23 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Rally for Relocation, supporting local businesses in light rail's path"

• DavidT July 11, 2024 (11:12 pm)

  Not a lot of easy answers here. Lightrail will definitely be a blessing to West Seattle neighbors who work in Seattle, but we can’t help but feel for the business owners. Relocating a business, establishing a new customer base, reinvesting money, time, energy… It’s a scary thing.  Thankfully we have a city council that is more sensitive to small business owners than previous councils. I still remember the horror stories of eminent domain taking properties in West Seattle just a decade ago. Thankful for councilmember Saka, Nelson, and Woo who have been engaged with the West Seattle small business community and are working for a fair and just resolution.  We can make this work for everyone, but everyone has to be willing to speak, listen, empathize, and join together in a way that benefits everyone.

  • Jim July 12, 2024 (12:04 am)

    It will NOT be a blessing it’ll be the death of the last of what makes West Seattle a healthy and thriving community and turn it into no better than a Manhattan suburb packed with apartments and overpriced corporate stores. With absolutely no mom and pop businesses left. In addition to displacing hundreds of people from their homes

    • K July 12, 2024 (6:48 am)

      No, DavidT had it right, it will be a blessing.  The ease of coming in and out of West Seattle and the additional neighbors we sta d to gain over the years will be a boon to small businesses.  How are mom and pop shops supposed to grow if West Seattle’s population never does?

    • Another One July 12, 2024 (9:09 am)

      Space and housing are scarce. If West Seattle doesn’t grow, then the cost of housing will continue to increase into the millions of dollars for a plain little house. Blocking zoning for housing density will just make another Mercer Island. And don’t forget that West Seattle was originally called “New York Alki” by the white settlers. Also, I don’t know what Manhattan suburbs you’re talking about, but mom-and-pop shops thrive in NYC. Approximately 98% of NYC businesses are fewer than 100 people, and NYC has the 2nd highest number of mom-and-pops in the country. What’s interesting in the article I’m citing from, is that it says NYC makes it easy for small businesses to get funding. Which is what these West Seattle businesses are looking for. It’s not light rail that’s the issue, it’s adequate funding for small businesses. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/smallbizfirst/downloads/pdf/small-business-first-report.pdfhttps://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/new-york-has-2nd-highest-percentage-of-small-businesses-in-the-country-study/

      • Rob July 12, 2024 (11:32 am)

        What do you mean no more room. Remember just a short while back the governor signed a bill eliminating single family zoning.  Look next door to you that’s right your neighbors at any moment take there house down a put up 4 plex. It’s now happening all over the city. On the bright side it’s a bonanza for construction workers. 

        • WSB July 12, 2024 (11:48 am)

          Actually the densification started before that; city rules changed a few years ago to allow three units on almost any lot. Now with the state change it’s four. The types of housing that result, vary in our anecdotal observation (firsthand as well as frequent permit-file checks) … two redeveloped lots in the heart of humble south Gatewood, among the 1940s warboxes, have just put their first of several new houses on the market … for almost $3 million.

    • Mike July 12, 2024 (9:15 am)

      Jim we aren’t living in a 1980s bubble. We’re part of a growing urban city and we need the infrastructure to support that. Some businesses will be pushed out but character can remain. Did all the small businesses get pushed out of Cap Hill when they got a light rail station?

      • natat224 July 12, 2024 (12:15 pm)

        Have you seen Cap Hill lately? It’s dirty and disgusting, I hope that’s not our future 

        • k July 12, 2024 (1:46 pm)

          Capitol Hill was dirty before the light rail, lol.  

    • C July 12, 2024 (10:08 am)

      This is incredibly out of touch with reality. 

    • AK July 12, 2024 (12:07 pm)

      @Jim I agree. They already are ruining West Seattle. We are Full!!!!… And we don’t want an urban village!

  • J July 12, 2024 (9:10 am)

    Literally not a single City Councilmember has done anything to advocate for these businesses since this new Council took over. Saka, despite being the Transportation Committee Chair and a Delridgeresident, has been dead silent on the impacts to WS businesses.Not sure where you’re getting this idea that he, Woo, or Nelson “have been engaged with the West Seattle businesses and are working for a fair and just resolution”, because that’s 100% BS.This isn’t unique to them. The Dow, Harrell, and Strauss have all been MIA as well.Shockingly, Mosqueda and Morales are the only ones still in office who’ve done anything to amplify the voice of these businesses, or avoid or mitigate the impacts to them.

• LisaS July 12, 2024 (10:02 am)

  When I moved here about 24 years ago, I was astounded and thrilled to find out that there were no large box stores around. My understanding was that it was a conscious decision to keep the island as locally resourced as possible. A few years later, Target and Barnes and noble came here, but it still seemed ok because it was “ours”. Now it’s one apartment building after another that are only affordable to no one that’s isn’t making six figures. Putting small business out of business (which is what will happen to most of them) goes against everything I thought we all still wanted here. 

  • Mickymse July 12, 2024 (12:06 pm)

    Well, I don’t know who was telling you such nonsense… Because when you moved here 24 years ago all of the significant upzoning had ALREADY BEEN PASSED by City Council or was under current discussion. I’m talking about high rises along Alki and Fauntleroy and California and Avalon. And I’m talking about urban villages at Westwood or the Junction. And these aren’t administrative decisions that are hidden by government bureaucrats. These are decisions that have to be presented publicly in front of City Council and then voted on by electeds. And that was done after LOTS of public outreach.

  • k July 12, 2024 (1:54 pm)

    Twenty-four years ago one of the main corners in the Junction was dominated by a Super Supplements.  A couple doors down was a Petco (that has since been replaced with numerous small businesses).  There was a K-Mart at Delridge and Orchard.  I could keep going.  Whoever told you there were no big box stores in West Seattle 24 years ago is a liar.  West Seattle has become more friendly to small businesses as more people move here to support them.

• wsbreader July 12, 2024 (11:16 am)

  I’m excited for the light rail and think it will bring even more business to West Seattle.

• 98126res July 12, 2024 (12:28 pm)

  Still hoping common sense prevails, they fully explore the No Build Option for West Seattle link, incl maximizing other transportation options already in place for our unique peninsula, already served by many express busses to DT.
   
  * ReThinkTheLink.org
  – $4 Billion saved
  – Many Businesses saved
  – Many Homes saved
  – Environment saved
  – Many families and workers not displaced
  – No ugly cement towers
  – No 4-5 years of major construction

  • Wsmama July 13, 2024 (11:20 pm)

    YES! Agree!!!im praying that these people come to their sense and reason with logic! 

• Westseattle123 July 12, 2024 (2:12 pm)

  We absolutely need to support businesses and their future as light rail is being built! A key part of that is getting west Seattle better connected with the broader city and making it easier for folks to come and go without cars – excited for light rail and all that it will bring to west Seattle! 

• Hummer July 12, 2024 (5:30 pm)

  Common sense does prevail! There are ways to improve our existing transit, and it’s not light rail. Sound Transit can use ST3 money to enhance what we currently have without people losing their businesses, homes, or jobs with little environmental impact. It’s called the “No Build” clause. “No Build does not mean do nothing, it helps us build something better. It can use the ST3 project monies to take advantage of our current bus system by increasing the number of buses, bus services, routes, etc. Here’s how we do it. West Seattle by Bus instead of Light Rail west-Seattle-by-bus-instead-of-light-rail

  • K July 12, 2024 (6:46 pm)

    There’s a shortage of bus drivers, genius.  If throwing money at SPD didn’t solve their staffing issues, throwing light rail money at Metro isn’t going to solve their staffing issues either.  Buses don’t drive themselves, and no transit agency is expected to be flush with drivers any time soon.  That half-assed transit blog doesn’t even acknowledge the staffing issues.  It’s a total fantasy.  Try again.  

    • Scarlett July 13, 2024 (8:00 am)

      “Fantasy?”  Oh, that’s a bit rich, K.  You are arguing because we can’t find bus drivers the only recourse is to throw up our hands and say, oh well, I guess we’ll just have to bulldoze through West Seattle with an absurdly expensive, disruptive piece of infrastructure that will have no net benefit?  You’re not convincing anyone, sorry.      

  • SoLongDelridge July 13, 2024 (12:40 am)

    Very scalable.
    https://x.com/RentonpdWA/status/1811949585075736618

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