Union files new court brief arguing Seattle arena ‘unlawful’
Feb 8, 2013, 1:20 PM | Updated: 2:31 pm
A local union filed final court documents Friday alleging the proposed new Sodo arena is being illegally chosen before the proper environmental review and without analysis of alternate sites. (360 Architecture image)
(360 Architecture image)
A union fighting the preferred location of a new Seattle sports arena says the city and county unlawfully picked a site near the waterfront.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 19, is asking a Seattle judge to rule invalid a city-county agreement, called a Memorandum of Understanding, arguing the Sodo site was picked before the proper environmental review and without analysis of alternate sites.
In part, the union claims in the brief that the arena “will jeopardize thousands of living wage maritime and industrial jobs in and around SODO. Increased traffic congestion in the area, particularly coupled with the pending removal of the Hwy. 99 viaduct and tunnel tolling, will make the Port of Seattle less competitive.”
Chris Hansen and his group of investors wants to build a $490 million basketball and hockey arena south of Safeco Field.
Backers of the arena counter that the legal challenge is premature and that claimed economic impacts of the arena are speculative.
A King County Superior Court Judge will hear oral arguments on opposing claims for summary judgement in two weeks (Feb. 22).
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