Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and arena proponent Chris Hansen, pictured in 2011. (Associated Press)
New renderings were released Friday of design concepts for the multipurpose arena proposed for Seattle's Sodo neighborhood. Click through the gallery to see them all.
Kansas City, Mo.-based 360 Architecture, arena investor Chris Hansen's design consultant on the project, will present a full version of this presentation at a public meeting Jan. 22 in the Bertha Landes Room at Seattle City Hall.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the northwest.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the northwest.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the southwest.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the northwest.
This image shows a few design inspirations for the proposed arena. At bottom is a rendering of the arena as it would be situated south of CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the east.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the north at street level.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the northwest corner at street level.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the southeast at street level.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the southwest at street level.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking at the northwest corner.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking at the southwest entrance.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking west from Holgate Street.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking north along First Avenue.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the southwest at night.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the east at night.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the northwest corner at night.
This image shows a rendering of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the southwest at night.
This image shows a rendered profile of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the west.
This image shows a rendered profile of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the east.
This image shows a rendered profile of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the south.
This image shows a rendered profile of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking directly at the main entrance from the north.
This slide from 360 Architecture's presentation helps explain some of the sustainability considerations for the proposed arena.
This image shows a basic profile of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena, looking from the side (top) and the end (bottom).
This image shows a basic overhead layout of the latest preferred design concept for the proposed arena.
This overhead image shows in orange where the architects would like to see tree-lined pedestrian corridors.
This overhead image shows where the architects would like to plant trees.
This overhead image shows an overhead schematic of the main entrance and, in the top-left corner, a profile of the entrance's grand stairway.
This overhead image shows projected pedestrian flow with little orange arrows.
This overhead image gives another idea for where the architects would like to see trees on the arena site and the proposed pedestrian promenade to the north (left in this image).
This image shows a side profile of the stepped entrance at the north end of the proposed arena.
This image shows a head-on look of the stepped entrance at the north end of the proposed arena.
This overhead image shows the projected flow of traffic and pedestrians into the proposed arena. The planners expect most fans to arrive from the north, as represented by the larger arrow.
A longtime opponent of new stadiums has sued the city of Seattle in an effort to stop the city from helping to fund a basketball and hockey arena proposed for the Sodo neighborhood.
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Joined in the lawsuit by two other Seattle residents, Mark Baerwaldt of Citizens For More Important Things contends a "memorandum of understanding," signed by the city, King County and the arena investor group, is illegal and has asked a county judge to nullify the agreement.
In a deal with arena backer Chris Hansen, city leaders and the King County Council agreed to spend millions to see a new venue built south of Safeco Field in Sodo. Supporters hope Hansen will be able to bring an NBA team back to Seattle – possibly the Sacramento Kings – and that the Emerald City could obtain a National Hockey League franchise as well.
Describing the stadium project as a “giveaway” of public funds, attorney Cleveland Stockmeyer contended the city would be acquiring land from stadium developers at far above the fair price. Such a move, Stockmeyer continued, violates city regulations on such matters.
Citizens For More Important Things was formed in 1995 to stop the building of what became Safeco Field. The organization also previously fought to block a tax-subsidized $220 million overhaul of KeyArena.
In a coup for the poorly funded grassroots group, Citizens For More Important Things in 2006 pushed through Seattle Initiative 91, which prohibits the city from supporting sports teams with city dollars unless the investments yield a profit.
In the lawsuit, Stockmeyer contends the city’s agreement with would-be team owner and California billionaire Hansen regarding the proposed Sodo arena violates the law put in place by that initiative.
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At issue is $200 million in public funding pledged to support the arena. That investment, made through bonds, would be repaid by Hansen’s firm, known heretofore as ArenaCo.
Stockmeyer contended the memorandum of understanding does too little to protect city taxpayers, and could leave the city on the hook for millions of dollars should Hansen fail to keep up his end of the deal -- even though Hansen has pledged to personally cover shortfalls.
“Although the plan calls for sums to be repaid to the public entities, the underlying debt obligations are not secured as the promoters claim and thus they are not compliant with I-91,” Stockmeyer told the court. “This complaint does not seek to stop a basketball arena from being built in Seattle under other arrangements, but only seeks to … avoid a ‘giveaway’ of public funds.”
The lawsuit was filed Friday in King County Superior Court. The city has not yet responded to the claims.
