by Kirby Lindsay, posted 10 April 2013
The Lake Union District Council (LUDC) brings together representatives from community organizations and non-profits from all along the shores of Lake Union, not just Fremont.
At its April 2013 meeting, the LUDC representatives had a chance to vote on petitions for the Neighborhood Park & Street Fund – and they selected three improvement projects. They did not, however, select the one pushed forward by the Fremont Neighborhood Council (FNC.)
A Few Words From Councilmember Bagshaw
Even though LUDC meetings take place in Fremont (at History House,) and they have regular representation from a few Fremont organizations, it would be a mistake to assume the LUDC serves as a loudspeaker for Fremo-centric issues to Seattle City government.
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw attended the April LUDC meeting to speak to representatives with updates from her Council Committees on Parks and Neighborhoods. She’d arrived after Barbara Wright, of the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners, gave an impassioned pitch for attendance at upcoming community meetings on creating a Legacy Plan for Seattle Parks.
Councilmember Bagshaw started with her support for the Legacy Plan, and the upcoming Parks Levy vote. She reported a $250,000 backlog of deferred maintenance projects pending for Seattle parks land. When criticized for the way the City, and the Council, budget and tap the funds they have, Councilmember Bagshaw stated, “I don’t know another group of people more concerned with your pocketbook than the nine members of the City Council.”
The Councilmember praised the District Councils, and the Department of Neighborhoods’ District Coordinators, which won her the floor – until the matter of greenways came up. A greenways supporter criticized the Wallingford crossing of Stone Way, and described the oft-lauded path as largely unused and unusable. An argument then erupted as someone else criticized the bike lanes on Stone Way, and the greenway, as impediments to truck traffic. Another voice supported building the greenway along Woodland Park Avenue, one block west of Stone Way.
While she may have had to cede the floor more than expected, Councilmember Bagshaw did help paint a clear picture of the diversity of opinions and issues that form the LUDC.
Three Of Seven
When LUDC representatives then considered the seven proposals from the Lake Union District to the $1.2 million Neighborhood Park/Street Fund, they faced a challenge of satisfying a broad constituency. For what is considered a small fund, the Council could only approve three of the proposals, along with one – a fourth – to be chosen as a runner-up.
A crosswalk, across Fremont Avenue at N 43rd Street, had been submitted by the FNC. Although, as submitted, the proposal didn’t specify a crosswalk; it asked for ‘pedestrian safety improvements.’
The other six projects proposed were:
- A pedestrian countdown signal to allow safe crossing of Eastlake Avenue East at E Allison St, on the south side
- Relocation, re-grading and replacing the surfaces of pathways through the I-5 Colonnade Open Space to comply with ADA standards
- A pedestrian/bicycle crossing at Woodland Park Ave N across Bridge Way, as a first step in creation of a Woodland Park Ave greenway
- Lighting for the Cascade P-Patch and Cascade People’s Center to allow for public access to the areas after dusk, and to create a safer environment
- Curb cuts (wheelchair ramps) at the sidewalk corners on Stone Ave N (SE corner,) Stone Way N (SW & SE corners,) and Interlake Ave N (SE corner,) near the Stone Way U.S.P.S. Post Office
- A median in the center of Green Lake Way N, between Midvale Ave N and Stone Ave N, to create a pedestrian/bicycle safety zone for crossing the arterial, and impeding the use of the left-turn lane as a passing lane for vehicles
The communities of Fremont, Eastlake and Wallingford each submitted two proposals and were asked to select their highest priority (Fremont – the N 43rd St crosswalk had highest, Eastlake – the pedestrian crosswalk, and Wallingford – the meridian for Green Lake Way, which had been submitted previously.) As for discussions of these proposals, many questioned why the curb cuts on Stone Way – requested by a wheelchair user – did not already have a funding source, and immediate attention?
The final vote, done by secret ballot, came out with the lighting improvements for Cascade and the Eastlake pedestrian crosswalk countdown tied for first. The construction of a meridian – like the ones a few blocks south on Bridge Way N – for Green Lake Way N came in third. Fremont did win honorable mention, coming in fourth.
The crosswalk on Fremont Avenue North, at N 43rd Street, will be submitted. If one of the three selected proposals is determined to be too difficult, too expensive, or otherwise unachievable – or funding is found through another source – the crosswalk will be implemented.
The LUDC represents, and gives information to representatives of, the neighborhoods that surround Lake Union. Our ‘working’ lake can be taken for granted but it does have vibrant communities dotted along its shore, in addition to Fremont. It is good to know that improvements will be coming to our larger area, even if the crosswalk down the street may have to wait for the next funding source.
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.