Last week, WSDOT held a public meeting where the department presented new design plans that seek to preserve the Montlake Blvd. Market and limit construction impacts on the market’s property.
The good news is that Graham’s design and proposal will likely cut a year off the project. Further really good news is that it appears WSDOT is conceding it can avoid use of the Montlake Market and Gas Station properties. Graham’s designs eliminate many of the impacts WSDOT sited in their condemnation and demolition plans for the market property. The bad news, however, is that despite proving their ability to avoid the market and shifting construction impacts away from the property, WSDOT is still pursuing a full condemnation in order to use the rest of the property as a staging and storage yard for the next 10-years, throughout the Portage Bay phase. One of their representatives also claimed they needed the properties for the project’s “associated risks,” although he did not elaborate.
Read more about the meeting in this story by KOMO News.
In terms of saving the market, WSDOT estimated that keeping the market operational throughout construction will add an additional 45 days to the project and $20 million to the cost. This may seem like a lot at face value, but it appears to be intentionally misleading. WSDOT presented this figure without any discussion of the cost to acquire the property and avoided mention of other associated costs, such as lost tax revenue from the market, gas station and cell towers, which runs nearly $1 million per year. All told, WSDOT’s costs to acquire the properties could be as high as $33 million, with WSDOT paying an estimated $20 million on top of that to keep the market operational should the agency proceed with a full condemnation. Moreover, they are ignoring the social and other costs they’ll impose on the communities we live in, loss of “walkability/bikeability” to and from the Market, drive time, cost and frustration to get to alternative market and gas locations, reduced property values of our homes from proximity to 10 years of loud, noisy construction, and the elimination of one of our few community gathering spots. And, even using WSDOT’s inflated cost estimate, keep in mind the number is a fraction of the project’s $4.51 billion budget.
These figures amount to what can only be considered as an absurdly steep price to pay, especially in light of WSDOT presenting the new designs last week showing how they can avoid the properties. WSDOT’s only remaining reason for acquiring the Market site appears to boil down to construction staging and storage. The notion of spending $50 million in taxpayer money to turn the heart of Montlake into a construction and equipment staging yard for the next 10 years is unacceptable to the Montlake Community Club. Our neighbors deserve better.
The Montlake Community Club is continuing to engage with our legislators as well as WSDOT to keep staging off of the property and to make sure all options to save the market are pursued. You can help by reaching out to WSDOT Secretary Roger Millar, Speaker Chopp, Rep. Nicole Macri and Sen. Jamie Pedersen at the emails below and carrying this message:
Roger Millar: millarr@wsdot.wa.gov
Speaker Chopp: frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Nicole Macri: nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Jamie Pedersen: jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov
We also encourage everyone to take the survey about the market, which can be found here by February 14th at 5 pm.
Steve Peer, 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program says
Dear Montlake Flyer editor,
WSDOT would like to provide some clarifications to share with the Montlake Flyer readers. We hope that you will be able to publish the clarifying information below.
The Washington State Department of Transportation appreciates the interest and feedback of community members who attended the Nov. 7 and Jan. 30 public meetings regarding the SR 520 Montlake Project and the department’s pending acquisition of the Montlake Boulevard Market and 76 gas station property. WSDOT posted the presentation slides from both meetings and the handouts from the Jan. 30 meeting online.
We agree with the Montlake Flyer’s Feb. 5 article that it would be “good news” if WSDOT can complete the Montlake Project’s improvements and preserve the market.
While we are working to determine whether we can preserve the market building and an operating market business, WSDOT still needs the underlying property for the following purposes:
• Permanent improvements: As we outlined at our Montlake public meetings in November 2018 and January 2019, permanent project elements will be built on a sizable part of the gas station portion of the property – directly through the pump areas. The project improvements include wider and higher eastbound SR 520 on-ramps and off-ramps at Montlake Boulevard, and a westward extension of the 14-foot-wide SR 520 Trail, eventually crossing a new Portage Bay Bridge. These elements require permanent closure of the station.
• Traffic shifts: Graham Contracting Ltd., the Montlake Project contractor, is hopeful its construction plans can avoid directly impacting the market building. That avoidance, however, is not a certainty. If Graham’s plans are not feasible, shifting traffic to the west could require removal of part of the market building. WSDOT and Graham must plan for and manage this risk before construction starts. In addition, temporary traffic shifts during Montlake Project construction will unavoidably impact the gas station.
• Construction staging: Staging construction materials, equipment and crews within a highly constrained work zone will be another important use for part of the market and gas station property. Identifying construction staging areas within the city of Seattle can be difficult. If the market and gas station property is not available for staging, WSDOT will incur additional costs to stage equipment and staff farther away from the project construction area. WSDOT also must balance the need for staging as close to the project area as possible with the additional community effects that more-distant staging areas potentially could have on mobility and adjacent neighborhoods.
• Safety: Safety of the traveling public, including pedestrians and bicyclists, is a major consideration while building project elements. Any effort to preserve the market must include careful consideration of safety.
The purchase price for the market and gas station property has not been determined
• The Flyer article cites a figure for WSDOT to acquire the property. This has not yet been determined. Unless WSDOT and the property owner reach a settlement before a scheduled June trial, a jury will determine the fair-market price of the property.
We understand the strong feelings many Montlake residents have for the market. We will continue working with the community, our contractor, the city of Seattle, and state legislators to see if it’s practicable to preserve the market. Together, an objective assessment of all the associated costs and benefits – the tradeoffs – will inform the ultimate decision on the market.
Wendy Delaunay says
I would like WSDOT to leave the gas station as there is no other gas station for miles. It is in a good location. And the Hop-in Maket is always busy. It is convenient for at least four Neighborhoods. The Market is an Icon.
Tyler Blitz says
It is worthwhile to note that $20 million amounts to less than one-half of one percent of the construction budget of $4.51 billion.
Eric Kowalczyk says
I think the primary focus should be in learning if and how badly is the site contaminated (ground water samples were taken and results were given at the meeting). If these contaminants are seeping into the nearby lake waters, then this site needs to be cleaned up, even if it means removing all buildings and top layers of soil. Saving our environment is more important than “saving the market”.
HANS KEHL says
Here is relevant information regarding your comment Eric.
http://montlake.net/2019/01/market-open-house-report-shows-no-need-to-demolish-market-or-gas-station/