Observing the growth of the young eaglets in Monty and Marsha’s nest is challenging, however the most visible sign of their development may not even be in the nesting tree. Read my post to see if you agree.
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
From King County: Effective Friday night, June 21 at 11:59 PM, construction along SR 520 will require the permanent closure of the Montlake Freeway Station stops in both directions.
Affected bus routes are Metro routes 252, 255, 257, 268 and 311; Sound Transit Express routes 545 and 555, and all other agencies’ routes that have served the stops.
The bus stop northbound on Montlake Blvd E at E Shelby Street will be the closest alternate stop.
When the stops close, transit riders who need to transfer to or from other Eastside service will do so at other locations, such as Evergreen Point Station, Yarrow Point Station, the University of Washington Link light rail station or at other transfer points in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, downtown Seattle or in the University District.
To minimize the impact, WSDOT and Sound Transit are partnering to add more evening and weekend trips on ST Route 542 to augment existing service.
Visit Metro’s online regional Puget Sound Trip Planner to plan your travel, and for bus stop, schedule and other information, including predicted times at stops. To check your SR 520 travel options in advance, use a travel date June 22 or later.S
Visit Metro’s Service Advisories page for information about revised bus service, routing and stops for planned events. Transit reroute start and end times may be subject to change.
Thank you for riding and for using Metro’s services.
There have been some surprising new developments among Union Bay Osprey. I hope you enjoy the updates at:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
Please join us for our last Montlake Community Club board meeting of the 2018-2019 year on Tuesday, June 11 at the Boyer Children’s Clinic. We will have special guests in attendance. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will have a short presentation about segment 2 of the 23rd Avenue Vision Zero Project. They are in the design phase and would like to solicit community feedback. This project will directly impact the business district of Montlake. One proposed design element is an enhanced pedestrian crosswalk at and E. Lynn Street and 24th Ave E. You can read more about it here.
We will also have 3 of the 6 candidates running for District 3 City Council seat: Pat Murakami, Logan Bowers, and Ami Nguyen. Orion Egan and Zachary DeWolf both have campaign kick-off events on the night of our meeting so can’t make it. We have not heard back from Kshama Sawant’s campaign at this time. We have prepared questions revolving around the SDOT projects (Vision Zero and traffic mitigation from the SR-520 project), public transit cuts that impact Montlake, and city oversight of the SR-520 project.
The meeting is held in the basement of the Boyer Children’s Clinic, which can be accessed via the parking garage on E. Howe Street. The city will have a small display set up starting at 6:30 and the meeting will start promptly at 7pm. You can also purchase Montlake Gear before the meeting.
On the other hand, we earth-bound creatures must peer through the leaves and the shadows and take our best guess concerning the number of eaglets in the nest. (Luckily, it is a short walk to Montlake Cut.) Learn more in this week’s post on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
On Saturday, June 15, Bike Works will host its largest ever Kids Bike-o-Rama bike giveaway event, giving 250 bicycles and helmets away to youth ages 4-8 from families with limited resources.
Bike Works hosts the Kids Bike-o-Rama onsite at their Columbia City offices twice yearly, in June and December. It is an event where youth ages 4-8 receive a refurbished bicycle and new helmet to keep, free of charge. Volunteers work for months refurbishing donated children’s bicycles to give away at the Kids Bike-o-Rama. Bike Works partners with youth-serving organizations in central and south Seattle to identify children in need of a working bike. This year’s partner organizations include Somali Task Force, Solid Ground, Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club, Horn of Africa, Filipino Community Center, Seattle Housing Authority in Rainier Vista, New Holly, and High Point, SeaMar White Center, and more.
In 2018, Bike Works served 1,582 youth and 1,196 adults who together contributed 8,130 hours volunteering at their weekly drop-in bicycle repair sessions, teaching in their classrooms, and serving on their board of directors. They collected 6,993 used bikes for repair and refurbishment, diverting 244,755 pounds from the waste stream and returning thousands back to the road as earth-friendly, affordable, healthy means of transportation, recreation, and fun. Their youth participants cycled a cumulative 4,563 miles – the distance from Seattle to Los Angeles, four times!
Learn more at https://bikeworks.org.
You can purchase gear at a Pop-Up Shop at the Boyer Children’s Clinic on Tuesday, June 11th from 6:30 to 7:00 PM. The shop will be in the Boyer Clinic (1850 Boyer Ave E) – basement conference room. The entrance to the conference room is in the garage, entrance on E Howe Street.
From the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. Posted on Thursday, June 6, 2019 – 7:00 am by Emily Piette, CHS Summer Intern 2019
The Montlake Market won’t stand in the way of progress to complete the replacement of SR 520. The state has agreed to acquire the property for $16 million as it prepares for the start of construction on the “Montlake Project” to create an improved Montlake Boulevard interchange, a landscaped lid over SR 520, a bicycle and pedestrian “land bridge” east of the lid, and a three-lane West Approach Bridge South over Union Bay for eastbound traffic.
Thursday night, WSDOT will hold a pre-construction open house hosted by the SR 520 project’s contractor from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. The meeting will cover the latest project designs, construction schedule, and management plan for limiting construction effects in Montlake.
But the fate of the market destined to make way for the project became much more clear with the $16 million deal.
According to King County records, the property’s longtime owner, Lynne Parrott, a Clyde Hill resident and Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman, Jr.’s niece. The property has a taxable value of around $1.4 million. WSDOT had estimated preserving the market would add another $20 million to the construction costs around the project.
In May, WSDOT broke the news on the deal at a community meeting in the neighborhood:
Dave Becher, WSDOT’s Director of Construction for the SR 520 Program, informed meeting participants that WSDOT and the property’s owner recently agreed on a purchase price for the property, and WSDOT will take ownership in June. He also said WSDOT leadership determined it is not practicable to preserve the market during Montlake Project construction, and the building will be removed in early 2020.
No date has been announced for the market’s closure but WSDOT was slated to take possession of the property this month. The state is working to establish a location for a temporary market to operate during the 520 construction.
The Montlake Blvd Market, or Hop-In, lists an opening year of 1936.
Incompatible as a service station and market in the future layout of the reconfigured streets, the parcel had been planned to stage construction for the Montlake project and later phases of construction. Once the Montlake Project is completed, the legislature has now directed WSDOT to sell the market and gas station property immediately – “approximately six years earlier than planned,” WSDOT says.
The state will also oversee the process of decontaminating the soil beneath the longtime service station.
“Keeping the market was not feasible, but we did not make the decision in a vacuum. We talked to legislators about Montlake Market, they drafted the proviso of what we could do for the community, and we readily agreed,” said Steve Peer, the project’s media and construction communications manager. Peer added the project “threads the needle through the highly urban environment of the Montlake neighborhood, and the Montlake Market has been there for decades.”
The $455.3 million project to create an improved Montlake Boulevard interchange, a landscaped lid over SR 520, a bicycle and pedestrian “land bridge” east of the lid, and a three-lane West Approach Bridge South over Union Bay for eastbound traffic is now set to begin construction that is likely to last into 2024.
You can learn more about Thursday’s meeting and the project here.
The design-build contractor for the SR 520 Montlake Project, Graham, is preparing to begin construction. Before crews break ground, Graham will host an open house next Thursday, June 6, to give project neighbors and corridor travelers the opportunity to meet the design and construction team, see the latest project renderings, review the preliminary construction schedule and learn how to review and comment on the Community Construction Management Plan (more information on this is available below!).
The SR 520 Montlake Project is the first of four remaining projects in the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program. We call these four, collectively, the “Rest of the West.” The Montlake Project includes a new Montlake interchange, a landscaped lid over SR 520, a bicycle/pedestrian bridge connecting East Montlake Park to the Arboretum, and a new West Approach Bridge South for eastbound traffic.
For those unable to attend in person, the information presented at the open house will also be available in an online open house. We’ll provide details soon about the online event.
In-person open house details:
Date/time: Thursday, June 6, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98112
Transit: Bus routes 43, 48, 255, 311 and 545 serve the Montlake/SR 520 area. The U District Link light rail station at Husky Stadium is about one mile from St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.
Parking: Limited free parking is available on site.
The design-build contractor for the Montlake Project, Graham Contracting, has developed a draft Community Construction Management Plan (CCMP) to identify best measures and practices to reduce impacts from SR 520 Montlake Project work on historic properties, neighbors, and travelers on the SR 520 corridor. You may review the draft CCMP online. After reviewing, please take this survey to let Graham know your thoughts on the procedures proposed to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the effects of construction. Copies of the document will also be available at the June 6 open house, and this will be a topic of discussion at the June 10th quarterly meeting. Please provide any comments on the draft CCMP no later than June 20th, 2019.
We have over 130 camps happening at Montlake Community Center this summer! They begin as early as June 17th and run through August 30th. There are many options including sports, art, STEM, field trips, preschool and more. We just added more cooking camps!
Call us at 206-684-4736 or email us at montlakecommunitycenter@seattle.gov for more information. We look forward to seeing your children this summer.
Find all camps online here:
https://apm.activecommunities.com/seattle/Activity_Search
Scholarships are available here:
https://www.seattle.gov/…/fi…/scholarships-and-financial-aid
Here is your opportunity to do a small part to help with the housing/homeless crisis Seattle is facing. The Montlake Community Club is building two ‘tiny houses’ for our homeless neighbors in fall 2019. We are looking for adult help building and really need donations to help purchase the kits. Any donation will help – please visit the GoFundMe link below. Thank you.
Gofundme link – https://www.gofundme.com/pw6ag9-tiny-house-project?fbclid=IwAR3WzjgHiK_CfzWdQ2o2ZQmcBdFeoI5Dhs45X9VtKnMEEZgUgzGq74iZlV4
Sign up genius – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c48acae23a3ff2-tiny
https://lihi.org/tiny-houses/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/seattle-extends-three-tiny-house-villages-weighing-whether-to-move-or-close-them/https://shelterforce.org/2019/03/15/tiny-house-villages-in-seattle-an-efficient-response-to-our-homelessness-crisis/
The beauty of a prospective mate may be a female Wood Duck’s top priority in January. However, by May things have definitely changed! More at:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
For years and years, Montlake and surrounding Communities have tried to save the Montlake Blvd. Market and Gas Station. We, the Montlake Community Club, have tried every avenue available: The Courts, the State Legislature, the Governor, the Mayor, the City Council and our Federal representatives. The Neighborhood rallied around the cause to fund the attempts with a Go-Fund-Me page to chase the various prospects for change. But in the end, it is likely that our efforts were unsuccessful.
Last week, Kemper Freemans’ family agreed to sell the Market and the Gas Station to WSDOT for $16,000,000. This agreement puts complete control of the two properties with WSDOT and requires that the owners drop the outstanding Federal lawsuit, in which the Montlake Community Club is a co-plaintiff. Without the property owners financial support, it will be difficult for the MCC to keep fighting this lawsuit, but we are committed to see it through. We are also certain that WSDOT will do whatever it takes to get their way, despite how many laws they have to break to do it.
The most likely outcome is that both the Market and Gas Station will be torn down. The property will be used for storage and staging for about 5 years. The current Legislative proviso requires WSDOT to put the property up for sale after the completion of the Montlake phase of the SR 520 project. However, we have little faith that WSDOT will abide by the proviso. (They failed to abide by the last proviso.) We have even less faith that the current Legislature will hold WSDOT accountable.
The SR 520 meeting on Thursday, May 23rd, at St. Demetrios will be a waste of time. Based on what has transpired, there is nothing we can change. Our voice has been and will always be ignored. They have these meetings to check boxes. The purchase of the property is the last nail in the coffin.
Without a monumental shift in Jamie Pedersen, Nicole Macri, and Frank Chopp’s position, it is too late to save the Market. And it would take incredible courage on their part to take a stand to save the Market. You are encouraged to send them all an email (Jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov, Nicole.Macri@leg.wa.gov, and frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov) expressing your frustration at their collective failure to represent us. We can challenge every argument WSDOT makes with logic and data and yet their actions demonstrate that they have sided with WSDOT.
Thank you to all who have for years tried to save a valuable, cultural asset of the Community. Please consider what has transpired the next time you go to vote.
This week’s post covers a curious interaction between a Crow and a Garter Snake. It did not turn out as I expected. More on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
A story of two avian mothers and their love and protection. More at:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
We have a new shipment of all styles and sizes of our Montlake Gear.
You can purchase gear at two Pop-Up Shops at the Boyer Children’s Clinic on Tuesday, May 14thand Tuesday, June 11th from 6:30 to 7:00 PM. The shops will be in the Boyer Clinic (1850 Boyer Ave E) – basement conference room. The entrance to the conference room is in the garage, entrance on E Howe Street.
If these dates don’t work for you, please contact us at treasurer@montlake.net and we can arrange to drop off your gear at your home.
This large species of shorebird can be found around the world. However, it it is most often seen in Washington during the month of May. Can you guess what it eats? More on:
Have great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
GIVE BIG is a regional fundraiser happening now through May 8th. Please share the above link on social media and use it to donate to your Montlake Community Club.
Your financial support actively improves our neighborhood through volunteer-run projects like:
~The Second Annual Turkey Trot that raised over $30,000 in 2018 for the University Food Bank
~Improving transportation and safety in the neighborhood
~Challenging the city and state to improve traffic, bike and pedestrian safety including 520 design and construction issues and the 23rd Ave Corridor Improvement Project
~Promoting the annual All Montlake Yard Sale
~Sponsoring the festive winter lights that adorn downtown Montlake
~Driving the campaign to save the Montlake Market
Thank you for your support!
Come kick-off Windermere Cup weekend at Seattle’s third annual Party on the Montlake Cut.
Friday, May 3rd, from 6 – 10 PM on the northeast shore of the Montlake Cut in the ASUW Shellhouse located at the North shore of the Montlake Cut (East of Montlake Boulevard)
In honor of the German National Crews visiting Seattle to race in the Cup races, we’ll be celebrating German-style. So break out your lederhosen and dirndls and come on out to the party!
Two popular Seattle Bands, (Nite Wave and the Love Jacks) will rock the Party.
Drink German (and other) beer in commemorative steins along with other adult beverages at one of the Penrith Home Loans beer tents. Take a sneak peak of whats to come on Saturday with the first-ever twilight sprints held on the Cut. Take advantage of a rare opportunity to see the historic ASUW Shell House where the infamous George Pocock built his first rowing shells and the Boys in the Boat trained for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Well play lawn games, take memorable photos and welcome Spring to Seattle.
Must be 21 or older with valid ID to enter.
Tickets are required for entry. Purchase tickets at https://2019partyonthecut.brownpapertickets.com/
WHEN ONLINE SALES END ON MAY 2, TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON-SITE FOR $30.00!!
Proceeds from the Party on the Cut will establish rowing scholarships for low income youth, through the Windermere Foundation.
