Rescue Mission: False statement must be corrected

By now, many News Tribune readers are aware that The Rescue Mission is having problems with its campus on South Tacoma Way. Recent news reports covered our need to remove the lighthouse structure due to settling under the building.

In that coverage, Sound Transit falsely asserts that the mission didn’t construct its building in accordance with its designer’s requirements. To the thousands of people in our community who support The Rescue Mission and are following this case, we assure you this statement is not true.

Our building was designed by respected local architects and engineers. The building plans, including site preparation, were approved by the City of Tacoma. The building was constructed according to those plans, inspected every step along the way, and approved for occupancy.

For the first 10 years, the building showed no signs of substantial settlement or structural issues. The rail line was added, and before a single Sounder train went down it, a new survey showed almost five inches of settlement under the center of the facility.

We believe Sound Transit’s work caused this change. As we work toward a resolution of the dispute, we want to make sure the community knows the facts.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 1:32 PM with the headline "Rescue Mission: False statement must be corrected."