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Angels Found at Fremont Chamber of Commerce
Ellen Sas, Jack Tomkinson and Suzie Burke admire the view from the future park. |
The panorama from the 20,000-square-foot cliffside parcel on Palatine stretches unobstructed from Mount Rainier in the south to the northernmost peaks of the Olympics. The view includes downtown skyscrapers as well as the shipyards along the canal, the Ballard Bridge, Salmon Bay and the Chittenden Locks.
Tomkinson, who lives nearby, often admired the property, which has been owned since 1963 by Tony Murphy, who lives in one of three houses on the property. Two months ago, Murphy put the four adjacent lots up for sale.
"My first wish was to buy it for myself," Tomkinson said. "But I realized it would be so much nicer as a park for the whole community. I realized I needed an angel. I looked up Fremont on the Internet and found the Fremont Neighborhood Council. I made a pitch to the FNC. Jeanne Muir, (head of Muir Public Relations, a Fremont firm) insisted I come to the Fremont Chamber of Commerce meeting the next morning at 8 a.m."
After Tomkinson made his pitch at the Chamber meeting, Muir asked Ellen Sas if NorthStar Bank would lend the money (over $1 million) to acquire the land. Ellen pointed out that they could probably finance it, but somebody needed to buy it. Burke volunteered that part, and within 24 hours an offer was wired to Murphy, who was in Thailand on business.
"We immediately contacted the Parks Department," Burke said, "to let them know of the opportunity, and the wheels are in motion downtown for the city to acquire the property. We’re just the temporary stewards. Our interest is in securing this for the benefit of the Fremont community."
The property is still occupied and is not yet open to the public.
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