The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is conducting a public hearing regarding a proposed land exchange involving the Saint Edward Seminary in Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore.

The public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the Community Meeting Room at Kenmore City Hall, 18120 68th Ave. NE, Kenmore.

The hearing will address a proposed land exchange in which State Parks would acquire a 9.77-acre property, known as the McDonald Property, in exchange for a 4.99-acre property to be acquired by Daniels Real Estate, a Seattle-based development firm. The purpose of the land exchange is to expand the overall footprint of the park. The land is contiguous with the existing park property and includes 450 feet of shoreline on Lake Washington. In addition, the exchange will facilitate the rehabilitation of the Saint Edward Seminary as a hotel.

In August 2015, Daniels Real Estate approached State Parks staff with a new concept proposal for the iconic historic structure that stands at the center of the state park on the north shore of Lake Washington. Daniels’ proposal includes rehabilitating the building for use as a lodge or retreat facility, using standards of historic preservation. In addition to acquiring the Seminary building and the proposed land exchange, the proposal also includes acquiring and restoring the pool and gymnasium and some of the surrounding open space.

For more information about the concept proposal for the Saint Edward Seminary, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/857/Saint-Edward-Planning—Seminary. For questions about the project, contact Michael Hankinson, Parks Planner, (360) 902-8671, michael.hankinson@parks.wa.gov.

For more information about Saint Edward State Park, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/577/Saint-Edward