Yakima’s Plaza Project Gets Put In The Spotlight

Two presentations, a Yakima City Council discussion, 52 comments from the public and a four-hour session – but no vote on the plaza until a later date.

A crowd approaching 400 packed the Yakima Convention Center ballroom to see the final design, get a sense of the costs and to sound off pro and con on the plaza. The crowd was decidedly more pro than con. From a show of hands early in the evening I estimate the audience was 10 to 1 in favor of the downtown plaza project.

Of those who shared a three-minute piece of their mind, 32 were in support of the plaza, 14 were against and six were confusing and inconclusive as to what they actually supported.

The public presentations were for the most part polite, though a couple of speakers questioned the potential follow-through by donors to actually write checks

and a number of speakers referred to as a One America group tried to turn the conversation from the plaza to eastside priorities, campaign promises and Latino community concerns.

Parking was the No. 1 concern expressed by those opposed the plaza and on a motion by Holly Cousens, the City Council voted on a two-week trial closure of the lot to “prove a point” about parking failure. But the measure itself failed, 4-3.

From the beginning, the $14 million public/private partnership called for $7 million from the city and $7 million in private funding, but in a surprise turn the Downtown Association of Yakima (DAY) said it could raise $8.5 million.

So what happens next? Each council member will no doubt sleep on it, talk to their confidantes, consider the public comments and ultimately schedule a vote for a future council meeting.

Stay tuned.