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National Park Service Plans for Downtown Seward Facilities
Kenai Fjords National Park will be working to finalize plans for limited development in the downtown
Seward area. The National Park Service owns five properties in the downtown area, purchased in 2005
as directed by Congress during the development of the Mary Lowell Center, a multi-agency facility that
would have provided administrative offices for two agencies,visitor facilities, and a small conference
center for the City of Seward. Insufficient funds are available to complete the full suite of projects.
Over the last year,the National Park Service has been working on a plan to use the funds remaining
from that effort in a manner that provides for downtown improvement, secures administrative facilities
for the park operation, and relinquishes several of the parcels that were purchased for the project. The
current project will rehabilitate the Old Solly's building on Washington Street and the Shea Block
building on 3rd Avenue for administrative uses. The Old Solly's building will become the park's new
headquarters and will include a small visitor area for winter and shoulder season visitors to Seward. The
area adjacent to the Shea Block Building will be used for parking. The exterior appearance of the Old
Solly's building will be in keeping with its historic appearance with a mix of siding and paint finishes (see
illustration). Rehabilitation work on the Old Solly's building should commence by late summer,
followed by rehabilitation work on the Shea property in subsequent years.
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The remaining properties purchased in 2005 by the NPS (Mai and Harbor Dinner Club properties on
Fifth, and the Legends property on Washington) may undergo some redevelopment or be excessed
(disposed of) by the federal government. Since 2005 the building known as Legends has been operated
by the NPS and used by many community organizations and agencies for public meetings and
workshops. According to Superintendent Jeff Mow, "We expect it could take a year or longer before
the government could transfer ownership of the property." Generally,the process gives preference to
other federal, state, and local government needs before considering private uses.
Additional information on the project may be found on the Kenai Fjords national Park Website
(www.nps.gov/KEFJ) and questions may be directed to Jeff Mow(Jeff mow@nps.gov).
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Kenai Fjords National Park
Administrative Office
North Elevation