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Seattle voters are being asked to decide by Feb. 8 whether or not to spend $70 million on improvements to what鈥檚 officially known as the 鈥淪eattle High School Memorial Stadium鈥� as part of a 鈥淏uildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics V Capital Levy鈥� that includes a long list of projects in the state鈥檚 largest school district.

But does a 鈥測es鈥� vote mean demolition or preservation of the 1947 structure, built in tribute to Seattle alumni who died in World War II?

The decrepit appearance of Memorial Stadium聽at Seattle Center during the past few decades can apparently be deceiving.

Memorial Stadium looks to have not been the beneficiary of much in the way of love and attention, or possibly even preventive maintenance, for many years. And, as a district webpage devoted to : 鈥淏uilding systems (foundation, roof, walls, windows, doors, electrical, heating and ventilation, lighting) are in unsatisfactory or poor condition.鈥�

Still, before the pandemic 鈥� and with those 鈥渦nsatisfactory or poor鈥� conditions notwithstanding 鈥� the enduring, if somewhat shabby looking, facility played host to variety of events each year, including high school sports and concerts during Bumbershoot. A venue of its size and character 鈥� and the events it can host 鈥� seems to fit in nicely with the adjoining Seattle Center campus.

But Memorial Stadium has been in political and funding limbo for years, so while the attention and possible dollars are a good thing, many are now wondering what a 鈥測es” vote will actually mean for the iconic structure.

Worries and public expressions of anger about the fate of the memorial wall, which was installed many years after the stadium was dedicated, appear to have led the district, according to that same levy website, to conclude that the wall 鈥� with its hundreds of names of Seattle students who died in World War II 鈥� will be preserved regardless of what happens to the stadium.

But many believe that it鈥檚 the stadium itself 鈥� the entire stadium, not just the wall of names 鈥� that constitutes 鈥淪eattle High School Memorial Stadium,鈥� along with the very notion of paying tribute to heroes by visiting and using an entire structure, and not just occasionally genuflecting at a comparatively smaller monument.

In this role, Memorial Stadium, in its entirety, has been a fixture and a large, if silent, World War II tribute in Seattle for nearly 75 years, with millions of people occupying its grandstands to witness countless historic events (and routine events, too) in the years since 鈥� from breathtaking high school football match-ups, to the 1962 Seattle World鈥檚 Fair opening and closing ceremonies, to concerts by a wide range of artists, from the Grateful Dead to Weezer, to high school graduations.

Answers from Seattle Public Schools

成人X站 Newsradio first contacted Seattle Public Schools spokesman Tim Robinson in October 2021,聽seeking answers about the district鈥檚 plans for potential levy dollars spent on the stadium. This past week, Robinson provided answers to some of those questions.

鈥淥ur levy request, if it is approved, includes $70 million for turf replacement, replacement of stands, changing lighting to LED, and plumbing upgrades,鈥� Robinson wrote.

Does 鈥渞eplacement of stands鈥� mean demolition of the structure 鈥� and how would the stands be demolished without also demolishing the bulk of structure?

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 think that, but I don鈥檛 know for sure,鈥� Robinson wrote in reply. 鈥淩eplacing the stands refers, I think, to replacing those seats that have been there for decades.鈥�

There鈥檚 a big difference between seats and stands, of course. Seats can be replaced easily and the stadium structure would be left in place; replacing 鈥渟tands鈥� almost surely means demolition.

鈥淚 will try and get clarity on that from our capitol folks,鈥� Robinson continued, 鈥渂ut let me just add: whenever I ask about this or any other project, the general answer is 鈥楥apital Projects and Planning will develop an implementation plan and schedule for all BTA V projects upon approval of the levy proposal.鈥�”

If Robinson鈥檚 confusion is understandable, is it any stretch to think that Seattle voters might also be confused, with less than two weeks to go before Election Day on Feb. 8?

Anyone reading about the levy would find it described as funding 鈥渓ong-awaited upgrades鈥� and 鈥渋mprovements鈥� to Memorial Stadium, with no mention of demolition or loss of the structure.

鈥淭he grandstands were built in the 1940s, and the district believes they are at the end of their life,鈥� writes Seattle Times鈥� reporter Monica Velez.

Might the typical voter be confused or distracted enough to think this just means replacing the seats?

The devoted to the levy offers additional information about many projects but doesn鈥檛 cite a source for a conclusion, which has serious impact on the future of Memorial Stadium.

鈥淪eismic upgrades needed to improve earthquake safety will likely require demolition and replacement of stands,鈥� the website says, though it offers no specific information about what led to this conclusion.

Was there a survey or other examination of Memorial Stadium by qualified engineers? If so, can the public see a copy of the findings?

Robinson wrote, 鈥淎 seismic analysis was done by PCS Structural Solutions. Costs were significantly higher to implement the seismic improvements rather than replacing the existing grandstands building. In addition, seismic improvements to the existing building would be less safe than a new building. I am unable to provide a copy of the seismic study at this time. Of course, you are welcome to do a public records request.鈥�

In another section of that same webpage about Memorial Stadium, the district says 鈥淢emorial Stadium has not been designated a landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Board. SPS nominates all district buildings older than 25 years to be considered for landmark status when a project begins.鈥�

Seattle Public Schools鈥� facilities that go through the Seattle Landmarks Board process sometimes become politicized, with 诲别肠颈蝉颈辞苍蝉听尘补诲别 that can appear to have little to do with a structure鈥檚 worthiness for historic preservation. However, if the nomination process results in Memorial Stadium being designated a landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Board, will Seattle Public Schools reframe the project so it becomes a preservation effort rather than one focused on demolition and new construction?

鈥淚t would depend on what parts were landmarked and what the landmarks preservation board would agree to allow,鈥� Robinson wrote 鈥� which doesn鈥檛 seem to rule out preservation of the entire memorial structure.

成人X站 Newsradio has submitted a public records request for the seismic analysis of Memorial Stadium, and this story will be updated.

Meanwhile, postage-paid mail-in ballots must be returned to official drop boxes or postmarked by Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.

You can hear Feliks every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattle鈥檚 Morning News, read more from him鈥�here, and subscribe to The Resident Historian Podcast聽here. If you have a story idea, please email Feliks鈥�here.