Just in, courtesy of this city press release: Remember the call for citizen votes earlier this fall on how to spend city money on neighborhood transportation projects? From the long list of West Seattle nominees, the mayor is recommending approval of two sidewalk projects: Alki Avenue from 65th to Beach Drive (stretching west from the area above where the sidewalk ends now), and in east West Seattle, a sidewalk along 30th between Findlay and Juneau.
Please remember that a lot of time, efofrt and energy was put in by alot of community folks to make this a reality. The mayor simply is acting on the recommendations put forth by a committee made of volunteers from neighborhoods all over the city. These neighborhood volunteers spent many hours pouring over the over 150 projects that had been submitted in this category and the thousands of comments that were made at the “open houses” hsoted in 6 locations in Seattle. I just hate it when the city issues a press release and makes it look like the Mayor did all of this great work when in reality it was our neighbors hard work that brought about this result. We especially should be thanking Terry Williams and Jay Mirro who represented our West Seattle community in helping to get this moeny for projects in West Seattle. Way to go Terry & Jay.
Another new West Seattle sidewalk, already OKed and funded by the city, will be on the north side of SW Forest Street between Walnut SW (Hiawatha Park) and 39th SW. It might end up designed more like a walking path than a city sidewalk because it’s going to cross Fairmount SW at the top of the ravine greenbelt.
Pete, thanks as always for the perspective. We would have reported more on the “next steps” between the open houses, online voting, and mayoral announcement if we had more information on it — just wondering, were the recommendations on which the mayor acted, released publicly at any point? (We’re guessing it was more of that endless, quiet, long, hard work that so many volunteer groups engage in.) At any rate, belated congratulations on all that hard work and on scoring some WS projects. Can’t wait to see the Alki sidewalk, having tried to negotiate that stretch so often over the years.
Snake Hill is local lore for 30th Ave SW from Juneau, to Findlay, and then finally turning east at Brandon. S-t-e-e-e-e-p hill, with poor line of site and very dangerous pedestrian conditions. This new partial sidewalk will benefit the many who hoof-it from High Point and points beyond down to the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail and perhaps someday to the DNDA redeveloped Louisa Boren School site with its new grocery store, book store, etc…..
Anyone want to discuss “snake hill”? I use it everyday and see this project as a travesty and a PR project for developers rather than a safety issue. Look at the map if you’re unfamiliar with it. The announced project, (with no date to start) covers only one block which already has 1/3 sidewalk and planting strip on the east side supplied by the Seattle Housing Authority as part of the Highpoint redevelopment phase 1. While the hill crossing is dangerous, unless it is made of some new material, it will become a slide when wet or icy since the 30 degree slope contour is not going to be changed. The hill is one of the first closed on snow events and the sign is already leaned up against the light pole at the bottom of the hill.
The real dangerous part is further down the hill. Come with me as we walk to the bus stop on Delridge.
30th between Findlay and Brandon:
Not as steep but already suffering from erosion, tiny shoulder from properties encroaching on right-of-way, and steep drop offs where roadway is crumbling and shoulder erodes into parcels several feet lower than roadway. (Also note the new construction of some curious “houses” on lots subdivided so small that the house and the driveway are the same width.)
Turn onto Brandon: (you have no other choice since you have hit Camp Longs fence and the powerline right of way going west up the ridge)
From this point to the longfellow creek trail head there is only two property owners on Brandon. One of them is an elderly man names Ed, and the other is the City of Seattle.
The city owns Camp Long, The West Seattle Golf course, and the greenbelt (as far as I can tell) that includes the longfellow creek nature trail entrance and two city parks (Greg Davis park and Cottage grove park)
This is three blocks of unmarked pavement, high grass, no street lights, no shoulder or a ditch just off the pavement where countless cars have been marooned over the years (often by swerving to avoid pedestrians in dark clothing). Pedestrians HAVE to walk in the street or risk breaking an ankle on the seemingly randomly placed piles of rock used to temporarily fix drainage issues.
The city should take the responsibility for this section and do the right thing.
Note: The most dangerous section of this street is listed on two of the maps of “safe routes to school” even though it is rather obvious to anyone who walks or drives it, that it is not safe.
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/transportation/walk/downloads/high_pt.pdf
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/transportation/walk/downloads/frmnt_pk.pdf
The city has increased property tax assessment value in this area by nearly 20% each year for the past 10 years. The elderly are fleeing and selling to developers. The city and SHA seem to be using their revenues to help sell condos rather than to make the existing taxpayers safer.
It is the cities turn to step up to the plate.
Was this area covered by any requests in the documents referenced above?
Sorry, comment time is over.
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