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:  

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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!  

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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!  

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Spacious outdoor lounge, with full kitchen, outdoor chess, diverse art 

and roof greenery delivers tons of natural light. 

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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

OPINION: Enhanced Downtown Building Colors, As Seen On City TV

I wish...

PLANNING COMMISSION INFO
Comcast Channel 21 TV screen, photo Bob Yoder, 10/3/2022

UPDATED: Work Underway For Innovative "Anderson AMLI Project"

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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

Downtown Park Art

 

Rainbow asphalt art by Jing Jing Wang

This art is a crosswalk too.  

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 

Light Rail Service Between Redmond and Bellevue Begins in the Spring

Service between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station begins Spring of 2024.  Service to the Marymoor and Downtown stations are planned for 2025.

The 2 Line segment opening next spring will mean easy, traffic-free connections
to where you live, work and play!

By Brooke Belman, Deputy CEO Sound Transit

Publish Date

August 24, 2023

Today the Sound Transit Board of Directors voted for a phased approach to opening the East Link Extension, beginning with service between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations in spring 2024.  

As we’ve shared over the past year, delays caused by construction quality issues along the I-90 portion of the East Link Extension, which includes two more stations in Judkins Park and on Mercer Island, prompted Sound Transit’s staff and Board to reimagine our plans for beginning passenger service. We now expect to open this remaining section of the 2 Line, creating rail connections across Lake Washington, in 2025. 

After greenlighting the phased approach today, the Sound Transit Board will finalize initial 2 Line service levels later this fall, when they consider the 2024 Service Plan. The plan will also set service levels for the Lynnwood Link opening, slated for next fall.  

With the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension opening next month and new Eastside and Snohomish County service launching next year, your light rail destinations are expanding in a big way in the near future. Here’s what we expect Sound Transit’s regional service will look like by the end of next year.

-- Sound Transit

Redmond Rainbow Crosswalk

Beautiful art!  But don't stare down at it when you're in the crosswalk.  
Drivers may get distracted and not recognize it's a crosswalk. 

The Public Works Director was there.  He said they bought a thermo-applicator machine to paint this crosswalk and will use it for painting other asphalt art.  NAMI Eastside mental health art near the Together Center would be another good candidate!  Don't you think? 

Eastside LBGTQIA artists"

- photo and comment by Yoder, 9/2/2023

Downtown Monotony

Beijing based public company financed this $31 million project.  The yellow building is under
construction and part of the project.  The remaining orange vapor barrier film is being covered with more drab materials.  See the small cranes at work?

 

The mixed use "Grand" building will house 1,2,3,4 bedroom apartment units and first floor retail.  It's right in the center of town at the Redmond Way / 166th Avenue and replaces Redmond Square retail mall.  Trees were once visible here.  

Last month, the planning department distributed a questionnaire with pictures of different building designs. Believe it or not, there are still many large projects in the pipeline. Please take the survey!  

Who was our mayor in 2008?  Mayor Ives / Mayor Marchione?  Building design surveys, open houses, and workshops should have been done ~ fifteen years ago.  As is, we will have to live with this and other high profile ugly buildings with no art for over ~ 50 years.  😮 

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 8/30/2023

Balcony Art

The "SPECTRA of Marymoor" apartment mixed-used building in Marymoor Village has interesting architecture in the shape of metallic balconies.  Also, note the use of brick and wood materials.  

-- Photo B. Yoder, 8/7/2023

Light Rail Graffiti

 

The light rail graffiti is adjacent Red Robin.  It's disturbing.  I've notified Mayor Birney and the code enforcement officer.  

-- Bob Yoder, 8/7/2023

Redmond's Downtown Building Designs

Redmond 2100 ??

The city wants to talk about Downtown architectural and building designs for new development. Help them plan the buildings of 2050.  The 23-acre Nelson downtown village stands out. Townhouses and triplexes are planned for the residential neighborhoods.  Overlake-south will have two new villages.  

Tell the city what you like and don’t like in architectural and building designs.  23 building designs are displayed for your opinion and comment.  Add your own ideas for Downtown buildings and comment on the designs.

The city will use your feedback to develop Downtown’s design standards for new development.  Give your feedback here.  

Questions?  Principal Planner, Kimberly Dietz, kdietz@redmond.gov, 425-556-2415

Posted by Yoder

Great Night and Band for Rock 'in on the River

 

Photo by Rick Zucker, posted on Café Chat Facebook group.  
Band is singing and playing "Chicago" songs.
Lots of dancing, too!

Line Up

Two more free performances.  August 9th and 16th.  Redmond City Hall lawns.  6-8 p.m. 

Apartment Building Art

SPECTRA apartment building art, SE Redmond

 

Marymoor Village Apartment Complex Offers Public Community Gardens

The city wants to see Marymoor Village of SE Redmond develop into an eclectic neighborhood, different from the downtown.   For the summer months and with a splash of art, Spectra Apartments in Marymoor Village is going in the right direction!

Partnering with the City of Redmond, Spectra apartments offers two community Gardens as an amenity for their tenants.  The Gardens are also open to the public. The Spectra front desk manages the Gardens, not the city.  We signed up and are 3rd on the wait list for an $80/year box.  

3 rows of carrots have sprouted!  

Spectra Apartment Community Gardens

(click images to enlarge)

-- Bob Yoder, photos, 7/29/2023

Rock'in On The River - Line-up

 

Wednesday, Aug 2: Rockfish and Friends An 11-piece band consisting of some of Seattle’s most talented and experienced musicians, Rockfish And Friends focus on an eclectic mix of “Classic Rock That Kicks Brass” from the 60’s, 70’s and 80's. You’ll be hard pressed to find another group in the area so accurately recreating the very best from artists like Chicago, Steely Dan, Heart, Lighthouse, Doobie Brothers, Toto, Wings, Blood, Sweat & Tears and many more.
Wednesday, Aug 9: Catch a Wave This Beach Boys tribute band comes direct from California. Established in 2001 Catch A Wave is the original striped shirt true-to-form Beach Boys show. Others just don't quite measure up. The idea for this incredible show was to recreate the look and sound of a live Beach Boys concert circa 1964 to 1969.
Wednesday, Aug 16: Laurel Canyon Legacy Laurel Canyon Legacy celebrates the explosion of popular music that came out of LA’s Laurel Canyon in the mid-60s as folk music blended with rock and went electric.  Come take a musical journey through the 60’s and 70’s as they perform your favorite songs by groups like The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Byrds, Beach Boys, Carole King, America, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas and the Papas, and more.

Free Summer Concerts begin at 6 p.m. on the great lawn next to Redmond City Hall. 

City MONSTER Truck

 

Pam is sitting in the truck very close to the street surface

On our way to Derby Days we saw this shiny new Redmond Public Works truck blocking and re-directing traffic on 95th.  Cool!  It's a monster truck!!

Just what does this truck do?   Do you see the yellow "buttons?"  

-- Bob Yoder, picture, 7/16/23

DERBY DAYS! A Smashing Success!

 

                                                          

DERBY DAYS INFO!

Street Trees, Wide Sidewalks Threatened By Proposed 4-acre Project

Mature street trees line the roads surrounding the proposed 8-story, 700 unit downtown Chelsea project.  These street trees have grown into beautiful significant trees, but unfortunately their roots are buckling and cracking the sidewalks. Before Council holds their Hearing on this development, I hope they will encourage Mayor Birney to design wide enough sidewalks for planting replacement street trees.  We are losing urban canopy.

The wide six-foot sidewalk on 164th and 14-foot sidewalk on 83rd Ave. is threatened by this project.  The city acknowledges the "level of traffic stress" for bicyclists and pedestrians increase when sidewalk widths are reduced.  Wide sidewalks promote bicycle/scooter/wheelchair mobility, make room for street trees and raise the level for safety for all.  

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, photos, 6/27/2023

UPDATED: Four-acre Downtown Project Will Tear-out Six Multi-family Residential Buildings, Reach Eight Stories

The Chelsea Square Master Plan site is approximately 172,989 sf (4 acre) and is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of NE 83rd St and 164th Ave NE. The site is located in the vicinity of the  Redmond Fire Department building, the Skate Board Park, the transit center and the Redmond City 8-story twin tower complex currently under construction.  

The developer's video presentation of the project.

A 3-story multifamily development with 6 residential buildings, a clubhouse, carports, and surface parking will be torn down to make room for the project.   

The proposed Chelsea Square Master Plan  is an 8-story mixed-use development with ground floor commercial uses and one level of below-grade parking. The proposed development includes 20% public open space to allow 8 stories. The project consists of two phases. Phase 1 includes approximately 400 apartments and 350 parking stalls. Phase 2 includes approximately 300 apartments and 300 parking stalls.

Chelsea Square apartments are in the "Town Square Zone."  This zone is intended as an area for the densest employment and residential uses in the Downtown.

This project is currently under review by the Design Review Board and I'm sure they would appreciate your feedback.  Email: dlee@redmond.gov

-- posted by Bob Yoder, 6/21/2023, updated 7/17/23

OPINION: The City Rakes In Millions From Construction Taxes

Of course, we know construction in our downtown, Overlake and Marymoor village is extremely active.  The city taxes this construction and revenues are significant as seen below.  The city classifies this a "one-time money" since growth will eventually normalize and this "bonus" revenue can't be relied on forever.    

The city clerk accounts for this one-time construction money, as follows:  

2018  $11,584,950

2019  $9,325,885

2020  $11,066,344

2021 $16,814,029

2022 $17,756,725 

• My question:  Besides the new Senior & Community Center where has this money been going?  

Public Records Officer response:  One-time dollars are only used to fund one-time programs, such as in 2023-2024 budget, these dollars are being used but limited to fund irrigation for community and neighborhood parks, sports field design and Police emergency response. 

It seems the clerk's response is somewhat confusing and appears to contradict the Mayor's statement as found in her Council Salary Commission letter.  Excerpt: 

"The 2023-2024 budget creation relied on one-time money to restore a small portion of the 17.63 full-time equivalent employees laid off, and programs and services sharply reduced during the pandemic years. City revenues are slowly recovering, but are not up to pre-pandemic levels. In addition, all economic indicators point to a recession on the horizon."  -- Mayor Birney. 5/26/23

Should, or shouldn't these lay-offs be funded through the General Fund rather than one-time construction money?  

-- Bob Yoder, 6/21/2023 opinion

Sources:  Sara Smith, City clerk's office:  Public Record Request :: W026428-051723, 6/9/23   Mayor Birney's letter disbanding the Council Salary Commission. 5/26/23