Children’s Hospital Citizen’s Advisory Committee. One meeting, two different reports.
The headline in the Seattle Times today was a story about how the Laurelhurst neighborhood (NE Seattle) and Children’s Hospital were now embarking on the latest round of their historically contentious relationship. Reading through the Times’ article, the Times focused on the meeting (where over 100 people attended), and detailed the historical problems the two have had with one another. However, I was a bit disappointed that the Times dealt with the superficial issues related to this project, and didn’t dive into the land use policy issues that are core areas of the dispute.
On the other side of the fence, the Laurelhurst group organized responded to this project on their blog (the Children’s Action Coalition), and was a bit more detailed with their points. Two very interesting that the Times didn’t report about that the Laurelhurst group did was:
- Children’s recently filed an appeal against the state Department of Health’s recommendation to allow Swedish Hospital to add 175 beds for patients on the Eastside.
- The community also brought in an expert who said “The DOH has ruled that Children’s Hospital needs only 65 additional beds over the time period under debate.”
Regardless of which side of this argument you are on, it is fascinating to watch two well-organized and influential groups engaging in so public of a land use struggle. You usually don’t find community groups as organized, competent, and as well-funded to justify their positions as Laurelhurst. Most community councils in Seattle tend to be fairly non-confrontational and allow these debates to be handled by quickly-formed groups of neighbors. For those of us interested in these policy issues, it should be interesting to see how this project unfolds.
3D model of proposed Children’s Hospital Campus
2 comments
It’s very hard to sympathize with the Laurelhurst neighbors who historically have balked at increased helipad landings for emergency EMS transport of sick children, and who then hire a helicopter to grab attention for their “grassroots” protest. It would be very satisfying to watch the hospital children beat these self-absorbed yuppies senseless with their crutches. I hope Children’s doubles the height of their tower to 40 stories, just to spite the Laurelhurst crowd.
Laurelhurst is probably the most organized and powerful community group in town and has really protected its interests over time. I guess in the past they’ve pushed so hard for their way that now they’re not getting much support from others.
The one thing though is that if you take both Laurelhurst and Children’s out of the equation, is the process the city’s using with this kind a project a good one to use later, or a bad one. That’s the big policy issue I’ve been thinking about.
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