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Supportive but Wary
By Sara Longley
Dan Ko, co-owner of Perry Ko's South China Restaurant, commenting at the Light Rail Station Summit on Beacon Hill. Sara Longley photo. |
to build a light rail station; other options exist
Beacon Hill's light rail station is coming underneath the neighborhood, and residents are supportive. How it is proposed to be built from above is another matter. They're scared of the prospect: at least six years of construction and an entire city block flattened for staging operations.
The block, which sits on the east side of Beacon Avenue between McLellan and Lander, is home to the popular Perry Ko's South China Restaurant, a salon, a tax accountant, a barbecue restaurant and four houses. It will have to give way to heavy equipment and, after construction is finished, to a structure large enough to contain four elevators serving the underground rail station.
"I think we can bore a 48-foot hole without demolishing an entire block," George Robertson, an architect and member of the Beacon Hill Chamber of Commerce, said.
Robertson was one of about 50 people who attended a Beacon Hill public summit organized by the North Beacon Hill Council (NBHC) to discuss Sound Transit's light rail construction plans August 10. Like many, he believed Sound Transit could come up with another, more acceptable construction plan.
Dan Ko, co-owner of Perry Ko's South China Restaurant, said that if nearby Lander Street is vacated, no buildings would need to be torn down.
Estela Ortega of El Centro de la Raza, located north across the proposed staging block, said El Centro was approached by Sound Transit with the possibility of using a vacant part of its property for staging operations. That possibility is still open, Ortega said.
Tamara Dyer of the NBHC questioned Sound Transit's need to take an entire block for its staging operations when the vacant land at El Centro is available.
"No thinking person is going to buy that," Dyer said.
"I feel like sometimes I sound really defensive," said Ron Lewis, deputy director of Sound Transit. He said Sound Transit will host a public meeting on September 18 to present staging option to the community.
"Sound Transit is not a land developer," Lewis, however, said.
"We're buying land to construct and operate light rail."
Regardless of where the staging operation takes place, businesses will still be affected, Beacon Hill residents claimed.
Lenny Rose, owner of the Hilltop Red Apple supermarket, said he might be forced to close shop during construction of the Light Rail station. His supermarket faces the proposed station site, across Beacon Avenue.
"I asked Sound Transit, 'What are you going to do for me?'" he said. "They'll give me a sign on the sidewalk that says 'businesses are open.' We've put millions into this store, but we can't last six years during construction."
Besides the prospect of business closures, residents said they would have to deal with parking problems aggravated by the light rail station's construction.
They sought help from Sound Transit.
George Robertson urged Sound Transit to study the parking issue before construction is finished. He wanted to see a "minimum floor" of mitigation.
Neil Wilson, co-chair of the NBHC, said a Residential Parking Zone (RPZ) can be established to assure parking slots to local residents.
"I think what the neighborhood would like is help from Sound Transit, for them to work as liaison to the city (to work for establishing an RPZ)," he said.
Despite concerns over its construction, the Beacon Hill light rail station nonetheless received support from the residents.
"This is the best thing ever to happen to Beacon Hill," Richard Glassman said.
"I have a two-year old daughter. We have to plan for the long-term," Glassman added.
May Beth Uppendahl, born and raised in Beacon Hill, suggested community support to the local small businesses during the light rail station's construction.
"Our small businesses are vital to our community. They have supported us, let's support them (by shopping there to keep the neighborhood alive during construction)," she said.
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| Mustafa | Aug 17, 2002 | Norfolk, VA | Nurse |
| Make urban spaces for people, not for cars! | |||
| Michael Conroy | Aug 19, 2002 | Portland | Barista |
| People in Seattle should look to their neighbors to the south for advice on lightrail.. We've been through it all for 16 years now.. Tunnel construction, gentrification, business closures, relocation.. We've had some problems but we have had some very creative solutions and it's all been done in an amazingly timely fashion. You should contact the portland development commission, Tri-met, and Metro for some assistance with these problems.. We'd be glad to help. We are currently working on Interstate light rail which will eventually cross the Columbia River into Vancouver Washington on Interstate 5 and possibly loop back on Interstate 205. Creative ways are being implemented to help businesses that are along Interstate avenue on the construction route.. | |||
