Georgetown Flume Off-Leash Area Development
Updated: September 8, 2022
Fall 2022
After meeting with the WA State Department of Ecology, early this year, the project is now required to submit an Interim Action Work Plan (IAWP) that Ecology must approve (and that this process would take approximately nine months to complete). This site is a part of the larger North Boeing Field/Georgetown Steam Plant (NBF/GTSP) site that is part of an ongoing remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) under Agreed Order No. DE 5685 (Ecology 2008) between the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), the Boeing Company, the City of Seattle, and King County. As a result of these requirements and this process, project construction must be delayed until Summer of 2023, contingent upon Ecology’s approval of the IAWP.
Winter 2021/2022
On December 15 Seattle City Light (SCL) received approval from the Seattle City Council Transportation & Utilities Committee to transfer a 46,000-square foot plot of land, known as the Georgetown Flume site, to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) to develop a new off-leash area and pedestrian thoroughfare in the Georgetown neighborhood. This connection will provide an acre of green space including 80 new trees, and is a critical part of the Georgetown to South Park Connection project, which, when completed, will create a walkable, bikeable connection between Georgetown and South Park. SCL is transferring the eastern piece of this property to SPR and the western piece to SDOT as part of a public benefit package.
The SDOT trail timeline (for the segment on this property) has been accelerated and will be combined into one larger public works construction project to improve project coordination (between the trail and the off-leash area), reduce impacts on the facilities during construction and align the project completions.
Construction on the new 20,000 sq ft off-leash area is expected to take place from summer 2022 through spring 2023; construction on the new walk, roll, and bikeway is expected to begin in Summer 2022 and open to the public in 2023.
Location
1035 South Myrtle Street, 98108
Budget
Seattle Parks and Recreation - $400,000 from identified sources. SPR will provide off-leash area design, pavement removal, fencing, pedestrian circulation, water supply to the site, signage, waste receptacles, tree maintenance, and the surface water bioswale (shared with SDOT.)
Seattle City Light - $3,800,000
SCL will provide the property and the cost of grading and preparing the surface.
Seattle Department of Transportation - $400,000 (from identified sources)
SDOT will provide curbs and sidewalks on S. Myrtle St and East Marginal Way S., paving and marking for trail, electric power to the site, pedestrian lighting, 20 trees for the Off-Leash Area, and the surface water bioswale (shared with Parks.)
Schedule
Planning: Spring 2020 - Fall 2020
Design and Permitting: Winter 2021 - Spring 2023
Construction: Summer 2023 - Spring 2024
Project Description
The Flume site, formerly owned by Seattle City Light (SCL), was the historic site of the conveyance that transported water from the Duwamish River to the Georgetown Steam Plant until it ended operation in 1975. SCL is offered the eastern piece of this property to Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and the western piece to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) as part of a public benefit package in exchange for a street vacation SCL has proposed for a segment of Diagonal Avenue South. SCL is funding the environmental remediation of the site, including removal of contaminated soils. With the property transfer, SPR and SDOT are each developing their property through independent projects.
The eastern portion of the site now owned by SPR who will develop and maintain as a new off-leash area. This project will also build a surface water bioswale to be shared with SDOT.
The western portion now owned and maintained by SDOT will be developed into a shared use path for those walking, biking, or rolling between Georgetown and South Park. For more information on SDOT's Georgetown to South Park Connection, please visit their website.
The site will be inaccessible until construction is complete.
For other off-leash areas in Seattle please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/dog-off-leash-areas
Community Participation
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) has determined that the project does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with SPR. This information is available to the public on request. The Determination of Non-Significance was issued December 23, 2021.
Download the DNS document for additional information
Download the Analysis and Decision of SPR
View the SEPA Environmental Checklist document here
Georgetown Illustrative Site Plan
Learn about the new off leash area and participate in the public process as we work together to design your new park space.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the online survey which closed in July 2020. Your input is appreciated.
Download the Survey Summary here:
Georgetown Open Space Committee ZOOM Meeting 6/22/2020
Presented Project Update to Georgetown Open Space Committee 9/27/2021