HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2014-01-27 Item 2E - Discussion - King County Metro Transit Interurban Avenue South Leased Park and Ride LotCity of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Transportation Committee
FROM: Bob Giberson, Public Works Director
DATE: January 24, 2014
SUBJECT: Kind County Metro Transit Interurban Ave S Leased Park - and -Ride Lot
ISSUE
Discuss status of King County Metro Transit leased Park - and -Ride Lot on Interurban Ave S.
BACKGROUND
King County Metro Transit owns the large Park - and -Ride Lot on Interurban Ave S. For the last
twenty years, King County has also leased the small vacant parcel at the southwest corner of
52nd Ave South as an auxiliary parking lot to the adjacent large Park - and -Ride Lot. The lease
for the small parking lot will be terminated effective January 31, 2014 and 41 parking spaces
will be lost.
ANALYSIS
King County Metro Transit is attempting to convert the lease on the small parcel to a temporary
month -to -month rental until they can find a replacement Park - and -Ride Lot. King County Metro
Transit is exploring all options to replace this critical leased accessory lot.
RECOMMENDATION
For information only.
Attachments: January 2, 2014 letter to King County Metro Transit
January 16, 2014 letter to Curran Law Firm
Aerial Map
w:lpw englothertbob gibersonlcorrespondencellnfo memo kcm leased interurban park- and -ride lot gl.docx
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CURRAt\T LAW FIRM
T 253 852 2345
F 253 852 2030
F 253 859 8037
January 2, 2014
Mr. Steve Cahan
Leased Park & Ride Lot Program Manager
Department of Transportation
King County Metro Transit
Transit Route Facilities Program
201 South Jackson Street
M.S. KSC -TR -0413
Seattle, WA 98104 -3856
Curran Law Firm P.S.
555 West Smith Street
Post Office Box 140
Kent, WA 98035 -0140
curraniirm.com
Re: Tukwila Park & Ride auxiliary lot at Interurban Avenue S. and 1 -5 interchange;
Lot 746.1 (41 spaces)
Dear Mr. Cahan:
On behalf of Tukwila Interurban Investments, Inc., the owner of the property at 13451
Interurban Avenue South (King County parcel number 0003000004), which King County
Metro has leased since 1993, this letter will confirm that Metro's lease for the property
has been terminated effective January 31, 2014. As you will recall, the lease was
terminated by email from Morgan Llewellyn, the owner's agent, to you on October 3,
2013, which you acknowledged receiving by email on that same day.
The owner remains willing to lease the property, but cannot continue to do so at the
same rent that has been charged, and paid regularly thank you, since the lease started
back in 1993. Although not an absolute indicator of fair market rent for such property,
the consumer price index for the Seattle/Tacoma area has increased by 240% since
1993. The assessed value of the property has increased from $92,000 to $252,900; an
increase of 275% during that same time. It is unfortunate that you were not willing to
accept the earlier offer to extend the lease, which even though it was an increase of
50% was far below the change in market conditions since 1993.
As a result of terminating this lease, Metro will lose 41 parking spaces in one of its
highest utilized locations. According to your own utilization report for the fourth quarter
of 2012, this lot is the third highest in your inventory with utilization of 111%. The
adjacent lot is already at 98% utilization, so it doesn't have much capacity to absorb the
many vehicles that currently use the auxiliary lot. Those commuters that will no longer
be able to find parking at this location will either have to drive to another park and ride
lot, possibly stop using Metro altogether, or more likely use nearby surface streets or
Theresa M. Ahern Mark W Davis Chad Horner Retired:
John M. Casey Greg W Haffner J. David Huhs Charles P. Curran
Sam Chalfant David G. Hobson Kevin J. Jussel Melvin L. Kleweno, Jr.
Mary E. Coleman David T. Hokit Jane C. Rhodes
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parking areas owned by private individuals and businesses for their customers and
employees. The latter decision will irritate property owners who don't like commuters
using their property or adding congestion to their neighborhood. Doing anything that
discourages people from using mass transit is contrary to the intent of the Commute
Trip Reduction Law, passed in 1991 to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion,
and reduce the consumption of petroleum fuels.
Should you wish to change your mind and desire to enter into a new lease for the
Tukwila auxiliary lot, please let me know. Otherwise, the owner of the property will
continue marketing it for lease and /or development.
Sincerely,
CURRAN LAW FIRM P.S.
Grg W - affner
ghaffnerP.cu rranfirm.com
cc: Louise Strander, Tukwila Interurban Investments, Inc.
Jim Haggerton, Mayor, City of Tukwila
(6200 Southcenter Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188 -2544)
Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator, City of Tukwila
(6200 Southcenter Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188 -2544)
Kevin Desmond, General Manager, King County Metro Transit
(King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104)
Larry Phillips, King County Council District 4
Chair of the Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee
(516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200, Seattle, WA 98104)
Dave Upthegrove, King County Council District 5
(516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200, Seattle, WA 98104)
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King County
Department of Transportation
Metro Transit
Transit Route Facilities Program
201 South Jackson Street
M.S. KSC -TR -0413
Seattle, WA 98104 -3856
January 16, 2014
Greg W. Haffner
Curran Law Firm P.S.
555 West Smith Street
Kent, WA 98035 -0140
Dear Mr. Haffner:
Thank you for your letter of January 2, 2014, also copied to Metro Transit General Manager
Kevin Desmond, confirming the termination of Metro's lease of the property located at
13451 Interurban Avenue South, also known as the Tukwila Park - and -Ride auxiliary lot, Lot
746.1, effective January 31, 2014.
I would like to thank Tukwila Interurban Investments for the twenty years use of this
property as a leased park- and -ride lot for our transit customers near the permanent Tukwila
Park - and -Ride. However, it is not economically feasible for Metro to continue to lease at the
requested marked increase in rent from $1,000 to $1,500 per month, which we were told was
non - negotiable. Metro cannot compete with market rates under this park -and -ride leased lot
program and particularly in light of funding issues facing Metro. I understand special
circumstances existed in 1993 when the lease was signed with rent payment of $1000 per
month or $24.39 per space per month, which at the time was several -fold times that paid for
any other park- and -ride space Metro leased. Leasing this parking area at $24.39 per space
per month for the 41 spaces still greatly exceeds all other leased surface parking space Metro
leases, even before a requested fifty percent (50 %) increase in rent.
Again I would propose to negotiate the leased rent, as conveyed in earlier conversations and
emails with property agent, Morgan Llewellyn. Your letter refers to "... the owner of the
property will continue marketing it for lease and/or development." Would Tukwila
Interurban Investments have an interest in continuing to lease to Metro at the current rent on
a month -to -month basis until another use is found? If this is not acceptable or we can't reach
some mutually negotiated agreement, Metro plans to close this leased park- and -ride on
January 31st and notify its customers.
Thank you again for your letter. If you have further questions, comments or to discuss, please
contact me at 206 - 477 -5780 or via email at steve.cahan @kingcounty.gov.
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AERIAL PHOTO