The Ravenna-Bryant Community Association (RBCA) Board has been fielding questions and collecting feedback from our neighbors regarding the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Bicycle Master Plan and specifically the proposed bike track along NE 65th Street.
An independent group, under the name “NE 65th Street Committee” has formed and has circulated letters and information about the proposal as well. RBCA has no affiliation with this committee nor are we responsible for communications sent by the group.
In response to SDOT’s feedback deadline of July 26th, the RBCA Board will submit a letter expressing general concern over the bicycle track proposal and the planning process. The letter also requests that SDOT and the city council delay a decision on the track until more studies have been conducted, including more/better opportunities to collect public input. You can see the full text of the letter here.
The Seattle Department of Transportation is asking for the community’s feedback on four proposals for the NE 75th corridor. You can see the four proposals here: NE 75th St Proposals
Your feedback is requested at these two community meetings:
Wednesday, July 24th, 7-9PM in the Fellowship Hall (downstairs) at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (8008 35th Ave NE)
Thursday, July 25th, 1-3PM in the Fellowship Hall (downstairs) at Messiah Lutheran Church (7050 35th Ave NE)
There are also these improvements that will happen in the near future:
Photo enforcement cameras for the Eckstein school zone on NE 75th Street ($ from these to be used for road/pedestrian safety projects near schools city-wide)
Traffic calming on the non-arterial streets near Eckstein (SDOT will work with residents before installation of traffic calming devices such as speed bumps)
New crosswalk at 28th Avenue NE and NE 75th Street
New pedestrian countdown signals at several intersections
Crossing improvements at 9th Avenue NE and NE 75th Street (near the entrance to southbound Interstate 5)
Spot parking restrictions throughout the area to improve sight lines
SDOT will come again and ask for our feedback on the following longer-term projects:
Channelization improvements on Banner Way/NE 75th Street between NE 80th Street and 15th Avenue NE
New left turn pockets on 35th Avenue NE at NE 75th Street
Bicycle facilities on NE 75th Street east of 35th Avenue NE connecting to the newly completed Neighborhood Greenway on 39th Avenue NE
This message has been sent to us from our buddies at the NEDC (Northeast District Council):
The Northeast District Council invites you to a mayoral candidates forum Wednesday, July 17, 2013 7 – 9 PM at Seattle Musical Theatre in Magnuson Park.
Hear From Mayoral Candidates:
Joey Gray
Bruce Harrell
Kate Martin
Mike McGinn
Doug McQuaid
Ed Murray
Charlie Staadecker
Peter Steinbrueck
(Mary Martin cannot attend)
Candidates will be on hand for a meet and greet at 6:30 PM
Where?? Seattle Musical Theatre – in Magnuson Park—
You may be wondering what the word is on the 3.7 acre property that is the Children’s Home Society of Washington on NE 65th near 35th Ave NE. Well, so are we!
We did, however, receive this update from their Manager of Communications recently:
Children’s Home Society of Washington remains in the negotiation phase with selected parties. This process is expected to continue for the next couple months. Once the site is under contract with a buyer, the selected party will reach out to the public and will be in touch with the community as part of the design review process. Due to confidentiality stipulations, CHSW is unable share any further details at this time.
So, perhaps by September we’ll know who our new neighbor is. Check back then.
The June RBCA Board of Director’s meeting will be held tomorrow, June 4th at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center. The meeting will commence at 7 pm in the Teen Room and last approximately 1.45 hours. The meeting is open to the public, so please come and have your say.
The Agenda is not finalized, but topics on the slate include:
Updates on the Children’s Home Society Property Sale
Updates on Transportation Issues
NEDC updates
Need for a Membership coordinator and Outreach volunteer
UW will be on hand to discuss some upcoming B-G trail improvements
Marijuana Zoning Ordinance in relation to the RBCA area
and other riveting topics that affect our neighborhood.
Folks, it is time again to gather in the Teen room at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center at 7 pm to discuss topics near and dear to our community. Per Johnson from the Wedgwood Community Council will be joining us to talk about the proposed sale of the Children’s Home Society of Washington property. Albert Shen, who is running for City Council will be visiting us as well. We expect a lot of discussion around transportation and pedestrian issues in and around Children’s Hospital and NE 75th.
We’re also looking for some great people to join the Board and run for office!
The Agenda as it stands (subject to change)
Agenda
May 7, 2013 7-9 PM
Ravenna Bryant Community Association
Board of Directors Meeting
Ravenna Eckstein Community Association
7:00 Introductions (Jorgen)
7:05 Board Business (Various)
• President’s report – SNAP
• Nominations for President (Jorgen)
• Treasurer’s report/Minutes (none for April Community Meeting)
• NEDC update (Tony)
• April Community Meeting Debrief
7:20 WCC/35th Ave NE Neighborhood Planning District conversation with CHSW (Per)
7:35 Discussion on our next steps, including meeting with CHSW in a smaller group (All)
7:50 Albert Shen – Candidate for Seattle City Council (Albert Shen/Jorgen)
8:05 Updates from Jenny and the City (Jenny)
8:15 Transportation updates (various)
• Improvements at NE 75th and further plans for improving pedestrian safety
• Upcoming/Potential improvements at Blakeley (potential charrette with CBE)
8:30 Pedestrian Issues – (various)
• 40th Ave NE and B-G trail (Josephine)
• Sidewalk encroachment (Jorgen)
• NE 55th and 39th NE (Jorgen)
8:45 Old Business (All)
8:55 Adjourn
Next meeting – June 4, 2013
The Ravenna-Bryant Community Association recently was informed of the sale of the 3.7 acre property on NE 65th, between 33rd NE and 34th NE, owned by the Children’s Home Society.
The full Offering Memorandum is below, and the City of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development’s Zoning Classifications, with brief explanations, are also below.
The sale of such a large piece of property obviously has a huge impact on our community, and it will be discussed at our next Board Meeting, on May 7th 7-9 p.m. at the Ravenna-Eckstein CC.
Please considering coming to a meeting, hosted by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), to give your input on NE 75th, and other streets nearby. We have SDOT’s ear from 6-8:30 TONIGHT, Tuesday April 23rd at Ravenna Eckstein Community Center. Find out more about what SDOT has in mind here, and hope to see you tonight.
Remember the Roosevelt Rezone? It wasn’t so long ago, in January of 2012, that the neighborhood next door was “upzoned.” No matter how you feel about the results, no one seems to argue that the process of incorporating a community’s input is lacking.
The Seattle Channel’s Brian Callahan tried to piece together what our City may have learned not just from the Roosevelt Rezone, but also from development in Rainier Valley and South Lake Union. You can watch the “Seattle Speaks” talk show here, and see if you think any lessons were learned from what happened to our buddies on the other side of 15th. And, remember, downtown Ravenna does not have a neighborhood plan, but we’re within a one-mile radius of the soon to be light-rail station on NE 65th and 12th NE.
The fatal incident on NE 75th and 33rd NE that occurred Monday March 25th has deeply affected our community. Representatives from many different parts of the City will be on hand Tuesday, April 2nd from 7-9 p.m. at Ravenna Eckstein Community Center to discuss what we all need to do to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.
The folks that have committed to coming so far is a formidable bunch, an indication in and of itself that this tragedy is being taken very seriously, and will hopefully be a catalyst for making lasting changes to our roads, and perhaps DUI prosecution.
We’re still waiting to hear from a few officials, but there are a number of folks that have confirmed so far.
Council Member Tom Rasmussen will be coming with Eileen Whalen, Executive Director of Harborview Medical Center and Dr. Beth Ebel, Director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center.
From the Seattle Police Department, North Precinct Captain Robin Clark will be there to introduce Captain Mike Nolan from the SPD Traffic Section. DUI enforcement experts will also be on hand to answer any questions/concerns the community may have.
Dongho Chang, Chief Traffic Engineer from the Seattle Department of Transportation will be there to address improvements that can be made to NE 75th. The Director of Transportation Peter Hahn will also be in attendance.
Members of the law department from the City Attorney’s Office will attend to discuss the prosecutorial side of DUIs.
The Mayor’s office will also be on hand, should you have questions for him.
Gina Iandola, Homestreet Bank’s Wedgwood Branch Manager will also be there should you want to donate funds. You can read more about ways to donate on Wedgwood Community Council’s website.
All of the above people are coming to our neighborhood to explain what they know, as experts, and to listen to our community. Please plan to attend this important meeting. If you have any questions/comments etc, please contact Sarah rbcasarah@gmail.com.
In response to the tragic accident on NE 75th in front of our Eckstein Middle School, the RBCA has arranged to hold a community meeting at the Ravenna Eckstein Community Center’s gymnasium, from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday April 2nd, 2013.
SPD and SDOT have indicated, via Twitter, that they will attend. The Mayor’s office has also been invited, but has not replied. We’re working on getting someone from the prosecutor’s office to explain DUI penalties. Details on representatives from our City who will attend the meeting will be released as they are confirmed. And, your suggestions are welcome, and encouraged. Whom would YOU like to see invited to speak to the community? Feel free to invite them yourself—the gym is a large space.
There are many pieces to this issue, and we need to be clear as a community what it is that will help resolve our arterials being used as highways. SPD has been pulling over speeders in front of Eckstein this morning, which is a great start. More permanent changes are in order, so please think about what exactly we want to ask for as a community to prevent this kind of tragedy from occurring again.
The Wedgwood Community Council has put together this blog post about the incident, and we’re working on setting up a memorial fund for the family at one of our local banks. Also, thanks to Ravenna Blog for her coverage of the story.
Next Tuesday’s RBCA board meeting will meet in a different location, but same time (first Tuesday of the month, 7-9 p.m.)
Walking on Blakely is not safe
We’ll be at Zoka coffee on Blakely from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday February 5th to meet business owners and residents, and hear what ideas/concerns they have about their neighborhood. Board member Pete Ramels will also run through the grant proposal for NE 50th that he submitted to City, and we’ll brainstorm ideas for getting sidewalk improvements on Blakely itself as well.
As always, anyone is welcome to attend our board meetings, so we hope to see you there.
Those of you who walk to University Village from the east side of 35th Ave NE know that sidewalks are needed to increase pedestrian safety. In December, RBCA Board members Peter Ramels and Sarah Swanberg submitted a grant proposal to the Seattle Department of Transportation for the installation of sidewalks on the south side of Calvary Cemetery and north of University Village. (Specifically: on the south side of NE 50th Street between 30th and 33rd and Avenues NE and on the east side of 30th Ave NE between NE 50th and Blakely Streets.) The proposal was among three from NE Seattle to be forwarded to the DOT for consideration.
Below are photos of the areas that are in need of sidewalks.
The Ravenna-Bryant Community Association is starting a “Land Use Book Club.” Our friends to the west of us in Roosevelt have gone through several stages of creating their Neighborhood Design Guidelines, a process by which the City’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) helps the neighborhood identify how they want to grow as a community. This book club is a jump start to that conversation, as the density from Roosevelt’s Sound Transit Station gradually moves east into our community.
The first book will be the classic by Jane Jacobs’s, Death and Life of Great American Cities. You can see the Wikipedia definition here:
Third Place Books will have copies on hand for you to buy, or you can borrow a copy from the library.
Our first book club meeting will be on Wednesday February 27th, 2013 at the Ravenna Eckstein Community Center from 7-9 p.m. There will be a moderator for the discussion. Bring your ideas for the next book choice, as the RBCA plans to continue the book club on the 4th Wednesday of every month.
Interested in beautifying your yard with a free landscape feature? Want to help prevent pollution from entering our local waterways and impacting our local wildlife? Install a rain garden through the RainWise program and you will be helping prevent pollution from entering Lake Washington, Thornton Creek and the Puget Sound!
With support from the Russell Family Foundation, Sustainable Seattle’s Green Blocks Blue Sound program is working with neighbors in Ravenna-Bryant, Laurelhurst, Wedgwood, and Windermere to install clusters of rain gardens, cisterns and other forms of natural stormwater management. Rain gardens are an efficient, beautiful and relatively low-cost way to address an environmental problem. They collect water from your roof, driveway and other hard surfaces, allowing it to soak into planted beds rather than flow down the nearest stormdrain.
Right now, Seattle Public Utilities is offering rebates through the RainWise program to help residents in priority zones pay for the installation of rain gardens and cisterns. The Ravenna-Bryant, Laurelhurst, Wedgwood, and Windermere neighborhoods all have residents in one of these zones. To learn if you are eligible, visit the RainWise website (RainWise.Seattle.gov).
Sustainable Seattle’s Green Blocks Blue Sound program is interested in working with you to take advantage of this rebate offer and install a rain garden or cistern on your property! Our goal is to construct rain garden and cistern clusters with 5 to 8 homes in the same area. In addition to providing more measurable water quality benefits, we see the installation of these clusters as the first step in building a stronger, greener neighborhood. By the end of the project, your neighborhood will have an inspiring rain garden cluster, an active sustainability conversation, and a more connected community!
If you are interested, Green Blocks Blue Sound can work with you to develop green infrastructure ideas for your property, connect you with contractors, and provide support through the design and installation of rain gardens and cisterns. We want to educate, support and inspire you and your neighbors to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and will work with your neighborhood to adopt other sustainability practices.
Normally our board meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, in the “Teen Room” at Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center. Due to the election last Tuesday, however, we moved the board meeting to the following Tuesday.
It’s possible that the Mayor will come to our neighborhood for a tour and a town hall style meeting at Ravenna-Eckstein. Ravenna-Bryant is a large community association (the largest in the city, geographically speaking), so where might someone take the Mayor on said tour? Take a look at our map here. You can see that RBCA actually encompasses 5 business districts.
That discussion will happen tonight at our board meeting, as well an update on SR520 and the parallel Montlake Bridge, and upcoming Greenwaysin our neighborhood. A representative from NEST (Northeast Seattle Together)will also be on hand to discuss what they have in the works.
Everyone is always welcome to the RBCA board meetings. Hope to see you there.
Jorgen Bader serves as representative of the University District Community Council and Virginia Gunby is a RBCA Board Member. Both served on the recent Westside 520’s Seattle Community Design Collaborative (SCDC) representing the interests of the University District and Ravenna-Bryant neighborhoods.
On October 26th, The Seattle Times reported that, thanks to project savings and an approved Federal loan, the funding gap for the construction of the Westside SR 520 segment had been reduced from $2 to $1.4 Billion. If the 2013 state Legislative Session approves I-90 tolling to fund the balance, then WSDOT will move forward with the construction/stabilization of the “Land to Lake” section on SR 520.
On the mornings of November 26th and December 10th, WSDOT staff will be briefing the Seattle City Council on the most recent plans for the new SR 520 Project at the City Council Chambers. The hearings will be open to the public. We urge that you let the city know your 520 thoughts and questions by testifying or by e-mail to the Council members or Mayor. The latest SR 520 designs are on the WSDOT website at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/srs520bridge/I5toMedina. Visit the site to check the graphics out!
I-5 to Medina Project Map
Current Issues awaiting Decision
After 15 years of study, many Public Meetings and input on the recent SCDC design refinements, consultants hired by the City of Seattle have recommended the removal of the second parallel Montlake Bridge across the Cut. The second bridge was part of the FHWA FEIS for SR 520 Westside Design as stated in Resolution 34111 approved in 20xx. With the forecasted increase in foot, bus and light rail traffic for the new Husky Stadium area Light Rail Station scheduled to open in 2014, planners expect traffic congestion for all modes will increase on the existing bridge. With increased number of traffic lanes on the south and north sides of the Montlake cut there is little support from the city transportation planners to improve the space for movement of Transit, Autos/Freight, Bikes or Pedestrians to move on Montlake Boulevard. (The Montlake Community has opposed the second Montlake Bridge, since they believe it will bring more traffic through their neighborhood.)
The design of the Portage Bay Bridge
Should the bridge be designed using a Box Girder design, similar to the current one, or a new cable-stay bridge? For those who don’t know the finer details about bridge design, the Box Girder supports the roadway with many pilings in the water whereas a cable-stay Bridge has a mast like a sailboat. The cable stay bridge’s cables spread like a sail down to hold up the roadway with less in water construction work on pylons, thus lessening the future impacts on the Portage Bay environment or users. Cable stay supporter believe the unique design for Seattle would be an appropriate “welcoming” design to the city entrance, consistent with the, surrounding moorages and water related activities.
An Additional Bike/Pedestrian Lane to connect with a bike trail at Roanoke to the Lake Union Trail and connecting to other N/S existing Trails as an alternative to using the hill climb route up Del Mar drive is planned. The bridge neighbors want a narrow design, and METRO opposes losing one lane, which could become a reversible lane, even though they connect only to the I-5 Express lanes that are only operated south in the AM and north in the PM. Bridge experts claim retrofitting it later for a Bike lane after it is built would be expensive. The bike community is strongly in favor of the addition of this Bike/Pedestrian lane.
Wetlands, lagoons and upland shorelines rehabilitation around Lake Washington Blvd, Foster Island Drive in order to reduce SR 520 impacts. The 520 plan includes the removal of existing SR 520 ramps. WSDOT has offered to give the City the adjacent west side wetlands for mitigation in exchange for dry lands by the roadways. So far the Council and the Mayor have not shown any interest in acquiring this area adjacent to the Arboretum.
West Side impacts and construction
Due to limitations of project funding, and the need to rebuild aging Pontoons and in water transition road supports, built before current earthquake standards, the Seattle land- side between I-5 and the Lake is the last scheduled to be funded and constructed. When completed, it will have six not four lanes, with two-way center Transit/HOV lanes, a bike/pedestrian lanes on the North side of the bridge and new safety shoulders. The design calls for construction of two lids above the 520 corridor near the Arboretum and Roanoke Avenue.
Lid Development
Another Community landscaped lid will be located on Capitol Hill near Roanoke. The design also requires collection and treatment of the all 520 roadway rain run-off in natural ponds, before releasing the clean water into the adjacent waters. In addition, traffic mitigation and calming on Montlake and pedestrian underpasses are included in the project. Construction best management practices will be used to reduce disruption and noise to adjacent Communities and protect or restore the surrounding community and roadside environment.
West Side Open House – WSDOT plans to have another SR 520 West side “Open House” to get Public Input in January, 2013. Stay tuned.
Lots of great things are happening in our neighborhood these days to support safer and more people-friendly streets, one of the focus areas of the Ravenna/Bryant Community Association.
Bike and walk to school programs are blossoming in our community. In addition, the neighborhood greenways movement has sprouted up, and we’re fortunate that Seattle’s second greenway is under construction right here in our neighborhood!
A couple of upcoming events highlight these efforts:
The 39th Ave. NE Neighborhood Greenway is nearing completion, and a ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for this coming Friday, October 26. The timing is early morning so that Thornton Creek students can participate, and in fact the kickoff event and the greenway are right along the route of one of the Thornton Creek bike trains! Neighbors and other community members are welcome too.
It’s also “International Walk to School Month,” and Bryant Elementary has been running walking school buses each Friday in October to encourage more kids to walk to school. Bryant has had as many as 90 kids participate, and this upcoming Friday, October 26, promises to be the biggest one yet.
Bryant Elementary Walking School Bus
These events are part of the growth of walking and biking to school throughout our community that we discussed at the October 4 Back to School Community Meeting. Programs are growing rapidly at several of our local schools — Bryant, Thornton Creek, and Eckstein, among others.
For the past six years, parents have been working to increase the number of kids getting to school under their own power and it has paid off in terms of reduced car traffic volumes near the schools during drop-off and pickup times, as well as healthier and happier kids who are alert and prepared as they arrive at school. In fact, these programs have been so successful that this past year both Bryant and Eckstein won city-wide awards for the numbers of kids getting to school on foot or by bike!
At the October 4 meeting, it was great to hear from principals at several of our schools who are focused not only on what is happening within the schools but also on the relationship of these schools to our community. Principals Sherri Kokx (Eckstein), Chris Cronas (Wedgwood), and John Miner (Thornton Creek) all spoke of the importance of programs that help create safer streets, more welcoming communities, and healthier kids.
Creating safer streets requires reducing traffic volumes and speeds and helping neighbors feel comfortable and safe walking and biking to their local destinations. Partnerships are forming between school administrations, parent groups, neighborhood greenways organizers, and community councils, and are an example of how when we all collaborate, we can improve our neighborhoods.
UPDATE: Superintendent Jose Banda will be at Bryant Elementary tonight, Monday October 1, from 6-7:30 p.m. to discuss his vision for the school district followed by “informal conversations with those in attendance.”
This Thursday October 4th from 6-8 p.m. at Eckstein Middle School, Principal Chris Cronas with Wedgwood Elementary, Principal John Miner with Thornton Creek Elementary, Principal Sherri Kokx with Eckstein Middle School, and a representative from Peggi McEvoy’s Office, the Seattle School District’s Assistant Superintendent of Operations, will discuss what’s new with NE Seattle’s schools. Clint Loper, from Walk.Bike.Schools will also be in attendance to update us on the walk/bike to school programs in our neighborhood.
The Wedgwood Community Council and Ravenna-Bryant Community Association are co-sponsoring a Back-to-School community meeting at Eckstein Middle School’s auditorium on October 4th from 6-8 p.m.
More and more families keep moving into NE Seattle to take advantage of our good schools. What do these schools have going for them? What challenges exist for the elementary and middle schools in our area? Current families, families with kids in the pipeline, and community members alike can hear first hand from school staff.
An agenda and list of presenters will be released in the near future.
Ever wonder where your house sits in the Seattle Public School attendance areas? Check out the District’s attendance area map.
Tim Burgess, Chair of the City Council Budget Committee, has asked us to promote an online survey concerning the City’s budget. Where do YOU think the City should focus its resources? Here’s your chance to give your $0.02.
Click on the link below and be a part of the process.
