ILWU Sues to Stop Seattle Arena Plan

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.

Seattle Port Commission Urges Delayon Arena Action

In the wake of a tentative deal that could see a sports area built in an area near the waterfront, the Port of Seattle is urging public officials to delay taking action.

 In a statement released after the Council confirmed that it had come to an agreement to support the building of an arena in the industrial SoDo area, the Port Commission first reiterated its interest in working with the city to site a new arena. But the statement went on to urge the city council to “delay action while we review the proposal carefully.”

In particular, the commission took issue with a recent revision to the plan that 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.

The city has also said that additional funds might be secured from the port and federal government.

“While the Port of Seattle is a stakeholder in statewide freight mobility and transportation efficiency, building roads and bridges is not core to our mission. Before the Council approves a plan that might rely on transportation funds from the Port of Seattle, please understand that through our 2020 plan of finance, the port does not now have any uncommitted dollars for new transportation projects.”

The Commission also took issue with an appearance that possible alternative sites were not reviewed closely enough, if at all.

“The Commission places a high priority on a full review of alternative sites before you make a commitment for the project. There are references to reviews of alternative sites, but it appears the MOU remains structured around the SoDo site.”

The Seattle City Council announced Sept. 11 that it had reached a tentative agreement with developer Chris Hansen to build a $490 million basketball and hockey arena. The Metropolitan King County Council, which initially approved the deal in July, is expected to consider the revised version of the deal, which includes the transportation fund, at either its Oct. 8 or Oct. 15 meetings.

Seattle City Council Approves Arena Deal

A sports arena proposal that the Port of Seattle has repeatedly warned could have a negative effect on area maritime transportation businesses, has apparently won approval by the Seattle City Council.

On Sept. 11, the Council announced it had reached a tentative agreement with developer Chris Hansen to build a $490 million basketball and hockey arena in the city’s SoDo industrial area.

The deal, which was approved by the King County Council earlier this year, still faces a formal Council vote, which could come later this month. Increasing its chances of approval is a recent revision to the plan that includes a $40 million road improvement fund.

Container operations, railway lines and truck activity are all currently located within blocks of the proposed arena site, and multiple Port of Seattle studies have determined that traffic congestion and pressure on industrial businesses brought by a sports facility near the waterfront could squeeze out small businesses, disrupt port operations and limit the potential for port growth.

During an Aug. 7 panel discussion at the port, three experts noted several key issues that must be addressed regarding the proposed arena, including how port terminal operations are significantly impacted on game days because game traffic makes reaching terminals difficult for trucks.

Also according to the panel, congestion increases transit time and costs and makes the gateway less attractive for customers, therefore, SoDo’s well-documented traffic management issues could theoretically worsen the situation.

However, the $40 million road improvement fund, which would be covered by tax revenues, would go toward the study and prioritization of area transportation improvements. The city has also said that additional funds might be secured from the port and federal government.

The port released a statement the same day the potential deal was announced, saying it was not yet ready to endorse the plan.

“We will carefully review this proposal to ensure it addresses the traffic and environmental risks the Commission found in the initial proposal,” the port said in its statement. “Failure to adequately address those issues and fully review alternative sites could jeopardize the marine operations that support more than 30,000 jobs in our region and generate $3 billion in revenue each year and would weaken the port’s ability to create jobs and strengthen our maritime-industrial community.”

Proposed Seattle Arena Threatens Port Ops, Studies Say

Three different reports presented to the Port of Seattle Commission recently state that traffic congestion and pressure on industrial businesses brought by a proposed sports facility near the waterfront could squeeze out small business, disrupt port operations and limit the potential for the port growth.

A panel of experts in transportation, maritime economics and land use presented their findings to the port Aug. 7. The discussion came a little over a week after the King County, Washington Council voted 6-3 on July 30 to move ahead with plans for a new $490 million sports arena in the SoDo area. 

The port previously urged county and city officials to conduct a thorough study on the issue before moving forward.

During the panel discussion, the three experts noted several key issues that must be addressed regarding the proposed arena, including how port terminal operations are significantly impacted on game days because game traffic makes reaching terminals difficult for trucks.

Also according to the panel, congestion increases transit time and costs and makes the gateway less attractive for customers, therefore, SoDo’s well-documented traffic management issues would theoretically worsen the situation.

Additionally, when industrial businesses are squeezed out of the waterfront area by other land uses like entertainment, they must relocate farther out, which increases the cost of doing business, according to the panel.

“People’s jobs are at stake here. Let’s take the time to analyze the full impacts and the trade-offs that will be made if the arena is built in SoDo,” Commissioner Bill Bryant said.

The panelists during the discussion were Marni Heffron, who has more than 25 years of experience as a transportation engineer and has led transportation studies for development and infrastructure projects in Seattle and at the Port of Seattle; Paul Sorenson, Principal of BST Associates, who has participated in planning, economic and financial assessments of transportation projects for 35 years; and Peter Steinbrueck of Steinbrueck Urban Strategies, who has years of experience in land use and zoning, urban design, public policy and urban planning.

County Council Moves Forward with Disputed Arena Plan

The King County, Washington Council on July 30 voted to move ahead with plans for a new sports arena that the Port of Seattle has come out against.

The contract with investor Chris Hansen’s ArenaCo was approved on a 6-3 vote. The plan now goes back to the Seattle City Council for a vote.

Under the arena plan, which was announced May 16, developer Chris Hansen would build a $490 million sports and entertainment complex in SoDo. Under the agreement, the city would buy the land from Hansen for up to $100 million and Hansen and ArenaCo would privately finance the arena’s construction.

But the Port of Seattle maintains that the proposed project, which consists of building an 18,000-seat hockey and basketball arena in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood, in the Industrial District, would conflict with the port’s own Century Agenda, under which it plans to generate 100,000 new jobs for the area within the next 25 years.

Under the agreement, Hansen’s group would provide about $290 million in funding the cost of the arena, while Seattle would commit up to $120 million and King County would contribute up to $80 million.

However, the port has previously cautioned the City of Seattle and King County in a letter that the project “could weaken port/industrial businesses.”

Port of Seattle Cautions Against Arena Plan

The Port of Seattle is attempting to rain on newly-announced plans by the city to build a sports arena near port property, saying that such a venue would harm the port’s growth plans.

In a letter sent May 22 to the Seattle City and Metropolitan King County councils, the port said that a proposal on the table to build an 18,000-seat hockey and basketball arena in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood in the Industrial District would conflict with the port’s own Century Agenda, under which it plans to generate 100,000 new jobs for the area within the next 25 years.

Under the arena plan, which was announced May 16, developer Chris Hansen would build a $490 million sports and entertainment complex in SoDo. Under the agreement, the city would buy the land from Hansen for up to $100 million and Hansen and ArenaCo would privately finance the arena’s construction.

In its letter, the port urged that city and county officials proceed with caution.

“The developer has presented no compelling policy or business justification for urgent action on a proposal that has not been fully studied and could weaken port/industrial businesses,” the letter, which was signed by all five members of the port commission, reads in part. “We ask you to proceed cautiously and deliberately as you consider this proposal.”

The letter goes on to state, among other things, that the port’s “disappointed” that baseline data for the impact the project would have on traffic in the area hasn’t been generated.