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ALLIED ARTS :: WATERFRONT COMMITTEE
February 6, 2006
Rep. Helen Sommers
204 John L. O'Brien Building
Seattle City Council
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Dear Representative Sommers:
RE: Seattle's Waterfront For All
Nancy Lucks and I would like to invite you preview the illustrations
produced by Allied Arts for the Seattle Waterfront. You undoubtedly
know that Allied Arts is known for its history of creating great urban
architecture and civic spaces. I am on the Allied Arts board, and
this past year we have worked closely with over thirty professional
architects, engineers, business organizations, environmental groups
and community leaders to envision what the Seattle Waterfront could
look like without the viaduct. We have pulled together a group of
stakeholders that includes Downtown Seattle Association, Habitat for
Humanity, Downtown Seattle Residents Council, People for Puget Sound,
Futurewise, Transportation Choices Coalition, Seattle's Convention and
Visitor's Bureau, Cascadia among many others, along with hundreds of
individual supporters who have provided constructive ideas to meet
their organizational or neighborhood needs. Our report will be
published within the next few weeks, and we would like to personally
show you the illustrations; because the opportunities for creating a
legacy are truly inspirational.
This Waterfront group believes Alaskan Way corridor is a critical
piece in our transportation system and that our region must decide --
without years of debate -- to fix the aging seawall and promote an
effective transportation system. We also believe that Washington
State Department of Transportation and the Seattle City Council made
the right decision last January when they endorsed the tunnel option
for the Alaskan Way/Seawall replacement project. Our group supports
keeping through-traffic moving underground through a tunnel, and local
traffic moving on grade as contemplated by Seattle's Center City
Access Strategy.
The reason we believe the tunnel is the preferred option is that it is
the only alternative that will meet our freight and mobility needs
along the Highway 99 corridor while also creating the Waterfront for
All. This regenerated Waterfront will increase habitat, provide new
business opportunities, increase affordable housing options, and make
exciting pedestrian connections along the Waterfront and between
downtown neighborhoods.
We need your help to take advantage of this once-in- a-100-year
opportunity to open up Seattle's waterfront. We believe we can create
the magnet to encourage urban housing and a livable, walkable city,
improve a regional destination for new businesses, and enhance both
the local and regional economies. Those land use decisions can happen
only if we provide viaduct-free waterfront.
We have also attached the numbers produced last month by WSDOT showing
how close we are to having funding secured for the tunnel option. In
round numbers we are within $400 million of meeting the $3.5 billion
price tag. Economic studies developed by WSDOT, the City, and
increasingly by business interests conclude that the benefits to the
region far exceed the tunnel costs for the core Waterfront section.
When the life cycle costs and benefits are considered the tunnel is
the clear choice for us.
Because we are passionate about creating a great Waterfront, Allied
Arts members and our colleagues have provided resources and political
backing for the supporters of the tunnel option and will continue to
do so. We ask for your support now, and request some time on your
calendar when we can visit with you. I can be reached at 206-296-9028
and Nancy's number is 206-261-7000. You can help us do much more than
just maintain the flow of traffic-please help us support our regional
goals on the Alaskan Way/Seawall project. Together we can create both
a legacy and a Waterfront for all generations to come.
Yours very truly,
Sally Bagshaw, Chair, Allied Arts Waterfront Committee
Nancy Lucks, Belltown Resident
cc. Laine Ross, President - Allied Arts
David Yeaworth, Executive Director - Allied Arts
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