Opinions split on proposal for Fort Lawton base

During the first public hearing on a city proposal to redevelop the Fort Lawton base in Magnolia into a mixed-income subdivision, more than two dozen people showed up — with support and opposition split equally.

Under the city's proposal, 85 of the up to 216 units would be set aside for the formerly homeless. Six town houses would be built by Habitat for Humanity. The rest would be market-rate town homes and single-family houses starting at about $500,000.

Two council members seemed to downplay the worries expressed by some residents living near the isolated site — fears of crime and of property values falling once the formerly homeless move in. Councilmember Tim Burgess said similar concerns were voiced more than a decade ago when housing for the formerly homeless was built in Queen Anne.

"Home values in Queen Anne haven't gone down, have they?" Burgess said.

And Councilmember Sally Clark said she didn't want to see the city lose the property to private developers because then the development would likely be more dense, with less open space and less affordable housing.

The area is zoned for single-family houses on 7,200-square-foot lots. Some Magnolia residents said that rezoning it for about 150 town homes and single-family houses and a 55-unit building for seniors disrespects the vision of the Discovery Park master plan that the neighborhood developed and the council approved.

"Please respect the people who made the plan," said Betsy Ross, who lives north of Fort Lawton.

Other speakers urged a less-dense development because there aren't enough police, buses and shops to support the residents who are there now.

Supporters of the city's plan, including faith organizations, Magnolia residents and Native Americans, countered that the neighborhood was a great location for helping the formerly homeless rebuild their lives.

Under federal law, agencies that serve the homeless must have a chance to apply for use of surplus federal property.

"Having a home has been my own dream come true, and I hope you can make that dream come true for others," said Christine Vanderwerf, who described herself as a single mom who was once homeless and was placed in housing.

City housing officials have said all along that their proposal is aimed at persuading the Department of Defense to transfer about 46 acres to the city, rather than seeing the federal government sell it to the highest bidder. But the city must balance that against the federal requirement to give a slice of the property to agencies serving the homeless.

Fort Lawton was established about 1900 after business leaders amassed more than 700 acres and gave them to the Army in hopes that a large base would boost the local economy. The base never became a major military hub.

Over the past 50 years, with steady pressure from local residents, the military has transferred large swaths of the land back to the city, resulting in the creation of Discovery Park.

Fort Lawton is now confined to about 46 acres, of which the federal government plans to retain about 15 acres.

The council will hold its next public hearing on Fort Lawton in City Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 4, and could vote on the proposal as early as Sept. 22.

The city will submit a proposal in November to the federal government, which could take a year to review it before making a decision.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com