Image from the real estate listing for the space
The previous E Pike home for furnishing retailer City Home Store has been empty for a year but there’s a plan to put the space back into motion. Seattle Gay Scene reports:
Gay City has been outgrowing its current space at 511 East Pike with the addition of the LGBT library, Resource & Referral line and increased services at the Wellness Center and with the vacancy of the space next door at 517 East Pike, the organization can continue to grow and provide essential services to the community.
To kick things off and provide information to Seattle’s LGBTQ community, Gay City will be hosting a “Sneak Peak” in the new location on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 between the hours of 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Gay City staff will go over the plans and potential for new programs in the space and answer questions from the community.
The Gay City Health Project describes itself as a “multicultural gay men’s health organization” and provides testing and resources to support the community. The nonprofit has been active in Seattle since 1995. Gay City is a CHS advertiser.
The expansion will activate 6,000 square feet of retail space that has sat without a tenant since home furnishing retailer CIty Home Store shut down in late 2010. The expansion will add to the complex of organizations and businesses that have formed around Gay City on the block including Alaska-based coffee shop Kaladi Brothers.
Gay City has also put out a call for community support of its effort to raise funding from the City of Seattle. We need to look into what kind of grant or funding is being requested but Gay City is asking supporters to write to City Council in support of the expanded center:
Plans are well underway for Gay City to expand its facilities into the currently vacant 6500 sf space immediately east of our current location. Our plans for the new space included doubling the size of our Wellness Center, tripling the size of the Gay City LGBT Library and adding a large assembly space, with full audio-visual support. The vision for our expanded space is to create resource hub and social destination for the LGBT community in Seattle, a place to gather and to connect.
We have requested City of Seattle support for this project. Please contact members of the City Council and let them know that you support this project.Suggested message:“Please support Gay City Health Project’s efforts to create a resource hub for Seattle’s LGBT community. Gay City’s plan is prudent and immediate, requiring minimal investment for maximum impact, by expanding their current facility to better meet the needs of a community already turning to them for support. Adding meeting rooms, a resource center, and expanding the Wellness Center is a great investment in addressing the real needs of LGBT people in Seattle.”You can use the feedback form found here, or send your own email directly to City Council members:
I think that’s a great use for that space.