The Metropolitan King County Council has moved forward plans to shift The Center for Wooden Boats from its South Lake Union home to an area near Gas Works Park. In a unanimous vote, the council showed support for negotiations toward an interim lease agreement for The Center for Wooden Boats on Metro Transit property on North Lake Union (aerial view).
According to a press release from the county council, when negotiations between Metro Transit and The Center reached a standstill in 2010, the Council called for a memorandum of understanding between the parties. Metro and The Center have since negotiated their differences, and this legislation will allow The Center to carry on with plans for the move. The council said an interim lease for the landside portion of the property, which includes a warehouse and parking lot, will allow The Center to use the area while negotiations continue.
Councilmember Larry Phillips sponsored the legislation, and in the press release said, “County-owned property of North Lake Union has the potential to provide a great home for The Center for Wooden Boats and wonderful opportunities for the community to experience maritime heritage and have access to waterfront property on North Lake Union.” He said the interim lease will give Metro Transit and The Center time to work through the legal, financial, and environmental issues involved with the site.
The Friends of Northlake Community Wharf have been active in the effort to bring The Center for Wooden Boats to the north end of the lake. The area was once used as a fuel dock, and it has 220 feet of waterfront. To find out more about the project, visit the Friends of Northlake Community Wharf’s site.
Update: The Center for Wooden Boats will not be moving to a new location, rather, it will create a second site at North Lake Union. Dan Leach from the CWB says, “It’s about creating a new second CWB location on the lake that would serve those neighborhoods and allow programs that we don’t have space to do at South Lake Union. We are super excited about the possibilities.” Thanks Dan for the clarification!
Hey My Wallingford, I just want to make a point of clarification to be super clear. The plan is not to “move” CWB from it’s home at the South end of Lake Union. The Northlake Community Wharf plan is about creating a second CWB facility at the North end of the lake. And we are jazzed as heck about the possibility to help neighborhoods at the North end of the lake get out on their lake. How cool would it be to come to the Northlake facility for a class on woodworking and after that rent a boat, sail to the South end of the lake, drop off the boat, visit a new exhibit at the Museum of History and Industry, then hop the streetcar, and head to Pike Place Market for shopping. Sounds like a nice Saturday to me. Yours, Dan Leach, Community Engagement Lead, CWB