Homeowners worried about pricey Seattle waterfront LID

As Seattle’s waterfront renovation continues, the city may force homeowners to pony up and pay to beautify the area.

“One of the ways they are looking to fund this is a waterfront local improvement district … it’s basically an extra $200 million paid by people who are local homeowners anywhere nearby the waterfront,” Brian Patch, who lives in Pioneer Square, told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson.

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KIRO 7 reports that the local improvement district, a waterfront LID, would include the core of downtown Seattle — stretching from Denny Way to South Holgate Street, and the waterfront to I-5. The $200 million price tag will pay for parks and other green spaces. Seattle has not created the waterfront LID yet, but officials will consider it over the coming months. The council could pass a resolution in May establishing its intent and an ordinance would be ready by October.

Homeowners in the area have started a website opposing the LID. It features a calculator to estimate how much an owner would have to pay under a LID. For example, a property worth $1 million would owe the city $115,000. An $800,000 condo owner would have to write a check for $92,000.

Seattle waterfront LID

Patch says while people don’t mind paying their fair share — which they have been with the recent property tax hikes — this is unbearable.

“My main concern though is basically how it’s going to impact real people’s lives down here in Pioneer Square,” he said. “They’re not all millionaires living down here. It’s people living on fixed income, seniors, working parents, young renters.”

“It’s not just the ultra-wealthy down here,” Patch added. “Also, it’s working-class people. I know at least one family who already sold and moved out of the neighborhood, specifically because of the LID. They couldn’t afford it.”

Patch argues the only people allowed to object are a group of the wealthiest property owners in the area. That doesn’t represent everyone, he says.

Another concern: If Seattle does decide to form a waterfront LID, with such high taxes, it may not stop there.

“It’s a bad precedent for Seattle,” Patch said. “It can be anybody’s neighborhood next.”

“The city could decide to re-imagine Alki Beach or Green Lake next year and then the locals would be waking up to letters notifying them they have to pay 100 grand,” he said.