It is truly unfortunate how the city's purchase of the Capehart property has been criticized and portrayed in recent weeks. This process has been marred by either distortion of fact or a failure to recognize all the facts.
The city is not spending $11 million on this purchase. More than $7 million of the total comes from other sources, and these funds are specifically designated for open space and parkland. Additionally, two million of those dollars are from a legal settlement between King County Metro and the five community groups that sued Metro over the expansion of the West Point Sewage Treatment Plant. Those settlement dollars are legally directed to be spent on habitat improvement in Discovery Park.
The Navy Region Northwest is privatizing its housing stock under the Military Housing Privatization Act. In 2004, the Pacific NW Command chose to divest this property, and - in great part due to public influence - the city of Seattle negotiated an agreement to purchase the Capehart parcel. The demolition of Capehart housing is inevitable. The structures were built in the 1950s as temporary housing and are being replaced because the military considers them substandard. To attest to their quality, nationwide there is not one instance of Capehart-style housing being rehabilitated as part of any of these military housing projects. In addition, no personnel are being displaced as part of this purchase. Replacement housing is being built for these servicemen and women near Everett and Marysville.
The intent to acquire this property is written into the park's Master Plan of 1972 and has been the city's vision for Discovery Park since its inception in 1974. Adding these 24 precious acres to the park is one more step toward the completion of an open space that is already an incomparable, world-class park. It is a tremendous achievement for our city and cause for celebration.
Paul Thompson, President
Friends of Discovery Park
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