Sunday, June 8, 2008

Meredith Getches, 63, OK'd housing for homeless alcoholics

By Mike Lindblom
Seattle Times staff reporter

Meredith Getches, a longtime Seattle hearing examiner known for her independence and wit, died Wednesday of cancer. She was 63.



She made a controversial ruling in 2002 to allow 75 homeless alcoholics to move into an apartment building on Eastlake Avenue near Denny Way, where they could drink in their rooms. Contrary to opponents' claims, she believed the tenants presented little risk to the busy neighborhood, once taken off the streets.

Ms. Getches was particularly engrossed in that case, said her brother, David Getches.

"She was very interested in the whole social dynamic of the thing — the fears expressed by people that if someone were alcoholic, they must be sexual predators. She thought that an outrageous form of prejudice," he said.

Ms. Getches was born in Pennsylvania and raised in California, where she graduated from the University of the Pacific, spending some time in costume as the Tiger sports mascot.
Afterward, she taught middle school in Long Beach, Calif., and lived near the ocean, where she became intrigued by land-use problems. Ms. Getches later earned a law degree from the University of Oregon.

Ms. Getches worked in Seattle's land-use department before becoming a hearing examiner, similar to a judge, in 1990.

Her first high-profile case involved the Music Hall, an official landmark that owner A.M. Clise sought to replace with a downtown hotel. She ruled the hall could be demolished.

She allowed the city to create off-leash dog areas in some parks, and she ordered Woodland Park Zoo to perform traffic studies instead of forging ahead with a parking garage. She allowed the city to deny permits to a homeless "tent city" — even though she considered it a good thing — saying tents would be substandard housing under the law. That decision was overturned in court.

Often, she would crack jokes. When a lawyer asked whether to call Getches "your honor," she replied, " 'Empress' will do."

After 13 years, she quit, as she found the cases less interesting and meaningful.

She later heard cases for Bainbridge Island and other cities. She told Washington State Ferries to write an environmental-impact statement before rebuilding a maintenance yard at Eagle Harbor. Her decision was overturned by a county judge this year.

Ms. Getches often walked her part-spaniel dog, Daphne, and she owned two large house cats. "She had some very close friends. ... She enjoyed dinner and a good glass of red wine," said longtime friend Jalaine Madura.

Five weeks ago, her back ached while she moved a sofa in her Capitol Hill apartment. Tests found cancer, her brother said. She had previously booked airline tickets to Paris and would have gone there with Madura last week.

Ms. Getches donated regularly to Noel House, a shelter for homeless women in Belltown, last winter delivering a carload of blankets and food.

She is survived by her brother David and sister-in-law Ann Getches, of Boulder, Colo.; former husband Mark Wills, of Arizona; nephew Matthew Getches and niece Elizabeth Getches, of Denver; and niece Catherine Getches, of San Diego.

Memorial contributions may be made to Noel House, 120 Bell St., No. 103, Seattle, WA 98121 or 206-956-9366.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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