Dear Mr. Mayor

My letter to Mike McGinn, Mayor of Seattle, advising him on what to do with the Fun Forest space at Seattle Center.

Mayor McGinn,

I am writing to urge you not to follow the Selection Committee's recommendation to build a Dale Chihuly museum at the Seattle Center space currently occupied by the Fun Forest. Of the myriad proposals put forward for what should replace the Fun Forest, the Chihuly museum idea is far from the best. It would not be free to the public, a notion which is incongruous with the spirit of the Seattle Center. Multiplying the Chihuly proposal's inappropriateness is the suggestion that, should the museum be built, an 8 foot wall would be erected around the new structure, quite literally creating a barrier between it and the rest of the Seattle Center. I don't think I need to remind a politically aware person such as yourself of the negative history associated with large, divisive walls.

The proposal you should choose is the one submitted by KEXP. They have proposed to use the open space currently filled with amusement park rides to create a free, outdoor performance space for local and international musical talent. As for the building that currently functions as an arcade, KEXP proposes using that building to house their offices, studios, and other facilities. Anyone, such as myself, who has spent time at KEXP's current location near the corner of Dexter and Denny will tell you that, while the staff does make very efficient use of the space, the building they now reside in is far too small for their operation. Allowing them to move to the Seattle Center would give them plenty of space; this coupled with a free, open air performance space would greatly enrich not only the Seattle Center itself, but the Seattle music scene as a whole, further maximizing the very positive artistic and civic duty that KEXP has made it their mission to carry out. Put simply, KEXP's proposal is a win-win; everyone benefits.

I should acknowledge the financial angle which the Selection Committee uses to support its recommendation of the Chihuly proposal. The committee claims that using the space for a museum that charges patrons for admission is the most financially sound option. Now while, on the face of it, a museum of this nature would appear to bring in more money than a free performance space, the Selection Committee is being narrow-minded and short-sighted. A museum dedicated to the glass artwork of Dale Chihuly will attract only a very specific subset of the local public, and, by some estimates, nearly 2/3 of all patrons will be tourists. I recognize that tourism is a lucrative and essential part of Seattle's economy, but the proposed museum fits into that economy in only the most cynical and superficial way. People will be drawn only to the museum, and perhaps the Space Needle, while bypassing the rest of what the Seattle Center has to offer. If, however, the space is transformed into a free concert venue, it will still be a destination for tourists and locals alike, but will appeal to a vastly wider audience than a glass museum. Very few people are aware of blown glass art, and of those even fewer can appreciate this niche art form, whereas almost everyone listens to and appreciates music, which is what KEXP and the proposed concert space will provide. Additionally, KEXP is a world famous indie radio station, listened to in dozens of countries. Placing it in convenient proximity to other Seattle landmarks such as the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center only makes sense. KEXP will bring in more tourists than a glass museum, and enrich the Seattle Center in the process.

I know that you will make every consideration before deciding what should be done with the Fun Forest space at the Seattle Center. I hope I have made a strong case for the KEXP proposal. I await your decision with great interest.

All the best,
Dan Howes