An appeal to the Seattle Hearing Examiner questioning the environmental impact of a proposed affordable housing complex will not receive a hearing until Sept. 25 in order to accommodate the European vacation of the plaintiff, Elizabeth Campbell.
The Hearing Examiner’s schedule was booked until mid-August, and a week’s absence by Assistant City Attorney Patrick Downs pushed the proposed date until an opening on Sept. 4.
But Campbell’s prolonged absence will further delay a project that has been on hold since the first lawsuit she launched against it in 2008.
If developed as planned, Fort Lawton will hold 238 units of affordable housing that will serve seniors, low-income renters and low-income homeowners. Proponents admit this is a drop in the bucket compared to what the site could support, but opponents like Campbell believe that any development on the site would waste an opportunity to expand Discovery Park, the 500-acre park abutting the Magnolia neighborhood.
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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