Despite suit, city poised to start renovating Pioneer Square park

Construction crews have enclosed Occidental Park in Pioneer Square with metal fencing, signifying the city's intent to move forward with a contentious renovation project, including cutting down 17 trees.

The project was stalled by a still-pending lawsuit against the city in King County Superior Court. But the plaintiffs missed a Feb. 6 deadline to post a $120,000 bond necessary to stop construction, said Dewey Potter, Seattle Parks and Recreation spokeswoman.

A plaintiff in that suit, Bif Brigman, on Saturday blasted Mayor Greg Nickels' administration for moving forward. Brigman, co-owner of a Pioneer Square business that looks out on the park, accused the city of pushing ahead instead of waiting to see whether it prevails in court and gains "free title to destroy our public space."

The lawsuit takes aim at the city's declaration that the removal of the London plane trees is not environmentally significant, among other claims.

"There's been a lot of focus on the removal of trees," parks spokeswoman Potter said Saturday, "but that's only one small element of the whole project."

For example, the $1.2 million project calls for replacing the existing bumpy cobblestones with pavers, removing the pergola to create an area for a future concession building, increasing safety by upgrading lighting and installing bocce courts and chess tables.

Potter contended that the project has been undergoing public review since 2002 and has the "full support" of the Pioneer Square Community Association, representing both businesses and residents.

Tina Bueche, a longtime Pioneer Square resident and business owner who also serves on a city downtown-parks task force, supports the redesign. She noted that the canopy of leaves becomes so thick that it's hard to stay warm in the park, even in summer, and that's it's also very dark.

Brigman suggested the redesign is a way to mask deeper problems, noting the park has become a magnet for drug dealers and that homeless people linger there. But removing the trees and reconfiguring the park is not the solution, he contended.

He said opponents presented the city with a petition signed by 1,500 people who said they didn't support removal of the trees or of 20 two-sided benches, also destined to disappear. Brigman noted, too, that in a letter dated Feb. 16, City Council President Nick Licata asked Seattle Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds to delay removing the trees until the court rules.

Parks spokeswoman Potter said Bounds would respond to the letter later this week, but she anticipated the trees would be removed fairly soon, in order to clear the way for other work. She said the fence went up because the area will become a hard-hat area for about six months, with the park projected to reopen in the fall.

Peter Lewis: 206-464-2217 or plewis@seattletimes.com