We’ve come a long way – but still have a long way to go

| Development | Environment | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Between that burned-out plumbing shop photographed at 37th and Alaska in the ’30s …

… and the 44th/Alaska fire station (photographed in the ’20s) whose crews likely responded to the plumbing shop fire … we have a unique business district that’s going through growing pains, as new developments like this one arrive …

… others are on the drawing board …

… and we all wonder what will eventually happen here:

What will our peninsula look like in five years, 10 years, 20 years? What SHOULD it look like? Is the vision written down a decade ago still relevant now? This is a rare chance to say what you think, on the official record. Tomorrow night, five West Seattle areas with Neighborhood Plans, including The Junction, get their first chance in a decade to revisit them and discuss whether they still work. Among the other areas – Morgan Junction, where “Mr. Jerome’s house” was photographed in the 4000 block of Orchard way back when …

A couple blocks west of that scene, you’ll find new townhouses and not-so-new apartments. A few blocks north of there, businesses new and old. It’s the same story all over West Seattle. Take a couple hours out of your night Tuesday, come out of the sun and into Delridge Community Center, and join the Neighborhood Plan Status Checks for Admiral, Delridge, Highland Park/Westwood, Morgan Junction, and The Junction. Each neighborhood will have its own “breakout” spot to discuss specifics, with two facilitators: For Admiral, it’s Mark Wainwright and Catherine Benotto; for The Junction, Sharonn Meeks and Kay Knapton; for Morgan Junction, Cindi Barker and Jerry Finrow; for Delridge, Boaz Ashkenazy and Chris Persons; for Highland Park/Westwood, Christie Coxley and Kevin McDonald – the facilitators represent the City Neighborhood Council and the Seattle Planning Commission. As noted yesterday, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Spanish translation will be available.

We have spoken with two of the facilitators; Sharonn Meeks (who’s president of the Fairmount Community Association) says she is hopeful for a good community turnout – during the original neighborhood planning process 10 years ago, she says, not enough community members participated. Cindi Barker (who’s with the Morgan Community Association) tells WSB, “I’m looking forward to seeing both old and new faces at this workshop. We’ve made inroads on the Morgan Junction projects, but the remaining projects might not be as applicable these days. It will be very interesting to hear what people are thinking about changes in the neighborhood.”

You can just come and listen – even that signifies taking a stand, showing interest in the future. Review the four questions first:

1. Most of the neighborhood plans were adopted about 10 years ago and are in their mid-life. How has your neighborhood changed in the last decade since the plan was adopted, (or since you’ve been there)?

2. What changes or aspects of your neighborhood are you most pleased about? Most dissatisfied about?

3. How well are your Neighborhood Plan vision and key strategies being achieved? Are they still the priority?

4. The city is completing neighborhood plan status reports focusing on demographics, development patterns, housing affordability, public amenities and transportation networks. What should there be more focus on (or less focus on) as the neighborhood status reports are completed in the coming months? Are there any important gaps in the draft status report?

And check out the status overviews and other documents regarding all the neighborhoods here. Then just show up, 6 pm Tuesday, Delridge Community Center. It’ll open with an explanation/orientation before everybody breaks off.

old timer July 28, 2009 (12:34 am)

Do you know if the facility is air conditioned?

WSB July 28, 2009 (1:08 am)

Will be working to verify the climate-control status this morning.

Robert July 28, 2009 (7:59 am)

The builder of that plumbing shack had to go through 13 design reviews before it was approved. /Sarcasm.

Cindi B July 28, 2009 (11:20 am)

Unfortunately, the building is not air conditioned, but a call has gone out for fans. Dress accordingly and it might help to bring your own hand fan (of a syle dating back to the plumbing shack picture.)

WSB July 28, 2009 (11:29 am)

Not air conditioned. Many fans are being brought in. I will probably even drag along our biggest one … you can never have too many! FWIW it’s a tree-shaded center in the late afternoon/evening so at least there’s not a huge western exposure to warm the building (like, oh, say, at our house) … TR

Barb July 28, 2009 (11:52 am)

We will also find out if we can set up tables and chairs outside under the trees. We will provide plenty of ice cold water and iced tea!

Christopher Pettingill July 28, 2009 (12:53 pm)

Enough of multi story buildings I would say. How about recycling what is there. I tought Washington was a “Going Green” ideological state.

Barb July 28, 2009 (1:24 pm)

Agenda

1. Opening Session – 20 minutes

• Introduction & Welcome – Irene Wall, Co-Chair, Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee
• Orientation Video

2. Six (6) Neighborhood Breakout Sessions – 75 minutes

Breakout sessions for Admiral, Delridge, Georgetown, Morgan Junction, West Seattle Junction, Westwood/Highland Park

• Presentation by SPC table host (5-7 minutes)

o Goals of the breakout session
o Presentation of background information on neighborhood plan and status update
o How to provide input (discussion, written questionnaire, easel pad, on-line questionnaire)
o Additional resources available

• Facilitated discussion of question led by NPAC table host (65-70 minutes)

1. Most of the neighborhood plans were adopted about 10 years ago and are in their mid-life. How has your neighborhood changed in the last decade since the plan was adopted, (or since you’ve been there)?

2. What changes or aspects of your neighborhood are you most pleased about? Most dissatisfied about?

3. How well are your Neighborhood Plan vision and key strategies being achieved? Are they still the priority?

4. The city is completing neighborhood plan status reports focusing on demographics, development patterns, housing affordability, public amenities and transportation networks. What should there be more focus on (or less focus on) as the neighborhood status reports are completed in the coming months? Are there any important gaps in the draft status report?

3. Closing Remarks and Next Steps – 5 minutes
• Closing Remarks & Next Steps – Irene Wall, Co-Chair, Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee

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