I already have an oregano plant elsewhere in the backyard (probably the mama of this new one), so I’m looking to find a home for the little guy.

I can haz a home?

CONTEST TIME!

The FIRST Ravenna/Bryant neighbor to email me the answer to the following question (in the comments below) will have Oregano Jr. here delivered to his/her doorstep!

• What was the name of the first postmaster at the Ravenna Post Office?

Good luck!

RHS Thriller Club article at My Green Lake - click to read at MyGreenLake.com

There’s a club at Roosevelt High School who will dress up as zombies, come to your October event, and perform the Thriller video zombie dance…for FREE!

Amy at My Green Lake has the story.

Wow. Clubs have sure changed since I was in high school.

The deadline for public comments about the Environmental Impact Survey for the Roosevelt Development Group’s proposed zoning changes is this Wednesday, September 1.

That’s TOMORROW.

Here’s the Quick and Dirty version of what to do (as posted in the Tremendously Long and Thorough version of a few days ago):

1. Look at this page. Read the top.
2. Read about the proposed rezoning alternatives (all six).
3. Look at these comment-making suggestions.
4. Think.
5. Type.
6. Email your comments to Shelley Bolser (shelley.bolser@seattle.gov) at the Department of Planning and Development.

This is OUR neighborhood, this is OUR conversation. Make your voice heard.

There are a few more viaduct projects to finish in October and November — lighting installation, finalizing the line striping and pedestrian markings, and replanting the surrounding area — but the detour will be no more, and life will return to normal…

…until January of next year, when two new construction projects are headed our way.

The Big One: 15th Avenue NE Reconstruction – NE Pacific Street to NE 55th Street

I’m sure we can all agree that the surface of 15th Avenue NE is a pothole-riddled disaster, and the increased traffic from the viaduct detour route isn’t doing it any favors.

Happily for us, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has plans in the works to reconstruct most of 15th Avenue between NE Pacific Street and NE 55th Street between January and October of 2011.

Project area for the 15th Ave NE reconstruction, courtesy SDOT

This popular arterial will be FULLY RECONSTRUCTED between NE Pacific Street and NE 50th Street between January and September, while the stretch between NE 50th Street and NE 55th Street will just get a repaving. Intersections at NE Pacific Street, NE 45th Street, and NE 50th Street will not be repaved as this was done more recently.

And there’s more!  From the SDOT’s 15th Avenue Reconstruction Project website:

Other improvements include:

• New curb ramps and curb bulbs to improve pedestrian mobility
• Sidewalk widening at bus zones (bus bulbs)
• Drainage upgrades
• Installation of a new marked crosswalk at NE 41st St
• New northbound left turn lane at NE 42nd St
• Upgraded street lighting system
• New electrical infrastructure for future transit improvements
• Transit improvements including
  • North to west turn restriction from 15th NE to NE 45th during some or all of the day
  • Expanded bus stop waiting areas (bus bulbs) at two locations
  • Bus stop consolidation where stops are too close together

All great stuff. But the area is going to be a general mess during the construction. Trolley wires will be turned off on weekends to accommodate construction needs. This means diesel buses will be traveling through the area instead. There will always be access to residences and businesses for pedestrians, but rerouting and/or detours could spring up. Vehicles will definitely be affected: No street = no street parking, and access to parking lots and garages will be affected as well.

The Wee One: The 22nd/Ravenna Ave/Ravenna Pl/54th/55th “Scramble”

Just like with the viaduct and the 22nd avenue NE repaving project, it seems as though the SDOT can fund another, smaller, nearby project through the bidding process for the 15th Avenue NE project. And this one should make pedestrians breathe a sigh of relief.

Here’s what the area in question looks like now:

The "Scramble," with street names

Street names removed, pedestrian "no-man's land" highlighted

And here are the current construction plans for the area (click image to open a larger version in a separate window):

Current "Scramble" construction project plans, courtesy SDOT

Two items of particular note in this graphic:

1. The BIG NEW CURB on the south side: To me, this piece is the key to the whole project. Pedestrians will now have a solid place to stand and be seen as they prepare to cross the intersection.  Cars will have a very distinct turn to and from Ravenna Pl NE. This is SO MUCH SAFER than the microscopic gravel no-man’s land that sits at that spot right now.
2. The “Pending Funding” area on the north side: Project Manager Jessica Murphy did not have high hopes that the funding would come through on this part, unfortunately.

________________________

I am very excited about both of these projects, but speaking both as a pedestrian and a driver, I really look forward to unscrambling the “Scramble.”

For More Information

For more information on these projects, visit the main 15th Avenue NE Reconstruction page and the accompanying FAQ page.

An open house thrown by the SDOT detailing these projects and their effects on the community will happen sometime this November or December.

Funding for these projects comes from the Bridging the Gap levy passed by Seattle voters in 2006.

You can see a specially-crafted Google Map of the “Scramble,” and scroll around all you please, right here.

Many thanks to Project Manager Jessica Murphy at the Seattle Department of Transportation and Kristine Edens from EnviroIssues for stopping by the August Ravenna-Bryant Community Association meeting and sharing this information.

UPDATE: Email update from the SDOT says that the projects will be advertised for competitive bids this month (September). Schedule remains unchanged.

SATURDAY

• Make an oven powered by the sun.
  • Solar Cooker class, University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE; 10am-2pm; $10, register by calling 527-4278
• Go to a winery open house in Roosevelt.
  • Eight Bells Winery open house, 6213B Roosevelt Way NE; 11am-5pm; please RVSP to rsvp [at] 8bellswindery.com
• And/Or stay in Ravenna and taste wine.
  • McCarthy & Schiering free tasting of Mark Ryan Winery selections; 11am-5pm, with Mark McNeilly at the shop from 11:30am-2pm
• Go play, eat, run, dance, paddle, bounce and more, all at the same place.
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Big Day of Play, Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way NE; 9:30am-5pm

SUNDAY

• See some art by local artists.
  • Art opening at University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave NE; 4-6pm
• Buy some stuff for your “inside or outside baby.”
  • Bumps and Babies Fair, Roosevelt Ale House parking lot, 8824 Roosevelt Way NE; 9:30am-4:30pm, boutique and consignment sellers

• Go to story time, no matter how old you are.
  • Adult Storytime, Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. NE; bring a short work from your favorite author or poet to read aloud

BOTH

• Pick up your holds and anything else from the library, before they’re all closed for a week.
  • Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 6801 35th Ave NE; Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-5pm

Anything else to add? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll edit the post!

There is a big ol’ list of SPL services that won’t work during the furlough (see above link for details), and many other news sources have listed them. The Ravenna Blog shall not.  We prefer to think positively about these things.

THUS, here are the Seattle Public Library services that WILL work during the closure:

• The online catalog!  But you can’t place holds.
• “My Account” information! See your fines, use the week off to find cash to pay them.
• Calendar of Events!
• SPL Mobile! The library system’s mobile phone app.
• Databases! Who doesn’t enjoy a romp through Consumer Reports?!
• Downloadable media! Got an e-reader of some sort? You may not even notice there’s a furlough happening.
• Digital collections! Photos from AYP, historical Seattle, and the like.
• Library BLOGS! Specifically “Push to Talk” for teens and “Shelf Talk” for adults.
• Library podcasts!

There you are! Your list of CAN DO for the furlough week. If you need anything else, you’ve got through Sunday, August 29.

GO GO GO!

I'd wager the parking here still works, too.

]]> http://www.ravennablog.com/2010/08/27/what-you-can-do-during-the-library-closure/feed/ 0 http://www.ravennablog.com/2010/08/26/sisleyville-eis-scoping-comments-deadline-nears/ http://www.ravennablog.com/2010/08/26/sisleyville-eis-scoping-comments-deadline-nears/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:26:33 +0000 Rebecca http://www.ravennablog.com/?p=800 NOW is the time to send in your thoughts about the proposed rezoning of the properties around 15th Ave NE and NE 65th St, if you haven’t already.  The deadline for public comments about the Environmental Impact Survey for the Roosevelt Development Group’s proposed zoning changes is next Wednesday, September 1.

If you feel well-informed on the issue, feel free to skip down to the “How should I send in my input?” part of this blog post and start there.

For the rest of us (myself included), I’ve hunted down answers to some common questions about the scoping process AND what the content and form of our comments should be.

What is the scoping process?

I found the following description of the scoping process in the Enviromental Scoping Information Report (EIS) for the East Link Project (applies to our situation as well; emphasis mine):

The purpose of scoping is to determine the range of alternatives and identify the potentially significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS. The scoping process is also intended to eliminate detailed study of those issues that are not significant and those issues that have been addressed by prior studies. This scoping process includes public meetings at which anyone may have their oral comments recorded and/or provide written comments. Written comments are encouraged throughout the scoping period.

In other words: Developers want to make big changes in your area. Here are their plans. What do you think?

There have been two public meetings on the Roosevelt/Ravenna rezone issue where public comments were recorded (sort of; DPD tries to explain what happened here, Glenn Roberts gives his impression here). Now the comment collection window is closing. It’s time to let the city know what YOU think about these rezone plans!

Why should I send in my input?

Again: Developers want to make big changes in your area. Here are their plans. What do you think?

It’s in OUR neighborhood where these proposed changes may take place, OUR backyards. It doesn’t matter whether you support the rezones or not: You should let your City know what you think, either way.

What should my input look like?

The Roosevelt Neighborhood Association has an excellent list of comment suggestions (MSWord doc) that will help you organize your thoughts in writing (no matter what side of the issue you’re on):

• Briefly explain who you are and why you are interested in the project.
• Comment only on issues relevant to the decision being made.
• State informed opinions and, where possible, include data to support your opinion.
• Keep focused on your objective.  You want DPD to hear your concerns and be compelled enough to investigate further.
• Ask for studies that you think are important but have not been provided.
• Ask to be added to the project mailing list and request a copy of the notice of decision. (You must give your mailing address, because notices are only sent through US Mail.)

The DPD has already identified six key elements for discussion in the Environmental Impact Survey for the Sisley properties (DPD Notice of Determination of Significance):

• Height, bulk and scale
• Land use
• Parking
• Housing
• Shadows on open spaces
• Traffic and Transportation

Now, the Roosevelt Development Group has outlined six different proposals for the EIS which were on display at the last scoping meeting on July 21st.  You may want to address specific plans in your comments (for instance, the plan that rezones the area for 160-foot-tall buildings). You can find a description of those alternatives here. Graphics of the six alternatives are also online (pdf, 5.6 MB file).

If you want to be a Thorough Theodore, you may want to apply ALL SIX key elements (Height, bulk and scale; Land use; etc.) to ALL SIX of the RDG’s six proposals.  Yeah, that’s a lot of work, but that’s what happens when a developer throws six different proposals out all at once.

If you like some direction on which of the six proposals you should spend your time on, Glenn Roberts (Roosevelt-Ravenna Zoning Issues) has the following to say (emphasis mine):

I agree with almost every remark made [in the scoping meeting transcripts]. And strongly agree that only Options #1, 2, and 6 be studied in the EIS. #1 is no change, #2 is the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association rezoning plan, and #6 (because it is so patently ridiculous) the 160′ RDG proposal.

How should I send in my input?

• By email: You may send along your comments to Shelley Bolser (shelley.bolser@seattle.gov) at the Department of Planning and Development.
• By fax: (206) 233-7902
• By mail: Here is a Blank RDG EIS Scoping Comment Form (pdf) you can mail in, also to Shelley. This comment form includes the list of six key elements for discussion mentioned above.  The address is:

City of Seattle
Department of Planning and Development, Attn: Shelley Bolser
700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000
PO BOX 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019

However you choose to send your comments in, INCLUDE THE PROJECT NUMBER: 3010100.

TO SUM UP:

1. Print out this page. Read the top.
2. Read about the proposed rezoning alternatives (all six).
3. Look at these comment-making suggestions.
4. Think.
5. Write.
6. Send it to the DPD by September 1.

_____________________

References

• An update on the proposed Roosevelt/Ravenna rezone scoping meeting saga is available on the DPD’s Bridging Connections news and events site.
• The Roosevelt Neighborhood Association‘s Land Use Committee has a page on the website devoted to the Roosevelt Development Group and its properties. There is a LOT here, including transcripts of the two scoping meetings (June 9, 2009 and July 21, 2010).
• Chapter 25.05 of the Seattle Municipal Code is all about the environmental policies and procedures of the city. If you have more questions about EISs or scoping, it should be in there.
• Glenn Roberts is a real estate agent in Seattle and a resident of Ravenna. He has been following the RDG/Sisleyville saga since 2005. His Roosevelt-Ravenna Zoning Issues blog is a mix of insights from both real estate and a community member standpoints. Ravenna Blog and The Roosevelt Neighborhood Blog also interviewed Glenn in July.

TODAY ONLY at daily deal maker Groupon, $5 will get you a $10 to spend at Peaks Frozen Custard (1026 NE 65th Street).

The link to the Groupon site for this deal is here.

If you haven’t been in to Peaks yet, and aren’t sure what flavors they have, here’s a link to their Flavor Forecast so you can see what you’ve been missing.

____________________

THANKS to Laura (LASdesigns ceramics on Etsy) and Deb for the tasty tips!

Things have been pretty quiet on the restaurant inspections front lately.  And then these four came across the wire just the other day:

• THE DUCHESS TAVERN 2827 NE 55TH ST (July 29) = 10 points (1 Red, 1 Blue)
• GAUDI BRASERIA 3410 NE 55TH ST (July 29) = 15 points (1 Red, 2 Blue)
• PIZZA HUT #12895 1505 NE 65TH ST (August 18) = 5 points (1 Blue)
• RISTORANTE LA PIAZZA 3426 NE 55TH ST (July 29) = 55 points (4 Red)

Because of its high inspection score, Ristorante La Piazza will be revisited by inspectors in two weeks for a reevaluation. In fact, it’s probably already happened: Inspection reports are available online two weeks after the fact.

All establishments with Red violations (the violations that are most likely to cause food borne illness) get them dealt with on the spot, no matter the inspection score total.  “Environmental Health Specialists work with operators to make sure that red critical violations are corrected before they leave the establishment,” sayeth the King County Public Health site (my emphasis).

For a more in-depth description of  restaurant inspection scores, read our old post, “Restaurant Inspection Round-Up Redo.”

Furthermore, I’ll offer up a new tag line to these restaurant inspection posts:

Ravenna Blog wants you to know: We’d eat at any of these restaurants, at any time…especially if you’re buying.

Ravenna-Eckstein Playground on dedication day, September 5, 2008

The Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6535 Ravenna Ave NE) is hosting its annual Final Fling party TOMORROW, Wednesday, August 25th, from 6-8pm. It does cost a whole dollar to partake, but there’s a barbecue dinner and CAKE in it for you. Balloon Buffoon will also be on hand to create his impressive balloon creations.

The balloon line on dedication day.

This event has also become the Ravenna-Eckstein Playground’s annual birthday party. Technically, the current version of the playground was dedicated on September 5, 2008 (read our post “You may now commence the fun” for a look back at the ceremony), but why take a chance on September weather?