Seattle City Council says no to Nickels' plan to save Building 11

Seattle City Council says no to Nickels' plan to save Building 11

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Story Published: Jul 22, 2008 at 8:01 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 11:34 PM PDT

By Bryan Johnson

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SEATTLE -- The city council says "no way" to the mayor's plan to save a building that's home to sail boats, kayaks and canoes.

Here's the story. A dispute between Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council could leave all the kayakers up Lake Washington without a paddle.

Every summer, 500 kids learn the basics of sailing at Sail Sand Point. Hundreds more come whenever the sun shines.

The big problem is Building 11, the place non-profit marine groups call home. There's asbestos in the heating ducts and in the wallboard. There's water, but it runs through lead pipes.

"You can't drink the water!" said Morgan Collins with Sail Sand Point. "The electricity is a challenge. Definitely a challenge."

And there is no sprinkler system. The building is one step away from condemnation.

The mayor negotiated an $8 million "save the building deal," a 50-year lease that would have allowed some business, even a restaurant.

"We can make this work. We're willing to put the money into this. This is a community asset, let's do it," said Chuck Ayers with Cascade Bicycle Club.

But when the applause died, so did the mayor's plan by a 7-0 council vote.

"The bottom line is, I don't want this building to be turned into an office park," said council member Tom Rasmussen.

The council didn't like the 50-year lease or business on the second floor. Council members promised to find an alternative by the end of summer. But Sail Sand Point worries they and their building are doomed.

"I don't know," said Collins. "I don't know that we are going to die, but we are going to shrink rapidly. One of those two things will happen, but we won't be the same."

The mayor and park department took three years to put together a plan to save Building 11. The city council has given itself quite a task. They want to come up with an alternative in a month and a half.

In the last two hours, the mayor's office and parks department say they'll work with the council to find a permanent solution to save the building and the boating activities.


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