SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council spent nearly $2 million to buy a bar.
What it really wants is the land, which will be used to build a park in the growing Greenwood neighborhood.
New apartment buildings and new construction are adding to the Greenwood neighborhood's growth into what the city calls an "urban village," the kind of place where residents can find jobs, shops, restaurants and recreation without the need to always pile into a car.
That's where the two-decades-old Bleacher's Pub comes in. The city is spending $1.7 million to buy the land it sits on for a future park..
Hours before the Pub opened, we sat down with Jesse Dale Calhoun and Chris Jowell, the chefs.
"It's kind of a bummer," Jowell said. "Like I said I've been here 16 years, my roommate's been here 20, it's going to be sad to see this go."
Calhoun said, "Just a lot of opportunities coming to Washington, so I think I'll be able to find a job."
The park will be on the east side of Greenwood Avenue North between 81st and 82nd.
The city bought the neighboring mini-mart property years ago, d and now the City Council has unanimously approved the purchase of the bar property.
Parents we met welcome the progress toward a park.
"I think it's awesome," said Theresa Kearney, who was carrying her baby. "I'm sure we would definitely use it, we only live about a block away from here."
Money to buy the land comes from the 2008 parks levy -- but so far no money's been identified to design and build the park.
"More power to the city of Seattle as long as they budget to keep up the park," said Darl Stuvick, who was pushing his granddaughter in a stroller.
Neighbors pointed out that in the 1940s, a corner gas station used to sit on this land. We checked, and the city's purchase agreement requires the seller to clean up any contaminated soil.
The owner of Bleacher's Pub is planning to stay open through the summer, since the sale doesn't close until July.
Want to talk about the news of the day? Watch free streaming video on the KIRO 7 mobile app and iPad app, and join us here on Facebook.
KIRO
