Were you able to attend Wednesday night’s Port of Seattle Open House at City Hall?
If so, what were your thoughts?
If you weren’t able to make it, you can check on my KIrkland Views post in which I summarized the meeting from my point of view.
I have trail envy. I’m envious of Redmond’s new and improved Sammamish River Trail. My husband, my dog, my Dad, and I stepped out on the Sammamish River Trail today and enjoyed a good hour strolling along the paved path. It was exciting to see people biking, walking, and skating on by. People of all ages were out in force and it wasn’t even sunny out! It was a relaxing chance to connect with nature. We saw ducks, herons, geese, and all kinds of two and four legged critters.
Imagine stepping our your door in Kirkland and hopping on a trail that runs through Kirkland. Imagine having a chance to enjoy the park views and the views of the lake and mountains. We have a world class trail possibility here in the city of Kirkland. On Wednesday, you’ll have a chance to hear from The Port of Seattle Commissioners about their proposed plans for the BNSF tracks. The Port will make the decision as to whether the tracks will be rail-banked and kept for future use as a train and used as a trail now or if the train tracks will become a commuter line. Come listen, learn, and give your opinion, this may be your last chance.
The Port of Seattle is holding an open house this Wednesday at 7 PM in the Peter Kirk Room of Kirkland’s City Hall, 123 Fifth Avenue in downtown KIrkland. Come on down and give your opinion to the Port commissioners.
I posted this article on Kirkland Views in which I gave my opinion about BNSF rail line.
I realized this past week what we in Kirkland, Washington could lose when I was standing in the middle of a new shopping/destination center, Blue Back Square, in my home town, West Hartford, CT. 
I was back east for a high school reunion (which could be another complete blog post. Yes, it was only yesterday!)
West Hartford is a suburb of Connecticut’s capital city, Hartford. It boasts a wonderful center (it’s never referred to it as downtown) which has reinvented itself over the last 20 years as a destination place. Growing up, West Hartford Center had a department store, lots of shops, and few restaurants. We went to the center to shop, not to dine. Today, it’s a hopping, happening place with a multitude of great restaurants, coffee shops, and stores.
On a warm summer’s evening, you can find people flocking to the center to walk, have a glass of wine or dinner. Blue Back Square is a recent addition to the center.
It continues the theme of a community based center. Stores, restaurants, apartments, and condos are all there. Community plazas exist for people to sit and have lunch or for the local students to present a concert. The community feel is such a welcoming feature.
The characterization of the town is very similar to how I view Kirkland, Washington. When I moved out to the Northwest, I immediately fell in love with Kirkland. It felt like home to me because the town had a soul, a “center”, like West Hartford. Today both cities have morphed into destination places while, keeping their unique identities and small town flavors intact.
We are poised to lose this soul of our community, the essence and character of Kirkland, if we are not careful in our choices. We have one of the few towns with that “small town” feel while being close to everything on the eastside and Seattle. We must preserve this as we grow. Kirkland should grow and change, but not at the expense of our identity and our community. Development should enhance the city, the services and amenities available to its citizens. Development should not be at the expense of Kirkland and only for others who commute to or through the city.
Tomorrow, the 12th of June, more important decisions are being made that will affect Kirkland’s future. Come to City Hall at 7 PM to hear the latest. Parkplace, Touchstone Corp., is presenting two options to the community: One is an 8 story office complex with a myriad of retail outlets, restaurants, and a movie theater. The other is a 5 story office complex with limited services and opportunities for community involvement. Whatever Kirkland decides, the community element must not be lost. Whether there is an 8 story building or a 5 story building, we must not lose our soul, a gathering place for the community or our identity. What a shame it would be if people flocked to Kirkland to work at Parkplace and left immediately after work to return home. What a loss it would be if there was no vibrant community life at Parkplace both during the day and at night.
My thoughts continue with the trail possibilities. An examination of ways to improve transportation is vital to the growing eastside. However, decisions to improve transportation must be made responsibly. While analysis is being done, the BNSF corridor should be used as a trail for all the eastside, but particularly for Kirkland. What a gorgeous, fabulous asset it would be for our community. A train line would be cost prohibitive with little impact on traffic. The train line would cut Kirkland neighborhoods off from each other. Let’s not lose this opportunity, too, to enhance the livability of Kirkland. Let’s make sure Kirkland is a better place for the people who live here, not just for the people who commute through and work in the city and leave everyday.
What does the future hold for Kirkland, Washington? As I’ve reported in numerous blog posts, we’ve got the McLeod project, Parkplace, Merrill Gardens, and a trail/commuter train all on the horizon.
Here’s another chance for you to learn more and make your opinions known:
The Trail meeting at the Houghton Fire House June 4th at 7 PM, 6602 108th Ave NE is sponsored by Eastside Trail Advocates. This is a group of Kirkland residents who are dedicated to a trail along the BNSF tracks while the proper studies are done to determine the best method of improving public transportation.
What will Parkplace look and be like? Will there be 8 story buildings? Will there be a movie theater?
The final planning commission meeting about Parkplace is scheduled for Kirkland City Hall on June 12th at 7 PM. Make sure your voice is heard. Can’t attend this meeting? Then let Angela Ruggeri know what you think. Email Angela at aruggeri@ci.kirkland.wa.us.
You can also check out the latest with Parkplace online. There are two plans on the table. The first is called the Mixed-Use Plan, which calls for a zoning change and 8 story buildings. There will be more retail, a large QFC, restaurants, etc.
The second is the Office Use Plan, which keeps the currrent 5 story height on office buildings. This plan would limit restaurants, retail, and eliminate a hotel. Hmm, makes me wonder if the developers can’t get their variance for a height restriction, who is really losing here? What do you think?
Check out my eastside blog post for a compilation of all the latest news articles from this week regarding the signing of the BNSF deal.
Washington’s King County to Buy The Rail Line-What’s Next? Will There Be a Trail, Rail or Both?
May 6, 2008
The Seattle Times reported today that King County has agreed to the keep the BNSF rail line in the public domain. A trail could (the operative word being could) be on the rail line sometime in the near future. However, all that is to be decided in the future.
Keith Ervin reports in The Times article:
“Port and county officials said the deal upholds the concept of “dual use” of the 42-mile corridor by rail commuters and trail users on foot or on bike. But many details wouldn’t be decided for months or years, and there is no assurance that either a trail or passenger trains would be a reality in the near future.”
The first step has been passed with county agreeing to the three way deal with the Port of Seattle and BNSF rail line. The deal between the three must be signed by May 15th or there will be a huge financial penalty.
National Public Radio also had a story reporting on the latest update. Check out this link to hear Liam Moriarty’s piece on the latest rail/trail news.
Much still needs to be decided and hashed out over whether there will be a trail or a commuter line or both. There will be public hearings in which you can voice your opinion. You can also contact King County Council Members and make your opinions known.
The Eastside Trail Advocates are holding a meeting on Thursday, May 8th at 7 PM at the Houghton Fire Station meeting room. The address is 6602 108th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033. This meeting will be a great opportunity to hear about the issues.
How Safe Will It Be For Kids To Cross the Railroad Tracks to Go to School in Kirkland, Washington?
May 4, 2008
Picture a commuter train whizzing by in Kirkland during the morning commute on its way to Bellevue. The tracks completely separate the Kirkland Highlands neighborhood from Peter Kirk Elementary School and Kirkland Junior High. There’s no other way to walk to school and Peter Kirk is a “walking” school. Picture kids crossing the tracks to visit friends after school hours when there’s no supervision at the crossing.
The following videos show school children crossing the railroad tracks on the way to school from the Kirkland Highlands neighborhood. The entire neighborhood of over 600 homes is separated by the railroad tracks from the school. The kids cross over 110th Ave NE and the railroad tracks behind Peter Kirk Elementary to get to school. As you can see, the kids are walking and running to school.
The crossing guard raised her concern about kids walking down the tracks to get to school in the morning. Someone can come to educate the kids about railroad safety, but having worked with middle school kids for 13 years in the past, I’m familiar with typical teen and “kid” behavior. Kids won’t remember what someone told them three months ago about not walking on the railroad tracks. Walking on the tracks is more of a problem when kids go from neighborhood to neighborhood to see their friends or walk to downtown Kirkland, not just to school. There are no crossing guards watching over them at those times.
From the Highlands neighborhood, kids also cross over the railroad tracks in Cotton Hill Park, a few blocks north, to get to Kirkland Junior High. That crossing is far more concerning because young teens tend to be busy multi-tasking as they walk to school. Picture typical teen behavior and you see teens talking to friends, talking on cell phones, running, and listening to IPods. You do not picture kids paying attention as well as they should to their surroundings. How many teens do you know who think they are invincible and will try to tempt fate by running in front of a train as they are rushing late to school?
If a fence is erected to stop people from walking down the tracks, kids will be cut off from their friends. Walking paths will be cut off to schools. Neighborhoods will be cut off from each other. Not only is the rail line as a commuter line a safety hazard, it will hurt the fabric of the community.
There are a number of active groups on the eastside who are for smart transit and trails, but not wasting taxpayer money. Find out about this issue. If you live within one mile of the BNSF tracks, you will be affected.
On May 1st at 7 PM, there is a meeting at the Houghton Fire Station in Kirkland, 6602 108th Ave NE with the Cascade Bicycle Club to review the issues.
On May 5th, there is a meeting with the King County Council, 10th floor of the King County Courthouse Building, 516 3rd Avenue in which people are invited to voice their opinions. ( FYI, I do not know if the time or the place have been confirmed for this meeting.)
And lastly, on May 8th, The Eastside Trail Advocates will be holding a meeting at the Houghton Fire Station at 7:30 PM to review the issues. Become informed about what may happen so you can decide what is the right thing to do.
Here is a copy of some of the key testimony given by Shawn at today’s King County Council meeting:
KING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Seattle, April 28, 2008
“ Leaving the option of using the corridor for commuter trains indefinitely open seems sensible to me. BUT, what is most important is that WHEN that option is exercised, it be BASED on a reliable and impartial Economic Evaluation of ALL the major transit-related options available. That should include, at least, Buses, Trains on 405, Highway Tolls, Bicycles, and even Rollerblades.
Such an evaluation does not need to be too long or expensive, given the information already obtained from previous studies and experiences on projects like the Sounder Train, the Monorail, and Bus ridership. However, it must include a fair comparison of the TOTAL Short- and Long-Term COST-PER-COMMUTER associated with each transportation option. It should ALSO include a BALANCED comparison of the local and regional recreational, health, and life-style BENEFITS that ALL, or Parts of the corridor, may offer to Eastside and King County communities. Finally, the conclusions and recommendations of this study should, in my opinion, be ‘certified’, by neutral Business-Teams from 1 or 2 local universities, that THEY ARE fair and complete’, in order to minimize further controversy.
Only THEN, should the top option, or maybe even the top 2 options, be submitted to the voters for final selection. Any rush, at this time, to submit commuter-train ballot propositions, based on incomplete studies and narrow interests, will be justifiably viewed by the voters with suspicion.”
The Seattle Times reported on the upcoming meeting in today’s newspaper. As one proponent of the trail has said, the plans for a trail and/or rail take twists and turns every week. The plans keep changing, nothing is for certain and nothing should be taken for granted. Ron Sims is for dual use of a trail and rail, the port commissioners want to put rail first.
The Cascade Bicycle Club has campaigned hard to have a meeting with the council to make their desire for a trail known. Check out the link to the club for a brief history of the trails issues. From Cascade Bicycle Club’s website:
“King County conservatively estimates that 2,400,000 trips are taken on regional trails each year. The Burke-Gilman alone sees about a million trips per year, which breaks down to 3100 every weekday. 47 percent are commuters riding to work. Imagine the possibilities if we developed a trail for $60 Million on the Eastside within one mile of 500,000 people, who want to commute to Bellevue, Kirkland or Renton.”
You as a citizen have this opportunity to be heard. For more information about the rail/trail line, check out The Eastside Trail Advocates website. This group is very active in support of a trail and is very knowledgeable about the issues. In another article early next week, I will post the dates of other meetings coming up on the eastside over the next couple of weeks. You can learn more and become involved.
Kirkland Highlands Real Estate Buzz
