Move it or lose it, city says of historic ship

Move it by Sept. 30, or we'll have it demolished.

That's the ultimatum from the city of Seattle to owners of the historic schooner Wawona, long a fixture at South Lake Union Park.

Northwest Seaport, the nonprofit organization that owns the 165-foot ship, was notified of the city's plans in a letter from Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis earlier this month. For Wawona supporters, who are used to working long hours to raise scarce funds and clean and fix the dilapidated vessel, it was one more setback in trying to save history.

The Wawona is in such bad shape that its three 110-foot masts were taken down in January, for fear they'd fall, and now are floating in the water next to the schooner. One can literally poke a finger into some of the boat's rotten boards, and some are plain missing.

"We were somewhat disappointed with that letter — that's an understatement," said Wayne Palsson, a board member of Northwest Seaport.

Ceis' letter said the city wanted to develop the park, and for that to happen, the Wawona had to be moved, "and she must be moved soon." The ship has been at Lake Union since the early 1980s.

He gave the group until July 7 "to clearly and convincingly demonstrate" it could get funding to relocate and restore the ship. And Ceis said the Wawona had to be moved from the park by Sept. 30.

Otherwise, Ceis warned:

The city, in consultation with the Museum of History & Industry, "will proceed with planning to commemorate the vessel in an appropriate and affordable manner, and will contract for its demolition and disposal of portions of the vessel we decide not to keep for display purposes."

The ship was launched in 1897, and was used first on the coast to haul lumber, and then to catch cod in the Bering Sea. As many as 10,000 fish a day were salted and carried in its cavernous hold.

"It represents the industries that built Seattle, and there's only two of these ships left out of over 500 that were built on the West Coast," Palsson said.

A report issued last December estimated the cost of moving the ship to a storage facility at $1.25 million; $3 million to restore the vessel as an on-land display; $15 million for a full restoration so it can sail.

The money just hasn't been there.

"I think we're at this unfortunate position in which we all have to face reality," Ceis said.

Palsson wonders what kind of permits the city would need to demolish a ship that in 1970 was the first vessel to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1977, the Wawona also was designated an official Seattle landmark.

"It could be a messy court proceeding. I don't want to go through that," he said.

The letter from Ceis concluded with this advice to Northwest Seaport: "I encourage you to direct your energies toward more feasible projects."

Palsson, meanwhile, said of the Wawona's latest woes: "Don't give up the ship."

Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletimes.com