The monthly Uptown Alliance meeting begins at 7pm Thursday at the EXPO Apartments community room (100 Republican St), with a tour of the EXPO building prior to the meeting at 6:30pm.

Peter Hahn, Director of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), is the guest for the evening, and is up first on the agenda after introductions. He’ll be available to discuss future transportation concerns that impact Uptown, such as transportation needs, rail and mass transit, new street connections west and east of Uptown, bicycle safety, street maintenance, the Uptown Greenway, and any other SDOT-related concerns. Bring your topics and questions!

Agenda:

• Greetings & Introductions
• Guest speaker: Peter Hahn, Director, SDOT
• Motion on signatures for new BECU Uptown Alliance account
• Round Robin of topics of concern
• Discussion of meeting schedule for 2013
• Committee Reports: Parks, Public Safety, Urban Design Framework
• Adjourn

I’ve seen Seattle Police Department (SPD) community meetings come across other neighborhood blogs and now it’s our turn – SPD is coming to the Queen Anne Community Center on January 22nd to meet with residents. If you have concerns about crime (remember the Kerry Park-area muggings?), safety, or any specific questions for SPD, mark your calendars and RSVP for this meeting by January 16th. SPD is looking for 20-30 residents to participate in small group discussions, but that is not a hard-and-fast limit – they’re willing to accomodate all who want to join in on the discussion. It’s our turn to meet with SPD, and it’s a great opportunity for the community.

From our SPD West Precinct Operations contact:

The Mayor’s Office and the Seattle Police Department would like to hear from community members of Queen Anne as to how SPD can address specific neighborhood concerns and improve as an organization. We are seeking 20-30 residents that would like to attend a community meeting in which participants will gather in small groups. RSVP is necessary so that organizers can assure enough SPD officers and moderators are present.  If interest exceeds our target number of participants, we will adjust so that everyone is accommodated.

Key Details

• What: SPD – Queen Anne Community Meeting
• When: Tuesday January 22, 6-8pm
• Where: Queen Anne Community Center (1901 1st Ave. W)
• RSVP via email by Wednesday January 16, 2013

If you’re like me, you walk… a lot. If not, maybe you have a reason? Lack of sidewalks, poorly-marked crosswalks, or inadequate lighting? Remedying these issues would make it safer to walk around the neighborhood, especially with our short, dark winter days ahead. Increased walkability also supports our local businesses and community services, and there’s nothing more invigorating than taking a walk and seeing the vibrancy of our neighborhood!

Well, now there are two new opportunities for you to share your opinion on Queen Anne walkability:

Queen Anne Greenways: this grassroots, neighbor-driven group is looking to springboard into an official voice for Queen Anne walkability. The group is meeting next Tuesday and Friday for meet-and-greets. The conversation starting point will be the Crown of Queen Anne and pedestrian safety. The first meetings are informal opportunities to start the discussion on how Queen Anne residents view the safety and accessibility of our primary pedestrian routes. Input gathered and interested residents’ participation will lead to the formation of a formal Queen Anne Greenways Group.

Key Details:

• Meetings: Tuesday, Nov 27, 7-8:30pm or Friday, Nov 30, 3-4:30pm
• Where: 2572 – 10th Ave W
• RSVP via email to Jody Lemke

Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board: SPAB is accepting applications for new members to help make walking safer and easier.  The volunteer board advises the mayor and city council, participates in planning and project development, evaluates policies and makes recommendations to city departments. Board members serve a two-year term, with an opportunity to serve a second term. Applicants must be Seattle residents (city employees are not eligible) and should be frequent walkers. SPAB is looking for a board that represents of a variety of ages, mobility levels, and neighborhoods.

Key Details:

• Meetings: SPAB meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at City Hall
• Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter explaining your interest
• Deadline: apply via email by 5pm on December 17 to Howard Wu

The Uptown Alliance meets at 7pm on Thursday and there’s a new location forthis month’s meeting – the Uptown Alliance will convene in the Community Room at Expo Apartments, 100 Republican St.

Agenda
• Greetings & Introductions
• Round Robin: topics of concern
• Affordable Housing Goals for Uptown – report by Rick Hooper
• South Lake Union Rezone – report by John Coney

• Nominations Committee – report by Jean Sundborg
• Counterbalance Park – report by Jean Sundborg
• Downtown Public Safety letter
• Future of Key Arena – report by John Coney

• Committee Reports

The next UA meeting is January 10 at 7pm, details including meeting location to follow. For additional information, contact Rick Hooper or John Coney.

The proposed 4-story Aegis assisted living building at 223 W Galer St is up for public design review on Wednesday, October 24^th. If you’re concerned about the height of this building or any other impacts related to the design, mark your calendars. Only a few neighbors attended the first design review, so this is your chance to make your voice heard!

This particular Aegis property will include 60 assisted living units above street-level retail, with parking for 21 vehicles below grade. The existing one-story structure will be demolished, and the project is still pending City Council approval of the rezone required for the four-story structure.

Where are we in the process? This will be the second stage of Design Review, the Recommendation phase. The meeting agenda is as follows:

- The applicant presents information about the proposed design and how it responds to the Design Guideline priorities

- The public may comment on the proposed design

- The Design Review Board will offer their recommendations to the Director of the Department of Planning and Development (DPD)

Public comments are welcome at the Recommendation meeting – but note that comments are limited to design considerations only. According to the DPD, “if environmental review is triggered, comments related to environmental impacts (such as traffic, parking, noise, etc) may be sent to DPD following notice of that review.”

To prep for this meeting, you can read relevant documents, such as the Design Review document fro June, and public comments on this development at http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/edms/ – enter “3012582” as the project number. The Early Design Guidance document (with drawings and photos) is also available online.

Key Details:
What: Design Review & Public Comments for Aegis Project at 223 W Galer
Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 6:30pm
Where: Queen Anne Community Center, 1901 1st Ave W, Room 1

Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Friends of Lower Kinnear Park (FOLKpark), and HBB Landscape Architects are hosting a community meeting on the Lower Kinnear Park enhancement project this Thursday, June 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bayview Retirement Community, located at 11 W Aloha Street.

From FOLKpark:

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:

• Greetings and introductions
• Adopt Minutes of 5/12/11
• Metro Transit D-Line RapidRide stop placement – Jonathan Dong (SDOT) & Paul Roybal (Metro)
• Committee Reports:

1. New LED lighting in Counterbalance Park: it’s getting better.
2. Department of Neighborhoods Alcohol Impact Area program – Christa Dumpys TBC
3. 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
4. A new generation of trolley buses in Seattle.
5. Letter supporting Alcohol Impact Area Program.
6. 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 available to 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.

Read more about the Mercer West Project on the project website, and in our ongoing coverage.

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 14^th – 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.

Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien is hosting two upcoming community forums on transportation. These neighborhood discussions are being co-hosted by the Pacific Science Center, Seattle City Council and Streets For All Seattle.

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.

Although the event is free, space is limited. Those who plan to attend are asked to reserve their place by calling (206) 443-2896 or visiting pacificsciencecenter.org/community-science-forums.

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.