1. Unfair annual property taxes of only
$3,024 for eight acres: five outright leased acres and three acres for
replacement parking, which involves removing the treed area next to the North
parking lot, all prime real estate. (Page 6, 3.2) (C-2)
2. Unfair parking charges to the public at $10 per day each while Daniels convention goers will be charged $3 per day for parking. (Page 6, 3.1.2). Daniels in May estimated at a semi-public meeting that the $3 will provide an income stream for State Parks estimated to be $200,000 per year, which translates to about 70,000 convention goers per year and there is no cap on that number.
3. Unfair, limitless number of convention goers will make parking difficult for park users.
4. Unfair expansion of holdings in lease and unfair hit on State Parks’ budget. If Daniels determines he does not want a State Parks maintenance garage in the second building he has taken – the gymnasium, also historic and in good repair, he is required to build another garage, but only on remaining park property outside his leased premises and at park expense. The costs will be paid from the State Parks income stream of $3 per day parking fee. (Page 12, 5.3)
5. Unfair land exchange: The land provided on the waterfront is not equal in value to the land being taken by Daniels LLC for development. The land provided is unbuildable, has been on the market for decades, is prone to landslides, is so steep it is barely walkable, was once offered to State Parks for $400,000. A fair exchange needs to be appraised by the National Park Service, according to the LWCF rules, not by the State which appraised the land at greatly inflated value.
6. Unfair public space, between 1,250 and 2,000 square feet in a 90,000 square foot building, and its use is vague. If non-profits want more permanent space outside the public use, they will be charged. (Page 11, 5.1)
7. Unfair lack of specificity in the use of the pool and gymnasium buildings. (Page 8, 4.2)
8. Unfair luxury charges to the public. Leased land may not undercut pricing of nearby like facilities. That means at minimum, $400 for a night’s stay in order not to undercut nearby Carillon Point in Kirkland whose double occupancy rooms regularly cost over $600. There is no restriction on cost to the public in the lease.
9. Unfair drizzle of information: Daniels said this would be a rustic lodge for the public already there to enjoy the outdoors. It morphed into a full-blown convention center. To bring in a different, distinct population demands property of equal value or the lease is illegal.
10. Unfair future assurances: The lease may be transferred to another entity. (Page 20, 10.1) State Parks cannot “unreasonably” delay or condition such. Hard to imagine but the use could get worse.
11. Unfair lease cannot be periodically reviewed. State Parks did not retain the right to review the lessee’s change of use. (Page 20, 10.1) This is a clear violation of the LWCF rules, which makes the entire lease illegal and contractually invalid.
The lease can be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UqmCblgTKbMX9wNP0b5fQw5OhgMVPLPp/view?usp=sharing (Copy and paste link in address bar; the file is 8 MB.)
Compare the above facts with the press release State Parks issued this month at www.parks.state.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=455 (scroll down).
Please write or call the below and request they require NPS enforce the LWCF rules ASAP!
2. Unfair parking charges to the public at $10 per day each while Daniels convention goers will be charged $3 per day for parking. (Page 6, 3.1.2). Daniels in May estimated at a semi-public meeting that the $3 will provide an income stream for State Parks estimated to be $200,000 per year, which translates to about 70,000 convention goers per year and there is no cap on that number.
3. Unfair, limitless number of convention goers will make parking difficult for park users.
4. Unfair expansion of holdings in lease and unfair hit on State Parks’ budget. If Daniels determines he does not want a State Parks maintenance garage in the second building he has taken – the gymnasium, also historic and in good repair, he is required to build another garage, but only on remaining park property outside his leased premises and at park expense. The costs will be paid from the State Parks income stream of $3 per day parking fee. (Page 12, 5.3)
5. Unfair land exchange: The land provided on the waterfront is not equal in value to the land being taken by Daniels LLC for development. The land provided is unbuildable, has been on the market for decades, is prone to landslides, is so steep it is barely walkable, was once offered to State Parks for $400,000. A fair exchange needs to be appraised by the National Park Service, according to the LWCF rules, not by the State which appraised the land at greatly inflated value.
6. Unfair public space, between 1,250 and 2,000 square feet in a 90,000 square foot building, and its use is vague. If non-profits want more permanent space outside the public use, they will be charged. (Page 11, 5.1)
7. Unfair lack of specificity in the use of the pool and gymnasium buildings. (Page 8, 4.2)
8. Unfair luxury charges to the public. Leased land may not undercut pricing of nearby like facilities. That means at minimum, $400 for a night’s stay in order not to undercut nearby Carillon Point in Kirkland whose double occupancy rooms regularly cost over $600. There is no restriction on cost to the public in the lease.
9. Unfair drizzle of information: Daniels said this would be a rustic lodge for the public already there to enjoy the outdoors. It morphed into a full-blown convention center. To bring in a different, distinct population demands property of equal value or the lease is illegal.
10. Unfair future assurances: The lease may be transferred to another entity. (Page 20, 10.1) State Parks cannot “unreasonably” delay or condition such. Hard to imagine but the use could get worse.
11. Unfair lease cannot be periodically reviewed. State Parks did not retain the right to review the lessee’s change of use. (Page 20, 10.1) This is a clear violation of the LWCF rules, which makes the entire lease illegal and contractually invalid.
The lease can be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UqmCblgTKbMX9wNP0b5fQw5OhgMVPLPp/view?usp=sharing (Copy and paste link in address bar; the file is 8 MB.)
Compare the above facts with the press release State Parks issued this month at www.parks.state.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=455 (scroll down).
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
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