Letter to Councilmember Clark 8_2006

Councilmember Sally J. Clark August 16, 2006


Dear Councilmember Clark,


I live in the Bitter Lake neighborhood in North Seattle, and am very excited about the construction and new developments underway in the area. However, I have great concerns that the proper steps are not being taken to accommodate the influx of population and traffic that these new projects will bring, especially on Linden Avenue North.


Concerns about increased density on Linden Avenue

Linden Avenue, as it is currently, alternates from scrappy condition to non-existent when it comes to being pedestrian-friendly. Already there are many residential buildings, both condos and apartments, as well as a wonderful community center, senior apartments, and a new park by the reservoir near 140th. But the street is also very wide and has few to no sidewalks along the corridor between 130th and 145th. There are points were you have to cross the street, and cross again, just to stay on a sidewalk, and then it simply disappears. Cars speed down this street, and it is extremely dangerous for pedestrians.

With the addition of the several large new apartment buildings between 130th and 145th, with the idea of making the area into an “urban village”, there is desperate need to make the area walkable. This is especially urgent, as one of the new buildings will be affordable senior housing. There is already senior housing on 130th near Greenwood, plus the Four Freedoms house in the area. Seniors typically don’t drive, and aren’t as spry when it comes to avoiding car traffic while walking. I am extremely concerned about the safety of the current, and soon-to-be-arriving residents of my neighborhood.

Aurora Avenue improvements, in relation to Linden Avenue

I have gone to a couple of the community meetings at Inghram High School in regards to the plans of improvement for the Aurora Avenue North corridor. These improvements are greatly needed, and this is a very exciting project for the neighborhood. But after seeing the gridlock in the southern Shoreline portion of Aurora recently because of construction and road improvements, I am concerned about steps that will be taken to accommodate the delays and reroutes of traffic that this project will bring.

Like I said before, Linden Ave is a popular detour around Aurora, and will explode in traffic when the Aurora improvements begin. The street is a popular “shortcut” for locals. I have heard of no city concerns about Linden’s impending traffic, and it is especially alarming considering the three major apartment complexes that are being added to the street in the near future. Not only will there be hundreds, or more likely thousands of new residents using Linden, but I anticipate many, many cars using Linden as a detour during the construction. With no sidewalks or pedestrian-friendly areas along that road as it stands, I’m afraid there will be deadly results.

Pedestrians already love the Interurban Trail… why not extend it along Linden?

The mile-or-so leg of the Interurban Trail opened about a year ago behind my condo building, stretching from 128th to 110th along the power-line corridor. The Trail is WONDERFUL and is heavily used. But I’ve talked to several people lamenting that the trail abruptly stops at 128th and Linden, only to pick up again in the Shoreline city limits at 145th and Linden. If there was a move to make Linden pedestrian-friendly for this new Bitter Lake “Urban Village”, it seems like it would be the perfect opportunity to develop the missing piece of the Interurban Trail, and extend it between 128th and 145th along the Linden Avenue corridor. It would be aesthetically pleasing, and also offer a safe place for people to walk and stroll along the corridor.

Once again, I just wanted to say that I’m excited that there is attention being paid to our little corner of the city, and the community as a whole is behind the much-needed improvements. But I also wanted to make sure that the city is aware that the community has grave and urgent concerns about the projects and the lack of planning for some aspects of the improvements.

Thank you so much for listening.

Regards, Linda