Merchant Raps Business District -- Group That Sells Area Gets Praise And Criticism

Dick Egge stood in front of his appliance store and mentally surveyed the stores in the West Seattle Alaska Junction neighborhood that are for or against the area's business-improvement program.

They support, they oppose, he said, moving along California Avenue Southwest near Southwest Alaska Street.

Backing for the three-year-old group, Egge concludes, is far from unanimous.

Egge long has criticized the program, which assesses about 165 businesses to help support free parking spots, marketing and maintenance for the area.

But after learning the program may be taking action against businesses that allegedly didn't pay their assessments and the apparent flop of a board game similar to Monopoly and marketed by the group, he has reloaded with new ammunition.

He sent a letter to local merchants criticizing the actions and says he has generated renewed support.

Egge, owner of Dick & Dale's Appliance & TV, opened the game, called ``Junctionopoly,'' and unfolded the board.

``What sense does it make?'' he said. ``They're out here suing people and running them out of business. We have an organization that is supposed to be promoting business and they are running them out of business.''

Yet as close as next door to Egge, there is enthusiastic support for the organization.

Tom Henry, co-owner of J.F. Henry, says the program is helping the neighborhood keep up with a changing market.

``We think it's critical for keeping up our business,'' said Henry, who serves on the board of the improvement area.

The program, called the West Seattle Junction Association Business Improvement Area, was formed in 1987. The City Council formed the area after being petitioned by businesses apparently representing a majority of the proposed assessments.

J. Stegar Thompson, manager of the district, said the district's $110,000 budget includes about 40 percent for the free parking and 15 percent for beautification and maintenance, with the remaining going toward marketing and administration.

He said 19 businesses that did not pay their assessments in 1987 and 1988 recently were referred to the city attorney's office and at least one of those businesses, which had misunderstood the program, has paid the assessments. City officials say letters demanding payment have been sent out, but legal action may not result.

``We have to handle it like a business,'' Thompson said.

But Egge, who has paid his assessments, said the $2,600 he pays each year is not worth it.

He contends the district was formed without broad support - a charge current city officials say is unlikely.

He also argues that past efforts to dissolve the business improvement area through petition were rebuffed without adequate consideration - another charge current officials question. Egge is unsure if he will harness the recent support he has attracted to mount another petition drive to dissolve the improvement area.

``I'm not interested in fighting with my neighbors, but I am interested in throwing a monkey wrench into the city's works every chance I get,'' he said.

Egge said most of the area's activities could be accomplished privately - without the threat of government action.

``There's no reason to stick a gun in somebody's ribs and make them pay,'' he said.

Sorting through a pile of documents he has collected over the past three years, he arrives at the Junctionopoly game. He signed up for a spot on the game - a move he calls stupid today. ``It doesn't even have hotels,'' he said.

But supporters of the business improvement area - who admit the game has not worked out as well as hoped - say simply that citing the game is unfair.

``That's just one thing,'' said Henry. ``To mention that without mentioning the phenomenal success of the sidewalk festival or the kids' day is not looking fairly at the success of the BIA.''

Henry recalled that before the improvement area was formed he frequently had to sweep the walk in front of his store. A weary handful of merchants prepared special events for the community and paid for the parking, he said.

``People don't remember how bad it was,'' Henry said.

To dissolve an improvement area, critics must garner businesses which account for 60 percent of the assessments collected. The city would evaluate any petition fairly, said John Chaney, who oversees the business-improvement areas for the city, following state law.

Thompson said the business district was formed in 1987, partly to ensure continued free parking and to help the business area compete against malls.

He said after a slow start,the improvement area is making strides. He particularly points to the success of the annual street festival and to the advantages afforded by uniting in marketing.

He admits that ``Junctionopoly'' has not been the success supporters had envisioned. While Thompson said that localized versions of the game sold out quickly in other cities, only 310 of 1,000 West Seattle ``Junctionopoly'' games manufactured have sold.

He said most of the cost of the game was paid for by money left over from the private-merchants association, whose funds are overseen by the business-improvement area's board. In addition, individual businesses paid $275 for each spot on the game's board, or $375 to appear on the game's box.

He said only $500 for the game came from the business district.

``We were trying different fund-raising things. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don't. Ask any retailer that,'' Thompson said. ``To me, it's still not a major catastrophe that this happened. We're going to sell them until they're gone.''