Danny Westneat / Times staff columnist
Streetcar desire misplaced

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They made a compelling case. Cities like Portland and Memphis have used electric trolleys to set downtrodden parts of town on fire with new jobs, housing and industry. "There's something magical about streetcars," said Phyllis Lamphere, a former city councilwoman.

Then I drove the proposed 1.3-mile trolley route. Construction crews clogged the streets. Gleaming biotech and software buildings, most the work of Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc., have popped up on every other block, crowding out the area's signature car-parts and antiques shops.

It seems to me that no part of this city needs a spark less than South Lake Union.

In the past three years, developers have built 2 million square feet of office space and applied to build 5 million more. That doubles the area's commercial space, much of it for the biotech industry.

Builders also have constructed or applied to build 1,455 housing units. That more than doubles the number of apartments, many of them high-end, luxury condos.

All of this happened during the worst economic recession in two decades. Without any help from government.

Imagine if the number of office buildings and apartments doubled in your neighborhood. You wouldn't be down at City Hall asking for fuel to light a fire. You'd be begging them to put the fire out. Or at least to control it.

Another argument for the streetcar is that all the people destined to live and work in South Lake Union will need a way to get around. That is true, especially given the poor condition of the roads there.

But streetcars are not to be confused with rapid mass transit; average speed is 9 mph. They run in the car lanes and stop at stoplights.

The line is projected to carry 1,000 people a day to start. That is less than any of the six Metro bus lines that serve the neighborhood (though most riders are heading elsewhere.)
 
There is something magical about streetcars. It would be fun to have one right here near my office. But what they are best at — spurring economic development — happens to be the one thing South Lake Union does not need.

Currently businesses are offering to pay about half the trolley's cost. If they want to pay the whole tab, then fine, build it. But I don't see how the city can justify spending tax dollars on it.

There is a streetcar idea that makes some sense. It would run from the International District to 23rd Avenue South and South Jackson Street. The Central District is growing in fits and starts, but it surely is a part of the city that could use an economic boost.

Why not build that streetcar instead? Because there's no money for it, city officials say.

Translation: Paul Allen isn't building like gangbusters in the Central District.

Danny Westneat's column appears Wednesday and Friday.

Reach him at 206-464-2086 or dwestneat@seattletimes.com