SEATTLE, Wash. — If the Washington Department of Transportation has its way, residents in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle might soon be waving goodbye to a beloved popular grocery store and gas station.
But the owners have no intention of leaving.
According to the owners, WSDOT announced early this week it plans to purchase the Montlake Boulevard Market and gas station. It could then be razed to make room for the west-end expansion of the 520 bridge.
Bryan Haworth, president of the Montlake Community Club, said he was outraged.
<br/> "The neighborhood was completely surprised," Haworth said. "We really don't think the solution to this is the complete removal of our gas station and market."
Once acquired, WSDOT would likely use the property as a staging area for future projects over the next 12 years.
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Though WSDOT cites safety concerns as a reason for tearing down the market and gas station, Haworth said there are better options out there.
“We know that there have to be other alternatives worth exploring,” Haworth said.
Haworth has lived in the neighborhood for the past 20 years and served on the Montlake Community Club’s board of directors for five years. He said the grocery store has been in the neighborhood since the 1930s and is a community staple.
<br/> "[The market] is a major hub for the neighborhood," Haworth said. "We are definitely going to fight this."
WSDOT posted slides and renditions of the proposal on its website. Click here to view. The agency said it is still open to suggestions from the community. You can submit feedback on the WSDOT website.
Cox Media Group
