by Kirby Lindsay, posted 29 June 2011
At their June 27th meeting, the Fremont Neighborhood Council (FNC) tackled a broad spectrum of topics, yet three specific items predominated the nearly two hours of discussions.
Proposed Development of the Thunderbird Motel
Dan Wise, Flo Beaumon and Megan Espinoza attended the FNC meeting as representatives of Catholic Housing Services (CHS) and Catholic Community Services. They presented a proposed plan for development of property formerly occupied by the Thunderbird Motel – one of three motels along Aurora Avenue to be shut down in 2010 after years of chronic crime problems. CHS wants to build a four-story, low-income, permanent housing facility with on-site case management services for tenants.
A public meeting will be held on the CHS plan at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center on Wednesday, July 13th, starting at 6:30p. Wise and Beaumon requested input from the FNC, and they attended the Fremont Chamber of Commerce (FCC) meeting on June 29th, for the same reason. The proposed development still remains to be funded, and plenty of opportunities remain for influencing the plans.
CHS has a long track record of building and managing low income properties around the city, including the Aloha Inn. This housing, for people with a history of homelessness, would allow residents to stay in their small apartment (approximately 300 sq. ft.) permanently, if they wished. The proposed building also includes some office space, and common rooms for the tenants including, possibly, an exercise room and/or computer lab. The proposed project also has some parking, secure bike storage and convenient access to bus service.
The FNC discussion focused on ways CHS, and the on-site management, would address potential problems caused by tenants – or by the denizens of this high crime area. Beaumon explained about guidelines and strict rules that CHS enforces in their buildings. “Our goal is to house people,” explained Wise, in safety, for the sake of the tenants, their neighbors and the larger community.
At the FNC meeting, comments were given on the proposed building design, and at the FCC meeting, Wise admitted that they’d already returned to the architects for changes. So, attend the public meeting on July 13th to hear more about the project, and give feedback that can make a difference.
Communications Boost?
FNC President Matt Gasparich and Board Member Linda Clifton spoke on the need to improve communications between the FNC and the Fremont community. They want larger attendance at FNC monthly meetings, and to ultimately increase membership.
Clifton solicited input on what the FNC does, what members are proud of, and what the purpose the organization serves. Several members – of the FNC and the community at large – mentioned past projects including:
- assistance with a dead end sign on Evanston Avenue
- building low income housing (Solstice Apartments)
- maintenance of land use/development information
- aided in keeping B.F. Day open
- fought for good neighbor agreements
- sponsored a survey of historic buildings/publication of a book on Fremont by Helen Divjak for Arcadia Publishing
- provides a forum
- supports community murals (46th Street & Bridge Way)
- organizes work parties (street clean-ups, Guerrilla Gardening, etc.)
This discussion also involved a motion for applying to the City of Seattle Communities Online Boost Grant program, to obtain funds to build up the FNC web presence for membership outreach. After several comments about the current web presence, the Board approved the motion.
Preservation of the 1921 Annex (at Fire Station #9)
This discussion waited for the arrival of specific interested attendees. Toby Thaler started with an explanation and some history on the remodel plans for Fire Station #9. According to him, plans to remodel the station in its current location may predate the levy vote that approved funding. He does not agree with keeping the station in that location, although the Fire Department has done studies that show the location meets their standards for response times.
The discussion focused on the new building design, and how the current design requires the removal of a 1921 concrete structure once used as a substation or signal station that stands beside the current station. The building “lost historic designation by one vote,” explained Thaler, yet members of the FNC, along with the Fremont Historical Society (FHS,) want the building preserved, and incorporated into the remodel.
Discussions between FHS and FNC representatives and those from the Seattle Fire Department, and the Department of Fleets & Facilities (which oversees the remodel levy), have arrived at a compromise to remove the façade of the building and relocate it elsewhere in the community. This option did come with a price tag starting at $200,000, and the information that such funding will need to be taken from another city project.
The FNC Board voted to support the position of the FHS: that removal of the façade does not equal preservation. Instead, a letter will be written to request that the new building – designed by Mithun Architects – incorporate the Annex building.
Far More to Follow
Beyond these topics, the FNC deals with many others. More than can be adequately covered here. To find out about them in better detail, attend an upcoming meeting – perhaps on July 25th, at 7p, at History House.
Related Articles
- A Remodel For Fremont’s Fire Station #9
- by Kirby Lindsay, May 3, 2010
- FNC Highlight Reel: Information & Litigation
- by Kirby Lindsay, April 4, 2011
- Affordable Housing Aspirations
- by Kirby Lindsay, October 2, 2008 in the North Seattle Herald-Outlook
©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.