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Residents and teens press Redmond council to restore Old Firehouse teen center or create rapid alternatives
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the Redmond City Council to reopen or temporarily use outdoor space at the Old Firehouse teen center, asked the council to form a subcommittee and community stakeholder group, and raised concerns about parks department leadership and the adequacy of alternative venues.
Dozens of speakers at Tuesday’s Redmond City Council public comment period urged immediate action to restore teen services after the Old Firehouse (OFH) teen center closed for repairs and long‑term maintenance.
Multiple teen speakers said the facility had long functioned as a “third place” and safe haven and asked the council to either reopen parts of the building that are demonstrably safe or allow outdoor teen activities on the Old Firehouse grounds during daytime hours while longer repairs proceed.
“I remember for years I yearned for the opportunity to finally celebrate pride month and to get to be my real self,” Chester Anderson, a teen who addressed the council, said, citing disruptions to schoolwork and mental health tied to the center’s closure. Speakers asked for a fast, transparent plan and urged the council to form a council subcommittee that would work directly with teens and community stakeholders to produce short‑term access and a longer‑term plan.
Public commenters also recounted recent attempts to stage teen events at the Redmond Senior & Community Center (RSCC). Wolf Adriatico described multiple logistical and safety problems during a May 23 show — lack of equipment, tripping hazards from cables, poor attendance and inadequate publicity. Rob Levitt and others said the RSCC configuration and audience composition were often unsuitable for all‑ages music and teen services.
Several speakers blamed management decisions and staff turnover in the parks department for communication problems around the Old Firehouse closure. Sasha Glenn urged the council to investigate Parks Director Lorraine Hamilton’s management, alleging staff departures and leadership failures in how the OFH assessment and outreach were handled.
Council members responded that leadership has discussed forming a stakeholder group that would include council representation, similar to past coordination on senior services, and that staff would report back. Council Member Fields urged immediate steps to make outdoor spaces available and to create a subcommittee pairing council members with community teens.
No formal council action occurred on the Old Firehouse during the meeting; council leadership said additional study, council talk‑time discussion and follow‑up with the mayor and staff will be scheduled. Parks staff have conducted listening sessions and prepared a summary of community input for council review, and council members signaled a desire to move quickly to restore trust with youth users.
