Empty Buildings

Empty Buildings

Cheesecake2 1219520513|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Hi CCCCers, I'm working on a story for SeattleIAM.com, about the vacant store fronts on Broadway, currently owned by Sound Transit. I want this piece to be more than an overview of the situation (like the King 5 story) I want to go a little more in depth into the impact that it will have on Broadway, what can be done to aleviate the problem, and whether or not Sound Transit is doing all they can to help. Does anyone have any interesting angles or ideas to help me develop this story? Any one I could interview that would have some insights into the impact that these empty buildings are having on the neighborhood? Are there some examples of vacant buildings that have been utilized, while they could have been sitting vacant? Is anything of interest happening regarding your request to use the US Bank site for meetings?

Re: Empty Buildings

Charlette 1219717913|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Unfortunately Sound Transit is not allowing the use of US Bank for meetings due to the current decontruction of the building.
(I don't know if this also relates to the numerous stores that are safe enough to have lighted artwork inside.)
The Community Council is meeting this week to talk more with Sound Transit. An idea has been suggested of large containered shrubs/small trees as a noise/dust barrier will be suggested to provide a natural screen.
Another idea of using the vacant stores is as a haunted house series for fundraising.
Then "stalls" for Broadway market vendors or craft vendors during the fall.
These ideas have yet to be considered though.

The old Safeway was used one for the Fruitbasket awards successfully several years ago as an example of the use of vacant buildings.
What is comes down to is the willingness of the property owner.

Angle? The history of the buildings would be a good tribute.