The West Seattle Trusteed Partners (WSTP), the group that controls the free parking lots in the junction voted on Monday to back away from a key demand. The Board of Directors had been insisting that before they would sign off on a lower land valuation offered by the King County Assessor (thus lowering taxes) their tenant, the West Seattle Junction Merchants Association (WSJA) would have to agree to re-negotiate the current lease. Westside Seattle covered this issue on March 28. That lease, only a year old is for ten years with two five year options. The fees paid by junction business owners pay for the taxes and maintenance of the 228 parking spaces used by shoppers. The WSJA has stood firm behind the lease that was approved and signed in March, 2017.

WSJA Executive Director Lora Swift said, “We’re pleased that the WSTP board has chosen to approve the reduction of land values, thus giving the organization the latitude to develop additional revenue streams”

But questions remain about what will happen going forward. The WSTP Board still wants the lease changed since they feel it is too restrictive. And there is some confusion at this point over which option the two parties can agree to. The WSJA prefers Option 5 which is longer term while the WSTP favors Option 4 which offers more relief upfront but is only for a one year period. Both options will still burden the WSJA with tax bills ranging anywhere from $83,000 upwards to $130,000 per year.

The hardest piece though is what to do about access to the West Seattle Senior Center, located just feet from the largest of the lots on 42nd and Oregon Street SW. Thousands of seniors use the facility every year for programs, meetings, and as a social club. Proximity for those with limited mobility is a big issue. The Senior Center is also the site of numerous public meetings, notably in a community with rapid development, the Southwest Design Review Board which shares information, allows public comment and passes judgement on all the apartment and mixed use construction in the community. Parking matters to the public here too.

It might be possible to seek a short term lease on other spaces in the junction such as those under Jefferson Square but that would mean making that expense part of a development plan.

Other questions center around the efforts to raise enough money for the WSJA to meet its financial obligations. Those efforts are still in process. Efforts could include special products intended to raise money similar to the “LowmanBrau” beer brewed in the past or junction themed merchandise sold by and for the Junction itself. The annual budget for the Junction has been close to $320,000 but that money pays the lease and maintenance as well as funds the production of events such as Summer Fest, Harvest Fest, ArtWalk, Hometown Holidays, the 100+ flower baskets, the clean and safe programs and more. Included in that number is the cost of administrative costs to run the nonprofit.

How these negotiatiions work out and what development plan is finally developed will functionally change the Junction going forward. Developments are likely to happen in the next few months.