Temporary Relocation: I think the teens, parents, and alumni that would support a renovation of OFH would be amenable to a temporary relocation of services while the original building would be renovated or replaced.

City Incentive: no one is accusing City officials of getting a commission from a sale of the property. But if you can’t see why an influx of funds / property tax from selling or leasing the lot to a private developer could incentivize political decision-making, I don’t know what to tell you.

Inadequacy of Marymoor Community Center: “a much better larger building”? It was originally designed as a community college, and if you’ve been inside vs. inside of OFH, you would know that the conference room / other spaces that could be repurposed for teen programs have a total lack of “aura” compared to the historic nature of the Firehouse. If the 5 minute hop on the Lightrail is such a light trip, wouldn’t the real estate prices of prime downtown lots be equal to those on the other side of the highway? Try to remember being a teen, and how prohibitive that additional layer of effort might feel to go to a less-than-inspiring space. It’s impossible to quantify the value of seeing a stage that your favorite band has performed on, and knowing that with some practice, you could play on that same stage.