Saving the Big Ship
6/30/2004
Summit Report Released; Nickels Indifferent?; Wawona Berth Doubted; Metro Dock for Heritage?
Maritime heritage activists accomplished several goals during June that pushed Seattle's maritime heritage crisis higher on the public agenda. Chief among the accomplishments was release of 4Culture's (formerly the Cultural Development Authority of King County) Maritime Heritage Summit Report. The report was based on the May 7th Heritage Summit sponsored by 4Culture, Mayor Nickels' Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Park Service's Seattle Support Office, and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.
The participants said maritime heritage in King County should have these components:
Be a Sustainable Business
Be a Destination Site & Hub
Make Use of Relevant Historic Vessels
Offer Authentic Educational Experiences
Utilize Core Stories
Contact: Charles Payton, 206-296-7580, E-mail; Flo Lentz, 206-296-7580, E-mail
Mayor Nickels Not Interested?
The Summit Report work plan calls for creation of a steering committee to develop a proposal to Mayor Nickels for a task force that could develop a plan for solving our maritime heritage crisis. However, I've learned, second-hand, admittedly, that the mayor's office is not interested in creating such as task force. Heritage activists may want to contact the mayor's office and ask for a clarification. Does this reflect a change in his attitude toward other types of heritage and preservation activities, such as historic structures?
Contact: Mayor Greg Nickels, 206-684-4000, E-mail him
Parks Department to Wawona: Clean Up or Move Out
About a half-dozen Wawona volunteers asked the Seattle Parks Board of Commissioners on June 24 to allow Wawona to stay at South Lake Union Park while restoration work continues. The volunteers delivered a petition with 700 signatures supporting their view. The Parks Board did not act. Erik Lacitis, a reporter for The Seattle Times, attended the meeting. A story may appear in the next few days. Activists have also written to Mayor Nickels, City Council Member David Della (chair of the Parks Committee), and met with City Council Member Peter Steinbrueck.
Ken Bounds and his staff have made it clear that Wawona is not up to their standards. In an e-mail to me this week, Mr. Bounds said that Wawona, "in acceptable display condition, could be a wonderful asset to South Lake Union Park. I also continue to be hopeful that she can achieve that status. We would be eager to secure her presence at the park if this were the case. She does need a level of repair and renovation, however, that may not be appropriate to carry out in the newly renovated park."
I've asked Mr. Bounds to define "acceptable display condition." What are the standards? Who developed them? Does the Parks Department have the expertise to administer them? Victoria Schoenburg, the South Lake Union Park project manager, says the Parks Department has made no request, in writing or verbally, that Wawona should be moved. However, if repair and renovation cannot continue at the Park, how can Wawona be brought up to standard? Except, perhaps, by moving her first, then bringing her back? And how would Parks decide that she is pretty enough? In the meantime, will the Historic Ships Wharf remain empty?
Wawona volunteers have responded to Parks' concerns. They've spent several hundred man-hours sprucing her up this month. Last weekend, 21 volunteers, the largest single work party on Wawona in memory, took down her winter cover in preparation for the Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival.
I'm told that Joe Shickich, president of the Northwest Seaport board, is in talks with Parks about Wawona's status. But the outcome and its timing are murky, since the talks have been going on at least six months.
Contacts: Ken Bounds, 206-684-4075, E-mail; Joe Shickich, (E-mail me for info); Alice Winship (Wawona volunteer leader), (E-mail me for info)
Maritime Heritage a Leading Option for Metro Dock
Ten maritime heritage activists from Wawona, the Northwest Schooner Society, and the Virginia V Foundation attended a June 15th meeting on the Metro Dock property at North Lake Union. The King County Department of Transportation (Metro) wants to dispose of lakefront property next to the City of Seattle's Harbor Patrol dock. The activists lobbied to make the Metro Dock available for maritime heritage activities, including ship repair and restoration. I understand that this is the leading option for the community working group studying various options. The maritime heritage option is also supported by the Seattle Parks Department.
Contact: Patrick Duhon, 206-263-3424, E-mail
Shameless Self-Promotion
Here's some of my personal activities:
Wrote letters and e-mails to Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Jim McDermott, Joe McDermott, Erik Poulson, Bruce Bentley, Peter Steinbrueck, and David Della. I've received no responses.
Wawona article accepted by Gastronomica
Grant proposal for completing book manuscript submitted to 4Culture
Book proposal submitted to Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Wawona article "Fishermen's Meals a la 1936" published in July issue of 48 Degrees North
If you would like to be placed on the list notifying readers of new entries, email Joe Follansbee at joef@speakeasy.net
Powered by Blogger™
¶ 7:49 AM 0 comments
The participants said maritime heritage in King County should have these components:
Contact: Charles Payton, 206-296-7580, E-mail; Flo Lentz, 206-296-7580, E-mail
Mayor Nickels Not Interested?
The Summit Report work plan calls for creation of a steering committee to develop a proposal to Mayor Nickels for a task force that could develop a plan for solving our maritime heritage crisis. However, I've learned, second-hand, admittedly, that the mayor's office is not interested in creating such as task force. Heritage activists may want to contact the mayor's office and ask for a clarification. Does this reflect a change in his attitude toward other types of heritage and preservation activities, such as historic structures?
Contact: Mayor Greg Nickels, 206-684-4000, E-mail him
Parks Department to Wawona: Clean Up or Move Out
About a half-dozen Wawona volunteers asked the Seattle Parks Board of Commissioners on June 24 to allow Wawona to stay at South Lake Union Park while restoration work continues. The volunteers delivered a petition with 700 signatures supporting their view. The Parks Board did not act. Erik Lacitis, a reporter for The Seattle Times, attended the meeting. A story may appear in the next few days. Activists have also written to Mayor Nickels, City Council Member David Della (chair of the Parks Committee), and met with City Council Member Peter Steinbrueck.
Ken Bounds and his staff have made it clear that Wawona is not up to their standards. In an e-mail to me this week, Mr. Bounds said that Wawona, "in acceptable display condition, could be a wonderful asset to South Lake Union Park. I also continue to be hopeful that she can achieve that status. We would be eager to secure her presence at the park if this were the case. She does need a level of repair and renovation, however, that may not be appropriate to carry out in the newly renovated park."
I've asked Mr. Bounds to define "acceptable display condition." What are the standards? Who developed them? Does the Parks Department have the expertise to administer them? Victoria Schoenburg, the South Lake Union Park project manager, says the Parks Department has made no request, in writing or verbally, that Wawona should be moved. However, if repair and renovation cannot continue at the Park, how can Wawona be brought up to standard? Except, perhaps, by moving her first, then bringing her back? And how would Parks decide that she is pretty enough? In the meantime, will the Historic Ships Wharf remain empty?
Wawona volunteers have responded to Parks' concerns. They've spent several hundred man-hours sprucing her up this month. Last weekend, 21 volunteers, the largest single work party on Wawona in memory, took down her winter cover in preparation for the Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival.
I'm told that Joe Shickich, president of the Northwest Seaport board, is in talks with Parks about Wawona's status. But the outcome and its timing are murky, since the talks have been going on at least six months.
Contacts: Ken Bounds, 206-684-4075, E-mail; Joe Shickich, (E-mail me for info); Alice Winship (Wawona volunteer leader), (E-mail me for info)
Maritime Heritage a Leading Option for Metro Dock
Ten maritime heritage activists from Wawona, the Northwest Schooner Society, and the Virginia V Foundation attended a June 15th meeting on the Metro Dock property at North Lake Union. The King County Department of Transportation (Metro) wants to dispose of lakefront property next to the City of Seattle's Harbor Patrol dock. The activists lobbied to make the Metro Dock available for maritime heritage activities, including ship repair and restoration. I understand that this is the leading option for the community working group studying various options. The maritime heritage option is also supported by the Seattle Parks Department.
Contact: Patrick Duhon, 206-263-3424, E-mail
Shameless Self-Promotion
Here's some of my personal activities:
If you would like to be placed on the list notifying readers of new entries, email Joe Follansbee at joef@speakeasy.net
Powered by Blogger™
¶ 7:49 AM 0 comments
