Central Area Greenways to make 21st Avenue TWO WAY!

This announcement has just arrived, with the surprising news that parts of 21st Ave. E. are destined to become two-way!!!

You may recall that we all discussed this with the City back in 2013 and 2014, and asked them at the time how 2-way bike traffic on the Greenway would be handled on the 1-way streets. Their answer back then (I asked several times) was that the car traffic on the street would be unaffected.

(Link to all the blog Greenway posts)

Now, at this rather late stage, everything has changed. I invite you all to submit comments to the City (and add them as comments to this blog post or E-mail them to me). I have appended copies of messages that neighbors have already sent to the City. (The plans obvious bring up many questions about narrow streets, parking, school bus traffic, etc).

Please let me know if you would like us, as a neighborhood, to have a meeting with the Greenways officials.

Andrew Taylor, andrew_taylor@me.com

People to contact:

Sandy Lam

Central Area Neighborhood Greenway Construction Communications Officer

206-504-1454

sandy@stephersonassociates.com

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm

Contact Maribel Cruz at Maribel.cruz@seattle.gov or (206) 684-7963.

AND/OR  try the Director of Department of Transportation:

Kubly, Scott scott.kubly@seattle.gov (and please send me a copy: andrew_taylor@me.com

******************************Greenways Announcement**********************

It’s official! Phase 1 of the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway is ready for your use. With new curb ramps, bicycle pavement markings, speed humps, signage, rapid flashing beacons, stop signs on cross streets, and an enhanced pedestrian crossing signal at 22^nd Ave E and E Union St, you may now enjoy the benefits of a safer and more comfortable environment for walking and riding bikes along residential streets adjacent to 23^rd Ave between S Jackson St and E John St.

Thank you for your patience during this work, and please note that, over the next several weeks, you may notice crews putting finishing touches on the route.

Implementation of Phases 2 and 3 (at the south and north ends of the greenway, respectively) is expected to begin the week of October 12. Project elements will be similar to those in Phase 1. We recently sent a mailer to residents and businesses along the greenway route with more details. If you did not receive it, you may view the attachment to this email.

Since the selection of the greenway route last summer, additional input and analysis have led to the following refinements:

Phase 2:

·         The greenway will run along 25^th Ave S (rather than 24^th Ave S) between S Grand St and S Massachusetts St.

·         The greenway will run along 25^th Ave S (rather than 26^th Ave S) between S Norman St and S Charles St.

Phase 3:

·         The one-way portion of 21^st Ave E between E Aloha St and E Roy St will be converted to allow two-way traffic.

·         The one-way portion of 21^st Ave E between E John St and E Republican St will be converted to allow two-way traffic.

Phases 2 and 3 of the greenway are expected to reach substantial completion by the end of the year.

  

If you would like more information about the project, please visit our project webpage at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm.

If you have questions or concerns regarding construction, please feel free to contact me directly.

Thank you again for your continued support and patience, and enjoy your new greenway!

Sincerely,

Sandy Lam

Central Area Neighborhood Greenway Construction Communications Officer

206-504-1454

sandy@stephersonassociates.com

***********Letter from Holy Names Academy

Holy Names Academy does not agree with the change to alter 21st Ave E between E Aloha and E Roy streets to accommodate two-way traffic.  We only learned of the change when we called the City for an update in mid-September on the timing of Phase 3 of the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. During this conversation, we were surprised to learn that 21st Ave E would now be converted to a two-way street, and we immediately requested a meeting with the City to convey our concerns.  We appreciated the City’s responsiveness, and subsequently met with communications officers Maribel Cruz and Sandy Lam, and senior civil engineers Norene Pen and Carol McMahan.  At the meeting we expressed our serious concerns about making 21st Ave East a two-street for cars, and we shared with them the neighborhood agreement from 1989 that established the street as one-way.  The one-way traffic has been a successful strategy for 26 years, and we believe that a two-way street would not be workable.  The current one-way street preserves parking, reduces congestion, and improves the safety and flow of traffic.

At our meeting with the City officials, we recommended that they consider altering the Greenway to utilize the existing one-way streets on 20th Ave E and 21st Ave E so that both bicycles and cars are moving in the same direction.   This suggestion was not entertained.  Instead, the officials indicated that although the one-way signs will come down on 21st Ave E, the street would remain a de facto one-way street by leaving the signs “Do Not Enter” on the south end of the street.   We have concerns that drivers will not see the signs, and we asked that if the City proceeds with this plan, placement and size of the “Do Not Enter” signs be explored.

Holy Names Academy remains concerned with the change of 21st Ave E from a one-way to a two-way street, and furthermore, we do not support any changes that would reduce parking or change the current neighborhood agreement.  We welcome a meeting with the neighborhood and City officials to discuss this situation further.

Elizabeth Swift
Head of School
Holy Names Academy

**************Letter from Guillaume, MIller Park Neighbors Chair********

I wanted to weigh in because -- although I understand the concerns -- I am not 100% in agreement with some of the comments that have been voiced on this thread.
But before weighing in with my two cents, I also wanted to point out that there might be some potential compromises. Two thoughts:
(1) Could the school buses be moved to 19th Ave instead of 21st Ave? On 19th the buses would crowd the street less and their exhaust would be farther from nearby residences. As it currently stands, I can often smell their exhaust inside our house when they park across the street. I don't worry so much for myself, but I do worry about how this pollution affects our two young daughters.
(2) Could we institute an RPZ for the neighborhood? This would likely solve many of the parking concerns, and could possibly help make the intersections safer -- currently many of the corners are blind because cars are parked right up to each intersection. This is dangerous for bikes as well as for cars.
---
FWIW, here are my opinions:
First, I am really excited that our street is going to become a greenway -- I think it will be wonderful for our street and for our neighborhood.
Second, one thing that I think is true is that the school buses make it unlikely that our street would be viable (or safe) with two-way traffic. As it stands there is often only just enough room to squeeze by when buses are parked on the west side of the street.
Third, although I think it's true that parking can sometimes be difficult to find in our neighborhood (nothing like other parts of capitol hill, but nonetheless challenging at times), I don't agree that this means we need to sacrifice other progressive transportation reforms at the behest of requests for ample parking. I think we can all agree that some people will always need to get around by car, but that better transportation alternatives might allow the rest of us to be less car reliant.
Cheers,
Guillaume

**********Neighbors' Letters below (and in the comments section)********

Thoughts on the Greenway / 23rd Avenue issue

Hello All --

Guillaume, here. I wanted to post a few useful links with information and thoughts on the plans for a 23rd Ave redesign. In the next few days I'll also post a letter we're drafting, requesting a meeting with someone from the Mayor-elect's new team.

Here's the SDOT page on the 23rd Ave redesign, including slides from a presentation outlining the plan. There have been several public meetings to date on the redesign (e.g., here's one announcement), but since these applied to the redesign between Jackson and John streets, only Central District residents were specifically notified.

From what I can tell, it sounds like the original plan included a dedicated 2-way bike lane along 23rd Ave, but that this idea was scrapped in response to community pressure. The proposed Greenway(s) (see other descriptions here and here) are a compromise solution, in which 23rd is intended to remain dedicated to cars, with bike lanes along parallel residential streets.

In terms of traffic volume, the lights along 23rd will be timed to improve traffic (a big improvement from what we have today), including some mechanism for timing the lights for city buses. Also on the table are increases to bus service and there will eventually be a light rail station at I-90 and 23rd, connecting us to Bellevue and Sea-Tac.

There is precedent for all of these changes, which have been implemented elsewhere in the city, and my personal opinion is that this is an opportunity to make our neighborhood safer, more cohesive, and more pleasant. (I also think it's a good bet that reducing traffic volumes and adding greenways can improve property values -- maybe for the same reasons :).

Please feel free to add information or comments below.

-Guillaume

p.s. -- here's a cool graphic a friend just sent me, illustrating the benefits of increased bus service.

p.p.s (from Andrew): The comments section of the Central District News version of the "What exactly will the 23rd Ave greenway be"  post has a long and very interesting discussion of the greenway, the 23rd Avenue street project and the implications of both. The Capitol Hill Seattle version also has an interesting discussion in the comments. And here's a Capitol Hill Times article about the Greenway open house: "Greenway rendered useless by changes to 23rd Ave"

Implementation of Central Area Neighborhood Greenway

Implementation of Phase I of the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway began on February 25, 2015. Phase I of this greenway runs from S Jackson St to E Columbia St on 25^th Ave, then crosses 23^rd Ave at E Columbia St and heads north on 22^nd Ave E to E Madison St. At E Madison St, the greenway moves to 21^stAve E and continues north to E John St. You may view a map of the entire greenway route here. 

As part of Phase I implementation, we are adding speed humps along the route, at roughly one per block. We will also be installing stop signs on all streets crossing 25^th and 22^nd avenues and adding bicycle pavement markings (called sharrows) along the route. Flashing beacons for pedestrians and bicyclists will be installed at 25^th Avenue and East Yesler Way and also at 25^th Avenue and East Cherry Street.

Before installing speed humps, crews will build new curb ramps, make sidewalk repairs, and conduct electrical work. For a detailed look at the planned improvements, please view our Phase I Construction Notice.

In order to accommodate construction on the 23^rd Avenue Corridor Improvements project, greenway implementation work will be conducted south to north, one intersection at a time at the following locations:

·         25^th Avenue and East Yesler Way

·         25^th Avenue and East Cherry Street

·         25^th Avenue and East Columbia Street

·         22^nd Avenue and East Madison Street

·         21^st Avenue East and East John Street

Speed hump construction requires on-street parking restrictions for a minimum of two days and may include additional time for preparation. Construction notices will be delivered to impacted properties prior to work starting, and “no park” signs will be placed.

We anticipate all construction activities for Phase I to be complete by spring 2015. Phases 2 and 3 of the project (the south and north ends, respectively) are anticipated to begin implementation next summer and to be complete by winter 2015.

For more information on the project, and all the planned phases and improvements, please contact Maribel Cruz, Seattle Department of Transportation Communications at Maribel.Cruz@seattle.gov or visit the project website: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm .

For questions and concerns regarding construction, please feel free to contact me. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Sandy Lam

Construction Communications Officer

206-504-1454

sandy@stephersonassociates.com

But wait, there's more…..

SDOT is hosting a public open house about changes coming to the 23rd Avenue corridor. As we continue to refine our design of the 23rd Avenue roadway and Central Area Neighborhood Greenway, we want to share details with you.

Save the date!

Wednesday, February 26

5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Thurgood Marshall Elementary

2401 S Irving Street

About our work in the 23rd corridor area

23rd Avenue connects a variety of users to businesses, educational institutions and residences in the Central Area and beyond. This area also serves high volumes of vehicles, pedestrians, people riding bikes, and transit users (approximately 5,800 daily– the 8th highest ridership in King County). Today, the road is in poor condition with hundreds of patches where potholes existed, narrow lanes, a lack of turn pockets at key intersections and is bordered in many places by narrow and uneven sidewalks. 

To balance the needs of users in the area, SDOT will redesign 23rd Avenue between E John Street and Rainier Avenue S (Phases 1 and 2) from the current four lanes (two lanes in each direction) to three lanes (one lane in each direction and a center turn lane). Between E Roanoke Street and E John Street (Phase 3), the road will remain four lanes. SDOT will also implement a nearby neighborhood greenway, called the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. This greenway will provide a safer, calmer street for people to walk and ride bicycles.

The purpose of our projects in the Central Area is to balance safety, mobility and reliability needs for a variety of users in the area, as well as enhance the local community and natural environment.

More info

Central Area Neighborhood Greenway: www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm.

23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_ave.htm

23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov

206-684-7963 (Maribel Cruz, Outreach Lead)

Central Area Neighborhood Greenway - 2 Way Update

(received October 12th: apologies for delay in posting. AFT)
Dear Neighbors,

Many of you have written in and I want to begin by thanking you for your organized efforts. We appreciate your feedback regarding the traffic changes planned for 21st Ave E between E Aloha St and E Roy St as well as on 21st Ave E between E Republican St and E John St.

I apologize for the delay in responding, however, after having received so many emails I wanted to ensure that those internal to SDOT were aware of your concerns and that we were able to respond accordingly. That being said, I’d like to start out by clarifying a few key points that may help to ease some of the concerns we’ve heard.

21st Ave E between E Aloha and E Roy Streets

The change on 21st Ave E between E Aloha and E Roy streets is intended to allow for two-way bike traffic on the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. It will not remove parking and is also not intended to change the current operational movement of vehicles. In order to achieve this we plan to keep the “Do Not Enter” signs currently in place at E Roy St to prevent northbound vehicles from entering, and we will remove the “One Way” sign at E Aloha, so southbound drivers are aware that bicyclists may be coming northbound. Because there are no driveways along this stretch of 21st Avenue E, our expectation is that there should be no northbound vehicle traffic movement.

We have heard your concerns regarding coordination with Holy Names and have had conversations with the school as recently as September. We have done our best to keep them informed and involved in both the route selection and design of the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. When we met last month and discussed the changes described above, Holy Names administrators and faculty understand that for drivers, the street will continue to operate as it does today.

21st Ave E between E John and E Republican Streets

The traffic change on 21st Ave E between E John St and E Republican St will again not remove any on street parking. The “Do Not Enter” sign and curb bulb at E John Street will remain in place to prevent northbound traffic from entering. In addition and after hearing your concerns, our traffic management team has decided instead of removing the existing “Do Not Enter” sign at E Thomas St, that we will leave the signage and add “except bicycles” to be placed underneath the “Do Not Enter” sign. This will keep vehicular traffic traveling southbound only, as it does today.  In sum, 21st Ave E between E John and E Republican streets will be one-way southbound for vehicles and two-way for bicycles.

We are working with the new Meany Middle School, which shares the greenway goal of reducing vehicle traffic and promoting walking and biking, to incorporate the Greenway design into their traffic operations plan. We are also working with Seattle World School, who currently occupy the Meany site, to relay information about the changes for bikes to faculty, students and staff. 

Thank you again for being in touch. Your feedback helps us make Seattle’s greenways work for everyone. If I’ve missed anyone on this email that you know would be interested in knowing about this project or the topic at hand, your help forwarding this on would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Maribel Cruz

Maribel Cruz

Sr. Communications Advisor

City of Seattle Department of Transportation

O: 206.684.7963 | F: 206.615.1237 | maribel.cruz@seattle.gov

23rd Avenue Corridor Neighborhood Greenway: Nov. 6th Open House

Many (most?) of us got mailings from the City Department of Transportation about their Wednesday, Nov 6th Community Open House to discuss the proposed 23rd Avenue Corridor Neighborhood Greenway. Meeting will be from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in Nova High School auditorium (300 20th Avenue East). Presentation will be at 6 PM.

The Greenway is described on a City website: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rdgreenway.htm

In brief (from their website):

Neighborhood greenways are residential streets where directional signage guides people along the route and traffic calming measures reduce traffic speed and volume, discouraging drivers from avoiding arterials by cutting through on neighborhood streets. Greenways can be especially beneficial for families, children and seniors who might find these routes more comfortable than busier nearby streets. Local access to homes along neighborhood greenways is always preserved, and there are usually minimal, if any, changes to on-street parking.

The proposed greenway runs along 21st or 22nd Avenues: the first phase built will be from the south terminus to East John Street. It sounds as though the neighborhood changes will be minor, and the inconveniences few, but I hope you will join me in learning more at the meeting.

Some personal observations:

•  The 22nd Avenue route seems to cross Madison by going straight through the Safeway! It crosses Madison at 22nd where there is no traffic light.
• The 21st Avenue route does not acknowledge that the 2 blocks of 21st between Harrison and John are southward-bound one-way streets. 
• We need to ensure that their plans acknowledge the neighborhood impacts of the (soon to be finished) Aegis Living senior housing on 22nd, and the planned redevelopment of the "Deano's" and "Twilight Exit" sites adjacent to (and kitty-corner to) the Madison Street Safeway (expected within 2 years).
• The (old) Miller Park Neighborhood Association engaged in an SDOT traffic survey over a decade ago. Few of the measures proposed in the report have been implemented, and the traffic & parking problems have continued. Should we suggest that these issues be readdressed as part of the Greenway discussions. A possible solution to traffic/parking/cut-through issues would be to make 21st and 22nd Avenues 1 way streets in alternate directions.

 

Miller Park Neighbors meeting with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT): Tuesday, Feb. 18th

Tues, Feb 18 

6:00 to 8:30 pm

Miller Community Center, 330 - 19th Avenue East

SDOT is sending their senior policy people to answer our questions and hear our concerns:

Dongho Chang, SDOT City Traffic Engineer

Susan McLaughlin, SDOT Complete Streets Coordinator

Lorelei Williams, SDOT Capital Projects Manager

Also in attendance:

Kit Loo, Project Manager, 23^rd Corridor Project

Maribel Cruz, Project Communications Lead, 23^rd Corridor Project

If you have questions -- about 23rd Ave, other road projects and traffic issues -- submit ahead of time, send them to Tamara at tbroadhead@comcast.net she will forward them to Lorelei Williams who helped set up this meeting.

Links to our blog posts (and CHS posts) about the Greenway and 23rd Avenue "road diet" projects:

• News from a Greenway Supporter
• Thoughts on the 23rd Avenue Greenway
• 23rd Avenue Greenway Project
• Notes from Capitol Hill blog
• 23rd Avenue project to get artwork

23rd Avenue Construction Update - May 6

Phase 1 construction to begin June 8

On June 8, crews working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin major construction on the first phase of the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project between S Jackson and E John streets. Construction will start in Zone A, which is between S Jackson and E Cherry streets. Read the construction fact sheet or visit our virtual construction open housewe launched in March to learn more.

Before major construction begins on 23rd Avenue, SDOT will be working to wrap up Phase 1 of the adjacent Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. We began installing the greenway in late February and we expect to complete it by the end of June. The greenway will create a quieter, safer route for people to bike and walk. For more information about the greenway route or list of improvements, read this handout.

SPU early utility work complete

Crews from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) wrapped up utility preparation work on 23rd Avenue, replacing some older water service lines in preparation for replacing the 100-year-old water main underneath the road. This work began on April 6 and was completed on April 30. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this work.

Save the date: First monthly community drop-in session on May 18

Each month throughout construction, SDOT will host a drop-in session to answer questions and share the latest construction information. Join us for the first drop-in on May 18 (see details below)! Don't worry if you can't make the drop-in session, we will post all information online.

Monday, May 18, 2015, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Garfield Community Center - Arts & Crafts Room

2323 E Cherry Street, Seattle, WA 98122

For more information

Visit: www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_ave.htm

Email: 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov

Call the project hotline: 206-727-8857

If you need this information translated, or to request an interpreter, please call 206-727-8857.

23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project

The purpose of the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project is to improve safety and mobility for people who drive, walk, bike and take transit. Phase 1 of the project includes modifying 23rd Avenue from two lanes in each direction to a single lane in each direction with a center turn lane. This phase of work also includes replacing the water main, installing new pavement, sidewalk improvements, traffic signal improvements, lighting improvements and public art. Click here to view the project fact sheet.

Central Avenue Neighborhood Greenway Update

Dear Neighbor,

The 23^rd Avenue Corridor Greenway has a new name – the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway! You may still see some resources that reference the project by its old name, but as we update our materials you can expect to see the new name. The new web address is:http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm

We wanted to let you know that the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway and the 23^rd Avenue Corridor Improvement Project will be hosting drop-in sessions in different neighborhoods at the end of this month. Please drop by to speak with project staff and get your questions answered!

Tuesday January 28, 3:30 – 6 p.m.

Douglass-Truth Library, 2300 E. Yesler Way

Wednesday January 29, 4:30 – 7 p.m.

SOAR, 801 23rd Ave S

Friday January 31, 4:30 – 7 p.m.

Miller Park Community Center, 330 19^th Ave E

We will also be hosting another open house in late February about both projects. More information on that event is forthcoming.

Finally, a couple of updates:

Greenway update

Thank you for attending the recent Central Area Neighborhood Greenway open houses on August 26 and 28. We had great turnout and really enjoyed speaking with all of you.

I wanted to let you know that all of the open house materials are available on our website: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm

Design of Phase 1 of the greenway (between S. Jackson and E. John streets) is complete, and we will begin implementation later this fall. Design for Phases 2 and 3 (the south and north ends, respectively) will begin this month, and we anticipate completing those phases by fall 2015.

Thank you again for your attendance and your valuable feedback.

Sincerely,

Maribel Cruz

Maribel Cruz

Sr. Communications Advisor

City of Seattle Department of Transportation

O: 206.684.7963 | F: 206.615.1237 | maribel.cruz@seattle.gov

Greenway Information and comment forms available online

A big thank you to those who attended our recent drop-in sessions for the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway! We heard a lot of great comments and enjoyed talking with you about this exciting project.

If you weren’t able to attend, all of the boards and materials are available on our website:http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm. You’ll see that we’re considering route options for Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the greenway (the south and north ends, respectively).

Your feedback is important now, as we’ll be making final route decisions by the end of August in order to begin design in the fall. The comment form used at the drop-ins is posted on our website along with other event materials. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please submit comments by August 8th.

Another pair of drop-in sessions is being scheduled for late August to present the final selected routes for Phases 2 and 3. We’ll be in touch with you again once dates and times have been finalized.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Maribel Cruz

Sr. Communications Advisor

City of Seattle Department of Transportation

O: 206.684.7963 | F: 206.615.1237 | maribel.cruz@seattle.gov

(My personal take was that the 22nd Avenue route could have advantages:
• The traffic calming features could help with the cut-through traffic that uses 22nd after turning off 23rd
• mixing 2 way bike traffic, school buses and cars on 21st by the school seems problematic. 
Andrew Taylor)

Neighborhood Greenway group presents The Silly Hilly

Please join us on Saturday, April 26 at 2 pm for a fun, inclusive, family-friendly ride/walk to explore potential greenway route options for the northern segment of the Central Seattle Neighborhood Greenway on the very steep north-east end of Capitol Hill.  

We will convene at Montlake Elementary School at 2 pm, and will walk or bike in teams following one of 4 separate routes up the hill to Miller Community Center while taking pictures and completing a scavenger hunt along the way.  Silly costumes welcome!  At Miller Park we'll have kid-friendly games, prizes and refreshments, and a chance to share impressions of the routes.  The event is organized by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways with support from Cascade Bicycle Club.

Here's a link to the Facebook event - please share widely!

We hope to see many of you there!

Merlin Rainwater for the Silly Hilly planning group

Drop in Info Session for Central Area Greenway: July 17th

Please join us at a drop-in session next week to learn more about the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway and share your input. Since our last public meeting in February, we have refined route options for Phases 2 and 3 (the north and south ends of the project, respectively). Phase 2 is from South Jackson Street to Rainier Avenue South, and Phase 3 is from East John Street to East Roanoke Street. Each drop-in will correspond with a phase of the project.

Drop-in Dates

Phase 2: South Jackson Street to Rainier Avenue South

Tuesday, July 15, 4:30 – 7 PM

St. Mary’s Church School House (611 20^th Avenue South)

Phase 3: East John Street to East Roanoke Street

Thursday, July 17, 4 – 6:30 PM

Miller Community Center (330 19^th Avenue East)

Please feel free to come to either session, as we will have knowledgeable staff available to answer your questions and hear your feedback about all phases of the project.

If you can’t make it to a drop-in session, please feel free to email me with any questions, comments or concerns you may have regarding the project. You may also view our website for more project information: www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm

Central Area Neighborhood Greenway Open House Thursday, August 28, 4:30 – 6:30 at Miller

Please join us at an open house next week to learn more about the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway most promising routes for Phases 2 and 3 (the south and north ends of the greenway, respectively) and share your input. We will review the evaluation criteria of previously studied routes, the most promising route from Rainier Avenue S. to E. Roanoke Street, and some of the design elements that may be applied.

Open House Dates & Locations

Phase 2: South Jackson Street to Rainier Avenue South

Tuesday, August 26, 4:30 – 6:30

*Presentation begins at 5:30

Garfield Community Center - 2323 E. Cherry St.

Phase 3: East John Street to East Roanoke Street

Thursday, August 28, 4:30 – 6:30

*Presentation begins at 5:30

Miller Community Center - 330 19^th Avenue East

Please feel free to come to either meeting, as we will have staff available to answer your questions and hear your feedback about all phases of the project. In addition, representatives from the 23^rd Ave Corridor Improvements project will be there to answer questions about upcoming construction.

Miller Park Neighbors Meeting Report 1/11/14

Attending:

Andrew Taylor (blog & E-mail list, 2000 block E. John Street, meeting host)

Tamara (300 Block 21st Ave E., Meany School committee)

David (600 block 17th Ave. E)

Anne (600 block 20th Avenue East, Meany School committee)

Guillaume (300 block 21st Ave E, Co-Chair)

Julianne (100 block 22nd Ave E; Co-Chair)

Deborah  (300 Block 21st Ave E., Meany School committee)

Suzanne (600 block 22nd Avenue E.)

Merlin (400 block 25th Ave E, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways)

Mimi (400 block 20th Ave E, dropped by for a few minutes)

This meeting was organized by Andrew Taylor, formerly Chairman of the “Miller Park Neighborhood Association (MPNA)”, for the purpose of moving forward with the reinvented neighborhood group to be known as “Miller Park Neighbors (MPN)”. The meeting agenda was primarily to refresh ideas and concerns, discuss group organization and boundaries, and as a follow up to the initial formation meeting on 11/11/13. There will be a MPN Public Meeting scheduled TBD Date in February.

The MPNA had a long and storied history primarily focused on the entrenched crime problems of the neighborhood, and in those efforts can be credited with spearheading and contributing a great deal to the renovation of the Miller Community Center and the contribution of the beautiful and much loved “Ron K. Mills Memorial Fountain”.   As the neighborhood gentrified and some troubled hot-spots were closed, the more tenacious of the crime issues receded, and the MPNA was retired.