They Closed a Teen Center to Clear a Lot
The Old Fire House (OFH) Teen Center served Redmond's youth since the 1990s — a free community space with a recording studio, performance stage, game room, and basketball court. For generations of teens aged 13–18, it was a safe haven. For neurodivergent kids, LGBTQ+ youth, and at-risk teens, it was often the only one.
In March 2025, the City of Redmond locked the doors. No documented justification. No adequate replacement facility. The building was declared safe for occupancy — then closed anyway.
Six months of forensic analysis of 7,573 FOIA documents tells a different story: this wasn't a facilities decision. It was a land play. The closure was the final step in a six-year coordinated effort to transfer publicly-owned downtown real estate to private development interests — an effort that began the week Mayor Angela Birney was elected.