The public authority that runs Qwest Field fought like the dickens last year to oppose tall buildings on an adjacent 3.8-acre parking lot. Board chair Lorraine Hine fired off a letter to the city, opposing towers up to 24 stories high—even though the location next to King Street Station, a prime transit hub for light rail and buses, is ideal for maximum density. Hine's number one issue: Tall buildings would block views from the stadium.

“Qwest Field and Event Center was designed and constructed to capture the City and Puget Sound views offered by the public facility’s setting," Hine wrote. "Had these panoramic views not been available, or if they could not have been shared so publicly, then the facility would certainly have been designed differently.” She concluded that "240’ is simply too tall for this site.”

Indeed, Seattle’s finest example of economic justice is probably in the stands at Qwest Field: The cheaper your tickets, the higher the seats—and the closer to one of the city’s best views of the skyline. But really, you’re not paying for the view. And the city council thankfully didn’t cave. Reports Emily Heffter:

The Seattle City Council on Monday approved changes to the city's land-use code to allow a massive retail and residential development on a three-block swath of asphalt just north of Qwest Field. In addition to changing the view, the development may revive the Pioneer Square neighborhood by bringing in 600 more homes. […]

The new development would take up about half of the large parking lot between Qwest Field and King Street, adjacent to King Street Station. The land belongs to King County, and the county is selling it to the developer with many strings attached. Among other things, Daniels' development must replace the parking and provide "open space" — an extension of Second Avenue South, most likely — to allow access to the rest of the parking lot.

The buildings will range from 40 to 240 feet tall, with 60 percent residential use and 40 percent retail.

Oddly, spokesman for the stadium authority Kenan Block, reached this afternoon, insisted, “We did not support or take a position on the height.” He said the stadium authority was simply concerned about a "wall of buildings" (which isn't represented in the city's graphic). When I pointed out that one section of Hine’s letter was titled “240’ on the North Lot is too tall”—they certainly did take a position on the height--he said that the Stadium Authority did not support the city council’s vote. “We think it’s okay," he said.

Seattle really ought to neuter the authorities that run Safeco Field and Qwest Field. Over the last year, they’ve carved out a role pushing the city to restrict what other people can build on private property. The Mariners and Safeco Field have filed several appeals to block a strip club from opening in SoDo, and lost all of them. And Qwest Field pushed to block housing—including lots of affordable housing—on a freakin' parking lot. We should pass an ordinance, by city council vote or voter initiative, that muzzles both entities from lobbying on land-use decisions off their property.