Council Meeting to Hear MOHAI MH Proposal

The Seattle City Council's committee that deals with parks issues will hear the Museum of History & Industry ask for permission Wednesday to pursue a move to South Lake Union Park. The Parks, Education, Libraries and Labor Committee, chaired by Councilmember David Della, is considering whether to allow MOHAI and Mayor Greg Nickels to pursue a lease or purchase agreement for the Naval Reserve Building at SLUP. The move could have enormous implications for maritime heritage, according to an e-mail from maritime heritage volunteer Alice Winship to supporters of Northwest Seaport.

"The key issue for maritime supporters, which the public may wish to communicate to both MOHAI and the City, is that the Armory Building should be used for a major maritime museum, and that South Lake Union Park should be a maritime center, with space for all our local historic vessels, including Wawona," Winship writes. "A number of maritime organizations already have vessels and operations at South Lake Union, and by working with these organizations, MOHAI could help create a major maritime heritage center."

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers downtown. The discussion is lively here on the MHN Blog, check out comments to Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck's demands and my post Sunday about MOHAI's MH record. Share your thoughts via the comments link.