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| Challenger Sue Stewart Education Hill Neighbor |
"I recently participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce. We were asked to respond to four questions, and I wanted to share the questions, and my answers with you over the next week here as well.
How would you help make Redmond a livelier place?
Redmond is a great place to live, work, and play – we know that, but we can do better. The City of Redmond can help to promote places and activities that the community wants, like more dining choices, recreation, and entertainment. This is something that I have heard from my neighbors and friends who have suggested places like..>>
an indoor miniature golf as a destination for families and our teens. A possible location could be the old Larry’s Market space. Our Central Connector Park along the railroad right-of-way and the new downtown park between Redmond Way and Cleveland could also provide wonderful opportunities for new businesses. To help this however, we will also need to consider things like downtown parking capacity, and business and building regulations. As Redmond continues to grow, we also need to stay focused on building a pedestrian and bike friendly community, with a complete network of pathways and trails.
Another aspect of creating a livelier Redmond will be working with the community to attract new business opportunities. One idea being looked at today that I support, is the model of “ONE REDMOND”. This program aims to bring about a single point of contact; so new businesses looking to locate in Redmond can easily learn about the values of our community, the city’s regulations, and the possible inventory of available property. A livelier Redmond doesn’t mean creating a 24-hour city such as New York City, but rather creating a vibrant and thriving city based on community input that the residents enjoy and share. Creating a sustainable economy and business community will help support the things that make this a great community for families."
By Sue Stewart
Redmond City Council Candidate, Pos. 7
What ideas do you have to make Redmond a "more livelier place." You can post comments here. BY
There's lots of things my wife and I can think of that would help turn this sleepy, park-focused bedroom community into a livelier place.
ReplyDelete1) How about some "night life" in this town? We used to love to dance with our friends but there's hardly a club in town that stays upon past 9PM. (Is there any?!).
2) Clint McCune's Soul Food Book store is a rare venue for entertainment, come on, a city of 50,000 can do more! Plus those commuting tech workers need a place to unwind.
3) My wife has always said we need an outdoor performance center - by city hall? Look at all the fun Leavenworth has with their outdoor dancing celebrations.
4) Whatever happened to the equestrian events we use to have i Marymoor Park?
5) Redmond is in a bubble in this economy and has superior taxpayer funding - It's my opinion the city could cut costs, find efficiencies and build a modest aquatic center WITHOUT having to raise the 1% property EVERY year! We can do it! Hey let Realize Redmond and put them to good use on this project!
6) I agree with Tom Flynn. A few well-placed, "corner grocery story' neighborhood commercial might spice up a few of our bland neighborhoods if it'd done right. As Councilmember Stilin once said, the sign of good neighborhood commercial is one in which the neighbors clamour for it! Nothing's going to go in anyway without city-wide notice. If the people don't want neighborhood commercial - regardless of the scope - the council has controls to keep it out. So I recommend hyper-commercial in 1-2 places - mostly parks - like Idlewood and Hartman or Perrigo. Sue, can you suggest one? I also recommend a larger grocery / garden center on the 10 acres north of Washington Cathedral. What do you think, Sue. I always value you pulse on the neighborhoods.
I'm interested in your take on Realize Redmond. How will you make this nonprofit more vibrant than it is now? It's resource for bringing vitality to Redmond but I haven't seen my action from them yet.
I can go on and on, but I hope other readers are just as passionate about sharing their ideas to help you make Redmond a livelier place...whether they vote for you on Nov. 8 or not.
In sum, We really need to jump start our night life!
I've never understood why there isn't a single play area for the 6 to 12 age category, within the greater eastside, that is covered. This is the northwest. Why relagate play areas at community parks such as Grasslawn, Idlewood, or even Perrigo to go unused six months out of the year? Why not provide a place for our younger residence to get outside and exercise when it's raining -- which it is so often?
ReplyDeleteThere are many indoor play areas. But all of them are catering to the 1 to 6 year old crowd. And, quite frankly, my 4 year old gets pretty board with those. Take a 5 year old to BellSquare's Kid's Cove, and they seem pretty out of place. But that same 5 year old, along with much older, fit right in at our community parks. Well, during the dryer months. During the wet months, anyone looks out of place at our community parks.
So, my number one suggestion is, a covered play area at a community park. We have several community parks in the planning stage right now. It's well within our means to nudge those plans towards a practical idea such as this, incuring no undue expense; and making our city an even more attractive place to live.
Douglas Burchard
Rose Hill Neighborhood
Bob--my thoughts:
ReplyDeleteI'm not in favor of adding clubs or bars to Redmond. I wonder if the Old Redmond Schoolhouse auditorium could be utilized for dancing events (sans alcohol...dancing, alcohol and late night partying can add up to trouble...nothing good ever happens after midnight ;-) ).
When we moved here 6 yrs ago I was shocked to see Redmond's pool. There is no reason such a prosperous community doesn't have a beautiful aquatic center w/a lazy river (like my former place of residence had, boo-hoo). I think Redmond is long overdue and they are aware of it (I sat in on a discussion several yrs ago). That said, if you ask me if I'd be willing to pay more tax money in order to build it, I'd have to say no and then continue to take my water activities elsewhere. If they can't do it w/existing dollars, no thx.
I think that before Redmond tries to "liven up the city", they may want to decide what the real focus of the city is. Redmond can't be all things to all people and it should not try to be. Kirkland is known as a party town (Venice Beach of the north); Woodinville has the wine crowd; Bellevue and Seattle have the fine restaurants, shopping and nightlife. What is Redmond? For me, it's enough to say that Redmond is about family, parks and a nice, quiet community to live. I actually prefer "sleepy." Do we need to add certain things here? Perhaps. But I don't want to try to copy any of the surrounding communities.
And, boy, I think we have all the grocery stores a family could want here. :-)
--GardenMom
Redmond is too "lively" as it is. Enough codewords like 'vibrant' and 'lively'. you can't be elected dog-catcher in this town unless you use the magical phrase 'vibrant downtown'. GardenMom is right. People who want vibrant have plenty to choose from. Try Kirkland, Bellrptown, captol hill, U district, all lively and not far. Enough empty words, enough plans for things that no 1 wants but big money interests who do not live here. Doesnt Redmond have enough vacant storefronts? And grocery stores, gee, sorry non-downtown residents, they have built out downtown nearly to the belleuve degree, now you get to be 'vibrant' with some vacant storefronts near your houses. Bob, if you want a performance center so badly see how well it goes over somewhere besides downtown.
ReplyDeleteThe city recently spent money on renovation of the public pool. I was not in support of that. It is not used as much as it sould be, but I think it is because it is dark, dank, and unattractive to swimmers. An aquatic center would be more appropriate for our Redmond demographics. Corvallis, Oregon has a great aquatic center with indoor and outdoor facilities which make it a year-round recreation for the residents. http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=532&Itemid=471
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I am not in support of an outdoor covered playground, but maybe a partially covered rock climbing facility with a variety of age appropriate climbing surfaces.
That's my two cents!
Catherine Wittel