PORT OF SEATTLE
MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION MEMO—POLICY AND STAFF BRIEFING
Item No.
6b
Date of Meeting
February 10, 2009
DATE: February 3, 2009
TO: Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
FROM: Joe McWilliams, Managing Director, Real Estate Division
SUBJECT: Maritime Event Center at Bell Harbor
BACKGROUND
From January 14, 1997 through June 3, 2008, Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center (OMDC), a
non-profit corporation, leased approximately 28,000 square feet of exhibit space at Pier 66 in the
Port’s Bell Street Pier project operating as a contemporary maritime museum focused on
building public awareness of maritime trade, transportation, and marine affairs.
On June 4, 2008, the Port terminated the lease with OMDC and the Port entered into an
agreement with Columbia Hospitality Inc., (the third party managers of Bell Harbor
International Conference Center), to manage the day-to-day operations of the Odyssey Maritime
Discovery Center on behalf of the Port through December 31, 2008. On August 11, 2008 a
settlement agreement was fully executed between the OMDC and the Port transferring ownership
of the assets (exhibits, furniture, fixtures and other equipment) to the Port.
After discussing the alternatives with the Commission, staff composed a Request for Proposals
(RFP) to Lease the former Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center space. The RFP was published
widely in local and regional periodicals and received significant interest during the solicitation
period. After eight weeks of repeated publication of solicitation notices and outreach, the Port
received one proposal from Columbia Hospitality, Inc. (CHI).
The Port and CHI propose to amend the current Bell Harbor International Conference Center
(BHICC) management agreement to include the Maritime Events Center as an exclusive
premises associated with the BHICC. The Maritime Event Center will be used as a venue to host
conferences and special events. The Port will receive additional revenues as a result of the
amendment to the management agreement.
