1200 Stewart

This little ditty (read huge 400' twin tower covering a full block) is planned for Denny and Stewart. SLOG has been following this all along through the three early design reviews that the developer says have cost him a million dollars.

The building of three or so floors of commercial, a hotel, and luxury condos is ambitious, but is not without its problems.

For one, the project will have underground parking for 800 vehicles, and for two, there will be no retail to speak of on Denny.

This doesn't seem to jive entirely with comments made earlier by architect Paul Thoryk about the developer at Lexas Companies, saying, “He is very sensitive to the environment, esthetics, and wants a very well-done building and to please the community. We want to make it a neighborhood-friendly environment.”

The city design review board passed it through unanimously.

Mercer Street Study Released Following Vote

The city just released a study on the proposed Mercer fix that says the project would do little to help traffic flow and may even be of harm, shortly after the City Council voted 8-1 to proceed with caution.

Trips westbound from Interstate 5 to Seattle Center would improve by 2-½ to 4 minutes in the morning, because drivers won't have to make a pair of turns to reach Valley Street. Eastbound trips would be about the same. But in the afternoon, most trips in both directions would be slower, the study says.

The study confirms a similar study conducted years ago, and council members were presumably well aware of the findings — but weighed against the potential benefits to the community, the City Council voted almost unanimously for the project, albeit with a funding caveat (except for Nick Licata, who is also against the streetcar expansion and co-chair of the pedestrian safety committee - wtf?).

The Seattle Times also summarized some of the other findings from the study:

• Valley Street, to be narrowed from five street lanes to two, plus bike lanes, would "promote a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly atmosphere" next to Lake Union Park.

• The junction of Mercer with Fairview Avenue North would improve, but it would still be sluggish.

• "High delays" would occur where Mercer, Broad Street and Ninth Avenue converge at the west end of the rebuilt corridor.

• On-street parking would be provided on stretches of Mercer and Valley streets. One option would reduce Mercer by one lane — and boost a 10-minute eastbound peak trip to 18 minutes. The report says there's also a benefit: separating sidewalks from busy traffic.

Know your SLU Detours/Closures/Parking/Transportation/Development

SLUFAN came up with a new widget on their website that's pretty cool - it's called the South Lake Union Construction Activities Map. It plots all the new development and associated detours on a map and let's you click for more detail. As an added bonus, public transportation routes and parking lots (future development sites) are also on the map.

This complements Discover SLU's Amenities map quite nicely, and as if that weren't enough—there's a SLU Green map that we've mentioned before. Looks like someone's getting some mileage on this mapping app.

SLU Street Name Mnemonics

Saw an amusing bit on the Seattle Channel by John Keister (Almost Live) about Seattle neighborhood street name mnemonic devices wrought after the oft-cited downtown version "Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest" for Jefferson, James, Cherry, Columbia, Marion, Madison, Spring, Seneca, University, Union, Pike, Pine.

Here's the South Lake Union adaptation they came up with: "Allen Decides What Transpires For a Million Years" for Aloha, Denny, Westlake, Terry, Fairview, Mercer, Yale.

Pretty fitting I'd say, but probably not all that helpful if you get lost since the streets are out of order.

Can you come up with a better one? Feel free to use different street names, or actually go in order east-west/north-south, etc. Add yours in the comments!

BioTour Bus Outside of Alcyone

This blue bio-diesel beast was spotted outside of Alcyone this afternoon. Not only does it run on vegetable oil, but four photovoltaic panels power onboard electronic devices such as laptops, cell phones, cameras and stereo – and what's more – the interior has bamboo hardwood flooring!

What's it doing in South Lake Union? According to their website, they just made a stop at the University of Washington yesterday and plan on being in Iowa by Wednesday, May 14.

What's BioTour all about? You may have already guessed at it, but here's the mission:

BioTour is a journey that aims to enliven the Sustainability Movement while exploring the depths of America—the people, land and cultures. BioTour addresses the vital issues of climate change, environmental degradation and peak oil while presenting pathways toward sustainability in renewable energy and active democracy.

Check out biotour.org for more information. And guess what? They have a social network just like us! Join both to win extra points.

I couldn't locate the crew for an interview, but they were likely here to check out the p-patch and SLU's other green features.

Hope you enjoyed your time here and good luck on the rest of your tour. Come back and see us soon!

Only in South Lake Union

Seen on Thomas and Pontius from right to left: a Scooter, a Smart Car and a G-wagon.

More SLUFAN Drama

Reader STurner59 let us know the SLUFAN board had its own meeting behind closed doors following Tuesday's public meeting to discuss possible zoning changes and decide between two board candidates. Both agenda items were postponed until next month after discussions got a bit heated. Here's what STurner59 told us:

I was at the SLUFAN meeting yesterday, until they closed the meeting to the press and public.

...

The controversy over board positions has nothing to do with Noel [Franklin]. It was those in control of the Board, however, who chose to leave on two expired board positions rather than appoint Noel to one of them.

The reality is that the SLUFAN board is attempting to use absentee votes and the votes of expired board members in trying to remove the only representative of residential interests while adding Noel, who will become the fifth representative of the non-profit community organization constituency.

Clearly, in the meeting I attended, emotions got in the way of any analysis of the facts. The attacks on Diane Masson were unwarranted. It is outrageous to think that it is a sin to talk to the press or to stand up for the residential community.

Everyone should be aware that all of the public was kicked out of the room for an “executive session.” I understand that the attacks on Diane Masson were intensified once this session was underway out of sight of the public and press.

Shame on those on the SLUFAN board who make their attacks in a secret meeting. South Lake Union does not belong to you. You represent the public. If you are not willing to let the public see you act in your meetings, you should not purport to represent the public and should refrain from making any recommendations to the City supposedly reflecting public interest.

This revelation certainly gives more weight to a comment made by City Councilwoman Sally Clark in a recent P-I article:

"I wouldn't say that my concerns are that SLUFAN is pro-development, but that everybody be at the table and have a voice. If they are voting people in or off the board based on whether they are pro- or con-development, that would be a big concern."

I may think Diane Masson's claims are hypocritical and self-serving, but a mangled board election process and closed door power-plays are no way to combat the NIMBYist sentiment.

What's a Woonerf?

I've been thinking South Lake Union has been missing something, but until now I couldn't quite point a finger to it. What's that you ask? Why, woonerven of course.

Blume Co. had a design review last night on its 780,000 sq. ft. biotech campus planned for Mercer & Yale. By far the most interesting part of the project is Blume and architect NBBJ's incorporation of a woonerf. What exactly is a woonerf? Here's the explanation from Blume's website:

The rough translation of woonerf is “street for living." Woonerven, the plural of woonerf, are more like piazzas than parkways. Children can play in the middle of a woonerf because they and other pedestrians have priority over automobiles. Cars are still allowed. But they must travel at walking speed as they navigate around trees, planters, bollards and other obstacles.

Woonerven not only are pleasant places to gather, they also encourage and reward sustainable commuting choices, such as bicycling and walking.

The woonerf would be Seattle's first. What strikes me from the renderings below is the similarity to Alley 24, also on Yale Ave (Alley 24 was also designed by NBBJ and serves as its headquarters).

Blume's woonerf might just be a continuation of what the REI parking garage bottleneck and Vivace foot-traffic have created out front of Alley 24. The one thing Alley 24 has going for it that Blume's campus will not, however, is the 172 apartment units on-site. The campus (map for Yale Campus South and Yale Campus North) is also much closer to the freeway by the Mercer on-ramp, which draws less pedestrian activity than the area surrounding Cascade Park.

In any case, it's great to see a developer integrate pedestrian-friendly ideas into their projects. If it's executed properly with good retail uses I'm sure the woonerf will be a hit.

Here's what Blume's Tara Raymond had to say about the project's status:

“We don’t have any signed leases and we are still in the planning stages,” says Blume’s Tara Raymond. “If we had a medical or biotech company come along that would be fine, or if one of Amazon’s partners came along, we would be thrilled.“ But will such a tenant be looking for spendy new digs in this mopey economy? “Actually, its interesting because the need [for office space] is there, unlike the residential decline,” says Raymond. “I actually think that things are getting better. Knock on wood, of course.”

Thanks SLOG.

SLUFAN board seat still in question

SLOG has an account of the SLUFAN meeting at the South Lake Union Armory Building on Tuesday, detailing some upheaval surrounding the open seat on the board, in addition to the rezoning proposals detailed here.

A meeting of the South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors group (SLUFAN), a community group loyal to the mayor’s and Vulcan’s development agenda, last night was supposed to accomplish, among other things, two goals: to hold an “urban form discussion” about its rezoning proposals for neighborhood growth, and to choose between two candidates tied for a board seat in a neighborhood-wide election. Easier said than done.

...

In the middle of the presentation, a woman stomped into the crowded room, threw her coat at the feet of Oliver, the board president, and plopped herself down at the big table. This, it turned out, was Noel Franklin—the challenger for the board’s open seat. At the other end of the table was incumbent board member Diane Masson. But when the two were asked to introduce themselves—basically to give a stump speech about what swell board members they would make—each launched into tirades.

Masson, of the Mirabella retirement community, was furious at the board for failing to announce positions to be reappointed at the same time she sought to be reelected. “Why was I singled out—why was the decision made, and why was it not brought to the full board?” she asked. The error did violate the bylaws, conceded one board member. But, replied board member Jill Mackie of the Seattle Times, “You’re making accusations that are unfair and sad.” The crowd hung on every word and squirmed.

Then Franklin, of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, voiced outrage that she had been mentioned but wasn’t quoted in the PI article, specifically believing the story had cast her as supporting skyscrapers. Then she asked the stunned board, "Why wasn't I interviewed?" (The updated Web version of the article now includes quotes from Franklin and clarifies her neutrality on zoning issues). “I got broadsided so hard core today, I don’t even know what to say,” Franklin told the room. The unexpected turbulence clearly shook the board, which agreed, at Masson’s request, to delay the tie-breaking vote until June. Should be a tough call.

Read more on SLOG.

Funding, Funding where is the Funding

Mercer Mess Update

The Seattle City Council gave the go ahead to the Spokane Street Viaduct project on Tuesday, but in regards to the Mercer Fix the Council told Nickels - show us the money!

The project isn't dead, but the Nickels administration must show documentation on how they plan to fill the $88M shortfall. Nickels said he could get federal and state grant money along with $36M from private sources to help cover construction—let's hope he can back it up.

Read more on the P-I.


The S.L.U.T. gets around

Meanwhile, SDOT proposed four possible streetcar extensions, each connecting to the South Lake Union line or the new light-rail line, opening next year. The four proposed lines are as follows:

• Central Line. Streetcars would run every six minutes from KeyArena along First Avenue through downtown, turning east on South Jackson Street and end at 23rd Avenue South. Crunican favors doing this project first, given the uncertain future of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Cost: $180 million.
  


• Fremont/Ballard Line. Streetcars would run every 10 to 15 minutes from 22nd Avenue Northwest and Northwest Market Street in Ballard, through Fremont and end at the South Lake Union line. Cost: $130 million
  


• First Hill/Capitol Hill Line. Streetcars would run every 12 minutes from East Aloha Street, south on Broadway, ending at Union Station. Cost: $110 million
  


• U-Line. Streetcars would run every 10 minutes from the University of Washington along Eastlake Avenue East to the South Lake Union line. Cost: $170 million.

The money for the projects would come from property owners, transportation agencies and other public grants. I think it's a solid proposal and would love for the plans to come to fruition—but there's that pesky funding issue again.

Read more in the Seattle Times.

Holy Hypocrisy Batman!

Mirabella on Denny & Fairview

Seattle P-I ran an article today indulging the views of one South Lake Union constituent concerning the South Lake Union Neighborhood Plan, specifically around a proposal to increase heights and density by parks and public transit. Representatives of Pacific Retirement Services, developers of Mirabella (pictured above), lay it on pretty thick:

Masson, a SLUFAN board member said she speaks for many concerned about the impact of 40-story-high structures that could block views, including those of Mirabella, and undermine a goal in South Lake Union's recently approved neighborhood plan -- livability.

"Any way you look at this, 400-foot height limits is very scary," said Masson, regional marketing director for Mirabella, a continuing retirement community run by Pacific Retirement Services.

"It's scandalous, what's happening in South Lake Union," said Peter Buck, an attorney representing Pacific Retirement Services, a South Lake Union property owner concerned with increased heights.

"Building 400 feet and out to the lot line could create a concrete jungle and blot out the sun," she said.

The comments coming from these posturing proponents of livability are especially laughable when you look at their own project – Mirabella, a massive structure covering an entire city block with no setbacks. I feel somewhat bad attacking an assisted-living facility, and I applaud their efforts in that arena, but they have no ground to stand on here.

There is a refreshing perspective from Queen Anne Community Council member John Coney towards the end of the article:

Coney is aware of the upzone plans, and supports them, he said. The 400-foot-tall buildings, such as the pedestal buildings in Vancouver, B.C., that are broad at the base but slim on upper stories, do not block views, he said.

"I favor a few, tall narrow towers. ... It's not true that 400-tall buildings will block views," said Coney, who favors concentrating jobs, buildings and residential density in South Lake Union."

The principle behind urban centers is ... that you provide people the opportunity to live near where they work."

Which saves more views and is more aesthetically pleasing – Vancouver-like pedestal buildings built and arranged in such a way to preserve key public view corridors (as set out in the South Lake Union Neighborhood Plan), or a chunky 12-story building with little in the way of height variation or appealing design?

Masson of Pacific is a SLUFAN board member and was involved in the neighborhood planning process, so she knows the goal was not to create an unlivable concrete jungle, but a dense, sustainable urban community. It seems that once Mirabella received the green light she turned her back on density and is now looking out for her own interests.

I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this, whether they conflict with mine or not.

Carbon 56 For Rent?

Matt at urbnlivn is reporting that Carbon 56, a condo conversion, is now advertising its units as rentals (with a billboard on Aurora), even whilst its units are still on the MLS!

Evidently they couldn't move the units, but it wasn't for lack of trying. We've seen some creative (read desperate) marketing in the past, with folks in sandwich boards waving at passers by on Denny.

I'm not sure this is as much a sign of a slowing housing market in Seattle>Downtown>South Lake Union as it is a result of a stubborn owner/developer and tricky units to market and sell.

Portage Bay Cafe Now Open

As promised, Portage Bay Cafe has opened its second location in the Westlake/Terry building. We didn't get a chance to try it out this weekend, but its supposed to be a carbon copy of the exquisite original—minus the hour-long waits. Looking from the outside in, the new restaurant looks very spacious with good design, but I didn't see any crew boats hanging from the ceiling.

Has anyone tried it out yet?

Update: Crew boats are hanging from the ceiling. Thanks, Chris.

South Lake Union has Pets!

South Lake Union has been billed by its promoters as a pet-friendly neighborhood. Whether that's true or not, there's definitely no shortage of four-legged friends in the vicinity. However, due to undeveloped typing skills, they are often under-represented on the web.

The South Lake Union Community site aims to fix that. We've created a group especially for pets and their owners. Introduce your little guy today, and share tips on the best places for a walk, buy pet food/treats/toys, etc. with other SLU pet owners while your at it.

Your South Lake Union Critical Crossings

Seattle City Council member Nick Licata is looking to Seattle citizens to help identify the city's most treacherous intersections in order to improve pedestrian safety.

Licata is accepting your photos and depictions of 'critical crossings' and will post them here monthly. Licata says that the information provided by citizens will be used, together with other sources of information and engineering judgments, to develop priorities in improving pedestrian safety.

South Lake Union certainly is not without its problematic crosswalks. The one that first comes to mind is Stewart & Yale in front of 24 Hour Fitness, one I walk across everyday on the way home from work. Those coming down the hill on Denny rip around the corner to get on I-5, rarely looking for pedestrians who have right of way.

View Larger Map

Have a perilous intersection of your own? Let us know about them here, or follow these instructions to submit your entries to Mr. Licata:

• Email your digital photos to my legislative assistant at frank.video@seattle.gov. In the subject line type: "Critical Crossings".
• Name the cross streets of each intersection you submit, i.e. "Slowpoke Avenue North and Busy Boulevard Southwest".
• Include any comments you wish to make about each intersection you submit.
• Let me know if you want to post your email address next to your photo so others can contact you.
• Submit images in JPG or GIF format. The image should be 640 x 480 pixels or larger. To insure quality, images smaller then 640 x 480 pixels will not be posted on this site.

May is Bike to Work Month

Cascade Bicycle Club is organizing Bike to Work/School Month:

BTW/S helps the Puget Sound Region meet its goals of encouraging more bicycling for transportation. Specifically the city of Seattle’s new Bicycle Master Plan specifies a goal of tripling the use of bicycling in Seattle for all trip purposes by 2017. Cascade works towards that goal by providing commute programs for individuals and businesses.

Check out the Bike to Work Month Schedule of Events which includes the Vulcan Bike to Work Breakfast May 7, Starbucks Bike to Work Day May 16, and the thirty day Group Health Commute Challenge.

Another great reason to hop on those new bike lanes on 9th ave.

Opening Day this Saturday

Saturday, May 3 is Opening Day. No, not baseball—the Mariners have been at it for awhile now—but a huge parade of boats and yachts on through the Montlake Cut, a canal that connects Lake Union to Lake Washington. Husky Crew will also be facing off against the Poles on Saturday in the 2008 Windermere Cup race.

The Seattle Yacht Club, who has been hosting the event since its inception in 1913, has a full history on its website as well as a schedule of the days events.

The Center for Wooden Boats

Serenity, originally uploaded by JHP -- Freedom for ALL!

Hope some of you had a chance to check out the grand opening of Lake Union Park's first phase—here's a link for those that missed it—and scoped out the awesome collection of wooden boats while you were there!

For a little background on the Center for Wooden Boats and how it came to be, see this story in the P-I.

Their collection of small wooden vessels includes sloops, sprits, longboats, yawls, knockabouts, gillnetters, coracles, skiffs, dinghies, dories, steam launches, dugout canoes, umiaks, Eskimo kayaks and pedal boats. And they want you to come and sail, row or paddle them. Or just come down and mess about these boats.

Or better yet, experience it in person—the Center has free public sails (or as the P-I has it: "pubic sales", whoops) every Sunday at 2:00pm and a variety of other programs. Check out the Center's website for details.

South Lake Union Events!

South Lake Union has events! And they're cool ones! Let us remind you that the Grand Opening of Lake Union Park Phase 1 is tomorrow starting at 11:00am. The Southlake won't be there unfortunately, so be sure to upload any photos to the pool and/or let us know how it goes.

Also, the details behind Vulcan Real Estate's summer events have been released. For those of you who are new to the neighborhood, Vulcan RE organizes a few outdoor movie screenings next to the SLU Discovery Center on Denny and Westlake as well as a Block Party with music, food and another movie.

Cinema on the Lawn Series:

Friday, July 11 – KEXP 90.3 DJ pick
Friday, July 25 – Bring It On (PG-13)

South Lake Union Block Party

Friday, August 8 – The 4th annual Block Party will feature music from a variety of local bands, including Kings of Hawaii, a burger challenge, a 'muttmazing race' and glamour shots for your dog, the critically acclaimed movie 'Juno', and—best of all—a Redhook beer garden.

Click here for more information and to RSVP. RSVP'ing isn't required, but it's only polite, right?

Have a South Lake Union event? Let everyone know about it.

South Lake Union Development

Photo: hugeasscity

Take a stroll down Denny Way with danb at hugeasscity. On the tour: Taylor 28, Borealis Apartments, Rollin Street, Enso, West 8th and Mirabella.