Following through on a threat it
made more than a week prior, an International Longshore and Warehouse Union
local in the Pacific Northwest has filed a lawsuit to try blocking a plan to
construct a new sports arena near the Port of Seattle.
ILWU Local 19, represented by the
Seattle-based Gendler & Mann law firm, which specializes in land use and
property litigation, says the proposed arena that was approved Oct. 15 by the
Seattle and King County councils would harm port operations.
“A new arena can be built
anywhere,” the complaint reads in part, “but the same cannot be said about a
world-class deep-water port terminal.”
In its legal complaint, which was
filed against the city of Seattle, King County and developer WSA Properties,
Oct. 24, Local 19 maintains the city and county violated the state
Environmental Policy Act by not seeking out alternative sites that would be
less disruptive for the port.
The union wants the city and
county’s approval of the arena deal declared invalid under the Washington state
Environmental Policy Act.
The union contends that the chose
site was chosen because the development company’s head, Chris Hansen, owns real
estate in and around the selected location.
“Hansen has publicly stated on
numerous occasions that ArenaCo is not interested in constructing the arena on
any other site in Seattle or elsewhere in King County,” the complaint states. The
union also contends that a sports stadium would cause traffic and congestion problems
along port corridors.
The area plan, however, includes
a $40 million road improvement fund. The fund, which would be covered by tax
revenues, would go toward the study and prioritization of area transportation
improvements around the SoDo – south of downtown – area where the combo
basketball-hockey arena would sit.
