Former Fire Station 37 could become a ‘sustainability station’

From tonight’s Sustainable West Seattle Community Forum: Before the night’s main feature – a panel on the Duwamish River (still under way – full coverage later) – some news about city-landmark ex-Fire Station 37 at 35th/Othello (map). SWS president Brian Allen announced that the group is “exploring the possibility” of buying the station with a “large coalition” of partners and donors, to turn it into “Sustainability Station 37.” As we reported here in July, the city has already started the process of figuring out what to do with the historic station; firefighters moved out earlier this month and are now in the brand-new station a few blocks south, at 35th/Holden (map). As for the potential purchase, Allen promised an “initial organizing meeting” in the next two weeks – watch the Sustainable West Seattle website for more info (you can find his contact info there too).

9:18 PM UPDATE: Now that the meeting’s over, we talked to him to find out more: The concept is still fluid – “come to the meeting!” he smiled – but it could be a permanent HQ for Sustainable WS, for offshoots like the West Seattle Tool Library (currently ensconced at South Seattle Community College), and for services that support sustainability – very much a work in progress, and finding the funding, he acknowledged, won’t be simple, but they’re hopeful.

35 Replies to "Former Fire Station 37 could become a 'sustainability station'"

  • Bill October 18, 2010 (8:59 pm)

    What is a “Sustainability Station”? I was hoping the station would be turned into a restaurant or cafe. I live two blocks from Station 37 and love the old building.

  • WSB October 18, 2010 (9:00 pm)

    I’m going to grab Brian in a minute here to ask for elaboration – the meeting just ended – TR

  • (required) October 18, 2010 (9:36 pm)

    Well, Bill, architecturally, a restaurant or cafe would be nice. But there’s no parking, really. Not good for a restaurant or cafe to have no parking. Also, I can’t think of another successful restaurant or cafe on 35th — certainly not one without parking. Neat building, but kind of funky layout. And it’s on I-35th, the land where 35mph is just a myth, an obstacle to attaining far greater speeds — and noise. Frankly, much as we’ve come to know it and love the way it looks, I think it’s time to raze it. I don’t think there’s another viable use for it, other than perhaps a p-patch. It’s not really special in an architectural sense; it’s kind of neat, but I just don’t think it should be preserved. So, I am curious what the Sustainability Station is all about. Who knows, maybe it’ll be something fabulous that’ll persuade us all.

  • MikeoffAlki October 18, 2010 (9:37 pm)

    I agree with Bill. This place screams to be a restaurant! Those big front doors could be turned into all-glass that could be opened on warm days. Ya gotta love it!

  • wseadawg October 18, 2010 (9:39 pm)

    I second Bill. That building would make a great Pub or Pizza Place, and would be great for the surrounding neighborhood. Engine House No.9 in Tacoma is a great pub, and there’s a great Pizza Place in the old Firehouse in Maltby. It would be a one-of-a-kind in West Seattle.

  • wseadawg October 18, 2010 (9:40 pm)

    I second MikeoffAlki too! Wow! I’m sensing some momentum here!

  • JB October 18, 2010 (9:45 pm)

    I’d like to here some concrete plans. An expanded tool library with increased hours would be a great start. Also, West Seattle needs a workshop space where folks can bring in their projects (for a small fee). On the east coast I had my Dad and Grandpa’s basements – which amounted to a luxurious 500+ sq ft of shop space! Out here, I have a carport and very few tools, which is sad. Even my friends in Seattle who are carpenters have tiny shops compared to what we knew back east. I’d also be excited for workshops on canning, residential solar installation, or winterizing. Maybe put in a bike repair station like they have in the shops. Those are awesome when you want to clean and grease your chain, change to winter tires, and strap on the splash-guard. Oh, and I need a better place to brew beer…say someplace with concrete floors, drains, and an indoor hose hook-up, just in case the yeast is too feisty and pops the top on the carboy. OK, when was that meeting again?

  • Janel October 18, 2010 (9:50 pm)

    Sustainability Station- using a building that is already there and not having to do much to it to make it usable for them, not having to build one.

    Why not have it as the West Seattle Tool Lending Library? that would be a great place for them. They will be able to hold classes and demonstrations there. We already have enough restaurants and cafes, besides where would they park? There would have to be a lot of remodel to make it a restaurant or cafe.

    I am all for the tool library getting the place and hope that they find a way to make it their new home.

  • Amanda October 18, 2010 (9:51 pm)

    Forward thinking JB, I like it!

  • Tina October 18, 2010 (9:55 pm)

    I agree with JB and like it very much!!

  • Bryan F October 18, 2010 (9:56 pm)

    I attended the forum tonight (my first) and found it quite interesting and engaging.

    I will admit my bias, I work in the environmental field and am very proactive in learning about and promoting sustainable/livable community practices and solutions. I think the concept of a sustainablity station could be terrific – not sure what SWS pictures, but my idea is some kind of an educational/demonstration facility, that could incorporate many ideas/components, to include perhaps renting to a few tenants such as a cafe or tool library that promotes sustainable practices. Definitely interested to hear more about the possible opportunities for the site – I think the building is quite impressive architecturally, at least from the exterior.

  • westwood October 18, 2010 (9:59 pm)

    As much as I appreciate the good people at Sustainable West Seattle, I do not support their proposal. The law and common sense dictate that this site get a smart return on their property.

    What this neighborhood needs is a bar/restaurant more than a sustainability stop. Right now we have to drive to the junction–not sustainable.

    This building is perfect for a modest restaurant. There is plenty of street parking here. The bays are ideally suited for a good sized dining room. The rest of the station would hold a small bar and a kitchen. Engine House #9 in Tacoma is a great model–although, please, no more pizza places.

  • gatewoodkate October 18, 2010 (10:05 pm)

    How about a win-win situation at 37! Maybe a “Sustainability Station” with a some leasable space for say a local organic restaurant maybe in the apparatus bays. Or a CSA dropoff location for produce Gatewood, Sunset Hills is not the most “walkable” of the West Seattle locations- so a great little restaurant in conjunction with the station may be great. Would help them pay the mortgage and be an asset to the community Wouldn’t need too many parking spaces (if zoning would allow it) and hope that the large residential population around the station would be able to sustain it! That way you could come by for a great lunch, borrow some tools–all without hopping in your car- which now would be a difficult task!

  • ln8r October 18, 2010 (10:13 pm)

    I just want to get in there and slide down the pole… have always wanted to do that. :)

    It should definitely be a vital community gathering place of some kind. I say, keep it fire themed, serve spicy cajun food, and the wait staff has to slide down the pole.

  • chas redmond October 18, 2010 (10:22 pm)

    Westwood and others. The city made the availability of this building known and solicited ideas from anyone. We know there is at least one additional proposal for FS 37, the city is not telling who has sent in letters of interest. Sustainable West Seattle sent in a letter indicating interest. Our interest is in a location where work could be accomplished, the large open bays support that. Demonstrations and workshops benefit from large spaces with the kinds of electrical and plumbing a fire station would have in the bays. The office and residence space could be used for the tool library and a resource library (books, cds, dvds, manuals, etc.) and additional space could be sublet on the kind of schedule which would allow other non-profit or community or sustainable-oriented organizations to have what amounted to office space, but office space with the support and backbone of SWS and our additional partners. This would mean other organizations could use the facility as an incubator and be in touch with similar organizations. Many different organizations could share this space and the combination could be a fantastic melding of goals and operational techniques and field experience. Think of what Youngstown Cultural Arts Center has done to local arts and youth programs, think of what the Neighborhood House in High Point has done to crafts and life-experience programs for all cultures, think of what a similarly-themed and operated center for sustainability could do. Think of the proximity of these institutions to each other. Think of the impact the West Seattle Food Bank has had on combining support and services in one bus-accessible location. The same would be true for Sustainable Station 37. We’re seeking ideas on how to make this a multi-use facility which not only fills a valid need, but which provides some form of amplification to those who share the space. A synergy would be one of the expected outcomes. The bike station idea is excellent and we have some great SWS members in the bike community here in WS so that could easily happen. And more….

  • Loree October 18, 2010 (10:35 pm)

    If a business goes in, I really hope they can get a traffic light put in at the corner. That intersection is dangerous at the best of times. I-35th notwithstanding, there’s poor visibility due to street parking. There’s a traffic collision there every few months, including one in the couple of weeks, and it was three years ago this month that one of our neighbors died after being hit by a car there.
    .
    There are a few parking spots off the alley, so the tool library or a small restaurant or cafe would be great there, but I’m probably more biased than most — that grey house in the background (that is desperately in need of flowerbed weeding, yeesh) is mine. :)

  • Val Vashon October 18, 2010 (10:54 pm)

    I find an occasional scotch and soda to be sustaining…

  • Kate K October 18, 2010 (11:14 pm)

    A sustainability incubator sounds wonderful!

  • Bill October 18, 2010 (11:47 pm)

    Still not getting what a Sustainability Station is?? If I need to borrow tools I go ask my neighbors and they do the same with me. We have two wonderful libraries that were just built within walking distance from here. That’s where I go to borrow books or resource material. Not trying to bash the Sustainability Station but for resources and knowledge, try Google. Obviously anyone reading this post has acess to the “internets”. How about an organic co-op restaurant? I have $50 to put towards it :)

  • homesweethome October 19, 2010 (6:46 am)

    How about a Fare Start cafe? Everyone wants a restaurant – how about one that trains and educates folks on all issues about food? And serves a greater purpose in our community by addressing human service issues?

  • gatewoodkate October 19, 2010 (8:18 am)

    Has anyone visited the Q Cafe in Interbay/lower Magnolia? It is a coffee shop during the week that is transformed into a concert venue on the weekend. Part of the proceeds are contributed to a rotating non-profit that they choose. Perhaps the bays could be used both as income generation in the form of cafe, but could morph into workshop/demonstration spaces.

  • displacedcoastie October 19, 2010 (8:40 am)

    They already have a pole there so why not add some local female talent and call it
    “FIRESTARTERS”

  • marty October 19, 2010 (8:50 am)

    I don’t care what they do with it as long as the city sells it so it helps with the defecit instead of adding to it. We need to start thinking “must have” not “nice to have”.

  • Baba October 19, 2010 (10:20 am)

    marty, Hundred THUMBS UP!!!

  • wseattle October 19, 2010 (11:25 am)

    Marty, I agree that the budget deficits are terrible and the city needs the money. But unfortunately sometimes “must haves” become costly “wish we didn’t haves” in the future! Vision and looking at what a community needs is part of creating a good city that people want to live in! Without people continuing to want to live in west seattle the seattle budget deficit will be even worse.

  • J October 19, 2010 (12:42 pm)

    Regarding the “smart return on the property” comment: I think a community resource like HQ for SWS, tool library, etc. sounds like great return on the property for the community. There’s more to value than money.

  • marty October 19, 2010 (12:58 pm)

    J: Your “more value than money” concept is exactly why we are in our present financial situation. Try using that concept on your personal finances and see what happens…

  • ln8r October 19, 2010 (1:14 pm)

    displaced coastie, Fine, but let’s keep the firemen then, too!

  • Baba October 19, 2010 (2:10 pm)

    marty, I have to give you another Hundred THUMBS UP!!!… the last sentence in particular!

  • Bryan F October 19, 2010 (8:38 pm)

    Totally disagree with you Marty – in my opinion our current crisis has been because many business models have overly focused on maximizing low costs and profitability in a very short-term fashion often at the expense of a long-term plan or vision. Your point about people’s personal finances is a great example, much of our society has maxed out credit cards to facilitate a life style of immediate gratification, versus thinking how we can be more successful with less (often unnecesary) material items or figuring out ways to live more simply within our community.

    Yes, we need to consider economic vitality and development, but that is only part of the equation – what are the environmental, social, and cultural costs or benefits created by a project or development? Consideration of those factors in an equitable manner often leads to a successful and unique community asset that adds to the neighborhood identity, making it a more desirable place to live or visit, and ideally can be a catalyst for other successful activities and businesses (think of some of the symbiotic relationships of community assets/businesses in the Junction, or along Alki for example)

  • ltfd October 19, 2010 (11:14 pm)

    ‘I just want to get in there and slide down the pole… have always wanted to do that’.
    .
    ‘They already have a pole there so why not add some local female talent and call it
    “FIRESTARTERS”’
    .
    Sorry folks, there is no fire pole at the old Fire Station 37- stairs to the attic space, and stairs to the basement.

  • Yardvark October 20, 2010 (8:07 am)

    Marty, Baba:
    You do understand that the city is selling this station correct? And that it will no longer be city property?
    The city receives a payment in this deal, not the other way around.

  • displacedcoastie October 20, 2010 (8:50 am)

    ltfd – Thats OK, I’ll watch them dance on stairs too.

  • ln8r October 20, 2010 (8:55 am)

    ltfd

    TRAGEDY!

    Ok, then tool library/wood shop.

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