek).

We are also seeking funds to defer the costs of taking our case to Superior Court. Donations may be sent to Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund, c/o Bob Vreeland, 3241 NE 105th St., Seattle, WA 98125-79-8. We are not presently a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, but are seeking this status before the end of this tax year.

"Daylight Thornton Creek" bumper stickers and an 18-minute video "Thornton Creek Salmon, How the Northgate Development Plan will Impact Your Community" are available by calling the above numbers.

-BOB VREELAND,

Executive Committee Chair,

Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund