Seattle police precinct sounds more like community center than bunker
Aug 17, 2016, 11:30 AM | Updated: 12:04 pm
The Seattle police precinct that's come under such heavy criticism lately has much more than just a firing range and gym. (SPD)
(SPD)
People objecting to the $149 million Seattle police precinct argue that it’s too expensive.
The cost for the new building in the North Precinct steadily rose from $89 million to $160 million before dropping slightly to $149 million. And while protesters continue to accuse the city council of working to militarize the police and trying to build a “bunker,” there hasn’t been much said about what the proper price tag should be.
So KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross asked Seattle hip-hop artist Draze what he thought.
“I think that’s a conversation they need to have with the community,” he told Seattle’s Morning News.
Draze says that he understands police need a new precinct, especially if their current one is showing its age. But the city council needs to continue to drop the price, he adds.
“Start a conversation and with the community,” he suggested. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
But there were three open houses for the precinct between 2013 and January 2016. The first open house was information about the proposed site at the southeast corner of Aurora Avenue North and North 130th Street, as well as SPD’s needs, and the development schedule. A second was dedicated for the public to see preliminary designs and offer feedback. The third, held Jan. 23, included designs, schedules and opportunities for input.
Each of those public meetings were held in the neighborhood in which the precinct will serve.
Draze says he spoke with several community members who were unaware of the meetings. There is a feeling that the city has failed to reach out to all constituents, and there should be members of the community directly involved in the design process, he says.
Related: Seattle council gets its due for catering to ‘grievance crowd’
As it turns out, the precinct’s current design and amenities include more than a gym and firing range. Danny Westneat, of The Seattle Times, found that the Seattle Design Commission was worried about the precinct’s “fortress feeling.” Work was done to remove that militarized-style feel. And that might explain the rising cost of the building.
Between the time the first design was released and now, much has been added to the precinct’s design. According to Westneat, that includes: an amphitheater, rain gardens, a yoga/community room, boulder playground, bike-repair station, skate park, and more.
That might explain the dramatic jump in price. But why would a police precinct need all that? Because this is Seattle and we’re special. As Ross points out, nobody ever subtracts, only adds.
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Tune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.
