This summer, 75 of you signed a petition asking Sound Transit to keep the empty buildings in the Capitol Hill light rail construction zone in use for community purposes to keep the area from decaying into an empty deadzone. While logistics and liability prevented ST from making any of the spaces available for community meetings, they did work to fill the area with art installations to help keep the area active. We note that the art installations are scheduled to be taken down at the end of the month.

Sound Transit also found some other creative ways to put the empty buildings to use. This picture is from the parking lot of the old Broadway Jack in the Box — and, yes, that is a SWAT tank. Seattle’s SWAT powers are now prepared for a Jack in the Box forceful takeover. Be warned.

They also like to keep the JiB parking lot clear of leaves for the SWAT events, etc.

So, not exactly what we all had in mind, but the area has been, indeed, kept active and tidy.