Roadside raingardens in South Delridge: Door-to-door info

| Delridge | Environment | West Seattle news

Design is under way for the third area of West Seattle to get roadside raingardens to help reduce runoff that contributes to combined-sewer overflows (CSO), and project team members are now going door-to-door to make sure residents are aware. As outlined at a meeting last November, the raingardens will be built in an area of South Delridge primarily involving several blocks of 17th SW – between SW Kenyon and SW Henderson – that’s also part of a future greenway. Seattle Public Utilities is the lead agency, and says:

Project design is happening through 2014 and into 2015. Throughout the upcoming months, SPU will continue to work with project area residents to finalize the design. During design and leading up to construction, pre-construction activities may include geotechnical and survey crews in the neighborhood, and utility relocation work prior to construction. Construction of the natural drainage system is scheduled to begin in summer of 2015.

The city’s project website is here; the project reps going door-to-door are distributing two infosheets, here and here. And if you have questions, be at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting next Wednesday (June 18th, 7 pm) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – an SPU rep will be there with an update on the project that’s officially known as “Delridge Natural Drainage Systems.”

m June 12, 2014 (8:20 pm)

I am dismayed to see that our block of 17th Ave SW between Henderson & Barton has been cut out of this project! This block has always been included in the discussion and planning for the project. A number of us have participated in community meetings and a Walk & Talk to give input to the project plan. There are at least 3 areas of our block that have significant drainage problems resulting in large standing puddles for a prolonged period of time during our wettest months. The puddles are so large and deep that people avoid parking in those spots despite the high density of our block and the limited parking available.

motormike June 12, 2014 (10:37 pm)

That’s really disappointing, they cut off my block from the plan. The one between Henderson and Barton. I walk all the blocks in the rain and our block is the only one with multi-car sized standing puddles. We also have the least permeable space for natural absorption with paved planting strips and high density as allowed by the urban village policy. We would have been a great opportunity to demonstrate the multitude of benefits of such a project. The plan as given to us in November was a significant improvement. I was excited to know that the city actually cared and had a good plan. This is just so disappointing.

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