>>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO IT IS THE SEPTEMBER 7 MEETING
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S
PUBLIC ASSET AND HOMELESSNESS
COMMITTEE.
I'M LEWIS, VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA
IS EXCUSED THIS AFTERNOON.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA.
I AM JUST GOING TO ANNOUNCE AT
THE FRONT HERE THAT DUE TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF PANELISTS, I'M
GOING TO SWITCH AGENDA ITEMS ONE
AND TWO GIVEN THAT SOME
PANELISTS NEED TO LEAVE BY 2:50
THIS AFTERNOON, SO I'M VERBALLY
SWITCHING THOSE ITEMS.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA WILL BE SO ALTERED.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE
AGENDA AS ALTERED?
HEARING NONE THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
CHAIR'S REPORT, WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TWO ITEMS OF BUSINESS TODAY
THAT HAVE JUST BEEN SWITCHED.
ONE IS A RESOLUTION ON 3rd
AVENUE, WHICH WILL BE
CONSIDERING AS OUR FIRST ITEM
THIS AFTERNOON.
AND THE SEVENTH ORDINANCE FROM
THE SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT
REGARDING AN EASEMENT ON THE
TURNER-KOEPF HOUSE AND GARDEN.
SO WHY DON'T WE
JUST MOVE FORWARD THEN TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
IS ANYONE SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, MR.
CLERK?
>> MR.
CHAIR, WE HAVE TWO IN-PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
>> OKAY, AND NO VIRTUAL COMMENT
HADDERS?
>> NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP
VIRTUALLY.
>> OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD THEN AND
TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TWO
MINUTES.
YOU CAN PRESIDE OVER THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
>> THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER IS
ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
ALEX, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL START THE TIMER WHEN YOU
START SPEAKING.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> WILL SPEAK TO US FROM THE
HEAVENS.
WHEN YOU WILL SHOW US SPACES YOU
PROMISED US FROM SEPTEMBER, IT
WILL BE NORMAL, BUT I DON'T SEE
THIS.
WHERE IS MY SPACE?
COUNCIL, WHAT'S GOING ON?
OKAY, NO PROBLEM.
I'M SORRY, YES.
SO RIGHT NOW THE SITUATION IS
VERY INTERESTING.
WE HAVE ONLY ONE WITH MANY
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT
HELPS THIS.
MAKE IT BETTER.
AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING 1,200
HOMELESS.
IT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM
ONE, SO WHY DO YOU WANT TO SPEND
A MILLION BUCKS FOR THIRD
AVENUE?
MAKE IT BETTER.
AND SO THE HOMELESS THIS WILL
COME IN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY
WILL COME IN AND IN THIRD
AVENUE?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE
DOING THIS.
FOR MY UNDERSTANDING BEFORE MANY
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, MAYBE
TO HELP THE HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE
OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
HOMELESSNESS, SO I'M TOTALLY
CONFUSED AND LIKE PSYCHOPATH.
IS THIS POSSIBLE?
OR WILL YOU STOP THE PRINCIPLE?
AND SO RIGHT NOW I'LL SPEAK TO
EVERYBODY THAT WILL LISTEN TO
ME.
MAYBE IT'S TIME FROM THIS IDIOT
AND THE PRINCIPLE, YEAH?
WHO WILL ANSWER ME THIS?
NOBODY.
EVERYBODY IS IN HEAVEN.
YES, IN HEAVEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER IS
FRANK ZAMIN,O.
WE'LL START YOUR TWO MINUTES
WHEN YOU'RE RED DIFFICULT
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR HEARING
ME.
MY MOTOR HOME WAS STOLEN BY THIS
WOMAN MINDY AND A GUY NAMED
ROSS.
BOTH OF THEM ARE DRUG ADDICTS.
I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
GOING THROUGH THE POLIE
DEPARTMENT GENERAL
INVESTIGATIONS UNIT.
AND TELLING THEM
THAT I OWNED IT.
I DID THE PROCESS.
YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO SEND THESE
ALLEGED VICTIMS A NOTICE.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM TEN DAYS
TO RESPOND.
NO RESPONSE.
AND IT WENT TO DETECTIVE LINDSAY
BROWN.
I GAVE HER INFORMATION.
I TOLD HER ABOUT THE MOTOR
HOME.
I TOLD HER ABOUT THIS GUY THAT'S
IN MY MOTOR HOME THAT CARRIES A
KNIFE.
AND IT'S MY VEHICLE.
SHE REPORTS TO ME.
SHE SENT ME AN E-MAIL SAYING
THAT I KEEP CHANGING MY STORY.
THIS IS WHAT THE DETECTIVE TELLS
ME, I'M CHANGING MY STORY.
AND THEN SHE SAYS WE ARE IN
QUESTION OF THE VERACITY OF YOUR
STATEMENTS.
JUST AN EXCUSE.
THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL IT IS.
JUST AN EXCUSE.
I WANT MY MOTOR HOME BACK.
I WANT IT BACK.
I EVEN TOLD -- SOMEBODY TOLD ME
WHERE IT WAS.
I WANT MY MOTOR HOME BACK.
I WANT SOME KIND OF ASSISTANCE
TO GET MY PROPERTY BACK.
AND IT'S A SHAME THAT THEY DON'T
DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTERS?
>> MR.
CHAIR, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
>> SIR WHO JUST PUBLIC
COMMENTED.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I APOLOGIZE.
>> YEAH.
>> WE CAN'T GET INTO THAT NOW,
I'M SORRY.
IF YOU SEND MY OFFICE AN E-MAIL,
IF YOU SEND MY OFFICE AN E-MAIL
I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT
SITUATION.
THIS ISN'T THE PROPER FORM TO
DISCUSS THIS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO
LOOK INTO THAT ISSUE FOR YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT
BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD TO
THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
OKAY, WE SWITCHED THE ITEMS AND
THE SCRIPT ALREADY FLEXED THAT,
WHICH IS GREAT.
SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM ONE RESOLUTION 32067,
ENDORSING THE GOALS OF THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION'S
THIRD AVENUE VISION AND STATING
THE INTENT OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY
WITH DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, KING COUNTRY METRO,
AND SOUND TRANSIT TO PURSUE
IMPROVEMENTS TO THIRD AVENUE IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
CLERK.
I THINK WE'RE JOINED HERE TODAY
BY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
IS EVERYONE HERE ON THIS ITEM?
I SEE LISH, CAL, AND TRACI.
AND ALSO JON SCHOLES FROM THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A COUPLE OF
BRIEF INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS AND
THEN TURN IT OVER FOR SOME
REMARKS FROM MR.
SCHOLES.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS THIS ISSUE AND DISCUSS
IT IN THE PUBLIC ASSETS
COMMITTEE.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING
DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE BEEN
HAVING AS A CITY FAMILY FOR THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
GIVEN SOME OF THE
ONGOING CHALLENGES AROUND THIRD
HAD AVENUE AND SOME OF THE
ONGOING CHALLENGES RELATED TO
COMMUTING TRENDS FOLLOWING THE
PANDEMIC AND THE NATURE OF
RETURN TO WORK POST PANDEMIC.
THE THIRD AVENUE IN MANY
WAYS IS REALLY THE FRONT DOORS
OF OUR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S THE PLACE THAT WE ALL GO TO
AND ALL ROADS THAT LEAD THERE IF
YOU'RE GOING DOWNTOWN, IF YOU'RE
COMMUTING TO GO TO WORK.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO END UP
ON THIRD AVENUE.
IF YOU'RE GOING DOWNTOWN FOR AN
EVENING AT PARAMOUNT OR THE
SYMPHONY OR THE SEATTLE ART
MUSEUM OR MANY OF OUR
INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN
YOU'RE GOING TO END UP ON THIRD
AVENUE.
IF YOU'RE A TOURIST COMING FROM
THE AIRPORT ON LIGHT RAIL, THE
FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE CITY
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS
GOING TO BE WHEN YOU COME UP OUT
OF THE LIGHT RAIL TUNNEL ONTO
THIRD AVENUE.
IT IS THE GATEWAY BY WHICH I ON
A DAILY BASIS GET DOWNTOWN ON
THE NUMBER ONE METRO BUS VIA
THIRD AVENUE AND SEE IT ON THE
DAILY BASIS.
IT REALLY IS AN
APPROPRIATE ITEM FOR US TO
DISCUSS IN THE PUBLIC ASSET
CONTEXT GIVEN THE INTERSECTIONS
OF TRANSIT, PUBLIC SAFETY,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE
CONNECTIONS TO THE WATERFRONT
PROJECT AND THE PIPELINE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL FEED INTO
THE CORE OF THE CITY AND UNITE
THE WATERFRONT WITH THE EASTERN
END OF THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER
WILL BE COMPLETED.
AND MUCH OF THE RETAIL CORE
IS POSITIONED.
AND AS WE HAVE
DISCUSSED THIS WORK OVER THE
COURSE OF THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
THIS CONVERSATION GETS BOGGED
DOWN AND DISJOINTED GIVEN THE
INTERSECTION OF THE VARIOUS
POLICY AREAS.
THIS RESOLUTION IS GOING TO BE
AN ATTEMPT FOR US TO HARMONIZE
ALL OF THESE VARIOUS INTERESTS
IN THE THIRD AVENUE CORRIDOR
INTO ONE COMMON PROJECT IN MUCH
OF THE SAME WAY THAT WE, AS A
CITY, HAVE MONITORED PROGRESS ON
THE WATERFRONT OR THE PIPELINE
IMPROVEMENTS OR THE CONVENTION
CENTER, OTHER LARGE CIVIC
ENDEAVORS THAT THE CITY HAS
ENGAGED IN WHERE IT REALLY DOES
FALL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WORK
OF ONE DISCREET COMMITTEE.
AND SO AS A WAY
TO START GETTING INTO THIS THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
SEVERAL YEARS AGO DID SOME WORK
THAT MR.
SCHOLES, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
WILL SPEAK TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW
OTHER MAJOR URBAN CENTERS AROUND
THE COUNTRY ARE ABLE TO CREATE
TRANSIT MALLS, TRANSIT CORES IN
THE CITY THAT ENHANCE THE
URBANISTIC EXPERIENCE AND THEN
ENHANCE ACTIVATED SPACES AS WELL
AS ACCESS TO MASS TRANSIT IN A
WAY THAT CREATES FOR A MORE
ROBUST DYNAMIC AND DIVERSITY OF
USE DOWNTOWN.
AND THE FINDINGS
HAVE BEEN MANIFESTED IN THE
DOCUMENTS THAT THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION HAS CALLED
THE THIRD AVENUE VISION.
AND THIS IS A
GOOD FRAMEWORK FOR GOING
FORWARD.
IT IS NOT AN OVERLY PRESCRIPTIVE
DOCUMENT.
IT OFFERS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT
MODIFICATIONS, PATHS, CONCEPT
IDEAS TO ENGAGE IN CREATING A
ROBUST TRANSIT MALL AND CORRIDOR
IN THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WITH THAT I
THINK I'LL HAND IT OVER TO JON
AND THE PRESENTATION TO HEAR A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS.
I AM NOT INTENDING TO VOTE ON
THIS TODAY.
I'M INTENDING TO HAVE ANOTHER
HEARING ON THIS MATTER BEFORE
THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
BUT DID WANT TO GET THE
CONVERSATION STARTED AND PUT
THIS FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT I'LL
HAND IT OVER TO OUR PANEL AND
JON SCHOLES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS.
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK IN BRINGING
THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU ALL
TODAY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ AND MORALES AS WELL.
JUST HAVE A FEW SLIDES HERE TO
PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT AND
SPECIFICITY AROUND THE WORK THAT
OUR ORGANIZATION HELPED LEAD
JUST PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC IS
WHEN WE FINALIZED AND COMPLETED
THIS VISION, WHICH INVOLVED
ABOUT 70 OR SO STAKEHOLDERS FROM
NON-PROFIT LEADERS AND BUSINESS
LEADERS, SMALL BUSINESS FOLKS,
PROPERTY OWNERS, AS WELL AS
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY
AND METRO AND OTHER PUBLIC
AGENCIES.
WE LOOKED AT AS COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS NOTED OTHER TRANSIT
STREETS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT
HAVE SUFFERED FROM SIMILAR
CHALLENGES AND HOW THEY
APPROACHED REMAKING AND
REENVISIONING THOSE STREETS FROM
MINNEAPOLIS TO DENVER AND UP
NORTH TO VANCOUVER.
WE DID ALL THE OUTREACH UP AND
DOWN THE CORRIDOR AND THE
ARCHITECTS WILL HELP SUPPORT THE
PROCESS AS YOU COULD GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE.
AND I THINK THEY DID A GOOD JOB
TO START SUMMARIZING THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STREET
ITSELF AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN
OUR CITY CONNECTING SEATTLE
CENTER, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S
LIVING ROOM IN MANY WAYS DOWN TO
THE CIVIC CAMPUS AND OUR COUNTY
COURTHOUSE.
I THINK OF IT AS REALLY THE
LOBBY OF OUR CITY WITH SO MANY
PEOPLE THAT ARE PASSING THROUGH
THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY WHETHER
YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF MARKET RATE
OR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING ALONG
THE CORRIDOR.
YOU MIGHT BE ACCESSING HUMAN AND
SOCIAL SERVICES.
MIGHT BE SERVING IN A CAPACITY
AS A JUROR OF THE COUNTY
COURTHOUSE OR GETTING OFF THE
BUS TO GO TO WORK OR HEADED
ACROSS THE CORRIDOR TO THE
MARKET OR TO AN ARTS AND
CULTURAL VENUE.
AND IT SERVES A
LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS
REALLY FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT
OUR REGION.
AND I THINK THE
CHALLENGES ARE ONES THAT ARE ALL
LARGELY AWARE OF AND EXTEND
CERTAINLY BEYOND THE ENVIRONMENT
AND THE HOUSE DESIGN AND THE
LIGHTING AND THE PHYSICAL
NATURE, WHICH IS A LOT OF WHAT
THIS VISION IS DESIGNED TO DO.
I MEAN WE SEE AN ADDRESS, BUT WE
SEE TODAY, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY A
LOT OF PEOPLE STILL SUFFERING
OUTSIDE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND
STUFF.
WE SEE SAFETY AND SECURITY
ISSUES.
AND THE VISION REALLY SPEAKS TO
THE PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENT AND
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN
DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS AND LIGHTING
AND MORE SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS,
DEDICATED SPACE FOR TRANSIT
RIDERS, WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL BE
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTING FACTOR
AND INTERVENTIONS TO HELP
IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE
CORRIDOR AS WELL.
BUT AS WE ALL
KNOW ADDITIONAL ACTIONS AND
INVESTMENTS IN INTERVENTIONS ARE
NEEDED.
WHEN WE ASK
PEOPLE IF THERE IS A STREET OR
AREA DOWNTOWN THAT THEY AVOID
AND THE SURVEYS THAT THE CITY
COMPLETED THROUGH SDOT ABOUT
THREE TO FOUR YEARS AGO.
THERE IS A STRONG CONSENSUS THAT
THIRD AVENUE IS THE STREET THAT
MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE
ON.
AND GIVEN ALL THOSE FUNCTIONS
THAT IT SERVES AND ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT PASS THROUGH THERE
AND THEY NEED TO ACCESS THIRD
AVENUE, IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE
THAT WAY AND IT SHOULD BE A
GREAT LOBBY FOR OUR CITY.
IF YOU'RE RUNNING A HOTEL
OFTENTIMES THE LOBBY IS WHERE
YOU WOULD NEED TO PUT YOUR
INVESTMENT BECAUSE IT'S THE
PLACE THAT EVERYBODY WILL PASS
IT THROUGH AND YOU WANT IT
LOOKING AND FEELING GREAT AND
EVERYBODY THAT SHOULD FEEL
WELCOME THERE.
I THINK THAT'S THE SAME APPROACH
THAT WE SHOULD TAKE FOR THIS
STREET BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANT
FUNCTIONS IT SERVES.
WE THINK IT SHOULD SERVE AND
CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A REALLY
CRITICAL TRANSIT STREET, WHICH
IT HAS FOR MANY YEARS, BUT WE
REALLY LACK THE VISION AND THE
DETAILED SORT OF ASPIRATION GOAL
FOR WHAT THIS STREET SHOULD LOOK
LIKE, SHOULD FEEL LIKE AND THE
FUNCTION THAT IT SHOULD SERVE
AND IT REALLY HASN'T RECOVERED
AS A STREET SINCE THE CUT AND
COVER ORIGINAL TRANSIT TUNNEL
WAS DUG THROUGH AND ALONG THIRD
AVENUE IN THE EARLY 90s.
THE RETAIL HAS STRUGGLED.
THE ENVIRONMENT HAS STRUGGLED.
OVER THAT TIME WE ADDED A LOT OF
BUSES WHERE TODAY IT'S THE
BUSIEST BUS STREET IN THE NATION
IN NORTH AMERICA.
AND THE BUSES
THAT WILL COME THROUGH THAT
CORRIDOR PLAY A REALLY IMPORTANT
ROLE OF MOVING LOTS OF PEOPLE
FROM ACROSS OUR CITY INTO AND
OUT OF DOWNTOWN FOR ALL THE
REASONS THAT I ARTICULATED
EARLIER.
BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE
MUCH MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE
DESIGN, THE IMPROVEMENTS, WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH
THIS STREET.
AND AGAIN THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN
INFORMED BY SEVERAL DOZEN
STAKEHOLDERS FROM THROUGHOUT
DOWNTOWN AS I NOTED EARLIER AND
WITH GREAT SUPPORT FROM THE
ARCHITECTS IN ADDITION TO SOME
OTHER CONSULTANTS.
YOU CAN GO ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE,
JACOB.
AND SO THIS REALLY WAS A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
INVOLVING THE CITY AND SDOT AND
METRO AND OTHERS AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND
PARTICIPATION.
AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE VISION, THE
DSA FUNDED THIS VISION BACK IN
2018 AND '19 AND PUBLISHED IT IN
LATE '20.
IN '19 AS I NOTED EARLIER IN
ADDITION TO WORKING TO
UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT CHALLENGE
AND THE SITUATION, WE
WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHER
CITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA HAVE
DONE ON TRANSIT CORRIDORS THAT
WERE PRIMARILY SERVING ROBERT
TIRE TRANSIT SERVICE.
SO HEAVY BUS STREETS AND LOOKED
AT VANCOUVER, MINNEAPOLIS,
DENVER, AND A FEW OTHER CITIES.
AND WE TOOK A TRIP AS WELL OUT
TO DENVER TO LOOK AT THE 16th
STREET MALL AND SOME OF THE
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THEY'VE MADE
TO THEIR STREETS AND CONTINUE TO
MAKE THAT THERE.
DENVER IS IN THE MIDST OF $150
MILLION REMAKE OF 16th STREET
THERE, SORT OF MAJOR PEDESTRIAN
AND TRANSIT MALL.
SO THE VISION REALLY REFLECTS
SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES
AROUND THE COUNTRY OF HOW DO YOU
SERVE TRANSIT RIDERS AND
ENCOURAGE TRANSIT USE, AND ALSO
HAVE GREAT RETAIL AND GREAT
STREETSIDE CAFE AND MAKE IT A
STREET THAT PEOPLE WANT TO
LINGER ON AND WALK DOWN.
NOT A STREET THAT PEOPLE WANT TO
AVOID.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD
THERE, JACOB.
AND THE VISION DOESN'T PRESCRIBE
A SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVE OR
ANSWER, BUT REALLY PROVIDES A
FEW OPTIONS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO
GET MORE SPACE TO PEDESTRIANS.
AS WE'VE ADDED ALL THOSE BUSES
OVER THE YEARS AND REALLY
COMMITTED TO THE STREET BEING A
SIGNIFICANT TRANSIT CORRIDOR, WE
HAVEN'T REALLY WIDENED THE
SIDEWALKS AT ALL.
AND SO IT CREATES A LOT OF
CROWDING AND BUNCHING THAT I
THINK WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED
PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE BUS OR
WEIGHT AGAINST THE BUSINESS THAT
IS HARD TO SEE WHAT IS THAT
BUSINESS AND HOW DO I FIND THE
DOOR.
AND IF YOU'RE JUST WALKING ALONG
THE CORRIDOR, YOU'RE SORT OF
NAVIGATING THAT ALL AS WELL.
AND SO A BIG MOVE IN EACH OF
THESE ALTERNATIVES IS TO
DEDICATE MORE SPACE TO
PEDESTRIANS WHETHER IT'S
PEDESTRIAN THAT'S GOING TO WAIT
FOR A BUS OR A PEDESTRIAN THAT'S
LOOKING TO ACCESS THE BUSINESS
OR WALK HOME FOR THE EVENING
ALONG THIRD AVENUE.
SO THERE'S A SERIES OF
ALTERNATIVES AND JACOB WILL SORT
OF CYCLE THROUGH A FEW OF THESE
AND THESE ARE IN THE HARD COPY
REPORT IN PDF THAT I THINK IS IF
YOUR PACKET, SO YOU CAN SPEND
MORE TIME LOOKING AT THESE
ALTERNATIVES AND THERE ARE SOME
ASSOCIATED RENDERING AS WELL, A
STREET LEVEL TO ARTICULATE WHAT
COULD BE A MUCH MORE PLEASANT
AND INVITING WELL LIT GREEN
DELINEATED EXPERIENCE FROM WHAT
WE HAVE TODAY.
AND THIS HAD IS THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT WE SEE TO CREATE ONE OF THE
COUNTRY'S BEST TRANSIT STREET
THAT PEOPLE ARE DELIGHTED TO
WAIT FOR A BUS ON OR A WALK DOWN
OR GO OUT TO EAT OR ACCESS A
BUSINESS OR SERVICES OR SHOW UP
FOR JURY DUTY OR GO OUT TO ARTS
AND CULTURE.
THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY WE SEE
AND WE THINK THIS MATTER IS NOT
JUST TO FOLKS WHO MAY WORK OR
LIVE DOWNTOWN, BUT FOLKS
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND REGION
THAT ARE ACCESSING DOWNTOWN FOR
A HOST OF SERVICES AND REASONS.
THIS REALLY
SHOULD BE EVERYBODY'S STREET AND
A STREET WHERE EVERYBODY FEELS
INVITED AND INCLUDED AND SAFE
AND WELCOMED.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH SET
FORTHS SOME IMPORTANT STEPS AND
ACTIONS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
WE WANT IT TO SORT OF START THE
CONVERSATION WITH THE VISION AND
THE DOCUMENT THAT WE PRODUCE AND
HOLD OUT THE ASPIRATION THAT I
THINK WE ALL SHARE FOR A
TREMENDOUS STREET THROUGH THE
HEART OF OUR DOWNTOWN THAT
PEOPLE WANT TO BE ON THAT SERVES
AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION FOR
TRANSIT AND OTHER USES.
AND NOW I THINK IT'S TIME TO
TAKE SOME NEXT STEPS TO INVOLVE
KEY PARTNERS AT METRO AND SDOT,
SOUND TRANSIT, AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO SOLIDIFY AROUND A
COMMON ALTERNATIVE HERE AND AN
ALTERNATIVE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE
CONSENSUS AND IDENTIFY HOW WE
BRING THIS PROJECT TO A REALITY,
EXTENDING FROM THE SEATTLE
CENTER AREA DOWN TO THE COUNTY
COURTHOUSE AND CIVIC CAMPUS AND
PIONEER SQUARE INTO THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
IN MOVING US TO I THINK A
CRITICAL NEXT STEP HERE.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT, JOHN, THANK YOU
FOR THAT OVERVIEW.
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, I WANT TO GIVE CENTRAL
STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP IN
AND MAYBE DISCUSS THE RESOLUTION
IF THIS WILL BE THE APPROPRIATE
TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF
LISH OR CAL WANT TO TAKE ON THAT
MANDATE THERE.
>> SURE, I'M HAPPY TO JUMP IN.
AND SO THE
RESOLUTION IS REALLY SIMPLE.
IT HAS TWO SECTIONS, THE FIRST
VOICES FOR THE VISION.
AND THE PROCESSES
THAT WILL COME BEFORE US AND THE
SECOND PROCESS TO MOVE THAT
VISION TOWARDS A PROJECT THAT
COULD BE BUILT.
IT CALLS FOR
FORMING A TASK FORCE THAT WILL
INCLUDE THE OFFICE OF PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT AND THE SEATTLE
DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AND THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, KING COUNTY METRO
AND SOUND TRANSIT.
AS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WORK
PLAN BUDGET, THE IDENTIFICATION
AND SHORT-TERM CHANGES THAT
COULD BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE
CORRIDOR AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF
FINAL CONSENSUS OF AN
ALTERNATIVE WITH THE DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS GOALS AND THE NEEDS
FOR THE CORRIDOR AND THEN
IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN THAT
HAS REACHED CONSENSUS.
THAT'S IT.
>> LISH, THANK YOU FOR THAT
OVERVIEW.
AND SO DO COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
RESOLUTION?
GIVEN THOSE PRESENTATIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I MEAN IT'S BEAUTIFU, IT LOOKS
LIKE EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING
THAT I WOULD LOVE TO BE DOING ON
ALL OF OUR CITY STREETS.
AND I'M
WONDERING, I UNDERSTAND THE
RESOLUTION SAYS AS YOU JUST
SAID, NOW IS THE TIME TO START
TALKING TO KING COUNTY METRO, TO
SDOT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
HOW MUCH THEY KNOW?
LIKE WHAT HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS
BEEN LIKE?
TO GIVE THEM A
HEADS UP OR TO SEEK THEIR INPUT
AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS
KIND OF DESIGN PROCESS ABOUT
WHAT THE REALITY WOULD BE ABOUT
THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE IT
FORWARD?
>> JOHN, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE
THAT QUESTION?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER.
THEY WERE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE VISION AND
THEN WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO BOTH
THE CITY AND THE LEADERSHIP AT
METRO ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS' RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY.
AND WE WILL BE CONVENING THE
DOWNTOWN TRANSPORTATION
ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A TABLE WHERE
WE ALONG WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES
SIT TO SORT OF TALK THROUGH THE
ISSUES LIKE THIS NEXT WEEK AND
THE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS WILL BE
JOINING US.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN DEEPLY
INVOLVED FROM THE GET GO AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE VISION AND I
THINK WE WILL NEED TO BE
CRITICALLY INVOLVED GOING
FORWARD AS WE TRY TO SOLIDIFY AN
ALTERNATIVE.
THIS STREET LET'S BE CLEAR WILL
NEED TO BE A CRITICAL TRANSIT
STREET THAT WILL BRING PEOPLE
ALL ACROSS OUR CITY INTO
DOWNTOWN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
SO THAT FUNCTION WILL NEED TO BE
MAINTAINED.
HOW WE DO THAT I THINK IS THE
CRITICAL QUESTION AS WE GO
FORWARD.
AND WE KNOW JUST ONE FINAL POINT
FROM LOOKING AT SOME OTHER
CITIES THAT WE DON'T HAVE GREAT
EFFICIENCY TODAY.
THE NUMBER OF BUSES THAT ARE
MOVING THROUGH THERE RELATIVE TO
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE
CARRYING, WE HAVE A LOT MORE
BUSES RELATIVE TO PEOPLE
COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES.
THERE'S SOME CHARTS IN THE
VISION THAT WILL SHOW THAT.
SO WE THINK THE TRANSIT SYSTEM
NEEDS TO STAY THERE AND IT CAN
OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH
BETTER CONFIGURATIONS AS WELL.
>> SO I GUESS A FOLLOW UP TO
THAT IS -- I MEAN WE'RE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
WE ARE BEGINNING THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
PROCESSES, AND I WONDER HOW THIS
VISION AND THE CHANGES THAT ARE
BEING PROPOSED HERE -- I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S RECONCILE OR
RELATED TO THE CONVERSATIONS
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THROUGH
THE DIFFERENT PLANNING
PROCESSES.
>> MAKING THIS A MUCH MORE
DESIRABLE STREET FOR PEDESTRIANS
AND TRANSIT RIDERS AND THE
PUBLIC WOULD BE FULLY CONSISTENT
WITH THOSE BROADER POLICY
OBJECTIVES AND GOALS WITH THE
CITY AND INCREASING DENSITY IS
GREAT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND MORE PEOPLE ON THE BUSES,
GREAT FOR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
MORE PEOPLE ARE WALKING.
SO WE WOULD SEE THIS AS HOLY
CONSISTENT AND WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY PARTICULARLY WITH,
YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
IS OUT THERE AND CONGRESSIONAL
DIRECTED SPENDING TO FORMULATE A
DESIGN AND FINANCING PLAN TO
BRING THIS TO A REALITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE CONVERSATION IF NOT NOW
BEFORE THIS RESOLUTION COMES
FORWARD FOR A VOTE ON WHAT IT
MEANS TO THE DSA TO MAINTAIN
TRANSIT CAPACITY.
PERHAPS WE COULD WORK TOGETHER
ON A DEFINITION TO CREATE SOME
SORT OF AN EXPECTATION BEFORE WE
SEND FOLKS OFF DOING THIS GOOD
WORK.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY
HELPFUL.
THE REPORT AS NOTED WAS DONE IN
2019.
THERE IS FLUCTUATION IN
RIDERSHIP ANTICIPATED IN THE
FUTURE ASSOCIATIONED WITH LIGHT
RAIL COMING.
AND THERE IS ALSO I THINK A
REALLY IMPORTANT RECOGNITION OF
HOW THE ROUTES FROM ALL OVER THE
CITY GO THROUGH DOWNTOWN AND ARE
DEPEND ON GOING THROUGH DOWNTOWN
TO NOT ONLY MEET CAPACITY, BUT
TO SAVE TIME.
WE SAW WHEN THEY CAME DOWN THE
BUS ROUTES TO WEST SEATTLE AND
THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TOOK
INCREASED AFTERWARDS.
SO I THINK MAYBE JUST CREATING A
LITTLE BIT OF A GRANULARITY
ABOUT WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE
IN THIS VISION WOULD BE REALLY
HELPFUL AND USEFUL, AND I HOPE
YOU AGREE.
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.
LIKE I SAID THIS STREET NEEDS TO
CONTINUE TO SERVE A REALLY
IMPORTANT TRANSIT FUNCTION.
OUR INTEREST IS THAT LOTS OF
PEOPLE CAN RIDE BUSES INTO
DOWNTOWN FOR ALL THE REASONS
THEY NEED TO SHOW UP EACH AND
EVERY DAY.
SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN THAT.
I THINK THE EXTENSION OF LIGHT
RAIL NORTH AND THEN FUTURE
EXTENSIONS AND THE REDUCTION OF
THE PEAK PERIOD POST COVID TAKES
SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF THE
STREETS FRANKLY AND SOME OF THE
REDUCTIONS OF THE BUS SERVICE
FROM THE REGIONAL ROUTE TO GIVE
US SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO MAYBE
RECONFIGURE SOME OF THE BUS
SERVICE IN DOWNTOWN WHILE STILL
MAINTAINING THE ACCESS FOR
FOLKS.
BUT THIS STREETCAR REED 52,000
PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY DAY PRIOR
TO THE PANDEMIC AND BUSIEST
TRANSIT STREET IN OUR CITY AND
REGION AND IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE
TO SERVE THAT FUNCTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LISH, COULD YOU PROVIDE MAYBE
SOME INSIGHT TO COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD'S QUESTION ON
MAINTAINING THE CAPACITY
DEFINITION.
HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION
RESPONDING TO THAT WITHIN THE
FOUR CORNERS OF THIS
RESOLUTION?
>> I'M GOING TO HAND THAT OVER
TO CAL, HE'S THE TRANSPORTATION
EXPERT.
>> I THINK TO SAY THIS IS A
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR THAT
IS -- IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE
GEOGRAPHY OF SEATTLE FRANKLY.
WE HAVE NORTH, SOUTH SYSTEMS,
AND WE HAVE FUNNELED A LOT OF
OUR TRANSIT SYSTEMS DOWN THE
ROAD, SO IT IS A LONG STANDING
ISSUE.
I THINK WE'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO JUST REALLY LOOK
AT HOW WE WOULD MANAGE THE FLOWS
OF THIRD IN CONJUNCTION WITH
SECOND AND FOURTH.
THAT WAS A PART OF THE
DISCUSSION AROUND THE BIKE LANE
EXPANSION THAT WOULD HAPPEN THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SOME OF THIS IS AN ONGOING
EVALUATION THAT THE
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER WILL
HAVE TO BE INVOLVED WITH AS WELL
IN SORT OF DETERMINING WHAT
SETBACK OF THE CAPACITY WOULD
LOOK LIKE.
I WILL SAY, YOU
KNOW, THE TRANSIT AGENCIES WILL
BE FOCUSED ON EXACTLY THAT
QUESTION OF MAINTAINING WHAT
WILL MAKE THE SYSTEM CONTINUE TO
OPERATE.
SO I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO HAVE
THEM IN THE DISCUSSION.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT TRYING TO GET
ALL THESE FOLKS TO SIT DOWN AND
HAMMER THROUGH WHAT WILL BE
TOUGH ISSUES.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT COMING TO A
RESOLUTION BY HOW TO USE THE
AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE
POTENTIALLY DEPENDING ON THE
TYPES OF OPTIONS THAT ARE
CHOSEN, THIS COULD BE A
SIGNIFICANT ASK.
SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO
THAT, THAT GROUND SETTING OF
UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT
ARE THE NEAR TERM, SHORTER-TERM
OPTIONS THAT COULD GET SOME
BENEFITS AND WHAT ARE THE LARGER
TERM OPTIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE
CONSIDERATION FOR THE RENEWAL OR
OTHER FINANCING PROPOSALS THAT
ARE MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE
AT THE CAPACITY TODAY.
I DON'T -- YOU
KNOW I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE SITUATION
WE'RE IN IS THE RESULT OF A LOT
OF LONG-TERM DECISIONS THAT'S
BUILT UP OVERTIME.
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO GET
AWAY FROM RIGHT AWAY, BUT IF YOU
DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE TALKING
ABOUT IT, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
CHANCE OF IT AT ALL.
AND I'M SORRY IF THAT IS AN
ANNOYING ANSWER, BUT I FEEL LIKE
SOME OF THESE ISSUES, YOU KNOW,
THEY HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE.
WITH E HAVE SEEN SOME MOVEMENT
AND AN OPPORTUNITY JUST AS WE
ARE SEEING THE CHANGES IN WHAT
OUR NETWORK SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO NOW IT SEEMS
LIKE A GOOD TIME TO GET THE
ACQUISITIONS ESPECIALLY IF THEY
WILL LEAD TO A FUNDING REQUEST
THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED IN PART
WITH THE LEVY TWO YEARS.
>> AND MR.
CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION.
>> YES?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> AND THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR
THAT LONG ANSWER.
I'M GOING TO CUT TO THE QUICK
HERE AND I APPRECIATE JOHN AND
ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR
88-PAGE POWER POINTS.
WE KNOW THIRD AVENUE AND THE
HISTORY, THANK YOU FOR LETTING
US KNOW, THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT
NUMBER.
AND SO WE ALL KNOW IT'S A MAJOR
TRANSIT SPINE OBVIOUSLY.
IT'S CRITICAL TO DOWNTOWN
TRANSIT AND ALL THE ISSUES.
CAN I GET RIGHT TO IT?
AND IS THIS IN RESPONSE TO
CRIME, CONGESTION.
MAYBE THE STREET HAS GROWN UP.
IS THAT GOING TO BE A PART OF
THE DISCUSSION AS WELL?
AND AS YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL
KNOW THIS, WE SEE WHAT'S GOING
ON EVERY DAY.
IF IT IS A USE TO DENSITY AND
MORE USE AND SECOND OF ALL ARE
WE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OTHER
STREETS AS COUNCIL MORALES
BRINGS IT UP THAT THERE ARE
OTHER STREETS THAT WILL USE THIS
REIMAGINING IF YOU WILL AND
MAYBE IT DID TAKE COVID AND A
SPIKE OF CRIME ON THIRD AND WHAT
WE HAVE SEEN TO REALLY GET IN A
ROOM AND ADDRESS IT IF THAT'S
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
IS THAT A FAIR QUESTION OF ME TO
ASK FROM YOU, JOHN?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
CERTAINLY IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT WILL HELP IMPROVE
SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THERE'S ILL A KINDS OF SAFETY
AROUND THE WORLD ON THAT.
I THINK THIS IS NECESSARY, BUT
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
SUFFICIENT.
AS I NOTED EARLIER THERE'S
CERTAINLY OTHER INTERVENTIONS
AND INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO
BE MAKING COLLECTIVELY TO DEAL
WITH SOME OF THE HUMAN
SUFFERING, TO DEAL WITH THE
CRIME THAT WE ALL ARE WELL AWARE
OF THAT IS IN A LOT OF WAYS AND
HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS ANCHORED
TO THIS CORRIDOR.
BUT SIMPLY PUTTING OUT BETTER
PLANTS AND LIGHTING, WIDENING
THE SIDEWALK WILL NOT HELP
SOMEONE THAT IS SMOKING FENTANYL
RIGHT NOW AT CORNER OF THIRD AND
PINE.
WE NEED A DIFFERENT INTERVENTION
FOR THAT.
SO THIS NEEDS TO BE A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
IMPROVE THE LOBBY OF OUR CITY,
THAT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS,
CERTAINLY TO DOWNTOWN, BUT THE
ENTIRE CITY.
>> MR.
CHAIR, MAY I ASK A FOLLOW UP
QUESTION?
>> OF COURSE, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, JON.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT I
WAS GETTING AT THAT YES, IT'S
ENOUGH THAT WE ACTIVATE STREETS,
AND WE DO LIGHTS, BUT WE'RE
ADDRESSING AS WE SHOULD BE
HONEST ABOUT IT HOW THIS THIRD
AND OTHER STREETS HAVE CHANGED
AND HAVE BECOME NOT SAFE.
WE WANT IT TO BE SAFE FOR
EVERYBODY AND ALSO FOR
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND
GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE DOWN
THERE TO HANDLE IT.
BUT ALSO ALLEVIATING SOME OF
CORRIDOR LIKE THIRD. MAJOR
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE HON
HADDEST ABOUT THAT AND I LIKE
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD SAID
AS WELL.
WE ALL GET IN THE SAME ROOM AND
SAY OKAY, EVEN IF IT ISN'T A
RESPONSE TO THINGS, IT STILL
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
SO I AM REALLY
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RESOLUTION,
AND I'M GLAD THAT MR.
CHAIR BROUGHT THIS TO THE
FOREFRONT AND MAYBE WE COULD
FINE TUNE IT.
I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT.
YOU NEED TO HAVE BIGGER PAGE
NUMBERS ON YOUR POWER POINT.
I LITERALLY HAD TO GET OUT THE
MAGNIFYING GLASSES.
>> MAYBE I'M JUST OLD.
BUT I'M LIKE WHAT NUMBER IS
THAT?
I WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW ON THE
SCREEN.
I'M STILL OLD SCHOOL.
I PRINT STUFF OUT AND MAKE NOTES
IN THE MARGIN.
I THINK THIS IS -- MR.
CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
GOING TO RESPOND TO THIS OR
MAYBE MR.
SCHOLES.
ARE WE LOOKING AT THIS AS A
MODEL ON OTHER STREETS THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF
STRESSES?
>> MAYBE I COULD JUMP IN ON THAT
ONE AND IF JON WANTS TO RESPOND,
I'M HAPPY TO GIVE HIM TIME ON
THE OTHER SIDE TOO.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE REALLY
SEEING NOT JUST IN SEATTLE, BUT
NATIONALLY AND AROUND THE WORLD
POST COVID IS THIS NEW SURGE OF
URBANIZATION TO TAKE BACKSPACES,
PEOPLE, ACTIVATION ON PLACE
MAKING THAT REALLY CENTERS HOW
WE COULD USE A SPACE.
IT WAS PREVIOUSLY DOMINATED BY
CARS OR CONCRETE.
I THINK THIS IS A MOVEMENT THAT
IS A POLICY AS WE ARE SEEING IT
IN PLACES ALL OVER THE CITY AND
I SEE IT IN MY DISTRICT AND I DO
HOPE THAT IT WILL SERVE IT FOR
BIKES, PEDESTRIANS, STREET
CAFES.
AND I WANT TO EXPAND THAT AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I MEAN WE'RE SEEING SIGNIFICANT
RENEWED INTEREST ON THE PUBLIC
AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR
DOING THINGS LIKE THIS ALL OVER
THE CITY.
SO WE SHOULD HEAVE THAT CALM AND
INCORPORATE IT CONSIDERABLY INTO
OUR PLANNING AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I AGREE WE SHOULD
ACKNOWLEDGE THE INTERSECTIONS OF
PLACE MAKING IN TERMS OF THE
RESIDUAL BENEFITS THAT THAT
GIVES TO THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
SMALL BUSINESS TO FLOURISH.
AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE
COMMUNITY, IMPROVE LIVABILITY IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I TOTALLY AGREE THAT IT FIRES
ON ALL CYLINDERS, AND I REALLY
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ACTIVATION IS THE PATH THAT WE
GO DOWN RATHER THAN A PATH OF
HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE, THE
BARRING OF PUBLIC SPACES AND THE
DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SPACES
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE
TO ACTIVATE THEM AND INVEST IN
THEM, WHICH IS A DANGEROUS PATH
THAT HAS THE AFFECT ON THE
RESILIENCY, THE TOGETHERNESS OF
OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT SOME OF THE
CONCEPTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING
FORWARD HERE COULD BE MODELED IN
OTHER PLACES AND REALLY
CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING SEATTLE A
HIGHLY LIVABLE URBAN AND ACTIVE
PLACE.
JON -- GO AHEAD, SORRY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARTICULATED
IT MUCH BETTER THAN I DID WHAT I
WAS GETTING AT HAVING A HOSTILE
ARCHITECTURE.
BEFORE THIS BECOMES A STORY OF
WAR ON CARS, IT'S NOT.
IT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT YOU
DO HAVE TO RECLAIM THIS SPACE
WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, STREET
VACATIONS, OR WHETHER IT IS BIKE
LANES, THE HOME ZONES, ALL THE
TOOLS WE USE.
IF WE GET DOWN TO THE
NITTY-GRITTY OF WHAT THE SPACE
SHOULD BE USED FOR AND BECAUSE
THE BENEFITS AS YOU POINTED OUT,
MR.
CHAIR, NOT JUST SAFETY, BUT THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO COME.
WE'RE SEEING THIS UP IN THE
NORTH END A LOT.
THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH
FOLKS IN NORTH CITY.
AND I'M JUST REALLY HAPPY TO
HEAR WE'RE HAVING THESE HONEST
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT AND IT'S
A POLICY GOING FORWARD AND
HOPEFULLY REPLICATE IN OTHER
PLACES.
>> YES, YOU KNOW, THE ADVANTAGE
OF THIS CORRIDOR HAS THAT WE
HAVE ALREADY MADE THE TOUGH
DECISION TO REMOVE CARS FROM
IT.
I'LL JUST TELL YOU FROM OTHER
THINGS, REMOVING CARS FROM
PLACES WHERE WE COULD ENHANCE
THE USE OF THOSE SPACES TENDS TO
BE THE HARDEST STEP.
SO GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL HERE
IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO PIN WAR
ON CARS GIVEN THAT THEY ARE
ALREADY BANNED FOR THE MOST
PART.
>> JON, DID YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING
REMARKS?
I THINK THERE WERE A FEW THINGS
THAT WERE FIELDED TO YOU THAT
MAY HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE
CRACKS AND THE WAC AND FORTH
JUST NOW WITH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>>
THE THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD
ADD COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THINK A
VISION FOR THIS CRITICAL
CORRIDOR, I THINK IT WILL BE
VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CONTINUED
RECOVERY OF DOWNTOWN TO THE
RECOVERY OF THE RETAIL CORE TO
ATTRACTING MORE RETAILERS,
RESTAURANTS, SMALL BUSINESSES TO
FILL UP VACANCIES, SO THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND THERE IS A VISION
HERE FOR THIS STREET.
AND THAT IS GOING
TO BE CRITICAL TO REBUILDING AND
STRENGTHENING THE CITY'S TAX
SPACE.
AND THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF
REVENUE AND COMMERCIAL PARKING
TAX REVENUE THAT WE'RE NOT
COLLECTING TODAY WHEN WE LOOK AT
EMPTY STOREFRONTS.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING
SMALL BUSINESSES AND JOB
OPPORTUNITIES AND CUSTOMERS
COMING THROUGH THE DOORS TO
CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE
CITY'S TAX BASE, WHICH IS
IMPORTANT FOR THE INVESTMENT AND
THE SERVICES THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS STREET
AND REALLY ALIGNING AROUND THE
VISION AND THE AS SEPARATION IN
A SET OF STEPS THAT WE COULD
TAKE FORWARD IS AN IMPORTANT
SIGNAL TO PROPERTY OWNERS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, OTHERS LOOKING TO
GET BACK IN OR IN FOR THE FIRST
TIME ARE DOWNTOWN.
>> EXCELLENT.
WELL LIKE I SAID WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER HEARING ON
THIS IN TWO WEEKS KNOWING THAT
THIS IS KIND OF A BIG NEW
SUBJECT COMING RIGHT OUT OF
RECESS.
I WANTED TO GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO
REALLY DIGEST IT, TALK TO MY
OFFICE IF THERE'S QUESTIONS.
REACH OUT TO THE DSA.
I'M SURE THEY WOULD MAKE
THEMSELVES AVAILABLE.
AND SO I THINK
HAD THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO END
IT ON FOR THIS SESSION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THIS
UP IN THE FUTURE.
SO JON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING AND THANK YOU TO CENTRAL
STAFF FOR THE OVERVIEW OF THIS
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT
STEPS WHEN WE RECONVENE IN TWO
WEEKS.
OKAY, WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE
CLERK READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
AGENDA.
>> ITEM 2, COUNCIL BILL 120415,
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION AUTHORIZING
THE ACQUISITION OF A
CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
EASEMENT AT THE TURNER-KOEPF
HOUSE AND GARDEN, COMMONLY KNOWN
AS THE GARDEN HOUSE LOCATED AT
2336 15th AVENUE SOUTH,
AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A
RECORDING OF THE CONSERVATION
AND RECREATION EASEMENT FOR OPEN
SPACE, PARK, AND RECREATION
PURPOSES, AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY A PANEL
THAT INCLUDES SEATTLE PARKS AND
HISTORIC SEATTLE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO BE
SORT OF THE MODERATOR HERE FOR
THE PANEL OR MAYBE IT IS JUST
HISTORIC SEATTLE AND NOT PARKS.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT OVER?
>> YES, LISE CAN LEAD.
>> I WISH WE WERE ALL BACK IN
CHAMBERS TO ACTUALLY SEE WHO IS
PRESENTING ON WHAT.
BUT OKAY, WHO WANTS TO TAKE THE
MIC FIRST AND INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES?
>> I'M LISE WARD, PROPERTY AGENT
FOR SEATTLE PARKS.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS IS ON
VACATION AND I THOUGHT MICHELE
FINNEGAN WAS GOING TO BE HERE,
BUT I THINK I WILL JUST BARREL
ALONG.
WE DO HAVE A
POWER POINT AND I'M WONDERING IF
IT CAN BE POSTED NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL SHARE IT IN JUST ONE
SECOND.
>> OKAY.
AND I'M HERE WITH KJI
KELLY, HISTORIC SEATTLE
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
SHOULD I JUST LET YOU KNOW
WHEN I'M READY FOR THE NEXT
SLIDE?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
THIS HAS BEEN A
LONG TIME IN THE MAKING AND MY
PREDECESSOR PLANNER, CHIP NEVINS
ACTUALLY STARTED TALKING TO
HISTORIC SEATTLE SEVERAL YEARS
AGO ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
BOTH PRESERVE A LANDMARK HOUSE,
GRAND OLD HOUSE IN BEACON HILLS
AND PROVIDE OPEN SPACE IN A
COMMUNITY THAT VERY DESPERATELY
NEEDS IT.
AND IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE OVERVIEW HERE IS JUST A
PHOTO OF BEACON HILL.
THE ADDRESS OF THIS HISTORIC
TURN -- HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE
IT?
TURNER-KOEPF HOUSE IS 2336
15th AVENUE SOUTH.
THE RED ARROW DOWN AT THE BOTTOM
SHOWS THE HOUSE AND THE GROUNDS
THAT SURROUND THE HOUSE AS WELL
AS THE PARKING LOT.
AND WE'VE TENTATIVELY REACHED AN
AGREEMENT.
PARKS HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO REACH
12,000 SQUARE FEET OF THE LAND
AROUND THE HOUSE AVAILABLE TO
THE PUBLIC FOR PARK USE WE'RE
COMING TO YOU TODAY TO SEEK
APPROVAL FOR AN EASEMENT TO
ENSURE THIS PROPERTY WILL BE
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME.
THE TRANSACTION CONSISTENTS OF
THE CITY'S PURCHASE OF THIS
EASEMENT FROM HISTORIC SEATTLE,
WHICH OWNS THE PROPERTY.
PURCHASE PRICES, I CAN TALK
ABOUT THIS ON THE NEXT SLIDE,
BUT HISTORIC SEATTLE HAS
ENCOURAGED SOME CARING COSTS
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS
THEY PURCHASE THE PROPERTY LAST
DECEMBER FROM AN UNDERLINING
PROPERTY OWNER WHO WANTED TO
PLACE IT ON THE MARKET AND WE
WANTED TO PUT IT ON THAT AS BEST
AS WE COULD.
AND SO THE
TRANSACTION AND THE ATTACHMENT
TO THE ORDINANCE WILL CONSISTENT
OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
TO WHICH THE EASEMENT IS
ATTACHED AS WELL AS AN
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN SEATTLE PARKS
AND HISTORIC SEATTLE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE AT PARKS OPERATE UNDER THE
2017 PARK AND OPEN SPACE PLAN,
WHICH IDENTIFIES GAP AREAS
WITHIN THE CITY.
AND SO WE HAVE DONE SOME STORY
MAPPING.
AND WITHIN URBAN VILLAGES WE
HAVE CONCENTRIC FIVE-MINUTE
WALKING DISTANCE GOALS.
WE CALL THEM OUR SERVICE AREA
GOALS.
AND WHAT THIS MAP REPRESENTS IS
IF YOU CAN LOOK UNDERNEATH THE
BLUE THERE, NORTH BEACON HILL
HAS THE SIGNIFICANT GAP.
YOU'LL SEE THAT REPRESENTED IN
ORANGE.
THIS TRANSACTION, WHICH IS
REPRESENTED BY THE BLUE STAR
APPROXIMATELY IN THE AREA OF THE
PROPERTY WOULD CONSIDERABLY FILL
THAT GAP, THE DARK BLUE CIRCLE
THERE REPRESENTS FIVE-MINUTE
WALKING DISTANCE COMING INTO
THAT SITE FOR PARK USE.
THE PROPERTY ON THE LEFT IN THE
DARK GREEN IS ON THE SCREEN, THE
BEACON HILL PLAYGROUND, WHICH
WILL INCLUDE THE PROPERTIES TO
THE NORTH.
AND ALSO IDENTIFIED THE RED STAR
FOR YOU, WHICH IS ABOUT TEN
YEARS AGO.
IN FACT 2008 PARKS AND GREEN
SPACES LEVY RESPONDED TO A
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO FIND
APPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
A PLAYGROUND ON EL CENTRO'S
PROPERTY.
AND WITH THAT CAME A 20-YEAR
AGREEMENT TO OPEN THAT
PLAYGROUND UP TO THE PUBLIC, SO
I SHOW THAT TO YOU ON THIS SLIDE
AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TYPE OF
PARK USE THAT IS ALSO AVAILABLE
WITHIN THIS FIVE-MINUTE WALKING
DISTANCE.
WE'VE GOT THE EL CENTRAL DEL%
ARAZA PLAYGROUND, THAT WILL BE A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KIND OF
PARK USE.
AND THE WASHINGTON STATE
FEDERATION OF GARDEN CLUBS AND
PREVIOUS TO THAT I BELIEVE IT
WAS THE JEFFERSON PARK LADIES
CLUB SOCIETY ON THE PROPERTY FOR
MANY YEARS.
AND SO THE HOUSE
HAS A HISTORY OF BEING USED IN
THE COMMUNITY EVENT.
AND WE WERE
APPROACHED TO PURCHASE THE
PROPERTY, BUT THEY WERE NOT
SUITED TO OWN AND OPERATE THE
HISTORIC HOUSE OF THE
SIGNIFICANCE.
SO WE WERE UNABLE TO PUT A DEAL
TOGETHER AND IT WAS SOLD TO A
PUBLIC BUYER.
AND A COUPLE OF
YEARS LATER.
THAT BUYER WANTED TO SELL.
KJI WAS TALKING TO THAT BUYER OR
SELLER.
AND WAS ABLE --
HISTORIC SEATTLE WAS ABLE TO
SWEEP IN AND PURCHASE THE
PROPERTY PRIOR TO BEING PLACED
ON THE MARKET.
AND HISTORIC
SEATTLE PRESERVATION DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY AS THE OWNER BOTH THE
HOUSE AND THE LAND CAN RETURN TO
ITS FORMER GLORY AND FORMER USE
AS COMMUNITY BASED.
AND WITH GROUNDS
AROUND IT, THAT WOULD BE OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC.
>> I WILL ADD A LITTLE FLAVOR
HERE.
THE HOUSE IS 139 YEARS OLD.
IT WAS BUILT IN 1983.
>> KJI, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF?
>> I'M KJI KELLY,
SEATTLE DIRECTOR OF HISTORIC
SEATTLE.
AND PROBABLY MANY OF YOU DON'T
REMEMBER THAT TIME.
IT'S THE CURRENT SITE AND THE
NICE LARGE LOT.
HISTORIC SEATTLE IS AN
ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DOING THIS
TYPE OF COMMUNITY WORK FOR CLOSE
TO 50 YEARS NOW.
WE WERE INFORMED BACK IN 1953 AS
THE PDA.
AND WE REALLY FOCUSED OUR
ATTENTION ON SAVING MEANINGFUL
PLACES TO FOSTER LIVE EVENTS.
VERY SIMPLY.
AND SAVING PLACES
FOR THE COMMUNITIES.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, YOU
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WHAT JON'S
PRESENTATION ABOUT PLACE
MAKING.
I MEAN THAT'S A GRAND VISION, A
GRAND CITY VISION OF PLACE
MAKING.
THIS IS A LITTLE MORE
MICROSCOPIC VERSION OF PLAY
MAKING, BUT NO LESS IMPORTANT
PARTICULARLY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OF BEACON HILLS.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE PARKS.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING NEW TO US
AND TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO
CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP AND
REALLY SORT OF THE OUTWARD
FACING OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY
RETURN THIS BOTH THE GROUNDS AND
THE HOUSE BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY, SO EVERYONE CAN
ENJOY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND SO I'M GOING
TO KIND OF JUMP INTO WHAT THIS
CONSERVATION RECREATION EASEMENT
WILL DO.
IT WILL ELIMINATE DEVELOPMENT
RIGHTS FROM THE PROPERTY.
IT'S ON MULTIFAMILY.
IT WILL HAVE A COVENANT ON IT
RESULT OF THE ACQUISITION BEING
FUNDED WITH KING COUNTY
CONSERVATION FUTURES AND THE
INTENT OF THE COVENANT IS TO
PRESERVE THE OPEN SPACE NATURE
OF THE PROPERTY AROUND THE HOUSE
THAT WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF THE
EASEMENT.
AND THE EASEMENT
REFERENCES AND THE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN HISTORIC SEATTLE AND
SEATTLE PARKS FOR OPERATION OF
THE GROUNDS.
SO IT KIND OF GETS INTO THE
WEEDS AS TO WHO IS GOING TO DO
WHAT AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN
AND WHAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
AND THAT SORT OF THING.
IT'S A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT
SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEW AND,
YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY DEPENDING ON
HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT, YOU
KNOW, IT COULD BE TWEAKED, BUT
WE STARTED WITH AN INITIAL
FIVE-YEAR TERM.
AND THE BIG
CONSIDERATION HERE FOR THE CITY
IS HISTORIC SEATTLE WILL BE
MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY ON ITS
DIME AND THE CITY WILL INCUR NO
EXPENSE TOWARDS THE MAINTENANCE
OF THE PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC FOR PARK USE.
AND THE BALANCE
OF THAT, OF THIS TYPE OF
TRANSACTION IS TO ENSURE THAT
HISTORIC SEATTLE HAS THE INCOME
STREAM TO BE ABLE TO IMAGINE THE
GROUNDS FOR PUBLIC USE.
AND SO WITH THAT BOTH IN THE
EASEMENT AND THE OPERATING
AGREEMENT WE HAMMERED OUT TERMS
FOR HOW THEY COULD SCHEDULE
PRIVATE EVENTS WHETHER THEY
SPILL OUT ONTO THE LAWNS OR TAKE
UP THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SITE
LEAVING TE SOUTH SIDE OF THE
SITE OPEN OR VICE VERSA.
OR THE OCCASIONAL
EVENT THAT TAKES UP THE ENTIRE
SITE.
WE WENT INTO GREAT DETAIL
NEGOTIATING THIS ESPECIALLY TO
KEEP WEEKENDS OPEN AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
AND TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE NOTIFICATIONS THAT
THESE CLOSURES WILL HAPPEN.
AND SO I KNOW
COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY HAVE
QUESTIONS, MORE DETAILED
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
WE JUST HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE I
THINK AND THEN WE'LL BE HAPPY TO
ENTERTAIN YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> FOR HISTORIC SEATTLE, THE TWO
PROJECTS YOU SEE HERE, THEY
REALLY FORM A BOOKEND OR
BOOKENDS TO OUR ORGANIZATIONAL
ASPECT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE REAL ESTATE.
WE HAVE 11 PROPERTIES.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD AS MANY OF YOU
KNOW IS IN WELLINFORD LARGELY
5,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING,
COMMUNITY CENTER, FOCUSED ON AN
11-ACRE SITE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST, IF NOT,
THE FIRST PROJECT BY HISTORIC
SEATTLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE PARKS.
IT IS A GREAT USE, A GREAT
ADAPTIVE USE OF THE MEANINGFUL
HISTORIC BUILDING FOR THE
COMMUNITY USE AND THE
ENJOYMENT.
WE HAVE PERFORMANCE BASED, SIX
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT
ARE LIVED BY THE ARTISTS AND
MOSTLY NON-PROFIT TENANTS, CLOSE
TO 30 TENANTS.
AND JUST A
WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE WORK
THAT WE WOULD DO TO OFFER THE
COMMUNITY.
SO IT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF PDA
PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP.
AND OUR MOST
RECENT PROJECT THAT WE COMPLETED
IN 2016, WE BROUGHT IN IN 2009
IS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE
PDA PRIVATE IF YOU WILL
PARTNERSHIP.
WE WORK WITH VERY
LOCAL TO THE DISTRICT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE FOCUSED
ON THE GREAT COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT CREATIVE COMMUNITY
WORK AND THEY ARE OUR ANCHOR
PARTNERS WITHIN THE BUILDING.
WE WOULD WORK TO GATHER SINCE WE
BOUGHT IT IN 2009, TO REALLY
RETURN THIS AND THIS IS A
VALUABLE AND HISTORIC COMMUNITY
ASSET BACK LITERALLY TO THE
COMMUNITY.
SO THESE ARE TWO REALLY GOOD
EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE DO AS AN
ORGANIZATION.
I WILL NOTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
VERY INTENTIONAL WITH THE GARDEN
HOUSE OVER THE PAST, LET'S SAY
SIX MONTHS TO EIGHT MONTHS WITH
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS.
AND THE VARIOUS SORT OF WE
HIRED AN ARCHITECT AND WE WENT
THERE A DELIBERATE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WHERE WE DID
A LOT OF TABLING.
WE DID A LOT OF COMMUNITY OPEN
HOUSES AT THE PROPERTY.
JUST TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO GAIN
MOMENTUM, GAIN INTEREST, AND GET
FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AROUND VISION, PROGRAMMING.
THE BEST WE CAN DO IS PRESCRIBE
HOW WE WANT THIS SITE AND HOUSE
TO BE USED.
WE WANT COMMUNITY TO SORT OF
HELP DIRECT AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
SO WE HAVE BEEN
VERY INTENTIONAL AROUND GETTING
THAT FEEDBACK AND HELPING US
PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION AS WE
PROGRAM AND LOOK TO ADD THE
HOUSE.
SO THAT SORT OF
PROVIDES A NUTSHELL OF CONTEXT
OF HISTORIC SEATTLE AND WHAT
WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING WITH THE
GARDEN HOUSE.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
>> KJI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
WERE JOINED BY MICHELE FINNEGAN
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
PRESENTATION FROM SEATTLE
PARKS.
SO I WANT TO GIVE MICHELE A
MOMENT IF THERE IS SOMETHING
ELSE THAT SHE WANTS TO ADD
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO COUNCIL
MEMBER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE SIDE OF
THE PANEL, AND I HAD TO BE
PROMOTED.
LISE AND KJI DID A GOOD JOB.
I'LL BE A PART OF THE Q&A.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO WITH THAT THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES?
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION
EVERYONE.
AND I LOVE THE
GARDEN HOUSE.
I'M EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS
CLOSE TO BEING IN THE HANDS OF
HISTORIC SEATTLE.
I'LL ADMIT THAT I THINK I HAVE
BEEN ON THE UPPER FLOOR.
I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE MAIN FLOOR
OF THE HOUSE AND ON THE
GROUNDS.
THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU GAVE, SOME
OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES HAVE
ANCHOR TENANTS, YOU KNOW, THEY
WERE MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS, I
THINK HAD.
SO IS THERE A PLAN TO LEASE TO
NON-PROFITS, OFFICE SPACE ON THE
UPPER FLOOR?
I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT SOME OF
THE QUESTIONS AROUND THE
FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY OF THIS
AND IN ADDITION TO RENTING THE
LAWN IF THERE ARE OTHER IDEAS
FOR HOW YOU MIGHT GENERATE
MAINTENANCE REVENUE.
>> WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE
FINER POINTS OF WHAT THAT
PROGRAM WILL LOOK LIKE.
WHAT THE USE WILL LOOK LIKE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE SORT OF WORKING
WITH BOTH NEIGHBORHOOD
ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE QUITE
HONESTLY DISPLACED WHEN THE
HOUSE WAS SOLD BACK IN 2018.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A REALLY
SWEET SPOT REGARDING USE AND
FINANCIAL VIABILITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT FINANCIALLY
FEASIBLE MEANING ZERO COST OR
VERY, VERY LOW COST FOR
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY TO COME AND USE THE
HOUSE AND GROUNDS AND/OR BOTH.
SO WE'RE TRYING RIGHT NOW TO BE
VERY SPECIFIC AND TARGETED WITH
TRYING TO COME UP WITH THAT HAD
SWEET SPOT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
FOR THIS HOUSE TO CONTINUE TO
STAY AROUND FOR ANOTHER 139
YEARS THERE NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC
USE, BUT THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE
SOME ECONOMIC VIABILITY.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO WE ARE REALLY CLOSE TO
SORT OF NARROWING DOWN ZEROING
IN ON HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE
WORKED THROUGH.
LUCKILY WE HAVE NOW SIX TO EIGHT
MONTHS WORTH OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT WORK WHERE WE HAVE A
BODY OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
SHOWING A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE
PROJECT THAT WE COULD GO BACK
TO, TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM AND
TO GO FORWARD.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FROM COLLEAGUES?
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> NOT A QUESTION JUST MY
ONGOING APPRECIATION FOR
HISTORIC SEATTLE.
AND THE INVOLVENESS IN WHICH YOU
ALWAYS ACT IN ORDER TO FURTHER
YOUR MISSION.
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER GREAT
EXAMPLE OF SEIZING THE
OPPORTUNITY AND AS A RESULT NOT
ONLY PRESERVING HISTORIC SPACES
IN OUR CITY, BUT MUCH NEEDED
PUBLIC USE OF THE SPACES AND
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DO
SO.
THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT WE DO TEND
TO SWING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT
CLASS.
THIS IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED
TO PURCHASE THE HOUSE BACK IN
2018.
WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
I DO TWO THINGS PRETTY WELL.
I PESTER PEOPLE AND I PESTER THE
OWNERS.
THE FUNDS WERE A PERFECT SOURCE
TO UNDERWRITE THIS COMMUNITY
WORK AND I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO
PASS IT.
I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SOLUTION
HERE THAT NOW IT'S READY TO BE
ACTIVATED, SO WE'RE SUPER
EXCITED.
>> GREAT, KJI, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AND HISTORIC SEATTLE
ON MAKING SURE NOT JUST THE
HOUSE, BUT THE LANDS THAT ARE
ADJACENT TO IT ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO BE USED FOR THE
ENJOYMENT OF THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY ON BEACON HILL.
SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD
AND PUT THIS IN FRONT OF THE
COMMITTEE.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE COUNCIL BILL 120105, IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> HEARING A SECOND, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL
120415?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRESIDENT
JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> EXCELLENT.
WILL THIS WILL GO ON TO FULL
COUNCIL.
I LIKE THE ODDS BASED ON THAT
VOTE.
SO WITH THAT THE
PANEL CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE
REST OF THEIR AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR COMING BY AND
JOINING US AND ANSWERING THOSE
QUESTIONS.
I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO GET
THOSE RESOLVED BEFORE BUDGET, SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL ITEMS
OF BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE.
I DID WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE A LITTLE
BIT OF METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT BUSINESS THAT MIGHT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO
COLLEAGUES.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CANCEL THE FRIDAY MEETING OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT IN
ORDER TO GIVE CENTRAL STAFF MORE
TIME TO DIGEST, ANALYZE, AND
DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION TO PARK
BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSALS FOR THE CYCLE
TO INVESTMENTS FOR THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
GIVE YOU THE NOTICE NOW OF BEING
ABLE TO REMOVE THAT HOLD FROM
YOUR CALENDARS FOR FRIDAY.
AND I JUST WANTED
TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT IN
OPEN SESSION.
WE'LL BE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW BY
E-MAIL TOO IF WE HAVEN'T
ALREADY.
AND LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING FOLKS THIS EVENING AT
THE NORTHGATE COMMUNITY CENTER
FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON THE
PRIORITIES AND INVESTMENTS FOR
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT.
THAT'LL BE AT THE NORTHGATE
COMMUNITY CENTER AT 6:00 P.M.
WITH THAT
COLLEAGUES, IT'S 3:07 AND THERE
IS NO MORE BUSINESS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND ADJOURN THIS MEETING.