letter sent to Seattle Parks regarding Skatepark site at Myrtle Reservoir
Monday, 21 April 2008 18:28
Steve Sindiong
The following letter was recently sent by MOCA to Mr. Kevin Stoops of the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department regarding the siting of a future skatepark at the Myrtle Street Reservoir site. The reason for the letter is in response to a presentation at the April 16 MOCA meeting by Virginia Hassenger, project manager of the Myrtle Reservoir project, that it was her understanding that a decision had been made by the Parks Department that the future skatepark site for West Seattle will be at the Myrte site if funding becomes available.
  MoCA
The MorganCommunity Association
EldonOlson, Secretary
April 17, 2008
Mr. Kevin Stoops
Seattle Parks and Recreation
100 Dexter Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109-5199
Dear Mr. Stoops,
The development of the Myrtle Street Reservoir park project is now taking place within the neighborhood of the Morgan Community Association(MoCA). We are aware that construction is already under way to enclose the reservoir itself, and that plans have been developed to create peripheral public park space surrounding that reservoir. We are grateful to your department in the development of those plans.
It is our understanding that a decision has been made by theParks and Recreation department to locate a future skateboard facility (if funding becomes available) at the Myrtle Park site. It had been our understanding that a public process would be used to make a final decision onthe site. While we are not necessarily opposed to a facility at the Myrtle location, we are concerned that a public process for evaluating the merits ofthe Myrtle reservoir site, and the High Point Community Center site has not been conducted.
Please inform us if, in fact, a final decision has been made between these options. If so, who made the decision, and what were the factors that led to the decision to locate the skateboard facility at the Myrtle Street location? If not, what process will your office follow in making that determination. Thank you for your time in this matter.
Sincerely,
Steve Sindiong, MoCA Chair
Eldon Olson, Secretary
Morgan Community Association Quarterly Meeting - Feb 7, 2008
Sunday, 06 April 2008 21:21
Cindi Barker
Morgan Community Association Quarterly Meeting, February 7, 2008 (7:00 pm) at The Kenney
Steve Sindiong, Presiding
Attending: 5 guests (Mark Knoll, Virginia Hassinger, Jack Latteman, Christine Alar, Beth Gappert), 5 MoCA Council members (Sindiong, Redmond, Olson, Fansler, Barker), 4 from neighborhood
Announcements, Updates
o SW District Council notes: - The Alaska Way Viaduct Open House will be Feb. 12 (5:30 gathering, 6:30 meeting) at Cooper School (on Delridge) re. construction, interim arrangements, etc.
- Seattle Department of Transportation will be conducting studies of 6 selected neighborhoods per year re. parking concerns, commercial zone parking, neighborhood long-range planning needs. W. Seattle Junction study will tale place this year, Morgan Junction neighborhood in 2010.
o Transportation Projects from the Seattle Cumulative Reserve Fund which have been approved for Morgan neighborhood for 2007 are:
Electronic Speed Display signage for Fauntleroy Ave (2 units)
Improvements to Solstice Park - lighting, access, picnic tables, safety Applications are now being taken for 2008 projects. Previously requested items include:
1. Pedestrian improvements for Morgan Park,
2. Pedestrian improvements for access to Orchard St. Ravine Park,
3. Sidewalk on West side of 44th Ave SW, South of Othello,
4. Improvements of bicycle lane from Morgan Junction to Beach Drive.
Other suggestions will be welcomed by members of neighborhood council; contact Steve Sindiong:
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, or Cindi Barker:
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o For comments, information re. SW Precinct , public safety, contact Beth Gappert (
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), Seattle precinct Liaison Program.
o The Gatewood School Centennial Festival in May. Alumni are encouraged to contact Celia Townsend (
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). Plans will feature an Open House for the School.
o Plans are under way for a 2008 Morgan Community Carnival/Festival next Summer. Funds are available to persons who might coordinate planning and programs. Contact MoCA Council.
Live Work Units: Mark Knoll of Knoll Development, presented plans for 14 Live/Work units being developed nr. Graham & California (6021 California SW). These units are constructed under newly created city codes that call for combined business and residential use. Initially designed for artists' studios, small ground-floor business units have commercial standards (access, sprinklers, bathrooms, etc.) with upstairs residences. Parking needs depend on the nature of the business. Construction will begin in Fall, 2008. Other similar developments will also be taking place at nearby location.
Morgan Junction Park: Virginia Hassinger (Seattle Park Dept.) presented the single design proposal that has been developed from initial community meetings. Although the design calls for improvements that are currently beyond the budget allocation, there may be additional funds available to complete construction as planned. The plan calls for a plaza area, surrounding green space, perhaps a neighborhood kiosk, with an 8 ft. trellis/arbor along West side. Full plan will be presented at a March 12 public meeting (7:00 pm at The Kenney). Members of the community are encouraged to write the Parks Department with support of full funding for the project. Question: Will there be space for 'public art'? Yes - to be discussed at 3/12/08 meeting.
Rapid Ride Project: Jack Lattemann (
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), transportation Planner for KC Metro presented plans for Rapid Ride services to be developed along current route of #54. This will be one of 5 Rapid Ride routes implemented within Seattle within 3-5 years. W. Seattle Rapid Ride will begin Sept. 2011.Features will be: fibre-optic cable for communication at all stops, more frequent service (every 10 minutes at rush hours, every 15 minutes during daytime and evening), fewer stops, traffic management (signal light coordination), 3-door buses (using pre-paid smart-card system), more security personnel. Unresolved issues: whether the Southern terminus will be at the Ferry dock or at Westwood Village; route through Alaska Junction and Avalon junction areas. West Seattle Rapid Ride Public Meeting, Southwest Library (9010 - 35th SW), Feb. 19 (6:00 to 7:30) Question: re. traffic flow and designated bus lanes? The routes will follow "most expeditious' patterns, changing with phases of the Alaska Viaduct construction project. For further traffic information, contact Seattle Dept. of Transportation, Christine Alar:
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.
West Seattle Trails Project: Charles Redmond presented plans for a 'draft edition' of an 18X24 folding map of W. Seattle area (trails, routes, bus connections, etc.) with listing of local community organizations. Suggestions will be welcomed for construction of the final edition. There will be public review meetings before the final edition is published. Suggestion: Need to bring community together for greater planning on trails, walkways, issues of safety and convenience. For more information, contact
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or
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Next Meeting: April 16, 7:00 The Kenney
Myrtle Reservoir Park - Concepts
Thursday, 24 January 2008 18:56
Cindi Barker
From the 2nd Myrtle Reservoir Park design meeting held Jan 22, 2008. Here are the two conceptual drawings of the proposed park design for the Myrtle Reservoir Park. The main difference is that one has a rain garden feature in the northeast corner, and the other shows space reserved for a future skatepark (funding is not available at this time to construct the skatepark). We will sent out the link to the meeting minutes when posted by the Parks Dept and to any other sets of minutes that are published (people from the WS Blog and MoCA were also taking notes).
Cindi
Virginia Hassinger, Project Manager
Seattle Parks and Recreation
800 Maynard Ave S. 3rd floor
Seattle, WA 98134-1336
206-233-7936
See Attachments at the bottom for further details on this project.
Last Updated on Saturday, 09 August 2008 08:12
Morgan Substation Concepts
Thursday, 17 January 2008 00:31
Cindi Barker
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Virginia Hassinger, Project Planner
800 Maynard Ave. S., 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98134
206-233-7936
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
See Attachments at the bottom for further details on this project.
AFFODANTE
PIANOFORTE
TERRAZZE
Last Updated on Saturday, 09 August 2008 07:58
Public comments from Morgan Junction Park Public meeting
Sunday, 13 January 2008 12:23
Cindi Barker
3/14/07 Public Meeting notes for the Morgan Junction Park (AKA Monorail station location, Beveridge Pl. location and the Morgan Alternative Site) As posted on City of Seattle's Pro-Parks Levy Projects webpage This is an opportunity to create a people-space, and an activity space.o Eyes on park is goodo Need to buffer parking loto Park should encourage all users• Give something for people to do. Chess, tables.• I like how the Alaska Junction Plaza plan uses the design to create different layers/levels.• Establish a buffer at Eddy to contain the park so it doesn’t flow out into the ugly street and alley.• Park will be used for eating – install trash, benches, and water feature for noise.• Concern about smokers – make it a no smoking park• Space is small, maybe a local public art piece.• Seattle underwater art feature that was on reservoir was great, but quickly vandalized. If there is art it has to be vandal-resistant, easily maintained.• Character like a piazza – paved, flexible space. Need a mid-block crosswalk to connect to senior housing.• Plaza, maybe a design other than Italian-inspired.• Terrace down from street. Create an art-piece (arbor?) above act as rain shelter.• Place to sit, fountain to break noise. Use colorful vegetation. It is a mistake to put park next to tavern. Too much smoking/drinking – wrong message for children. The alley is cruddy, maybe there is a way to soften that edge.?• This would be a great location for a skate park. This site should be hard landscape with tables and chairs with shade. Sink a portion of the site. Do screen from street and parking.• Need some kind of rain break, and a kiosk for posting neighborhood information.• Beveridge Place pub can adopt the park to keep it clean. The pub will have outdoor seating overlooking the park. They will screen off parking.• Don’t build parking. Restrict parking on Eddy. Like idea of gathering space. Recognize senior center across the street.• Less hard surfaces. More trees, and garden to make it quiet and cool. Gathering space is nice.• Could a strip club be located be located next to the park.• I like the piazza idea with green to soften. I’m concerned about security. Don’t build anything dark and covered.• Shade does not have to be trees. It could be an arch or arbor.• Plant a natural fence along California Ave. • Since there is wildlife in ravine, need to keep park free of food waste. __________________________________________________ [ed. note: In addition, the City also posted notes taken by Cindi Barker, as supplemental info, since she wasn't having to lead the meeting and write on flip charts at the same time.] Notes from Myrtle & Morgan Park Public Meeting #1 on 3/14/07 This is considered an early design-guidance meeting. All options are on the table and nothing is removed at this meeting. Parks Dept brochure was distributed… Genesis in NH Plan – Green Crescent strategy. Reservoir was originally soft lid, now hard lid. Substation – monorail – brokered a deal with current owner. Notified about ¼ mile area around each. Media, PI, Herald, sign at site, MoCA Will go to Park Board, and will go to Seattle Design Commission because they are capital projects. Q What is the voting process and how do you decide? A I’ll write everything down and then organize into themes to give to the designer. We do not just count votes and make it look like a decision is made because so many comments come by phone and email. Q Should we email you to influence the decisions? A It is my job to take in all and synthesize all comments Morgan site has already been environmentally cleaned up. Cited the monorail guiding principals. Myrtle has more baggage – topography and what can be allowed at the site. The topography influences pedestrian access. Water towers will be fenced and maybe the cell tower. Road access will probably be necessary for maintenance. But if there is reason to change from a paved road that meets maintenance needs, and the budget is there, they may be open to discussion MORGAN PARK David said he wants to ask BPP to put in a window looking into the park. Steve – use this opportunity to build community character, also encourage eyes on site, want screening from parking area, encourage all users, singles and families. Chas – chess tables, checkers tables and things that encourage people to come. Sat in Alaska plaza, liked the layered seating approach there. Want unobtrusive buffer along Eddy edge preventing people from abusing alley space. I (speaker) think park will be used for eating – have trash containers, tables, you should have water feature that softens traffic noise. And citizen is concerned about smokers and drinkers. Small space – public art feature of SW Seattle – nature Seattle Under Water art feature at Myrtle – was defaced pretty quickly. Whatever we put in should stand up to that and be as easily maintained as possible. Small NH piazza in Italy, uniquely paved, small tables, a small water feature, and steps to sit on. Mid-block crossing. Liked piazza but also maybe Asian. Terrace down from street, with art above serving as a rain break. Place to sit with coffee, fountain to break noise, mix in color of trees. But think park next to tavern is a mistake. Alley is cruddy. Skate park ha! Liked piazza with hard landscape and shade and sunken. Cindi – Kiosk, piazza, rainbreak. Gary – BPP wants to adopt the park to help with garbage policing. We don’t want to see a vandalized park. Will be outdoor seating overlooking the park. Parking will try not to point headlight into park. Is ESR open space? A = Yes open for open use until the SROW reverts back to ownership. Gary said the site currently slopes about four feet from curb to back of lot. Like to acknowledge need of seniors. Q. Alley access? A= we want to stay out of improving the ROW. See less hard surfaces, more trees and native bushes, like NH gathering space, think trees would make it cooler in summer. Park / Tavern – any rules about strip clubs? Discussed what would have to be in zoning. Love open piazza but would like to soften. We live just north and overlook. Our (speaker) big concern would be security – that alley is very dark and our building’s parking has had problems – do not leave it dark. Like having pub overlook. My (speaker) shade idea was not trees, more an archway or feature that provides rain protection. Natural fence along California Ave that would keep kids safe. Not sure about mid block crossing because cars are backing up so far. ESR home to two coyote families and wildlife, so if we encourage eating there, food trash disposal needs to be regularly maintained. Critter abatement. Q. Is there a similar park that does not have security issues? Want to see successful examples. A Not so many urban plazas. Three in Ballard, history of congregation. We can request information Best discouragement for illegal activity is to encourage active use. PBB is an active partner and also the seniors across the street. SUMMARY OF BEVERIDGE 1. Mostly hardscape – piazza idea with a little bit of green. Impervious surface may be considered – some softening. 2. Gathering space, food, seating 3. Screening from parking – natural edges, layered seating 4. Explore balance of light and shade Talked about gathering comments first, instead of presenting the big design for acceptance. People said they appreciate of this type of process. Will post notes on web and send to MoCA. We’ll give this plus the cookbook to the design team to engage consultants. Then two more meetings to show concepts, another if needed.
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