April 2009

Fairmount Park Elementary School, which closed in 2007 to merge with High Point Elementary--now called West Seattle Elementary School--will be used for summer school programs this year.

This is the first time since the school program was closed that the building has been utilized.

David Tucker, Seattle Public School's media relations officer, explained that the district decided to use the closed building so that existing classrooms would not be disrupted and to prevent instances of vandalism by activating the building.

Their choice to use this location was also based on its easy access for West Seattle students.

Second, third and fifth grade students, as well as extended-year special education programs will be studying at Fairmount this summer.

At least 10 public park projects in the greater Ballard area will receive funds from the 2008 voter-approved Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy.

A record 59 percent of voters supported the $146 million six-year levy that provides money for greenspaces, neighborhood parks and playfields, according to the city.

The levy will cost homeowners about $81 a year on a home valued at about $450,000.

The list of projects in the Ballard/Crown HIll area are as follows:

Northacres Park Playground
$550,000 to improve safety issues.

Golden Gardens Playground
$500,000 to renovate and improve safety issues.

Crown HIll Elementary Park
$1.2 million, development of park land that is expected to be acquired from the Seattle School District.

Sandel Playground
$350,000 renovation to improve and address safety issues.

7th Elect Site Park
$800,000 development of parcel at 7028 9th Ave. N.W. (bought with Pro Parks Levy and other funds).

Woodland Park Playground
$350,000 renovation and improve safety issues.

Lower Woodland Playfields
More than $5 million to renovate fields and install synthetic turf.

A meeting will be held at the West Seattle Golf Course on May 6, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., to discuss projects designated for funds from the 2008 voter approved Parks and Green Spaces Levy as well as the levy's $15 million opportunity fund, which has not yet been allocated but will be used for neighborhood projects.

The following West Seattle parks have been designated funds from the 2008 voter approved Parks and Green Spaces Levy:

Delridge Playfield:
Renovate lit sand field to provide synthetic turf
Allocation: $3.2 million

Fairmount Playground:
Renovation to improve and address safety issues
Allocation: $170,000

Camp Long:
Renovation of this environmental learning center and family camp
Allocation: $1 million

West Duwamish Trail:
Create a linear park, including bicycle and trail improvements, along the Duwamish River
Allocation: $2 million

Georgetown Playfield Wading Pool:
Conversion of wading pool to a spray pad
Allocation: $400,000

Myrtle Reservoir Skatespot:
Development of a new skatepark
Allocation: $250,000

Roxhill Playground and Skatespot:

In the second recommendation meeting for a mixed-use complex at 4532 42nd Ave. S.W., the Southwest Design Review Board requested that architects return for another review after making changes to the first level of the building.

The complex, located near the Alaska Junction, will measure six stories high and with 35 unit apartments and two levels of underground parking containing 55 parking stalls.

In his presentation, architect Roger Newell explained how the project's design had been modified to address concerns presented by the board in June of 2008. He explained that the building's mass at the ground level had been set back and aligned with the west property line.

To accommodate previous board recommendations, commercial retail space in the building had also been moved to the first level of the complex. Continuous overhead canopies have been added along the sidewalk.

But Joe Hurley, the only acting board member who had been present at the project's previous recommendation meeting, was not satisfied with the changes he saw in Newell's design.

The Southwest Design Review Board has recommended that a new government funded housing project, located at 2988 Avalon Way, move forward to apply for a master use permit with the city.

The housing complex is three and four stories high and includes 16 residential units and 16 on-site parking paces. Operated by Transitional Resources, it will serve as a home for individuals, some who may have previously been homeless, with a mental illness that has affected their ability to find long-term housing. The residents are offered counseling and taught life skills so that they are able to live sustainable life.

The public seemed pleased with the project design and the supportive of the population it will serve.

"I'm really impressed with what's been done," said Sandra Melo, local resident.

Another housing development operated by Transitional Resources is located just north on Avalon Way. Mark Hewitt, who owns an office building next door to the developing property, attended the design review meeting to express his support of the work Transitional Resources has previously done in the neighborhood.

"They've been great neighbors and nice folks," he said.

Ballard High School principal Phil Brockman was presented with the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence April 9.

While attending a ceremony honoring the school's top students of the quarter, Brockman was surprised with the award by Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson and Alliance for Education President Patrick D’Amelio.

The award is for outstanding leadership from a secondary school principal and comes with a $50,000 grant for the school.

"The $50,000 is well-timed," Brockman said. "We know exactly what to do with it."

Brockman, a Ballard High School graduate, has worked for Seattle Public Schools for 26 years and been principal at Ballard since 2004.

Ballard Associated Student Body President Cole Finchen and Vice President Michael Gore introduced Brockman.

He always listens to suggestions from students, but he also goes above and beyond that because he is a man of action, they said.

Thursday, April 9

Lee Rude, The Rain Dogs, Dallas
Skylark Cafe, 9 p.m.
No cover, 21+

A diverse group of rock bands ranging from blues to americana.

Friday, April 10

Throwback Suburbia, Lund Bros, I Love Myselfs
Skylark Cafe, 9 p.m.
No cover, 21+

Opening acts Throwback Suburbia and Lund Bros have been described as powerpop while the I Love Myselfs have more of a rock/garage sound,.

Bug Nasties, Down With People, Green Handshake
Easy Street Records, 9:30 p.m.
$5 cover, 21+

Garage band Green Handshake will headlight with punk influenced sounds and light, locally inspired lyrics, support by psychedelic band Down With People and energy-packed The Bug Nasties, who describe themselves as "60's Mod R&B geared to shake your money maker!"

Saturday, April 11

80's Dance Party
Rocksport, 9:30 p.m.
$7 cover, 21+

Pillow Army, The Royal Bear, Bone Cave Ballet
Skylark Cafe, 9 p.m.
No cover, 21+

A night of progress, indie and folk rock.

Sunday, April 12

KJ Sherman, Julia Massey, Llewellyn
Skylark Cafe, 7 p.m.
No cover, 21+

The Ballard District Council approved the top five projects for the neighborhood that will compete for a share of the $1.3 million proved annually by the city under the Neighborhood Projects Fund at the April 8 meeting.

The first project is the development of sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvement on 28th Avenue Northwest from Market Street to Northwest 57th Street.

The second project is to improve the lighting at Salmon Bay Park.

The next prioritized project is the installation of a traffic circle at the intersection of Northwest 62nd Street and Ninth Avenue Northwest.

Next is to improve and repair the walkway on Northwest 100th Street from Eighth Avenue Northwest to 15th Avenue Northwest.

Lastly, the council prioritized the establishment of an eastbound right turn lane at 24th Avenue Northwest and Market Street.

The council named five back-up projects as well: new traffic circles at 67th Street and 18th Avenue and 26th Avenue and 63rd Street, landscaping of a traffic circle at 87th and 17th Avenue, a new walkway on 10th and 17th Avenue between 85th and 87th Street, and improved pedestrian crossing at 14th Avenue and 60 Street.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will host three open houses in April and May to propose to the community about the possibility of standardizing park operating hours.

The open houses will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 27, at Green Lake Community Center, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive N.; on Monday, May 4, at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E.; and on Thursday, May 7, at Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave. S.
 
As established by Seattle City Council ordinance, most Seattle parks are open from 4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. But the Parks Superintendent, Tim Gallagher, has the authority to make exceptions to this rule.

Numerous exceptions have been made over the years in response to problems in some parks that include noise, graffiti, and alcohol and drug use. As a result, Seattle Parks and Recreation has a patchwork of park operating hours.
 
The purpose of this proposal is to reduce the opportunity for confusion about what each park’s operating hours are, and to alleviate actual and perceived neighborhood safety issues.
 

Two residents, who live on Ballard Avenue overlooking Marvin Gardens, submitted an 80-signature petition to the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation at the April 8 Ballard District Council meeting in an attempt to make the downtown Ballard parks safer.

The petition asks the city to create an exclusion zone for Marvin Gardens, Bergen Place and Ballard Commons Park that would forbid anyone removed from one of the parks from returning to any of the parks for seven days.

Christopher Williams, deputy superintendent at the parks department, attended the meeting to talk about park safety and was presented with the petition.

There has been an incredible increase in drug traffic in Marvin Gardens, said one of the petition submitters. He said he sees the same people at the same time on the same days and sends photos to the police, but the drug dealers are still there.

Williams said exclusion zones can be a good tool, and he would be willing to try a number of different solutions in Ballard, such as earlier closing hours, park ranger patrols or events co-sponsored by the parks department.