Having exhausted its coffers, a community group is asking Laurelhurst residents for $100,000 to continue its legal fight against the growth of Seattle Children's Hospital. Spokespeople for the hospital say they need to accommodate 350 more beds for sick kids over the next 20 years. But the Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) has spent $34,900 on legal fees over the last two years attempting to scotch those plans.

"Unfortunately, the expense for our attorney and consultant have far exceeded LCC's budget, and we need to raise $100,000," LCC president Jeannie Hale writes in a letter sent to every household in Laurelhust. The letter arrived Saturday. "We need your help now to cover our costs and to get ready for the next steps," Hale says.

Contacted by phone, Hale explains that the LCC needs the money to pay off its legal debt and to continue advocating that the city restrict the hospital's expansion, but she did not know what those future steps would be. The group has argued that Children's overestimated its need for new beds and that a larger hospital would adversely impact nearby neighborhoods.

Already, the neighborhood group has delayed the hospital's plans by appealling the project. In April, City Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner—agreeing with portions of the LCC's arguments—required Children's to provide more analysis on the impacts of housing and local building regulations. "Although the process has been expensive, it has been worth it," writes Hale. She points out that LCC's lawyer "was outnumbered three to one" by the hospital's attorneys.

Hale's letter accompanied an envelope for donations and a form that suggests contributions ranging from $250 to $5,000.