$1.6 billion Washington State Convention Center expansion to move forward

SEATTLE – The Washington State Convention Center has been pushing to expand – building a massive addition on land adjacent to its main facility in downtown Seattle.

KOMO-TV reported Seattle Mayor Tim Burgess and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Monday an agreement where the developer would pay more than $90 million to benefit public projects in an effort to move the construction forward.

The convention center expansion, estimated to cost $1.6 billion, will benefit bike lanes, parks and affordable housing.

The benefits package includes: $10 million to improve Freeway Park, $10 million to improve bike lanes and $29 million to pay for affordable housing. There is also another $1.5 million to study putting a lid over Interstate 5.