Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza construction, 3 weeks to go

More new photos from David Hutchinson with the Seattle (Alki) Statue of Liberty Plaza Project, as construction of the plaza enters its final weeks leading up to the September 6th dedication.

The pace has been picking up this past week … The bronze bench and landscape plaques arrived at the beginning of the week and the final pouring of cement took place. Three of the fifteen bench plaques were embedded in the newly poured apron around the front of the seat walls. Work also began on the first three wooden bench tops. The middle of the week saw continued work on the bench tops, work began on the new irrigation system, and holes were bored in the concrete for the step railing supports. The end of the week highlight was the arrival and installation of benches 13, 14, and 15 which were fabricated offsite as a single unit.

This coming week should see continued work on the benches and the arrival of the inscribed pavers which are scheduled to be installed over the next couple of weeks. At this time the new pedestal which is being cast offsite is scheduled to be put in place around the beginning of September with the Statue to be in installed in time for the September 6th dedication ceremony.

Here’s how the site looked Saturday:

You can catch up on this entire project and what led up to it over the past year-plus, in our Alki Statue of Liberty archive.

Lenny August 17, 2008 (10:15 pm)

Once completed, I give this about 12 hours before it becomes a skateboard/tagger magnet. Sad but true.

MLJ August 17, 2008 (11:37 pm)

I would respectfully like to challenge the relative assumption that these two classes of people are somehow associated with one another.

Skateboarding is not synonymous with vandalism. I would agree, however, that it’s “sad” that kids may feel the need to surreptitiously skate something like this wonderful monument. If they had a legal, safe and accessible public skatespot in the Alki neighborhood, then they would most certainly skate there instead.

JanS August 18, 2008 (12:05 am)

my feelings..it is what it is, and it will be what it will be.There are no guarantees in life. There will no longer be a ramp down to the statue, which, in my mind, takes some of the skateboarding thrill away from it. And, yes, not every skateboarder is a vandal, is into tagging, is destructive…and believe me, I’m no skateboarder. (vice versa, too? not every vandal is a skateboarder? – lol)

Lenny, I guess you’ll just have to get down during the first 12 hours to enjoy it, huh ;-)

ann August 18, 2008 (6:59 am)

Speaking of ramps. So there’s no longer going to be a ramp for wheelchairs and strollers? Huh…

David Hutchinson August 18, 2008 (8:41 am)

Ann,
.
Matt Hutchins, one of the original designers of the new plaza, pointed out in a comment to a July 10th posting on the WSB:
.
“There is ADA access at other points along the park and it is not required here, in addition.”
.
There is “ramp” access at 59th, 63rd, and at the west end of the promenade.
.
David Hutchinson

ann August 18, 2008 (9:10 am)

Thanks. I get that it’s not required, but I still don’t like it :)

David Hutchinson August 18, 2008 (9:42 am)

Just to clarify since this question has come up several times – I failed to include the ramps at 62nd and between 60th and 59th. That makes 5 ramp access points in the 5-6 block length of the promenade.
.
A ramp was part of the original design but was eliminated in the refinement process because of the steepness of the slope at that point.
.
David Hutchinson

Meghan August 18, 2008 (3:11 pm)

It is going to be a beautiful addition to the waterfront that we can all be proud of! Let’s hope it doesn’t, but if it gets tagged, so bit it. The key is to remove it immediately. Studies show that cities that take care of graffiti very quickly have less and less of it ulitmately. It makes sense, of course, because it’s not as satifying to tag something if you know it’ll disappear the next day.

cjboffoli August 18, 2008 (6:21 pm)

The benches are beautiful. Looks like Ipe wood to me. Anyone know for sure?

Lenny August 18, 2008 (8:33 pm)

The “/” in skateboard/tagger does in no way mean “one in the same”. I don’t believe there is necessarily any kind of association or relationship between the two. Rather, it was used in an “or” sense as in “skateboard OR tagger.” Thanks.

David Hutchinson August 19, 2008 (7:56 am)

You are correct. The wood is plantation grown ipe. For some information on this type of wood see:

http://www.ipe-wood.com/faq.html
.
David Hutchinson

Nancy Folsom August 19, 2008 (8:05 am)

This is really going to be a beautiful little spot. V. nice.

Lenny, report graffiti, anywhere, by phone (206) 684-7587, or website, http://www2.seattle.gov/util/forms/graffiti/graffitiForm.asp.

Bruce August 19, 2008 (12:29 pm)

It’s a shame they couldn’t include a wheelchair ramp in the new construction. The alternate ramps seem far away, but I don’t use a wheelchair. Could somebody do a test drive and post their opinion?

Jo August 19, 2008 (2:25 pm)

There’s the steep ramp across the street from Pegasus. Always figured the steep ramps were not very wheel-chair or scooter friendly.
The switchback across from Cactus (next to the public bathrooms.) Good one, I’d think for wheelchair.
The switchback on the east side of the bathhouse I imagine this would be the closest and most user-friendly wheelchair ramp.

Sorry, comment time is over.