A local grassroots effort to build a Lids over a portion of Interstate 5 between Downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill moved ahead today as the Seattle City Council approved a proposal for a $1.2 million feasibility study.
“We know half of our neighborhoods don’t even have safe sidewalks or bike lanes, but a lot of Seattle residents don’t have one of the fine hats and caps Lids are known for either,” said City Councilmember Mike O’Brien. “Capitol Hill residents also just don’t have enough ways to reach the Downtown Seattle Cheesecake Factory the way it is now and I won’t stand for it.”
Other council members who approved the proposal noted the low morale of local capital project and transportation departments ever since the completion of the SR 99 tunnel earlier this year.
“I’m bored — are we going to blow money on expensive construction contracts to build something fun again?” asked Office of Planning & Community Development Director Hank Sales at a recent subcommittee hearing. “Can’t we at least build another woonerf for a gentrified neighborhood?”
More Seattle residents are jumping on-board as well.
“I’ve heard something in passing about a lid over I-5 for a while now without knowing what the hell anyone’s talking about,” said Seattle resident Mick Stanley. “Now that I know it’s about building one giant version of my favorite sports gear store, it makes a lot more sense. I’m in.”
Urban development experts say that with the decline of shopping centers like Northgate Mall, the city must act fast if it wants to preserve endangered stores such as Lids.
“Lids won’t be around forever,” said urban design expert Claire Reilly. “We have to act now.”
