One of the more amusing/infuriating moments from last week’s public hearing on the Space Needle’s proposed annexation of the Fun Forest, was the well-heeled supporter who fretted how his wife and young children are afraid to visit the Seattle Center in its current scary state. Really. And this is the kinda suburban dandy who we should be looking to for advice on how to redevelop an urban park at the center of our city?
Indeed, the project’s backers appear to be tremendously out of touch with the wants and needs of the typical Seattle resident, as evidenced by their lack of preparation for (and apparent disbelief of) the overwhelming public opposition their proposal has faced. But why should they be in touch with Seattle residents, when the proposal’s main architects don’t even live in Seattle.
Of course I’m referring to Space Needle Board Chair Jeffrey Wright and Space Needle CEO Ron Sevart, who commute to work from Hunts Point and Issaquah respectively.
Now I don’t expect wealthy, out-of-city purveyors of mushy, $17 crab cakes to fully appreciate the way us common folks use the Seattle Center. But I don’t expect them to deign to tell us what to do with it either.