>> GREETINGS AND WELCOME TO THE
JUNE 4 MEETING OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS UTILITIES, ECONOMIC,
DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS COMMITTEE,
IT IS NOW 5:34, I AM CALLING
THE MEETING TO ORDER, I AM LISA
HERBOLD, THE CHAIR TO THE
COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE
COUNCILMEMBER THAT REPRESENTS
WEST SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU
TO MY CO-COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
JOINING US TODAY, COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT, COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN, AND THANK YOU TO ABEL
PACHECO FOR JOINING US.
WE ARE GOING TO START WITH AN
OVERVIEW FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF, LISH WHITSON, HE WILL
PRESENT A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE
LEGISLATION WHICH EXTENDS
ORDINANCE 126560 BY SIX MONTHS.
HE WILL PRESENT THE MAP OF THE
INTERIM BOUNDARIES AND THE
STUDY AREA ON THE MAP.
JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND, THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS IS DOING WORK TO
IMPLEMENT ORDINANCE 126560,
WHICH CALLS SPECIFICALLY TO
REVIEW THE HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SHOW BOX
THEATER, STUDY THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE SHOW BOX THEATER
AND THE PIKE PLACE MARKET,
CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE
HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION,
OR DESIGN GUIDELINES RELATED TO
THE SHOW BOX THEATER, DRAFT
LEGISLATION, CONDUCT OUTREACH
TO STAKEHOLDERS AND CONDUCT
ESTATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
REVIEW ON THE PERMANENT
EXPANSION OF THE HISTORICAL
DISTRICT AS APPROPRIATE.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
WRITING TO ME TODAY, AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT THE WORK
THAT THE EXECUTIVE IS DOING TO
LOOK AT THE PERMANENT EXPANSION.
WE, TODAY, ARE ONLY HERE TO
REVIEW AN EXTENSION OF THE
TEMPORARY EXPANSION, AND THE
REASON WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT IS
THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE
WRITING, CONCERNED ABOUT THE
PROPOSED PERMANENT EXPANSION
BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE IS
LOOKING AT OTHER PROPERTIES AS
WELL, AND AT SOME POINT, IN THE
NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION TO US.
BUT, WE ARE NOT DOING THAT
TODAY, WE ARE ONLY LOOKING AT
AN EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY
EXPANSION TO ONLY INCLUDE THE
SHOW BOX PROPERTY WITHIN THE
HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO, AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS CONSULTANT IS
LOOKING AT THE STRETCH ALONG
FIRST AVENUE, THAT WAS
ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, BUT NOT
INCLUDED IN THIS LEGISLATION,
AFTER THE REVIEW, THE EXECUTIVE
WILL PUBLISH A THRESHOLD
DETERMINATION AND THE NEXT STEP
WOULD BE TO TRANSMIT THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO THE
COUNCIL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING A
LOT OF EMAILS TODAY WITH SOME
CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT THIS
PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION
WOULD DO.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO LISH WHITSON .
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
OKAY.
SO, THE LEGISLATION IS FAIRLY
SIMPLE, IT EXTENDS I SIX MONTHS
, ORDINANCE 125650, THAT
ORDINANCE INCLUDED ONE PARCEL,
SHOWN HERE ON THE MAP. WHICH IS
THE PARCEL ON WHICH THE SHOW
BOX THEATER EXISTS, TO THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
DISTRICT.
THE EFFECT IS THAT ANY CHANGES
TO THAT BUILDING, WHILE THE
LEGISLATION IS IN EFFECT WOULD
NEED TO GO IN FRONT OF THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AND
APPROVAL.
THAT LEGISLATION WAS ADOPTED
LAST AUGUST AND WENT INTO
EFFECT LAST SEPTEMBER AND LASTS
10 MONTHS, SO IT'LL EXPIRE IN
JULY OF THIS YEAR.
THE LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU
WOULD EXTEND THAT TIME UNTIL
JANUARY OF 2020.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS, I THINK WE WILL
OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE
HAVE ABOUT -- COUNCILMEMBER,
ABEL PACHECO?
>> CAN YOU JUST OUTLINE WHAT
WOULD OCCUR IF WE DO NOT RENEW
THE EXTENSION?>> YEAH.
A DEVELOPER COULD APPLY FOR,
WELL, THE SITE WILL BE
CONSIDERED FOR A NOMINATION AS
A LANDMARK TOMORROW AT THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION
COMMISSION MEETING. SO,
DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THAT
, THINGS COULD GO IN TWO
DIFFERENT WAYS, IF THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION
COMMISSION DECIDES THAT MERITS
DESIGNATION AS A LANDMARK, THEN
ANY FUTURE CHANGES WOULD HAVE
TO GO IN FRONT OF THE
COMMISSION FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO
ANY CHANGES TO THE BUILDING.
IF THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION
COMMISSION DECIDES IT IS NOT
WORTHY OF NOMINATED AS A
LANDMARK, THEN A DEVELOPER COULD
GO TO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND APPLY FOR A
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT THAT COULD
INCLUDE DEMOLITION OF THE
STRUCTURE.>> AND, I THINK
ANOTHER, MAYBE MORE, I THINK,
STRAIGHTFORWARD RESULT OF NOT
PASSING THIS EXTENSION IS
SIMPLY THAT THE COUNSEL'S INTENT
, WHEN WE PASSED THE LAW IN
AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, ONTO
ORDINANCE 126560, THE COUNSEL'S
INTENT OF THE WORK THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS
DOING RIGHT NOW WOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO TAKE PLACE.
IF ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAPPENED
OUTSIDE OF THE EXPANSION OF THE
TEMPORARY BOUNDARIES FOR THE
MARKET.
COUNCILMEMBER, O'BRIEN?
>> THANK YOU, I JUST WANT TO YOU
LET YOU IN THE PUBLIC KNOW, I
AM UNFORTUNATELY ALSO SUPPOSED
TO BE IN A MEETING UPSTAIRS, SO
I'M GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR A
COUPLE MORE MINUTES, THEN I
NEED TO SCOOT OFF TO THAT, I
HOPE TO COME BACK BY THE END OF
THIS MEETING, SO I APOLOGIZE
THAT I AM DOUBLE BOOKED AT THE
MOMENT.>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER, KSHAMA SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU, LISA HERBOLD, I
WANTED TO ECHO WHAT HE JUST
SAID THAT THERE WAS A
COMMITMENT TO THE ORDINANCE
LAST AUGUST TO DO THE WORK PLAN
THAT WOULD, I MEAN THE WHOLE
PURPOSE OF THE WORK PLAN WAS TO
GO TOWARDS A TEMPORARY, I MEAN
A PERMANENT EXPANSION OF THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET TO INCLUDE
THE SHOW BOX, AND I GENERALLY
BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS
TO FULFILL THAT COMMITMENT AND
THOSE STUDIES ARE HAPPENING AS
WE SPEAK AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO
GET RESULTS REALLY SOON, AND I
ALSO WANTED TO TAKE THIS MOMENT
TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, SOME OF
WHOM ARE HERE TODAY, BUT MANY
MORE PEOPLE WHO HELPED TO FIGHT
TO BRING US TO THIS POINT, SO
LET'S KEEP MOVING.
>> WITH THAT, WE WILL OPEN UP
THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE PERIOD
IS TWO MINUTES, BUT IF YOU WISH
TO REPRESENT A GROUP, YOUR TIME
WILL BE EXTENDED UP TO FIVE
MINUTES.
NEWELL ALDRICH WILL BE KEEPING
TIME , HE WILL LET YOU KNOW
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, WHEN
YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS, AND WHEN
YOU ARE DONE.
THAT WILL HELP YOU FOLLOW ALONG.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CALL
THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS UP TO
THE MICROPHONE, SO WHEN YOU
HEAR YOUR NAME, DO NOT WAIT
UNTIL IT IS YOUR TURN, BUT WHEN
YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, COME UP TO
ONE OF THE TWO PHONES, THAT'LL
HELP US MOVE QUICKLY.
EUGENE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
NAOMI WEST.
>> WE ARE REPRESENTING HISTORIC
SEATTLE, WE WILL SPLIT OUR
TIME.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
WE REPRESENT MANY VOICES OF THE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMUNITY, I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME
AND SERVICE TO THE CITY.
LAST AUGUST, THE CITY COUNCIL
MADE A BOLD DECISION TO
TEMPORARILY EXPAND THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET HISTORIC DISTRICT
TO INCLUDE THE SHOW BOX
PROPERTY.
WE SUPPORT EXPLORING EXPANDING
THE DISTRICT BEYOND THE SHOW BOX
TO CONSIDER MORE PROPERTIES ON
THE EAST SIDE OF FIRST AVENUE,
WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS ABOUT THE
EXTENSION TODAY.
THE MARKET DOES NOT EXIST AS AN
ISLAND, IT IS PART OF A LARGER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE SHOW BOX IS PART OF THAT
COMMUNITY.
AS AN ORGANIZATION WITH OUR CO-
NOMINATORS AND FRIENDS OF
HISTORIC BELLTOWN, WE
RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF THE
SHOW BOX, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY
KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC MARKET
BUILT IN 1917.
10 YEARS AFTER THE MARKET WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1907.
IT MADE SENSE THAT AFTER 10
YEARS OF EXISTENCE, THAT MARKET
USE WOULD EXPAND ACROSS THE
STREET.
IN 1939, THE BUILDING
TRANSFORMED INTO THE SHOW BOX
BALLROOM.
WE CONFIRMED WITH A COMMENT
LETTER FROM FRIENDS OF THE
MARKET REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
THE CITY MIGHT NEED MORE TIME
IN THIS PROCESS, WE SUPPORT A
SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF THE
TEMPORARY EXPANSION IN ORDER
FOR THE STUDY TO OCCUR
PROPERLY.
WE HOPE THE CITY'S CONSULTANT
WILL CONTACT US BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE WE CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE
INPUT IN THIS PROCESS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN
CONTACTED.
SINCE WE ARE THE ONES WHO DO
THE RESEARCH ON THE HISTORIC
RESEARCH, WE THINK WE CAN
PROVIDE SOME REALLY VALUABLE
INFORMATION TO THE CONSULTANT.
HERE IS NAOMI, WHO WILL SPEAK
TO OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SHOW
BOX AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE
MARKET.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM NAOMI WEST, I'M ASKING
YOU TO EXTEND THE TEMPORARY
EXPANSION OF THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET HISTORIC DISTRICT IN
ORDER TO ALLOW THE CITY'S
CONSULTANTS MORE TIME TO STUDY
THE FEASIBILITY AND VALUE OF
PERMANENTLY INCLUDING THE SHOW
BOX AND PERHAPS OTHER BUILDINGS
ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF FIRST
AVENUE.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS,
HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
THROUGH OUR OUTREACH, ALL OF
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET DIRECTLY
BENEFITS FROM THE SHOW BOX.
BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY, IT IS
INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE
MARKET, 422 ARTISTS PERFORMED
AT THE SHOW BOX LAST YEAR ALONE.
BARS, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL
SPACES, HOTELS, AND COFFEE
SHOPS ALL BENEFIT FROM VISITORS
WHO LIKE TO GO OUT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE THEY ATTEND
A SHOW.
ANNUALLY, THE SHOW BOX BRINGS
1000 PEOPLE TO THE AREA,
APPROXIMATELY 200 NIGHTS.
THAT IS 200,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE
SPENDING THEIR HARD EARNED
DOLLARS AROUND THE MARKET EACH
YEAR.
THESE DATA POINTS AREN'T NEW,
THERE IS AN 80 HERE YOUR
HISTORY, IT ALSO PROVIDES 200
PEOPLE WITH EMPLOYMENT.
AS A WISE MAN TOLD US IN HIS
STATEMENT ON THIS ISSUE, THE
SHOW BOX IS ALSO WITHIN YOU
THAT IS CRITICAL IN ATTRACTING
MEN AND NATIONAL ACTS
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
LOSING IT WOULD MEAN LOST
REVENUE FOR OUR CITY.
HE WENT ON TO SAY, AS OUR CITY
CONTINUES TO GROW IN DENSITY,
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE
PROTECT THE SPACES THAT GIVES
SEATTLE ITS CULTURAL IDENTITY.
THIS IS TRUE OF OTHER PORT
PLACES IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY
IN COMMUNITIES WHERE
DISPLACEMENT IS DRAMATICALLY
RESHAPING NEIGHBORHOODS.
BOTH OF US WANT TO LEAVE
SEATTLE WITH A PIECE OF ITS
HISTORY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR SERVICE.
>> KATE KRAFT WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY SHANNON WELLS.
>> HELLO, I AM KATE KRAFT, I AM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE MARKET,
AND WE SUBMITTED AN LETTER LAST
WEEK, AND I TRUST YOU HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT, I AM
HERE TO AGAIN, CONVEY OUR
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED
SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF THE
INTERIM EXPANSION OF THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
DISTRICT TO INCLUDE THE SHOW
BOX THEATER.
I ASSUME YOU DO KNOW WHO THE
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET IS BUT I
WILL JUST REMIND YOU.
WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1964.
FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
INTERESTS, AND CITY SUPPORTED
URBAN RENEWAL PROPOSALS, WE
SPEARHEADED THE PASSAGE OF THE
PUBLIC INITIATIVE IN 1971, THAT
NOW PRESERVES AND SUSTAINS THE
COMMUNITY AND THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET.
WE CONTINUE TO SERVE AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ONGOING
REHABILITATION AND THE
PRESERVATION OF THIS
EXTRAORDINARY HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE FRIENDS OF THE MARKET
BELIEVE IT IS FEASIBLE AND
APPROPRIATE TO SERIOUSLY
CONSIDER THE EXPANSION OF THE
HISTORIC DISTRICT TO INCLUDE
THE SHOW BOX, BUT TO ALSO
INCLUDE OTHER HISTORIC
PROPERTIES ALONG THE EASTERN
BOUNDARY.
I WAS SURPRISED JUST NOW TO
HEAR THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN
THE WORK OF THE EXECUTIVE AND
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS COUNSEL
FUNDING FOR A $120,000 STUDY
FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE
DISTRICT.
SO, SOME OF WHAT I'M SAYING MAY
NOT BE ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE FRIENDS
OF THE MARKET BELIEVE THAT THE
DISTRICT SHOULD BE EXPANDED
BEYOND THE SIMPLE ADDITION OF
THE SHOW BOX. THIS CONCEPT
DESERVES SERIOUS PROFESSIONAL
STUDY, NOT JUST A PUBLIC
RELATIONS EFFORT, AND IN-DEPTH
ANALYSIS.
NEITHER OF THESE THINGS SEEM TO
HAVE TAKEN PLACE, THE FRIENDS
OF THE MARKET HAVE NOT BEEN
CONTACTED BY CON, OR BY THE
EXECUTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT THE SIX-
MONTH EXTENSION FOR AT LEAST
THE SHOW BOX IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY AND ESSENTIAL.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
BEFORE YOU GO, MAYBE I WASN'T
CLEAR IN MY OPENING COMMENTS,
WE ARE RECEIVING TESTIMONY,
WRITTEN TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE
OPPOSING EXPANSION OF THE MARKET
BEYOND THE SINGLE PIECE OF
PROPERTY THAT THIS CURRENT
TEMPORARY EXPANSION
INCORPORATES.
WE HAVE LEGISLATION BEFORE US
NOW THAT ONLY EXPANDS THE
BOUNDARY ON A TEMPORARY BASIS
FOR ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THE WORK THAT THE EXECUTIVE IS
DOING IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH
THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED
LAST AUGUST.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE CONTACTING US,
WORRIED THAT THE VOTE THAT WE
ARE ABOUT TO TAKE IS A VOTE TO
EXPAND THE MARKET TO INCLUDE
PROPERTIES OTHER THAN THE SHOW
BOX. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL
BE CONSIDERING LATER AFTER THE
EXECUTIVE CONTINUES THEIR WORK.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET SUPPORTS
SERIOUS EXAMINATION OF ALL OF
THE HISTORIC OPERATIVES BETWEEN
UNION AND STEWART, AND WE
EXPECT A PROFESSIONAL, THOROUGH
EXAMINATION AND STUDY AND THE
FRIENDS ARE READY AND WILLING
AND EAGER TO ASSIST, WE HAVE
MEMBERS WHO ARE VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE.
>> AND WE ARE HEARING LOUD AND
CLEAR, SO WE WILL TRY TO WORK
ON THAT.
WE WILL CLOSE THAT LOOP.
AND SHANNON WELLS WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY EVAN CLIFFHORN.
>> I AM ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF THE SHOW BOX, FROM A
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBERS, LISA HERBOLD
AND KSHAMA SAWANT FOR YOUR
SUPPORT ON THIS ISSUE.
THE FRIENDS OF THE SHOW BOX
STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE SIX-MONTH
EXTENSION OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE ORDINANCE LAID OUT A PLAN
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS TO STUDY THE
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
SHOW BOX AND ITS RELATIONSHIP
TO THE MARKET.
THE CITY WANTS TO HAVE
CONDUCTED OUTREACH TO
STAKEHOLDERS BY APRIL. I'M
GOING TO SAY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN
TALKED TO, IT DOES NOT APPEAR
THAT THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE,
THE ORIGINAL MEETING THAT WAS
SCHEDULED ON MAY 1 WITH SOME OF
THE STAKEHOLDERS WAS CANCELED
AND HAS NOT BEEN RESCHEDULED.
SO, NO STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH HAS
OCCURRED AT THIS POINT.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE
ORDINANCE TO EXPIRE WITHOUT THE
STUDY OR FOR A RUSH STUDY TO
COMMENCE JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE
DEADLINE.
WE WANT A PROFESSIONAL IN-DEPTH
ANALYSIS THAT WAS LAID FORTH IN
THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, WE
UNDERSTAND THIS TAKES TIME.
FOR THIS REASON, WE URGE CITY
COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE SIX-
MONTH EXTENSION TO ENSURE THE
MATTER GETS THE PROPER
ANALYSIS.
OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS, THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ORGANIZING
IN THE ABSENCE OF CITY ACTION,
WE STAND READY TO ENGAGE IN THE
PROCESS WITH OUR HISTORICAL
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AND
WITH OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE
MARKET.
IT IS AN ICON OF SEATTLE AND AN
IMPORTANT PLAYER IN SEATTLE'S
MUSIC ECOSYSTEM AND IN THE
BUSINESS TODAY.
OUR RELATIONSHIP EXTENDS BACK
80 YEARS. PLEASE, LET'S TAKE
THIS SERIOUSLY AND EXTEND THE
ORDINANCE SO WE CAN STUDY THE
MATTER FULLY.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING EVAN IS DR. ROBERT
WELSH.
>> HELLO, I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF
RISE UP BELLTOWN, I AM HERE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE
ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THE
PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THIS
ORDINANCE BY SIX MONTHS, I ALSO
WANT TO SAY I AM EXPECTING MY
FIRST CHILD, LITERALLY ANY
MOMENT.
AND MY WIFE AND I, SHE IS SIX
DAYS OVERDUE AT THIS POINT, WE
FIND OURSELVES THINKING A LOT
ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF CITY WE WANT
OUR CHILD TO GROW UP IN.
WE THINK ABOUT A CITY THAT IS
COMMITTED TO PROGRESS.
AS YOU CONSIDER THIS ORDINANCE,
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU THINK
ABOUT WHAT THE VERY BASIC NON-
JARGON POLITICAL REQUEST IS
THAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED.
AND THAT IS FOR TIME.
TIME FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WHO WANT TO THINK ABOUT
HOW THAT BALANCE PLAYS OUT IN
THEIR LIVES AND HOW IT IS GOING
TO PLAY OUT IN THE LIVES OF
THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS TIME FOR
US TO TALK TO EACH OTHER, WE
HAVE WRITTEN YOU LETTERS,
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS CONNECTED
WITH THE MARKET AND WITH NEARBY
NEIGHBORING ORGANIZATIONS, AND
IN THAT LETTER, WE TRY TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT WHAT WE NEED, AS A
COMMUNITY IS THIS TIME.
AND, THERE ARE A LOT OF
CONSIDERATIONS AT PLAY, YOU
WILL HEAR FROM A LOT OF FOLKS
THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
WHETHER THE SHOW BOX SHOULD BE
SAVED OR WHETHER IT SHOULD NOT
BE SAVED.
ULTIMATELY, THAT IS NOT WHAT
YOU ARE ASKING, THAT IS NOT
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TODAY,
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO DO
THE DEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT
THE FINAL SOLUTION IS.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS
ANOTHER SIX MONTHS BECAUSE THE
WORK HASN'T BEEN DONE YET.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, I
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, AND
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US YOUR
CONSIDERATION.>> FOLLOWING DR.
WELSH IS EMILY MacARTHUR.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS DR. WEXLER
ACTUALLY, AND I APOLOGIZE,
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK,
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE
ACTUALLY THIS TALK WAS DESIGNED
FOR THIS SUMMER, I DIDN'T
REALLY KNOW WHAT TODAY WAS
BUT, ANYWAY, THIS IS WHAT I
HAVE, IT IS WHITTLED DOWN TO A
MINUTE.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR
ABOUT 6 YEARS, ONE OF MY
PASSIONS IS MUSIC AND I FIRST
STARTED GOING TO THE SHOW BOX
ROUGHLY 20 YEARS AGO WHEN A
FRIEND OF MINE, A SURGEON,
INTRODUCED ME TO IT.
AND I FELL IN LOVE.
IT IS A LANDMARK, WHETHER IT
GETS DESIGNATED OR NOT, ITS
LOCATION IN THE MARKET, IT IS
CLASSIC, AND ITS HISTORY, NO
VENUE IN THIS CITY COMPARES AND
I HAVE BEEN TO MOST OF THE
VENUES IN THE CITY, IF NOT ALL
OF THEM.
THIS WEEKEND, I SAW PUDDLES, IT
HAD EVERYBODY LEAVING THE VENUE
WITH SMILES.
WHERE WILL PUDDLES AND ALL THE
OTHER TALENT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY
UNIQUE TO THIS VENUE, PERFORM
NEXT YEAR?
THE VENUE ALLOWS ENTERTAINERS
WORLDWIDE TO ENTER THE SEATTLE
MARKET AT ITS SIZE.
ALL OF THIS WILL BE LOST
SEATTLE MEMORIES. THERE WILL
NEVER BE ANOTHER SHOW BOX, THE
RENT IS JUST TOO HIGH.
HIGHWAY 99, SEATTLE'S ONLY
BLUES CLUB, UNBELIEVABLY, THE
ONLY BLUES CLUB IN OUR CITY,
ANOTHER CASUALTY OF THIS CITY'S
GROWTH.
I HOPE THE CITY COUNCIL CAN
FIND A WAY TO KEEP THIS SPECIAL
VENUE AND ALL THAT IT BRINGS TO
OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU.
FOLLOWING EMILY MacARTHUR IS
VESHA DOMINION.
>> I JUST WANT TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE FIGHTING TO BE PART OF THE
MOVEMENT TO SAVE THE SHOW BOX,
AND TO VERY MUCH CLARIFY THAT
THIS IS NOT A FIGHT OF HOUSING
VERSUS MUSIC, THIS IS A FIGHT
FOR THE CULTURAL HEART OF OUR
CITY AGAINST PROPHETS.
JUST THE OTHER NIGHT, I WENT TO
SEE A SHOW AT THE SHOW BOX WITH
MY FRIENDS, AS WE LEFT, WE
REALIZED, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
THAT ANY OF US HAVE ALL HUNG
OUT TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF A WORK
ISSUE.
I THINK THAT IS THE POWER OF
THE CULTURAL LANDMARK IN THE
CITY.
AND TO THE WORKING-CLASS
PERSON, A NIGHT OUT IS
PRECIOUS, FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.
AND SEEING A BAND THAT IS
TRAVELING, I THINK WE JUST NEED
TO FIGHT FOR THE WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE TO NOT JUST EXIST AND
WORK IN THIS CITY BUT TO THRIVE
AND BE DYNAMIC AND ENJOY THE
PLACE THAT THEY LIVE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE I TALKED TO, A
UNION MEMBER IN THE AUDIENCE
BEFORE WE STARTED TODAY, AND WE
TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MAJORITY
OF THE PEOPLE WHO SET UP THE
STAGE, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
WHO WORK THE DOORS, AT ALL OF
THESE VENUES, AND PLACES IN
SEATTLE CANNOT ACTUALLY AFFORD
TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
OF COURSE THAT IS ALSO AN
ISSUE, WE NEED TO BE FIGHTING
FOR HOUSING ALONGSIDE THE
PRESERVATION OF OUR CULTURAL
LANDMARKS.
IT IS A VERY BASIC DUTY TODAY
TO VOTE TO EXTEND THE TIME ON
THIS ORDINANCE, WE HAVEN'T EVEN
ACCOMPLISHED THE PROMISED GOALS
OF PROVING WHAT AN AWESOME
PIECE IN HEART AND SOUL OF THE
CITY THIS LANDMARK IS.
SO, STAND WITH WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE AND NOT WITH CORPORATE
DEVELOPERS AND DON'T BE SHAKEN
DOWN BY A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR
LAWSUIT FROM A BILLIONAIRE.
>> EMERSON JOHNSON IS
FOLLOWING.>> HI, MY NAME IS
MEESHA, I AM A LOCAL ARTIST IN
SEATTLE FOR 20 YEARS, FIRST
OFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS
SO FAR TO SAVE THE SHOW BOX.
YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS ARE
SENDING A MESSAGE TO SEATTLE
AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
THAT WE ARE MORE THAN A
CORPORATE WEALTH, A CITY OF
CORPORATE WEALTH.
WE ARE STRONG, CREATIVE, AND
COURAGEOUS PEOPLE, AND THAT'S
OUR ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY
MATTERS.
HISTORY FILLED WITH JAZZ,
BURLESQUE, AND OF COURSE GRUNGE
IN ALL OF ITS SEATTLE WORKING-
CLASS NO-FRILLS GLORY, ALL OF
THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED AT
THE SHOW BOX, BY THE WAY.
LET'S EXTEND THAT PROTECTION
AND LET'S EXTEND THAT
PROTECTION TO SAVE THE SHOW BOX
AND SHOW EVERYONE WE ARE ABOUT
SO MUCH MORE THAN LUXURY
APARTMENTS AND WE HAVE EARNED
THE TITLE, CITY OF MUSIC.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING EMERSON JOHNSON IS
ERNIE ASHWOOD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS EMERSON, I
AM A SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE, I
WANT TO THANK THE MOVEMENT WHO
IS HERE, WHO STOOD BY TO SAVE
THE SHOW BOX AS WELL AS
COUNCILMEMBER, KSHAMA SAWANT
AND MIKE O'BRIEN FOR TAKING
LEADERSHIP ON PRESERVING THE
CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY.
I WANT TO CALL ON THE COUNCIL
TODAY TO PASS THE SIX-MONTH
EXTENSION AND STAND WITH OUR
MOVEMENT, DEMANDING THAT OUR
CITY PUT CULTURE AND PEOPLE AND
ART OVER THE PROFITS OF A
DEVELOPER.
I THINK THE REASON THAT WE SEE
SUCH HUGE SUPPORT FOR THE SHOW
BOX, 118,000 SIGNATURES WORTH
OF SUPPORT, AND MULTIPLE TIMES
THE PACKING CITY COUNCIL IS
BECAUSE WORKING PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF
SEEING THE CITY PRIORITIZE, YOU
KNOW, THE PROFITS AND WEALTH OF
A VERY SMALL MARGIN OF PEOPLE
OVER OUR LIVES, AND ALMOST
EVERY SINGLE SPHERE OF OUR
LIVES.
AND I THINK THIS MOVEMENT IS
PART OF A GROWING FIGHT BACK OF
PEOPLE DEMANDING THAT THE CITY
AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MAKE
SEATTLE AFFORDABLE FOR ALL.
WHICH IS WHY I THINK THAT WE
NEED TO LINK OUR FIGHT TO SAVE
THE SHOW BOX, TO THE FIGHT TO
RENT CONTROL, AND A TAX ON THE
WEALTHY TO MASSIVELY EXPAND THE
AMOUNT ON PERMANENTLY OWNED,
DEEPLY AFFORDABLE PUBLIC HOUSING
THAT WE HAVE.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST FOR AN
ARTIST TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO
PERFORM, WE NEED SOMEWHERE FOR
THEM TO LIVE.
WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG ARTISTS
IN THE CITY WHO WANT THE
ABILITY TO GO TO THE SHOW BOX
AND HAVE THEIR NAME ON THE
MARQUEE.
I WANT TO CALL NOT JUST ON THE
MOVEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT
TO JOIN WITH SO MANY OTHER
ACTIVIST IN THIS CITY WHO ARE
FIGHTING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TO COME OUT ON JULY 20 FOR OUR
RENT CONTROL RALLY AND MAKE
SEATTLE AFFORDABLE FOR ALL.
>> FOLLOWING ERNIE ASHWOOD, WE
HAVE MEGAN MURPHY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> AWESOME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, WE
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME
TO LISTEN TO US, I HAVEN'T HAD
THAT MUCH OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE WITH CITY COUNCIL BEFORE
THIS ISSUE, SO THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO US.
I'M NOT HERE TO ASK YOU TO MAKE
A DECISION RIGHT NOW, REGARDING
SAVING THE SHOW BOX. LET ME
REPEAT, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING AN
INFORMED DECISION.
IT HAS BEEN MADE EXTREMELY
CLEAR TODAY, THROUGH PEOPLE
THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
WORKING WITH, THAT THERE IS A
LOT OF RESOURCES THAT HAVE YET
TO BE TOUCHED FOR INFORMATION,
INCLUDING THE SHOW BOX ITSELF.
I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU
WERE TO GO INTO MAKING THIS
DECISION AT THE END OF JULY, IT
WOULD BE AN UNINFORMED DECISION.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE GIVE
US EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED
FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLE, WE JUST
NEED MORE TIME.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT TIME
TO PROCRASTINATE, WERE TALKING
ABOUT TIME TO LEARN.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TIME TO
REALLY ESTABLISH, WHAT IS THE
RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION TO MAKE
MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE CAN'T DO
THAT UNDER A CRUNCH PERIOD .
I'M ASKING FOR MORE SUPPORT TO
REALLY STAND UP TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND ASK THEM FOR THEIR
REAL SUPPORT, TO REALLY STAND
BEHIND US AND REALLY PROVIDE
MORE INFORMATION.
AGAIN, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO
MAKE DECISIONS TODAY ABOUT
SAVING THE SHOW BOX.
I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE THE
DECISION TO INCREASE YOUR TIME
TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION.
UNDER MORE INFORMATION, I THINK
WE CAN DECIDE WHAT IS THE RIGHT
THING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE
CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> FOLLOWING MEGAN MURPHY, WE
HAVE NICK FALHUT.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
TALK.
WE ARE STANDING ON INDIGENOUS
LAND AS I SPEAK, WE DREW
BOUNDARIES AND THESE BOUNDARIES
DEVELOPED INTO CULTURAL SPACES,
WHERE PEOPLE CAN PERFORM.
AS I WAS WORKING TOWARDS MY
STUDIES AT THE SCHOOL OF ART
INSTITUTE IN CHICAGO, I LOOKED
AT THE CLUB FOR WOMEN THAT WAS
CONSIDERED A CULTURAL LANDMARK
FOUNDED IN 1906, FOUR EMERGING
WOMEN ARTISTS AND MEN WERE
ALLOWED TO COME IN THE SUMMER.
MOST OF THEM WERE FROM EUROPE,
AND THEY GAVE ME A JOB AT THE
FRONT DESK, RIGHT BEFORE
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
I ADMITTED BALLET DANCERS,
COMPOSERS, PAINTERS, HARD ROCK
PERFORMERS, ALL WOMEN, AND I
GOT TO CHECK THEM IN AND GIVE
THEM THEIR MAIL, I HEARD THESE
VOICES THAT WERE MAYBE
CONSIDERED MAINSTREAM, THEY
DIDN'T LIKE BROADWAY
PRODUCTIONS, SOME OF THEM WERE
IN BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS.
SOME OF THEM WERE MAINSTREAM,
AND SOME OF THEM WEREN'T.
AS I WORKED THERE FOR A YEAR,
EVERYONE WAS LIKE, WICKER PARK
IS GETTING GENTRIFIED, THERE IS
A SCARE.
THEY CLOSED THE JANE ADDAMS
HOUSE DOWN THE STREET, THEN THE
BANK PEOPLE MOVED INTO THE
CLUB, AND THEY MADE A WOMAN WHO
WAS IN HER 60s WITH CANCER
LEAVE, SHE WAS THIS PHENOMENAL
NEW YORK ARTIST.
THEN, THEY SAID, WE ARE NO
LONGER FOR EMERGING ARTISTS, WE
ARE FOR MID-LEVEL, AND BECAME
MORE EXCLUSIVE.
AND MY SWEET DEAL WHICH HELPED
ME GRADUATE WAS GONE. SO, WE
WERE SCATTERED.
WHILE OUR VOICES HOW TO
BOUNDARY, THE ART TEAM WAS RICH
AND PLURALISTIC AND WE HAD
MULTIDIMENSIONAL, AND I
UNDERSTAND, THE SHOW BOX IS
AFFORDABLE, IT HAS A WIDE
PLETHORA OF VOICES OF MUSIC AND
ART, IT IS A LANDMARK.
IT IS A CULTURAL LANDMARK, AND
I HOPE IT STAYS PRESERVED.
>> FOLLOWING NICK, WE HAVE
LAUREN RICE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
FRIENDS OF THE SHOW BOX, AS A
LONGTIME EMPLOYEE, WE ARE HERE
TO SHOW YOU THAT WE ARE HERE
DOING THE WORK, THE EMPLOYEES
HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING, WE HAVE
BEEN SHOWING UP, TRYING TO KEEP
THE MOTIVATION UP.
WE ARE JUST TRYING TO FIND THE
PATH THAT WORKS, WE NEED THE
CITY TO DO THE WORK AS WELL,
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE, JUST
KEEPING EVERYONE ON THIS, AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXTENDING
THE ORDINANCE SO WE CAN HAVE
ANOTHER SIX MONTHS TO DETERMINE
WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW, HOW THE
SHOW BOX MARKET FITS INTO THE
MARKET, BUT WE NEED THE FACTS.
WE ARE AT THE QUANTITATIVE PART
OF THE PROCESS THAT EVERYBODY
CAN RECOGNIZE AS QUALITATIVE
THE WHOLE WAY, IT IS THE
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
BUILDING THAT REALLY DRIVES
HOME WHY WE NEED TO SAVE IT.
AND, THINKING ABOUT HOW TO
DESCRIBE THIS, IN THOSE TERMS,
SEATTLE IS THE CITY THAT HAS
THE STORY OF DISPOSSESSION, OF
BEING ON LAND, AND STILL
DRAPING ITSELF IN THAT
IDENTITY, WHILE AT THE SAME
TIME, THOSE PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN
BY THE WAYSIDE WITH THE CITY
JUST TURNING A BLIND EYE OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, LETTING, DRAINING THE
LAKE, LETTING IT GO DRY, THE
GRASS BEDS, THE MUSCLE BEDS. IT
IS SO HABITABLE, AND LETTING IT
ALL JUST DISAPPEAR IN THE NAME
OF PROGRESS.
AND THERE IS A PARALLEL TO
THAT, THE CITY WANTS TO DRAPE
ITSELF IN THIS IDENTITY OF THIS
CULTURE OF MUSICIANS AND
ARTISTS AND BEING WELCOMING,
AND YOU JUST HEAR OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, WHAT AN IMPOSSIBILITY
THAT CAN BE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
BUT, WE STILL HAVE HOPE, AND WE
STILL HAVE A FEW SAFE SPACES
FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE
DISPOSSESSED OF THEIR ART AND
THEIR CULTURE AND SHOW BOX
REALLY IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF
THAT IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.>> FOLLOWING LAUREN
RICE IS NATE.
>> HELLO, I AM A SHOW BOX
EMPLOYEE, I'M GOING TO KEEP
THIS NICE AND SHORT BECAUSE I
HAVE TO GO TO THE SHOW BOX
MARKET FOR WORK IN A MOMENT, I
WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE
CONSIER A SIX-MONTH EXTENSION
OF THE ORDINANCE THAT PLACES
THE SHOW BOX IN THE PIKE PLACE
HISTORICAL DISTRICT, AS ERNIE
SAID, WE DO NEED MORE TIME TO
LOOK INTO THE BEST POSSIBLE
SOLUTION TO KEEP THE BUILDING
AND PRESERVE IT FOR SHOWS, FOR
MANY MORE GENERATIONS TO COME.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE KIDS
ONE DAY TO SEE SHOWS THERE, AND
IT HAS BEEN INTERTWINED FOR
EVER SINCE THE SHOW BOX WAS
BUILT IN 1979, 1917 AS THE
ESSENTIAL MARKET, AND LATER ON
BECAME A BALLROOM.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD 422 SHOWS
THERE, THEY BROUGHT ROUGHLY
MAYBE ABOUT 1200 UP TO
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO THE
SHOW.
SO, PLEASE CONSIDER THE
EXTENSION SO WE CAN FIND THE
BEST POSSIBLE PATH MOVING
FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING NATE IS SUA SANCHEZ
.>> I AM HERE TO ENCOURAGE
COUNSEL TO ADOPT THE SIX-MONTH
PROPOSAL, IN MY LINE OF WORK, I
HEAR A LOT ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT
IT IS FOR MUSICIANS TO PERFORM
IN THIS COMMUNITY, TO KEEP UP
WITH INFLATION, AND
DISPLACEMENT, AND JUST ALL OF
THE RISING COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH LIVING IN THE CITY AND THE
THOUGHT OF HAVING ONE OF OUR
MAIN VENUES IN THE HEART OF THE
CITY BE REPLACED BY SOMETHING
THAT IS NOT A PERFORMANCE BASE
WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS, A VERY
FRAGILE COMMUNITY AS IT IS, AND
I WOULD URGE COUNSEL TO
REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A VERY
DIRECT WAY TO SEND A MESSAGE
BACK TO THE PERFORMING
COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS INDEED
THE CITY OF MUSIC.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING SUA IS LESLIE
BAKER.>> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW
EACH OTHER VERY WELL, I AM AN
ORGANIZER WITH UMW 4121.
I AM REPRESENTING THE 6000
PEOPLE IN MY UNION THAT ARE
SCIENTISTS, ACADEMICS,
RESEARCHERS, AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON.
AND, THEY ARE FOR THE MOST PART
NOT FROM WASHINGTON THEY COULD
DO THEIR RESEARCH ANYWHERE IN
THE COUNTRY BUT THEY CHOOSE TO
COME TO SEATTLE TO DO THEIR
WORK, TO DO THEIR STUDIES HERE,
AND TO TEACH.
AND YOU KNOW WHY?
WHY DO YOU THINK, LISA?>>
BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE
ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE CITY.
>> BECAUSE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL
CITY, IT IS A CULTURAL CITY.
AND IN PARTICULAR, THE MUSIC
CULTURE, THAT IS A BIG PART OF
WHY I WANTED TO COME HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MOVING HERE, THEY FINISH THEIR
SCHOOLING AT U DUB, AND A
FRIEND OF MINE STARTED A
BIOTECH COMPANY THAT HAS OVER
100 EMPLOYEES, THEY ARE
BUILDING THE LOCAL ECONOMY, BUT
THEY HAVE TO GET HERE FIRST,
AND THEY HAVE TO WANT TO COME
HERE FIRST.
THIS IS TRUE OF THE TECH
WORKERS, AND ALL THE TYPES OF
PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING TO THE
CITY RIGHT NOW, THIS NEEDS TO
CONTINUE TO BE THE KIND OF CITY
THAT PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE TO FOR
US TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR
ECONOMY HERE, AND GROW OUR CITY
HERE.
I KNOW THAT THIS WHOLE FIGHT IS
BEING FRAMED AROUND THIS ISSUE
OF NEEDING MORE HOUSING.
THE PROPOSAL IS TO DESTROY THE
SHOW BOX AND BUILD SOME CONDOS,
THE KIND OF HOUSING THAT WE
NEED, AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
KNOWN THIS VERY WELL, THE KIND
OF HOUSING WITH WHAT WE NEED IS
FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING
UNDER $50,000, THIS IS NOT THE
HOUSING THAT WOULD SUPPORT
PEOPLE LIKE THAT, SO WE ARE
LOSING SOMETHING THAT DRAWS
PEOPLE TO THE CITY, FOR HOUSING
THAT WE DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW.
AND I'VE GOT A FEW SECONDS
LEFT, HAVE YOU SEEN TACO CAT
BEFORE?
>> WE DON'T USUALLY HAVE A BACK-
AND-FORTH. BUT I HAVE SEEN TACO
CAT BEFORE.
WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?
>> THEY ARE PLAYING AT THE SHOW
BOX ON SATURDAY. I GOT YOU A
TICKET IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO.
>> I HAVE A LOT OF
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT
I'M ENGAGED IN THROUGH NOVEMBER
THIS YEAR, BUT PERHAPS.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD, I MOVED
HERE IN 1992 WITH MUSICIANS.
SO I AM PART OF THE EXODUS OF
FOLKS WHO HAVE COME HERE TO THE
CITY FOR ITS MUSIC SCENE.
LESLIE? FOLLOWED BY JOHN BRISTER
.
>> I AM HERE FROM THE FISHER
STUDIOS BUILDING, A HISTORIC
REGISTERED LANDMARK IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE BETWEEN PIKE AND PINE.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE
EXTENSION OF THE PROTECTION OF
THE SHOW BOX, SO THAT WE CAN
SPEND MORE TIME DETERMINING IF
THE SHOW BOX IS A SIGNIFICANT
CULTURAL SITE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT IS A
SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL SITE?
IS IT FULL OF LIGHT AND SITES?
IT IS A PLACE TO TELL OUR
FRIENDS AND KIDS AND NEIGHBORS
TO GO THERE AND SHARE ALL THAT
IT IS.
WHEN NEWCOMERS COME TO OUR
CITY, LOOKING FOR ALL THE
THINGS THAT ARE PRETTY, WITH A
GO TO THAT SITE AND SAY, WOW,
LOOK AT THAT, WHAT A THING.
THAT IS THE SHOW BOX, FULL OF
LIGHTS AND SITES, IT IS WHO WE
ARE, IT IS WHO WE WANT TO BE,
SO SAY IT WITH ME, SAVE THE
SHOW BOX, SAVE THE SHOW BOX,
SAVE THE SHOW BOX.
A SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL SITE,
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING JOHN BRISTER IS
JIMMY ODEN.
>> HELLO.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO
GO WITH THIS, BUT WE NEED TO
EXPAND, OR GET THE SIX MONTHS
GOING, AS FAR AS THE
CONSULTATION OR WHATEVER THE
STUDIES YOU ARE DOING, WITH ALL
OF THIS BACK-AND-FORTH, DO YOU
HAVE A BUDGET ON THAT?
>> THE STUDY WAS FUNDED IN THE
2019 BUDGET.
>> OKAY, SO I CAN LOOK THAT UP
MYSELF?
>> YOU CAN, OR MY STAFF MEMBER
CAN GET YOU MORE INFORMATION.>>
HAVE YOU GUYS CONSIDERED MAYBE A
FENG SHUI MASTER?
HONG KONG, I DON'T KNOW HOW
LONG IT HAS BEEN GOING ON, BUT
THEY USE FENG SHUI MASTER.
IT MIGHT BE CHEAPER IN THE LONG
RUN.
BACK TO THE NATIVES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS
RELEVANT, BUT I'M STARTING TO
FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIKE A
NATIVE, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL THE
PEOPLE COMING HERE ARE MOVING
MY PEOPLE AWAY.
I GREW UP WITH MOST OF MY
FRIENDS, PEOPLE HERE FROM THE
1900S.
MY GRANDFATHER STARTED A CHURCH
IN 1920, AND, IN THAT SMALL
AMOUNT OF TIME, THE CITY HAS
CHANGED A LOT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN
A LOT OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE
FENG SHUI, THE GROOVE OF HOW IT
IS.
I WILL TELL YOU, THE MARKET IS
GOING TO LOOK LIKE TRAP. YEAH.
SO, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE
ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.
I DON'T KNOW, GO AHEAD AND
BUILD IT.
IF THEY BUILD THAT, YOU MIGHT
AS WELL JUST TEAR DOWN THE
MARKET AND CALL IT A DAY.
AS FAR AS THE NATIVES, I CAME
FROM THE RESERVATION TODAY, I
WAS UP THERE FOR THE DAY.
THEY ALL COME TOGETHER FOR
THESE EVENTS.
I'M GOING TO BE BACK UP THERE
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, AND I WILL
BE THERE TWO WEEKS LATER FOR
THE BURNING.
AND, THEY HAVE COMMUNITY THERE.
MAYBE YOU CAN CALL THE SHOW BOX
MY RESERVATION, TO SAVE IT FOR
ME.
>> FOLLOWING JIMMY ODEN IS
AMANDA PARSONS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JEREMY
ODEN, I AM A UNION STATE FAN,
ALTHOUGH I AM HERE TO SHARE MY
PERSONAL OPINIONS, I'M NOT HERE
AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF MY ATOC.
I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS
ORDINANCE BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE
SHOW BOX.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS AN
AMAZING HISTORIC INSTITUTION,
BUT BECAUSE A LOSS TO ANY
PERFORMANCE VENUE IS A LOSS TO
THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
ALL OF WHICH ARE MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS, REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE IN THE
UNION, AND THEY WOULD ALL BE
OUT OF WORK IF THE SHOW BOX
CLOSED.
I MENTION THIS HERE, NOT
BECAUSE OF THIS ORDINANCE PER
SE, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT MAY
COME FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
ACCORDING TO THE FISCAL NOTE,
THERE IS NO FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION, FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS CURRENTLY, BUT IF
UPON THE COMPLETION OF THIS
STUDY, IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE
ARE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, I
STRONGLY URGE THE CITY TO
REQUIRE A LABOR HARMONY
AGREEMENT TO PROTECT MY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS EMPLOYED
AT THE SHOW BOX FROM THE
EMPLOYERS MANAGING THE SPACE.
AEG IS AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY
THAT MAY NOT HAVE THEIR BEST
INTERESTS IN MIND.
THEIR INTERESTS MAY BE MORE IN
LINE WITH THE SONS AND
DAUGHTERS OF THE PROPHETS THAT
BUILT OUR CITY, AND WHILE WE
ALL LOVE SEATTLE, I THINK
EVERYONE AGREES, IT WAS A BIT
OF A BUMPY RIDE TO GET HERE.
SEATTLE IS THE PEOPLE IN IT,
AND WE CAN'T ALLOW LARGE
COMPANIES WITH NO VESTED
INTEREST IN THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE FREE RAID, WHETHER THAT
BE AEG OR A LAND DEVELOPER.
REQUIRING AGREEMENT INSURANCE
COMPANIES THAT MAY BE RECEIVING
CITY FUNDS EITHER RECTALLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARE REQUIRED TO
NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH AND
PROVIDE THEIR EMPLOYEES FAIR
WAGES AND SAFE WORKING
CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE BRINGING
AMAZING MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR SERVICE.
>> AMANDA PARSONS WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY DAVID PRICE.
AMANDA?
OKAY, AMANDA PARSONS DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE HERE, SO DAVID PRICE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HEIDI
DEANDRE.
>> DAVID HAS ALREADY SIGNED OFF.
I'M SORRY, IT IS TWO MINUTES
PER INDIVIDUAL.
>> I DON'T EVEN NEED TO
MINUTES, THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR
THE WORK YOU ARE DOING, AND
CONSIDERING WHAT IS BEFORE US
TODAY.
I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE A JOB
AND I AM INDEPENDENT, AND THE
REASON WHY I AM INDEPENDENT IS
BECAUSE OF THE ART COMMUNITY
THAT SUPPORTS WHAT I DO. I'VE
WORKED AT A LOT OF THE VENUES
IN TOWN AND JUST A LITTLE BRIEF
HISTORY ABOUT A COUPLE OF
OBSERVATIONS I'VE HAD, WHEN I
FIRST MOVED HERE, I WATCHED THE
SHOWBOAT THEATER ON THE CANAL,
AND IT WAS A WPA BUILDING BACK
IN THE 20s AND 30s, LILLIAN
GISH PERFORMED THERE, AND THEY
WERE AMAZING THINGS THAT
HAPPENED IN THAT BUILDING,
PROBABLY THE PEOPLE HERE,
HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY CAN REMEMBER
THAT BUILDING BUT THAT BUILDING
IS LONG GONE BECAUSE OF THE
SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF THE U DUB.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST
DUTIFUL THEATER I'VE EVER SEEN,
AND I BROKE INTO IT BECAUSE IT
WAS BOARDED UP, I WANTED TO SEE
WHAT WAS INSIDE, AND I COULDN'T
BELIEVE MY EYES.
A REVOLVING STAGE, QUARTERS FOR
THE STAGE MANAGER, JUST
BEAUTIFUL WOODWORK THROUGHOUT,
AND THEY HAD MAYBE $300,000 TO
DO SOMETHING WITH IT, AND
INSTEAD OF USING THAT MONEY TO
ULTIMATELY, THEY TOOK THAT
MONEY AND DEMOLISHED IT.
THAT IS A PIECE OF HISTORY. ONE
VERY INCREDIBLE PIECE OF
HISTORY THAT IS GONE.
WE CAN'T DO THAT TO THE SHOW
BOX.
WE NEED THE EXTRA TIME TO
CONSIDER THIS LANDMARK, SO
PLEASE VOTE, BECAUSE THESE
LITTLE JEWELS THAT WE HAVE ARE
WHAT MAKE THIS CITY, AND IF WE
KEEP LOSING THEM, THEN THE CITY
IS JUST GOING TO BE STERILE AND
IT APPEARS INCREDIBLY STERILE
RIGHT NOW, AND VACUOUS AND WHEN
I WALK DOWN BELLTOWN, IT IS DARK
AND THERE IS NO SUNLIGHT COMING
IN BECAUSE ALL THE BUILDINGS,
EVERYTHING IS PUSHED TO THE
LIMITS.
THAT KIND OF MENTALITY WILL
JUST DESTROY THIS TOWN, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
HEIDI, ARE YOU NOT INTENDING TO
SPEAK?
OKAY.
VERN. OKAY, HOW ABOUT TIFFANY?
THANK YOU.
TIFFANY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CHRIS.
>> HI, I REPRESENT FRIENDS OF
HISTORIC BELLTOWN, WE ASKED THE
CITY COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE TIME
THAT THE SHOW BOX IS A PART OF
THE MARKET DISTRICT.
I GREW UP HERE, GOING TO SHOWS
LIKE FUN HOUSE, DEVIATE, MOST
OF THESE VENUES ARE GONE, THEY
ARE BUILDINGS THAT ARE
DESTROYED, THEIR HISTORIES ARE
LOST.
WHO CAN IMAGINE SEATTLE WITHOUT
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET?
60 YEARS AGO, IT WAS ALMOST
DEMOLISHED TO BE REPLACED BY A
PARKING GARAGE.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR GROUPS LIKE
THE FRIENDS OF THE MARKET, IT
WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE STEPPED OUT OF HER
COMFORT ZONE TO CREATE A
MOVEMENT TO PROTECT SOMETHING
WE BELIEVE IS INVALUABLE TO
SEATTLE'S HISTORY.
SAVE THE SHOW BOX BY PROTECTING
ITS YOUTH BY THE CONTINUED
EXTENSION OF THE MARKET LINE,
MY OTHER REQUEST IS FOR THE
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER CHANGING
THE ZONING DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM
THE MARKET AS WELL.
CHANGING THE HEIGHT ALLOWANCE
TO A LOWER LEVEL WOULD NOT ONLY
PROTECT THE SHOW BOX AT THE
INTEGRITY OF THE MARKET.
LET THE WORLD KNOW, WE WELCOME
CHANGE BUT LOVE OUR HISTORY,
TOO.
SEATTLE'S HISTORY IS ENTRENCHED
IN MUSIC, THE SHOW BOX IS ONE
OF THE LAST MEDIUM-SIZED VENUES
LEFT IN THE CITY, PLEASE
PROTECT IT FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE
ENRICHED BY IT, SUCH AS
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS BEFORE
THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> CHRIS DAHLS WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY JEAN BATEMAN.
>> THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR HEARING US OUT TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK MY
SUPPORT FOR EXTENDING THE SHOW
BOX FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THE STUDY OF
EXPANDING THE DISTRICT ANOTHER
SIX MONTHS.
AS A LIFELONG RESIDENT, I HAVE
NEVER FORGOTTEN ANY MEMORIES
GOING BACK 20 YEARS.
THE SHOW BOX IMPORTANCE DOESN'T
JUST LIE IN ARTS AND CULTURE,
IT LIES IN ITS UNMISTAKABLE
LINK AND PROXIMITY TO PIKE
PLACE MARKET, AND SURROUNDING
THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT.
THE SEVERAL BLOCKS ARE SOME OF
THE BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS TO
TOURISTS AND LOCALS ALIKE.
TOURISTS WANT TO SEE THE SHOW
BOX AND NOT JUST A GIANT HOTEL
THAT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE
IN THE CITY.
IN 2018 ALONE, MORE THAN 200
PEOPLE, 200,000 PEOPLE SAW 422
ARTISTS AT THE SHOW BOX, THAT
IS A LOT OF PEOPLE SPENDING A
LOT OF MONEY, THAT EQUALS A LOT
OF TAX REVENUE.
JUST ADD THAT TO ALL OF THE TAX
REVENUE AND VISITORS IN THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET.
IN THE CITY KNOWN FOR ITS
MUSICAL LANDSCAPE, WE ARE SLOWLY
LOSING A LOT OF PLACES.
IF WE DON'T STOP TO THINK AND
CONSIDER THE CULTURE AND
HISTORY IT COULD BE LOSING, WE
WILL SLOWLY REGRET IT IN THE
YEARS TO COME AND GENERATIONS
THAT FOLLOW.
IN THE CASE OF THE SHOW BOX, WE
CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ONE OF
THE BEACONS THAT STILL STANDS
TODAY.
WE HAVE TO STAND OUR GROUND AND
SAY WHAT FEW UNIQUE CULTURAL
HUBS WE HAVE LEFT, AND WE MUST
NOT LET AGREED TURN OUR CITY
INTO SOMETHING HARDLY RECOGNIZE
OR WANT TO VISIT.
WE HAVE TO WORK AND SAVE ALL
THE PLACES THAT SIMPLY MAKE US
UNIQUELY SEATTLE, WE DID IT
WITH SAVING THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET, AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN
WITH THE SHOW BOX, AND WE JUST
NEED THE TIME TO DO IT.
PLEASE GIVE US THE TIME AND DUE
DILIGENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> AND, THE FINAL SIGNED UP
SPEAKER IS JEAN BATEMAN, IF
THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS WHO WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK, I REQUEST THAT
YOU LINE UP AT ONE OF THE
MICROPHONES.>> THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
I WISH TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING THIS EXTENSION.
WE HOPE YOU VOTE YES.
THE SHOW BOX IS WOVEN INTO THE
CULTURAL AND HERITAGE FABRIC TO
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET.
THE SHOW BOX ALONG WITH THE
HOMEBUILDING WHICH IS A WORKING
MAN'S HOTEL, THE GREEN TORTOISE
SERVES AS A HISTORIC BUILDING,
THEY ARE KNOWN AS SUCH BY
CITIZENS AROUND THE WORLD.
OUR CITIZENS, EMPLOYEES, AND
VISITORS SEE THAT THE HISTORY
DOES NOT STOP AT THE CLOCK,
THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS LIKE
THE SHOW BOX ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO STEP ACROSS TO THE EAST SIDE
OF FIRST AVENUE, AND TO
CONTINUE ON INTO OUR CITY.
PROTECT THESE BUILDINGS, SUCH
AS THE SHOW BOX TO ALLOW FOR
AUTHENTIC AND EXPANDED CULTURAL
HERITAGE TOURISM FOR THE NEXT
50 YEARS IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE RICO, I ONCE KNEW HOW TO
SEW YOUR LAST NAME, THANK YOU,
IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.
FOLLOWED BY SARAH PATTON.>>
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK
TODAY, MY NAME IS RICO, I AM
THE CIVIC DESIGN LEAD OR THE
ARCHITECTURE FIRM THAT I WORK
FOR, I SIT ON THE HISTORIC CITY
COUNCIL FOR 6 YEARS, I AM
CURRENTLY THE CHAIR FOR THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET COUNCIL,
WHERE THIS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT
ISSUE WE ARE DEALING WITH
TODAY, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW
THAT.
I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE
PDA IS A VERY IMPORTANT
STAKEHOLDER IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU HAVE ALL HEARD THAT THE
WORK HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED, THE
STUDY NEEDS TO BE FINISHED, AND
WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THAT
STATEMENT, WE BELIEVE THE SAME.
I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT, I
WOULD SUGGEST TWO THINGS, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT ONLY
CONTEXT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HISTORY, AND WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT ZONING.
WHEN THE STUDY IS COMPLETED, I
THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE,
YOU KNOW, AND I WILL GO THERE,
SMC 2334 124 B WHICH IS
BOUNDARIES CRITERIA OF THE
DISTRICT. WE NEED TO HAVE A
ZONING CONSULTANT LOOK AT THAT
CRITERIA AS WE LOOK AT THIS
CONVERSATION.
AND IT MAY BE THAT WE AREN'T
JUST SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT THAT
INDIVIDUAL SITE THAT IS THE
SHOW BOX.
SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT, AS
WE TAKE THE NEXT STEP FORWARD,
MORATORIUM EXTENSION OR NOT.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT,
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK,
AND THE PDA NEEDS TO BE A
PARTNER WITH YOU IN THE
PROCESS, WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP.
SO, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.
WE WILL ANSWER THE CALL.
THANK YOU.
>> AND, SARAH PATTON WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY AMBER KING.>> HI, I
AM HERE TODAY AS THE ADVOCACY
CHAIR FOR THE PRINCE OF THE
MARKET, ALSO, AS A VOLUNTEER
FOR FRIENDS OF THE MARKET, I
STARTED WHEN I WAS 15 IN 1964.
SO, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR
A LONG TIME.
I SERVED FOR 10 YEARS ON THE
MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
SO, I REALLY THINK THAT THE
POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THIS
EXPANSION IS A GOOD ONE, IT'LL
GIVE THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THE
ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP,
IT'LL GIVE THE TIME FOR A REAL
PUBLIC PROCESS, WHICH DIDN'T
GET STARTED DURING THE PREVIOUS
SIX MONTHS.
TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON
AND I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE
COMMENTS OF KATE KRAFT, FOR
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET.
AND SAY YES, PLEASE EXTEND THIS
EXPANSION.
THANK YOU.
>> WELCOME, MY NAME IS AMBER
KING, I AM CHAIRMAN OF OUR
REVOLUTION KING COUNTY, I AM
ALSO A PCL IN SHORELINE, MY
FAMILY HAS BEEN IN SEATTLE
SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,
HEPING BUILD THE CITY FROM THE
GROUND UP.
AND MANY TIMES OVER, I ALSO
WORK IN CONSTRUCTION PRESENTLY,
AND I GREW UP WORKING IN THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET, GOING TO
SCHOOL, AND THE ARTS SCHOOL
DOWN THE STREET THAT IS NOW
CLOSED.
I HAVE SEEN SO MANY SHOWS AT
THE SHOW BOX AND OTHER VENUES
THAT HAVE NOW CLOSED, AND THEY
REALLY WANT URGE YOU TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE ARTS IN THE CITY.
WITHOUT ART AND MUSIC, THE CITY
DIES, WE CAN BUILD AS MANY
CONDOS, AS MANY APARTMENTS, BUT
WITHOUT THE VITALITY OF THE
ARTS COMMUNITY, THAT IS WHY WE
ARE HERE, THAT IS WHY WE STAYED
HERE, THAT IS WHY WE ARE
FIGHTING FOR IT, THAT IS WHY MY
CHILDREN ARE HERE, AND THAT IS
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
SO PLEASE EXTEND THIS FOR SIX
MONTHS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING
US, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
PEOPLE TESTIFY, I WILL CLOSE
THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE ON
TO DISCUSSION OF THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF.
OKAY.
WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
BEFORE WE GO INTO DELIBERATIONS
AROUND THE LEGISLATION, I WANT
TO SIGNAL MY HOPE THAT WE CAN
VOTE ON COUNSEL BILL 119504. WE
DON'T VOTE ON THE LEGISLATION
AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, IN THIS
CASE, WITH MY COLLEAGUES
SUPPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO
CONSIDER SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
. GIVEN THAT, I WILL MAKE A
MOTION, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNSEL RULE
RELATING TO VOTING ON A FINAL
COMMITTEE VOTE ON THE SAME DATE
OF PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE
COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON COUNSEL
BILL 119504.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, ALL OF THOSE IN
FAVOR ON SUSPENDING THE RULES,
VOTE AYE . AYE?
NONE OPPOSED.
NOW, I WOULD WELCOME DISCUSSION
AND COMMENTS ON THE LEGISLATION
BEFORE US.
>> KNOW?
I AM DEFERRING TO MY COLLEAGUES
IN THE COUNSEL.
IF THERE IS NO DISCUSSION, I
HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
BUT I HAVE A FEELING THERE WILL
BE, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHO WILL GO FIRST.
COUNCILMEMBER, O'BRIEN?
>> I AM SUPPORTIVE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> MY QUESTION IS, ON THE
LENGTH OF THE EXTENSION, SIX
MONTHS, CONFIDENCE LEVEL THAT
IT'LL BE DONE, DOING THE MATH,
THAT IS DECEMBER, AND, THAT IS
THE HOPE RIGHT NOW, AND IF WE
HAVE TO COME BACK IN DECEMBER,
WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
>> YOU CAN EXTEND IT SIX
MONTHS, AND IF YOU NEED LONGER,
YOU CAN COME BACK AND EXTEND.
>> OKAY, MAYBE WE WILL SEE YOU
ALL AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS, BUT
HOPEFULLY IT IS A RESOLUTION
AND WE HAVE A LONG-TERM PATH
THAT IS GOING TO SAVE THE SHOW
BOX.>> CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE
BIT TO THE EXECUTIVES PROCESS
AND ALSO, WHAT YOU KNOW OF WHO
THE CONSULTANT HAS BEGUN
ENGAGING WITH, AND WHAT WE CAN
HOPE FOR IN THE FUTURE TO JUST
RESPOND A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT WE
HAVE HEARD TODAY ABOUT
STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT HEARD
FROM THE EXECUTIVES CONSULTANT.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THEY ARE ABOUT TO START THEIR
OUTREACH PROCESS ONLINE AND IN
PERSON.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY HAVE
TALKED TO SO FAR BUT I HAVE A
LIST OF PEOPLE THAT I WILL MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE TALKING TO
IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE A FEELING, SOME OF THE
PEOPLE THEY HAVE REACHED OUT TO
OUR PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE
BROADER AREA BECAUSE THOSE ARE
THE PEOPLE WE ARE HEARING FROM
AND I'M IMAGINING THAT WE ARE
HEARING FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY
HAVE RECEIVED SOME SORT OF
INITIAL ENGAGEMENT.
BUT, YES, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT ENGAGEMENT
GOES BEYOND SIMPLY THE PROPERTY
OWNERS IN THE STUDY AREA.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS
ABOUT CULTURAL SPACES IN THE
CITY.
IT IS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN
AND ISSUE THAT THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE, A COUPLE
YEARS AGO PUT TOGETHER
SOMETHING CALLED THE CAP
REPORT, AND THAT REPORT, I MADE
NOTE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS A
NEIGHBORHOOD GALLERY, MUSIC
HALL, ARTIST STUDIOS, COMMUNITY
CENTERS, MUSEUMS AND CINEMAS
THAT SHOWCASE THE VITALITY,
ATTRACTING RESIDENTS, AND
VISITORS.
THE ACTIVITIES CAN BE
QUANTIFIABLE, DRIVING ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
BLOCKS IN SEATTLE WITH CULTURAL
SPACES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY
HIGHER WALK SCORES, MORE
BUSINESSES OPEN AT 10 PM ON
FRIDAYS, ADDING TO PUBLIC
SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.
TWICE AS MANY OUTDOOR CAFC
SEATING PERMITS, AND THREE
TIMES AS MANY PHOTOS UPLOADED
TO SOCIAL MEDIA.
DESPITE CULTURAL SPACES ROLE IN
STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOODS,
CREATING AND MAINTAINING THESE
SPACES AND STRONG REAL ESTATE
MARKETS CAN BE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT.
THE OLDER, MORE ECCENTRIC
SPACES THAT OFTEN HOUSE
CULTURAL USES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT
DRIVEN DISPLACEMENT.
THE REPORT GOES ON TO IDENTIFY
THE ACCOLADES THAT SEATTLE HAS
RECEIVED FROM OUR VIBRANT ARTS
LIFE.
TOP U.S. CITY FOR CULTURE, AND
BUSINESS INSIDER, AMERICA'S TOP
12 ARTS PLACES. WORLDS FIVE
BEST CITIES FOR ALT ARTS AND
CULTURE, FIVE UP AND COMING
CITIES FOR CULTURE, FIVE TOP
COOLEST CITIES, FORBES.
GREATEST CITY IN THE U.S. FOR
STARTING A BUSINESS.
AND AN ACTIVE ECOSYSTEM OF
CULTURAL LIFE TREASURED LOCALLY
AND RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE.
AGAIN, IN A REAL ESTATE MARKET
LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW,
PRECISELY WHAT MAKES US SO
SUCCESSFUL AS AN ARTS AND
CULTURE CITY, AND AS A CITY
GENERALLY IS ALSO WHAT MAKES
THESE VENUES VULNERABLE AND, I
WANT TO TIP MY HAT TO THE WORK
THAT THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE HAS BEEN DOING AROUND
PRESERVING THESE SPACES.
THEY ARE WORKING ON CREATING
POTENTIALLY A PDA AS A
MECHANISM FOR TWO PRESERVING
SPACES IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO LOOK
AT WHAT WE CAN DO NOW.
SO, FOR THAT REASON, I'M VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS LEGISLATION
AND EXTENDING THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET DISTRICT, HISTORIC
DISTRICT TO INCLUDE THIS PIECE
OF PROPERTY IN THE INTERIM
BASIS OF THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
COUNCILMEMBER, KSHAMA SAWANT ?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER,
LISA HERBOLD, I WANTED TO ALSO
ADD THAT, WE ACTUALL WOULDN'T
BE HERE IF IT WERE NOT FOR
SEVERAL THINGS, BUT ONE OF THEM
, THE FIGHT THAT HAPPENED TO
SAVE THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.
AND AT THAT TIME, AS SOME OF
YOU HAVE SAID, AND MANY OF US
HAVE READ, BECAUSE OF THE
STRUGGLE, WE READ THE HISTORY
OF THE MARKET, IT IS ONLY HERE
TODAY BECAUSE THERE WAS A
MOVEMENT AT THAT TIME TO SAVE
IT FROM THE SAME KINDS OF
FORCES THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HERE YOU KNOW, THE SAME
QUESTION THAT CAME UP THEN IS
COMING UP NOW.
BUT EXCEPT IN THE MUCH BIGGER
WAY.
WHAT KIND OF CITY DO WE WANT?
WHAT KIND OF VISION DO WE HAVE
FOR OUR CITY?
DO WE WANTED TO BE JUST A PLACE
WHERE THE WEALTHIEST OF THE
WEALTHY CAN LIVE AND A PLACE
THAT IS SLOWLY BUT SURELY
BECOMING VOID OF THE CULTURE
THAT WE ALL ARE SO GREATLY
VALUING, OR DO YOU WANT A CITY
THAT HAS VIBRANT CULTURE AND HAS
A SPACE FOR EVERYBODY
REGARDLESS OF OUR RACE,
REGARDLESS OF OUR INCOME AND
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SIX-
FIGURE SALARY IN ORDER TO BE
ABLE TO LIVE HERE. AS YOU SAID,
WE DON'T NEED MORE LUXURY
UNITS, WHAT WE NEED IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, I REALLY WANTED TO COMMEND
OUR MOVEMENT, OUR COLLECTIVE
EFFORT THAT HAS MADE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A FIGHT
BETWEEN MUSIC AND HOUSING, IT
IS A FIGHT BETWEEN EVERYTHING
THAT WE VALUE AS ORDINARY
PEOPLE, MUSIC, CULTURE, HOUSING,
A CITY THAT WE CAN CALL OUR
OWN, VERSUS THE ENDLESS GREED
FOR CORPORATE PROFITS. SO I
JUST WANTED TO, IN ADDITION TO
COMPLEMENT OUR MOVEMENT, ALSO,
LET'S LEAVE HERE TONIGHT WITH A
REMINDER TO OURSELVES THAT WE
ARE NOT GOING TO BE ALL TO WIN
THE PERMANENT EXPANSION OF THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET BOUNDARY TO
SAVE THE SHOW BOX UNLESS WE
KEEP BUILDING OUR MOVEMENT,
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE IN THE
FIRST PLACE, THANKS TO ALL OF
THE 180,000 PEOPLE THAT SIGNED
THE PETITION.
WE KNOW THAT THEY CARE BECAUSE
I DON'T KNOW THE LAST TIME WE
HAD A PETITION THAT HAD SO MANY
SIGNATURES.
SO, CAN YOU MAKE AN APPEAL THAT
YOU ALSO SIGNED THE RENT
CONTROL PETITION, WE ARE ALSO
FIGHTING FOR READ CONTROL IN
THIS CITY.
IF YOU ARE HERE AND YOU SUPPORT
MUSIC, I THINK YOU ALSO SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I'M GOING
TO MAKE A SAFE BET THERE, SO
MAKE SURE YOU SIGN THE PETITION
AS WELL.
AND I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF
THE PEOPLE, AND I WANTED TO
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE
SHOW BOX EMPLOYEES, SHANNON,
ERNIE, NICK, THEY HAVE DONE
SUCH INCREDIBLE WORK.
AND I WANTED TO ECHO SOMETHING
THAT MISHA SAID, SHE MENTIONED
GRUNGE, AND YOU KNOW, HOW IT
HAS ROOTS IN WORKING-CLASS
CULTURE, THAT REALLY SPOKE TO
ME BECAUSE I AM NOT FROM
SEATTLE, I AM AN IMMIGRANT, AND
I HAVE BEEN HERE ONLY 10 YEARS.
AND, I FEEL SUCH A STRONG
CONNECTION WITH SEATTLE'S
CULTURE BECAUSE IT IS A CULTURE
THAT SPEAKS TO EVERYBODY IN
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND GRUNGE
IS PART OF WHAT I IDENTIFY WITH.
SO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
EVERYBODY FEELS A CONNECTION
TO, REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG YOU
HAVE LIVED HERE, THAT IS WHY WE
NEED TO SAVE THE SHOW BOX.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, ABEL PACHECO
?
>> TO HER POINT, I THOUGHT
EVERYBODY MOVED HERE FOR THE
WEATHER.
I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
SO, THERE WAS NEVER AN
APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT
ON THIS SITE.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION,
THERE WAS A PROPOSAL IN THE
MEDIA THAT WAS ABOUT 440 UNITS
OF HOUSING ON THIS SITE AND THE
ADJACENT SITE.
AND, I SAW ESTIMATES IN THE
MEDIA UP TO $5 MILLION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THE
PROJECT NEVER GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE THERE WAS AN ACTUAL
NUMBER.
>> MY FOLLOW-UP TO THAT,
SPECIFICALLY, I HAVEN'T
RECEIVED THIS IN DETAIL YET,
BUT WHY IS THIS DELAYED SO
LONG?
SPECIFICALLY, WHAT IS CAUSING
THE DELAY?
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST PART OF
THE DELAY WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS DIDN'T HAVE
FUNDING TO START THE WORK UNTIL
JANUARY OF 2019.
AS COUNSEL WAS ADOPTING
LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, THEY
WERE AWARE THAT THERE WASN'T
FUNDING AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME
FOR THE WORK AND THE FUNDING
THAT NEEDED TO BE IDENTIFIED IN
THE FALL BUDGET PROCESS, SO
THAT BECAME AVAILABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS
LATER THAN THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION EXPECTED.>> SO, IS
THE BACKLOG, OR IS THE DELAY,
SHOULD THE DELAY OR THE
EXTENSION BE THREE OR FOUR
MONTHS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT THE DELAY IS?
>> I THINK, TO BE SAFE, SETTING
IT AT SIX MONTHS WOULD ENSURE
THAT THE WORK GETS COMPLETED
AND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME
BACK DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS,
IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO
COMPLETE THE WORK.
THERE IS ONE STEP THAT COULD
CAUSE ADDITIONAL DELAYS.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WOULD NEED
TO BE UNDERTAKEN, AND IF THAT
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS
APPEALED, IT'LL FURTHER DELAY
ANY LEGISLATION GETTING TO
COUNSEL.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH
EVERYONE HOW IMPORTANT, HOW
DIFFICULT THESE DECISIONS ARE,
AND HOW THEY COME WITH TRADE-
OFFS, THE TRADE-OFFS ARE
TYPICALLY NOT EASY CHOICES.
I THINK TODAY'S DISCUSSION
HIGHLIGHTS NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL
TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE CULTURE.
AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT HAVE
SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO MAKE
AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT
MOVING FORWARD, SO I WILL
ABSTAIN.
>> OKAY.
>> BEFORE CALLING FOR A VOTE, I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
FOLKS WHO HAVE CONTACTED OUR
OFFICES IN SUPPORT OF ORDINANCE
12560, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
ORGANIZATIONS WHO DID NOT TAKE
A POSITION LAST YEAR ON THE
TEMPORARY EXPANSION. THE
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET, PIKE
PLACE HISTORIC FOUNDATION, RISE
UP BELLTOWN, FISHER STUDIO
BUILDING, H AWAY -- HOA, AND
FRIENDS OF BELLTOWN, SO THANK
YOU FOR WEIGHING IN AND GIVING
US THE TIME TO STUDY THIS ISSUE
FURTHER AND GIVEN THE NECESSARY
TIME TO MAKE SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO THE
COUNCIL.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, I WILL MOVE PASSAGE
OF COUNSEL BILL 119504. THANK
YOU.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF
COUNSEL BILL 119504, VOTE AYE.
ALL OF THOSE ABSTAINING?
>> AYE .
>> NONE OPPOSED, AND THE VOTE
PASSES, 3-1. THANK YOU.
AND, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, I WILL ADJOURN THE
COMMITTEE, AT 6:47 P.M.
, THANK YOU ALL.