SEATTLE – After 12 years of unsuccessful efforts to redevelop its Dearborn campus, Seattle Goodwill Industries has unveiled plans to build a new job training center.
Demolition of its vacant buildings along Dearborn Street has begun and is scheduled for completion by the end of September of this year.
“The new parking area will include our trailer lot, which will move from its current location on the parcel at Rainier and Dearborn,” said Michael Jurich, Seattle Goodwill Industries’ vice president and chief financial officer.
In addition, the Seattle nonprofit organization plans to build a three-story, 48,000 square-foot building, which will house a new Job Training and Education Center and administrative support services.
Construction of the new building should begin in early 2012 with occupancy anticipated by early 2013. Goodwill’s training center, store, and donation center will remain open during construction.
“This project, while not a complete redevelopment of our property, is a critical first step in the future of our organization and important to those we serve,” said Jurich.
“The building will allow us to serve more individuals in our free job training and education programs and continue serving the community from our existing location,” he said.
Goodwill chose the busiest corner at Rainier and Dearborn to highlight its classrooms for Job Training and Education, which is the company’s core mission, Jurich explained.
After their demolition, the vacant buildings will be converted to customer and trailer parking, and new sidewalks added along Corwin, Lane and Dearborn Place. Street trees and landscaping will be included around the new parking area.
During the past 12 years, Seattle Goodwill Industries tried to replace its aging facilities through redevelopment of its Dearborn campus. Because of the economic downturn, however, two past redevelopment attempts fell through.
The recent attempt in 2009 proved unsuccessful when a proposed mixed-use retail and housing development ended.
“In addition, our administrative support service staff had to move offsite in 2006, and we need to bring them back together all under one roof,” Jurich said.
Seattle Goodwill announced the plans at a June 14 Southeast Design Review Board meeting, the first official public meeting as part of the permitting process.
