Envisioning Delridge Way’s future: District Council takes it on

| Delridge | Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Don’t just patch up Delridge Way SW – transform it.

That’s the idea behind a discussion that took up most of last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting. The reps from eastern West Seattle groups and organizations were planning for November, when Seattle City Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw and Tom Rasmussen, as well as representatives from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will join DNDC to discuss roadway improvements to Delridge Way.

The council was recently contacted by SDOT about “spot paving” on Delridge Way, using money from the Bridging the Gap levy. But the council feels there is an opportunity to use the money in a more constructive way, and asked for the meeting with SDOT. “We don’t want (SDOT’s work) to be piecemeal,” said district-council member Pete Spalding. “We want it to fit the long-term vision the community has for Delridge.”

This meeting was an opportunity to build on ideas already out there about possible Delridge Way improvements, such as making more pedestrian-friendly and attracting more commerce to the area. Among the ideas presented:

-Rechannel Delridge Way to include a bus-only lane
-Turn it into a boulevard with trees and wider walkways
-Create better connections with east and west roadways
-Create more visible and protected crosswalks
-Develop a transit hub under Spokane Street

Want to be part of the discussion? Mark your calendar now for the council’s November meeting – November 16th, 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

Also from last night’s meeting::

*The North Delridge Neighborhood Council has a number of council positions available. If you’re interested in joining, contact the NDNC (ndnc.org) before Monday, October 24.

*The city is finalizing its budget and the district council is encouraging folks to provide input before October 26th. “They tally the issues they hear about,” observed Spalding, so if there’s something you feel needs attention, this is a great opportunity to have Seattle City Councilmembers give it budget consideration. (City-budget info can be found here.)

*Another opportunity for input on city plans is to complete the city’s online Seattle Comprehensive Plan survey, which you can find here. This is the citywide version of a neighborhood plan, and because many plans are up for renewal in the next couple of years, it’s a good time to provide input for issues you feel are important to your community.

jay October 21, 2011 (6:22 am)

Every time I see the NDNC or DNDC acronyms, I just have to assume that it’s an inaccurate reference. To be clear, this was a DNCC meeting, but the NDNC references really are referring to NDNC?

WSB October 21, 2011 (7:17 am)

Why do you assume they’re inaccurate? This was a Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting. DNDC. There is an NDNC reference after we mention the North Delridge Neighborhood Council (separate group), which is one of the groups represented in the DNDC. Yes, it’s confusing. Luckily we had no occasion to mention the DNDA too … TR

Been There October 21, 2011 (10:36 am)

TR, I think that this part of the story may have added to the confusion: “We don’t want (SDOT’s work) to be piecemeal,” said NDNC member Pete Spalding. “We want it to fit the long-term vision the community has for Delridge.”
–
To clarify, Pete is part of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council representing the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, not the North Delridge Neighborhood Council.

WSB October 21, 2011 (10:41 am)

AUGH .. thanks BT, I missed that when editing the story – I’ll take that out. I hereby resolve to avoid acronyms as much as possible. TFN. FWIW. OTOH … Pete is with PPNC. (Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council)