This was a huge win in Superior Court for Seattle downtown livability, as the 5th and Virginia’s (Douglaston) Appeal of the Hearing Examiner’s Remand on Daylighting/health issues was dismissed in Superior Court today. This means that the Hearing Examiner’s ruling stands that the city/developer must dig deeper into the health effects issue to Escala residents.

 “It is very disappointing that the City continues to try to abdicate their responsibility to do what is right and healthy for the taxpaying residents of downtown, and the developer obviously cares little about the health of its own prospective residents”, said Escala spokesman John Sosnowy. "Nevertheless, we are thankful that Superior Court Judge North dismissed their appeal of the Remand”. Now, the SDCI  has to go back and seriously evaluate the proposal’s impacts as they relate to the loss of light within the Escala residential units. 

The reason why developers win so often is not because the projects are done right; it’s because affected citizens give up, believing they can’t win against a stacked deck of big money and the City. However, we are determined to persevere against all odds and get this fixed before we have residents seriously ill from lack of daylight, or engaged in “road rage” in an alley and loading berths that won’t work. For the developer and the City, this is just their job; for us, this is our life! That’s why we will never stop until all avenues are exhausted to get this project done right. If that means going all the way to the State Supreme Court, so be it!