Restroom replacement ahead for Alki

That’s a Google Street View image of the restroom building at 57th SW and Alki Avenue SW. It’s set for replacement, per Seattle Parks, which invites you to stop by the site 10 am-noon March 30th to find out about the project, described on the Alki Beach Park website as follows:

This project will provide three new all-gender-restroom facilities, each with individual access and the structure will be designed to meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The project is already in the permit-application system, which says the building will be replaced. Permit files also indicate Parks has other restroom-accessibility improvement projects in the works, including one at Lincoln Park.

Mj March 11, 2019 (1:51 pm)

This project does not increase space. Currently there is a urinal and stall for guys and I believe two stalls for women. This equates to four. Thus a decrease in space, there is already inadequate space and this project does not address this and in fact leads to the loss of space!

Nolan March 11, 2019 (2:49 pm)

Why does this project need to “increase space”? It serves people who are disabled or visibly non-binary (or both!), while also increasing your personal options from two to three regardless of which team you’re on. Of course you’ll also be competing with other people, which means the facility will better serve ALL of its community members. You’re only going to find something to complain about if you’re actively trying.
Barb March 11, 2019 (3:48 pm)

Only one stall for women.
- Wendell March 11, 2019 (4:39 pm)
  
  Designed by someone that’s never had to pee.
  - DPMZ March 11, 2019 (7:14 pm)
    
    Ur ine over your head here.

Andros March 11, 2019 (3:00 pm)

When is this slated to start? Don’t tell me it’s during the height of summer when we really need it.

WSB March 11, 2019 (3:45 pm)

I have some followup questions out. But for now, this is all the info I have.

melissa March 11, 2019 (3:01 pm)

Nope MJ, there’s only one stall for women. And there should be two. So having three stalls that are usable for everyone is an improvement.

Mj March 11, 2019 (5:37 pm)

Melissa thank you for the clarification. In lieu of replacing a functional albeit older facility maybe spending the resource on adding restrooms to a park that does not have any facility’s at all.There are two existing all gender facilities to the south of lady Liberty statue

WSB March 11, 2019 (6:07 pm)

I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear enough. Not upgrading/replacing is not an option here. Parks is going through a variety of accessibility upgrades – like the work at Southwest Teen Life Center/Pool (which is high on our radar just because we pass by almost daily) – and this is among them, as is the work at Lincoln Park. I’ve asked Parks for some other big-picture info but in the short run, here’s a big-picture report:
https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/PoliciesPlanning/ADA/SPR_ADA_Transition_Plan_2017_Update.pdf

It notes federal citations for accessibility violations at locations including this one as well as the 63rd SW restroom building.

AdmiralSDV March 11, 2019 (5:37 pm)

A welcome improvement! Nicely done, Seattle Parks, and thank you!

Mj March 11, 2019 (6:24 pm)

Thank you for the clarification, providing more pit stops for everyone is needed. Many parks have none. An old pit stop is better than no pit stop!

newnative March 13, 2019 (3:01 pm)

Not if a person is unable to use it because as the story says, they are not in compliance. I don’t know what parks are lacking in any bathrooms, but the one in the photo is in a high volume/traffic location where there should be better access to bathrooms. I’m not sure why you are so upset that these bathrooms are being upgraded.