Laurelhurst Community Club
Serving 2800 Households in Seattle’s Laurelhurst Neighborhood

Seattle City Councilmembers
11th Floor, Municipal Building
600 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104-186
Fax 684-8587

RE: Center for Urban Horticulture Arson

Dear Councilmembers:

As you all are aware, the Center for Urban Horticulture incurred major damage on May 21, 2001 due to an eco-terrorist arson fire. The Seattle Police and Fire Departments responded immediately. Hundreds of volunteers have worked tirelessly to lend moral support and to clean out the ruble left due to this senseless act. The Center for Urban Horticulture is an important part of the Laurelhurst community. We encourage you to adopt a resolution recognizing the contributions of the Center for Urban Horticulture to the city and condemning the cowardly action of the eco-terrorist group that nurtured those who planned and perpetrated this mindless violation of the goodwill and good works that are the hallmark of the Center for Urban Horticulture and all of those associated with it.

Enclosed is a resolution the Laurelhurst Community Club Board of Trustees unanimously adopted on July 9, 2001. The resolution recognizes the important work of the Center for Urban Horticulture and its role in our community and condemns the wanton and senseless destruction caused by the arson fire. We hope that you will develop and adopt a similar resolution.

Sincerely,

Jeannie Hale, President
3425 West Laurelhurst Drive NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
525-5135 / FAX 525-9631
jeannieh@serv.net

ENC.
cc: Weldon Ihrig, Theresa Doherty, Tom Hinckley

Laurelhurst Community Club
Serving 2800 Households in Seattle’s Laurelhurst Neighborhood

Whereas, the Center for Urban Horticulture has enhanced the quality of life for many who live in Seattle and its surrounding areas;

Whereas, the Center for Urban Horticulture adds a unique and distinct aesthetic quality to the primary entrance to the Laurelhurst neighborhood;

Whereas, the Center for Urban Horticulture promotes connectedness by serving as a gathering place for individuals and groups committed to beautification through horticulture;

Whereas, the Center for Urban Horticulture provides a gracious meeting place for family-oriented events, such as marriages and other important community events;

Whereas, the Center for Urban Horticulture is firmly emplaced in the framework of the urban area through its grassroots style of operation;

Whereas, the Center for Urban Horticulture has been progressively landscaped and beautified an area that served for decades as a refuse disposal site, undertaking extensive activities to restore precious wetlands and thereby attract birds and wildlife;

Whereas, the Center for Urban Horticulture provides a bridge between the University of Washington and populations in the urban area that might not otherwise be served by the State's largest center for higher education;

Whereas, through these and other community-oriented activities, the Center for Urban Horticulture has come to find an esteemed place for itself among its Laurelhurst neighbors.

Therefore be it Resolved:

1. That the Laurelhurst Community Club condemns the wanton and senseless destruction of a portion of the Center for Urban Horticulture through arson;

2. That the Laurelhurst Community Club offers its support to the leadership of the Center for Urban Horticulture at is prepares not only to build, but to expand its vision of its place in this urban area as it moves toward replacing the buildings lost to fire;

3. That the Laurelhurst Community Club encourages the law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction of this case to commit the resources necessary to apprehend the perpetrator(s) of this crime; and
4. That the Laurelhurst Community Club commends the Legislature of the State of Washington its statement condemning the outrageous act of arson committed at the Center for Urban Horticulture.

And be it further resolved, that the Laurelhurst Community Club, acting in behalf of the residents of this neighborhood, encourages the Seattle City Council to pass a resolution asserting its support for the contributions of the Center for Urban Horticulture to the city and condemning the cowardly action of the eco-terrorist group that nurtured those who planned and perpetrated this mindless violation of the goodwill and good works that are the hallmark of the Center for Urban Horticulture and all of those associated with it.

Adopted unanimously July 9, 2001

Jeannie Hale, President
3425 West Laurelhurst Drive NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
525-5135 / FAX 525-9631
jeannieh@serv.net