Despite a name that ever so subtly hints at direction, the future of all but three acres of South Woods is still uncharted.
The 15.6 acres of property, located at NE 150th Street and 25th Avenue NE, is currently owned by three Shoreline entities: the school district, water district and city, which purchased three acres earlier this year. While the school and water districts are looking to divest the land, the city is in buying mode.
The entire parcel may come under the ownership of the city if voters decide in the upcoming May 16 election to purchase the remaining acreage for $6 million — the most costly property acquisition included in the bond. The bond issue includes other open space properties and improvements for a total of $18.5 million.
For the owner of an average-valued home of $289,000, the estimated monthly cost is $7 or $84 per year. The tax would take effect in 2007; the bond would take about 15 years to be paid off.
A little bit of history
The parcel, informally named “South Woods,” was originally purchased a decade ago by the water and school districts from the state Department of Natural Resources and has since remained as woodlands.
The original intent by both districts was to utilize the property for expansion purposes, which has since changed, said officials from both districts. The original intent of the water district was to build a treatment facility at the site, to treat water from Lake Washington. The school district’s intent was to eventually build an elementary school; the site is adjacent to Shorecrest High School.
From past to present
The City Council approved the purchase of three acres of South Woods, on the west portion of the site, from the school district at the end of December. The water district still owns 7.8 acres on the east side of the parcel and the school district owns 4.8 acres in the middle of the site.
City officials originally had until May to make a decision on whether to purchase the water district’s portion of the property, said Stu Turner, manager of the Shoreline Water District. When the bond issue surfaced, water district commissioners decided to allow additional time, as they are not in a “huge rush to sell,” he said.
“The board of commissioners is giving the city every opportunity to buy the property,” Turner said, “and if voters approve the purchase, then we will hopefully negotiate a final price.”
School district officials, similarly, are looking to divest their remaining acreage to the city.
The price tag
While three acres were purchased from the school district for a total of $720,000, or $240,000 per acre, the price of the remainder of the 15.6 acres has not yet been determined. The price the city paid for the first three acres was labeled a “good deal” by many in the community.
When meeting with city officials several months ago to discuss the bond, Turner said it was determined that $500,000 per acre would be an accurate cost estimate.
The water district has not completed an appraisal, said Turner, because it will only be valid for six months. If the bond issue passes, they would then initiate an appraisal, he said.
Similarly, school district officials have not obtained an appraisal to determine the market value, said school officials, who say they expect to sell the remaining acreage at market value.
Current use
Undeveloped and heavily wooded, South Woods does contain some informal trails and a paved trail extends through the site from 150th Street to the south side of the property, which students and neighbors use on a regular basis, said Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services director Dick Deal.
The three acres sold to the city also are retained for educational purposes, with the land kept in perpetuity for open space and recreation. The intent of the sale was to preserve the land as natural habitat, with the expectation that the district would have access to it for educational purposes, said Paul Plumis, capital projects coordinator for the school district.
An ongoing effort
A group of about 10 citizens formed the South Woods Preservation Group several years ago and are devoted to securing the future of the property as open space.
“We brought an awareness to it that has really assisted our cause,” said member Bettelinn Krizek Brown, who lives near the wooded property. “There have been a lot of people who didn’t even know what it was.”
The group has raised awareness, Brown said, by circulating a petition, calling residents and contacting the school and water districts to “keep communication open between the two entities.” The group also meets twice a month and once a month they organize a work party to remove invasive species, primarily ivy, from South Woods.
The group would like to see the property maintained as forested area, in its natural state without any development.
“There are trails, but that is really all that is there,” Brown said. “It is basically a coniferous forest with a number of Hemlock and White pine and other species.”
High school students involved with the SAFE Club (Student Action for the Environment), at Shorecrest High School, have become involved in preserving the site, said Brown.
If voters point to yes
If purchased by the city, residents would be asked for input on how to best utilize the site, said Deal, who added that the immediate goal is “to preserve the site.” One option would be to develop a neighborhood park in the Briarcrest Community, he said.
“I don’t see a lot of change, just an opportunity for trails and educational components,” Deal said. “We’re not going to log it.”
If voters point to no
If the bond does not pass, water district commissioners may consider using their 7.8 acres of property for a new facility, which would differ from the original purpose of the site.
They would not look to build a water treatment facility, but would consider a different purpose: the consolidation of facilities. Essentially, the administrative offices and field facilities, which are currently located at two separate venues, could be combined, said Turner.
“We are split; we have all of our field personnel down at 169th (Street) and 15th (Avenue), which is a few blocks away,” Turner sad. “We would eventually like to be in the same location.”
The water district, which has 15 employees and “dump trucks and backhoes,” takes up a lot of space, he said.
“It is up to the voters to decide; then depending on what they do the (water) board will decide what to do,” Turner said.
The school district has not considered other options at this point, said Marjorie Ledell, school district spokeswoman.
“It is not like we are rushed,” she said. “We would just evaluate it at that point.”
On the city’s end, if the bond failed to pass, the Council would determine whether to go back out again with another bond issue, or let things take their course, Deal said.
“They may hang onto it or sell it,” Deal said about the school and water districts. “They have said this is surplus property.”
If the bond fails to pass, Brown said she is not sure what action the South Woods Preservation Group could take. Regarding the water district commissioners’ speculation about potentially developing the site, she said “the water district doesn’t have a sense of the importance of preservation.
“We don’t know how on earth we would keep it preserved,” Brown said. “This is it.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
