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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Nickels saves open space in West Seattle
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/14/2005 3:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Nickels saves open space in West Seattle
Plan preserves Soundway open space and supports community projects
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels announced today the city’s Soundway property
in West Seattle will be preserved as open space, thanks to an improved local
economy. In its 2006 Endorsed Budget, the city had decided to sell part of
the property to help support three community projects.
“This is the best of both worlds,” Nickels said. “Thanks
to our improving local economy and a grant from the state, we’re no longer
faced in this case with a choice between preserving open space and supporting
worthwhile community projects - we can do both.”
Last November, the City Council gave the community until Sept. 30, 2005, to
raise funds for preservation of the property as open space and wetland habitat.
In August 2005, the Council extended the deadline to Dec. 31, 2006.
The Legislature has appropriated $500,000 to preserve the space as a greenbelt.
The city’s 2006 Endorsed Budget identified revenues from the sale of
surplus city properties, including Soundway, to fund Asian Counseling and Referral
Service, the Colman School - African American Heritage Museum and the Wing
Luke Museum.
Nickels thanked City Council members Tom Rasmussen and David Della for their
work on the Soundway property.
New funding sources for these projects will be specified in the Mayor’s
upcoming budget proposal. He will announce his entire 2006 proposed budget
Sept. 26.
Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s
inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic
opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter
at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
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Office of the Mayor
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