V O L U M E XII, N U M B E R 5 P u b l i s h e d for m e m b e r s of the C e n t e r f o r W o o d e n Boats
The DEIS is a 3/4 thick document of narrative, figures, plans, tables and appendices. It took me three days to read it. The section with the most smoke and mirrors was projections of peak hour traffic volumes in the year 2000 for the various schemes at various seasons and days. Call me antediluvian, but I remember when cities used traffic cops with reflective white belts and whistles to clear up gridlock. If we tried this, I suppose we would first have to have a DEIS on the adverse environmental aspects of a shrill whistle.
O u r basic criticisms of the DEIS was it overestimated the future d e m a n d for u n p r o g r a m m e d green space; u n d e r v a l ued the historic significance and uÂŹ niqueness of the vessels of the N o r t h west Seaport; and totally blanked out o n the C W B and N W S p u b l i c school programs. W h i l e folks were reading in the DEIS that "schools" was not a rev i e w e d item because there was "no significant impact anticipated," C W B and N W S were receiving a joint a w a r d from the G o v e r n o r , at a r i t z y d o w n t o w n dinner ceremony, for our outstanding commitment to public education. The M a y o r , the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, a few C i t y C o u n c i l persons and a couple h u n d r e d other power figures from our state were there. The dust has settled f r o m the comment p e r i o d . W i t h about as m u c h notice as we u s u a l l y get for an audience w i t h the Pope, folks packed the hearing and wrote passionate letters. What concept d i d they support? A s Queen V i c t o r i a was told w h e n the Schooner A m e r i c a appeared over the horizon in the famous race of 1851, "...Madame, there is no second." The message of the people was clear and o v e r w h e l m i n g : "Let's give M a r i t i m e Heritage a home at South Lake U n i o n . " That's all w e l l and good, but the w a y of bureaucracy can be mysterious and unpredictable. So, just in case, please keep y o u r cutlass h a n d y and your musket loaded. - D i c k Wagner
The most apocalyptic section was the part on metal and organic chemical concentrations in the sediments of South Lake Union. Just don't ask me about lead and zinc in our local muck. A l l I know is we have lots of trees, grass, fish, muskrats, heron, geese, ducks, birds and bees here and they do not glow in the dark.
1990
WHAT IS MARITIME HERITAGE
UPDATE ON MHC The jury is still out. On September 1, Seattle's Department of Parks and Recreation presented a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on 3 concepts for a South Lake U n i o n Park. They are: "Alternative A - The no-action alternative would retain the existing buildings and uses on the Site." "Alternative B - The Union Green Concept would provide a natural park for waterfront enjoyment with a full range of recreational activities, including the Center for Wooden Boats." "Alternative C - The Maritime Heritage Concept would include a Maritime Heritage Center with Northwest Seaport and the Center for Wooden Boats as well as some natural, green areas." The public comment period on the DEIS ended October 1. A recommendation w i l l be made by the Department of Parks in the near future. Selection of a concept by the City Council is anticipated on January, 1991.
December
DON'T MISS, INSIDE C W B Book Sale described in Calendar of Events. C W B Boat Sale described on page 5
The w o r l d of water is m o o d y and mysterious. It fortable, unpredictable and sustain h u m a n life, yet we the sea by m a n y threads.
powerful, is uncomit does not are tied to
Past cultures were born of the sea: Phoenicians, Greeks, V i k i n g s , Polynesians, Pacific Northwest Indians. Joseph C o n r a d and H e r m a n M e l v i l l e use the sea as the locus of their writings. Water has been the theme of artists and musicians: Monet's Water Lilies, Handel's Water M u s i c . Some of the s h i n i n g moments of h u man courage and endurance were the do or die feats of sailors: Magellan, Shackleton, John Paul Jones. Sailing vessels are among our noble achievements of design and craftsmanship: tall, slender masts, spider web rigging, cloud-like mass of sail, sweepi n g curves of h u l l . C o l o r f u l images of our language have come from the sea and ships: dory, sampan and clipper; cutlass, harpoon and torpedo; shanghaied, pirate and tatoo; D a v y Jones, M o b y Dick and Captain Bligh; anchors aweigh, homew a r d bound and land ho! M a r i t i m e Heritage is woven into our tapestry of life. It is the unconquered realm w h i c h has d r a w n from us the best in art, craftsmanship, engineering, music, literature and quest for adventure. This rich history of h u m a n strivi n g and achievement shall be celebrated through preservation, display and active interpretation at Seattle's future M a r i t i m e Heritage Center. That is o u r commitment. -Dick Wagner
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