A development proposal for a new NBA arena, in the works since 2012, was dead on arrival to the Seattle City Council. The decision surprised even project opponents.
"The Seattle City Council on Monday voted 5-4 to reject giving up part of Occidental Avenue South to Chris Hansen so he can build a half-billion-dollar arena in Sodo in hopes of reviving the Sonics," reports Geoff Baker.
The vote elicited gasps from the crowd on hand at Seattle City Hall in support of the proposal. The vote makes it unlikely that the NBA will return to Seattle, according to a statement by Mayor Ed Murray.
As reported earlier, the Port of Seattle strongly opposed the proposal, though Councilmember Sally Bagshaw spearheaded the opposition on the City Council. Baker's account of the council meeting provides specific mentions of the port and the position of port workers and International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which were concerned about the prospects of gentrification in the SoDo district.
Read the full story: Seattle City Council kills sale of street for Sodo arena; Sonics fans despair
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