The Law Department represents the City in all legal matters and litigation, provides legal advice and opinions to City departments and agencies, and is responsible for prosecuting violations of City ordinances in Municipal Court. The position of City Attorney was established in 1875. The 1890 City Charter created the Law Department headed by the Corporation Counsel. The title was changed to City Attorney in 1977.
In the early 1980s, the New York-based company Urban Group acquired legal title to eleven historic buildings in Pike Place Market. The deal - a complex sale of tax depreciation rights - was to serve as a tax shelter for the company while providing $3 million for renovating the market. In 1989, after federal legislation eliminated the tax breaks, the Urban Group proposed rental increases for market tenants and demanded millions of dollars in back earnings. A public outcry ensued, and a Citizens Alliance was formed to fight the company. The City's Law Department also got involved, and numerous suits and countersuits were filed. The Urban Group eventually filed for bankruptcy and agreed to a buyout, returning ownership of the buildings back the public.
Records in this series document the litigation, including legal filings and background materials about the market. The files have been scanned and are available in Digital Collections. An
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], Pike Place Market Litigation Records, Record Series 4402-05. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.