Plans to expand the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle have been put on hold by the state legislature, according to an article in The Seattle Times.
The proposed $766 million expansion would add approximately 210,000 square feet of exhibit space to the existing facility, which has 307,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space. The project requires the initial approval of the legislature for $15 million to fund design and engineering costs. In April, the legislature balked at the request.
Lawmakers offered just $10 million for design and engineering costs, provided the WSCTC first conduct feasibility and financing studies and report back the findings by the end of the year, according to the article.
WSCTC officials were irked by the legislature’s actions since a feasibility study has already been conducted, according to the article. Reportedly, the study, released in February, said the expanded center would attract 30 new national conventions and bring 125,000 additional visitors to the city by 2017. Lawmakers, however, want additional feedback.
Convention center leaders remain committed to the expansion project and will reportedly ask Gov. Christine Gregoire to veto the legislature’s actions.
