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Send a check, payable to "ACE – EWHS Design Fund", to ACE, P.O. Box 1793, Edmonds, WA 98020.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• $2,000 raised ( PDF)

Related Stories

• Saviors emerge for stiffed students 5/28/08 • Withheld awards 'a slap in the face' 5/23/08 • Design contest stiffs its few entrants 5/14/08

CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, Copy editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

$2,000 raised for student architects

By Chris Fyall
Enterprise editor

More than 25 citizens have donated nearly $2,000 to the Alliance of Citizens for Edmonds (ACE), as the group tries to raise prize money for student architects who won nothing from Edmonds2030.com.

The Web site had promised up to $15,000 in prizes for redevelopment designs, and collected three entries, but announced after the contest was closed that no monies would be given.

"I think people realize that what the people who offered the award did is the wrong thing to do," said John Reed, president of ACE. "People are donating to recognize that, and hopefully to help right the wrong."

Donations as small as $10 and as large as $500 have been collected.

Edmonds2030.com was sponsored by Al Dykes and the Edmonds Shopping Center Associates, which owns the 4.3 acre Antique Mall property on Edmonds' waterfront.

Two student groups from Edmonds-Woodway High School created designs for the property, and promoted their plans at various meetings and open houses, where they were well recieved.

Few people voted for the student plans -- or any others -- on Edmonds2030.com, however. Contest organizers cited community apathy as the reason they pulled awards. They have declined further comment.

The money ACE raises will be sent to the school and earmarked for educational purposes, Reed said. Architecture teacher Tim Stensland said the students were hoping to use the money for field trips, or scholarships.

ACE does not have a fundraising goal, as various rule changes made it difficult to know what the students were promised, Reed said.

At first, the contest was divided into three $5,000 prizes. A January 2008 revision, however, established three $2,000 prizes, with one $9,000 grand prize. The final rules were written in March 2008, after the contest had closed, and said a single $5,000 prize would be rewarded.

In May, Edmonds2030.com coordinator Roger Harman said no money would be given.

ACE will continue to raise money until the end of the school year, Reed said.

The group hopes do make a public presentation to formally award the money then, he said.

Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com