The draft version of the environmental impact statement on Chris Hansen’s proposed arena project has been released by the city of Seattle. The 437-page document can be found here, released by the mayor’s office Thursday afternoon.
Besides Hansen’s preferred choice on property he purchased south of Safeco Field, two alternate Sodo sites were considered. The report, by URS Corp., a national engineering, design and construction firm with offices in Seattle, also considered sites at Seattle Center: a new building at KeyArena as well as the adjacent Memorial Stadium site. An earlier report by Puget Sound Business Journal had incorrect information on the alternatives.
The study will be influential with city and King County officials when they decide on Sept. 30 whether to partner with Hansen’s investment group, ArenaCo., and begin constructing a venue with a completion date set for 2016. The project’s site in SoDo has been opposed by the Port of Seattle, the longshore union and the Seattle Mariners.
Hansen, a Roosevelt High School graduate and San Francisco hedge fund manager, re-energized a dormant SuperSonics fan base by agreeing in principle to purchase the Sacramento Kings from Joe and Gavin Maloof earlier this year, but outgoing NBA commissioner David Stern helped nix the deal, allowing the Kings to find local ownership and keep the team in Sacramento.
The NHL also used Hansen’s interest in an NHL tenant in July to leverage the city government of Glendale, AZ., into a lease deal that kept the Coyotes franchise in the Phoenix area.
A 45-day public comment on the draft EIS follows publication of the document. Two public meetings will be held: 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Landes Room at city hall, and 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Fidalgo Room at Seattle Center.
The City expects to publish a final environmental impact statement in the first quarter of 2014.
The Department of Planning and Development has posted additional information, including an FAQ: http://buildingconnections.
Hansen had no update on his sonics arena website, but offered this tweet to supporters:
Another step forward. Thanks for sticking with us while we keep our heads down and work to bring #Sonics basketball back to Seattle.
Another step forward. Thanks for sticking with us while we keep our heads down and work to bring #Sonics basketball back to Seattle.
— Sonics Arena (@sonicsarena) August 16, 2013
2 Comments
Got it downloaded. Thanks for the link, Adam. Now it’s time to wait and see what the Port and Longshoremen pick and choose as the basis of lawsuits to stop the arena from being built in SoDo.
Curious as to what kind of progress will come from this when Sterno “steps down” next year. I really think for at least the rest of the season and the next he’ll still be in charge of some things behind the scenes and have influence. He doesn’t want the NBA in Seattle.