While we’re talking about traffic and bridges and all of that, here’s one more update…
One southbound lane of 15th Avenue NE will be closed at several locations between NE 107th Street and NE 140th Street, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., from Monday, May 10 to Wednesday, May 12.
A contractor plans to install fiber optics at nine vaults along 15th Ave NE, working at three sites at a time. Drivers should plan on congestion and allow extra time for their trips while this work is underway.
I actually talked to the contractor about this one because I see fiber optics and my eyes light up. Unfortunately it doesn’t sound like this has anything do with fiber to the home Internet connections for people near 15th Ave NE. Instead, this is preventative maintenance having to do with the bridge work further south. Lines have to be re-routed due to that work to prevent an interruption in service. Also, I might very well be the only person who thought of that but oh well.
There is a traffic safety issue at the intersection of Roosevelt and NE 114th St. (east from Roosevelt). I called Seattle’s Neighborhood Traffic Department today and notified them that vehicles are often (almost always) parked immediately north and south of NE 114th St. on Roosevelt (across the street from the Great Dog shop). The parked cars are usually less than 30 feet from the intersection and due to the layout and elevation differences, make it extremely difficult for anyone attempting to turn onto Roosevelt from NE 114th St. to see oncoming traffic. The result is that cars turning onto Roosevelt from NE 114th often cause near misses due to the inability to see oncoming traffic or the need to pull out into traffic to see.
I suggested that it may be a simple matter of enforcing the city ordnance requiring vehicles park more than 30 feet from the intersection, but it may be necessary to place signs (i.e. “no parking south of here”) more than 30 feet from the intersection to ensure that visibility is protected.
As you know there is often lots of traffic that is headed for the Display and Costume Store. Because you can no longer turn direct from northbound Roosevelt/Pinehurst Way into the Display and Costume parking lot, drivers coming from both north and south approach on Pinehurst Way to NE 114th Street, then west on NE 114th St. to turn south on Roosevelt. While not technically an arterial, this route gets quite a bit of traffic around holidays when people are shopping for decorations and gets a fair amount of daily traffic for the businesses that are on Roosevelt north of Pinehurst Way. I have nothing against these businesses and it appears that they have good parking options both onsite and on the street in the area. We just need the sightlines at the intersection in question to be preserved.
If you want to post this on the blog and let people know that they can chime in by calling the Neighborhood Traffic Department at 233-0033 and reference customer inquiry number 11412, that would be great. Reportedly this is under investigation and some kind of result will be obtained in 3-4 weeks.
They might not be OUR top priority projects but it’s still always good to see projects in the area…
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will construct new sidewalks this year on two Northgate area streets, 15th Avenue NE and First Avenue NE, connecting existing sidewalks. The work will improve pedestrian safety and make it easier and more comfortable to walk along these busy streets.
The new sidewalk on 15th Avenue NE will be on the east side of the street between the bridge at NE 105th Street and NE Northgate Way. On First Avenue NE, the new sidewalks will also be on the east side of the street, between NE 92nd Street and the Northgate Transit Center, filling the gaps in the existing sidewalk network. The start date for construction has not yet been set. Watch for “no-parking” signs at the sites a few days before work begins.
These improvements are among the 15 blocks of new sidewalks that SDOT is constructing this year, selected using Seattle’s newly-adopted Pedestrian Master Plan, designed to make Seattle the most walkable city in the nation. The plan prioritizes sidewalk projects in high priority areas for pedestrian improvements and on busy streets where there are gaps in the sidewalk network. Funding is provided by the Bridging the Gap levy passed by Seattle voters in 2006.
The North District Council is meeting in Pinehurst tonight and I really wanted to stress the emergency preparedness program. The city is going to be putting on a special program to help teach people about emergency preparedness. As their blurb says, it should be fun and informative. And beyond that, it’s a very important topic and everybody should be well prepared.
Emergency Preparedness Program:
During this fun and informative program, learn about the hazards we’re most likely to face in Washington, how to take a quake-safe action wherever you are and how to take care of yourself and family. Personal preparedness focus includes putting together an emergency kit, making a family plan and learning skills that keep you safe and self-sufficient. Program put on by Seattle Office of Emergency Management.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
6:30pm – 8:30 pm
Downstairs at the Holy Trinity Eritrean Church
12327 15th Ave. NE
Today the office of Mayor Mike McGinn announced that the Seattle Channel will live-stream to the Internet tonight’s Mayor-Council public budget hearing.
The Mayor’s Office and the Seattle Channel have worked together to launch this new effort toward better government transparency. Embedding the video online will enable a far wider segment of Seattle residents to follow the city’s budget process. Live-streaming video is an ongoing project with the Seattle Channel working to live-stream events whenever possible.
Today is the second of two public budget hearings jointly held by the City Council and Mayor Mike McGinn. Tonight’s hearing is at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way North. Sign-in begins at 5:00 p.m. and the public hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. The live-stream will go live at 5:30 p.m.
A couple of us visited a charming, small cottage community in Shoreline last weekend. This note was pinned on the common building’s notice board. Unfortunately we don’t know the author, so our apologies to her/him for not giving credit. It reminds us of good reasons for getting to know our neighbors:
“Crime is lower in areas where residents engage with each other as neighbors. Both common sense and research support this. Safe, healthy neighborhoods provide many settings and ways for citizens of the neighborhood to interact in positive ways with each other. Coffee shops, community centers, libraries, grocery stores, parks and churches all provide settings for engaging with one’s neighbors. Various community organizations such as local community councils, business chambers and historical societies do the same. So do neighborhood festivals and events.
However, when it comes to crime prevention, probably no interaction is more important than engaging as a neighbor with the people on one’s block.
Neighboring is a unique relationship. It is different from family relationships and intimate friendships, though family and friends can also be neighbors. Neighboring does not require an intimate knowledge of a neighbor’s private life. In fact, respect for a neighbor’s privacy is basic to good neighboring. Neighboring does mean having knowledge of who lives where and who is not a resident of the block. Neighboring means calling the police if a non-resident is breaking into a neighbor’s window or spraying graffiti on her fence. On blocks where neighboring is strong, residents may even help each other out, be it shoveling snow off an elderly resident’s sidewalk, baby sitting or helping each other on home remodeling projects.
Unlike family and friends, neighbors may have vastly different backgrounds from each other. They may worship different gods, root for different teams and vote for different candidates, but they are neighbors. The basis of the neighboring bond is sharing a place. Nobody, not family, not friends, cares so much about a particular spot on the globe as much as the neighbors who live and work there.
We live in an era when it is often difficult to get to know the people on our block. Many of us are hardly ever home. We spend most of our waking hours working and commuting. All household members who can work must work in order to pay the rent or mortgage. A sense of community does not just happen anymore. We have to work at building it.”
The city is looking at how they respond to graffiti and looking for feedback. What does everybody think? Is graffiti a big problem here? I see it around though it’s obviously not nearly as bad as some neighborhoods… Do you think it should be a big priority for the city?
The City of Seattle Office of City Auditor is conducting a review of the City’s response to graffiti. We have developed this brief audit questionnaire to help us gather information from individuals, businesses, and organizations about how graffiti affects them.
***Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this questionnaire. Please complete your questionnaire by May 10, 2010.*** Please feel free to pass this questionnaire along to others who may want to share their views.
I got sent some information on a new café that just opened. I’m excited to see how the dog friendly seating lounge will work out…
Located next to Great Dog at 11335 Roosevelt Way NE, we offer Caffe Vita coffee, Macrina Bakery pastries (yum!) and a custom Toast Bar. Monday, May 10 from 4-7pm is our Grand Opening Celebration! Please swing by, hang out and drink Seattle’s favorite drink!
The café must be dog free (service dogs welcome), but…. Great Dog and BARK are in the process of creating a dog friendly seating lounge with a pass through window for espresso drinks where you can sit with your pooch, and enjoy the canine vibe with other dog lovers. The Canine Lounge will be available starting on Monday, May 10.
Our hours will be 6:30am – 7pm Monday – Friday and 8-6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Great Dog Mission: Enriching the lives of dogs and the people who love them each and every day! Check out our website at http://www.gogreatdog.com. Our Not For Profit – www.projectcanine.org
I want to encourage everybody in the Pinehurst Community to attend the next North District Council meeting in Pinehurst on Wednesday. Everybody is always welcome but this meeting should be particularly engaging with a lot of valuable information. I think the portion on emergency preparedness will especially contain a lot of useful information for everybody.
North District Council: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 6:30pm – 8:30 pm (NOTE earlier start time)
Downstairs at the Holy Trinity Eritrean Church (NOTE change from usual location)
12327 15th Ave. NE (in Pinehurst neighborhood across street from Safeway demolition site)
Parking available on lower church level.
We will hear from Richard Conlin about Seattle city business, from Represntative Scott White about the recent session of the Washington State legislature, and we’ll get some valuable lessons about being prepared for emergencies, and how to respond if the need arises.
6:30-6:40 – Renee Barton on May 11 community event with “Planet Rhythm,” troupe of dancers ages 9-14
6:40-7:10 – Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin
7:10-7:30 – State Representative Scott White (46th District)
7:30-8:30 – Emergency Preparedness Program – details below:
Emergency Preparedness Program:
During this fun and informative program, learn about the hazards we’re most likely to face in Washington, how to take a quake-safe action wherever you are and how to take care of yourself and family. Personal preparedness focus includes putting together an emergency kit, making a family plan and learning skills that keep you safe and self-sufficient. Program put on by Seattle Office of Emergency Management.
From Michele: “This weekend’s breakfast special will be a sweet pepper and feta hash with roasted potatoes and egg. As always we will have fresh waffles available but this weekend add fresh strawberries and cream!”
