The Roomless City: Why Seattle Is Losing Half a Million Dollars to Its Own Landlords

Mr. J. M. Wallace, a manufacturing jeweler representing large outside capital, tells a story today important to every person interested in the growth of Seattle and its development as a business center—especially important to property holders. He has been in Seattle two weeks looking for a place in which to do business. He has systematically gone up one side of every business street and down the other in search for business locations and has failed to find it.

There is not a vacant place anywhere, and nobody who holds a store-room by lease or even by the uncertain tenure of rental from month to month will sell out upon any terms within reason. Every building now under construction is already leased in advance.

In short, Mr. Wallace, who is anxious to establish an important branch of his business here, finds it impossible to do so—there is no room, nor any immediate prospect for room. Discouraged and disgusted he will go elsewhere. Speaking yesterday he said: 'And I am only one of many. In my search I have come upon many others searching like myself, and all disappointed.'

Do the people of Seattle realize what all this means? Do they realize that we are losing a half million of dollars in outside capital and five hundred people each month—all for the want of business house room? Do they realize that this money and this population lost to us is being added to the strength of our business rivals? Do they realize what this means for the future?

Do the holders of property realize that property values here are dependent upon our maintaining the leading position in the trade of the country, that it is necessary in order to do this not only to keep what trade we have, but to get more as the country grows?

The situation demands plain speech, for it is a very serious thing. We must have house-room for business here, or business will find room elsewhere. Indeed, already it is daily turning from us.

There is urgent necessity for concerted public action in the public interest. The Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce should create a joint committee to take this serious public interest in hand. Every holder of a business site ought to be urged to build or sell. If the difficulty is in the getting of money, let the committee attempt negotiations. In short, make the building necessity a public instead of a private concern.