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

Is Sec. Duffy Holding NY Transit Hostage To Negotiate Away The Rest of America’s Transportation Future?

The Secretary of Transportation is using two large transit projects as a bargaining chip to bully Congress into passing a budget that could be disastrous for communities across the country.

October 2, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Healthy Architecture, Healthy People

It is very unusual for an architecture project to pay any attention at all outside of the property line. And that has to change.

October 2, 2025

Report: A Third of Americans Can’t Rely On Cars — And 16 Million Have No Access At All

So why do we plan our cities like everyone can and does get behind the wheel every day?

October 2, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Fall in the Forest

If reduced or free fares are available but no one knows about them, do they make an impact on transportation costs?

October 2, 2025

A Week Without Driving … Or Biking?

Seattle Bike Blog author Tom Fucoloro challenged himself to experience his city through the eyes of someone who can't operate a personal vehicle — including a bike.

October 2, 2025

Shutdown Showdown: Trump Blames Democrats for Transit Cuts In His Continuing War on Cities, ‘Woke’

It's the second time in as many days that the Trump administration has denied funding over policies it opposes.

October 1, 2025
See all posts