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Dakota Place Park Development (formerly California Substation) Pro Parks Project Information

 
4304 SW Dakota St

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PROJECT STATUS

EVENTS:

There are no meetings or events planned at this time.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Kelly Goold
800 Maynard Avenue South, 3rd floor
Seattle, WA 98134-1336
(206) 684-0586
kelly.goold@seattle.gov
April 2009

Dakota Place Park - California Substation Redevelopment
Exterior construction package is under construction. Completion is scheduled for early May and community provided landscaping will follow. Project elements include; Plaza with integrated artwork, ADA access, site lighting, multiple seating elements, refurbishing existing historic elements, automated irrigation, and extensive community provided landscaping.

Building Package - hazardous material abatement, historically correct window replacement, new roof, brick re-pointing, and seismic upgrades are complete. Remaining interior building improvements need to be permitted and contracted. Completion date to be determined.


LOCATION
4304 SW Dakota St
BUDGET
$587,670 for planning, development and construction
SCHEDULE
Planning:Completed
Design:Completed
Construction:Winter 2008
Completion:Spring 2009

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Project Description

After the completion of an environmental cleanup, the former California Substation was transferred from Seattle City Light to Seattle Parks and Recreation on Aug. 31, 2005. The Pro Parks Levy provided funding for the acquisition and development of the substation building and surrounding land.

History and Background

"Edison agents turn on first electric lightbulb in the West in Seattle on March 22, 1886"

On March 22, 1886, representatives of Thomas Edison demonstrate the first electrical generator in Seattle. The Seattle Electric Company's steam-powered dynamo, located in Pioneer Square, powers the first incandescent light bulb to shine west of the Rocky Mountains.

Edison agents Sidney Mitchell and F. H. Sparling arrived in Seattle in 1885. They arranged for generous municipal franchises and solicited investors for a new Seattle Electric Company. George D. Hill and J. M. Frink constructed the city's first central electric power station. They purchased the required generating equipment from the Edison Machine Works.

Puget Sound Power & Light bought property at 4304 SW Dakota and California Avenue SW in October 1925 for a future substation location. This would be one of four substations in the area. In 1930, a brick building known as the California Substation was built. With 2418 sq. feet of space the California substation was much larger than most substation buildings.

Fear of monopoly control spurred development of Seattle City Light, beginning in 1902. In 1950, after decades of political and economic competition, City Light acquired Puget Power's services and assets within the Seattle City limits. (http://www.historylink.org)

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

A number of community members are organizing the Friends of California Substation to generate interest and funding to develop the park land around the Substation.

On April 25, 2006, Parks held a final open house to discuss the project's next steps. To learn more, you can read the meeting notes (PDF).

IMPORTANT LINKS


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Updated  11/18/2008 13:10
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