Residents and teens press council over Old Firehouse closure, criticize stakeholder process

Hundreds of residents and youth advocates used the public‑comment period at the Oct. 21 Redmond City Council meeting to press the mayor and council to preserve and reopen the Old Firehouse teen center and to criticize the city’s stakeholder and subcommittee process.

Speakers described a drawn‑out sequence of events after the center was closed and said the subsequent stakeholder and subcommittee process did not meaningfully incorporate teen voices. "The stakeholder group ... was formed about a month and a half ago, and I am very tired," one teen speaker said, describing limited representation of teens in the stakeholder group and that the process felt rushed.

Why it matters: The Old Firehouse (often abbreviated OFH by commenters) has been cited by multiple residents as a unique youth space for music, volunteer opportunities and after‑school socializing. Residents told council that a loss of the venue disproportionately affects teens, neurodivergent youth, LGBTQ+ youth and other vulnerable populations. Multiple commenters urged the council to slow the process and to ensure teen‑led input drives recommendations.

What speakers said - Transparency and methodology: Several commenters accused Parks & Recreation staff of using an opaque or convoluted focus‑group scoring method — described as placing stickers on categories — that did not clearly connect public responses to a rebuild or renovate decision. One participant said staff "never disclosed ... the new math formula to determine what that box translates to." - Representation: Teen commenters and parents said the stakeholder group under‑represented teens and that adult stakeholders without recent teen experience dominated conversations. "There are only 8 teens in a group of 25 people," a teen said, and several described being badgered or disrespected in stakeholder meetings. - Impact: Former Old Firehouse staff and longtime users described the center as a safe space for teens who are neurodivergent, homeless, abused or LGBTQ+; they warned that closing it erodes youth cultural resources and local social capital. - Process critique from community leaders: Former Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives, founder of the Old Firehouse Teen Center, told council the outreach and stakeholder meeting formats were "contrived" and that the expedited timeline—one study session and a council decision in less than a month—will not allow the thorough analysis she previously recommended.

Council response and next steps Council members in public remarks said they have heard repeated concerns and that council subcommittee members are engaging with stakeholders. Several council members noted they have been meeting with participants individually and encouraged continued dialogue. Council members asked staff and the facilitators to consider additional steps to ensure teen perspectives and documentation (financial accounting, remediation estimates and needs analysis) are provided to the council before a final decision.

Ending: Speakers urged the city to produce basic documentation — past expenditures, remediation cost estimates and a clear, youth‑driven vision — before council acts. Many said they will continue to attend meetings until they see substantive results.

(Notes: all quotes and paraphrases come from the public‑comment record at the Oct. 21 meeting.)