Westlake Center controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
1983
Victor Steinbrueck lawsuit over project scale
Architect Victor Steinbrueck challenged the proposed development because of concerns about its scale and effect on downtown public spaces. The dispute was settled after the developers revised the design and added an open plaza along Pine Street.
1981
Legal challenge to public-private redevelopment
The Washington State Supreme Court rejected an earlier Westlake redevelopment arrangement, finding that the city's eminent-domain role improperly supported a predominantly private retail project. The ruling delayed redevelopment and forced a reconsideration of the relationship between public space, municipal authority, and commercial construction.