August 2, 2010

Letter to the Editor: SPU's new building would be major change to master plan

I read your article ("Seattle Pacific completing design for University Center";) with interest because my neighbors and I are concerned about this development. You correctly state that the university proposed this building in their major institution master plan (MIMP) at the corner of Third Avenue West and West Nickerson Street.

However the university has proposed relocating this center 600 feet to the south at the Third Avenue West/Dravus Street intersection. The university claims this is a “minor amendment” to its master plan. I and many of my neighbors oppose this and contend this is a major change to its master plan.

Whereas the Nickerson location would have access to a major arterial and on-site parking was to be provided, their Dravus location would have access only to an unsignalized intersection (Dravus/Third) onto a minor arterial (Third Avenue West). The university is not proposing on-site parking at the Dravus location.

The master plan listed this building as a core building to be built in the intensively used core area. Now the university has moved it to the less used academic area. This deviates from its master plan.

The Dravus location will place a large building along the south buffer of the university across from single-family homes.

This is out of character with the neighborhood and not in the spirit of the university's master plan of providing a neighborhood buffer.

The construction of the University Center will cause traffic, parking and congestion problems in the adjacent residential neighborhood. My neighbors and I are challenging the university's MIMP permit for this development. We are asking for public hearings, parking and traffic studies, and full environmental impact statement since the university's major institution master plan never considered a development of this magnitude at the proposed site. We would also request the city determine that this change is a major amendment to the master plan requiring a new master plan.

We are not opposed to the university building a University Center but object to locating it at the proposed location.

Jay La Vassar

Seattle

The Daily Journal of Commerce welcomes your comments.

• E-mail: editor@djc.com
  
  

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• Letter to the Editor: Pioneer Square article misses the mark, 12-21-2009
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