EDITORIAL: When City councilmembers visited neighborhoods during "National Night Out" in August, one of the most common questions neighbors asked was about downtown construction and downtown parking. I've spent hours searching the city website and emailing city officials trying to get a straight answer - even a simple list of construction projects and the most Mayor Marchione's Administration can come up with is "Major Projects Under Construction, dated Sept. 30, 2011." Why is it so difficult to get a straight answer when "customer service" is at such a premium by the Mayor? I believe the Mayor is in a defensive mode with the election only two years away and he wants to minimize the severe traffic congestion issues we will be plagued with once the thousands of "sleep and eat" apartments with inadequate underground parking are installed. Redmond is destined to be one grid-locked, "drive through" boring community unless the downtown business community can be revitalized. But delaying the two-way lane conversions at Redmond Way and Cleveland St. until after the election only limits predictability and business migration to our downtown. Some Councilmembers appear to be looking the other way with interests outside of Redmond, and anywhere but here. One result: we now have over 20 "H" wayfinding Hospital signs in Redmond where no hospitals exist. Council did clarify in their last meeting "we DO have a Downtown Park." It's that green patch of grass used by dog walkers, awaiting the Mayor's "Master Plan." Another patch will be added in a year after Marchione demolishes the Brown Building and quasi-historic Redmond Cycle. How about a water fountain for the downtown technology workers and their pets? In the meantime, neighborhood housing projects continue to develop and scar our hills. Will Redmond be drivable in five years? Livable? Bob Yoder, 8-30-12
Since publishing this opinion under the "City of Redmond, WA." header page, the City Communications Administrator wrote the city would be updating their website over the next several weeks. We'll see. BY.
Since publishing this opinion under the "City of Redmond, WA." header page, the City Communications Administrator wrote the city would be updating their website over the next several weeks. We'll see. BY.
Will Redmond be drivable in five years? Yes, but mostly by mass transportation. Isn't that what the residents wanted?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm saddened to see many of the changes that have taken place since we moved here 7 yrs ago. There is so much being crammed into this little town that it is beginning to look unattractive and cluttered: a big transit station, more and more street signage (do we really need "pedestrian area signs"?); more and more "art" (why did we clothe the lovely trees of Anderson park with tree socks? I'm sure even the trees were embarrassed!); huge lengthy busses that I would only expect to see in a large city...
Redmond is fast becoming an eyesore.
But that's our future since this is what comes along with Redmond being a member of the ICLEI (Int'l Council for Local Environmental Initiatives).
--GardenMom