At tonight's Citizens Advisory Council, gasps of dismay met the Hospital's announcement of a new expansion "alternative." This "alternative" would eliminate the condo community of Laurelon. Most of the 130+ audience members looked appalled to hear the Hospital boldly announce a plan to eliminate 136 units of moderately-priced housing and a garden-filled community of retirees, families and independent spirits.
The Hospital sure took the City's inexplicable invitation to expand boundaries to heart.
The hospitals new "alternatives" are covered briefly here. The Laurelon "Alternative" (#4) is shown at the top of this post. "Alternative" #3 (below) shows shuffling of tower layouts, bringing rooftops to 160 feet, still unprecedented in a low-rise, residential neighborhood:
Alternative #3b (below) shows a northward migration of towers.
"Alternative" #2 was one of the initial proposals, with 240 foot towers:
The final image shows Alternative #1. It includes the existing campus, plus the emergency wing whose construction is already covered under the existing Master Plan.
To put these alternatives in perspective, make sure to read the community's proposed suite of alternatives. The Citizens Advisory Council unanimously asked the Hospital to consider these alternatives, without success. These provide scope for growth while maintaining the livability of a residential neighborhood.
Tonight one concerned neighbor took the initiative to hand out his own proposal: CHRMC Expansion: On-Site Construction or a Second Campus? The Hospital keeps brushing aside the second-site option without a thorough explanation. Is it ignoring a 350-bed opportunity to establish critical mass at a second site and expand access to in-patient care?
Note: 150+ Total Attendees = 130+ Audience Members plus 20+ Officials/Committee Members
(Update: Looks like the Seattle PI didn't catch the Hospital's plans for Laurelon in its story.)
