(corrected)
Monday night, go to the SCCC facility at 23rd Ave S. and S. Lane at 6 PM (architect’s proposal at 8 PM) to see what they are planning. I’m begging because I have a few concerns.
First: I’m worried about the mural being destroyed
Second: From what I see of the design, it appears there will be a new parking lot on 23rd. But, the back side of the property may present safety issues so it’s worth neighbors who live right by there getting involved.
Third: SCCC is required to have a Major Institution Master Plan. Turns out this site is not subject to that rule because ‘it is separated by more than 1/4 mile from the main campus and far below the threshold for its being a separate major institution’ (from the answer to a query made to the city). So, there is a gap when it comes to minor insititutions. All the more reason for neighbors to come to the meeting and weigh in.
Fourth: There is a revision to the zoning code being proposed that just seems like it’s tailor made for these plans. It’s to allow wood shops to go up to 35 feet in lowrise zoned areas. >;;;http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?id=9637 You might wish to comment whether you think it’s a good idea or not.
Fifth: It’s a HUGE piece of property, so I hope you’d want what happens there to be an amenity to 23rd Avenue and the nearby community.
I’m also really concerned for how this giganto piece of property could shape the community for good or bad.
In a personal level, I live adjacent to the school so looking at a big ol parking lot doesn’t really interest me. From what I’ve seen of the plan, the huge new parking lot will be on S. Lane street, which seems a mistake for a couple reasons. The first, don’t we already have a ton of parking in this neighborhood? I would gladly give up street parking during school hours to students in exchange for no parking lot. 2. given the amount of criminal activity occuring our area’s parking logs, isn’t a new lot just going to add to the problem? This piece of property has been a haven for drug and gang activity. 3. As a would-be ‘green’ city, shouldn’t we be encouraging people to find alternative ways to get to the campus?
I’m also peeved because I was never invited to attend any planning meetings. I’ve gone to the school and voiced my concerns at least 5 times and was told that there would be a ‘neighborhood’ person on the planning committee. This obviously never happened and now I fear the plan is beyond the point of no return. Am I wrong?
Hey you know more than I do having the direct experience. Scott wrote an article last week.
Does anyone have suggestions about where to go to understand the governance here? I usually just call a council member or two to find out what the deal is when it seems all too confusing.
As a recent student at the WCC I’d like to say that a parking lot is absolutely necessary. Luckily I live close enough to the school to walk, but for most of the students that was not an option. The parking lot was full and overflowing every day well before classes began, and most spots on the street were taken as well. Though I do see where you’re coming from, it seems like a sizable chunk of our neighborhood is more parking lots than residential sometimes.
I wasn’t/am not involved with the planning process of the new building but to the schools credit there are a fair number of bike commuters and bussers every morning, as well as a carpool map inside the school (not sure of the frequency with which it was used).
I hope it isn’t too late for community input and I wish I had more answers to some of these questions. I know that from a student’s point of view the plans for the school looked amazing. Hopefully this meeting is still a venue for input from neighbors as well. I’d like to hear back on how this goes.
I googled and found a 2009-2011 capital program narrative which could be out of date.
http://www.sbctc.edu/CapBudCollegeRequests/Seattle%20Central(Sea%20Central)%20Narrative.doc
Appears, as you mention CMallet, that this has been underway for some time:
“The Wood Construction Center (WCC) has six buildings, 47,259 GSF and occupies nearly two and one half acres. Design funds for a major replacement were received as part of the 2007-09 Capital Request and construction funding in being requested in 2009-11.”
Again, I think it’s one of the best murals in Seattle, sponsored by the Judkins Park Neighborhood Council, and designed with a great deal of community input. It’s a visual history of the CD and Rainier Valley. I realize murals are like a city’s ephemera, but just because it’s a mural doesn’t mean it should be disposable. You’d think there would be some way of saving, or re-creating it on the new construction.