Also Leonard reconfirms in his e-mail below that the PSMHS is a valued, vital partner in this long-awaited project.  

Proposed PSMHS Bridge at new MOHAI Museum

and also raising funds for the major capital campaign.    It’s a daunting challenge but we have been preparing for this moment, and in our regional and state maritime history leadership context now we must seize it and move forward with vision, vitality and hard work.   Thanks for your support in helping achieve this new museum milestone and the even more challenging but rewarding goals ahead.    

Best, Chuck Fowler - PSMHS President

Seattle City Council Approves Partnership with MOHAI

Dear Chuck: 

I am delighted to report that MOHAI’s move toward a new museum at the historic Naval Reserve Armory at Lake Union Park took a major step forward yesterday, when the full Seattle City Council unanimously approved the governing principles for the MOHAI-City partnership which will realize that vision.  I wanted to share the news and provide details. 

I also wanted to take this moment to reiterate what you, MOHAI President Jerry Vandenberg and I discussed last week, and what MOHAI Chair Jeff Peace and I shared with you and other PSMHS leaders at dinner earlier in the month—that the transformation of the Armory is a key element in the revitalization of the MOHAI-PSMHS partnership, a partnership that now dates back a half century and has renewed importance as we move toward a new home.  I are particularly excited to share with you some specific design concepts at our October 16 retreat—I am anxious to get your feedback and thoughts as we proceed forward with exhibit and program plans.   

Let me explain the city action:  The adopted principles call for allowing MOHAI to receive full financial compensation for its current building, associated land, and tenant improvements; transferring the Armory to MOHAI ownership while maintaining city ownership and responsibility for the underlying piers; allowing MOHAI to leverage federal tax credits for the rehabilitation of the Armory; providing MOHAI with annual operating support of $300,000 when the new museum is open; and requiring a robust maritime heritage partnership among the various organizations at the park.  MOHAI, of course, will be fully responsible for completing the capital campaign, managing the construction project and operating the museum for the community. 

With this action, the City has officially embraced the project and has devised a clear path toward its successful realization.  In several weeks, MOHAI and the city will start working on the specific agreements that implement these principles—agreements we hope to have in place by mid-2009, with construction to start in early 2010 and the new museum open to the public in the late spring of 2012.  The result will be a truly remarkable history museum in a spectacular new park in the very heart of our region. 

The council action yesterday follows nearly two years of due diligence, including the development of architectural plans, business plans, fundraising plans, market research, costs estimates, permit reviews and more.  I have attached an article from yesterday’s PI that provides a good overview of the action yesterday—and the exciting work ahead. 

And I look forward to working with you on exhibit and program plans this fall.  Thanks again for your continued support and encouragement, and for your hard work on the MOHAI-PSMHS partnership.

Leonard Garfield - Executive Director MOHAI