Showing posts with label miguel llanos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label miguel llanos. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Redmond Historical Society member photo of first meeting in 1999.

1999 Redmond Historical Society holds its first meeting at the Redmond Library with 22 in attendance. Founders are Miguel Llanos (far right in front), Margaret Evers Wiese (fifth from left), and Naomi Hardy (center right in front)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The "Old Town" Downtown neighborhood needs rehabilitation


Graffiti on the Pho Restaurant on Leary Way says "Open your eye"
 Metal siding covers over the wood siding of this building
The "Old Town" Downtown Core needs rehabilitation

UPDATED:  The need for higher and better purposes for the Old Town Downtown neighborhood were discussed at a September city council/mayoral study session.

Leary Way is at the heart of Old Town which is delineated by Cleveland Street, Redmond Way to Gilman and 164th Avenue. Sixteen landmark buildings, 40 years and older, occupy this historic district.

David Scott Meade, Chair of Redmond's Design Review Board, commented on Leary Way at the Council meeting, as follows:

"We are working on new guidelines and standards. I'd like to wrap my arms around the historic district and create an envelope of landscaping, hanging pots, street furniture, paving scapes, and opportunities to promote the businesses and structures that exist here now. I'd like to see a higher and better purposes so we can enjoy them for the next 100 years."  
Miguel Llanos, Landmarks Commissioner said "There's a Master Plan for the Downtown Park but not for Old Town. Old Town is a vibrant district that uses it's history to make it different from the rest of Redmond and other parts of the Eastside." He ran down a list of Old Town signature historic buildings that contribute energy to the downtown core: The Matador, Redmond Sports Bar, Half Price Books, Brown's Garage Liquor Store.

Miguel suggested a guided tour of the vacant second floor of the Pho Restaurant on Leary- once an historic hotel. "We need to reach out to Old Town tenants and landowners, like the Nelsons", said Miguel, to help rehabilitate the core. Graffiti is tagged on the metal siding of the Pho Restaurant.

The Nelson Group has significant landowner presence in Downtown Redmond, including on Leary way.  The Nelsons were important supporters of the 2011 Marchione election campaign with nine members contributing $200 each to the Mayor's campaign, according to Washington State Public Disclosure Commission records. Three Nelson contributors live in Redmond. One other lives in Woodinville, Santa Barbara, Wenatchee, and Mercer Island. Perhaps, the Mayor can swing his political weight with the Nelsons to jump start rehabilitation. 

David Scott Meade agreed that something is needed to be done with the metal siding on the Pho Restaurant and to save, improve, and enhance the Old Town structures, in general. He recommended applying transfer development rights as bargaining chips to trade for improvements. "Incentives are needed now before things change," said Meade, "Leary is the heart of what Redmond is and, as Miguel notes, and we need to be more proactive."

"A Master Plan is needed before Old Town gets overwhelmed," said Llanos.  

By Bob Yoder

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Redmond Council considers ideas to improve and rejuvenate Old Town District

Old Town Zone includes the Downtown Park and Central Connector
UPDATED:  September 11 was a big day for Redmond City Council, the Landmarks Commission and two Design Review Board members when they sat down in a Study Session to discuss how to improve and rejuvenate Redmond's "Old Town District."  

Leary Way is at the heart of Old Town which is delineated by Cleveland Street, Redmond Way to Gilman and 164th Avenue.  Sixteen landmark buildings, 40 years and older, occupy this historic district.

David Scott Meade, Chair of Redmond's Design Review Board, contributed to the discussion about his area of interest, Leary Way, as follows:
"We are working on new guidelines and standards.  I'd like to wrap my arms around the historic district and create an envelope of landscaping, hanging pots, street furniture, paving scapes, and opportunities to promote the businesses and structures that exist here now.  I'd like to see a higher and better purposes so we can enjoy them for the next 100 years." 
Miguel Llannos, Landmarks Commission member and Executive V.P. of the Redmond Historical Society asked Council to prepare a Master Plan for Old Town.  Miguel noted the Central Connector, Cleveland streetscape improvements, Downtown Park, and converting Cleveland/Redmond Way streets to two-way modes all fall within the Old Town Zone as defined by Redmond code. 

Llannos said "There's a Master Plan for the Downtown Park but not for Old Town.  Old Town is a vibrant district that uses it's history to make it different from the rest of Redmond and other parts of the Eastside."  He ran down a list of Old Town signature historic buildings that contribute energy to the downtown core:  The Matador, Redmond Sports Bar, Half Price Books, Brown Garage Liquor Store.

Miguel suggested a guided tour of the vacant second floor of the Pho Restaurant - once an historic hotel.  "We need to reach out to Old Town tenants and landowners, like the Nelsons", said Miguel, to help rehabilitate the core.

The Nelson Group has significant owner presence in Downtown Redmond.  The Nelson members, in total, were important supporters of the 2011 Marchione election campaign with nine contributing $200 each to the Mayor's campaign, according to Washington State Public Disclosure Commission records.  Three Nelson contributors live in Redmond.  One other lives in Woodinville, Santa Barabara, Wenatchee, and Mercer Island. 

David Scott Meade agreed that something is needed to be done with the metal siding on the Pho Restaurant and to save, improve, and enhance the Old Town structures, in general.  He recommended applying transfer development rights as bargaining chips to trade for improvements.  "Incentives are needed now before things change," said Meade, "Leary is the heart of what Redmond is and, as Miguel notes, and we need to be more proactive." 

"A Master Plan is needed before Old Town gets overwhelmed," said Llannos.

Reported By Bob Yoder

Redmond Landmarks Commission asks Council to recognize LWSD "History Day" winners

The Redmond Landmarks Commission met with City Council for their first time in a September 11 Work Session, for the most part, to discuss initiating a master plan for the "Old Town."  

At the meeting Tom Hitzroth, Chair of the Landmarks Committee, reminded Council of "National History Day" Competitions.  He announced that half of the entrants to North Puget Sound National History Day came from Lake Washington School District.  Twelve of the LWSD entrants went onto the State finals in May and three went onto the June, 2012 National finals held in Maryland to win awards.

Students work all year submitting papers, exhibits, documentaries, and even performances which are judged in March the N. Puget Sound History Day Competition.   Hitzroth sits on the judge's panel. 

Owing to the wide enthusiasm for history in LWSD, Hitzroth suggested a "Redmond Category" be  created to foster a competition between West and East LWSD students.  He felt LWSD students should be recognized in some way- perhaps by Council - at the regional, state, and national level. 

Council President Pat Vache' agreed and suggested recognition for the national winners was certainly appropriate in Redmond's Centennial Year.  Councilman Hank Margeson concurred adding that more emphasis should be placed on Redmond's native American history.  Will LWSD and the School Board take a leadership roll to extend the competition intra-district? 

Tom Hitzroth noted that Leary Way is three feet higher than it used to be and during redevelopment of Old Town, care should be taken by workers to recover any artifacts.

Reported by Bob Yoder

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Miguel Llanos, dedicated public servent & Redmond historian


Above is a photo I took of Miguel Llanos orchestrating a Redmond Historical Society multi-media event
 Miguel Llanos, a friendly, respected Education Hill neighbor, is an admired co-founder of the Redmond Historical Society, the editor of the "Redmond Recorder" newsletter, and is now a newly appointed commissioner of Redmond's "Landmarks and Heritage Commission."
I first met Miguel on the Perrigo Woodland Trail in 2003 during the citizen & city council march through the Perrigo Heights Preliminary Plat to save the woodlands. Miguel set up an exhibit to educate citizens on the history of the woodlands.
Miguel was sworn into the Landmarks and Heritage Commission last night after Rep. Ross Hunter's Town Hall meeting. The commission meets only when an owner of one of the 16 properties listed as historic by the city wants to make a change, or when a property owner wants to have their property added to list.
Miguel says the 2-block row of old bungalow houses on 164th Street is not on the list 16 historic properties. This was the "Perrigo Plat" core of Old Redmond. According to Miguel, the Brown Bag Cafe bungalow, recently sold, was once owned by long-time Mayor Bill Brown! (1913-1948). Please speak up if you want Mayor Brown's old house on the List for preservation. Send your requests to Steve Fischer, city planner.
Below, is an excerpt from The Redmond Recorder newsletter:
"Redmond Historical Society -How respected are we?", by Miguel Llanos
How respected are we as a group? When you have three mayors
helping you out that’s a pretty good sign you’ve made it.

Mayor Rosemarie Ives (1991- 2007) is a Society founding member and helped us gain our footing when we started in 1999.

Mayor Chris Himes (1980-1983) joined us a few years later and has been a go-getter since day one. She was instrumental in contacting current
Mayor John Marchione and Parks Director Craig Larsen to resolve a long-standing issue: securing the Old Redmond Schoolhouse auditorium for our Redmond Historical Society Saturday morning meetings.

Mayor Marchione (possibly influenced by attending our January meeting, where 100 people packed a room for 70!) was quick to make it happen, so starting in 2009, the auditorium will be our permanent venue.

Kudos also go to the City for taking steps to re-open Slough House Park, where famed carver Dudley Carter lived and worked during the latter part of his life. Carter’s Haida House is on the site, and is itself a work of art.
- Miguel Llanos
Editor, "Redmond Recorder"
Co-founder of "Redmond Historical Society"
Commissioner of "Redmond Landmarks and Heritage Society"
Video "here" of city attorney Jim Haney swearing in Miguel to city commission.
Please send comments and recommendations to Redmond Landmarks & Heritage Commission city planner, Steve Fischer. Your comments will be forwarded to Miguel.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

East Redmond Park & Trail Corridor Plan


The City of Redmond Parks and Recreation recently held its first of two community workshops on our Eastern Corridor of parks and trails. Linkage of five creek-lined, parks with trails and ideas for "best uses" were discussed. Parks planner, Linda Frkuska facilitated the meeting stating: "This collection of Parks is a tremendous asset to Redmond and we want to make sure we are shaping them for the people that will use and enjoy them.". The Eastern Corridor parks, from north to south, are Juel Community Park, Ferrel-McWhirter, Conrad Olson, Perrigo and Arthur Johnson. Approximately 20 citizens attended, including councilmembers Nancy McCormick and briefly, Hank Margeson. Hank was past Vice-chair of the Parks Commission. Hank's family enjoys the Pony Club at Ferrel-McWhirter and soccer fields at Perrigo. Three citizen interest groups were noticeably present:
  • Equestrian interests - horse trails at Juel and Perrigo; preference for soft trails; a covered arena at Farrel-McWhirter; signage to warn mountain bikers near the Avondale-PS trail.
  • Bear and Evans Creek natural area interests - pervious, narrower trails; attention to the preserving the natural environment; environmental education; trail location & best use.
  • Sports interests - Cricket use of Juel Park. Disc golf at Juel. Mountain biking clubs did not attend.

Guy Mikelson, a Seattle consultant of Berger Partnership, led discussion by suggesting three themes for the eastern corridor: 1) history, 2) environmental, 3) "linear arboretum" . Bear and Evans Creek riparian habitat touches all five parks and is the signature piece connecting all parks. Historical buildings add interest and possible uses by "artists in residence" and heritage exhibits.

Miguel Llanos, Redmond Historical Vice President, recommended signage along the future connecting trail to explain the area’s natural (salmon and other wildlife) and human (Native Americans, loggers, farmers) heritage. He suggested the historic Conrad Olsen barn, Juel house and Perrigo Park barn as possible locations for heritage displays and a quasi-museum.

Citizens having interests in using this corridor should contact the Parks Commission or a staff. A final meeting will be held on Thursday, June 5th, 7pm, Old Redmond School House Community Center. Public is invited.  

-- Bob Yoder & Richard Morris, Education Hill neighborhood