The meeting had shaped up to be contentious. The annual meeting of the West Seattle Trusteed Properties (WSTP) that took place on June 6 had been postponed twice as various parties lobbied for their point of view regarding the management and future of the free parking lots in the West Seattle Junction. Legal costs from lawsuits had run up over $100,000 and a group of shareholders had been gathered and persuaded to vote in favor of some changes that were being resisted by the existing board of directors.

At issue were changes not only in bylaws but the number of directors on the board and the makeup of the board itself.

The old guard had been comprised of West Seattle Junction business and property owners exclusively, driven in part by one of the bylaws that set forth the boundaries of the Junction and thereby the qualifications who could serve on the board. That bylaw was removed by a vote. That cleared the way for new officers, which had been a bone of contention for the old board members who saw the geographic restrictions as a form of protection for the interests of the Junction and maintaining the status quo.

In the end new officers were elected:

• Joe Erickson - President
• Charles Conner - Vice President
• Tyler Johnson - Treasurer
• Dave Gowey - Secretary

The overriding question in the meeting was what is the future for the five, currently free parking lots in the West Seattle Junction? How should they, and the potential development of the land they occupy be managed?

The group of shareholders that vied for and won control maintained that the geographic restrictions were in the words of new WSTP Treasurer Tyler Johnson "over burdensome", and that the notice to shareholders requiring 60 days written notice was too long a time to wait. Both were adopted as amendments to the bylaws.

The new President, Joe Erickson, who owns land in the Junction, said he felt it was critical to maintain parking in the Junction, "The parking lots are a great asset and we really need to make sure that we have parking in the future but at the same time we have to make sure they get developed in a manner that we control, that is proactive and is not something that just happens because we were asleep at the helm. You think about what's happening with property taxes. Our property taxes ($53,781 last year on a roughly $5 million valuation) are substantial and they keep growing. I think it's important that as we develop these parking lots over time then the property taxes that are allocated to these developments will be significantly reduced. That's going to benefit the merchants so I'm supportive of developing the lots over time in a manner that's beneficial to the community as well as to the shareholders."

Charles Conner, now the new Vice President and owner of Conner Homes a home construction firm based in Redmond, echoed Erickson's thoughts saying he recognized the importance of parking to the health of the Junction. He had a close call financially in 2008 and is now back and doing well having paid off over a million dollars in debt. He said he believes that a reputation is the most important thing a person or business carries and said, "We've got to take care of people."

Jeff Vann former board member and son of the Vann Family who operated Vann's Restaurant for decades in the Junction (their name is still on the building where the Maharaja restaurant now operates) said. "The spirit was to protect the community. This is what the whole thing was about and the best thing for the community. I have no problem with developing that. But also the parking to keep it going for generations...If we keep adding restaurants they aren't going to be able to put butts in the seats because there won't be enough parking. We need parking and we need to move forward but we need to do it in a controlled manner to help everybody out. Do outsiders know that? I don't know. I don't know you. I don't know what your intentions are. I just see a name so at this point I just go back to what's worked for years. What does West Seattle have that made it the hub? Parking."

Speaking on behalf of the Senior Center Lyle Evans said if the lot behind the Junction on 42nd were developed, blocking it for more than two years, the 4000 seniors they serve would be devastated.

Leon Capelouto, now a former board member and owner of Capco Plaza and other properties in the Junction said. "The important thing is we understand we're in the business of supplying parking for this community. I think we need to keep that as a forefront to whatever we do. It doesn't mean we can't develop or do some things that are beneficial to this community and the shareholders at the same time. I think that's the direction I'd like to see the board go."

One of the supporters of the new board's ideas Debbie Bergseth said, "I believe in parking for the Junction. My great grandparents lived here in 1903, my Grandfather was one of the founding members, he believed in parking in the Junction... my Dad graduated from Jefferson and West Seattle High School. It's in my blood. I've already bought my crypt at Forest Lawn. My whole family is there. My heart is in West Seattle. I am pro-parking and pro this business area... I love Husky Deli... So to say I'm going to try and do something different please don't."

About WSTP
The corporation that owns the lots was established by a group of West Seattle Junction business and land owners in 1954 to manage, pay taxes on and maintain 228 free parking spaces for the general good of the junction. Merchants are charged a monthly fee to cover the cost of property taxes, management and maintenance. The shareholders in the corporation are comprised today of the heirs of original business owners, property owners, business owners and others. Then, and now parking was and is seen as essential to a healthy business district. Over time those lots grew in value, board members changed, but West Seattle, within the city limits eventually became the only area that provided free, largely uncontrolled parking for customers in the City of Seattle. Through an agreement with Diamond parking the lots are patrolled and those exceeding three hours are given tickets and with repeated violation towed.

The corporation signed a series of leases from the land owners through the years, and even formed a covenant with the City of Seattle. Most recently WSTP signed a ten year lease with two five year options with the land owners, that is in effect now. There was no indication at the meeting as to whether the new board would seek to challenge the lease but previously various members had said they believed the lease terms were not fiduciarily responsible, meaning they believed the rates and duration given market conditions should be different.

The terms of the lease permit up to 30 percent of the total lot space in the Junction to be developed at one time.

See our previous coverage including copies of the covenant and other related documents here.