The Georgetown Steam Plant was built in 1906 to energize the region’s growing electric streetcar system. At the time, it was at the center of the rapidly growing Georgetown neighborhood. The plant was designed to run on either coal or oil, but shortly after it was built, hydropower became the primary source of energy for the region and the plant operated until 1977 when it was completely decommissioned.

Since its decommissioning, building owner Seattle City Light (SCL) has worked to preserve, repair and restore the building. Under SCL’s management, the Georgetown Steam Plant has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark, Seattle Landmark and National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.

Now, SCL is entrusting the GEORGETOWN STEAM PLANT Community Development Authority (CDA) to steward this historic property into the future.

The CDA is a non-profit, formed for the purpose of realizing the Georgetown Steam Plant’s potential as a community resource. Our work is to make this Historic Landmark as safe and accessible as possible and, through community partnership, transform it into a place to gather, learn, dream and celebrate.

We seek to understand:

• How can the Georgetown Steam Plant be a resource to the entire Duwamish Valley Community and beyond?

• How can this building and property help the people of the Duwamish Valley thrive?

• How can we transform this building from extractive and polluting to generative and empowering?

The project is a  continuing conversation between the building’s structural and historical needs and the community’s needs. The CDA will serve as facilitator in this conversation - seeking balance between preserving history and serving the communities of today and tomorrow.

Today, we are creating as many opportunities as we can for you, our Community, to get to know this incredible building.  Through SHTEAM programming; from museum, arts and sciences education, and events, we are activating the building to inspire and empower the Community to make this place our own!