The holistic development of Northgate is similar, in a few ways, to Redmond's hopes of developing and morphing Marymoor Village into a 10-Minute Community (on a much larger scale than "Proctor." ..scroll.) Both will have light rail and transit parking. In the Village, I envision: Well-designed mid-rise residential towers built-up through incentive programs to capture affordable housing (60% AMI) and additional parking. Diverse retail, medical, office, and commercial space with roof gardens, all within a 10 Minute walking distance. Marymoor Park amenities, regional trails and a regional aquatics center all a bike ride away. Perhaps a downtown core with an arts studio, a Harvey Carter museum, a night club, a recreational business, wide sidewalks for outdoor restaurants, scooters, and rain gardens. Even a school. Though light rail is four years away, the city should come forth with a simple, rough graphic like Northgate's for the community. - B.Yoder For your information, below is a recent King County Press Release announcing plans for 232 affordable housing units near the Northgate Light Rail Station.
King County and City of Seattle, along with their partners BRIDGE Housing Corporation and Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) have come to a pre-development agreement to develop land owned by King County Metro into 232 affordable housing units near the future site of the Northgate Link light rail station.
All units will be affordable to households earning 60 percent or less of the area median income – in 2019, that’s $66,420 for a family of four. The development will provide a mix of unit sizes including at least 52 two- or three-bedroom units, and 24 units will be reserved for system-connected households. Groundbreaking 2022
Anticipated development agreement and ground lease are expected to be transmitted to council by summer 2020, with ground-breaking to follow in 2022.
“Renters shouldn’t have to choose between a home that’s affordable, and one that’s close to work and transit. This project adds hundreds of affordable units next to one of the most significant transit hubs in King County, connecting more people to the greenest way to get around,” said King County Executive Constantine. -- King County Press Release 11/17/2020
"EasTrail," a forty-two mile multi-purpose trail connecting four eastside light rail stations is expected to open in 2023...an amazing amenity for our region! It follows the old rail corridor. One of the goals is to complete the trail from Renton to Redmond and Woodinville by 2025. The trail will ultimately extend to Bothell, Mill Creek and Snohomish.
This is so exciting! Especially for recreational bicyclists and commuters!
Green Redmond is a great program if you like to plant baby trees in our forests. The Downtown Park water splash features may be nature enough for some, and then there's our neighborhood parks and trails. The Powerline trail is awesome. BY
Tandon and colleagues recently reviewed studies analyzing the many ways exposure to nature can affect health. Research shows that benefits of being in nature range from reduced anxiety and depression to better sleep, eyesight, immune function and better outcomes for people who have chronic conditions like congestive heart failure or ADHD.
jesse orrico on Unsplash
Nature vs. urban nature
But how much and what kind of nature activities should you partake in to reap the benefits? After all, definitions of getting out in nature can range from hiking in the Olympic National Forest to watching a forest scene via a virtual reality headset.
For Tandon and colleagues, nature includes a spectrum of different types of exposure to elements from the natural world, from an office with a view of green space to those Amazon spheres to backcountry wilderness. And what exactly you consider nature isn’t as important as how often you’re exposed to it, says Kathleen Wolf, Ph.D., a researcher in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington who is a co-author on the study with Tandon and conducts research on nearby nature and human health.
“Research doesn’t support the claim that you can only get health benefits from being in the wilderness. While wilderness experiences are beneficial, it’s just as important to have nature incorporated into your daily life,” she says.
This piece was written in 2009 and republished 720/2012 for your interest. Details to follow here on it's slated development on the Eastern parking lots of Sears...
Underground Stormwater Treatment Vaults the size of two (2) underground City Halls are planned for Overlake Urban Center.
JULY 7, 2009 The Planning Commission is currently studying the second phase of the Overlake Urban Center Plan. 5,000 residents are expected to move into the Overlake center, many of them Microsoft workers. A proposed Group Health Tower (~10 stories) will anchor the Center. A light rail transit center is planned. The 36th Street Bridge is under construction.
On July 2, 2009 the Parks and Trails Commissioners listened to stormwater presentations for the Overlake Center, by senior stormwater engineer Steve Hitch and OTAK Consultants. All the new roads, buildings and other impervious surfaces will produce dirty stormwater. The runoff will contain oils, sediment, and chemicals that must be treated before it's discharged into streams. The underground "concrete box" (vault) appeared a recommended treatment of choice compared to open ponds. However, today Mr. Hitch commented that "vaults are very costly, and they hide the water, so open facilities are a good alternative."
Open ponds, rain gardens, plazas, walkways, trails, and other Overlake Village design features will be displayed during a public workshop and presentation. See you Thursday, August 6, 2009 5-8pm at the Silver Cloud Hotel, 2122 152nd Ave. NE, Redmond, WA. Overlake Room.
The underground vault(s) are large, equal in size to two (2) underground City Halls! That's correct, two City Halls. The vaults have many advantages. They will free up 3-4 acres of Open Space. A park-like atmosphere can be designed for the community to embrace. Trails, sidewalks, bike trails, plazas, and other connections can be installed right on top of the vault lid. However, the top priority for it's use remains a stormwater facility.
After the stormwater is treated in the massive vaults, it is discharged into Kelsey Creek, travels to the Mercer Slough and falls out into the East Channel of Lake Washington at 1-90. The City of Redmond is partnering with Bellevue on the route.
The closest I can come to an example of what a large underground vault looks like is this photo. This vault is located on Camwest's 32 -lot Perrigo Heights development. It's the size of "a pin" compared to the proposed Overlake Urban Center's vaults. Camwest's lid top is only about 30 x 60 feet. The CamwestHOA doesn't appear to be using the lid for resident activity, at this time. Treated stormwater from the vault by-passes Hartman wetlands and is discharged into Perrigo Creek, a tributary of Bear Creek.
My primary source for this entry are the audio-tapes from the Redmond Parks & Trails Commission meeting of July 2, 2009 CONTACTS: shitch@redmond.gov (on stormwater vaults) and tmarpert@redmond.gov (on Overlake Urban Center).
Overlake Village Urban Center & Kelsey Creek Watershed GOOGLE DOC LINK.
Your comments and feedback are welcome! It's hard to believe, isn't it?
For the past year or so, I have been running daily with two Australian Shepherds. I have been taking care of my daugther's dog, Scooby, while she is living in the U.K. It is a learning experience for me to watch these herding dogs in action, trying their best to round up squirrels and rabbits that happen to cross our path. These are hard working dogs and love to punch a time clock. Typically, we start out around 7:00 AM, and if possible again at 5:00PM. These hard working dogs mostly sleep all day, but they keep a watch at my living room window. They let me know if any thing unusual happens to walk into our front yard. They have excellent eye sight, and a healthy bark to warn me of any out-of-the-ordinary visitors. Mostly, they know the sound of my car, and of my wife's truck, and stay quiet when we pull into our drive way. Read More >>
Evans Creek headwaters are in East King County along the Old Red Brick Road. The creek continues north and west through SE Redmond industries, past Keller Farm, before it's confluence with Bear Creek. Bear Creek flows into the Sammamish River which flows into Lake Washington and Puget Sound.
On May 1, the Redmond city council approved land acquisitions to relocate Evans Creek north and east and away from SE Redmond industries. (See map). If negotiations to purchase the property are unsuccessful the Council approved use of eminent domain.
The benefits of re-locating Evans Creek are many. Relocation: 1) improves habitat for wild salmon and wildlife, 2) increases the land values and opportunity for redevelopment of industrial properties, 3) encourages clean-up of hazardous waste and further safeguards the city aquifer 4) improves flood water conveyence, 5) enhances Bear-Evans Creek Trail recreation with restored riparian habitat.
Evans Creek is an important and valuable stream in SE Redmond that's been heavily impacted by industrial development and permiting violations, as has "AWR." Read More >>
UPDATED: A legal fight over Redmond's Group Health Overlake Village is brewing from the City waiving a long-standing tree retention ordinance. "Citizens and Neighbors for a Sustainable Redmond" ("Sustainable Redmond") of which Mayor Emeritus Ives is a member, and two neighborhoods, are suing the City and the Group Health landowner for a 100% clear-cut of the 28-acre site. Removal of all trees on the site, including 65 extra-large trees over 30.25 inches in diameter are slated to be cleared. The diameter on one "Landmark Tree" is estimated to be over 50 inches, and 250 years old. Group Health's arborists claimed the trees were dangerous and will fall over in wind storms. City associate planner Lisk said the eleven significant trees in the "park" area will be removed and the remaining "parkland" will be hydroseeded.
City council voted 6-1 (Kim Allen) to waive the long-standing 35% tree retention ordinance. At least four councilmembers justified the tree ordinance Exception by referencing requirements of the Growth Management Act. Ive's showed council a city map of all the buildings in Overlake that could absorb the City's density requirements.
Several stakeholders were quoted in a February 12, 2012 online Seattle Times article by Keith Irvine, as follows: Mayor John Marchione justified 100% tree removal saying: Read More >>
REDMOND, Wash. - Forty-five minutes is a long time to be without a pulse.
Paramedics aren’t sure if that’s how long Karen McClure was unconscious; they know it was likely longer.
"I’ve forgotten everything that day and the day before," said the Redmond mother of two. "I think my short-term memory was wiped out."
No one is quite sure what led up to the moments when McClure was found - face down, pale, and blue - on a hiking trail May 19 in Redmond. The two men who found her – longtime friends and Microsoft employees – weren’t sure what was wrong with McClure, an avid runner, when they first spotted her from a few feet away. Read More >>
Work starts June 15 to redevelop 2-mile stretch through Lake Forest Park – trail’s oldest segment
Work is about to get under way on a much-needed project to improve public safety along the oldest and narrowest stretch of King County’s Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park.
A two-mile-long stretch of the trail will be closed for construction beginning June 15, from Northeast 145th Street to Logboom Park in Kenmore. King County has established a 24-hour hotline – 206-462-6348 – to provide updated information and to answer any questions about the construction project, which could last up to six months."
The following letter was mailed by Redmond Resident Ernest F. Wilson, PLS to the U.S. Surface Transportation BOARD, Washington, DC. on October 20, 2010 (It does not necessarily represent the views of RNB)
"As a citizen of Redmond, Washington, I am very much in favor of immediate reactivation of the so-called 'Redmond Spur' rail line, along with the related and connected portion of the “Woodinville Subdivision” rail line.
At present, the former BNSF Issaquah Branch (aka Redmond Spur) line is inactive. However, the roadbed and rail are still intact all the way from Woodinville south through downtown Redmond to its intersection with Washington highway SR 520 on the easterly side of Redmond. This remaining rail line provides the opportunity for Redmond and the adjacent unincorporated area to once again be connected to the national rail system. The potential economic and environmental benefit from this connection is nearly incalculable. On the other hand, the value of the alternative use, i.e., additional trails within Redmond, is minimal. Nonetheless, shared use of some of the right-of-way may be feasible. I see three major potential benefits to reactivation of this rail line.
"Trail Hunter", an avid Power Line Trail mountain biker, first tipped Redmond Neighborhood Blog (RNB) of Puget Sound Energy's easement widening project east of Avondale. His concern was not so much about the deforestation ("Read More") as an opportunity to improve the trail linkages. "Trail Hunter" received the following response for the City of Redmond:
"The property between Farrel-McWhirter Park and the Watershed Preserve is not owned by the City of Redmond. Puget Sound Energy has responded to questions about the trail in this section with the following comment:
There is no authorized "trail" on PSE's land, between the Watershed Preserve and Farrell McWhirter park. Although the City and County have been negotiating with PSE for over a decade, for an easement or permit to construct such a trail, no easement or permit has been issued and no rights for such a use have been granted by PSE -- we have, however, informally allowed individual recreational uses, such as horse riding and mountain biking, to occur on our land. The existing "trail" is, in fact, simply a utility access road and is planned to be maintained as such. PSE would be prohibited by the UTC from expending utility rate-payer funds (i.e. from recovering the costs through utility rates) to upgrade the road for recreational purposes.
I know there continues to be an interest by the City of Redmond and King County in making this trail connection."
Teresa Kluver
Park Operations Supervisor
"Trail Hunter" has stopped biking on the powerline trail. Of course, it's not as scenic, but he has also popped three tires on recent rides. The County says they will replace the 3-4 inch rock construction road with a suitable trail surface. Posted by Yoder, Photo: internet READ MORE (see pictures)
This May, King County and the City of Redmond begin a joint pilot project designed to enhance safety on the Sammamish River Trail. Over the last several years, conflicts due to congestion have increased among the various trail users (walkers, skaters, cyclists, etc) along portions of the trail through downtown Redmond. The pilot study area is between NE Leary Way to just north of NE 90th Street.
The year-long study will bring several changes to the trail in this area. In the next couple of weeks, a dashed yellow stripe will be painted down the center of the trail to encourage users to keep to the right, vegetation will be cleared further from the trail to improve sight distances and trail etiquette signage will be added.
Having been a heavy bicycle user of the Sammamish River Trail when training for the STP I can vouch for the value in this pilot program, particularly the yellow stripe for safety and to slow traffic. What do you think about the changes?
The County also plans to install another kiosk just south of the NE 90th Street trail access point that will hold the Share the Trail brochure along with the Regional Trails in King County Map and additional Regional Trails System information. King County will also open portions of the West Sammamish River Trail in 2010. This unpaved trail on the west bank of the river should have access points at NE 90th Street, the PSE Powerline Trail Bridge and NE 116th Street. Use of this alternative trail by pedestrians is intended to help relieve congestion along the Sammamish River Trail.
"Sammamish River Trail closes May 3-14 near Marymoor Park for emergency repairs. A portion of Sammamish River Trail just north of Marymoor Park needs repairs, and King County is closing that stretch of the trail May 3-14 to ensure continued trail user safety.
The trail, which runs along the river from Marymoor Park to Bothell, will be closed to all access between Leary Way and Northeast Marymoor Way near Redmond at the Marymoor Park west entry, as crews rebuild the 200-foot-section of the trail, including repaving.
There is no viable detour route, so trail users who commonly use Marymoor Park for parking will need to use alternative access. Trail users can access the Sammamish River Trail north of Leary Way Northeast via Redmond’s Bear Creek Trail, which runs alongside Redmond Town Center.
The Sammamish River Trail can also be accessed at other points along the Sammamish River in the Redmond and Woodinville area, including Sixty Acres Park at Northeast 116th Street near Woodinville Redmond Road Northeast.
There will be no direct trail access from the East Lake Sammamish Trail via the Marymoor Connector Trail through Marymoor Park."ce
The Burke-Gilman Trail is reopening after a five-day closure caused by a landslide.
This is good news for commuters, dog-walkers and recreational enthusiasts traveling from Redmond on the Sammamish River Trail to Lake Forest Park -- The Burke-Gilman Trail should be reopened by Thursday, January 21, according to a King County newsroom report.
The trail has been closed since Jan. 15 when it was buried under an estimated 60 yards of debris.
The Burke-Gilman Trail runs more than 18 miles from Shilshole Bay in the City of Seattle to the City of Bothell where it intersects the Sammamish River Trail. For more information about biking the trail between Bothell and Redmond see this TIMES article.
King County plans to build hiking and biking trails on the line south of Woodinville. BNSF donated the southern portion of the corridor between Woodinville and Renton and the Redmond Spur that goes through the City of Redmond. by Seattle Times
On the right is a photo of the artistic railing of the 116th Street Bridge. It crosses the Sammamish River. The bridge marks the northernmost beginning of the "western river Powerline Trail" paralleling the Sammamish River. Mountain bikers, runners and hikers will use this mostly unknown, gravely trail. The trail crosses over "Peters Creek" by the 90th Street Bridge storage centers and ends at Aegis Living near the 7/11. The western river "Powerline Trail", with several bridges along the way, is a good alternative to the trafficy Eastern Sammamish River Trail.
The 116th Street Bridge is known fondly as York Bridge, named after York (1897), a town once situated on the western bank. The art railing and bridge are separate, yet compliment each other. The artist, Cliff Garten, worked with the bridge engineers to design an arc into the deck. According to the county bridge plaque "the curving movements of the railing system are memory traces of the braided streams and salmon habitat of the Sammamish River prior to being channeled."
This Sammamish River picture (left) was taken from the York Bridge, looking south towards the city. You can see both trails, the eastern river trail (left) and western river "Powerline trail." Note the kayakers pulled up on the eastern banks. A few years ago, a city consultant (Berger Associates) suggested the city consider diverting some of the hectic eastern trail bike traffic, over the river, to the western side. His plan is to slow down the eastern side and transition it into quiet, grassy, gathering areas accessing the river. What do you think about this idea? Have you been on the Western Sammamish River (Powerline) Trail, yet? The main trunk of of the western trail ends near a beautiful, huge willow tree and picnic area across the river from from Luke McRedmond Park and the new RiverPark Apartments. The western trail isn't developed for road bikes at this time, but mountain biking, hiking, and strolling will "get you there.” Do you think the city should route road bikes to the west for a stretch?
After months of extensive public input, the Parks, Trails, and Rec. Department presented a rough draft of their new comprehensive 6-year plan to City Council.
Probably, one of the most significant changes proposed are new standards for "levels of service" (LOS). In past years, levels of service focused on obtaining state agency funding for new parks and redevelopment. Planning will be designed more for function and need than grant funding applications.
This go-around, Carolyn Hope and Craig Larsen of Parks & Recreation proposed adding new functional "levels of service'" called-- Walkability, Density, Capacity, Demand and Use. Including the functional parameters will help the City prioritize and allocate City Park & Rec (and Art) resources. Impacts on the City from the "outside uses" of Marymoor Park, school fields, 60-Acres, Willows Golf, businesses, Sammamish river cycling and others can be more easily reckoned.
The foundation of the Plan is extensive public input from: three public meeting workshops, online & phone surveys, citizen advisory committees, and other opportunities. A few of the more enlightening findings from the study are, as follows:
The number one activity in parks was reported as: walking. #2 activity was unorganized sports or play, #3 relaxing (birding, meditating, reading). Organized sports were listed at the bottom third for Park activity Could this "surprise" be attributed to use at school fields, 60 Acres, and Marymoor Park, Willows Run?
The number one "future park use" requested was Mountain bike parks and trails.
The trail type most requested was soft surface trails, preferably single track. 73% of all respondents from all ages wished for soft surface! 27% wanted paved.
A Leisure Aquatic Center was the most requested Rec. facility. (Lap pool, shallow rehab/fitness pool, splash pool for kids).
A performance center for theatre (vs. concerts) was in demand.
As for Rec. programs, Aquatics and Nature were at the top of the list.
52% of citizens drive to city parks!
60% want more trails; 63% use a City park at least once/week.
Only 15% or 25% (depending on survey interpretation) said NO to funding by a park bond levy. Fees for use were popular.
Park & Trails commissioners deliberated thoroughly on what to call the Park plan. PRO Plan or PARCC Plan? Which acronym sounds good to you? Please comment below? I'll note their meaning under "comments".
CONTACT: ParksAndTrailsCommission@redmond.gov or Park's Chair hmyers@redmond.gov
This "courtesy photo" of Riverpark Apartments was published in the local Redmond Reporter (6/25) with the Press Release. For "real time" photos & clips scroll down.
Redmond REDMOND, Wash. – June 24, 2009 – Legacy Residential, a West Coast leader in residential developments, today announced the formal opening of Legacy at Riverpark Apartments. A new gateway to downtown Redmond, Legacy at Riverpark Apartments includes 319 luxury apartment homes and 5,700 square feet of street-level retail in three five- to seven-story buildings.
Legacy at Riverpark Apartments is part of the expansive six-acre mixed-use Riverpark development, which also includes a 144-room Hotel Sierra, developed by LodgeWorks; a 106,000-square-foot office building anchored by Group Health; street level retail spaces; and secure, underground parking for 750 vehicles. With the 135-unit first phase now completed, Legacy is focusing on completing the second phase, which includes an additional 184 apartment homes. The second phase will open in September.
Legacy at Riverpark Apartments strikes a unique balance between the energy of an urban, mixed-use village and the serenity of a nearby stream surrounded by expansive open spaces and jogging trails. Riverpark is just a half mile from SR-520 and is a five-minute walk along the newly extended and improved Bear Creek Parkway from Redmond Town Center, a lifestyle center featuring a high-end theater, restaurants, and more than 100 shops and boutiques, including REI and Macy’s. Just two miles from Microsoft, five miles from Downtown Bellevue and 15 miles from downtown Seattle, Riverpark offers excellent commuting options.
--Media Contact: Nate Cole-Daum, Nyhus Communications LLC for Legacy Partners Residential, Inc., (206) 323-3733 or nate@nyhus.com
COMMENT: I visited the apartments, took some pictures and talked to Nichole, Assistant Business Manager at Riverpark. The "Opening Day" 12-month Lease printed prices (dated 6/18/09) range from:
a low of **$572/month for a 1-BR Studio (10% of apartments are "affordable" )
to $2810/mo. for a 3 Bedroom Loft + Den, upper story w/view (presently unavailable)
Both trails are one and the same. The photo on the right was taken in 2004 during the "Save the Woodlands Walkathon" before the CAMWEST project was built. The photo on the left is the same trail five years later, in 2009. The city named it "Ashford Trail" after the Ashford Condominiums on Avondale Road.
The Ashford Trail was "developed" by the city to service the CAMWEST waterline and stormwater line. Crushed rock is blended into the forest soil to harden the surface and limit trail mud, though it's now close to impervious.
The soft-surface Perrigo Woods Trail is "pre-CAMWEST". In days past it was used by the Vallene family and others living east of Perrigo Springs for hiking and equestrian travel.
The western Trailhead is at the terminus of NE 100st near 171st Ave. It passes by the Hartman Wetlands and CAMWEST development to Avondale Rd.
