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
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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
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| BUDGET |
$587,670 for planning, development and construction
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| SCHEDULE |
Planning:Completed
Design:Completed
Construction:Winter 2008
Completion:Spring 2009
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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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