Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 4, April 2004

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County looking at future of Wallingford facility

By JAMES BUSH

King County is looking at its options for possible reuse of two properties in the Wallingford neighborhood.

A review group will be set up shortly to develop "a long-term vision" for the county's maintenance building at N. 34th Street and Woodlawn Avenue N. and a nearby Lake Union shoreline parcel now being leased by the Center for Wooden Boats.

Ron Posthuma, assistant director of the King County Department of Transportation, says that two factors have contributed to the county study. The county has received several inquiries about the availability of its properties, and some County Council members are interested in the concept of using the shoreline parcel as a dock for passenger ferries.

However, the property has not been declared surplus and King County may well decide to keep it, said Posthuma. It currently functions as the headquarters of the Metro bus shelter cleaning operation, in part due to its excellent access to Aurora Avenue N. and the Interstate-5 freeway.

Posthuma acknowledged that the South Wallingford Neighborhood Plan proposes that the building be retained for community use. The plan proposes that the maintenance building be converted to an aquatic center, a community center/pool facility. Genevieve Vayda, one of the South Wallingford plan drafters, says the community wants the opportunity to seek funding for its proposal before the county makes any final decisions about the future of the building.

Posthuma said there will be community representation on the study committee, but says that committee members have not yet been selected. The County Council budget proviso mandated the committee be set up says that the group "is to be made up of elected officials and staff from King County, City of Seattle and the state, private property owners, and other such community stakeholders."

Posthuma will present a proposal for the study group to the County Council by March 25.