08/19 8:31 PM >>>
It was nice to meet you at the UCUC sounding Board meeting tonight. You
were right. Somehow, I missed you on my original distribution list. Here's
the e-mail to the Mayor outlining the UCUC Plan issues re U-Heights.
Richard Snyder
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Snyder [mailto:rsnyder@halcyon.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 5:33 AM
To: 'Mayors Office'
Cc: Ken Scholes (E-mail); Anne Fiske Zuniga (E-mail); Peter Steinbrueck
(E-mail); Sue Donaldson (E-mail); Richard Conlin (E-mail); 'Geri
Beardsley'
Subject: RE: Fall Bond Levy and University Heights--Better formatting
Thank you very much for your personal attention to University Heights and
the University Community Urban Center Plan. We are deeply appreciative of
the Neighborhood Matching Fund award and Early Implementation Funds. These
funds should allow emergency deferred maintainance(painting and roofing)
which will halt the building's deterioration while a longer term solution is
found.
We were very disappointed to not be included in the Fall Levy. The
magnitude of the funds being considered would likely have allowed the
community and the City to secure University Heights for long term public use
as envisioned in the University Community Urban Center Plan.
In your thoughtful e-mail you state that, "It is not yet clear what will be
the best approach to ownership and operation of University Heights.
Definitive discussions with the School District have not been held to
determine what options they might consider. Lacking information on the cost
of purchase, renovation, and operations, it is also difficult to determine
what option would be most feasible for the community and the City."
We completely agree with your thoughts and feel that the Executive Report,
specified in the Neighborhood Plan Adoption Matrix and due 6/99, would have
provided the City and the School District with a starting point for
definitive discussions. Unfortunately, this report was not available for
the City Council deliberations on the Fall Levy and, according to Anne
Fiske-Zuniga and Geri Beardsley, has still not been started. The complex
issues to be addressed in this report are listed in the following section of
the Neighborhood Plan:
"Council Action Taken: Approve Exec.'s Recommended action with the
following additions:,
"The Executive shall take a leadership role in actively assisting the
community in securing the use of the University Heights facility as a
community center. The Executive's efforts should include working with the
School District to encourage a long-term lease or sale of the University
Heights facility and working with the community to identify public and/or
private resources and partners to lease, purchase, renovate, and/or maintain
and operate the facility. The Executive shall provide the Council with a
status report and recommendations no later than June 1999. The Executive
Report shall include: 1) a review of citywide community facility needs and
priorities; 2) an ownership and management plan that best meets the
community's goals for this facility; 3) the best long-term programming for
this facility; and 4) a cost/benefit analysis of lease, purchase,
renovation, and/or maintenance and operation of this facility."
We feel that it is critical for this report to be completed and are ready to
participate. Addressing the issues will require a good process involving
the School District, the City, and stakeholders in the Community. We have
many ideas on how this process could work, but have been unable to find a
person in the City Administration who is working on the report.
We would very much appreciate any interventions that you could make to start
the process of creating this report.
Again, thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to a
newly roofed and painted building and to working with your administration on
completion of the UCUC Neighborhood Plan.
In Community,
Richard Snyder
University Heights Center for the Community Association
Board President
-----Original Message-----
From: Mayors Office [mailto:Mayors.Office@ci.seattle.wa.us]
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 7:43 PM
To: rsnyder@halcyon.com
Subject: Re: Fall Bond Levy and University Heights--Better formatting
Thank you for your e-mail regarding University Heights. I recognize that
the continuing use of the building for community activities is a high
priority of the University Community Urban Center Plan. As you note, the
City has committed in its response to the plan's approval and adoption
matrix to work with you on a long-range plan for this facility.
It is not yet clear what will be the best approach to ownership and
operation of University Heights. Definitive discussions with the School
District have not been held to determine what options they might consider.
Lacking information on the cost of purchase, renovation, and operations, it
is also difficult to determine what option would be most feasible for the
community and the City.
I had proposed an Opportunity Fund for the upcoming levy in order to provide
resources for projects, like University Heights, that are not yet clearly
defined. However, the City Council deleted the Opportunity Fund believing
that the electorate will feel more comfortable with a package of projects
that is better defined. I certainly understand their position and am
pleased that their vote on the proposed levy was accompanied by a resolution
reiterating the City's intent to "consult with the Seattle School District
and explore options regarding possible acquisition and/or leasing of certain
buildings ... including University Heights."
In the meantime, I am pleased that substantial progress has been made. The
10-year lease that you were able to secure ensures that the building will
continue to be available to meet community needs as envisioned in the plan.
The recent Neighborhood Matching Fund award and decision to approve money
from the Early Implementation Fund demonstrate how the City is already
partnering with the community to make much-needed improvements to the
facility.
I realize that much more is needed. I appreciate your leadership of the
University Heights Association and will make sure my administration
continues to work with you.
Very truly yours,
Paul Schell
>>>
"Richard Snyder" 05/24 8:21 PM >>>
I apologize for the poor formatting of the previous e-mail. Below is a,
hopefully, improved version. You could also try opening the Word
attachment. You will be receiving hard copy in a few days.
Richard Snyder, President of University Heights Center for the Community
To: Seattle City Council and Mayor Paul Schell
From:
Richard Snyder,President of the University Heights Center for the Community
Association
Neil Heiman, Executive Director of the University District Chamber of
Commerce
Matt Fox,President of the University District Community Council
Willie Williams, President of the University Park Community Club
James Conlin, University District Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair,
University Community Urban Center Association Planning Committee
David Kelley, University District Chamber of Commerce
Catherine Maggio, MAKERS Architecture and Urban Design
Patty Whistler, The Ave Group
Ken Scholes, Executive Director of the University Heights Center for the
Community Association
Re: University Heights and the Fall Bond Levy
Dear Members of the City Council and Mayor Paul Schell,
Please help the University District realize its Neighborhood Plan by
including funds for City acquisition of University Heights in the Community
Center Bond Levy.
As you may already know, the University Heights School, closed in 1988, is
located at University Way and NE 50th. For the last nine years, University
Heights Center for the Community Association (UHCCA), a nonprofit, has
operated a community center on the site by renting it from the Seattle
school district, and in turn renting space to a variety of community groups.
Activities on the site have included the very successful University District
Farmer's market, the Linda Doupe Reading room (serving the literacy needs
of
children), dance classes, art classes, martial arts classes, community
meeting space, theatre classes, church gatherings, and the list goes on.
Ever since the school closure, members of the community have debated many
visions for the University Heights site. Proposals have included:
1. Reopening as a public school. (To the best of our knowledge, the School
District has no intention of re-opening University Heights as a school)
2. Demolition of the historic building and construction of profitable
commercial ventures such as apartments and/or retail facilities.
3. Remodeling of the existing building for retail use (similar to the
Wallingford Center).
4. Renovation and remodeling for continued use as a community center.
Prior to the Neighborhood planning process, it was very difficult for the
UHCCA, the School District, or the City to assess the amount of community
support behind any of these visions. The completed University Community
Urban Center Plan provides all of us with a compelling community vision for
University Heights.
The University Heights Center is the most critical element in the
maintenance and expansion of a solid residential neighborhood. It is
essential to secure ownership, or at least, a long term lease of the
University Heights Center in order to rehabilitate the building in
accordance with program needs and historic preservation guidelines, and
improve the grounds to accommodate a variety of community activities,
including the Saturday Market... (University Community Urban Center
Plan, pg. III-15.)
The Neighborhood Plan also acknowledges that this vision can not be fully
realized under continued School District ownership.
Ultimately, the City should fund the acquisition of the University Heights
Center in order to guarantee that the facility remains in productive public
use and that the community has a focus. (University Community Urban
Center Plan, pg. III-16.)
The community's strong desire for City acquisition reflects the conflict
between the School District's desire for maximum rental income from its
properties and the reality that open space and community activities generate
little revenue. In fact, the UHCCA will not be able to continue its work in
5 years because the projected revenue will not cover the rent increases
built into the lease with the school district. Another result of this
understandable, but unfortunate, conflict is that neither the School
District nor the Community Center has been able to maintain the building or
the grounds. Fortunately, SAFECO, the City of Seattle, and other donors
have recently contributed a total of approximately $200,000 toward roofing
and painting the building, and improving the landscaping of the South Lot.
However; more funding would be needed to undertake capitol improvements and
additional staffing for more community programming, and more funds will
probably be needed in the future to perform other delayed maintenance such
as updating the building's electrical, heating, and plumbing as well as
major interior repairs.
The City Council responded to the Executive's responses to the
Neighborhood
Plan by approving the Executive's recommended action with the following
additions:
The Executive shall take a leadership role in actively assisting the
community in securing the use of the University Heights facility as a
community center. The Executive's efforts should include working with the
School District to encourage a long-term (25-year) lease or sale of the
University Height's facility and working with the community to identify
public and/or private resources and partners to lease, purchase, renovate,
and/or maintain and operate the facility. The Executive shall provide the
Council with a status report and recommendations no later than June 1999.
The Executive report shall include: 1) a review of city-wide community
facility needs and priorities; 2) an ownership and management plan that best
meets the community's goals for this facility; 3) the best long-term
programming for this facility; and 4) a cost/benefit analysis of lease,
purchase, renovation, and/or maintenance and operation of this
facility.
(University Community Urban Center Plan, Approval and Adoption Matrix, pg.
III-13.)
The Fall Levy, designed to support neighborhood community centers, is a rare
opportunity for the City to help the U-District realize its Neighborhood
Plan. We realize that the terms of City acquisition of University Heights
can not be arranged prior to the Bond levy. In fact, to our disappointment,
the Department of Neighborhoods has reported to us that the above report to
the City Council on acquisition has not yet even been started.
Nonetheless, we feel that the Fall Levy should include sufficient funds for
City purchase of the U-Heights property and for conducting a thorough study
of potential ownership/management plans, and the best long-term programming
for the facility. This would allow for City acquisition of University
Heights prior to School District rents becoming unaffordable by the
community center five years from now.
The University District needs a fully functional, centrally located
community center. Our community center is in such poor condition that the
casual observer often assumes it to be an abandoned building. This
neighborhood has a long history of people in need of community center
services, a high crime rate, and empty shop fronts, yet we lack the quality
open spaces and community resources enjoyed by most other Seattle
neighborhoods. We are doing the best with what we've got and we
appreciate
the recent grants totaling $200,000, but we desperately need more
substantial City resources. Please help University Heights Center become a
symbol of neighborhood and community rather than a symbol of urban decay.
Ken Scholes, the Executive Director of the UHCCA, has provided estimates for
the cost of city acquisition of the property to Councilmember Steinbrueck.
Richard Snyder, President of the University Heights Center for the Community
Association, has volunteered to be the community contact on this issue. He
can be reached at home-525-4852, pager-994-8832, FAX-525-9153,
e-mail-rsnyder@halcyon.com.
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