On a 91-degree Thursday afternoon, a half-dozen runners, dog walkers and soccer enthusiasts worked up a sweat on the synthetic field and gravel running track at Queen Anne Bowl. Located on the slope at the northern-most point of David Rodgers Park, the recreational area is also known to attract hundreds for soccer and lacrosse games.
Park users may already be aware that Aegis Living’s planned 100-unit assisted-living and memory-care center will be casting a shadow on Queen Anne Bowl when it is built just a Frisbee’s throw away. But what Queen Anne residents may not realize is that two neighboring properties could have profound effects on the development’s boundaries and on the community, according to Don Harper, chair of the Queen Anne Community Council’s parks committee.
The first key property is a 25-foot strip of land that runs 269 feet across Queen Anne Bowl’s north side fence. The strip divides the park from the site of Aegis’ future development — land to the north, currently containing the weed-stricken tennis courts and an abandoned house.
Aegis wants to obtain the dividing 25-foot strip from Seattle Parks and Recreation, Harper said. While Aegis cannot build on that strip due to zoning constraints, it can use that land to increase its property line and its required setback, allowing Aegis to add more units to its development.
For Aegis to acquire the 25-foot strip, intended for park use, Aegis has to offer the city an equal or better property that can serve the community.
Seattle’s “Ordinance Adopting Initiative 42” states: “If the City should sell, transfer, or change the use to a non-park use of any park property held on or after May 17, 1996 (including Bradner Playfield), the City shall replace it in kind with equivalent or better property or facilities in the same vicinity, serving the same community, unless the City has already received as good or better land and facilities for park use in the same vicinity, serving the same community, in exchange for that transaction.”
This is where the second key property comes into play.
A site, containing two houses as well as a parking lot, is located across the street from Queen Anne Bowl’s west entrance along Third Avenue West. Aegis obtained the property when it purchased the land for its development from Seattle Pacific University. It is this site that Aegis may offer to the city in exchange for the 25-foot strip.
A problem arises if the city were to accept this exchange, however, because the value of the 25-foot strip is less than the property offered by Aegis.
“Substantial funds would need to be appropriated to purchase the property,” Harper said. “Aegis has offered to consider selling just the parking lot, which would decrease the asking price, but still the difference in dollars is enough to cause pause at Parks without significant public support.”
In other words, if Aegis were to exchange the more expensive property along Third Avenue West for the less expensive 25-foot strip, the city could credit the difference, lowering the cost of what Aegis would pay for the 25-foot strip.
As a result, it may not be enough of a reason for the city to obtain the property along Third Avenue West. What would tip the city’s interest in obtaining the property, or part of the property, is the community’s enthusiasm for its potential usage, Harper explained.
“The community is the weight that has the potential to persuade Parks to go ahead, find the difference in cost, and buy the property,” Harper said.
The QACC is currently trying to facilitate a dialogue with Queen Anne residents to see if there is support for the sale and purchase of these key properties.
Harper said park users might welcome the parking lot, particularly for crowded lacrosse and soccer games. He also said the lot might also be used for a P-Patch Community Garden, a skate park, a basketball court, or an off-leash area for dogs.
“You start opening it up to the community and ask them, ‘Hey what do you think?’ and ‘What are your ideas?’ and all of a sudden, it could really start to be something,” Harper said.
Queen Anne residents should also consider what Aegis plans to build in the 25-foot strip, Harper explained. The strip might be seen as beneficial to the community if Aegis were to landscape it to act as a buffer between the development and Queen Anne Bowl, he said. Or residents might oppose Aegis’ ownership of the strip if it were used as a driveway frequented by delivery trucks.
QACC has not taken an official position on the Aegis development or the possible property exchange with the city.
The QACC parks committee is inviting Queen Anne residents to talk about the potential property exchange between Aegis and the city during its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Queen Anne Manor (100 Crockett St.).
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