Have you heard? Gay City is expanding next door.

It’s been in the planning stages for some time, but progress is being made as the Gay City Health Project moves forward on a project that will significantly increase the space available for Gay City’s Wellness Center and library as well as add desperately needed community meeting space. Gay City has been outgrowing its current space at 511 East Pike with the addition of the LGBT library, Resource & Referral line and increased services at the Wellness Center and with the vacancy of the space next door at 517 East Pike, the organization can continue to grow and provide essential services to the community.

To kick things off and provide information to Seattle’s LGBTQ community, Gay City will be hosting a “Sneak Peak” in the new location on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 between the hours of 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Gay City staff will go over the plans and potential for new programs in the space and answer questions from the community. But, you must RSVP to attend: contact Matthew Robinette at  matthew@gaycity.org.

Gay City also needs your help to get the word out to City of Seattle officials to support their efforts to increase the services and programs offered to the community:

Plans are well underway for Gay City to expand its facilities into the currently vacant 6500 sf space immediately east of our current location. Our plans for the new space included doubling the size of our Wellness Center, tripling the size of the Gay City LGBT Library and adding a large assembly space, with full audio-visual support. The vision for our expanded space is to create resource hub and social destination for the LGBT community in Seattle, a place to gather and to connect.

We have requested City of Seattle support for this project. Please contact members of the City Council and let them know that you support this project.

Suggested message:

“Please support Gay City Health Project’s efforts to create a resource hub for Seattle’s LGBT community.  Gay City’s plan is prudent and immediate, requiring minimal investment for maximum impact, by expanding their current facility to better meet the needs of a community already turning to them for support.  Adding meeting rooms, a resource center, and expanding the Wellness Center is a great investment in addressing the real needs of LGBT people in Seattle.”

You can use the feedback form found here, or send your own email directly to City Council members:

richard.conlin@seattle.gov

sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov

tim.burgess@seattle.gov

sally.clark@seattle.gov

jean.godden@seattle.gov

bruce.harrell@seattle.gov

nick.licata@seattle.gov

mike.obrien@seattle.gov
tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

We encourage you to check out the sneak peak AND to let the City Council know, this expansion will benefit the needs of the community.