Center for Wooden Boats signs lease for N. Lake Union site

Back in September we told you about the possibility of having a Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) location over here, on the north side of Lake Union, as a second, complementary site to their current South Lake Union location. Cool, yes?

Well yesterday, the Center for Wooden Boats and King County Metro signed an interim lease agreement to make that possibility one step closer to becoming a reality. The lease allows the CWB to use the land, owned by King County Metro, as a surplus warehouse and storage yard. The location of the site is adjacent to Gas Works Park, and just to the west of Harbor Patrol. From a press release issued by the CWB:

‘This interim lease running to 2016 will give CWB a location for boat work now, and allow us to continue to work with all parties involved to answer environmental issues created by the site’s long time use as a marine fuel facility,’ said Betsy Davis, Executive Director for the Center of Wooden Boats. ‘Our goal is to eventually work out a longer term agreement that provides access to the water, so CWB can help residents of Wallingford, Fremont, the University District, Ballard and other North Seattle neighborhoods re-connect with Lake Union,’ said Davis.

Cleanup and restoration of the site will be complete by spring 2012. During an email exchange back in September, Dan Leach, who leads community engagement for CWB, mentioned that while the CWB has had tremendous support from the Wallingford Community Council, Friends of Gasworks Park, and Stoneway Hardware, the organization is always looking for people who might want to help volunteer. If you’re interested, check out the CWB’s blog, Bearings and their Volunteer page, and like them on Facebook.