Please join the panel reviewing proposals for future uses of the Fun Forest south areas, July 7, 2010, in the Center House Food Court: open house, 4:30pm - 6pm; meeting, 6pm - 8pm. The review panel would like your thoughts, ideas and comments on the best uses of the Fun Forest space. The panel appointed by Seattle Center to review proposals submitted for future uses of the Fun Forest south areas will host an open house and community meeting on July 7, 2010, where the public may talk directly with proposers, learn more about the proposed projects and provide input on the submitted proposals. The open house begins at 4:30 p.m., and the meeting runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.in the Center House Food Court area.
The review panel, consisting of members from the Century 21 Committee and led by Seattle Center Advisory Commission Chair Bill Block, will make a recommendation to Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams on best use(s) of the Fun Forest space. As part of their deliberation, the reviewers would like to hear from the public on what they believe the panel should consider as it works toward its recommendation – including identifying additional information that the panel should request from one or more proposers.
Members of the pubic are strongly urged to review the proposals in advance. All of the proposals are posted on the Seattle Center website. While proposers will be available informally from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to explain their proposals, there will be no formal presentations at the meeting itself.
Those who cannot attend the meeting may submit written comments in advance of July 7, and the panel will read a representative sample of those comments at the meeting. Written comments may be emailed or mailed to: Neal Erickson, neal.erickson@seattle.gov, Seattle Center Redevelopment, 305 Harrison Street, #109, Seattle, WA 98109.
The Century 21 Committee was appointed in 2006 by Mayor Nickels to craft a plan to enhance and evolve Seattle Center so that it may continue to serve the needs of the community into the future. The Seattle Center Century 21 Master Plan, a 20-year, $570 million redevelopment plan, was adopted by the Seattle City Council in 2008.
Seattle Center, a City of Seattle department, received a wide range of proposals, nine in all, for temporary, long-term use (up to 20 years) of the Fun Forest south areas in keeping with the vision and mission of the department and the principles of the Century 21 Master Plan.
The Fun Forest south area, a relatively level, open, 1 ½-acre space with an asphalt surface and 21,600 square-foot, concrete brick arcade building, is located to the southeast of Center House. Fun Forest Amusements, LLC has leased and operated the area for 47 years. It intends to vacate the space at the end of September 2010. For more information on the Fun Forest south RFP review process, Century 21 Master Plan and other Seattle Center activities, visit www.seattlecenter.com.
