I've tried to solicit favor for a University of Washington annex in the Sodo area. Specifically the Immigration and Naturalization building now empty at Airport Way South and Fourth Avenue South. It's my understanding, to other branches of government, the building would be free.

The building has been empty since 2004. It's a five-story building built in 1932 with 77,000 square feet of space.

Inquiry to the governor's office brought a response from the U. of W. Real Estate Office. "A new annex or branch campus as you suggest would require significant funding by the state at a time when there are competing needs.

"Your letter specifically references the Immigration building. The university does not have a suitable use at this time for this building, nor do we have the funding necessary to make the improvements that would be required."

An article in the Seattle P-I stated the university accepted 62 percent of the more than 17,719 applicants for the fall freshman class. It said that's the most selective the university has been in years.

There is a lot more to the article but what concerns me is the 32 percent turned away. Does the UW know if there are slots enough in nearby universities to cover the 32 percent and at what increased cost to the rejected applicant having less than a 3.75 grade-point average.

Why are we insisting on adherence to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning and not providing higher education for our future product?

Again, these are selected partial quotes I am using. Another partial quote is a response to a letter to Mayor Nickels. The response from Jon Layzer. His letter recapped far better than what I wrote. I quote: "Your letter expressed concern that three four-year colleges are already located north of downtown, and none located to the south. I understand you are concerned both about the access to these institutions for all Seattle citizens, and the traffic impacts of having all such facilities north of downtown. You would prefer to have a new four-year college located where it is more accessible to residents who live south or west of downtown. And you support locating such facilities where they can be served by new high-capacity transit lines, light rail and monorail."

End of quotes and I think John Layzer has recapped our problem in a nutshell.

Reasons for University of Washington annex in Sodo area:

Washington's population now 6 million; 40 percent of population in Puget Sound area. What is the population of the I-5 corridor south of downtown? North of downtown?

Recently announced light rail to Bellevue will be first via I-90 across Mercer Island. Later Evergreen Point bridges.

Bothell annex in the near future will be third and fourth year higher learning annex.

To attend Sodo annex east side, students cross Mercer Island Bridge exiting directly into Sodo area using existing ramps already in.

Rainier Valley is the mainstay. It will, as we all know, eventually travel from Lakewood via Tacoma to Seattle. Tunnel Seattle then to University of Washington and north.

I-5 will have off-ramps at Spokane Street, and Duwamish. Duwamish using Marginal Way into Fourth Avenue South. Highways 99 and 509 will also use Marginal Way to Fourth Avenue.

West Seattle Bridge will hopefully see an easing of traffic with new planned construction.

Rail would also service (Sounder Amtrak) the new annex via King Street Station.

To the Legislature, it should be remembered in both stadium elections in the '90s King County I understand voted no. On Initiative 695, King along with Whatcom County voted no.

Conclusion to his whole mess is the voters and politicians.

Ted Hansen

Genesee Hill