Congressman Jay Inslee's Re-election Kick-off Success!

Tonight, First Congressional District Representative Jay Inslee announced his anticipated re-election campaign officially at a well attended Kick-Off event. The event was held at Shoreline Community College "PUB".

It was attended by over 200 guests, including several elected officials and candidates, supporters, family, friends and staff. He stated that he was glad to see some "not so old friends and new ones too".  His speech emphasized, over and over with all of his accomplishments for renewable energy efforts, clean water and open space aquisisition (such as Wild Sky Wilderness), and Health Care and Wall Street Reform, that America should move "forward and not backwards".  He also emphasized that he supports protecting local jobs by supporting Boeing's bid for the Air Force Tanker program.

Jay Addresses Supporters

Some young supporters joined Jay on the stage with some 

signs they created saying Vote for Jay Inslee

Jay Inslee co-authored a book a couple years ago entitled "Apollos Fire". 

The New Apollo Project emphasizes the following concepts:

1. break our addiction to Middle East oil and protect our national security;
2. take on the challenge of global warming; and
3. grow our economy and create jobs.

The enregy and environment programs Congressman Inslee has introduced are just one area in which he works.  There are many others and he has many loyal supporters who know it.

Two excited Inslee Campaign volunteers

Jay Inslee's kick off was enjoyable for all of his supporters.

Jay and an enthusiastic supporter!

Jay shares a moment with Rep Maralyn Chase

who is taking home some signs.

She is also a candidate for State Senate this year.

Jay Inslee Campaign Kick Off This Saturday

Congressman Jay Inslee is holding his Re-election Campaign kick off this Saturday evening and Shoreline Community College.  (Shoreline Area News Story today)

Jay Inslee

Details: 6 - 7:30 pm at Shoreline Community College, 1601 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline 98133, in the Student Union Building dining room.

Free parking is available in Staff Parking lot near the Student Union Building and the Visitor Parking lot near the Administration Building.  

Suggested donation is $50.  Contributions to political campaigns are not tax-deductible.  RSVP. 

http://www.jayinslee.com/index.php

He has represented the First Congressional District since 1999 and has been a champion for Clean Energy,  Renewable and Innovative Technology and protecting all aspects of the environment for many years. He has been an author of major legislation on this issues and others, and co-authored a book called "Apollo's Fire".

As your member of Congress, I am working to do what is right for Washington State. Under the new Democratic majority, I look forward to bipartisan accomplishments that will end the Iraq war, change the direction of our current energy policies, protect our civil liberties, expand access health care coverage, improve education, and protect the jobs in our state. 

Recently he has also championed other issues such as advocating for an end to the Afghan War and also solutions to Prescription Drug Disposal to protect our water quality.

Congressman Inslee has an office in Shoreline and Poulsbo and well as in Washington DC.

Point Wells Issue- Shoreline, Woodway and Save Richmond Beach File Legal Appeal

This story from the Save Richmond Beach organization. The City of Shoreline has chosen to take legal action against Snohomish County. 


http://www.saverichmondbeach.org/?utm_source=Save+Richmond+Beach&utm_campaign=341ba48e76-July_2010_Update&utm_medium=email

City of Shoreline, Town of Woodway, and Save Richmond Beach to appeal zoning regulations for urban centers

The three petitioners in the Growth Management Hearings Board appeal of Snohomish County’s “Urban Center” designation for Point Wells are all planning to also appeal the zoning regulations that dictate how an urban center can be developed.

Save Richmond Beach believes that one-size does not fit all when establishing zoning for dense developments. This was supported by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) in their analysis of the zoning regulations that theSnohomish County Council passed regardless of the concerns of the ULI and the surrounding jurisdictions. The Snohomish County Council also likely violated public participation requirements by closing the record and not allowing comment on substantive new changes to the zoning regulations.

City of Shoreline and Town of Woodwaycollaborate on Interlocal agreement

The jurisdictions that surround Point Wells are collaborating on an interlocal agreement (ILA) that would limit the development at Point Wells. The City of Shoreline is most concerned with  traffic impacts and the ongoing maintenance of roads and parks, while Woodway has included provisions that would protect their town’s quality of life and view corridor.

The next step is to present the ILA to Snohomish County. They do not have to agree to the terms of the agreement however.

Richmond Beach shows it's support

“We moved to Richmond Beach a few years ago because we wanted a nice community to raise our kids. If these developers get their way, our community will never be the same. Point Wells developers are in negotiations with Snohomish County to line their own pockets with profit from the sale of high-rise condo units. This will not only double the population of Richmond Beach, but impact our roads, schools, and entire community. Traffic will be a nightmare and we won’t even see a single cent in tax revenues. We as Richmond Beach residents need to take action in order to have a say in this development process. 

 “We have pledged $500 to support Save Richmond Beach so that we can preserve all that we love here in our neighborhood. We hope you do too.”

-- Cristi and Larry Culp

Museum Supporters Tell Dow How Important Our Museum Is!

Over 30 Shoreline Historical Museum supporters held an informational demonstration today to KC Executive Dow Constantine today, 7/26. 

KC Executive is greeted by Shoreline Historical Museum supporters
photo credit- Vicki Westberg

The Executive was scheduled to meet with the Shoreline City Council at our new City Hall about topics of mutual interest. 

Museum supporters waiting in front of Shoreline City Hall for Dow Constantine's arrival

Over 30 demonstrate in front of City Hall waiting to inform Dow Constantine
about the risk to the Shoreline Historical Museum
photo credit-Janet Way

The Museum Supporters wanted to alert Dow Constantine to the grave risk faced by one of it's newest King County Landmarks. The Shoreline School District is planning to evict the Shoreline Historical Museum and "repurpose" the Historic Ronald School, and "retrofit" it to be the facade of it's new Shorewood HS. 


The District and Museum Board had made an "Agreement in Principle" last winter, that would have allowed the Ronald School building to be moved to a new site. The Museum had agreed to endorse the Bond/Levy campaign and the measures passed by a relatively narrow margin. However that agreement is now off track, because the proposed site wasn't available after all.  


Meanwhile the City of Shoreline has been planning to include the Museum at Ronald School as a part of its new Town Center planning process. 


The Committee to Save Our Shoreline Historical Museum wishes to emphasize the economic value of the Historical Museum as an important element of the "tourism chain" that can revitalize our local economy and generate great brand value and benefits for the community. The State and Federal government recognize Heritage Tourism as great economic assets for many communities across the nation. The Federal government also recognizes Museums as having precisely the same value and category as libraries. 


The Shoreline Historical Museum is located just two blocks from the new Shoreline City Hall, and was built nearly 100 years ago. Judge JT Ronald donated the land from his homestead to provide a place for the school to be built.  The Ronald School was designated as a Historic Landmark by the King County Landmarks Commission and the City of Shoreline in 2008.


Attending today's rally were, 3 of the original students who attended the Ronald Elementary School.
Executive Constantine took time to speak to some of them and to the children who made their own signs to support the Museum.

Four students from area schools attended. The three girls made their own signs!

photo credit-vicki Westberg

Two original students of Ronald Elementary School speak with Dow Constantine
photo credit-Vicki Westberg

The Committee to Save Our Shoreline Historical Museum sponsored today's rally and wants to work with all parties to find a solution, that will preserve our Museum in the Ronald School in perpetuity. 
We believe it is unthinkable to accept anything less.


The rally was also covered by the Shoreline KOMO News and Shoreline Area News.

SOLAR COOKER BUILDING WORKSHOP

Learn how to make a solar cooker

from simple materials and

 take home an oven!

Wed, Aug 4^th

6:00 - 8:45 pm

Richmond Beach Library

19601 21st Ave NW

Shoreline, WA         98177

Tom Sponheim, instructor, lives in Seattle and has been cooking solar for 20 years. Through the non-profit  Solar Cookers International, he spreads solar cooking awareness and skills worldwide, particularly in areas with diminishing sources of cooking fuel.

Materials fee $3.00

Please RSVP so we know how many materials to purchase.

206-542-1581 •  lstein@clearwire.net

 

Richmond Beach Library: From Aurora, turn West on 185th Street  and go 2 miles. Library is on the right, just past the entrance to Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, which is on the left. 185th Street turns into Richmond Beach Road and it curves around alot. When you see the "Little Store" on your right at an intersection, the library is just a bit farther.

Map to Library: http://goo.gl/liw0      Take Metro Bus 301, 304, or 348

Ingraham HS Trees Threatened Again by Ruling

This article reprinted from Majority Rules Blog. Activist Steve Zemke is the author.

Seattle has passed some much stricter "Interim Tree Regulations" last year, which were supposed to protect Groves of Trees. But, alas a Seattle Hearing Examiner did not get the message.


photo credit Majority Rules Blog


It was a long shot expecting the City of Seattle to come to the defense of the old trees at Ingraham High School. The Seattle School District also only saw the trees as an impediment to their development plans. Now Seattle Hearing Examiner Ann Watanabe has also chose to ignore the evidence in the Hearing Record and Seattle City law requiring that priority be given to protecting uncommon plant and animal  habitat in the City of Seattle. She has denied the appeal by Save the Trees-Seattle to stop the 70 year old 100 foot tall eveegreen trees from being cut being cut down at Ingraham High School in North Seattle.

The decision is not yet posted on the Hearing Examiner's website.  When it is I will post a link here.

The environmental review now goes back to the King County Superior Court. We will be appealing the decision and it will  be up to the court to make a final decision. They previously issued a restraining order preventing the Seattle School District from cutting down the 70 year old 100 foot tall Douglas fir, western red cedar and Pacific madrone trees until the environmental review was completed by the City of Seattle. That has now been done.

In her most recent decision Seattle hearing Examiner Ann Watanabe chose to ignore testimony from Save the Trees - Seattle that alternative sites for building the school addition were available on the Ingraham campus and that the Seattle School District padded the cost for other sites by adding in features like an additional 2000 square foot entrance on designs for the North side. Of course this raised the cost for any North side addition. The Seattle School District's designs and cost estimates for alternative sites lacked credibility when closely examined.

Many of the issues raised were ignored by the Hearing Examiner.  One obvious early sign of the Hearing Examiner's limiting review of relevant issues was her upholding a preliminary motion by the Seattle School District to exclude testimony on wildlife by one of the witnesses we called, Kirk Prindle, a wildlife biologist who is a member of Seattle's Urban Forestry Commission. This was despite the submitting of new bird studies for the Seattle School District, which were included in DPD's file.

The Hearing Examiner ignored basic ecological considerations, as did the DPD and the Seattle School District. Groves of trees, particularly groves with conifers are not common in Seattle.  The particular association at Ingraham of conifers and madrone trees is an uncommon plant habitat in Seattle. The Hearing Examiner in her previous decision agreed with this. There are only about 52 acres total ofconifer madrone forest  in all of Seattle, mostly at Seward Park. While there are scatterings of Douglas fir and madrone trees here and there in Seattle what is unique about Ingraham is that it is a 1.2 acre site and a grove of some 130 trees  rather than just a few trees.

The diversity of plants and animals in a grove is directly correlated with patch or grove size size.  The larger the patch size, the more diversity of plants and animals.  Because all of Seattle has been logged over, except for some 50 acres of old growth at Schmidt's Park, the Ingraham Grove represents some of the oldest trees in Seattle. This older growth and uncommon plant habitat should be saved.   City environmental law gives a priority for doing this.  Yet at Ingraham  High School, given the  viable option of saving the grove in it's entirety because alternative sites exist,  the Seattle Hearing Examiner has chosen not to. 

Unfortunately the so called Emerald City of Seattle has a policy that we will save trees unless they prevent the development potential of a site.  When this was mentioned by an employee of Seattle's Department of Planning and Development at a recent urban forest symposium on saving trees, thewhole room broke out in spontaneous laughter. Yes it was said seriously but it is a joke obviously when  the absurdity of the policy sinks in.

Unfortunately the consequence is not a joke.  Seattle continues to lose trees, especially during development. Exceptional trees basically have no protection at any time because the whole process is complaint driven.  By the time you hear the chainsaw, it is too late to stop a tree from being cut down. So DPD's proposal is that since the current system doesn't save trees, let's scrap the law mandating  protection for old trees in the city altogether.  It's like BP after they weren't  able to initially stop the oil flow in the Gulf saying,  well this didn't work so lets just stop trying.

One way the city can get some control over continued tree cutting, especially old trees is to expand its current permit system, to require a permit  to cut down any tree over 6 inches in diameter on public and private property.  The  Seattle Department of Transportation already requires a permit before a tree can be cut down or even pruned if it is on the public right of way. Yet the DPD in their just released proposal for a new tree ordinance for the City of Seattle dismisses tree permits altogether and basically argues that we need to just encourage people to do the right thing and save trees by more public outreach and education.  Like this has worked.

What we need is a change of policy and priorities.  In the past people used to shot songbirds to eat.  Fashion also threatened the very survival of many bird speicies as birds were killed for their feathers to create lavish "fashionable" hats. Yet we changed public policy to end this absurd killing of birds for money and fashion.

Trees are no less valuable living life forms than birds. In fact birds need native trees and shrubs to survive.  Unfortunately trees are not mobile like birds. That makes them even more vulnerable. They are living entities of beauty and its an ecological necessity to protect them  if birds and insects and other species are to survive on our planet. Obviously the DPD's proposal is ridiculous to eliminate protection for trees, especially exceptional trees.

We require hunting licenses to kill various wildlife and populations are monitored to ensure that overhunting does not occur and a species is wiped out.  It's time to do the same for trees in our city.  Trusting that people will not cut down trees wantonly and drive species of associated animals and plants to extinction in our city should  not be left to chance and wishful thinking.

The current underegulated and unenforced tree protections are resulting in a continued decline of  our urban forest.  Most tree increases in recent years have been the short lived, small trees that get planted in the parking strips. The large trees and few remaining groves of trees continue to be cut down. Its time to change this. The interim ordinace passed last year limits tree cutting to 3 a year yet even this is not monitored or enforced.  Without permits and tracking of trees cut down we have no idea who is doing what. We see plenty of examples everyday however of trees being cut down.

Save the Trees-Seattle is working to stop trees being cut down in the city and come up with a workable new tree protection ordinance.  You can help support our efforts by making a contribution to Save the Trees-Seattle. Click on the donate button below to make a contribution of  $50 or $100 or or $25 or whatever you can so we can continue our efforts to save the trees in Seattle from the chainsaws.

The Wildest Place in the Thornton Creek Watershed

Where is the wildest spot in the Thornton Creek Watershed? My opinion, after taking a little tour of the Jackson Park/Thornton Creek Park #1 is this place!

It's right under our noses, but it's hiding on the South end of Jackson Park. This is the former site of a pulp mill, long ago, before Jackson Park was a Golf Course. This stretch of Thornton Creek is blessed with seclusion and wildness. It has many acres of wetlands, forest and pretty good quality stream habitat.

Neighbor and park steward Kelly Dole, his family and neighbors have been watching over this spot for many years. Kelly has hosted work parties, and SPU has done some restoration projects, adding LWD (Large Woody Debris), and a few trails. 

Kelly has spotted huge cutthroat (some say the largest in the state) and coyotes.  During our visit we spotted a Sharpshin Hawk. Many other species find refuge here as well.

 Large stands of skunk cabbage show the presence of significant wetlands in this reach of Thornton Creek.

 Many huge trees have been free to grow in this stretch.

How to get to this wonderland. NE 130th between 10th and 15th NE. 

Please tread carefully and help preserve this fragile and magnificent urban open space. Pack it out if you bring it in! 

A trail is also being planned AROUND Jackson Park Golf Course, but it will leave this section untouched. 

 Enjoy it, but please tread lightly.

Shoreline Historical Museum Garden-Worth a visit

Something Lovely to See in the Midst of Controversy About the Shoreline Historical Museum!

The Garden!

photo credit- J Way

Front Portico with Dogwood

It is tended lovingly by the Lake Forest Park Garden Club and has some beautiful roses and many other summer flowers.

Antique Rose

 

Flox and Roses + plaque  "The First Ronald School House was Built Here in 1910- 

One Room Structure"

Stop by for a look and visit the Museum while you're at it. It is a Landmarked Historic building and the oldest public building in Shoreline.

Preservation- A Green Tool

What does "Preservation" of historic assets have to do with  Sustainability?

photo credit- Vicki Westberg

One thing is these older buildings have "captured carbon" stored within them.
I learned this at a National League of Cities Conference program on Green Building.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation gave a presentation and laid out the case for
Preservation as Sustainability.

Here is a White Paper that was presented a few years ago on the subject by NTHP.
http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/sustainability/additional-resources/DiscussionDraft_10_15.pdf

The presentor pointed out that all of the buildings already built have caught up in their steel, bricks, concrete, wood and glass (and even plastic), millions of tons and tons of carbon. In other words, the carbon that was released in creating the existing buildings, is "tied up" within them. If you tear down a building, all that stuff gets hauled to a land fill and is then left to "rot". Then to rebuild or replace a historic building, you need to use up even more carbon. So these historic buildings actually contain "embodied energy".

Also, most of these old buildings (built before about 1930) have high ceilings, thick walls, natural lighting and many other features we desire now in "sustainably built" building. Natural insulation and indications of how folks used to live more simply. (Sure everybody like air conditioning, but remember how we used to manage just fine without it?)

This is even beyond the value of the historical asset and how it's "sustainable" to a community to preserve them for our cultural needs and maybe not "sustainable" fiscally to just dump something of value.

With that in mind check out this story from MAin2 Blog about an story that is eerily familiar with what's going on with the Shoreline Historical Museum. This time it's about a "historic" Boeing Plant in Tukwila, where B-52 Bombers were built that helped win WWII for the allies.

Think of all the "embodied energy" contained in this plant!
http://main2seattle.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/boeing-plant-2’s-place-in-history-gone/#more-770

Boeing Plant 2’s Place in History: Gone?

Published July 20, 2010 Endangered Leave a Comment

Rendering of Boeing Plant 2 from Asahel Curtis Photo, ca. 1936 / Source: UW Special Collections

QUESTION: What do you get when you combine a powerful private corporation (Boeing), a City government that has no preservation ordinance (City of Tukwila), and a hulk of a utilitarian structure that happens to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (Boeing Plant 2) but is proposed for demolition?

ANSWER: You get a City agency declaring a “Determination of Non-Significance” through SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) that the proposed demolition of Boeing Plant 2 does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. How is it possible to propose that a National Register-eligible historic property be demolished, and yet not have this action be considered a significant adverse impact? It just doesn’t make sense.

What is Boeing Plant 2 and why is it important to our heritage? Located at 7755 East Marginal Way S. in Tukwila on the banks of the Duwamish River, its significance is multi-layered but it is best known for its association with the defense industry in Washington state and the U.S. during World War II. Plant 2 was where the B-17 (the Flying Fortress) and the B-29 (the Super Fortress) planes were manufactured—they played a pivotal role in the Allied victory in Europe. Plant 2 was so important during the war that the roof of the massive 754,000 square-foot structure was camouflaged to appear as a normal residential neighborhood in the air (to make it a less obvious target for enemy air bombers).

Diana Painter’s recent article from July 17 in Crosscut is a must-read because she tries to wade through the complicated morass related to the proposed destruction of Boeing Plant 2 and asks a lot of questions that have yet to be answered or have been answered inadequately. Ms. Painter is an architectural historian. Her father, a World War II veteran, worked as an engineer for Boeing for 27 years, including several years at Boeing Plant 2 on the B-52 bomber.

The proposed demolition of Plant 2 brings up the larger issue of what to do with historic utilitarian structures that are no longer used? How can they successfully be adaptively reused? Old mill sites and breweries across the country have been converted to commercial and/or residential spaces that offer unique places to work, live and play. Granted, Boeing Plant 2 has soil and ground contamination issues, but so do most industrial sites. Industrial and utilitarian structures are often not valued as much as other types of design. They are important for their function and utility and often, the designs are fine examples of structural engineering or a particular method of construction which are just as significant as architectural style or ornament on buildings—they’re just not as “pretty.”

In addition to Ms. Painter’s article in Crosscut, the Seattle Times broke the story on the proposed demolition of Boeing Plant 2 back in January 2010. For more on the significance of the site and photos, see the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation’s Blog. When news of the proposed demolition hit the streets in January, most of us in the preservation world were taken by surprise. The process, such as it is, continues to this day and we await the final death knell to sound on Boeing Plant 2. There is no mitigation for demolition.

Cindy Ryu, Candidate for State Rep- An Impressive List of Endorsements

Cindy Ryu is a candidate for State Representative in the 32nd Legislative District and is former
Mayor of Shoreline. She has garnered an impressive list of endorsements in her campaign for Position #1. Rep Maralyn Chase is leaving her seat to run for the State Senate, since Senator Darlene Fairley is retiring.  She was nominated by the 32nd District Democrats as their candidate.


Ryu is former President of the Shoreline Chamber and she and her husband Cody are small business owners. She is currently chair of the Dollars for Scholars chapter in the Chamber.

Endorsements

Organizations

32nd Legislative District Democrats

King County Democrats

Sierra Club, Cascade Chapter

King County/Washington Conservation Voters

National Women's Political Caucus of Washington State

Washington State Federation of Democratic Women

May Arkwright Hutton Chapter of the Washington State Federation of Democratic Women

Washington State Democrats, Progressive Caucus

Washington State Democrats, Asian Pacific American Caucus

Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle

Progressive Majority

Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO

M.L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Snohomish County Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Washington Education Association

American Federation of Teachers, Washington, AFL-CIO

U.A. Local 32 Plumbers & Pipefitters Seattle

Sailors Union of the Pacific

Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 8

Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587

United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 141

Service Employees International Union, Local 775NW

Service Employees International Union, Local 925

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 1797

Operating Engineers, Classified School Employees Union Local 609

Washington Federation of State Employees, Council 28

Individuals

Senator Adam Kline

Senator Chris Marr

Senator Claudia Kauffman

Senator Margarita Prentice

Senator Paull Shin

Representative Maralyn Chase

Representative Bob Hasegawa

Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos

Representative John McCoy

Representative Marko Liias

Senator Donn Charnley (retired)

Representative Nancy Rust (retired)

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara

Honorable Bob Ferguson, King County Councilmember

Honorable Mike Cooper, Snohomish County Councilmember

Honorable Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Edmonds City Councilmember

Honorable Christopher Roberts, Shoreline City Councilmember

Honorable Jim Kenny, Snohomish County Fire Commissioner

Honorable Maggie Fimia, Former Shoreline City Councilmember

Honorable Alan Kiest, Former Lake Forest Park City Councilmember

Dwight Pelz, Chair, Washington State Democrats

Justin Simmons, President, Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle

Suzie Sheary, Chair, King County Democrats

Think Heritage Tourism!

Comment Submitted by 

Shoreline citizen Jan Stewart,

to Planning Commission on Importance of Preserving our Shoreline Museum and Heritage as Part of our Town Center Planning

July 15, 2010

To the Planning Commission

In the materials staff prepared for this evening, I appreciate seeing things like “the integration with economic development and other strategies, the historical context, the vision of a cultural heart of the city, citizens proud of an inviting place that exemplifies the best of Shoreline – past, present and future. “

This sounds great, but the vision created by our community will end up being nothing more than fantasy, given that the School District now, once again, plans to eliminate the Museum, which basically undermines and diminishes the potential of the Town Center.

It’s an unbelievably bad idea to allow the building’s interior to be disfigured, essentially leaving a façade, in order for the school to use it.  Experiencing the building fully preserved as the Historical Museum for our city and region is what gives it such value to the Town Center:  Think Heritage Tourism (see attached).

Policy should reflect our values, so the Planning Commission needs to be very clear as to whether you support what the community envisions, given the current circumstances.  If you don’t, you should just strike out all the “feel good” language in the vision, the historical context, and eliminate altogether any reference to historical landmarks in Policy TC-19.  Nobody will care to seek out a remnant of the red brick road somewhere under a car in a parking lot.

As part of the Planning Commission’s responsibility in establishing priorities for the Town Center sub area, you have it in your power to hold a public hearing on the museum issue as you deem necessary.  There’s a lot you can do, but at the least I would urge you to speak out forcefully to help save the Museum in the Ronald School Building in the Town Center and direct staff to look for any and all solutions. 

Otherwise, the history you are writing for Shoreline will be simply that “we used to have a great museum in a historical landmark building right in our Town Center, but we just didn’t care enough about it to fight to keep it.”  We will have lost the most valuable link to our past and some important opportunities for future economic growth.

Jan Stewart

Shoreline Resident

Facts to Keep in Mind for Shoreline’s Town Center Planning

Museums and heritage organizations are everywhere and are popular.

Museums are critical partners in K-12 education.

Museums are good business.

Museums protect our natural and cultural heritage.

Citizens recognize all that museums and heritage organizations do for their communities and want to help.

L

Heritage tourism

·      is one the fastest growing segments of the travel and tourism industry

·       supports jobs and businesses

·      supports sustainable economic growth

·      assists with diversifying and stabilizing local communities

·      sustains domestic tourism

·      provides valuable community amenities and attracts businesses

·      protects fragile cultural resources

·      improves the quality of life for both visitors and residents

Investment in BLM heritage tourism programs will help support sustainable economic growthM lands is estimated to run

 A SNAPSHOT OF CULTURAL & HERITAGE TOURISM

Domestic

Eighty-one percent of the 146.4 million U.S. adults who took a trip of 50 miles or more away from home in the past year can be considered cultural and heritage tourists.

Compared to other travelers, cultural and heritage tourists:

• Spend more: $623 vs. $457

• Use a hotel, motel or B&B: 62 percent vs. 55 percent

• Are more likely to spend $1,000+/-: 19 percent vs. 12 percent

• Travel longer: 5.2 nights vs. 3.4 nights

Historic/cultural travel volume is up 13 percent from 1996, increasing from 192.4 million person-trips to 216.8 million person-trips in 2002.

The demographic profile le of the cultural heritage travel segment today is younger, wealthier, more educated and more technologically savvy when compared to those surveyed in 1996.

35.3 million adults say that a specific arts, cultural or heritage event or activity influenced their choice of destination.

Source: Travel Industry Association of America and Smithsonian Magazine, The  Historic/Cultural Traveler, 2003 Edition.