OPINION
Online poll: Do you think a new high school would be the right option for MISD? • 80.3% said no. • 19.7% said yes.
Mercer Island rEporter | www.mi-reporter.com
Team work T
he potential of yet another multistory residential and mixed-use building in the Town Center brings us up short. There is more? When we consider how much the neighborhood has changed over the last five or six years, it is hard to believe several hundred more apartments will be added in just a few years’ time. In the case of the latest proposal, ‘Legacy Mercer Island,’ to be built on the lot where the Islander restaurant and True Value Hardware reside, we are struck by the sameness between it and the other buildings that have sprung up here since 2005. All of them, it seems, are much higher than we thought they would be. All are apartments and little else. They are a bit intimidating and rather inaccessible. The Planning and Design Commissions’ role in reviewing these developments are clear. They enforce the rules and champion the values of city residents. In the instance of the new Legacy project, the developers must choose between setting aside several units for affordable housing (meaning rents are set at levels where city and school employees could afford to live here rather than commute) or making due with just a four-story building instead of five. As more people come, there should be new places to shop and gather. They have been slow to come. Services that are close by will encourage people to walk rather than drive. But there will still be a need for parking. The effort underway by the City Council to reevaluate the building codes for the Town Center should help encourage new businesses to come. But all the players must do their part. Local businesses must come together to discuss parking issues, and building owners must consider if the rents they are charging discourage new tenants. The city must not deny building owners their rights to use their properties as they see fit. As Islanders, we are torn between keeping the Island knowable and small, versus adding new energy to our Town Center. Our view is that thoughtful development in the Town Center can be a positive change for all involved.
‘To fill empty storefronts in the Town Center, everyone has to work together.’
ISLAND
TALK
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 | PAGE 5
To the editor The ‘cost’ of a simple lemonade stand Throughout Seafair at the corner of West Mercer Way and the eastbound off-ramp of I-90, a group of teenage kids had a concession stand. It was a booming business. They sold cases of water, popsicles, lemonade and more. The stand was staged on the corner, but behind the scenes, they had their inventory stashed up on the vacant lot behind the Verizon Wireless building. The lot is owned by the Department of Transportation and part of it is leased to Verizon. They came and went, hauling in truckloads of stuff and parking on the vacant lot that would look into it. They also told was otherwise closed for public me that no permit was issued or parking. The Mercer Island police required. A Mercer Island official and traffic control had a huge presreturned my call to tell me that they ence on the same could do nothing about corner. it. In fact I was told that All during Seafair, it was often not about the kids spread trash justice on Mercer Island Send your letters to: across the property. and that the taxpayers editor@mi-reporter.com. At one point I had would probably end up Keep it brief, courteous, a brief discussion paying to have it cleaned and sign your name. with one of the boys up, as the land belongs about not leaving to the Department of a mess when they Transportation. were done. I was assured that they Workers came and cleaned up the would not. Shame on me for assummess. The kids who made all of the ing that they would be responsible, profits were never held responsible. and shame on me for assuming that Chances are, they didn’t pay taxes the city would not allow such a large on the income from their stand. So operation to exist without a permit that leaves the rest of us who do pay or a business license. taxes to bear that burden. Somehow, When Seafair was over, the mess it doesn’t seem quite right. Next year was left behind — including sevwill be different. eral folding tables, an overflowing Ted Misselwitz trash bin and a large pile of garbage blowing in the wind. I attempted to contact those responsible. I was not successful. I called the City of Mercer Island and talked to code I read with interest your July 25, enforcement, who told me that they 2012, article about the new $5 mil-
Have your say
Fire station cost seems high, a boon for builder
lion South end 8,200-square-foot firehouse. That cost works out to $610 per square foot. This is an incredibly high cost, especially considering all utilities are already on site. There should be numerous bidders very anxious to get this job! Stan Ruble Retired real estate developer
To the Design Commission re: new development I urge you to reconsider the design of our downtown and especially the Legacy Mercer Island. The 215 units proposed are way too many units for this property. The fifth story should be denied. The present downtown has dramatically increased our school enrollment and decreased retail and services to Mercer Island residents. In addition, the high density has clogged streets and created parking problems. Further, multifamily
How do you feel about the developments in the Town Center?
“I like it.” Mart Kask
Consulting city planner Mercer Island
“I think we’re making a little Manhattan.” Suzanne Zahniser Lawyer Mercer Island
Vote in the latest poll online at www.mi-reporter.com
“I think we’re overbuilding.” Hardin Turney Retired Mercer Island
“It takes away from what I knew the Island to be.” Chris Tingelstad Education Eastgate
letters | Page 7
Online poll
“I don’t think they’ve planned far enough ahead.” Ted Misselwitz Retired Mercer Island
As construction on the Mercer 2 and Aviara projects continues, and with plans underway for the new Legacy development, the Town Center will have upwards of 350 new housing units in the next several years. We want to know what you think. Do you think the Town Center is the best place for housing? Vote now online at www.mi-reporter.com and look for the results in next week’s paper.