Lora Lake apartment demolition hypocrisy decried

The Sept. 6 Seattle Times published a short story concerning 66 affordable housing units that will be demolished in Seattle's Discovery Park in Magnolia. The reporter commented on the lack of opposition to the demolition of these units compared to the outcry over the demolition of the Lora Lake Apartments.

What happened to the voices of King County Executive Ron Sims, the King County Housing Authority, the Church Council of Greater Seattle and other affordable housing proponents? These folks ganged up on the Port of Seattle and the City of Burien to prevent Burien from developing much needed business land that was expected to increase Burien's tax base.

This is one of the worst examples of hypocrisy I have seen. This hypocritical attitude, unless successfully challenged, will remove 66 units of quiet, peaceful quality living from existence while encouraging life in an environmentally polluted and noisy area-immediately adjacent to the third runway.

This housing story is just what Burien incorporated to get away from! Before incorporation, King County was ramming multifamily development into unincorporated Burien. Five of us women formed an Ad Hoc Citizens Committee and successfully challenged-with our own plan that citizens accepted-King County's zoning plan of very high density without adequate provision for a good tax base. I worked on that committee along with Vivian Matthews, Cathy Parker, Robbie Howell and Sharon Oldfield. We were proud of our achievement.

Then we went on to study incorporation with several others. The Boundary Review Board demanded we incorporate the entire Highline School District boundary minus Des Moines and Normandy Park (both already incorporated). Burien would have become the third largest city in the State of Washington. Is it any surprise that this attempt failed? Then SeaTac incorporated, without the huge boundaries. Burien followed with a much smaller area. I am proud to have been a part of these efforts and I received a Washington State Distinguished Volunteer award in 1989.

I believe in Burien and its citizenry. We need to be commended, not condemned, for our efforts in making Burien a great place to live and work.