I recently attended a meeting with a group of concerned Federal Way residents regarding the proposed building of a six-story, 308-unit apartment complex at the old bus barn on 320th Street across from Safeway.

The proposed apartment complex is the worst idea that I have ever heard. The property is much too small for 308 apartments, which is why they will be forced to build some of the units six stories tall.

Building that many apartments in such a small area will only lead to trouble. Have you ever seen any of the large public housing projects in large cities in the East? They weren’t so bad when they were new, but look what happened in a few years. They quickly became dangerous crime and drug infested nightmares and were eventually torn down. Furthermore, the location of the property is inappropriate.

Why put this city, not to mention the people who live in the neighborhood directly adjacent to the property, through that? The traffic problems that will surely develop will be a terrible problem. We already have too many traffic problems in that area. There are several preferable choices for this property, including senior housing or a community college, just to name a couple.

I don’t live in the neighborhood adjacent to the old bus barn property, but I have lived in this area most of my life. My parents bought a home here in 1955 and I attended elementary school in a little building directly behind Federal Way High School. I also attended junior high at the Federal Way High School building and transferred to Lakota Junior High upon its completion in the early 1960s. It just drives me crazy when I see how people in charge (whose main concern should be what is best for our city) continually make decisions that destroy the character of our city. I am so very tired of receiving a negative reaction when I tell someone where I live. They view our city as undesirable and I am tired of being embarrassed of where I live. Because of my long history in this area and the memories that I have, this is where my heart is, but I don’t know how much longer I can continue to live here when city leaders continue to approve changes that aren’t in the best interest of the people who live here.

Someone at the meeting stated that the poverty rate for Federal Way is 77 percent. If it gets any higher, there will be no quality of life for our city at all. I acknowledge that low-income housing is important, but how much is enough for one city? One doesn’t have to look far to observe that Federal Way is already inundated with apartments. The proposed apartments will take the city even farther in the wrong direction. If something this poorly conceived can be approved and built, I truly fear for our city. Is money the only thing that matters?

Sharon Murchison, Federal Way