Liberal Talk Radio

Well, I can tell the Prof’s gonna be happy about this:

owntown landowners could see their property values jump by a collective $400 million to $600 million if the Alaskan Way Viaduct is replaced with a tunnel that opens up the waterfront, according to a new study commissioned by the city of Seattle.

Mayor Greg Nickels is considering asking property owners who would gain the most from better views, reduced noise and vibration, more open space and a nicer waterfront to help pay for a tunnel, which would be a more expensive replacement than a new elevated roadway.

Of course, there are some Lesser Seattle instincts that just won’t die:

Some property owners, such as the Seattle Steam Co. — the plant near the corner of Western Avenue and University Street that heats downtown office buildings and hotels — said they wouldn’t derive any special benefits from a tunnel and would likely seek to be excluded from a district.

Nothing personal against the Seattle Steam Company… I’m sure they do great work. But perhaps the revitalized waterfront of a major American city is no place for industry. Here’s an idea: instead of trying to get out of the tax, why not admit that you can use the asset of increased property value to upgrade to a bigger, more modern factory in a more industrial location?

There’s a metaphor here about the Japanese word for “crisis.”