MOHAI eagerly awaiting move to Lake Union

Seattle's Museum of History & Industry is "moving forward aggressively" with plans to relocate to the former Naval Reserve Armory on South Lake Union, museum officials say.

Executive Director Leonard Garfield said preliminary studies indicate costs in the range of $25 million to overhaul the building, and an additional $13 million to install the museum's exhibits and interior.

The site would remain municipal property, he said, but the museum would finance renovations in return for use of the building. After the museum and city work out the details of a partnership in the next year, construction should begin in 2009 and the new site could be open by the summer of 2011, he said.

Plans include an entirely new array of local-heritage exhibits and special galleries set aside for traveling historical exhibitions from around the world.

"It's a chance to really reimagine how we tell the story of this region's history," said Garfield, who added that the renewal of the South Lake Union neighborhood and the city's plans for a neighborhood park were central to the museum's decision. "Plus, the building itself is a wonderful historical artifact."

Garfield also confirmed the pending sale of the museum's 800 Pike St. property to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center by Oct. 1.

MOHAI bought the downtown site in 2003 because of concerns that a future replacement for the Evergreen Point Bridge could interfere with its Montlake site. MOHAI has remained at McCurdy Park as it studied the pros and cons of the downtown and South Lake Union locations.

In the museum's analysis since 2005, the South Lake Union site has won out because of its accessibility, cost and appeal to members, he explained.

"It's going to be a wonderful addition to Lake Union Park as a cultural and maritime-heritage center," said Kimberly Bowen, deputy director of the Seattle Parks Foundation, a nonprofit focused on advocacy and fundraising for Seattle parks.

Bowen has led the capital campaign that aims to raise $20 million by the end of the year for the 12-acre park that will surround MOHAI's new building.

The museum will collaborate with park developers and future neighbors at the Center for Wooden Boats to design a maritime-history trail through the park.

Brad Haynes: 206-464-3301 or bhaynes@seattletimes.com