SEATTLE — For more than 40 years, Byrd Barr Place has used a firehouse built in 1909 to provide food and assistance to low income families and individuals. Now the nonprofit is asking Seattle to follow through on a promise to turn over ownership of the building to them.
The firehouse is home to the Byrd Barr Place's resource center and food pantry, which serves around 600 people a week.
Operations Assistant Sumeet Pamma said seven years ago Byrd Barr Place was told by the city that it would be given ownership of the old firehouse. However, the offer has stalled in the mayor's office.
“We’ve proven our capacity of ownership of the building and keep it in good standing after it’s ours and once again we’re just waiting for the final say of ‘Yes, you can have this building,’” Pamma said.
Pamma said since the nonprofit does not own the building it is at risk of losing funding.
“We have funds appropriated by legislators, about $1.5 million, that we can’t access or utilize until we finally have ownership of the building,” said Pamma.
The $1.5 million would be used for earthquake retrofitting and help bring the building to code with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The mayor’s office said Mayor Jenny Durkin is in support of the project.
“Each of the buildings provides important services for the communities, has historic significance for their communities, and stands as important symbols for inclusiveness and community control,” Mayor Durkan's office said in a statement, “But it must be done legally and in a way that both ensures the continued operation of the properties for the community and a benefit for the people of Seattle, who own the properties now valued at several million dollars.”
The statement added the mayor is working with the Department of Neighborhoods to find a legal way to complete the transfer.
Pamma said while they wait for the mayor’s signature, the deadline to accept the grant funding is in June.
“If we want to continue providing services at the level our clients need us to, we need to have a space that can house us,” said Pamma.