2005/12/05 Council Agenda Packet

� /&VAbp1ary 4, 2005City of Everett Planning & Community Development Dept 2930 Wetmore Ave Suite 8-A Everett, WA 98201 RE: Providence Hospital Expansion1` © h I'm writing this letter in objection to Providence Hospital's proposedon of block 248 for their planned construction of the new Cancer Center. I am not convinced the hospital has given enough consideration to the impact this proposal has on our residential neighbor nor do they seem to comprehend the loss of a piece of Everett's heritage. I am also not convinced they have given adequate justification why this must. be the construction site other than their own preference. The area that they plan to build in is first and foremost a residential area. If this plan is approved, the large numbers of children attending the local elementary school are going to be forced to navigate the streets with an increase in heavy machinery and general traffic flow. In addition, the environmental impact statement doesn't give nearly enough attention to the fact that old homes are filled with toxic materials and when demolished these materials will be released into the air becoming trapped in nearby homes and affecting the health of the residents. A pertinent reminder is the results of the damage caused to the surrounding homes during the construction of the Safeway on Evergreen Way. Construction activities caused damage to the old foundations of the nearby homes resulting in costly litigation for all involved parties. Does the City truly want to repeat this type of activity? If these homes are destroyed, another piece of the history of our great city will be lost forever. These homes were placed on the historic register for a very important reason — they are representative of Everett's heritage. And all of this will be destroyed for the sole purpose of being a staging area for the construction of a cancer center that could just as easily be built elsewhere. The hospital claims that it will build an addition to their hospital on this land but frankly I'm very skeptical. The hospital has a legacy of demolishing housing stock and leaving a vacant lot (i.e. the block on Colby and what of their Pacific campus). They also don't have current funds to properly staff their current buildings. How are they going to staff a new addition? And lastly, where are their alternative plans? The destruction of this block seems to be the only plan they have pursued with any diligence. In addition to the Donovan block, they own a large lot on Broadway where there is currently a Rite Aid store. This would seem a much more likely spot to place a cancer center. It is not only larger then the block they propose to demolish and build on but would also provide much easier access for patients and doctors since it has direct access to a major arterial. During the planning meetings that I've attended, the hospital has time and time again side stepped real alternative by claiming that the cancer center needs to be adjoined to the hospital for the