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:
Patrick Donohue
800 Maynard Avenue South, 3rd floor
Seattle, WA 98134-1336
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September 2007
Parks continues to make progress on this 2000 Pro Parks Levy
funded building renovation project.
Repairs to the masonry exterior of the building are complete.
Parks has install the new storm water and sanitary sewer system
along with new roof drains.
Structural repairs and modifications to the building parapets
and a new roof have also been installed.
Windows have been order and will be installed as soon as they
are available.
Due to the extremely completive construction market, work on
the exterior concrete walkway, path and three stall asphalt parking
lot have been delayed until late fall.
Once the building renovation and site improvements are complete,
the Hiawatha Advisory Council will operate this building as additional
program space for the Hiawatha Community Center.
The Friends of Dakota Place Park continues to work on fundraising
efforts to fund the construction of a proposed new park area in
the open space adjacent or north of to the building.
| 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:2003-2005
Construction:Spring 2006
Completion:Summer 2006
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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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