City of Seattle introduces arena community advisory group

On Thursday, the City of Seattle announced the members of a community advisory group to aid in their exploration of a redevelopment of KeyArena for a new sports and entertainment facility.

The Office of Economic Development released the names of the 13-member Arena Community Advisory Group. The group consists of community members of all walks who can speak to employment and labor; restaurants and hospitality; the Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, and Belltown neighborhoods, Uptown businesses, and Seattle Center.

Speaking on behalf of fans will be two familiar names, our own Brian Robinson and NHL to Seattle’s John Barr, a friend and contributor to the site.

Here is the full press release from OED:

NEWS RELEASE

FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joe Mirabella, Communications Director, Office of Economic Development, joe.mirabella@seattle.gov

The City of Seattle Launches Arena Community Advisory Group

SEATTLE (July 20, 2017) – As part of the ongoing process of evaluating plans for the possible redevelopment of the Arena at Seattle Center into a state-of-the-art entertainment and sports facility that could potentially bring the NHL and the NBA to Seattle, the City of Seattle assembled an Arena Community Advisory Group.

The group’s purpose is:

* To help the City ensure that a redeveloped Arena would connect and integrate with Seattle Center and surrounding neighborhoods and advise on mobility planning

* To partner with the City in the development of labor agreements supporting current and future workers

* To champion “Women and Minority Business Enterprises” policy inclusion in any forthcoming agreements that may be negotiated

Members of the Arena Community Advisory Group include:

* Monty Anderson – Executive Secretary, Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council

* John Barr – NHL to Seattle

* Robert Cardona – Uptown Alliance

* Andrea Caupain – Chief Executive Officer, Centerstone

* Evan Clifthorne – Project Belltown

* Brian Curry – 10 Mercer Restaurant and Seattle Center Advisory Commission member

* Deborah Frausto – Uptown Alliance

* Ollie Garrett – President, Tabor 100

* Nicole Grant – Executive Secretary, Martin Luther King County Labor Council

* Mike McQuaid – South Lake Union Community Council

* Brian Robinson – Founder, Sonics Rising

* Sarah Wilke – Executive Director, Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)

* Jane Zalutsky – Executive Director, Seattle Center Foundation

The group will meet on an ongoing basis through the permitting and environmental review processes and development of any final development agreements that may be negotiated.

In early 2017, the City of Seattle issued an RFP for the redevelopment of the Arena. The City chose Oak View Group as the preferred partner and is currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oak View Group. The City Council will review and potentially adopt the MOU later this fall.

For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/arena