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PROJECT STATUSMay 2008Thank you Seattle this project is complete! This project renovated the historic 1927 landmark building into an outdoor education center that is a partnership between the City of Seattle and National Audubon Society. The new center includes: Two large class rooms Labratory Library Exhibits Offices Welcome Center/Gift Shop
Smith Construction Services, Inc. of Snohomish, WA has been award the construction contract. Project Completion is scheduled for November 2007. There is an agreement between the Seattle Parks and Recreation and the National Audubon Society to renovate the Seward Park Annex Building and the Hatchery for environmental education programs; and establishing the conditions under which Audubon may use and occupy a portion of the named facilities for a period of ten years with an option to continue use and occupancy for an additional 10 years. The City Council approved the agreement on June 16, 2003. Please visit to this site for additional information in the future.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
One of these initiatives is the development of an environmental education center in Seward Park. The park's natural assets afford a multitude of programming and stewardship opportunities and are ideally located to further Parks' outreach to communities under served by environmental organizations. Currently, the Annex Building in Seward Park is home to Outdoor Opportunities and an interpretive naturalist program. To augment these services, Parks proposed in the Pro Parks Levy the renovation of the Annex Building into a fully operational center. While the Levy identified $618,600 for renovation of the Annex Building for the Center and the Hatchery, this amount of funding was not expected to cover all the costs of renovation, and it did not provide funds for expanded programming. As expressed in Ordinance 120024, the City's intention was to leverage the Levy funds through collaborations with public and private organizations. To provide both the additional funding for the renovation of the Annex Building and to expand the environmental stewardship programming, Parks has partnered with the National Audubon Society (Audubon). Audubon also views Seward Park as an ideal location to further its conservation mission and its 1995 Strategic Plan to develop 20 Audubon Centers around the state. Because Parks and Audubon share not only a common mission, but also a commitment to serving diverse communities and a programmatic approach that uses natural areas as classrooms, this partnership will stimulate the leveraging of resources, expertise, and outreach services. Through collaborative and cooperative programming between Parks and Audubon, the environmental stewardship of Seward Park and the quality and quantity of educational opportunities will be enhanced. The total renovation cost of the building is estimated at $1,550,203. Audubon has proposed raising approximately $932,000, to be added to the $618,600 from the Levy to complete the design and renovation. Audubon will also raise funds to cover all the operating costs for their programs and for their use of the Center facilities. Parks and Audubon propose to work with South Seattle communities, organizations, and individuals in developing the renovation project, programs, use of the park, and other terms and conditions of the partnership identified in contractual use agreements between the City and Audubon. SUMMARY OF Agreement between Audubon and Parks The following highlights some of the provisions in the agreement. The long term objective is to jointly fund the renovation of the Annex Building in Seward Park into an environmental education center that will house both Parks and Audubon environmental stewardship programs. Both organizations' programs will:
Audubon will manage the construction and design of the project with approval at each stage by Parks. Both Parks and Audubon were members of the design team. Audubon has raised approximately $1 million for the renovation of the building. Parks will contribute of $318,000 to renovate the building as identified in the Pro Parks Levy. The other $300,000 was used to renovate the hatchery buildings at Seward Park for use in instruction. Before the project is implemented, Parks and Audubon will enter a Use Agreement that details specific terms and conditions, including how the building will be used by Audubon; rental payments, maintenance obligations, insurance, licenses, taxes, and other requirements; and program services, operations, reporting, approvals, design and construction and fundraising. The term of the Use Agreement will be ten years with the possibility of two five-year extensions. Project Design Public meetings regarding the design were conducted in 2004 and 2005. Mithun Architects were chosen to design the center. The building has been listed on the historical register and must comply with rules for historic preservation. The outside of the building will look the same and the two large interior rooms will also remain. Other parts of the building will be converted into offices and laboratory and study space. Audubon Center Contact Information Gail Gatton, Seward Audubon and Environmental Learning Center Director Audubon Washington 1411 4th Avenue, Suite 920 Seattle, WA 98101-2204 206-652-2444 ggatton@audubon.org (
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IMPORTANT LINKS Updated 5/25/2007 10:01
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