YOU CAN HELP: Community campaign to convince SDOT to keep its commitment to full Chief Sealth Walkways project

Westwood-area community advocates are ramping up their campaign to get the city to restore what it cut out of the Chief Sealth Walkways Improvement Project earlier this year. And they need your help.

As reported here in August, the city cut the community-proposed, grant-funded project in half because a development plan along 25th SW is expected and the developer would be expected to pay for similar improvements. The city acknowledged, though, that the improvements could be “several years” away, but in the meantime, they say, they’re only going to build the 26th SW path.

Community members say the idea of a developer maybe eventually building the 25th SW path is too uncertain and too far off, and want SDOT to recommit to the full project. They are concerned about safety of those who use the undeveloped path – not just nearby students – and the area’s status as a long-running eyesore (as noted on the Find It Fix It Walk last year).

The walkway-project status is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meeting, and Marianne McCord – who shared the photos – says they are hoping for a show of support (6:15 pm October 3rd, Southwest Library, 9010 35th SW). If you can’t be there, e-mail NSFChiefSealthWalkway@seattle.gov – or, even if you can.

5 Replies to "YOU CAN HELP: Community campaign to convince SDOT to keep its commitment to full Chief Sealth Walkways project"

  • Rick September 29, 2017 (4:09 pm)

    This is one more example of why SDOT Leadership needs to GO (far, far away I would hope). 

    Please, next mayor, replace SDOT leadership with people who follow through on commitments and not pass on things to another funder.  It’s bad policy, and isn’t serving the taxpayers.

  • matt September 30, 2017 (11:26 am)

    My partner and I lived here on Cloverdale st.  We would regularly walk through this path…tons of broken glass and seems to be a dumping ground for adjacent apartments.  We have had to pick broken glass from our dogs paw, and my partner had been followed through this area by people at night multiple times…Altogether not safe place for the high volume of students and locals who use this daily…

  • Carol September 30, 2017 (11:41 am)

    Follow up on your commitments

  • Jim P. October 1, 2017 (1:22 pm)

    Far too speculative that “someday” someone may build on that vacant, hilly lot next door.

    The area badly needs the upgrades, both on 25th and 26th.  (The school is letting the wild growth along their athletic fields overgrow the sidewalk..the wheelchair ramp at 25th & Trenton is unusable because of this and the sidewalk will soon be covered and some of that is blackberry, just try walking through *that*.

    Anyone know who one might contact to complain about this mess?  The school seems to have money to burn judging by the “voice of god on a  bullhorn” sound and music system they added to the athletic field, so you’d think they’d do a bit of yard work.

    • WSB October 1, 2017 (1:41 pm)

      If by “the school” you mean Chief Sealth IHS, Southwest Athletic Complex is NOT part of it. It’s a Seattle Public Schools-owned facility but not part of CSIHS – it’s used by multiple schools (as well as non-school groups). If you have a complaint, contact the SPS maintenance department – looks like this would be a contact:

      Facility Operations Services
      foc@seattleschools.org
      206-252-0550

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