Shoreline homeowner accuses Sound Transit of refusing to negotiate purchase price

SHORELINE, Wash. — The homeowner acknowledges that Sound Transit made him a pretty decent offer for his home. However, he says what he didn't know, is that would be Sound Transit's only offer.

"I just wanted a little bit more," Frank Murphy said, of the offer Sound Transit made to buy his home of 15 years.

It is part of the agency's Link Light rail project to Lynnwood, set to open in 2023.

"My maple cabinetry," Murphy said as he gave a tour of his home. "All only 10 years old."

Sound Transit's relocation expert concluded Murphy's home was worth $510,000, plus a relocation fee of nearly $90,000.

Murphy said his own appraisal came in at $40,000 more, so he asked for $625,000. 

He said Sound Transit didn't even respond.

"If they would have even said, you know, '$610,000, Frank; take it or leave it,' I would have took it because you know, I'm just trying to get a little better deal like anybody would."

But a block away, homeowner Michael Phillips said, "Not a lot you can do about it when it's eminent domain."

Sound Transit made an offer on his house, too.

"What they found seemed pretty fair to me," Phillips said.  "So I went ahead and took the offer."
 
"What we have said to him is this is our final offer," said Sound Transit spokeswoman Kimberly Reason.
  
She also insisted the agency is being fair to Murphy.  

"Our goal is always to negotiate these kinds of property acquisitions fairly and to provide fair market value for the house," Reason said.

Moreover, Sound Transit says anyone who doesn't like the offer can appeal through the court system. 

Murphy said he simply doesn't have the money to do that.

Cox Media Group