Roosevelet Neighbors' Alliance


 
Discussions: President Jay Regenstreif lead discussions through the year on:
  1. King County and Seattle City Budgets
  2. Green Lake/Roosevelt Art Corridor
  3. Park use concerns and designing the Landmark Project for University Playground
  4. Transportation issues such as Link Light Rail
  5. Earthquake preparedness with guest Roger Faris from the Well Home Program

Land Use: Advisors Phil Thiel and Eric Larson helped RNA neighbors to monitor and comment on local developments and zoning issues. RNA appealed a request by Metro theater group to reduce parking requirements that were set up when the theater was built. This appeal was denied. Future work will involve the growing need to address congregate-style development, most with inadequate parking facilities. Susan Coleman is investigating a joint Land Use Committee with other area groups and interested residents.

University Playground Park: New to the park in 2002 is the city’s first municipal Petanque Court as well as expanded pathways, sitting areas and new trees. Work is ongoing on the Landmark Project, Phase Four of the University Playground Comprehensive Project  --
    The Landmark Project is the current park improvement phase chaired by Nancy Bocek and Mary Hausladen:  
  • The fence is designed by Daniel Winterbottom, through a NMF Small and Simple grant awarded in October 2001.
  • Through a King County Special Programs grant, Artist Tracy Hager has been working with the community to acquire artifacts that have personal and neighborhood significance for the art. (Please see display at the U. Branch Library or the RNA website.)
  • The project includes new ball field and tennis court fencing, tennis court resurfacing and a public art piece.
  • The total project cost of $665,800 will be raised from sources such as the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) grant, King County Youth Facilities (all pending).
  • The tennis courts will be resurfaced through the Cumulative Reserve Fund in 2003 for $76,000.
  • Local residents and businesses have given to the project as well.
  • Safeco Corporation awarded RNA with a $10,000 grant that has provided seed money for our University Playground Comprehensive Project. 
  • Fundraising will continue in 2003.
  • Construction is targeted for Spring of 2004.

Open Space: The RNA spearheaded the U-District community’s effort to obtain $1 million ProParks Levy Opportunity Fund park acquisition funding.  The money was awarded by the ProParks Levy Oversight Committee in September, 2001. The RNA and University District community will work with the Seattle Parks Department to select a site in 2003.

Annual Street Fund / Cumulative Reserve Fund Projects: This is the funding source that made recent improvements to University Playfield. This year two RNA supported projects placed well: At # 3 - Cowen Park pedestrian access improvements across Ravenna Blvd and # 4 - Resurfacing of University Playfield Tennis Court. If 2002 funding for the program is sufficient these projects will be completed next year.

Transportation (2002): Hans Aschenbach worked on the UW Master Plan Transportation elements. Hans and Jay Regenstreif followed the Link Light Rail developments and Sound Transit.  Several different light rail alignments are being considered to cross the ship canal. In 2003 the supplemental EIS will be completed and will require comment.

Northeast District Council (NEDC): Hans Aschenbach is the RNA rep and NEDC Vice-chair and led NEDC to develop positions on issues such as Link Light Rail and the Ave Project.  Karen Schmidt serves as alternate.

City/University/Community Advisory Council (CUCAC): CUCAC was established to provide community input into the University’s physical development, to review and comment on its potential effects on surrounding communities. Eric Larson is the RNA representative. Hans Aschenbach is alternate. Over the past year CUCAC has reviewed and commented on the new Campus Master Plan to the University and the City (DCLU and Council).   While CUCAC and the University found most aspects of the plan uncontroversial - certain issues have proved contentious, like the question of how trips to the UW should be counted for estimating UW generated traffic, the remodeling of the golf driving range, and the extent to which the development plan should be detailed. For more information see http://www.washington.edu/community/cucac.html or contact Eric Larson.

UW Master Plan (UWMP): Hans Aschenbach brought RNA's concerns about the UWMP transportation element to the broader forum of NEDC. This process has gone through the Hearing Examiner (Feb) to the City Council (June to present). It is not finished, but to date these are the Council’s preliminary decisions:

  1. Temporarily reinstates the cordon count
  2. Requires continued counting of visitors and patients
  3. Calls for bike lane improvements at the north end of University Bridge
  4. Subjects the UW to real penalties if the peak hour vehicle caps are exceeded
  5. Makes permanent the requirement for UW to fund RPZs
  6. Causes the UW to pay for additional parking enforcement in the RPZs
Hans Aschenbach led all of these initiatives and numerous other transportation oriented changes added to UWMP.

Seattle Police Dep't North Precinct Advisory Council (NPAC): Lynn Jones represents the RNA at the NPAC monthly meetings.  The agenda typically includes speakers on topics of public safety or law enforcement issues. NPAC has hosted Seattle's Mayor and Chief of Police, as well as representatives from the City Attorney's office and various police task forces.  Information is shared about important votes and issues (like the Teen Dance Ordinance and public safety funding cuts) as well as sharing our concerns about our own neighborhoods.  

Ravenna Creek Daylighting: RNA's representative Arn Slettebak participated in the Ravenna Creek workshops to daylight the stream in such a way that it would enhance the experience of park visitors, and link-up as naturally and aesthetically as possible with the primary trails paralleling the existing creek. A plan yet to be approved by the City Council will retain the playing fields, but allow space for re-establishing natural vegetation along the banks of the stream and the adjacent trail, as well as space for artwork specially commissioned for that area.

"Gems Project": RNA rep. Susan Coleman helped the U-District Arts and Heritage Committee to document more than 600 buildings in a field survey of properties over 40 years old. The information gathered on the 125 most significant properties will be used for nominating and evaluating future landmarks in the area.  The project was a pilot for the city and offers a good model for other neighborhoods wishing to prepare a neighborhood historical survey.

The Ave Group: Susan Coleman has participated in the Ave improvements. The Ave Group is planning a celebration for the completion of the 4200 block and ongoing promotions for the Ave, to attract both new customers and new tenants. In Nov 2001 ,NEDC Vice-Chair Aschenbach led a NEDC Resolution to support the “Ave” project work ing with a group of U-District Community citizens. He was anchor speaker in a lobbying effort to the City Council for fund ing . Despite looming budget difficulties the $4.6M project was funded and is currently in progress.