This Letter to Editor is an open Letter to DESC Bloomside from verified Burien resident Brendan Freeman.
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Burien.News or Daniel Media. If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.]
Dear DESC:
Before your Bloomside was approved, I listened in on calls presented by DESC with information about the planned building, how well it was going to be kept up, what a good neighbor Burien Supportive Housing would be yada, yada. I was supportive at first, but in hindsight my support was a mistake!
Yes, your building is attractive and pretty with its murals and design, but I would never support this kind of building in my neighborhood again, and I would counsel any other neighborhood/city NOT to approve a DESC building.
I walk my dogs by Bloomside in the early morning hours and constantly see drug dealing and usage going on your benches in the front of the building. The sidewalks and benches in front of the ATT building, across the street, have become filled with homeless accoutrements (shopping carts filled with junk, trash, etc. etc.) that no doubt come from your tenants. I have dog-walking friends that say they will no longer walk the streets in front of your building.
So, all in all, I would say the Bloomside has been a big negative for the citizens of downtown Burien.
Maybe, you should enforce some rules about dealing and doing drugs in front of the building and make a point to clean up the streets around your building. Burien does not need any more drug dealing nor trash around its downtown. The Bloomside needs to be a better neighbor and do a better job watching your tenants and the neighborhood around the building.
-Brendan Freeman
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please contact us. Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please include your name and phone number so we may contact you privately. We look forward to hearing from you.]
2 Responses
I recently drove by and could not help but notice the activity on the benches outside the DESC, it is quite evident that active drug use is underway at this site. If this is not stopped it will spread. There should be zero tolerance for this street side activity.
I too was hopeful that this facility would be an asset and provide positive options for those needing the help, but in light of this my support is waning.
There needs to be an active enforcement mechanism to the good neighbor agreement. Those violating it should face immediate eviction.
It’s quite telling that there is no reference to (not doing drugs in the neighborhood) on that Good Neighbor Agreement. As expected one of the West side room windows was broken out on Monday, that’s a frequent problem at DESC buildings so be careful walking underneath.