North Delridge notes: Youngstown Flats update; mini-park support needed; NDNC meeting tomorrow

| Delridge | Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Three notes this afternoon from North Delridge, and two relate to that photo. It’s an aerial view of Youngstown Flats, the 26th/Dakota apartment building whose developers (who provided the photo) now say the almost-200-unit project is 90 days from expected completion in the first week of April. “It’s almost over!” wrote Legacy Partners’ Steffenie Evans in a note to area residents. The crane is expected to come down “within a few weeks,” she adds; workers are currently painting and installing fixtures to finish the apartments’ interiors. Youngstown Flats also will incorporate 14 local artists’ work inside and out, from sculptures to lobby decoration. And sidewalks and landscaping is getting under way along Dakota.

In the lower right of the photo, you see part of the city-owned grassy area known as the Dakota Street Right-Of-Way – an undeveloped street end. As reported here last month, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council is getting a $52,200 city grant for improvements, to make it more of a mini-park and to enhance its access to Longfellow Creek. Area businesses are contributing to the project – including maintenance promised by Youngstown Flats – and now NDNC needs something from you. The city wants the group to ask for community input on the mini-park’s design and materials, so if you have any thoughts on it, now’s the time to speak up! Here’s the park plan for your review. NDNC says even simple comments of support would be great. And if you don’t want to post a comment here, you can also have a say at one of two meetings this week at which it’ll be discussed: NDNC’s monthly meeting tomorrow (Monday, January 14), 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), or the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council on Wednesday (January 16), 7 pm, same building.

Speaking of tomorrow’s NDNC meeting – you’re invited, as always. Other agenda items, according to NDNC’s Kirsten Smith, include the council’s support for other community-grant applications, a visit from School Board rep Marty McLaren, and community crime issues. The meeting room is near Youngstown’s north entrance.

dsa January 13, 2013 (8:53 pm)

If it’s an entrance to the creek, place no homeless benches and plant no bushes for them to hide behind.

cranky Westie January 13, 2013 (9:22 pm)

I still think YOUNGSTOWN FLATS sounds like a place in Nevada where the alternator in your Toyota goes out and you lose all your money on quarter slots.

WSB January 13, 2013 (9:46 pm)

One of those terms that means something different to everyone. “Flats” always makes me think about the Bonneville Salt Flats because of a racing movie I saw a zillion times a zillion years ago. But there’s also a project tentatively named Junction Flats … finishing up the story about its Design Review meeting from last week, in fact.
.
From the Upper Fauntleroy definitely-not-flat blufftops,
TR

JanS January 13, 2013 (11:03 pm)

a flat is an old term for an apartment…they’re just getting quaint on us..:)

June January 14, 2013 (3:08 am)

I’m glad I am moving out of North Delridge and won’t have to deal with 200 new neighbors, traffic, etc etc

Amber January 14, 2013 (9:37 am)

I think the park plans look lovely, and I’m all for increased access to Longfellow Creek. My one question is, why do the improvements stop halfway to the creek? The “existing gravel path” on the design document is really more like a slippery mud pit. Doesn’t it make more sense to fix up the entire area? It’s all public space.

Kirsten Smith January 14, 2013 (10:54 am)

DSA – We’ve heard similar feedback from many neighbors and have purposely not included benches in our proposal for the exact reason that you note. Thanks for the feedback!

Kirsten Smith
North Delridge Neighborhood Council

Kirsten Smith January 14, 2013 (10:57 am)

Amber – The current project scope doesn’t address the pathway down to the creek (we didn’t receive the full financial ask from the city), but we will look into ways to improve that area. I have heard from at least one other neighbor with this concern. At the very least, we can organize a neighborhood volunteer effort to help clean up that area. Alternatively, we can apply for another, smaller grant to fix up the mud-path.

Constructive comments like this are exactly what we are hoping to hear in our neighborhood meetings, so thank you.

Kirsten Smith
North Delridge Neighborhood Council

JanS January 14, 2013 (11:28 am)

I am down next to this building 3 times a week. The back side of the building borders on the small parking lot for my dialysis center. The apartments on the back of the building have a view – directly in our windows where we are all hooked up to machines…how delightful for them. It’s amazing how close the new building is to the d. center.

I’m real curious about any retail that might be in the new building…

Sorry, comment time is over.