New park coming to 12th and James

If you value this coverage and want to support the continued independence of Central District News, please subscribe today for as little as $5/month — DRIVE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is constructing a new park at 564 12th Ave, on the corner of 12th Avenue and E. James Court, next to Ba Bar. The site was previously an office building but was demolished back in summer 2008.

The park project, currently titled “12th Avenue Park Development,” is still in its infancy. Last week, the permit application for the park’s construction was accepted, so construction will finally move forward. The empty lot has served as a temporary job site for other nearby construction since 2010.

The new park is slated to be completed in spring 2014 and will have “suspended art work,” a hardscape plaza, storm water planter, landscape plantings and site furnishings.”

Parks and Recreation has more info:

This project consists of the 12th Ave and E James Court Pro Park development project and a community initiated project that was selected to receive funding through the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund. The new pedestrian friendly park will be created within the street right of way in conjunction with the park project. A woonerf, a street where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over motorists, will be integrated into the park design. The design techniques will create shared spaces, traffic calming, and low speed limits to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile safety.

The park’s development is part of the 12th Avenue Neighborhood Plan, which calls for developing 12th Avenue into a main street-centered “urban village.”

Planning for the park began in 2008, when the parks department hired Hewitt Architects to design the initial plans for the site. The department has held several public meetings to discuss schematics and incorporate community input. Those meeting notes, as well as more info on the park, can be found on the parks department site.

If you value this coverage and want to support the continued independence of Central District News, please subscribe today for as little as $5/month — DRIVE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30.

4 thoughts on “New park coming to 12th and James

  1. For more details on the 12th Avenue Square Park at 12th and E. James Ct. and the future park in E. James Ct., see earlier stories in CentralDistrictNews.com, most recently November 15, 2012. Also see the Parks Department Web site for words and pictures http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/12thave.htm

    If you want to take part in activities to activate the new park as it’s developed and afterwards, come to a 12th Avenue Stewards meeting, held monthly. The next one is Tuesday September 10 at 5:30 PM at Washington Hall. For time and location of future meetings see the 12th Avenue Seattle Facebook page.

  2. Plans are underway for a grand opening event for the Park. We are looking for volunteers who may be interested in planning, stage managing, day of event activities. If you are interested, please send an email to [email protected] or attend a 12th Avenue Stewards meeting, held the second Tuesday of each month.