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| Vivek Prakriya, Menka Soni, Sayna Parsi [middle of photo] |
After re-reading the 470 page report from the council’s July study session (that extensively detailed suggestions for remediation for all questionable and possibly unsafe conditions) did council actually read it entirely? In the study session the majority of council members never made the effort or never asked the question of what it would take to keep this building open and safe.
One new councilmember, Sayna Parsi, was recently appointed. Two new members were recently elected (Menka Soni and Vivek Prakriya) Thus, three who had no part in the decision to demolish, with little knowledge, experience, and insight, will be entrusted to move this challenging building process forward.
The teen center is a limited use facility—opened maybe 20- hours a week. The $9 million price tag for the rebuilding scenario is inflated with expenditures that are not necessary or warranted such as EV charging station, water fountain with bottle filler, ADA shower, new kitchen cabinets and appliances. Coupled with the city’s track record with the community center’s escalation of costs from 30 million to almost 70 million, this reality is scary.
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| Rosemarie Ives, Founder of the OFH Teen Center |
1. That Council directs the mayor to separately contract with a forensic consultant to be present on site during all of the demolition.
2. That an interpretive display be prominently erected on site acknowledging the building’s storied history.
3. That the city contracts with an oral history expert to interview the former city clerk, former parks and teen center directors and Fire and police personnel.
4. Provide the Redmond Historical Society with a copy.
-- The Honorable Former Mayor Rosemarie Ives, 4/15/2026
cc: Mayor Birney
The Mayor and Council are committing $2,144,838 towards the World Cup event in hopes to leverage economic growth within the City.
According to an April 14, 2026 Council agenda memo, the funding breakdown is, as follows:
City Council is presently working on their biennium budget. A $1,267,396 sidewalk project was presented by a Deputy Public Works Director under the budget category: "Vibrant and Connected." $239,000 of the funding is a "Excise Real Estate Tax" on large downtown construction projects.
The deputy said the project "replaces 2,000 linear feet of sidewalk that was severely damaged by tree root growth" and 13 non-compliant curb ramps will be replaced with ADA ramps Sidewalk on 40th Street will be replaced from Bell-Red Road to 156th Avenue.
Council Member Sayna Parsi asked if the old trees will be replaced with new sidewalk compliant trees. The deputy said he'd look into it. The project memo gave a "2024- 2025 time frame." so is it already completed? There were no photos of the sidewalk in the agenda memo. Council has to approve all projects over $300,000. Council did not state this project would be placed on the consent agenda for approval.
-- Bob Yoder, 4/12/26
https://redmond.granicus.com/player/clip/330_id=2&redirect=true
Note this link to to Council's April 7th, 2026 Planning and Public Works Committee of the Whole meeting. Transparency is at an all time low:
1) The agendas are impossible to read.
2) One has to wait 1.10 minutes into this video before council begins discussion.
3) Videos from three previous meetings are "not available."
This is unacceptable.
-- Bob Yoder, 4/11/26
CC: Council
Redmond Historical Society
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The City of Redmond invites the community to a celebration of the Old Fire House Teen Center from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. This event will honor the building's decades of impact on generations of Redmond residents and visitors before the site is redeveloped into a new teen center. Please note that the event will take place outdoors and there will be no access into the building.
Event Programming:
| Main Stage Performers | |
| The Hit | 2 p.m. |
| Mae Amber | 3 p.m. |
| Tomo Nakayama | 3:50 p.m. |
| Fight Milk | 4:40 p.m. |
| Suzzallo | 5:20 p.m. |
Redmond and community partners recently completed a clean-energy upgrade at Patterson Park, an affordable townhome community in Redmond. Twenty-two homes received new electric heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, replacing older gas systems. Completed in just three months, the project improved comfort and affordability for residents, while delivering meaningful progress on the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan’s Big Move 1: Making Existing Buildings Better. The project was thanks to many partners, including Energy Smart Eastside, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the Washington Department of Commerce with funding from the Climate Commitment Act, Habitat for Humanity, Hopelink, and the City of Redmond. Patterson Park transitioned to clean and efficient heating technology at no cost to its residents, while supporting the City’s affordable housing priorities. See if you qualify for an Energy Smart Eastside incentive to retrofit your home below!
-- City of Redmond, 3/30/2026
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| Pam joined in on the fun :) |
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| Rosemarie Ives: "Elbow Grease Makes a Beautiful Community" |
As former Redmond mayor, 1992-2007, and founder of the Old Firehouse Teen Center, I object to the premature demolition of the Old Firehouse—what is the rush? The public has not seen renderings for the new 13 Million dollar building, nor heard about funding which appropriately should be part of council’s budgetary decisions this fall.
The City administration has failed to give consideration to or share with the public the building’s historic significance—it was the first city hall, first council chambers, first fire station before the teen center, a regionally acclaimed music venue. According to King County Historic Preservation staff, the Firehouse is likely eligible for designation for historic and cultural significance and possibly architectural significance.
Did any of you (Council) know this?
Inside the building, there are priceless artifacts such as the city’s first vault and local newspapers stuffed in the holes of the cinder blocks used in construction, maybe a time capsule and more. This building should be treated with care, not hastily bulldozed.
Parking in and around the Downtown Station is problematic. A 1,300 parking garage awaits you at the Marymoor Station. It's only a few minutes away. Drive and park there!
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| JUDKINS PARK STATION, credit Peter Bohler, Sound Transit |
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| Rick with Scully On Education Hill Happy Easter Neighbors! |
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| Scully all suited up for Saint Paddy's Day |
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| Washington State Capital |
I'm an HOA member of a large association in western Washington. It exemplifies undemocratic, governance neglect our owners have endured for over 25 years, However, with this new law the Board, in good faith, is slowly changing their ways.
As of March 15, 2026:
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| ~ 100 residents (sitting on the right) attended the Lisa Dupar Speaker Series |
Left to Right: John Oftebro (dressed in Cougar colors), Patsy Rosenbach, Halee Turner, Laura Lee Bennett, speaker Lisa Dupar
ANNOUNCEMENT
- an informal, drop-in gathering with City Councilmembers and Lake Washington School District Board Members to discuss topics of importance to attendees
- Councilmember Sayna Parsi, 3/15
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And this is basically Spring ... mid March! Will the Mayor show off her new fleet of snowplows? I wouldn't doubt it. My favorite is named "Control Salt Delete."
Coming from Minnesota, Chicago, Illinois, a New York it's a dusting. But, that doesn't mean you don't have to look out for the other guy, slip sliding away....
-- Bob Yoder, 3/13/2026
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| CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE AND SEE DETAILS |
As part of the project, two studies will be conducted to evaluate parking needs and assess noise impacts from a proposed pickleball court. In addition, community outreach will be conducted to define and incorporate a community identity feature into the park design. The site is located along the north side of NE 68th Street, bounded by 188th Avenue NE to the west, 191st Avenue NE to the east, and undeveloped land to the north.
SE Redmond Park location site maps and description.
SE Redmond Park Master Plan - comprehensive and informative
-- Source: Council Memo, 3/3/2026
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| Silver Tower |
