Heads up, Seattle: St. Paul waterfront dreams flame out

Seattle has been tying itself into knots over its central waterfront, hoping to dynamite an ugly Viaduct and replace it with parks, condos, and upscale retail. Plans came crashing down last March, when voters nixed both a new Viaduct and a tunnel scheme. All the parties are now closeted in quiet sta

David Brewster

David Brewster Jul 6, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Heads up, Seattle: St. Paul waterfront dreams flame out</h1>
                <h2><p>Seattle has been tying itself into knots over its central waterfront, hoping to dynamite an ugly Viaduct and replace it with parks, condos, and upscale retail. Plans came crashing down last March, when voters nixed both a new Viaduct and a tunnel scheme. All the parties are now closeted in quiet sta</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/david-brewster-crosscut-com/">David Brewster</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
            </header>
            <p>Seattle has been tying itself into knots over its central waterfront, hoping to dynamite an ugly Viaduct and replace it with parks, condos, and upscale retail. Plans came crashing down last March, when voters nixed both a new Viaduct and a tunnel scheme. All the parties are now closeted in quiet stakeholder negotiations to try to make it work again.</p><p>Now comes a &lt;a apps bloomberg.com href"http: news?pid="20601039&amp;refer=columnist_carlson&amp;sid=azDDt65NtvPc""&gt;cautionary tale from St. Paul, Minnesota. Big dreams for a waterfront redevelopment have just come crashing down.</p><p>Seattle has been tying itself into knots over its central waterfront, hoping to dynamite an ugly Viaduct and replace it with parks, condos, and upscale retail. Plans came crashing down last March, when voters nixed both a new Viaduct and a tunnel scheme. All the parties are now closeted in quiet stakeholder negotiations to try to make it work again.    Now comes a</p>
          </article>

Now comes a <a apps bloomberg.com href"http: news?pid="20601039&refer=columnist_carlson&sid=azDDt65NtvPc"">cautionary tale from St. Paul, Minnesota. Big dreams for a waterfront redevelopment have just come crashing down.

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By David Brewster

David Brewster founded Crosscut. He is now the director of Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum.