Community Campus Congregational Meeting

On June 15 we sent a letter to the congregation describing a potential partnership we’ve been exploring with the SJCC and other Jewish organizations. The project has been moving along and we would like to share an update, answer questions and listen to your feedback.

Both HNT and the SJCC have aging buildings, and we both want to plan for our futures in the most efficient way possible. In addition, the French American School of Puget Sound (“FASPS”), residing on the SJCC land, has purchased 2 acres to the west of the SJCC, for future expansion. They currently serve 450 students and their building is approaching the end of its useful life. This presents an incredible opportunity to explore the possibility of joining forces with SJCC and other Jewish organizations to create a Jewish campus, staying true to our HNT identity while still being part of an exciting Jewish Center for Seattle. We are participating in early conversations with the SJCC and the FASPS about a future Community campus that could reside on our property and that of the SJCC and the FASPS. Several other Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Day School, are also participating in these discussions.

Working groups are now forming to study how this Campus would function, what facilities would look like, how we would all work together, what would be shared, what programming efficiencies would result and more. No decisions have been made and we are still early in the process, but we remain excited at the progress.

As part of this process, we have requested that the City of Mercer Island consider a new comprehensive plan and zoning designation, termed a ‘Private Community Facility’ that would allow us to optimize design of our shared properties in a manner consistent with the programs and services we deliver, provide more flexible development standards that are appropriate to our uses, and that benefit the community and that respect the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.

Although these are first steps in what will be a very lengthy process, we want to keep you up to speed on the discussions and hear from you. What comes out of this process and what we choose to do will take – time. The HNT Board and community will be involved throughout the process and decide what HNT’s future will be. The Board is committed to communicating regularly to ensure everyone is up-to-speed on developments. More to come.

To hear about the potential Community Campus and the possible new comprehensive plan and zoning designations, please join us for a congregational meeting on July 12, 2018, 7:00 PM at Herzl-Ner Tamid.

We hope you will join us to learn more.

Sincerely,
Zane Brown
HNT Board President

Donna Peha
Immediate Past HNT Board President
HNT Representative to Community Campus Committee