Join FOLKpark, HBB Landscape Architects and Seattle Parks to learn more about the proposed restoration of the forest, the link to the waterfront, tennis court renovation, trail improvements, off-leash area and more! We will present findings from our arborist and geotechnical consultants and talk about funding priorities. Bring a neighbor!
The Lower Kinnear Park enhancement project is one of fifteen projects to receive funding from the parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund. You can read more about the redevelopment at the project website, or in our past coverage.
If you can’t make it to this meeting, there will be a second meeting also at Bayview on Thursday, October 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Want to pass along information about this meeting to friends and neighbors? Download the printable flier here (.pdf).
The Uptown Alliance’s monthly meeting is happening this Thursday, June 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Lower Queen Anne Metropolitan Market restaurant space. This month the agenda is brimming with transportation issues – from Metro’s D-Line RapidRide stop placement, to its new trolley buses – as well as other hot topics, including the Department of Neighborhoods Alcohol Impact Program and a potential site for low-income housing in Uptown. Check out the full agenda:
Metro Transit D-Line RapidRide stop placement – Jonathan Dong (SDOT) & Paul Roybal (Metro)
Committee Reports:
New LED lighting in Counterbalance Park: it’s getting better.
Department of Neighborhoods Alcohol Impact Area program – Christa Dumpys TBC
8th Ave. N. and Roy St.: Possible near-Uptown, SLU site for low cost housing: Will UA support this site? If so, how best? – Rick Hooper
A new generation of trolley buses in Seattle.
Letter supporting Alcohol Impact Area Program.
Uptown Alliance participation in proposed Center City Neighborhoods group.
New Business: bring your own topics and comments.
The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jul4 14. All future meetings will be held at the Lower Queen Anne Metropolitan Market until further notice.
Want to learn more about the Uptown Alliance and it’s work in the Lower Queen Anne community? Check out its Facebook page for updates and neighborhood information, or contact Rick Hooper at Nsilberg@silberg.net, or John Coney at djohnconey@aol.com.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is hosting an open house on the Mercer West Project from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8 at Seattle Center’s Rainier Room, located within the Northwest Rooms Plaza.
At the meeting representatives from SDOT will discuss the preliminary designs for the project, including information on the underpass at Aurora Ave and the two-way conversion of Roy and Mercer streets between 5th Ave N and Queen Anne Ave N. SDOT will also present recommendations for West Mercer Place and West Mercer Street, based on evaluation of the alternatives and input from stakeholders.
The SDOT project team will be availableto solicit ideas from the public and answer questions attendees may have about current preliminary design concepts for the following:
A wider Mercer Underpass at Aurora Avenue North;
Converting Mercer and Roy Streets from one‐way to two‐way operation;
And improving intersections, street connections and bike access.
From SDOT:
The Mercer West Project would complete the City’s vision for a direct, two‐way connection between I‐5 and Elliott Avenue West, continuing where the Mercer East Project leaves off. The proposed improvements include:
Widening Mercer between Dexter Avenue N and Fifth Avenue N, including the underpass at Aurora to provide three lanes in each direction, left‐turn lanes, wider sidewalks, and a bicycle path;
Converting Mercer Street to two‐way operation with two lanes in each direction and turn pockets between Fifth Avenue N and Queen Anne Avenue N;
Converting Roy Street to a two‐way street with one lane in each direction and bicycle lanes between Fifth Avenue N and Queen Anne Avenue N;
Creating a new Sixth Avenue N connection between Mercer and Harrison Streets; and;
Closing Broad Street to re‐connect the street grid between Ninth Ave N and Fifth Ave N.
Sustainability focused community organization (and the group behind the Solarize Queen Anne project) Sustainable Queen Anne is hosting a meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight, Monday, June 6 at 2501 Westview Dr W (on the corner of Wheeler).
On the agenda for tonight’s meeting:
Results of our Community Survey and next steps (i.e., potential actions for Queen Anne)
Recap the Solarize Queen Anne project – big success!
Public stairway at W. Raye and 14th – cleanup, ivy removal and re-vegetation project (a project for this summer!)
Announcements
Dinner will also be provided, and meeting attendees are welcome to bring their children along for the evening. For more information on Sustainable Queen Anne and the work they do, check out their website.
If you have questions or concerns about Seattle Public Schools, you can share them with School Board Director Michael DeBell at a drop in meeting on Saturday, May 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Caffè Appassionato, located at 4001 21st Avenue West next to Fisherman’s Terminal.
This is a coffee chat and an informal, drop-in community meeting to discuss public school issues and opportunities.
These discussions are part of a series of events that gather community input on different aspects of the City Council’s priority issue of carbon neutrality.
Interesting in taking part? Check out details on both events here:
Tuesday, March 29, 6 to 8:30 p.m. – Lake City, Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Avenue NE, Seattle
Featured Speakers:
Ref Lindmark, King County Metro Transit
Kari Watkins, OneBusAway & UW Civil Engineering
Notable community representative
Tuesday, April 12, 6 to 8:30 p.m. – Central District, Seattle Vocational Institute, 2120 S. Jackson St., Seattle
Featured Speakers:
Mark Hallenbeck, Director of the Washington State
Transportation Center at UW (TRAC)
Jennifer Wieland, Seattle Dept. of Transportation
Transit blogger Carla Saulter, a.k.a. “Bus Chick”
The forum will provide a light dinner and refreshments for attendees. There will also be educational activities provided by the Science Center’s Science on Wheels program for children 5 years old and up whose parents and guardians are attending the forum.
Seattle School Board District IV director Michael DeBell is holding a community coffee chat tomorrow, Saturday, March 19 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Caffe Appassionato Coffee Co, located at 4001 21st Ave W, just next to Fisherman’s Terminal.
These regular meetings, which take place on the fourth Saturday of every month, are a chance for community members to drop in and have an informal discussion on public school issues and future opportunities.
District IV represents the following schools: Adams, Ballard, C. Blaine, The Center School, Coe, Lawton, McClure, Queen Anne Elementary, Salmon Bay, and West Woodland.
For more information on Michael DeBell and the Seattle School Board, check the SPS website. Can’t make this month’s coffee chat? DeBell will be hosting three more–on Saturday April 16, May 21, and June 18 (same time and place)–before the school year is out.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn will be holding a town hall style meeting in Magnolia on Tuesday, March 1 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Catharine Blaine School (2550 34th Ave West). Representatives from the city and community groups will also be on hand to hear what’s on your mind and answer questions.
Starting at 5:30 p.m. there will be a meet and greet opportunity where city departments and local community organizations will have information tables, answer questions and offer volunteer opportunities. (Local organizations are invited to join in during this part of the meeting). There will be a performance by youth groups at 6:30 p.m. and the open question and answer session with the Mayor and city staff will begin around 6:45 p.m.
While this town hall with be focused particularly on issues concerning Magnolia and Interbay residents, the mayor plans to hold another town hall specific to Queen Anne later in the year. Magnolia/QA Neighborhood District Coordinator Christa Dumpys is compiling a briefing document with questions to ask the mayor. To add your question to the list, contact Dumpys at 206-684-4812 or Christa.Dumpys@seattle.gov by the end of the day today, Friday, February 18.
As a result of much public backlash to the challenging budget cuts, the City Council has asked the Department of Parks and Recreation to rethink how community centers in Seattle are operated. As part of the process, the city is holding a public meeting with the community to discuss ideas for how the centers could be run differently tomorrow, Wednesday, February 2 at the Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Seattle Parks and Recreation operates 26 community centers. The cost to run the centers far exceeds revenue brought in from center programs. Because of the current budget situation, Parks staff are exploring alternatives that would offer continued services for the public while reducing costs, including new methods of management, staffing, fundraising, and partnerships.
At the February 2 meeting, Parks staff will ask attendees to share ideas and concerns relating to community center operations. In the spring, Parks will hold another public meeting to discuss specific options.
The Community Center Advisory Team, which is comprised of community members, representatives from the Board of Park Commissioners, representatives of employee unions, employees, the Associated Recreation Council, and City Council and City Budget Office staff, is also working on a solution to the community centers operations and budget problems. For questions about the public meeting, contact Susan Golub at susan.golub@seattle.gov or at 206-684-7046.
Seattle School Board President Michael DeBell is hosting an informal community meeting on Saturday, January 15. The public is invited to drop in for coffee and a chance to discuss public school issues and opportunities.
DeBell will be at Caffè Appassionato at 4001 21st Avenue West (next to Fishermen’s Terminal) from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The school district is facing a budget gap of $50 million for 2011/2012, or about 9 percent of the operating budget. On average, this equates to about $1,000 per child for the next school year. The budget negotiations in the state legislature, which just started a 105 day session, will determine many of the funding outcomes. Likely topics for the meeting include the impact of the budget gap on schools, programs, and students.
This community meeting is one of DeBell’s regular “Monthly coffee with Michael” events, which take place on the 4th Saturday of every month at the Fishermen’s Terminal Caffè Appassionato.
Major transportation changes are heading to SR 99 as the deep-bored tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct moves forward.
Late last month, the Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation and the City of Seattle released its Supplement Draft Environmental Impact Statement (.pdf), which analyzes the bored tunnel alternative, the preferred option for replacing the Viaduct. The SDEIS report outlines the project’s effects on transportation and the environment.
At the most recent Ballard District Council meeting WSDOT representative Mike Rigsby outlined the project for the community. Read the full story at our sister site, MyBallard.
Since the deep-bored tunnel will affect Queen Anne, Magnolia, Ballard, and other north Seattle neighborhoods, we thought we’d keep you abreast of upcoming community meetings regarding the project. This coming Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a hearing at Ballard High School, located at 1418 NW 65th St., to discuss the entire project and the SDEIS. The meeting will be open-house style with display boards and staff to answer questions. Attendees will be able to leave make comments. Until then, read more about the project at MyBallard.com.
(Full disclosure: The Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation and the City of Seattle are sponsors of NextDoorMedia, which owns QueenAnneView and sister site MyBallard.)
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to lower the altitude of aircraft flying over Magnolia, which could have an impact on Queen Anne.
The Magnolia Community Club has invited the FAA, Boeing Field and SeaTac management to a public meeting to discuss the proposal, which they say means a potential increase in danger, noise and pollution for Queen Anne, Magnolia and Ballard. The meeting is November 18, at 7 p.m. in the Catharine Blaine School Cafeteria at 2550 34th Avenue West — next to the Magnolia Community Center.
Robert Bismuth from the MCC provides his assessment of the FAA proposal. “This would lower the floor of the airspace from 3000 to 2000 feet over all of Magnolia and potentially parts of south Ballard and West Queen Anne. This is a substantial change and would allow traffic landing to the south at SeaTac to be over Magnolia at altitudes down to 2000 feet. In the past such traffic typically turns from the west much further north and at about 6000 feet and above.
In addition from a safety point of view this proposal reduces the airspace available for non-SeaTac bound traffic as well – compressing that traffic (typically headed into/out of Boeing Field and Lake Union) into a channel from 1500 to 1999 feet high.
It also interferes with the preferred instrument approach into Boeing Field. That approach currently has a vectoring altitude of 2200 feet prior to intercepting the glide slope for descent into Boeing Field. This is typically the altitude at which we see all the large aircraft cross Magnolia. In order to keep that traffic out of the FAA’s revised Class B airspace they are also revising the ILS and lowering the approach over Magnolia by approximately 400 to 600 feet with additional requirements on the aircraft making that approach.
Using a standard formula for the impact of noise based on the distance from the source, a drop of 400 to 600 feet in altitude roughly doubles the apparent loudness of an aircraft passing overhead assuming the same= power settings and configuration of the aircraft.
We learned earlier this week that that FAA in fact are planning on putting the revised ILS approach to Boeing Field into use in late November. This was a surprise to a lot of people – in fact not even the management of Boeing Field were told of this approach change in advance. We also do not believe there has been any adequate period or opportunity for public comment.
In addition to failing to provide adequate notification and comment period for the change to the ILS, the FAA has also decided to hold the initial public meetings on the proposed revision to the Class B airspace in Everett, Burien and Auburn – communities that will suffer no major impact from the proposed changes.
Coe Elementary’s new principal, Stacey Loftin (also known by her nickname Tate) is inviting the community to swing by and meet her at series of weekly drop-in socials the district is calling “Tuesdays with Tate.” Loftin is replacing Coe’s longtime head David Elliott, who is leaving to become the principal at the new Queen Anne Elementary this fall. Current and incoming Coe families are invited to stop by the school, located 2424 7th Ave. W., from 9 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday through August 3 to meet Tate. No RSVP is necessary.
Last week Seattle City Light announced a new plan to tackle the cause of Queen Anne’s frequent power outages and prevent future blackouts: injecting the neighborhood’s aging underground cables with silicone. City Light is holding a meeting tonight, Wednesday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. (at the Queen Anne Community Center, Room 3, located at 1901 1st Ave W.) to brief residents on the project, what the work will entail, and answer any questions or concerns.
Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell sent out this message to community members this week encouraging participation in tonight’s meeting:
Beginning this June, Seattle City Light will begin a 10-week underground cable injection project on Queen Anne that will increase reliability of electrical service and add 25 years of life to aging underground cables. City Light is working with a company called Novinium to inject the aging underground cables with silicone. The process fills cracks that have developed in the cable insulation that can lead to power failures. The project is planned to begin in mid-June and is estimated to last about 10 weeks. On a typical day, crews will work between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Cables determined to be beyond repair will have to be replaced and customers will be notified at least one week in advance of any planned outages which may be necessary to replace the cable.
The silicone injection process is a great alternative to digging up and replacing old cables because it will cost less and be less disruptive to the neighborhood while extending the life of the existing cables. The process has been successfully applied to projects in Leschi, View Ridge, Laurelhurst and Arroyo Beach. When we can employ methods that enhance reliability, cost less and minimize disruption to customers, it is a step in the right direction.
This Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. FOLKpark invites community members to participate in an informal meeting and help brainstorm fundraising and event ideas for the next phase of the park’s redevelopment. The meeting will be held at the Ten Mercer restaurant, located at, you guessed it, 10 Mercer St. in Lower Queen Anne, and will last approximately one hour.
“Now that the enhancement plans to Lower Kinnear Park have been finalized, our fund raising efforts will now move into full swing. Your help is now truly needed!” said FOLKpark Volunteer Coordinator Phil Prahst.
Phil asks that anyone planning to attend please RSVP by either emailing him at philprahst@gmail.com, or joining the event on Facebook.
Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson and Rep. Reuven Carlyle are hosting a town hall meeting for residents of the 36th legislative district at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 19 at the Q Café, located at 3223 15th Ave West in Interbay. The main focus of the meeting will be to discuss the 2010 legislative session and the future of our state.
“For the past two legislative sessions, the state has faced fiscal challenges not seen since the Great Depression,” Kohl-Welles said in a press release yesterday. “We will be sharing with constituents how the Legislature addressed these challenges in passing the operating budget with a combination of budget cuts, new revenue and closing of tax loopholes, federal stimulus funds and using some of the reserves.”
“We have a lot to talk about,” Dickerson said.
Kohl-Welles, Dickerson and Carlyle will also discuss legislation affecting the 36th District, which encompasses Queen Anne, Magnolia, Ballard, Belltown, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, Greenwood and Blue Ridge, and will allot time to hear comments and questions from constituents.
“While email and phone calls during session are great, getting together and talking about our community is hugely informative and motivating as a lawmaker,” Carlyle said. “Our state is facing huge issues, and we need everyone involved in the solutions.”
To get an idea of what the final design entails before the meeting, take a look at the enhancement plan (.pdf). As always, the community meeting is open to the public and will be held at Bayview Manor, located at 11 W. Aloha St.
On Thursday, April 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. FOLKpark will hold the third and final community meeting at Bayview Manor, located at 11 W. Aloha St., where they will present the final concept design for the redevelopment of Lower Kinnear Park by HBB Landscape Architecture based on community input from the first two meetings.
According to FOLKpark, the final concept design “coalesced around six major themes” expressed at the first two community meetings:
Activate the park with improved trails to increase accessibility for all and expand ADA accessible areas of the park while opening sight-lines to increase sense of personal safety;
Leverage supplemental funding through the Green Spaces Levy for an off leash dog park;
Respect the park’s historical significance and uses by creating gathering spaces, viewpoints and restoring the tennis court;
Restore the natural environment by removal of invasive plants and addressing issues of drainage and re-vegetation of a dying/changing forest, building a forest for the next 50-100 years;
Enhance the entrances with a common identifying feature/planting and signage to attract visitors; and,
Provide a connection to other trails in the Seattle Parks system and to the waterfront by expanding the trail system to the Helix Bridge and at the same time remove pedestrian and biking traffic from crowded streets.
If you’d like to sneak a peak at the final design before the meeting, take a look at the enhancement plan (.pdf). FOLKpark also encourages those interested in the redevelopment of Lower Kinnear Park to pass out meeting announcement fliers (here and here) to friends and neighbors in Queen Anne.
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