CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Department of Parks and Recreation; authorizing the acquisition of real property commonly known as the 17th Ave South & South Walker Street, Seattle, Washington; authorizing acceptance of a recording of the deed for open space, park, and recreation purposes; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, Seattle Parks and Recreation’s (“SPR”) 2024 Park and Open Space Plan used race, equity and health, poverty and income, and population density mapping, among other criteria, to help identify priority areas for the Long-Term Acquisition Strategy; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 Park and Open Space Plan identified both the North Beacon Hill Residential Urban Village (RUV) and the North Rainier Hub Urban Village (HUV), sometimes referred to as the Mt. Baker HUV, as having a park walking distance service gap, defined as a lack of parks within a five-minute walking distance, coupled with high levels of poverty, obesity, diabetes, and lack of physical activity, based on socioeconomic data correlated with health data; and
WHEREAS, in 2022 a group of residents in the North Beacon Hill area contacted the Mayor and requested this property be acquired to preserve the last block of natural tree canopy in the immediate neighborhood and to serve as a neighborhood park; and
WHEREAS, at approximately 60,000 square feet - plus a 4,000-square-foot alley for which SPR will request transfer from the Seattle Department of Transportation - the entire proposed future park site exceeds the 10,000-square-foot minimum size to meet walking distance criteria intended to fill the service gap and support programming to address the existing equity and health disparities; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Superintendent of Parks and Recreation (“Superintendent”), or the Superintendent’s designee, is authorized, on behalf of The City of Seattle, to acquire the following described real property, situated in the City of Seattle, County of King, State of Washington, and commonly known as the property at 17th Avenue South & South Walker Street, Seattle, Washington (“Property”), together with all rights, privileges, and other property pertaining thereto, for open space, park, and recreation purposes:
LOTS 1 THROUGH 10, INCLUSIVE, BLOCK 25, CENTRAL SEATTLE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 1 OF PLATS, PAGE 57, RECORDS OF KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON.
Section 2. The Superintendent, or the Superintendent’s designee, is authorized to execute and perform on behalf of The City of Seattle a Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement (“Agreement”) with the seller, by which the City will acquire the Property in exchange for a purchase price not to exceed $5,500,000 as supported by an appraisal, negotiation, and other promises set forth in the Agreement; and to accept a deed for the Property consistent with the terms of the Agreement by executing a Deed Acceptance Certificate, Attachment 1 to this ordinance, and all documents necessary to complete the transaction and related costs outlined in the purchase and sale agreement.
Section 3. The Property shall be placed under the jurisdiction of Seattle Parks and Recreation.
Section 4. Any act consistent with the authority of this ordinance taken prior to its effective date is ratified and confirmed.
Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2024 and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this _____ day of _________________, 2024.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Deed Acceptance Certificate