Quick headlines from Denny-Sealth, Viaduct meetings

| Denny-Sealth | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just back from both of tonight’s major meetings in West Seattle. Full separate articles coming for both. But in the short run, the headlines:

DENNY-SEALTH: West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist announced he’s “leaning toward Option 2,” the “go ahead with the shared campus but add $10 million for a few more Sealth renovations” option that district staff is officially recommending the board approve. However, Sundquist reiterated that it’s the board’s decision, and he invites EVERYONE to spend the next two weeks letting him and other board members (three of whom were at the meeting) know what they think. 10:30 PM ADDITION: Just in from Steve Fischer, president of the Westwood Neighborhood Council, which presented tonight’s meeting – results of the unofficial, voluntary straw poll they took (via secret ballot) after the meeting: Zero for Option 1, 16 for Option 2, 52 for Option 3. (100-plus people were there tonight.)

VIADUCT: This open-house-with-open-mike was part of the process leading up to a decision in about a year regarding what will replace the “Central Waterfront” section of The Viaduct. Some of those who offered open-mike comments urged reconsideration of the notion of NOT tearing it down, but retrofitting it instead.

Again, much more to come, including some video, from both meetings.

tpn February 12, 2008 (9:14 pm)

I have this sneaking suspicion that the folks that live in my neck of the woods–Georgetown, and South Park, will get the same short end of the stick as WS might…hopefully that doesn’t happen!

PSPS February 12, 2008 (9:35 pm)

On the viaduct issue — the retrofit option is the only practical one. Everything else is both too expensive and too disruptive.

todd in westwood/s.delridge February 12, 2008 (10:54 pm)

Funny that the “Westwood Neighborhood Council” spends most of it’s time and meetings on the Denny Sealth mess and not on making our neighborhood better, cleaner or safer.
If they actually had a meeting to discuss the neighborhood’s problems and how we as residents of Westwood could to to clean up and make it safer, I might attend.
But in the meantime, I will keep getting my car broken into, picking up garbage along Roxbury and hosing down the area behind my garage where people walking back from the bars in White Center feel the need to relive themselves at.

WSB February 12, 2008 (11:55 pm)

Todd, they actually are having a meeting March 11 (as we will note in our full report). This is a neighborhood group that operates on less than a shoestring — they apparently were inactive for some time because frankly no neighbors came forward wanting to be part of it and help. No organization run by volunteers with zero dollars can last if new help doesn’t come in. I would strongly urge you to drop Steve Fischer, WNC president, a line – I’m sure there is an e-mail address on the westwood-neighborhood.org website – to see how you can help get something going again.

Steve February 13, 2008 (6:08 am)

Todd:

I encourage you to attend our next meeting on March 11 at the SW Library (9010 35th Avenue SW) from 7 to 8pm. The WNC has focused on the Denny-Sealth issue because this has been the issue that people are most concerned about at this time. As the WSB noted above…we depend on neighbors coming forward to make this a better community. For the past several years there has been little interest in the community.

The WNC did apply for a grant through the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods last summer that would have facilitated a series of community meetings and created a master plan for the redevelopment of the Denny site should the school be relocated to the Sealth campus. In addition to the Denny site, the master plan would have explored how to better link that site to the SW Community Center (Seattle Parks property), Sealth High and the athletic fields (School District), and the shopping center. These are major landholders within the center of our community. The pedestrian connections between them impact all of us who live here. Unfortunately, the Seattle School District withdrew its support for our grant after initially submitting a letter of support.

The WNC in the past has: promoted blockwatch programs, shared crime prevention information, assisted neighborhood in obtaining Neighborhood Matching Funds, lobbied for the creation of the West Seattle Police Precinct, lobbied for traffic improvements, coordinated with local businesses, helped develop the Westwood/Highland Park Neighborhood Plan, brought guest speakers to our community, helped plant hundreds of street trees in our neighborhood, helped create the improvements at Roxhill Park, and applied for and obtained grant money to make all of this happen.

None of this happens without participation from within the community. We encourage all of our neighbors to bring their ideas, issues and concerns to the WNC. As I mentioned last evening, we are not funded by the City nor are we elected to represent the community. What we can do is assist one another in making our neighborhood a better place. I look forward to working with you and seeing you at our next meeting.

Steve Fischer
Westwood Neighborhood Council

Todd in Westwood/S.Delridge February 13, 2008 (6:18 am)

Thanks WSB, I will. I have tried to get on their email list serve a couple times in the past. Must have been during inactive time.

Marlene Allbright February 13, 2008 (6:39 am)

I would like to thank Steve Fischer and the Westwood Neighborhood Council for providing all community members with a forum where we can express our views.

Last night’s meeting at Chief Sealth was a great opportunity for stakeholders to be heard and be responded to, unlike previous district-led forums. I think you are doing a great job, and shame on the Seattle School District for withholding your grant.

Steve Taylor February 21, 2008 (8:54 am)

We have likely all heard it said before “If you are not willing to be part of the cure…”. The Westwood Neighborhood Council “active members” have likely done more than any of us in publicly working to improve our area. Yes, many of us volunteer and may be involved in various community efforts. However how many of us work to encourage our entire community to come together to address issues of our community? The Westwood Neighborhood Council is one of the few groups to work at such. The Westwood Neighborhood Council is only comprised of volunteers, pretty much those who work towards the seemingly impossible for many who are ungrateful. Such volunteers may not always make the majority “choice” regarding a given subject, however at least they are working toward a benefit. I commend the Westwood Neighborhood Council as a whole, even though I have not always agreed with what the Westwood Neighborhood Council chooses to support. I believe the Westwood Neighborhood Council’s pros, out weigh their cons. Thank you.

Steve Taylor

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