Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Seattle’s Scandalous Plan to “Replace” Parking With Parking

The city of Seattle is planning to use eminent domain to seize a privately owned parking lot near its waterfront. The plan is to convert it into ... a city-run parking lot.

false

What happened here? Well, Network blog Systemic Failure explains why the city saw fit to seize this land from a 103-year-old lady:

Around 100 on-street parking spaces will be lost during the Alaska Way Viaduct construction. To “mitigate” the parking loss, Seattle proposed leasing [Myrtle] Woldson’s parking lot. Woldson already provides parking — just at a market rate. Woldson declined the lease offer as too low. So rather than meet her price, Seattle will just seize her lot through eminent domain.

Seattle is also considering whether to build a parking garage on the lot. Because if there is one thing the waterfront lacks, it is parking.

Wow. Seattle. Way to actually worsen your parking problem. This kind of blatant eminent domain abuse should be illegal.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space lists some of the country's hippest suburbs and attempts to synthesize the factors that contribute to their popularity. Cyclelicious says concerned parents really ought worry less about activities like cycling and more about what's really killing people: driving. And Bike Portland reports that the city is planning to install LED lighting to mark some of its bike lanes.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Wednesday’s Headlines Are for the Children

From mothers with babies in strollers to preteens on bikes, much of the U.S. is hostile to families just trying to get around without a car.

July 2, 2025

Ambulance Data Reveals That Boston Drivers Are 4 Times More Likely to Run Over Pedestrians From Black Neighborhoods

"Overall, residents of predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods are about four times more likely than residents of predominantly white neighborhoods to be struck as a pedestrian."

July 1, 2025

Tuesday’s Sprawling Headlines

Sprawl seems to be having a moment, but it remains a very shortsighted and environmentally disastrous way to solve the housing crisis.

July 1, 2025

Does Constant Driving Really Make Our Country Richer?

A new study reveals that constant driving is making America less productive and prosperous — and getting people on other modes could help right the ship.

July 1, 2025

This Threatened Toronto Bike Lane Gets More Rush Hour Traffic Than the Car Lane

Ontario leadership claim "no one bikes" on their cities' paths — but the data shows otherwise.

July 1, 2025
See all posts