Seawall rebuilding could undermine waterfront businesses
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SEATTLE - A project aimed at protecting Seattle's waterfront could end up hurting business there - at least in the short term.
Voters overwhelmingly approved a $290 million bond measure to rebuild the seawall. But business owners are afraid the construction will drive tourists away.
The reasons are obvious. During most of the year, it's chilly and rainy in Seattle. Consequently, waterfront businesses ring up more than half of their sales during four summer months - between June and September.
"September is very important," says Gerry Hall, manager of Seattle's Great Wheel.
But now, September is in jeopardy.
"The city's going to begin rebuilding the seawall next year," says Tom Rasmussen of the Seattle City Council.
The city agreed to stop construction during June, July and August - knowing that the noise, mess, and traffic hassles would hurt summer tourism. But the city's new draft plan calls for construction to restart in September, after Labor Day.
"September is probably one of our busiest months. As we all know, that's the summer of Washington," says Hall.
The seawall project is all about timing.
First, there's the tourist season, then they have to work around the salmon spawning season. Crews cannot work during sensitive times of year or they might hurt the fish. But they have a hard and fast deadline, because they have to be done with the first phase of the seawall before the viaduct is torn down in four years. That's a lot to fit in to a small window.
"Everything has to fit together in terms of timing, otherwise it will cost us a tremendous amount," says Rasmussen. "It will be incredibly inconvenient as well."
Everyone agrees that the 70-year old seawall must be be replaced.
"It's a project that definitely needs to be done. We definitely need to work on our infrastructure," says Hall.
The seawall supports Alaskan Way and its businesss by keeping the water out. But it's eroding and may not survive an earthquake.
"We do not want to have a disaster on our waterfront," says Rasmussen.
But business owners worry how they'll survive years of construction during one of their busiest times of the year.
City leaders say they'll keep working with business owners about the timing of the construction.
Voters overwhelmingly approved a $290 million bond measure to rebuild the seawall. But business owners are afraid the construction will drive tourists away.
The reasons are obvious. During most of the year, it's chilly and rainy in Seattle. Consequently, waterfront businesses ring up more than half of their sales during four summer months - between June and September.
"September is very important," says Gerry Hall, manager of Seattle's Great Wheel.
But now, September is in jeopardy.
"The city's going to begin rebuilding the seawall next year," says Tom Rasmussen of the Seattle City Council.
The city agreed to stop construction during June, July and August - knowing that the noise, mess, and traffic hassles would hurt summer tourism. But the city's new draft plan calls for construction to restart in September, after Labor Day.
"September is probably one of our busiest months. As we all know, that's the summer of Washington," says Hall.
The seawall project is all about timing.
First, there's the tourist season, then they have to work around the salmon spawning season. Crews cannot work during sensitive times of year or they might hurt the fish. But they have a hard and fast deadline, because they have to be done with the first phase of the seawall before the viaduct is torn down in four years. That's a lot to fit in to a small window.
"Everything has to fit together in terms of timing, otherwise it will cost us a tremendous amount," says Rasmussen. "It will be incredibly inconvenient as well."
Everyone agrees that the 70-year old seawall must be be replaced.
"It's a project that definitely needs to be done. We definitely need to work on our infrastructure," says Hall.
The seawall supports Alaskan Way and its businesss by keeping the water out. But it's eroding and may not survive an earthquake.
"We do not want to have a disaster on our waterfront," says Rasmussen.
But business owners worry how they'll survive years of construction during one of their busiest times of the year.
City leaders say they'll keep working with business owners about the timing of the construction.
Rebuilding is definately the right thing to do but under their plan The Frankfurter which has been around Seattle for 30 years will be gone. It is a shame that a small businees will be gone for a viewing deck.
Just wondering if Kiewit construction isgoing to do the work? Just like the pontoons on the 520.
@Thepriest No. http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2012/11/seawall-contractors-mortenson-manson.html
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Since a lot of summer vacation periods don't start until later in June, and June tends to be wet around here, why not shift the three month construction break to July, August, and September?
So don't rebuild it and let the thing fall apart or collapse during a storm or earthquake. Then let them complain about it, AND put up the money to rebuild it.
Pretty sure shoring up the seawall for the protection of everyone is far more important.
@quidproquo Just wait until all the lawsuits start. The seawall project wont start for another ten years probably.
Sounds like boostrappy "job creators" looking for a handout.
what waterfront business? the weird tourist shops?
reality of the matter is this: That seawall needs fixing. Come the next quake of major significance on the Seattle Fault system, the current seawall is very likely to move about 20 feet west. Just think of what is going to happen to the waterfront back to about 2nd Avenue is going to look like after the seawall failure.
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When the seawall fails, there will be no more waterfront businesses. So, get over it, bite the bullet for the rebuild, and be happy you'll have a waterfront to do business on in the future.
 @Bornhere The last time the Seattle Fault slipped, it moved over 15' vertically.
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The fault line runs from the eastern foothills of the Olympic mountains under the
sound and parallel to I-90Â into the western foothills of the cascades.
If it moves again, the seawall, the viaduct or tunnel(depends when) and the
all of the north/south infrastructure could be in a world of hurt. The only movement
recorded of this fault was in a vertical plane that resulted in one side sinking slightly,
whilethe other side was subject to a large upheaval.
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It is unlikely to cause any east/west movement, but the results of the movement
of the Seattle Fault vertically could cause extensive problems in the entire region.
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I too was born here in early 1945.
 @pete1427 Just a FYI for the folks living in the South Lake Union area... a branch of the Seattle Fault system runs along the south end of Lake Union. It is estimated that there will be approximately 27 feet of vertical movement between one side of the fault and the other. And that will occur in a matter of seconds. just some thought for those wanting to buy into hi-rise towers in that area.
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 @pete1427 Friends/family in Seattle engineering positions, as well as emergency management officials have told me that a westward movement of the seawall will happen should it fail. This is because of all that weight sitting on top of the fill that the wall is holding. My comment had nothing to do with the direction of movement of the fault itself.
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 @pete1427 Yep, once that seawall goes, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be the Alaskan Way "floating" bridge, so to speak.From one native mossback to another, take care and be safe out there.
 @Bornhere I believe that you are referring to the liquefaction
of the soils that support the buildings. Primarily the soils from the
Denny regrade, and to the south the region west of Beacon HillÂ
including Harbor Island.
I was not aware of an arm of the fault arm that ran through the south
Lake Union area, but if that is factual, then liquefaction would be a
major risk for that region too. Any structures in the greater Seattle
area that were built on fill would be subject the problems of
liquefaction from any major quake in western Washington.
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@Bornhere Yep. I always seems to come down to small business and money. Some day people are going to have to realize that the needs of infrastructure outweigh the needs of small business revenue. If it was not for the current seawall, they wouldnt have a waterfront to conduct business from.
 @northwestsurfer I cannot imagine the whining that will take place once our Big One hits. The seawall failing will be the least of our worries.
@Bornhere And when they pick themselves up out of the ruins and debris, you know they will sue the city of seattle for not having replaced the seawall sooner
"may not survive an earthquake' then move the fill out and rebuild. wait fro the earthquake,because if it a huge one the new one won't survive either.Â
not rebuilding the seawall is simply NOT an option. why is there even a debate. want a REAL interruption to businesses? wait and see what happens when the sea wall fails
As with anything one must deal with the consequences of it. That would include interrupting business, traffic and other things. People need to prepare for it and make adjustments so they can weather out the repair job. Otherwise you had better start packing. That may sound a little cruel, but those are the ONLY two choices they have. It has to be done. Â
 @LongBeachBum Exactly, and it's a fairly safe bet that not repairing a seawall in need of repair would cause all of this on a much larger â and more permanent â scale.Â
A lot of the current businesses will be forced out once the waterfront is completely gentrified. Hey, it's "progress," right?
 @StringerJoe Just ask the former businesses along the Everett waterfront.
I have a hard time believing that not one business owner or employee on the waterfront voted for this...they likely wanted it fixed, but upon realizing they may have hurt themselves, can only whine about the decision now. Ooooops on your part, eh Seattle?Â
 @takncarabizniz Realizing that they themselves, not just the euphemistic "somebody" will be inconvenienced was the eye-opener here.
They knew the project is necessary; they just figured that the voter-approved bond would take care of the problem somehow with zero effort or cost on their part.Â
WAAAAAHHH! I don't want to face reality that life is inconvenient.... waaahhhh!
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You have two choices: Deal with the inconvenience, or deal with Puget Sound.
 @Bornhere very well said.