Della Offers Competing Wawona Proviso

Staunch Northwest Seaport volunteer organizer Alice Winship reports that Seattle City Councilmember David Della is sponsoring a new budget proviso for Wawona, which would leave demolition open as an option, but would put the funds on hold until all parties agree on a plan. (See her comment to my previous post.) The proviso concerns a $400,000 allocation in the 2007-2008 city budget. According to the budget document, the money "may" be used for cutting up Wawona and using some of the pieces for a display.

"One drawback to this proviso is the time frame," Alice writes. "Preservation specialists at the Wawona Summit last December recommended that Wawona be taken out of the water and put under cover as soon as possible, in order to stabilize her condition." She also says the Parks Department wants Wawona moved soon, and presumably a plan of some kind would take months to write.

Alice doesn't say which proviso she prefers, but Wawona supporters have consistently said they oppose demolition of any kind. Alice also notes that Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck's proviso, discussed on Tuesday, would prevent use of the funds to demolish the Wawona, and would change the title of the budget item in the Parks 2007-2008 capital budget from "Wawona Disposition" to "Wawona Preservation."

Alice reminds everyone that there's still time to register your views. Contact info is at http://www.seattle.gov/council/.