gehrkenathalie

KPG Presents Design Report To Business Owners

April 24, 2017 by gehrkenathalie 4 Comments

Paul Fuesel (KPG principal planner) , Liz Gibson (KPG landscape architect), and Neil Wechsler (Montlake Bicycle Shop owner)

Design consultants are now sharing their final report on Montlake’s business district as the city-funded planning grant draws to a close. Business owners and Montlake Community Club project leaders gathered April 12 at Glam & Tonics Aveda Salon to receive the report and talk one more time with Paul Fuesel and Liz Gibson of Studio KPG. They viewed, commented and praised the report’s drawings, photos, and explanatory text illuminating a conceptual plan for Montlake’s “downtown.” The plan aims to create a distinctive identity, revitalize the 24^th Avenue business district, and calm the street for accessibility and safety. With an eye toward both functional and aesthetic goals, the proposed plan from KPG includes street and sidewalk reconfiguration, traffic signals, wayfinding signage, plantings, public art, and amenities. (You can view/download a copy of the final report here.)

Now that the Montlake Business District conceptual design has been created, it will become one of several tools that SDOT traffic planners and engineers can use as they continue with the 23^rd/24^th Avenue Traffic Corridor Improvement Project construction. Montlake is part of that project’s Phase 3. The plan will also provide input to the City’s Vision Zero efforts to increase driver, pedestrian and cyclist safety on Seattle streets. MCC project leaders also hope that it will give an encouraging boost to the Montlake business district building owners to do their part in making upgrades to their properties as well.

Kathy Laughman (MCC board member) and Liz Gibson

MCC Project leaders, Kathy Laughman and Bryan Haworth, soon will be submitting a follow-up grant proposal to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to follow through on parts of the conceptual design that are within neighborhood control, especially the public arts and beautification aspects. You’ll be hearing more about this follow-up effort over the next few months.

Juan Lopez (Glam & Tonics owner & MCC Board member), Matt Johnson (Mr Johnson’s Antiques owner) and Carla Leonardi (Cafe Lago and Little Lago owner)

Of course there are still unanswered questions about Montlake’s business district future. Some were voiced by the business owners as they reviewed the conceptual plan from KPG and generally gave it praise. Questions focused not so much on the design itself, but on procedures, for example: What is SDOT’s timeline for any decisions and implementation of Vision Zero improvements and Phase 3 of the Traffic Corridor Improvement Project? How long will construction through Montlake last, once it’s begun? And, what kind of mitigation/support will be given to the businesses and residents (including the Montlake Blvd Market) as all of the work impacts them, including the seemingly endless Hwy 520 project? Finally, how can the Montlake community continue to have a positive effect on the decisions and actions taken by the City and State toward shaping our future as a livable, friendly, safe, and beautiful neighborhood? We can be pretty sure that nothing will happen in a hurry. We can also be quite sure that something will happen—eventually.

Montlake Business District Development Final Concept Plan (pdf)

Coordinated Response To Traffic Concerns—AT LAST!

April 7, 2017 by gehrkenathalie 5 Comments

WSDOT/SDOT Reps Talk Montlake Traffic Issues

Montlakers were once again drawn in for an update from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This time the event (Wed, March 22) featured posters with “explainers” and a presentation/Q&A format. Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Metro/King County representatives were also on hand with information. Present too, were consultants from KPG explaining the Montlake Business District Improvement Plan, an effort led by the Montlake Community Club. Whew! A little confusing with all those presenters! Unfortunately, a query about the future of the Montlake Blvd Market and gas station brought a response that “The matter was under negotiation, so could not be addressed at this time.” BUT there is reason for optimism, because Montlake finally appears to be getting a coordinated response to its traffic concerns.

The WSDOT spokesperson provided a brief overview of the newly posted Update on the SR 520 Montlake Phase**, with a focus on the Neighborhood Traffic Management plan.

This Update includes a look, not just at what is happening on SR 520 as reconstruction gets to Montlake, but also a first look at WSDOT & SDOT’s combined ideas for “potential local street measures” right here in Montlake. (Chapter 4 Potential Local Street Measures, pp 24-31).

We are encouraged by this evidence that WSDOT has been listening to us, and has actually been working with the City of Seattle Department of Transportation to respond to the traffic problems we’ve all been telling them about. This could mean genuine mitigation, folks! Please check out the report.

Be sure to leave your comments below once you’ve read the report.

**The SR 520 Montlake Phase includes the construction of the West Approach Bridge South, Montlake lid and interchange, and a bicycle and pedestrian land bridge. Construction of the Montlake Phase is expected to begin in 2018.

Laughman Adds French Touch To Development Project

February 15, 2017 by gehrkenathalie 2 Comments

Kathy Laughman believes in community. That’s not just your TV sitcom version, however. She’s committed to an older, more deeply rooted communal idea–where people living and working in a neighborhood share resources, and support the success and the very survival of each other. Kathy is inspired by the years she spent in southern France where she was taken into membership in such a community. We’re fortunate to have her back home and leading the Montlake Business District Development project, for she is bringing that classic concept of community with a French touch to her role.

Kathy first came to live in Seattle in 1970, found a staff position at the UW, and bought a home in Montlake for proximity to her work, and for love of the drawbridge, the beautiful parks, and the architectural details of the homes. Later, after gaining an advanced degree in design and working in the local garment industry, she was wisely hired by Nordstrom to work on the Fauçonnable product line. Following much travel to France, Europe and Asia on Nordstrom’s business, Kathy rented out her house and was on her way to Nice, France to oversee creative design for the company for seven years. It was in Nice that she first experienced what she perceives as real community.

Kathy explains: “People there had a sense that it was their responsibility to take care of each other. Here, there was a tendency to see that as butting into other people’s business, but over there, they see themselves as responsible for each other. It’s simple things, like I would leave for work in winter … and I wouldn’t have my neck scarf on. The concierge would notice it and remind me that I should go back up and put my neck scarf on so I wouldn’t catch a cold.” She goes on, “The local businesses, many of which have been in their location for generations, believe that it is their obligation to see that their customers are happy.” This commitment, she says, extended to such actions as a shop owner accompanying her home, carrying her newly purchased floor lamp up the stairs, unpacking it, placing it, and making sure it worked. Kathy laughingly offers that: “This is a level of service that not even Nordstrom will give you!” She doesn’t see this as “just about customer satisfaction, but about a sense of community. He wanted to make sure that I was being taken care of….Their idea is that if an individual succeeds, it is good for the community, so its really not so much being generous and self-sacrificing, it’s in everybody’s interest to take care of everybody because then the group prospers….”

Responsibility for enhancing the community within neighborhoods extends to City governmental bodies as well. Laughman recounts, “Nice is definitely organized into neighborhoods and the City spend its tax dollars on landscaping, seasonal decorations, repairing the roads, keeping the sidewalks clean, with proper crosswalk signage and street lights. They take safety and welfare of the people in each community very, very seriously. And they put their money where their mouth is!”

Kathy Laughman thus sees the need in Montlake for the same reciprocity among business owners, residents, and City government. That general principle shows up in how she’s led the Montlake Business District Development Project. For example, she’s engaged the Montlake Business Association (MBA) in a series of meetings to gather the business owners’ ideas for development of downtown and uptown Montlake. Business owners have had roles on the project committee including meetings with the City and hiring the project consultant. Juan Lopez of Glam & Tonics and Carla Leonardi of Café Lago have been particularly active.

In the same spirit, Laughman has made sure that the project engages Montlake residents in the business district development plans and in support of its business owners. She has sought to provide the community with regular project-related information and progress reports via the Montlake Flyer Intrepid Reporter postings. She has assured opportunities to gather concerns and design ideas from residents through community meetings and comment options on Montlake.net. Further. She has helped lead the residents’ efforts to support our Montlake businesses– the Blvd Market & Service Station that have been seriously threatened by WSDOT’s late-declared needs for 520 bridge reconstruction. As Kathy declares: “We support them—they support us.”

Then there is, finally, the reciprocity with that important third party—the City within which our neighborhood exists. Here Kathy Laughman becomes mildly militant. She says, “We pay taxes to support City services; they provide us with the services our businesses and residents need.” Sometimes, of course, “they” needed to be reminded. As project lead, Kathy has assured that Montlake has made and maintained strong connections with representatives of SDOT, City planners, and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods that funds the project. It’s no accident that we’ve had the opportunity to explore ideas for the future of our business district and neighborhood, tell our side of the story about what’s happening to Montlake and just possibly persuade the City representatives to be our champions. Laughman makes sure those representatives are at the table and quickly informed of what’s happening, what outcomes the community wants, and what’s needed from them.

Yes, we’re lucky to have Kathy Laughman in Montlake. She is helping us live into a model of community like the one she first experienced in southern France. It calls each of us to get engaged; to support and look out for each other, whether business owner or resident; to expect a fair share of service from the City government commensurate with the taxes we contribute. Kathy’s seven years abroad enriched her life and deepened her understanding of community, no question. We in Montlake are the lucky beneficiaries. Thanks Kathy.

*8th report of the Montlake Business District Development Project
**Coming soon, an update on the Montlake Business District Development Project –what’s happening, and what’s known and unknown about what’s coming.

Traffic Calming For Montlake? Your Input Needed

December 8, 2016 by gehrkenathalie 22 Comments

Traffic Calming is being explored for Montlake, and not just for our main street—24th Ave East. It’s equally important for safety and livability on all the streets of our neighborhood.

Developed in Europe in the 70’s, traffic calming is a system of street design strategies aimed to balance movement of traffic with other human interests, like walking, playing, shopping, working—you know, life. Over the years, a number of calming measures have been added to our neighborhood side streets. When you take a walk around Montlake, you can find traffic circles, speed bumps and cushions, pedestrian-controlled crossing lights, marked crosswalks, roadway striping and painting, curb bulbs and good old signage. In other Seattle neighborhoods you can also see chicanes, raised crosswalks, textured “rumble strips,” diverters, and chokers. Some have calmed traffic; some, not so much.

Now to Montlake comes even more traffic on 24th Ave E. and seemingly endless Hwy. 520 construction. We’re feeling spill-over headaches as impatient drivers look for shortcuts and faster routes along our residential streets. It sure seems like we need more of the traffic calming methods in additional locations. Jim Curtin, SDOT’s Senior Traffic Planner & leader of Seattle’s Vision Zero road safety initiative knows the whole traffic calming toolbox—and he’s not afraid to use those tools if doing so makes life safer and more pleasant on our streets—all our streets.

At the November MCC Board Meeting, Curtin explained that SDOT is still evaluating “a slew of options” for the 23rd /24th Traffic Corridor Improvement Project Phase 3. He stressed that entire “neighborhood traffic calming is a priority, no matter what design is ultimately selected” for 24th Ave E. The other day, he reiterated this whole-neighborhood concern after reviewing reader responses to the November 23, 2016 Flyer article. All along, Jim has also said that for the best solutions to be found, SDOT planners need to learn from the community about specific problems in particular locations. Your observations and experiences can then be crafted into accounts to share with SDOT decision makers. Bottom line: The better SDOT’s understanding of particulars, the more likely their fixes will work for us.

So, Montlakers, let’s do our part. We can start by naming specific neighborhood locations and the particular traffic problems observed and experienced there. Write these in the comment section following this article or send them to the Montlake Community Club Board (Board@montlake.net). Montlake Community meetings on Phase 3 will also be coming up in early 2017. Attend those meetings to be informed and to offer your specifics and particulars there. Let’s give SDOT the information they need to provide us with workable traffic calming solutions to our Montlake street safety and livability issues.

Want to know more about Traffic Calming? Here are some online resources:

“Right Size 24th” Says SDOT’s Jim Curtin

November 23, 2016 by gehrkenathalie 14 Comments

As leader of Seattle’s Vision Zero road safety initiative, Senior Traffic Planner Jim Curtin has a lot to say about how to make 24th Avenue in Montlake’s Business District safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. At the November MCC Board meeting, he and those present discussed “right sizing” as part of the SDOT plans for Aloha Street to SR520 –Phase 3 of the 23rd Ave Traffic Corridor Improvement Project.Curtin, MCC Board members, and concerned community members offered information, raised questions, and shared concerns. An hour passed quickly with upbeat, civil discussion about what may result when Phase 3 of the traffic safety project reaches Montlake.

“Right sizing,” Jim Curtin explained, is shaping streets not just to efficiently move vehicles and bicycles, but also:
* to save lives;
* reduce collisions;
* improve pedestrian mobility along and across streets;
* and raise awareness about the neighborhoods and businesses.

Right sizing can mean altering the number of lanes devoted to moving vehicles forward, and changing some lanes into turn lanes, or into transit only lanes. It can mean adding stop lights, reducing right turns on red lights, reducing speed limits, and/or installing traffic calming measures of various kinds. Choosing from all these methods of moving vehicle traffic while keeping everyone safe is just what professionals like Jim Curtin are tasked with doing on our behalf.

It’s fantastic, but no surprise, that these methods and outcomes mesh with the design being created through the Montlake Business District Development Project. Jim Curtin was at the table representing SDOT when your Montlake Community Club planning team first met with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods representatives back in May. Even at that City Hall session, he was enthusiastically seconding the ideas the MCC planning team and consultants were expressing about our main street.

Jim Curtin has led a wide range of transportation projects for municipalities in Washington State over the past 15 years. He created SDOT’s Safe Routes to School program, and headed up the Aurora Traffic Safety Project that reduced serious and fatal collisions by 28 percent. Public education and engagement were critical to the success of those projects, says Jim, and they are standard elements in his Vision Zero approach. That’s welcome news here in Montlake, where we’ve often felt engaged in a token manner as City and State projects pushed through our neighborhood.

You can expect to be talking with Jim Curtin in a Montlake Community meeting in the not too distant future—as Phase three of the Corridor Project becomes a reality.

For more on Vision Zero in Seattle, see Josh Cohen’s Feb 12, 2015 article for Crosscut.

Market Rally Gets Media Attention

November 15, 2016 by gehrkenathalie Leave a Comment

Say hooray for our neighbors who rallied Saturday to support our beloved Montlake Boulevard Market in their clash with Washington’s Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Saturday afternoon, Montlake elders, “middlers” and youngsters–nearly 50 strong–gathered to protest and parade at the Market corner near the bridge. They waved, held homemade signs high, chanted “Save Our Market”, and “12-Year Dirt Pile, No! No! No!” Hundreds of cars and pedestrians passed (slowly, of course– it was game day). Everyone took a look. How could they help it? Got some honks! Some shouts! Some thumbs up!

Our BLVD Market-WSDOT confrontation and rally caught media attention too. Friday, KIRO Radio featured an interview with Montlake activist, Kathy Laughman. She told how WSDOT provoked the planned rally by a surprise summer pronouncement that the Market & gas station land was needed for 520 replacement work. Montlake objected immediately. (*Hear Kathy’s interview at one of these sites below.)

Kiro Radio
My Northwest

On game day afternoon, KJR Sports Radio’s Softy Mahler, broadcasting from the Montlake Blvd Market parking-lot-turned-tailgating space, gave MCC President Bryan Haworth time to put in a plug for the cause. A tad later, KIRO TV news reporter Deborah Home & video crew swooped in and stayed around to capture the protest rally issue in time for broadcast Saturday evening.

Click here to view

Our David and Goliath clash is getting some City-wide notice. We may even be seeing some WSDOT reps’ willingness to negotiate. In the interest of the Boulevard Market, of Montlake, and of the principle of “fairness to the little guy,” we need to keep up our support effort.

Be ready for future opportunities to show your backing for our Montlake Blvd Market neighbors.
“Like” the Montlake Community Club on Facebook.
“Like” and see 15 more photos of the rally on Montlake Boulevard Market’s Facebook page.

Montlake Business Leader Imagines Public Art

November 3, 2016 by gehrkenathalie 3 Comments

Juan Lopez, owner of Glam and Tonics Aveda Salon, imagines a Montlake with beautiful public art. Juan has worked for nearly a decade to make Montlake a better place. Now you can join residents like him in envisioning how art can improve Montlake.

Juan represents our neighborhood business owners on the Montlake Community Club’s project committee for the Business District Development Plan. To this important project, he brings business acumen developed first in L.A. and then here in Montlake for the past 11 years. Juan also offers an educated design sensibility, natural friendliness and finely honed listening skills. A most interesting man, indeed, but there’s more, as your intrepid reporter discovered recently.

Step into Juan Lopez’s domain, Glam & Tonics Aveda Concepts Salon in Downtown Montlake, and you’re welcomed by cheerful hellos, laughing conversation, your new-favorite musical tracks—and, of course, superb styling service. On a rainy fall day, add a cup of tea and a comfy chair pulled up to the warmth of the flickering fireplace (above which is mounted an eye-catching ceramic moose head).This convivial place feels like a boutique clubhouse—Montlake’s 21st century answer to the iconic neighborhood barbershop. Presiding over the hospitable scene is, of course, Juan Lopez, community service activist, Montlake Community Club Board member, and our own “most interesting man.”

Lopez has made a habit of giving back to the community since he started work at Salon Blast in Montlake in 2007. He became that salon’s owner in 2013. Not long after, he moved to open Glam & Tonics Aveda just two doors down. How many Montlake residents remember the Locks of Love event, when Mr. Johnson’s Antiques owner, Matt, sacrificed his lengthy locks to Juan’s scissors for the non-profit that provides hairpieces for children in need? And how about the Paws fundraisers that he and his salon colleagues have supported? Then there’s the salon art gallery space provided for Montlake artists throughout the Montlake Unabridged Arts & Music summer of 2015? Ah, now we get to arts advocacy.

As a downtown Montlake business owner, Juan is well aware of the traffic issues that bedevil our community and is highly supportive of practical fixes. After all, his clients—40% Montlakers, 60% from beyond—all have to cope with the traffic challenges just to get to his salon. But his special interest as a project committee member is also in creating a new unique identity for Montlake that incorporates rich artistic expression. Juan gets animated when he talks of public artworks enticing residents and visitors alike to stroll the streets, shop, sip, dine, take advantage of services, and hang out. He already imagines murals, sculptures, archways, plantings, and lighting, all in service of that unique community identity. It’s easy to be drawn into Juan’s creative thought experiments about Montlake’s future as you join him for a cup of tea by the fireplace.

The Montlake Community Club will soon be forming a Public Arts committee to organize the addition of public art in our business district. That new group will establish guidelines & procedures, identify potential sites, and manage the art acquisition process. You can well imagine Juan Lopez, Montlake’s most interesting man, serving on that Public Arts committee. Can you imagine yourself giving back to your community by serving too? Interested residents are encouraged to contact Kathy Laughman, the project lead (kathleenlaughman@gmail.com).

“Creating Places for People to Hang Out”

September 11, 2016 by gehrkenathalie Leave a Comment

Paul Fuesel Talks Place Making for Montlake

Meet Paul Fuesel, the Lead Consultant for KPG working with Montlake on its Business District Development Plan. Your Montlake
Community Club scored a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to support the hiring of consultants for this important work. Paul and the KPG team were the top pick of the MCC Project Committee. Paul recently sat down with your intrepid project reporter and here are just the highlights of what he had to say about his background, the design concepts that guide him, and what he hopes for Montlake.

When Paul Fuesel tells you he majored in Environmental Biology as an undergraduate back in Minnesota, it’s hard to figure out how he ended up planning community design projects for urban neighborhoods like Montlake. Biology? Really? Bouncing around the world after college on the look out for his true profession, he sampled jobs and listened to lots of career advice. He chatted up strangers in New York, Europe, Seattle, Jamaica, Alaska. Montana.

Ah, Montana, where Paul sat down to talk with yet another fellow about his artistic interests, love of the outdoors, and search for his life’s work. “You should be a landscape architect” opined the guy, who happened to be one himself. And that’s just what Paul did, finishing a 3-year Masters program in landscape architecture at the University of Illinois before hopping west to net a job in Seattle. Twenty-six years later, he says the work is a great combination of science and art, but also demands well-honed communication skills for “listening and cooperating with everyone in order to make it (community) happen.”

With successful past design projects from Hokaido, Japan to Bellevue, Burien, and Pasco, Paul has found continuing satisfaction in putting his knowledge to work to create successful urban designs with “places that people like to hang out.” And with that thought, he shifts easily from recounting his background to talk about the big ideas for community design. As a KPG Principal and our lead project consultant for the Montlake Business District Development Project, Paul offers up two big interrelated concepts that bring focus to his work: Place Making and Traffic Calming. Here’s a bit of what he has to say on each of these, especially as they relate to Montlake’s future.

PLACE MAKING As Paul sees it, place making can be thought of as the main goal for any community planning –or even home or back yard planning. It’s a concept popularized in the last ten years or so and essentially involves “creating spaces where people want to go to hang out.” Looking back, Paul says that the Puget Sound area was developed for automobiles from the 50’s on up, “but there really weren’t places to go to” and savor— “What developed was more like commercial strips. Place making is creating destinations with businesses of all types and places for people to gather and enjoy—to hang out.”

You create a place by asking “What do people want there that will excite and attract them after the festivals end? Like shops, restaurants and other kinds of regular activities ….” Now, Paul admits there is good hanging out and bad hanging out. “Good place making puts so many ‘eyes on the street’ that the bad hangers out don’t feel comfortable there. They will stay away from a place if there is a lot of vibrant life, comings and goings, and activity.” He and the KPG team are looking at Montlake with a goal of enhancing our already engaging businesses and activities, and ramping things up to appeal to Montlakers and draw others in.

Good place making does not mean that the places are exclusive, however. A good place should, in fact, be integrated and inclusive. Speaking of homelessness concerns, for example, Paul affirms, “People need to support each other. People living in tent cities are looking for a safe place too.” The concept of safety comes up often in Fuesel’s talk, and that brings us to the next big idea.

TRAFFIC CALMING. Without a doubt, Paul asserts that the number one challenge in any community is traffic as a safety issue and a detraction. Montlake is definitely no different. “Change the traffic and you’ll change the place.” He point to downtown Burien as a prime example of how calming the traffic by first putting it on a street diet (fewer traffic lanes) and then dressing the buildings, sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, and plantings, slowed things down and “changed the vibe” Looking at our situation, Paul says, “We want the Montlake Business District to be a pedestrian place–attractive and safe too. Now you take your life in your hands crossing from the Bike shop to FUEL. If we can’t achieve something with the street traffic, then I’m not sure how far we can go with street dressing.”

Paul sees Montlake as having issues similar to many other communities with which he’s worked. “BUT because of its position in the City of Seattle—not only where it sits, but also its social fabric, its history, its topography, the current street layout—it does have particular issues.” Still, he says, they are mostly about the traffic. He is convinced that Montlake is “in the midst of an opportunity.” With all these infrastructure projects out there simultaneously (Greenways project, the link rail, the 23rd Ave project, 520 bridge, UW expansion) “Montlake can say, ‘Hey, you need to address us too.’ “ And he believes that the city representatives involved in those infrastructure project are “totally onboard. They see the district in the same way as the community does, and as the design team does. It’s wonderful.”

We still have a lot to learn from Paul Fuesel about place making, including good and bad hanging out, traffic calming, street diets and street dressing. And he has a lot to learn from us. He declares: “We get to educate the community about the bigger picture, while they educate us about their situation. It’s a two way street.”

You’ll be able to hear more from Paul and offer him your insights on-line and at our next community meeting. We’ll soon see some updated drawings of Montlake Uptown and Downtown that will have taken your earlier input into account. Keep the Montlake Business District Development Project on your radar, and be ready to offer more ideas. Let’s each do what we can to make Montlake a good place to hang out.

Montlakers Offer Ideas For Business District Plan

August 1, 2016 by gehrkenathalie 2 Comments

“Slow the speeding cars on 24^th.” “Clear the traffic jams.” “Keep pedestrians safe from harm.” “Make Uptown & Downtown Montlake attractive.” “Give us parking for our businesses.” “Discourage cut-throughs.” “Rescue the Boulevard Market.” “This is a great idea!” “And we don’t much trust SDOT or WSDOT.” That’s what we heard from a crowd of residents who jammed the Tudor building at the Community Center on Tuesday night (July 26).

KPG consultants working on Montlake’s Business District Development project carried away a ton of useful input about just what needs to be fixed and what needs to be treasured to keep Montlake businesses thriving and Montlake’s neighborhood livable.

Montlake Development Package – July 2016 Meeting – Click to View Meeting Documents

Paul Fuesel and Liz Gibson of KPG and your Montlake Community Club (MCC) Board members set up posters and maps and set out comment forms and sheets both to offer possible ideas AND to invite ideas from Montlakers. The Mother Pluckers, our favorite local ukulele band, provided lively “mood music,” while neighbors browsed the posters and maps, munching cookies and downing cold beverages. (Need I mention that it was hot and crowded?)

“Meet Me in Montlake” Preliminary Design Ideas Shared by KPG for Discussion – Click to View Larger Image

MCC President Bryan Haworth welcomed everyone to the community meeting to introduce the Business District Development Planning Project. MCC Project Lead, Kathy Laughman, next encouraged everyone to get involved and offer their ideas on this exciting project funded by a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Paul Fuesel of KPG was handed the microphone to give an overview of the goals and issues, followed by a lively, enthusiastic, though sometimes skeptical, but mutually respectful Q & A session.

Pretty quickly, many concurred that traffic through the business district was the biggest issue to be addressed, followed by parking and cut-through effects on the rest of the neighborhood.

We couldn’t be dealing with these street and auto issues at a better time, for the best ideas can be included in a final report to those leading the SDOT reconstruction of the 23rd/24th corridor. The Montlake segment of that major project (Phase 3) is next to be initiated, though funding and scheduling are not yet confirmed.

A committed contingent of those present was focused on gaining information and plans for action to defend the recently threatened Montlake Boulevard Market. Haworth took time to describe the several ways MCC is working to support the business owner and preserve this valued community hub—this in the face of possible destruction for previously unannounced plans to use the site for WSDOT construction staging. He urged everyone to contact the Mayor and all City Council members to make their objections known. It’s clear that many of us see the Blvd. Market, not just as a fine business, but as a social and service center that would be a great loss, especially when other alternatives appear adequate for WSDOT’s claimed needs. (See this post for guidance on what you can do.)

The MCC and KPG consultants aim to keep you informed and welcome your input. Keep giving thought to what would help make our business district flourish and our neighborhood an even better place to live. Send your ideas and comments to Kathy Laughman (kathleenlaughman@gmail.com) She’ll see that your great ideas get into the hopper. Watch the Montlake Forum, Flyer, and Montlake.net for events and updates as the project progresses.

View the slideshow below to see your neighbors and more photos from the evening.

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Montlake Business District Development Project: Community Meeting – Tues, July 26th

July 20, 2016 by gehrkenathalie 3 Comments

Can you envision a better Montlake business district? Join your neighbors and give your input on exciting plans for the future of Montlake on Tuesday, July 26 (6:30 pm) at the Montlake Community Center Tudor Building. At the meeting, Montlake Community Club leaders will introduce the KPG consultants who’ll explain the Business District Development project, funded by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Liz Gibson

Paul Fuesel

KPG’s Project Lead, Paul Fuesel, and Liz Gibson will show and tell, answer your questions, and invite your ideas on what you’d like to see in the Montlake business district from Uptown (The Montlake Blvd Market at 520) and south through Downtown (to Boston St.). These folks are professionals in urban design, landscape, and architecture so they understand town visioning. (Check out their past projects at www.kpg.com)

Be there early next Tuesday (6:15) for a lively musical warm up by Montlake’s own Mother Pluckers Ukulele Band. Then join your neighbors in learning and contributing to this Business District Development planning. With all that’s happening in and around Montlake these days, we need to be actively influencing what gets done to and for our community. This planning project can help in coordination of the SDOT Phase 3 reconstruction on 24^th Ave. E., the Neighborhood Greenways project, and maybe even the next phases of WSDOT 520 Bridge construction. Join your neighbors the 26^th.

All Montlake Community Meeting
Tuesday, July 26, 6:30 p.m. Come early for music!
Tudor Building, Montlake Community Center
1618 E. Calhoun St.

Your Montlake Community Club Board working for you.

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