Seattle uses eminent domain to turn a parking lot into a parking lot

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Seattle’s city council voted unanimously Monday to use eminent domain to take private property. They say they must seize the private property, which is currently being used as a parking lot, in order to turn it into … a parking lot. . Local station Q13Foxnews discussed this story here.

In addition to eminent domain abuse, the City of Seattle has recently been in the news for hiding public records, and sinking the farm boat. The common thread among all three of these stories is that, in Seattle, central planning takes priority over people. In this case, they decided it was critically important to seize a parking lot from its 103-year-old owner so that it can be a parking lot. At least this is their stated justification.

[Muddy]

So what can you do?

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Nothing, but what an abuse of power. Especially since it really just away for them to make money that he was making. Who knows though, they may build a multi level parking structure and he had a dirt lot (speculation) But, it seems if that was the case and there is a need for it they could have offered him some kind of financing to build it and get to keep his property.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Lynn Thompson - Seattle Times staff reporter


Myrtle Woldson, 103, owns a long-term parking lot near the Seattle waterfront valued at $7 million. When the city approached the Spokane resident about allowing it to lease space to help ease the parking crunch during construction of the Highway 99 tunnel and the seawall, she declined, city sources say.

Now the City Council is moving to condemn the property to provide more short-term parking for businesses, tourists and shoppers. The city also could eventually build a parking garage on the site once the Alaskan Way Viaduct is removed and the planned waterfront park is completed.

The council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at its City Hall chambers to discuss the parking-mitigation plan the state has developed in cooperation with waterfront and Pioneer Square leaders, as well as the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

A public hearing is required before the city can act on acquiring the parking lot, known to city staff members as “Myrtle’s Lot.” It can hold about 130 cars.

No city officials would comment on the record because of concerns about potential litigation. A notice of condemnation was sent to Woldson this week.

The city is required to pay “just compensation” under state law, and the intended use must be a public one. The property owner can challenge the condemnation and the sale price in court. Woldson could not be reached for comment.

The state Department of Transportation, which is managing the viaduct-replacement project, allocated $30 million for parking mitigation during the seven years of anticipated construction through 2018, said KaDeena Yerkan, Highway 99 communications manager.

The city has lost more than 100 on-street public parking spaces of about 500 total as preparations were made over the past two years to stage and start the tunnel boring that will drill a two-deck, four-lane highway to replace the viaduct, damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

Now SDOT is planning for a “worst-case scenario” of zero parking while the viaduct is removed in 2016 and Alaskan Way rebuilt, said spokesman Rick Sheridan.

He said the state’s strategies to replace on-street parking during construction include securing leases for short-term parking with existing garages and acquiring new parking.

“The parking is going to continue to be eroded on the central waterfront, especially once demolition [of the viaduct] begins,” Sheridan said.

The city doesn’t often use its power of eminent domain to condemn property, but it’s not unprecedented. The property beneath what is now Benaroya Hall and Westlake Park were both condemned, according to city records.

The parking-lot-acquisition plan calls for the city to own and operate it. The parking revenue would go to offset the purchase price and for ongoing operations and maintenance, according to the condemnation ordinance that will be considered by the City Council.

Waterfront businesses complained loudly last summer when construction work related to the viaduct replacement shut down streets and sidewalks during the typically busy summer months. They noted that public transportation along the waterfront is almost nonexistent and that many people come in multigenerational family groups and don’t take transit.

Theresa Schneider, co-owner of McKinnon Furniture on Western Avenue, said business has improved over the past year, but more disruption is expected as the tunnel work moves north.

She said waterfront stakeholders have identified replacement parking as “an absolute priority.”

Schneider can see Myrtle’s parking lot across the street from her store.

“It’s very central, very visible,” she said and added, “It’s almost always full.”

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Wonder why you wouldn't take the lease, its probably better money then shes making now

[FBD]

details, probably...she was more than likely getting screrwed in some way or another.

fucking governments

[Pony]

Wonder why you wouldn't take the lease, its probably better money then shes making now

If it's "almost always full" like it says then she is likely getting way more daily than the city was willing to offer for a lease. It would have been a losing deal.

How do you condemn a parking lot?