Rehabilitation efforts on the Luther Burbank Park Boiler Building, situated on the park’s waterfront, commenced a little over two months ago at the hands of general contractor Ferguson Construction.

Paul West, senior Capital Improvement Program project manager, noted the crew will add interior framework and other seismic stabilization to prevent earthquake damage. Also part of phase one of the waterfront improvements project are renovations to the restroom annex.

Construction upon the 1928 Boiler Building also features chimney reinforcement, according to a city report, which added that the crew has begun masonry cleaning, pressure washing the brick facades and repairing damaged mortar joints. Shotcrete installation to stabilize the chimney was the next step on the crew’s task list.

“This project will make sure the Boiler Building remains intact as a first step to it becoming a small craft boating center,” West said. The project page notes that the boating center idea was envisioned in the 2006 Luther Burbank Park Master Plan.

Ferguson Construction is known for constructing the first Costco store on 4th Avenue South in Seattle’s SoDo district.

West added that the crew is on target to finish work on the building in July.

“We have determined that the building needs a new power supply, so that will extend project completion to early fall. The waterfront should reopen by August,” said West, noting that the project’s budget is $2.5 million, with around $800,000 in grant funding from the Washington State Historical Society and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

Phase two of the Luther Burbank waterfront improvements project is slated to begin in 2025. West said the job will entail replacing two docks with lower floating docks — which are better suited to small boats — renovating the plaza with permeable paving, adding ramps and trail connections to the site, widening the north beach for better access, and adding a viewing deck on top of the restrooms. New landscaping, benches and tables will enhance the shoreline and plaza.

West said that further renovations to the Boiler Building, which will continue to serve as boat storage for the city’s summer camps, are within the capital plan for 2028.

According to city documents, it has tentatively planned phase two of the project for that year. That phase will include remodeling the interior of the Boiler Building, and adding a new accessible pedestrian connection from the parking lot to the building, and a new mezzanine that will feature an office and classroom to support expanded boating programs.

For more information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/zb4pzksd