Belltown Community Center
Project Fact Sheet

The 1999 Community Center Levy provides $2.02 million for a new community center for the Belltown community.

Facility Overview

The intent of this project consists of leasing a 6,000 sq.ft. new community center space that would serve as a civic focal point for this densely populated downtown neighborhood with rooms available for public meetings, classes and rentals.

Project Update

The lease agreement for the Belltown Community Center, located at the southwest corner of 5th Ave and Bell St, 2235 5th Avenue, was presented to the Parks Committee for approval on November 17, 2011, where it was approved, it was subsequently approved by Full Council in December 2011. The agreement is for a seven year lease, with an option to renew.

Tenant Improvements to the building are underway and are expected to be completed in May/June of 2012, with the facility open to the public in June 2012.

Parks is currently working with potential partners to operate the facility, making sure to incorporate the needs and desires of the community in those discussions. Parks will also incorporate a mechanism for community members to be involved in future operations and programming decisions related to the center.

Parks and potential partners will be attending the February 15 Belltown Community Council meeting for a meet-n-greet. The meeting is open to the public and is held at Mary’s Place on Bell St and 4th Ave, starting at 7:00 pm.

Previous attempts to site the facility in 2000 with the Low Income Housing Institute's (LIHI) Belltown View site were unsuccessful. Since then Parks conducted additional public meetings between 2001-2005 and has actively investigated many locations in the Belltown neighborhood for a multi-year lease arrangement to house a community center; however, spaces meeting criteria for a center have been virtually non-existent.

In 2010 Park’s acquisition staff investigated an additional 27 sites within the Belltown core for possible lease space to accommodate the Belltown Community Center. Key priorities for location included the following:

• Proximity to Bell Street Park
• Affordable 10-year lease
• ADA accessibility
• Exclusive entrance
• Moderate tenant improvement costs

Parks is currently pursuing a lease option for a site at the southwest corner of 5th Avenue and Bell St, 2235 5th Ave. An independent operator will be selected through a Request for Proposal process for this community center.

Belltown Community Center Improvement Project
Over 65 citizens attended the first public meeting for this project. Key priorities from the community on future programming and operations of the Community Center include:

• Seattle Police Department - 24 hours Police desk space
• Free town hall meetings
• Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, possible martial arts classes for all ages
• Adult programs and classes, evening dances/events
• Open 7 days/week all day
• Creation of a community board that works in tandem with the operator
• Regular operator evaluations by the City and community board
• An operator who understands and is engaged with the neighborhood

Public Involvement

Best of Belltown Event
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Crocodile
2200 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121

Seattle Parks and Recreation is planning a new and unique Community Center for the Belltown neighborhood. Whether you’re hearing about it for the first time, or are already actively involved, we invite you to bring your ideas and creative thoughts to the initial public meeting. At this meeting, Parks staff will outline the project scope and schedule, and learn what the community priorities are for programming and operating the center.

Public Meetings:

Meeting #1

March 16, 2011

Agenda

Notes

Project Advisory Team (PAT)

A new Project Advisory Team was appointed by the Superintendent in February 2011. The PAT is an advisory committee made up of representatives of key stakeholder groups. It is intended to facilitate sustained and balanced stakeholder participation. For more information visit the Project Advisory Team Roles page.

Meetings of the PAT are open to the public. At its meetings the PAT will be instrumental in the Request for Proposal process for the community center’s operator and types of programming, along with framing the public meetings. The group's recommendations on these topics are given substantial weight by Parks.

Meeting agendas and minutes are made available on this web page.

Project Advisory Team Meetings:

Meeting #1	February 28, 2011	Agenda	Notes
Meeting #2	March 28, 2011	Agenda	Notes
Meeting #3	May 23, 2011

Budget

The Community Center Levy currently allocates $2.02 million for planning, design, build-out and lease of a new community center facility.

For any additional information contact the Parks Project Planner

Trevor Gregg
Sr. Recreation Program Coordinator for Central Recreation
phone: 206-684-4871
email: trevor.gregg@seattle.gov

 

Archive of Previous Public Involvement

Public Meetings:

Meeting #1	Feb. 15, 2001	Agenda	Minutes
Meeting #2	June 18, 2003		Minutes
Meeting #3	August 24, 2005		Minutes

2001-2003 Project Advisory Team (appointed by the Superintendent in November 2001)

Project Advisory Team Meetings:

Meeting #1	Feb. 6, 2001	Minutes
Meeting #2	Feb. 26, 2001	Minutes
Meeting #3	Oct. 21, 2002, 6 p.m.	Minutes