This month the Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) took a huge leap forward in building a facility for the interactive maritime museum on North Lake Union. The signing of an interim lease with King County METRO Transit Division for a property near Gasworks Park will bring the North Lake Union Community Wharf within sight come spring 2012.
A tremendous clean-up effort, by volunteers and staff, has already transformed the long languishing property.
Demolition of non-structural features and hauling away over 9,000 lbs of trash and debris has already taken place on the property. Eventually CWB will establish a surplus warehouse and storage yard on the North shore, to support their long-established museum in South Lake Union.
“We are excited to partner with King County on this lease, and expect to complete repairs to the warehouse this winter and begin using the site…for boat restoration, maintenance, and boat storage this spring,” said Betsy Davis, Executive Director of The Center for Wooden Boats.
The site will follow the vision of the Seattle/King County Maritime Heritage Task Force, made seven years ago. (The report that identified the North Lake site and called for this community resource can be downloaded as a .pdf through the 4Culture website.)
The interim lease runs to 2016, and allows all parties to participate in addressing environmental issues on the property long used by METRO as a marine fuel facility. “Our goal is to eventually work out a longer term agreement that provides access to the water,” explained Davis, “so CWB can help residents of Wallingford, Fremont, the University District, Ballard and other North Seattle neighborhoods re-connect with Lake Union.”
For more information on this milestone, read the King County press release, and the full CWB news item. Also, follow the CWB blog to keep up on the progress of the North Lake Union Community Wharf – as well as staying tuned here, at Fremocentrist.com