LEAVE NO VILLAGE BEHIND

Leave No Villages Behind - Leave no Annexed areas Behind

The voters of the City of Seattle turned down Paul Allen's plan for a Commons. Twice. The second time the City gave up 10 acres of publicly owned land as compensation for Mr. Allen's failed attempt for the citizens votes to further enrich him. Next, Paul Allen purchased property from the Seattle Times. The Seattle Times became a constant and persistent cheerleader for Paul Allen's plans for South Lake Union. Then, Mayor Nickels discovered a need for a seventh Urban Hub Village. He designated an area that encompassed much of Paul Allen's 60 acres. Bingo. the Seattle council voted the HUB village in. Over the past eight years not much attention has been paid to the other six Hub Villages. Back to Paul Allen and the elected officials of the City.

Now the scene is set for the raids on the public treasury. New zoning codes are now in place. The cheerleading for high technology developments in Paul Allen's Village intensifies. Suddenly a Local Improvement District is set up. This Washington Wonderland gimmick allows a 40.1% of the property (the volume, and value of land held ) owners to establish the L.I.D. No surprises here. Much of Paul Allen's land was within the L.I.D. and with a few other holders of large quantities of land, he could hold off the 600 or more of the majority persons affected. The 600 plus other owners of small properties within "Allen Town" are now like classic residents of the European Medieval villas. The L.I.D. also had Mayor Nickels' "Tooner Trolley" planned to run in Allentown. So now public monies must come in play to help the billionaire receive subsidies to build the trolley and to sharpen up the streets.

There is more. The park at South Lake Union, suddenly, after 45 years, needs a new sea wall. It figures. Now the City must pay more toward the Allenstown centerpiece. Bingo, the City Council found millions more to add to the restoration of this park. Millions that could have built sidewalks, bridge repair, streets with curbs and plantings, underground wiring and lighted crosswalks in Lesser Outer Seattle Territories (LOST) Northwest. More "downtowners" will clamor for a new Seattle Center, a new park for Bell Town, removal of the well utilized Aurora Viaduct and on and on for Inner Greater Seattle enrichment and enhancement. Where does this leave We the People in Lesser Outer Seattle? Lesser Outer Seattle Territories Northwest being (sigh) the annexed areas North of 85th Street to 145th, and from Puget Sound East to Interstate 5. Our are a has been ANNEXED AND UNIMPROVED AS: IMPROVED OR FINISHED OR COMPLETED STREETS SINCE 1953. FOR OVER 50 YEARS. Can we get started on the needed work for Broadview-Bitter Lake-Haller Lake portions of LOST Northwest now?

Richard L. Dyksterhuis
Bitter Lake, Lesser Outer Seattle Territories Northwest
Washington 98133