Demolition begins at Magnuson Park site

An excavator's backhoe tore down the portico of an abandoned military commissary Friday, marking the end of one controversy over Magnuson Park's evolution, even as another controversy bubbled.

Building 193 was built in 1943 as a hangar for transport squadrons at the old Sand Point Naval Air Station. After the Navy abandoned the runways in the early 1970s, it gave nearly 200 acres of its property to the city for development as a park. Building 193 was turned into a commissary for military families and veterans.

The commissary closed three years before the Navy transferred it and more acreage to the city in 1998.

Area residents, environmentalists, athletic clubs and the city have butted heads over the years on how best to use the Navy's old property.

"It's a small step," said Jeanette Williams, who watched the ceremonial demolition along with about two dozen onlookers. She said she has been waiting for this day since the Sand Point Blue Ribbon Committee she served on urged the city in 1999 to restore what was known as Mud Lake before the Navy paved it over to put up Building 193.

After Building 193 and other structures — including the old military base's bowling alley — are torn down in the coming weeks, Seattle Parks and Recreation plans to create 11 acres of ball fields, eight acres of trails and 23 acres of marsh ponds and natural habitat.

The ball fields, all of which will have synthetic turf, will include a rugby field, two soccer fields, a Little League field and an adult baseball field.

For years, the project was caught up in controversy over the bright lights that would come with the ball fields.

"It's amazing how long this has been going on," said Loren Hill, 42, one of the onlookers at Friday's demolition ceremony and a member of Friends of Athletic Fields, which has long pressed for recreational uses on the property. "I want to be able to play on the fields before I get too old."

Even as the onlookers watched the first stage of demolition, some were concerned about a Parks Department proposal to give private businesses long-term leases on other buildings in Magnuson Park.

In 2004 the Parks Department began to re-evaluate how to make the best use of the remaining structures from the old naval base. Planners concluded it would cost the city more than $42 million to upgrade them to usable condition.

Four groups have come forward to redevelop four of those buildings:

• Civic Light Opera plans to invest $3 million to $5 million over a 10-year period in the theater at Magnuson Community Center.

• Arena Sports wants to run an indoor recreation facility in Building 27, and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is proposing a $6.8 million renovation.

• A developer, Building 11 LLC, proposes to spend $7.7 million to turn the building for which it is named into a mixed development of sailing and kayaking programs, a day-care center, restaurant and other uses. The building currently is home to artists and boating programs.

• Cascade Bicycle Club wants to develop the Northwest Center for Cycling in Building 18, which is vacant.

The Parks Board plans to make a recommendation to the Superintendent of the Parks Department at its public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall. The deadline for public comment by e-mail is Wednesday. For details, go online to www.seattle.gov/parks/Magnuson/historicDistrict.htm.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com