Children's creates a livable campus

Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center has bent over backward — almost literally — to accommodate concerned neighbors about an expansion demanded by the needs of our region's sick, injured and disabled children.

Under the hospital's new preferred solution for an expansion and an innovative transportation plan, the residential areas surrounding the hospital — and their views — will remain relatively undisturbed. Meanwhile, this critical medical asset serving children in four states will be able to meet demand that is testing its capacity now and for the next 20 years.

Recently ranked ninth among the nation's pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, the hospital wants to add 350 more inpatient beds, bringing the total to 600. The need for new inpatient beds is here — February was especially tight with some nonurgent procedures and treatments rescheduled.

The hospital has worked diligently to move outpatient traffic off the Seattle Laurelhurst campus — to new offices in Everett, Bellevue and in rural areas. Children's recently moved research operations downtown.

But some neighborhood activists fought the expansion effort, concerned too-tall buildings would block views and the quiet neighborhood behind the hospital would be inundated with traffic pouring out of new driveways. Under the new alternative, the hospital will turn its campus facade more emphatically toward existing commercial development along Sandpoint Way. Instead of building on the existing campus, the hospital would bend its profile over and build on the lowland now occupied by the Laurelon Terrace condominiums, leaving the views from behind campus unobstructed. A majority of condo owners voted to sell the property to Children's for 2.8 times the market value.

An innovative transportation plan — which includes bikes for common use, shuttles available to the public and off-campus improvements to neighborhood pathways that ease foot, bike and bus commuting — will augment Children's already aggressive commute-reduction efforts.

Children's Hospital has been diligent in answering the concerns of the neighborhood, but some still oppose any expansion. That is incredibly shortsighted.

This great regional asset that saves and betters the lives of children has proved it is an attentive and concerned neighbor. As the planning process moves forward, its detractors should return the favor.