Sound Transit wants to build a Sounder parking garage in Puyallup, which officials say will be good for the environment, for congestion, and for building “community character.”

The agency has six total alternatives. Four of the alternatives do not require taking land from the Eagles at all. There is even one option that “offered the possibility of constructing an entire parking facility, holding the same number of cars, closer to the Puyallup station, on land Sound Transit already owned, and for the same amount of money.”

Despite these options, the alternative Sound Transit wants would condemn a property belonging to the Daffodil Aerie #2308 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. The Eagles are a charitable organization that helps raise money for their communities.

According to a KOMO news report, “the Eagles have owned the 16,000 square foot building on 5^th St. NW for 79 years, leading countless fundraisers and gatherings during that time with their now 4,000 members.”

The Eagles have no mortgage on their property and, as a result, can give more their community. In the last five years, the group donated nearly $300,000 to local charities. If Sound Transit unnecessarily destroys the property through eminent domain and forces the Eagles to move, the Eagles said, “we will have to put all our money into building a new home and won’t be able to donate.”

Sound Transit’s claim that condemning the Eagles property will build community character is mind-boggling and deeply out of touch, particularly because the massive agency has other less devastating options. If Sound Transit supports healthy communities like they constantly claim they do, they should support the Eagles lodge, not destroy it.  

The Eagles have protested Sound Transit’s condemnation of their property, and even petitioned City of Puyallup for help. Despite the Eagles’ charitable contributions to their community, the City of Puyallup said they “are trying to stay out of it.”

This is, of course, incredibly disappointing.

Eminent domain, used in a conservative, targeted way near existing infrastructure to bring real value to the public is needed and can make sense. Needlessly condemning property belonging to a rooted, charitable organization does not bring value to the Puyallup community.

Yet Sound Transit officials seem to think otherwise.

In fact, the agency claims that not only will this project build community character, but that the new Puyallup station will minimize additional congestion as well. However, in the project document, officials admit that traffic congestion will increase substantially “for all of the project alternatives, regardless of the location of parking.”

Condemning a property to build a parking garage, and justifying the condemnation by saying the garage will “support community character” and “minimize congestion” although it will do no such thing, is mean-spirited and dishonest.

This also demonstrates that, like any government power, eminent domain can be abused. When an agency like Sound Transit is not directly elected and accountable to the public, they are more likely to abuse their power because the voices of people in cities like Puyallup are inconsequential to officials’ continued role on the Sound Transit Board.

As WPC has recommended for years, this can and should be changed through legislation that makes the Sound Transit Board a directly elected and democratic board. You can read our policy recommendation here and here.