In an entirely expected turn of events, a Magnolia resident and local community council have asserted that there are flaws in an environmental document that would move the city one step closer to building affordable housing adjacent to Discovery Park.
Elizabeth Campbell and the Laurelhurst Community Club filed appeals against the environmental impact statement for the Fort Lawton project in April. Campbell, who helped stall redevelopment of the site in 2008, claims on behalf of the Discovery Park Community Alliance that moving hundreds of people into a “compound” will hurt the park.
The Laurelhurst Community Club objects to the city choosing the Talaris site, which is in the Laurelhurst neighborhood, as an alternative to Fort Lawton.
Both appeals elongate the environmental process, which potentially ups the price tag on the project because of increasing construction costs. They certainly push out the date on which Seattle could have additional affordable rental and homeownership options available to low-income Seattleites.
The combination of the appeals is particularly curious as Campbell has suggested in public that the Talaris site is the preferred alternative to building next to Discovery Park.
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Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Follow Ashley on Twitter @AshleyA_RC
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