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Relative: 25-04-24 1st Installment-20250904T073820Z-1-001/25-04-24 1st Installment/32782_Installment_1B_Email_March_21-30__652_/Firehouse Closure.msg
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Hash: 53479c4013f4200f762ccbbbd464df0e
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From: Seb Choe <1004.seb@gmail.com>
To: Jeff Hagen <JHAGEN@redmond.gov>
Subject: Firehouse Closure
Date: 2025-03-20 18:19:15-10:00

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Hi Jeff, hope you're doing ok these days!

Was disappointed to hear the news today about the closure of OFH. I remember you alluding to the financial challenge of maintaining the building in one of our meetings a while ago, but didn't think that it would be so soon, or announced so quickly without opportunity for public input or exploration of alternatives.. 

Would you be open to hopping on a phone call or Zoom to discuss? While I trust that it wasn't an easy decision to make, and there were thoughtful conversations that went into this, I can't help but feel the desire to learn more, and also propose alternatives. For example, if renovating the building up to standards is cost-prohibitive, what is that $ amount, and can we fundraise to save it? Many people would donate to save OFH. 

Frankly, the Marymoor Community Center is not an adequate replacement, as it's not within walking distance of town / school, and teens will not have the autonomy or "home" feeling that having their own space brings, let alone the unique spaces of a recording studio and stage, that is the birthplace of so much culture and art. I would hate to see a hotbed of culture (there are so few left!) replaced with more condos. 

There's probably only so much you can share, but I wanted to invite a dialogue with you first, before challenging this decision in a more public format. 

Warmly,
Seb

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