Sims puts squeeze on Burien

Burien's transit-oriented development project is on hold, the apparent hostage of King County Executive Ron Sims if the city proceeds with plans to demolish and replace the Lora Lake Apartments.

City Manager Mike Martin told the Times/News last week that a request for qualifications by the King County Transportation Department for a private developer for the $12.5 million project likely won't be issued this month as previously anticipated.

This was confirmed by Kurt Triplett, Sims' chief of staff, who rejected the notion that the county executive is "pulling the plug" on Burien's long-planned transit-oriented development near Town Square.

But, Triplett admitted, Sims "has said the county will reprioritize the funding if we have to replace" affordable housing at Lora Lake.

"We propose to put [the funds for Burien] into other transit-oriented development projects in other cities.... For example, White Center is a place where we could really have a huge impact with a transit-oriented development."

Mayor Joan McGilton countered that "the King County Housing Authority, others in King County... the Church Council of Greater Seattle, keep telling Burien what to do.

"So where go from here? Ron Sims came to us and asked for us to discuss if there is any incentive that would make us change our minds. And we have to talk about that as a council.

"It is important to continue the dialog with those that are not listening about what is important to our community," McGilton said. "If there is a win-win, that's what Burien wants and I hope we find it soon."

Built in the late 1980s, the Lora Lake Apartments--a 234-unit affordable housing complex--were bought by the Port of Seattle in 1998.

The city, the Port and the King County Housing Authority, which manages the apartments, agreed they would remain open until 2005, at which time they would be removed. The apartments are less than 1,000 feet from the third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport.

When construction of the runway was delayed, all parties agreed the apartments would remain open until June 2007.

Lora Lake is within the city's Northeast Redevelopment Area, which has been zoned light industrial to support uses compatible with its proximity to the airport.

Local lawmakers also are eyeing the possibility of amending Burien's comprehensive plan to allow commercial development there, which could include a "big box" store at the Lora Lake site.

In late March, representatives of the city, the Port and the housing authority met to discuss the scheduled June closure of the apartments.

According to several Burien officials, while housing authority representatives indicated a desire to keep Lora Lake open, they recognized a "contractual obligation" and were ready to begin phasing them out.

But the next day, housing authority Executive Director Stephen Norman sent a letter to federal and state as well as city officials, citing the need for affordable housing in King County and essentially demanding that apartments remain in use.

"We sympathize with the need for low-income housing," Martin said last week. "But we've got it here."

He cited statistics that show 81 percent of rental units in Burien "are accessible to low- to moderate-income families, compared with a county wide average of 46."

Burien City Councilwoman Sue Blazak called Sims' threat "cutting off your nose to spite your face. I see putting affordable housing in the transit-oriented development as good planning because all the services are there, the transportation is there....

"Once the third runway goes in the people who have the means will leave [Lora Lake]. Left behind will be the poorest people ... in an isolated area 900 feet from the airport without the resources they need. I don't see that as responsible government."

McGilton noted that Burien has declared for seven years "this area is not be residential," and for 10 years "we have been looking to get this property and the Northeast Redevelopment Area back on the tax rolls. That's our message."

Why, she asked, did the housing authority write "the March 28 letter saying keep the housing when they had the contractual agreement?"

Especially, McGilton added, when King County, as a region, "does not support affordable housing as much as Burien is, and Tukwila and Des Moines."

Triplett, however, argued that Burien says it wants big-box retail that would replace affordable housing at Lora Lake and compete with new retail in the Town Square development.

"If you, Burien, do not care enough not to compete with yourself, why should scare [financial] resources go to transit-oriented development" in the city?

No one forced the city council to vote on May 7 against keeping Lora Lake open," Triplett added, calling that move "an adversarial decision."

King County Council members Dow Constantine, D-West Seattle, and Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac, said they have expressed to Sims their concern over his threat to withhold funds already appropriated for Burien's transit-oriented development.

"It would be unfortunate if this project were hobbled by the loss of additional funding, and I'll be working to avoid that," Constantine said.

Blazak added that she sees no logic in Sims' claim that a big box store would compete with businesses planned for Town Square.

That is not the case, she said, and "it's not an issue.

"Like all the cities around here, we're struggling.... We need to diversify our revenue stream to pay for basic services that we need. So it's ironic that they want us to keep housing there."