Over the years, proposals for revamping parts of Seattle Center have often raised suspicious eyebrows -- as developers dare to dream by tweaking a beloved city space.
Even Walt Disney's proposal met with stern opposition, as the Disney company underestimated locals' reaction to demolishing the Center House, Memorial Stadium and Flag Pavilion -- not to mention the International Fountain. Disney left with its tail between its legs.
The newest proposal may stand a fighting chance, but it may not be easy. At the very least, the museum proposal has a local connection.
Officials announced Tuesday that the center's Fun Forest could be replaced with a new paid-admission Dale Chihuly glass museum and fenced garden.
Space Needle CEO Ron Sevart said the new museum would operate as a for-profit enterprise and earn $10 million in admission taxes over its lifetime.
However, the last major project at the center, Paul Allen's Experience Music Project, designed by Frank Gehry, has been an admissions flop and roundly criticized for its lack of contextual awareness.
The cost of the 50,000-square-foot Chihuly museum would be around $15 million and would come from Space Needle owners. The museum would contain $50 million worth of glass.
Council members said they were intrigued, but concerned that a heretofore public space would suddenly be private. The center, after all, has been celebrated as Seattle's greatest populist space.
While the Fun Forest hasn't drawn regular crowds for several decades, and in fact seems more like a relic than a plausible business model, it is a free area. The Fun Forest has a small roller coaster, a few small rides and carnival area. All are open to the public during center hours.
Building the museum would mean that the Wrights would need to lease the property from the city, which owns Seattle Center. Admission would cost $12 to $14.
The city's design commission approved the schematic drawings for the project in November, and made recommendations. But the overall project would still require council approval.