Dear Members:
We've discussed previously that the Board of the Seattle Go Center has been considering options for maintaining a thriving Seattle Go Center. Due to new high-density zoning, increased property values, higher property taxes and other costs, our board started researching scenarios and looking for an opportunity to develop the Go Center property in 2017. Our property is owned by the Nihon Ki-in in Japan, who give us free rent. The ideal outcome would be to sell the property to a developer who would give us a "free" lease for 99 years and invest the money remaining (after covering costs and paying back the Nihon Ki-in) as an endowment to operate the Seattle Go Center.
The good news is that we have found such a buyer and building developer, and we have a very good deal. It is far better than obtained by any other go center that Iwamoto Sensei created in his mission to spread peace and cultural awareness through Go. We have also convinced the Nihon Ki-in to follow our direction in pursuing this deal.
The current situation is that we are working to finalize a Purchase and Sale Agreement along with a 99-year Lease. Even if the Nihon Ki-in were to sign these contracts this fall, construction would not begin before DEC 2021, and given construction permitting processes in Seattle at this time, likely construction would not start until sometime in 2022. At that time, we would use sale proceeds to rent a space for a couple of years during construction, and then we would move back to the current location on the second floor in a new space we design.
If you have any questions, feel free to send them to billchiles-gocenter@hotmail.com or chat with Brian or Chris on a Tuesday night.
Cheers,
Bill Chiles
VP, Board of Directors
Seattle Go Center
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