SEATTLE - Capitol Hill, like most Seattle neighborhoods has lost many of its historic buildings. Most fall victim to neglect or some calamity. But one of them, the Capitol Building, has survived it all for the last 86 years.
"The building has survived at least ten major earthquakes," said Franklin Tseng, whose family has owned the building for the last 18 years. "This is the safest place to be."
But Tseng is convinced after consulting engineers that the building at the corner of Broadway Ave E. and E. John St. will not survive its next threat - tunnel boring for the next leg of Sound Transit's light rail project. He says his engineers predict the building will sink up to three-quarters of an inch.
"If that happens, this building is gone," said Tseng.
But Sound Transit engineers have also examined the building and its soils and say there is no need for concern.
"The building is going to be safe," said Sound Transit Spokesman Bruce Gray. "We have monitoring points on that building right now."
Gray says every building along the line from Capitol Hill to the University District is being monitored with survey equipment that will detect the slightest movement.
Tseng says he understands that and knows he can't stop the tunnel. But he warns his building is old and at six stories, it's the tallest on Capitol Hill. He worries it won't react like the buildings Sound Transit is used to dealing with.
Tunneling on that section of the line is expected to begin in 2012.
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