The Metropolitan King County Council today voted unanimously to approve the sale of one of the last remaining parcels on the former Kingdome site, with the proceeds to support youth sports in King County.

“We are using a little of King County’s past to aid future athletes,” said Council Budget Chair Larry Gossett. “The Kingdome was a tremendous asset to the people of King County and even though it is now just a memory, part of its legacy will help produce young men and women who might one day play at Safeco or Qwest Field.”

The Council approved the sale of the Johnson Building, a two-story brick building located just west of Qwest Field between Railroad Way South and Occidental Way South. Purchased by the County in 1980 as part of the Kingdome Development Project, the Johnson Building was used by the Kingdome Stadium Authority and the Seattle Mariners as a storage facility from 1980 to 1997. The site was made available to the Washington Public Stadium Authority when the agency was looking at potential sites for the facility that would replace the Kingdome. With the construction of Qwest Field, the option on the property was allowed to lapse. The County has declared the building surplus and with Council approval will now seek to sell the property.

Proceeds from the sale will go to the Youth Sports Facilities Grants Fund, which provides matching grants to community and youth organizations that partner with a public agency such as a school district or city parks department to develop, renovate, or repair sports facilities.

“Kids throughout King County kids will benefit from this sale,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “The Johnson Building is left over from the Kingdome days, and although not everyone can make it to SODO for a game, we can use the sale proceeds to improve, expand and develop youth sport facilities all over King County. Local teams and organizations apply for Youth Sport Facilities Grants to provide better fields and facilities in their own neighborhoods. We want to give our children every opportunity to embrace a healthy lifestyle and stay physically active, especially now that kids are facing increasing rates of childhood obesity.”

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system and type in “2004-0393”