Two warehouses now proposed by IRG
Two warehouses, totaling more than 443,000 square feet, are now proposed in the southern area of the historic Weyerhaeuser campus.
In mid-July, IRG requested a pre-application conference with the city of Federal Way for a proposed "Warehouse B.” It is just south of the "Greenline Warehouse A" proposal, a revised plan submitted April 5 for the former Preferred Freezer/Orca Bay site.
Warehouse A is shown as 225,950 square feet and 36-40 feet high. Warehouse B is depicted as 217,300 square feet, with a similar height. (The original warehouse proposal was 314,424 square feet and 68 feet high.)
The city has been reviewing the materials submitted for Warehouse B and sent IRG a response letter on June 27.
More info: Projects page and the city's FTP site. Also, read the marketing flyer.
Campus named to state preservation group's 'Most Endangered Places' list
The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has named the former Weyerhaeuser Corporate Campus to its 2017 Most Endangered Places list. Read our nomination of the campus. The Trust made special presentation at the June 6 Federal Way City Council meeting.
This is the Trust’s 25th year of bringing awareness to buildings, sites and historic places around the state that are threatened by development or neglect. Of 150 properties the Trust has named to its list during that time, 100 have been saved. This means that SWC has gained another significant partner in efforts to preserve, protect and retain the unique character of the campus.
The announcement was made May 20 at the Trust's "Vintage Washington" event, featuring a video that includes rare audio interviews with George Weyerhaeuser and the renowned landscape architect Peter Walker, whose design integrated the headquarters building with its environment. Also interviewed were Save Weyerhaeuser Campus President Lori Sechrist and board member Debra Hansen.
QUOTABLE:
"... if you see another building as you look up the valley or look down the lake, it does real harm to the initial building." -- Peter Walker, campus landscape architect
"I would hope the new uses would be not totally incompatible with the quality of that which is already there." -- George Weyerhaeuser
“Due to its exceptional historic and architectural significance, particular care must be taken with any new development. New buildings must be sensitive to the original design philosophy of the campus, which emphasized integration with the landscape and environmental sensitivity.” --The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Save Weyerhaeuser Campus is working to ensure that the new owners develop the 430-acre campus in a manner that protects its unique natural features, preserves its open spaces and maintains its character as required by the 1994 annexation ordinance and concomitant agreement. Our mission is:
- Protecting the west shoreline of North Lake, the rhododendron garden and the bonsai collection.
- Preserving wildlife habitat and crucial watershed land -- the forests and meadows of the campus -- as well as its trails and public access to them.
- Maintaining the character of the campus through high-quality development that blends with the environment and brings living-wage jobs to the community.
$250k on tap for conservation effort
The state Capital Budget includes money for Weyerhaeuser open space.
Happening now: Waiting for final passage by the Senate.
Read more about our progress on the Conservation page.
----- UPDATES -----
IRG plan is on hold but calls for 3 more warehouses -- more than 1 million square feet -- on north end of the campus. Visit our Projects page.
See forested land lost if IRG warehouses are approved. Visit the Maps page
We're on Instagram! Follow us: saveweyerhaeusercampus
Visit our Meetings page to watch citizen testimony at council meetings.
Get contact info for elected officials here.
TAKE ACTION!
- Urge the City Council to preserve the west shoreline of North Lake for public use, protect the Rhododendron and Bonsai gardens and keep industrial development off the campus.
- Attend a City Council meeting: 7 p.m. July 18, at City Hall. Sign up for the citizen comment portion. Even your presence can speak volumes.
- Help pay for legal represenatation: Donate now
- Print and distribute flyers. New flyer here.
- Join the 1,400+ people who have signed the online petition.
- Add your voice to the conversation on Facebook.
- Contact us: savethecampus@gmail.com, 253-237-4432
"When the change is for all time, and involves a unique physical asset, I think we have to weigh it very, very carefully to see what price we are going to have to pay for economic progress."
George Weyerhaeuser, in a 1969 Sports Illustrated interview
Historic campus is worth saving
See what regional preservation organizations are telling the city.
Demand appropriate development
Why is the city allowing industrial uses on a corporate campus?
Trees traded for warehouses
Site plan proposes 3 warehouses near the Technology Center
Watch citizen comment about the campus at City Council meetings.
Watch more citizen comments from 2016-17 council meetings.