A group planning to double the size of the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle says it wants to vacate three alleys and areas below Olive Way and Terry Avenue for expansion. That's raising concern for commuters downtown.
"While this is a big project and we will have traffic impacts, we will try to do our best to mitigate them," said lead developer Matt Griffin.
The expansion plan was put on display inside Seattle City Hall Tuesday. The nearly $2 billion project boasts a ballroom the size of a football field, along with an exhibition hall and meeting rooms.
The convention center says it draws 400,000 people a year and has to turn away more business than it can accept.
Part of the expansion plan is to push alternatives, including more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly options as well as mass transit.
Another requirement for developers is they must provide community benefits. Griffin said he is ready to spend more than $92 million on a list of improvements, including $38 million toward affordable housing. Council member Mike O'Brien said he'd like to see an additional $17 million added to the affordable housing benefit. O'Brien also wants a percentage of the project's contracting work to go to women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
The Washington State Convention Center expansion will be discussed again this month at city hall.
