What’s changed since the 2016 plan to re-purpose the park was presented to the public? Just
about everything.
At a legally required public meeting February 9,
2016, Kevin Daniels, the developer, and Michael Hankinson, public relations spokesperson
for Washington State Parks, spoke glowingly to 400 of us about re-purposing
the Seminary. Since, it has become apparent that Daniels performed a classic bait and switch.
Unfortunately, public meetings that followed were not so well
attended, nor publicized, and the plan with little input from the public morphed to whatever Daniels decides with few protections for the park in the lease.
The plan presented to 400 attendees February 9, 2016 included the following
points, all to-date moot:
Perpetual public access for the main building was assured at the 2016 meeting. The public was verbally promised 2,000
square feet for public use up until the lease was signed in January 2017. This was noted by Parks Commissioners to be for an environmental school. In May 2018 without notice, the plan shape shifted for the public space to be in the gymnasium which functions perfectly as a gymnasium. How does that make sense? In the lease is "1250 to 2,000 square feet" of "State Space" in the main building which State Parks can offer without charge to non profits. It appears Daniels is already violating the lease.
A reversionary clause was promised at the 2016 meeting. This would have meant the property reverts to State Parks if Daniels violates a condition stipulated in the deed of transfer. This is not in the lease, rather State Parks cannot deny Daniels any "reasonable" use of the core of the park should Daniels decide to sell the lease. There are few stipulations, and those not of much worth to the public. Stipulations that convention goers pay for parking at a reduced rate and the date of transfer were developed, but not change of use. The lease essentially gave the core of the park away for a steep, unbuildable parcel once offered to State Parks for $400,000.
A reversionary clause was promised at the 2016 meeting. This would have meant the property reverts to State Parks if Daniels violates a condition stipulated in the deed of transfer. This is not in the lease, rather State Parks cannot deny Daniels any "reasonable" use of the core of the park should Daniels decide to sell the lease. There are few stipulations, and those not of much worth to the public. Stipulations that convention goers pay for parking at a reduced rate and the date of transfer were developed, but not change of use. The lease essentially gave the core of the park away for a steep, unbuildable parcel once offered to State Parks for $400,000.
Right of First Offer was assured at the 2016 public meeting. That is if Daniels
buys the property and later decides to sell it, State Parks would obtain first right
to negotiate to reacquire it before Daniels can sell it to another party. Again, in the signed lease, Daniels can sell
the lease to anyone and, indeed at the semi-public meeting in May 2018, Daniels
compared his project to a downtown Holiday Inn. Just a fyi, double occupancy prices there start at $400 a night.
Bankruptcy discussed at 2016 public meeting: if Daniels goes
bankrupt, Michael Hankinson said State Parks desires property back. Again, Daniels can sell to anybody unless he has already made private deals, for instance with Bastyr as rumored, or with a hotel/convention center chain.
Boutique hotel, lodge, convention center or? A low impact boutique hotel was promised at the public meeting in 2016. This morphed into a rustic lodge when Daniels was selling the idea to the public and to the Secretary of the Interior, then in May of 2018, Daniels disclosed this would be a convention center of at least 70,000 convention goers a year. In the lease, there is no cap on the number of convention goers or on the days, hours, months of operation, though Daniels claims he will self police in this regard. He has not self policed to-date. .
Boutique hotel, lodge, convention center or? A low impact boutique hotel was promised at the public meeting in 2016. This morphed into a rustic lodge when Daniels was selling the idea to the public and to the Secretary of the Interior, then in May of 2018, Daniels disclosed this would be a convention center of at least 70,000 convention goers a year. In the lease, there is no cap on the number of convention goers or on the days, hours, months of operation, though Daniels claims he will self police in this regard. He has not self policed to-date. .
Please write or call the below and request they require NPS enforce the LWCF rules ASAP!
Honorable Senator Maria Cantwell
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-3441
Honorable Senator Patti Murray
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2621
Honorable Suzan Delbene
2442 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-225-6311
202-225-6311
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