Showing posts with label downtown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label downtown. Show all posts

Monday, March 11, 2024

UPDATED: 3/14/2024: "SafeEastside" Activists Demand "A Say" On Downtown Homeless Housing

 

 

Blue signs objecting to downtown homeless housing suddenly appeared all over Redmond's downtown today (3/12) including this one at Anderson Park.   

Council did not engage with the public before their Plymouth decision to house100 homeless and low income people in Redmond's downtown.  According to Planning Director Helland, a public Hearing wasn't required; and "comment periods" were tabled in the rush to qualify for funding. Thus, SafeEastside activists are demanding "a Say." 

Various ways to engage: 

  • Phone or email Council President Vanessa Kritzer (and other councilmembers.)  Request an appointment with her. Councilmember Kritzer holds office hours. 425-305-9892.
  • Phone or email Councilmember Melissa Stewart. 425-305-9892. She holds walk-in office hours at the library, 3 - 5 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month.   
  • Every other week on Tuesday's at 7:00 p.m. the public has a 3-minute opportunity to address the Council, Mayor and Staff and at City Hall.   
  • Email: the Mayor, Council or Carol Helland, Director of Planning & Community Development at MayorCouncil@Redmond.gov.  
  • Contact Councilmember Steve Fields, the senior member of Council.  He owns a coffee shop in Redmond and might meet you there. 425-403-9476.
  • Reach out to Mayor Birney.  

-- Posted by Bob Yoder, 3/12/2024, Updated 3/13  Photo: Yoder

A controversial low-barrier homeless hotel will open in the Overlake neighborhood by late Spring.  What kind of human services will be offered and well received?

Monday, March 4, 2024

"Beat the Bunny" Event, AND MORE!


The city says...

(Ages 6+) Join us on March 30th for our annual Beat the Bunny 5K race, a fun, family-friendly event! Whether you run, walk, stroll, hop, or beat the bunny, everyone wins a prize. The race also includes a FREE kids' dash at 9:30 a.m., prior to the start of the 5K race at 10 a.m.

The race starts from the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village located at 6505 176th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052. Parking is available at the community center parking lot and surrounding side streets. The start/finish line will be directly behind the community center with an out and back route running thru the scenic Marymoor Park.

Scroll down to register .....and to find important city news and information, including the May opening of the Senior & Community Center, and the decision to house homeless in our Downtown.  

Posted by Yoder, 3/4/24

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Updated: Council Explains Decision for Housing Homeless Downtown


The New Plymouth Housing building in Bellevue.  Redmond's building will be 6-stories.
Credit "Seattle Times."  Read their article!

from the desk of Jessica Forsythe, City Council Vice President...

Neighbors, thank you for reaching out to Redmond City Council regarding the recent Plymouth Housing decision to permanently house homeless and low income residents in downtown Redmond. I am responding as the Ombuds for the month of February. 

Council and the Planning Commission spent many months studying data and developing code around Permanent Supportive Housing in 2021 and 2022 with community concerns and feedback being taken into consideration all along the way.

Some items of note are:

  • Plymouth Housing is not a homeless shelter, it is a downtown six-story supportive housing home for those who qualify.
    • To qualify for a home at this location one must:
      • be for those exiting homelessness
      • earn less than $30,000 a year (0-30% of the Average Median Income)
      • may not be a lifetime registered sex offender (all state laws regarding sex offenders registration notification are applicable)
      • may not have certain drug-related convictions
      • this project is not restricted to only those living with disabilities
    • Tenants are required to apply, be screened and selected for approval, sign a lease and abide by it just like anyone else entering into a lease
    • Per our regulations, Plymouth Housing only allows up to 100 housing units. This regulation was in direct response to community concerns that Plymouth Housing is able to adequately provide services for those exiting homelessness and low-income residents. 
  • Plymouth Housing is not a safe injection or safe consumption site.
    • To quote Redmond Police Chief Lowe “Illegal things are still illegal.”
  • Plymouth Housing will enter into an Operational Agreement with the City which includes:
    • Performance expectations and oversite of the Plymouth Housing Operator
    • Rules and Code of Conduct
    • Safety and Security Plan
    • Neighborhood Relations and Community Engagement.

In the development of these plans, Plymouth Housing and their CEO will seek participants and host community stakeholder groups. The Council will be consulted on the final plans / agreements as required. 

The City completed a Housing Needs Assessment which you can read here: https://www.redmond.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25992/Housing_Needs_Assessment_Feb_2021

Additionally, through the city's study and review, Redmond’s affordable housing allocation needs (calculated by the King County Department of Community and Human Services) are 3,694 units of Permanent Supportive for the homeless and low income and 7,025 units in the "Average Median Income" range. 

Jessica Forsythe (she/her)

Council Vice President & Member, City of Redmond

With redactions and edits for clarity and opinion, by Bob Yoder, 43-year resident of Redmond, WA.  2/29/2024


Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Plymouth Homeless Housing FAQ

  

Plymouth Homeless Housing in Redmond FAQ

The building will contain 100 units for homless residents with ground floor office space, commercial space, and amenity areas. 


Where will the housing be located?
16725 Cleveland Street. This housing will be in Downtown Redmond, close to a light rail stop and cattycorner to Anderson Park.  

Who will live there? 
Single adults exiting homelessness and living on extremely low incomes would be eligible for the proposed Plymouth PSH. Many of these individuals are living with disabilities, seniors, and/or veterans. The income criteria is set at 30% or below Area Median Income (AMI), which means an individual is earning less than $28,800/year. Lifetime registered sex offenders and individuals with certain past drug-related convictions will not be eligible for this housing. 

What services will be on-site?  
Permanent Supportive Housing means in addition to housing, residents have access to a range of onsite services designed to help them achieve stability in their new home, including personalized housing case management services, veterans counseling, health care, 24/7 staffing, and other critical services.

Is this a homeless shelter?  
No, this is Permanent Supportive Housing for single adults. There is an application process, which includes determination of eligibility for the project. After individuals are approved and move in, they will no longer be considered homeless. Residents are responsible for abiding by their lease agreement and building rules, while also having access to onsite support services.  

What about parking?  

Parking is limited at this site. Most Plymouth residents do not own a vehicle. Proximity of this site to the Downtown Redmond light rail station will offer robust transit options to future residents and help the City achieve its Environmental Sustainability Action Plan goals for reduced vehicle emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

Who will operate the building? 
Plymouth Housing will provide property management and wraparound supportive services at the building. 

How many people will be housed at this location?  
Plymouth Housing projects primarily serve single adults. However, as a landlord, Plymouth is required to abide by occupancy standards and fair housing law, which in rare cases requires them to house couples if both individuals qualify for the building. The design in the current Plymouth proposal contains 85 studios and 15 one bedrooms. We expect that the new design will reflect a similar unit mix. 

Will the building have 24/7 staffing? 
Yes, Plymouth Housing will provide 24/7 staffing and support for residents. 

When will the building open for occupancy? 
There is not a specific timeline for construction yet. However, the goal is to break ground in 2025. Typically, it takes about two years of construction prior to opening for operations. 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

UPDATED: Redmond Locals Wary of Controversial Plymouth Housing Project


This video is eye opening.  

After the Special Meeting closed, Mayor Birney refused to respond to questioning from the media: though a 2/13 agenda memo stated:  "Council's approval gave the Mayor approval to pursue the project contingent on further discussion."    

The housing project is described here

-- Bob Yoder, 2/15/2024

UPDATED, 3/14/2024: Council Approves Downtown Homeless Housing Project



As you see from the video, the Council's February 13th Special Meeting in Redmond City Hall was packed, mostly by residents opposing a city-owned land transfer to Plymouth Housing to provide homeless housing in our downtown core (not far from Anderson Park.)   

In the meeting, Council approved the land transfer to Plymouth 5 -1 (Anderson)* to build permanent, low-barrier, supportive housing for over 100 homeless - many with disabilities and some elderly.  Estimated cost:  $40 million.  

The homeless will be housed in a 6-story building with ground floor commercial space on 16725 Cleveland Street next to the Computer Surplus and close to a new high-end apartment building, once finished.  Construction will begin in 2005 with completion expected by 2007.  The City is chipping in $3.2 million towards the building.      

Plymouth Housing, the nonprofit homeless provider, originally asked the City of Kenmore to site 100 homeless housing units but Kenmore Council members voted 4 - 3 against.  So the "ask" was passed onto the City of Redmond, and was readily accepted by Council without a public comment period or Hearing.  Under pressure from the residents, Council President Vanessa Kritzer promised "a robust review." suggesting "Items from the Audience" as the venue.  

Some background:  In 2019, the City proactively purchased this land for affordable housing to for $5.5 million.  The City also set aside $10 million in anticipation. The public wasn't informed, nor was there study by Planning Commission on the purchase.

* Councilmember Steve Fields was absent; CM Jessica Forsythe presented his comments at the meeting.     

-- Bob Yoder, 2/14/2024

Twitter @ Kenmore reactions/ - Johnathan Choe, journalist

The Planning Commission seemed in the dark on Plymouth; the Chair asked Director Helland for an explanation of what Plymouth does for affordable housing. Her response was short and nebulous.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Mayor Birney Visits a Cool, New Plant Store


I stopped by Plantify about a half year ago and loved it! The owner was kind and very patient with me, answering all my questions about his exotic plants. The plants were gorgeous, but expensive for me. He wished for better parking, but once the nearby construction is finished in a few years, shoppers will be walking to the business! In the meantime, you may find some parking on the side street next to Anderson Park. I love this shop! Probably will gift. Definitely revisit!

-- Bob Yoder, 2/13/2024

Monday, February 5, 2024

There's No Stopping Growth In Redmond


There's no stopping growth in Redmond / credit Bob Yoder

A view from Mr. Nelson's downtown "Redmond Center" parking lot. The red crane is constructing his "The Charles." building.  (Apparently, several members in Mr. Nelson's extended family carry the name "Charles.")  When finished, the structure will reach 8-stories, have 244 residential units, 4,920 sf of live work space, and 4,316 sf of retail.  

The Charles is the first project of a 22-acre Urban Village he plans for our downtown.  In part, it will encompass land along the Sammamish River, the Opportunity Building (OB), a large parcel adjacent to OB, the Redmond Center, and the parking lot behind QFC.  

The Nelson Legacy Group (NLG) has been family-owned since the early 1950s. NLG operates retail and office properties located in Redmond, Kirkland and eastern Washington, conducting leasing, developing and property acquisition from offices in Redmond.  

Two significant Urban Villages in Overlake are approved.  One of the villages is 14 acres including the demolition of Sears.    

-- Bob Yoder, 2/5/2024

Sources:  Design Review Board Memorandum, 4/15/2020; Carol Helland, Director Planning & Community Development; Thomas L. Markel, NLG; CLARK BARNES "NLG Project One Design Review," 12/03/2020    

Friday, December 29, 2023

UPDATED: Second 8-Story Building Planned for 80th & Leary

Excellent project!    Design Review Board 1 Presentation  Listen to the presentation!

Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer has been a strong advocate for more day-care space in Redmond. The Design Review Board reported day-care space is planned for this project!  Massing of the prominent Redmond Grand apartments on 166th and Redmond way is terrible.  This particular project (west & adjacent to the 8-story "Arco" project) has very creative architecture helping to reduce the massing affect.  Harvey Fairbourne, the new owner of RTC could learn from this exciting new project.

16310 NE 80th ST (& Leary) is a new proposed 85’ tall, 1.18 acre residential apartment building located on 80th Street in downtown Redmond, WA. It is comprised of 8 floors above grade, one level below grade totaling 347,713 sf with 260 parking spaces and 270 residential units. It includes a 5-story wood-framed residential tower above a 3-story concrete podium. Ground level uses include residential lobby/lounge, units and indoor open space that serves the neighborhood, as well as residents. 

Thursday, November 30, 2023

UPDATED: Redmond Lights Festivities, No rain, Good Times!


Saturday, December 2nd 4-8 p.m. Kick-off Event downtown

Yay, it didn't rain!  no wind or cold!  For us, the best part of Redmond Lights were the unannounced musical performances in Redmond Town Center.  

We were fortunate to find a few of them.  By far, our favorite were the Hrailmore Ukrainian carolers!...beautiful people, happy and heartwarming music...singing and dancing in authentic Ukrainian dress.  Watch them perform on their Facebook site here!  And, watch a short performance here!  

The Ukrainian carolers at Redmond Town Center

Underneath the RTC Christmas Tree
Merry Christmas from Bob, Pam and Zoey Yoder!

Four years from now when RTC is fully redeveloped I hope Fairbourne (the RTC owner) will commission performances at the Center every month.  It would be good for the retailers and the community.

-- Bob Yoder, 12/3/2023 

Monday, November 27, 2023

Redmond Lights Holiday Haiku - Michael Dylan Welch


By Michael Dylan Welch:  Holiday Haiku features 30 haiku and senryu poems celebrating both the warmth and the cold of the holiday and winter season. These poems offer reminders of common experiences you may have had in December or later during the winter. Take a moment to dwell in each poem and feel the personal moment presented in the poem, responding with a smile or a nod of understanding.  

Michael Dylan Welch was Redmond's Poet Laureate for two years.   


Source:  redmond.gov

Redmond Lights Kick-Off Event Schedule, December 2, 4 - 8 p.m.

 Getting Around Redmond Lights 2023


Redmond Lights Kick-Off Event Schedule

Bundle up and bring the entire family for an evening of winter fun at the Redmond Lights Kick-Off Event this Saturday, Dec. 2. From 4 – 8 p.m., the luminary trail will connect Downtown Park and Redmond Town Center by way of the Redmond Central Connector. Both sites will host ongoing performances, craft activities, and more!  

Saturday, Dec. 2, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 5, 2023

Mayor Birney Proclaims October 28th "Green Redmond Day" at Heron Rookery

 

Mayor Birney with parks staff
She's giving her Green Redmond speech and proclamation in front of the Heron Rookery

For a must see video of the Rookery go HERE!



About forty of us  on October 28th planted ~ 400 trees to replace the secondary growth, Douglas Fir dying from root rot.  An earlier planting failed from drought.  The city will water this summer.  We planted shade tolerant, hemlock, cedar and pine. Pam and I are standing next to orange-tagged saplings yet to be planted. 

-- Bob Yoder, 11/5/2023

Monday, October 23, 2023

UPDATED OPINON 10/26: Seattle Times Spotlights City Of Redmond Planners

 Post and photo by Bob Yoder, 10/22/2023

Under construction, Redmond Square Apartments (aka The Grand) located in the heart of Redmond (Redmond Way and 166th Avenue NE); narrow sidewalks, limited bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and street shadowing, flat facade. Legacy Partners ($3 billion) partnered with a Bejing-based company to build this monolith. They didn't partner with the community as are the Redmond Town Center owners. 

Below are excerpts and highlights from Gregory Scrugg's Seattle Times October 10, 2023 opinion: 
"Redmond Could be a Model for Re-inventing Suburban Downtowns."  Mr. Scruggs is their outdoors reporter. The story primarily focuses on multimodal transportation in Downtown Redmond, not building design or character.  

"As Redmond has grown to 76,000 residents, a proper downtown has sprouted up around the city center’s handful of pre-World War II buildings. This kind of reinvention is happening around Puget Sound and across the country, a phenomenon called “retrofitting suburbia” in a 2008 book of the same name. Some argue multimodal Redmond is a national model for the trend.

Planners like the city of Redmond’s Jeff Churchill are tasked with a tricky job: figuring out how to revamp an outdated, car-dependent suburban template into a place that’s easier to get around on foot, bike or transit.

“The vision for this area becoming what it’s becoming has transcended multiple mayors and city council members,” Churchill said. “It’s been a very durable vision with a fair amount of buy-in.”

** “We’re going to put all our growth into downtown,” Churchill said. “That’s been the plan since the 1990s.” 

Civic interest in Redmond’s future remains high. On a September weeknight, several dozen people — local residents, civil servants and elected officials — joined advocacy group Move Redmond to see highlights and lowlights of navigating downtown Redmond on foot. 

The existing transit center, where express buses whisk residents to Microsoft’s Overlake campus or further along Highway 520 to Bellevue or Seattle, generally won praise. A curbless shared street between two apartment buildings, also known as a woonerf, elicited interest. A block lacking sidewalks near the new light-rail earned a “thumbs down.”

“Redmond is a suburb but downtown is trying to be a city,” Stevens said. “But it could be so much more.”

For example, Redmond touts itself as the bicycle capital of the Northwest, with its annual Derby Days races and its cycling velodrome at Marymoor Park, but on-street bike infrastructure is lacking. 

“I’m comfortable riding in the street, but I want the kids I see riding on the sidewalk to feel comfortable being out on the street, especially because that’s something cool about Redmond: families are living downtown,” Stevens said.

These were the kinds of insights that Move Redmond Executive Director Kelli Refer hoped to hear. Folks are eager to see what’s next, provided downtown Redmond keeps sticking with the plan.

That kind of steady hand offers lessons for retrofitting suburbs everywhere.

“Redmond is setting itself up to be a national model,” Refer said."

Gregory Scruggs: gscruggs@seattletimes.com; Gregory Scruggs is the outdoors reporter at The Seattle Times.

###

** What's coming next... (City of Redmond)

** Redmond 2050 is evaluating higher densities by allowing taller buildings (generally between 10 and 19 stories depending on the Overlake station area). This would accommodate 19,000 to 23,000 new housing based on the development alternative options selected.  (Draft: Future Vision for Redmond:  Urban Centers.)

Saturday, October 21, 2023

UPDATED 10/22: Downtown Redmond Light Rail Update

click to enlarge image

The first segment that will open is called the East Link Starter Line. It will only go from Redmond Technology Station to the South Bellevue Station. That is supposed to open in the spring of 2024. The section that will serve Marymoor Village Station and Downtown Redmond Station is supposed to open sometime in 2025. The East Link will cross Lake Washington, maybe sometime in 2025 or later.

 

Four-car trains will run every 8 minutes carrying up to 800 riders, 16 wheelchairs, 12 bicycles and multiple suitcases.  18-minutes from DT Redmond to Bellevue; 42 minutes from Bellevue to Seattle; 45 minutes to stadiums; 72 minutes to Sea-Tac Airport.  

Factoid:  Per Move Redmond, "9 out of 10 people who work in Redmond live outside the City due to the high cost of housing."

Thank you "Move Redmond" for providing these maps, information and your advocacy for transportation connectivity.  10/21/2023

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Spectacular "Spectra at Marymoor" Apartments

OneRedmond, Redmond's Chamber of Commerce (and more,) recently organized a tour of  "Spectra at Marymoor" -- spectacular, innovative 450 apartment homes with amenities galore.  Spectra is only a short walk to Marymoor Park and light rail.  V.P. Brad Machat of Quarterra was our fantastic tour guide.  He shared the scissors with Mayor Birney at the ribbon cutting ceremony.  A few tour stops:  

click photo to enlarge

Phenix Salon Suites will open early 2024. Very exciting!  Much more news will come about this exciting business and two others.  Note the metallic balcony art!  

click photo to enlarge

This colorful building art was hand painted. Note the ring of evergreens!  The East Lake Sammamish Trail runs right by.  Popular community garden "pea patches" are on a wait list!  

click photo to enlarge

Spacious outdoor lounge, with full kitchen, outdoor chess, diverse art 
and roof greenery delivers tons of natural light. 

click photo to enlarge

Here's Mayor Birney relaxing by the novel green roof.


Garage art adds to the eclecticism of Spectra,
 the myriad of chairs and indoor art.  

Photos and post by Bob Yoder, 10/12/2023

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

UPDATED: Work Underway For Innovative "Anderson AMLI Project"

click image to enlarge
FedEx, Value Village and 8 small businesses are removed or re-located:
Dog Day Care, Romos, Gyros 2 Go, Costumes, Fun&Study, Kim's Hair
and Malt & Vine.  

                                                        AMLI  PROJECT  DEMOLITION
                                             Correction:  FedEx moved  next to Jersey Mikes  

Location:  AMLI:  Redmond Way & Avondale Way.  Adjacent McDonalds and Anderson Park; in the old Value Village mall

The applicant proposes the construction of two adjacent buildings, referred to as the “West” building and the “East” building respectively. The project includes a "pouch porch" dog run with space for hop scotch, 4-square and living green walls.  The applicant is proposing a woonerf on Avondale Way to safely connect the buildings.

Plantings and a green wall element were added along the ground level to enhance the pedestrian experience along the Redmond Central Connector. Two variations for the integration of planters and vertical green wall trellises are proposed to create visual interest along the concrete wall. 

The west building is a mix of residential and retail uses and varies in height ranging from five to seven-stories. 11,070 sf of commercial retail uses located along Redmond Way. On levels two through seven, there are 249 residential units. 237 internal parking stalls are also provided at ground levels B1 and subterranean levels L1

The east building is six stories and is a multi-family apartment building. Residential amenity space is provided at the ground level. On levels two through six, there are 127 residential units. 205 internal parking stalls are also provided at ground levels B1 and subterranean levels L1. 

A future elevated rail line is proposed south of the project as a part of the Sound Transit Downtown Redmond Link.

-- Design Review Board, April 2022

Three additional posts on this innovative AMLI project are HERE.

Prepared by Bob Yoder, 9/26/2023

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Monday, September 4, 2023

UPDATED: Kirkland's "Urban Plaza" Glass Buildings

Kirkland's Urban Plaza - a similar 6-story building is across from a "living street" / Credit Bob Yoder
                                                          
I had an eye examination today in Kirkland.  My wonderful optometrist moved from Redmond Town Center to Kirkland's Urban Plaza and wow! ...that retail - apartment - commercial center is a beauty! 

Check out this 6-story mixed-use building and it's architecture. See the use of glass for the façade?  I'm sending this photo to the new Redmond Town Center owner asking him to seriously consider glass materials.  The owner, Fairbourne, is building two 12-story buildings; I hope he will build with innovative materials and architecture.  Residents crave a creative, sparkling downtown building that will make us proud to live here.  

I've been told Google owns all the Urban Plaza land.  A local office is on-site.  Of course, they have deep pockets and can afford architecture that looks great.  It makes me wonder why the city couldn't broker a deal between Microsoft and the previous RTC owner. What a huge opportunity. Well, we have Fairbourne instead.  They're supposed to be a premier retail developer.  Let's hope they know how to design outstanding buildings as well.    

 -- opinion/photo, Bob Yoder, 9/4/2023