Here? Bumbershoot Mock-Up

August 29, 2003

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This mockup was sponsored by Seattle Center Stakeholders concerned about the impact of the monorail and structure on Seattle Center.

This mockup was not intended as a literal representation, but as a simulation of the impact - the "look and feel" - of a viaduct like structure on the Center's park and open space. The Seattle Monorail Project was consulted as to the dimensions of the structure. The SMP's figures, images and maps were included on a large poster mounted on both sides of the columns. Since the SMP has no design or engineering yet, their statistics are approximations. The mock up is set back about 12 feet south of the proposed route for city permit reasons. The SMP objected to this installation. Yet refused to put up their own, even after repeated requests from City Council members, who asked for a truly real, 3-D physical representation for the public, not just computer generated images, animation and "chopper cams".

(below) View, looking North from International Fountain towards Mercer

(below) View looking South to International Fountain and park open space. Not many people stayed around the immediate area after viewing the installation, and many complained about it's intrusiveness. When we explained that it could be permanent, along with the impacts, they objected even more. Notice the people sitting in the tree shade, that’s one of the things that trees provide.


(below) A beautiful view North from Fisher Plaza. Note that nearly all of the trees surrounding the "Here?" sign will be gone, probably on both sides of the route. It took nearly 40 years for these trees to grow to where they are perfect for a park. The guideway and trains will be plainly visible and the shade, except that caused by the structure, will be gone. The aesthetics losses are incalculable, and irreplaceable.


(below) Typical Bumbershoot crowd on a beautiful sunny summer day on Republican Lane, taken next to the installation site, and where the columns and guideway will actually be. The route runs from the top of this picture down the lane along what will be a mostly treeless walkway. It's unlikely future crowds will spend hours dancing and mingling there among columns - with a train running overhead - or that daily users will want to hang around a transportation system in the park. How many people enjoy a summer day, or a quiet fall or winter one, underneath the current 5th Avenue line?

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