The Bear Creek Conservation and Recreation Partnership includes King County, Quadrant Corporation, Cascade Land Conservancy, Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association and members of the equestrian community.
"This partnership creates a wonderful legacy for future generations and is a clear demonstration of a new way of doing business for King County," said Sims. "The agreement addresses a number of significant community needs, preserves the County's review and oversight of the development process and achieves those goals while we are challenged to maintain services in the face of declining revenues. By working with our partners, King County is able to expand recreation opportunities with additional regional athletic facilities at a time we cannot fund it on our own."
Sims made the announcement today with Steve Dennis, President of Quadrant Corp.; Robert Young, Executive Director of Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association; and, Gene Duvernoy, President of Cascade Land Conservancy.
Under the partnership agreement, Quadrant will limit new housing units on Phase 2 to 800 instead of the 1,325 originally planned. Also, 140 acres on the easternmost part of Redmond Ridge Phase 2 will be returned to rural designation. Up to 100 acres could be developed at rural density and 40 acres could be used for conservation purposes.
"This agreement illustrates how much we can accomplish when we focus on our shared goals and are willing to try fresh approaches," said Steve Dennis, president of Quadrant Corp. "These achievements will benefit generations of our neighbors and friends throughout the region by helping to meet the needs for more housing and recreational opportunities."
Quadrant will donate to the Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association (LWYSA) 46-acres of land in Redmond Ridge Phase 2 for a new soccer complex. LWYSA will in turn develop and operate the site at no expense to King County and for the benefit of all King County residents.
Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) will work with the City of Redmond to acquire a site for another new regional athletic complex to be owned and managed by the City of Redmond.
"We are very excited about working with King County and Quadrant in developing this new facility. It is definitely a new way of doing business in King County and we believe the benefits will be enormous to the area youth as well as the entire community," said Robert Young, Executive Director of LWYSA.
In addition, Quadrant Corp. and CLC will work to establish permanent protection and professional stewardship for approximately 700 acres of wetlands that form a component of the headwaters of Bear and Evans Creeks, through placement in a single, integrated conservancy ownership.
"This type of partnership is absolutely unique," said CLC President Gene Duvernoy, "because at the end of the day, this resource will be professionally stewarded resulting in a truly first class wetland system."
Another key element of the partnership is the development of an equestrian park, a 28-acre park that will include a trailhead, an arena, a parking area, a round pen, and a landscaped knoll. Quadrant will develop the site in Trilogy at Redmond Ridge in cooperation with the local equestrian community, which is interested in running the facility.
The Bear Creek Conservation and Recreation Partnership Agreement outlines a framework for the next three years through which King County and Quadrant Corp. will finalize the entitlements necessary to complete the development of the planned community in Redmond.
About Quadrant
Quadrant Corporation, a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company, has developed more than five million square feet of commercial space in more than 80 building projects in the Puget Sound metropolitan area. Quadrant Homes, the company's homebuilding division, is the largest homebuilder in Puget Sound.
Visit Quadrant's Web site at www.quadrantcorp.com.
For further information contact:
Stephen Dennis, President, 425-646-8302, or
Susan Heikkala, Senior Vice President/General Manager, 425-836-1058
About CLC
Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) is a private, non-profit organization that conducts voluntary transactions to preserve natural and open space lands in urban and rural communities. CLC works collaboratively with individual landowners, organizations, and local governments to protect and steward our wetlands, shorelines, forests, wildlife and rare plant habitat, stream corridors, and urban open spaces.
For further information contact:
Gene Duvernoy, President, 206-292-5907 ext. 107
About LWYSA
Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association, currently serving over 6,640 youth athletes is recognized as a world-class provider of youth soccer services, promotes the game of soccer and provides opportunities for all associated youth under the age of 19 to play affiliated soccer at a level commensurate with their ability and interest. LWYSA strives to teach life's lessons by emphasizing the development of self-esteem, good sportsmanship, fitness, achievement, teamwork and skill through the playing of the game; and provides educational opportunities to further develop all players, coaches, referees and administrators.
For further information contact:
Robert Young, Executive Director, 425-883-3009
Related Information:
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Gene Duvernoy (pictured with Executive Sims; Steve Dennis, President of Quadrant Corp.; and Robert Young, Executive Director of Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association) talks about what this unique partnership will bring to Redmond Ridge and all King County residents.
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Executive Sims signs the letter of intent. Also pictured are Gene Duvernoy, King County Councilmember Larry Phillips and King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert.
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