School District Levies, Town Hall Q&A Session

This page will be updated with Levy specifics.

VIDEO UPDATE: Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream

"Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved A Salmon Stream, 1980 - 2020,"

Redmond Historical Society.

Redmond Historical Society: "Bear Creek a small stream east of Seattle – some Redmond residents don’t even know it runs through town ending at the Sammamish River between Marymoor Park and Redmond Town Center -- but Bear Creek is notable for its historically strong runs of wild salmon. In the past half-century those runs have declined, especially that of the threatened Puget Sound Chinook. That trend is sadly common in Northwest waterways, but in this case the decline has been slowed by local efforts to support the fish."

GARY SMITH, a standout Redmond volunteer, Parks Commission Chair, Water Tender Board member and WRIA 8 appointee compiled a research project and supporting materials interviewing the following stewards of Bear Creek, most of them Water Tenders:

Interview with Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl  -- Water Tender President & Board member with long family history of life at  Paradise Lake, the headwaters of Bear Creek.  

Interview with Terry Lavender, *Founder of Water Tenders and Board Chair. Terry describes her long experience on Bear Creek working with citizen groups and county officials to preserve and rehabilitate property on and around the creek.

Interview with Mayor John Marchione.

Interview with Dick Schaetzel, past President of Water Tenders (1991.)  Very active. Dick's home is 30 feet from Bear Creek. 

Interview with Tom Murdock, Executive Director of "Adopt A Stream."  

Ray Heller, King County Basin Steward for Bear Creek, 91-93

Written Q&A with Roger Dane C.O.R. Public Works.

Many thanks to the Redmond Historical Society for initiating and publishing "Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream," 1980 - 2020  (7/13/2021)

-- Bob Yoder, 1/7/2022

Redmond Parks and Recreation To Reopen January 4th

December 28, 2021

Redmond, WA – After an extended closure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Redmond’s Parks and Recreation Department will have a phased reopening of indoor programs, facilities, and services starting Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. With increases in COVID-19 vaccination rates, expansion of boosters, eligibility of vaccinations for children five and older, and additional safety protocols, city staff are eager to welcome back participants to a safe environment for indoor recreation.

The Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village, Old Firehouse Teen Center, Old Redmond Schoolhouse, and Bytes Café within Redmond City Hall will reopen to the public while adhering to all city, state, and county guidelines including, but not limited to the following:

• Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test administered within the last 72 hours to a staff member upon entering the building, per the King County Public Health Order.
• Participants ages two and older will be required to wear a mask at all times inside city facilities.
• In accordance with Governor Inslee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Proclamation, all recreation staff were required to be vaccinated as of Oct. 18.

Indoor facility rentals, for groups of five to 85 people, will be available starting Jan. 4 at the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village.

To find hours of operation, register for activities, and learn more about recreation and rental services, the community can visit www.redmond.gov/PlaySafe.

For questions and more information, contact Jill Smith, Communications Manager, at jesmith@redmond.gov or 425-556-2448. This press release is available on www.redmond.gov/PressReleases.

 Prancing puppy Zoey wishing you a Happy New Year!

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Development of Esterra Park Leveled A Forest To Provide Needed Microsoft Housing

SHORT VIDEO OF ESTERRA PARK, THE ESTERRA APARTMENTS. AND OFFICE SPACE -- Worth every minute

Many posts on the controversial deforestation of the land are here!

2600 apartment units / 6 communities 

285 rooms/ 2 hotels

Project Overview

Lincoln Properties (PARKSIDE) is designing three multifamily buildings on blocks 5, 6A and 9 of Esterra Park. Building “6A” on block 6A is proposed at six stories with 215 homes. Building “A” is proposed as an eight-story building with 212 homes that straddles blocks 5 and 9. Building “B” is also on blocks 5 and 9. It is proposed as two buildings connected by enclosed walkways, with heights of five and six stories and 231 homes. The north portion of Building “B” faces the Park at Esterra Park.

Project Overview

The project (white structure on right) incorporates a 7-story office building with 3-levels of underground parking featuring a new access road with fire truck and utility access. (The white structure on the left is lodging.)

Project Number:  LAND-2018-00817

Project Overview

Avalon Bay Communities is designing a six-story, 330-home building on block 8 of Esterra Park. Block 8 is across NE Turing Street from the Park at Esterra Park site. The design for the building includes a ground-level courtyard that opens to the side facing the park.

Project Overview

As part of the Esterra Park Master Plan, Capstone Partners is designing a 2.67-acre publicly-accessible park. After completing design of the park, Capstone will construct, own and maintain the park. Early in 2014, Capstone solicited input on park design and presented a design to the Parks and Trails Commission in June and August 2014. Capstone presented a park design to the City Council in August 2014. Elements in the current design include: 

• Hill climb
• Meadow
• An open green
• Overlook
• Plazas
• Terraced garden
• Tree groves

-- Esterra websites, 12/20/2021

UPDATED, 12/21: Art Is Back In Redmond!

Laura Lee Bennett (correct spelling,) is Executive V.P. of the Redmond Historical Society and a VALA Board member. She gave me a tour of VALA, highlighting community Penny farthing art. 

Laura Lee is standing next to Dawn Laurant's "In Place" oil painting.  Dawn is a past VALA Board member and art appraiser.  (double click to see Dawn's artwork.) 

Crystal Edwards is President of VALA Eastside ("Venues for Artists in the Local Area.")  The Penny farthing is her creation. VALA's Mission is "Connecting artists to artists, artists to the community, and the community to art." Years ago VALA had an art center at Redmond Town Center, then moved to Kirkland.  This is their new space back in Redmond, and the first exhibit is called "We Are Here!" Many past VALA Board members, volunteers, and other contributors are in the show.  

VALA is an official blinker stop for "Redmond Lights 2021." Stop by and pick up a holiday blinker!  Their art center is at 8020-161 Av. Ne. #104, just a hop across the street from NW  Downtown Park.  Find hours of operation at their website! 

-- Bob Yoder, 12/18/2021

   Photos, Yoder

Redmond's "Verde Esterra Park" Is 644 Units With A Bicycle Shop

 

Overlake's Verde Esterra Park to open January, 2022 / Yoder, 12/17/2021

The vision
Capstone designed the park and ran it past Council and Parks & Trails Commission.  The City won't maintain it. 

The last phase of Esterra Park, the 28-acre mixed-use redevelopment of an old hospital property (Group Health) in Redmond, will be carbon neutral. This phase includes an office building leased to Microsoft, which has a stated goal of operating as a carbon negative company by 2030, more than 600 apartments and the overall project's centerpiece, a 3-acre park.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Verde at Esterra Park is a 634-unit residential development located in the Overlake community of Redmond, WA. The property abuts a 2.6-acre park and offers easy access to the region’s largest employer and to public transit. Verde at Esterra Park features 34,000 SF of outdoor amenity space, including two courtyards, two rooftop decks, and a central mews. Interior amenities include a collaborative working space and an on-premise bike shop. Bike-friendly facilities and easy access to public transit help reduce residents’ dependence on vehicles.

Verde at Esterra Park takes the site’s challenging grade and transforms it into a celebrated feature, with unique stepping of the building masses mimicking the natural landforms and patterns of the Sammamish Valley. The development’s folded planes maximize solar exposure for units and frame memorable vignettes of the park and surrounding context. Amenity spaces and exterior courtyards are located adjacent to the park to enable interaction with nature.

-- Runberg Architecture Group

Website information:  "If you could design your own park, (Esterra Park) what would you include? Exercise, music, food trucks, restaurant pop-ups, gathering spots, a comfortable work area, green space? We agree with you. When completed in 2022, The Park will have all that and more."

Yoder, 12/17/2021

8-story Modera Overlake's Plaza Is A "Crown Jewel"

Modera Overlake / Apartments.com

The site is approximately 1.41 acres in size and is located on the southwest corner of Bel-Red Road and NE 21 Street, in Overlake. Currently, this would be the first Redmond redevelopment along Bel-Red road, in Overlake Village. (15260 & 15248 Bell Red.)

The proposal is to construct an 8-story mixed-use apartment building with approximately 288 residential units and approximately 3,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space.

The development is proposed to have four levels of parking; two & half below grade and one and a half above grade. 

The applicant is proposing an 8-story building, which is possible in this zone with the use of various incentive techniques, including the plaza dedication, subterranean parking, and provide housing above the minimum required. Why doesn't the Planning Department incent with a "green roof?"

Modera Overlake will set the design direction and tone for this neighborhood for years to come. Staff believes that this project has done a good job in breaking up the massing of the overall building by creating two unique facades on NE 21st and Bel-Red Road. Staff believes that the bold design and brick façade will create a building that differentiates itself from other mid-rises in the area. The corner (above) creates a simple gateway that helps highlight the commercial space and provides ample pedestrian zone next the busy road. The plaza design will be a jewel in the crown of the overall project and will be a great example of what other pocket parks throughout the community can be. 

-- Design Review Board pre-application meeting memo, 8/15/2019

Abridged by Yoder, 12/17/2021

Photo, City of Redmond

King County Directs Public to Prepare Now for a Rapid Surge in Local COVID-19 Omicron Cases

The highly infectious Omicron variant is moving at an astonishing speed, according to the latest projections. We project the number of King County cases by next week to be three-times higher than the highest peak we've seen previously in the pandemic. We expect case numbers to continue to rise in January.

A similar pattern is expected to emerge in other parts of the United States.

The severity of Omicron cases is not clear at this time. Most fully vaccinated people should be protected from severe infection, but we expect to see many more serious cases in unvaccinated people, as well as many milder breakthrough infections among the vaccinated.

The rapid rise in cases has the potential to be more disruptive than previous waves, endangering the health care system's ability to care for people, as well as being a major disruptor to businesses, schools and key infrastructure, as employees become ill.

King County residents and workplaces are urged to take steps now to reduce the risk to themselves, their families, and others in order to lower the impact of the expected surge on the health care system and the community.

The latest projections are based on the rapid rate of spread of the Omicron variant in other countries, along with the latest local sequencing data.

"If we do a very simple 10-day projection of this rate of growth, we should expect 2,100 daily Omicron cases in King County on December 22, 2021. This is approximately 3 times the number of cases seen at the highest point in the pandemic for King County (December 2020)," said Trevor Bedford, computational biologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

"SFT Commercial" Building Under Review

This was the site of the popular "Brown Bag" restaurant and now SFT

The SFT Commercial proposal is in downtown Redmond adjacent to 164th Ave NE and south of the proposed Redmond Sunset Apartments. (8405-164th Ave. NE.) The proposal is a two-story 10,000 sf commercial building with 20 surface parking stalls. The parcel is a vacant lot (above) The site is flat and includes trees, shrubs and various grasses. An animal emergency clinic is across the street. "Herfy's mall" is on the right.  The surrounding neighborhood has a mix of mixed-use multifamily housing, professional services and retail.

The project is to encourage pedestrian activity,including informal gatherings,through public and privateinvestment in improvements alongthe streetscape  (Architect's presentation - I like it!)

According to the DRB the project is to promote the urban centers as locations for a variety of businesses, including retail, office, services, and entertainment uses that are compatible with a mixed-use urban environment. 

And, to encourage a variety of economic activities, ranging from daily goods and services to small and locally owned boutiques and other specialty stores, as well as restaurants, residences and offices that promote the urban centers as appealing places to live, work and shop and provide for active uses during the day and evening hours.  (Under review by the DRB.)

The project is proposing a commercial use. However, the type of commercial use is not defined so staff  and the Design Review Board will hold a second DRB meeting.  

Staff is seeking feedback regarding the project and initial thoughts on their proposed design. I'll get the staff contacts and post them here if you want to comment.

-- Design Review Board Pre-Application memo, 12/6/2021

"Osprey" Building Provides Opportunity For Strong Gateway Feature

Design Review Board hasn't approved this project yet (12/16/2021)
The Osprey site is surrounded by fencing. You're looking at the Heron Rookery Park evergreen trees.  They will be obscured by the new building. "Osprey" provides an opportunity for a strong gateway feature from Leary Way to the downtown. 

The proposed project involves the construction of an 88-unit mixed-use multi-family residential development on .62 acres of land.  According to the Design Review video, a 2,500 sf green roof will be installed.

The new 88-unit building is comprised of: 

• Approximately 145,000 total gross square feet; 

• 1,000 square feet of commercial area; and 

• 80 parking stalls accessed from 159th PL NE Site & Background

The site is located in the River Bend Zone near the entrance of downtown Redmond along Leary Way. The property is adjacent to the Heron Rookery park and across the street from  Dudley Carter Park and the Sammamish River Trail.  Adjacent land uses consist of commercial, multi-family, and public park land. The site currently hosts an auto repair shop. (now torn down.)

The River Bend district is one of four distinct mixed-use residential/office districts in the Downtown Neighborhood intended to provide for significant residential growth, as well as opportunities for growth in professional, business, health and personal services. It is intended to be one of the densest employment and residential area in downtown also providing supporting retail, service and entertainment uses. 

Primary streets are intended for active, pedestrian friendly and activating commercial uses. The River Bend zone acts as an entrance to downtown requiring streetscape improvements.  The River Bend zone also preserves the “green gateway” on Leary Way at the south end of Downtown.

The property’s irregular shape and prominent location at the corner of 159th PL NE and Leary Way provide opportunity for a strong gateway feature to the downtown from Leary Way. 

This 88-unit building helps achieve the City’s stated comprehensive plan goals of creating a vibrant urban center downtown capable of accommodating one-third of Redmond’s planned housing growth by 2030. 

###

With the addition of Osprey and the future Fredrick's site "Heron Canyon" continues to grow.  In 2-3 years, Fredricks Appliances will be torn down for a new 6-story building directly across from Osprey.  A Fredricks salesperson said they'd move to the Willows area or first floor retail. 

###

I've noticed developers during Design Review like to tie the history of Redmond to their project.  

The Osprey architects wrote:

"The applicant has a solid start in the design concept acknowledging the history of the region’s indigenous populations with its strong roof forms, reminiscent of the Haida house across the street in Dudley Carter Park, the City’s early timber industry with its choice of wood and stone material, and the City’s future as a modern technology hub with the building’s irregular shape and significant glazing."

-- Excerpt from a Design Review Board memo, 12/7/2021  Photos, Yoder

Downtown Eastlink Light Rail Chugging Along

(Looking west on NE 76th Street) 

The downtown Eastlink light rail terminates just shy of 164th Ave NE. 

Once completed from this angle the evergreen trees will be visually "removed." 

 The downtown light rail station is being built over 166th by Redmond Town Center. 

Construction crews are working in the wee hours with detours for two weeks.

Excavation of Redmond Square started 4-5 days ago.  Looking southwest, see the tail end of light rail

 on the left, and some evergreens that will be visually "removed" from this angle.

Completion date:  2024

-- Bob Yoder, 12/13/21  

Photos, Yoder

DOUBLE/TRIPLE CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

Superintendent Announces Levy Q&A Sessions

 

Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen

"In February 2022, we will be asking our voters to consider three ballot measures to ensure excellence for all of our students. These levies fund student programs and services not covered by the state by providing staffing, academic programs, technology, and safe and healthy school buildings. 

Two replacement levies and one capital construction levy will be on the February 8, 2022 ballot. The Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy and a School Technology and Capital Projects Levy both replace levies that expire in 2022 which fund staff, programs, early learning, technology and help ensure our school buildings are safe and maintained. The Building Excellence Capital Levy funds facility construction projects to accommodate our rapid enrollment growth and to continue to provide learning environments that promote excellence for students. 

Throughout the month of January 2022, we will host Town Hall Question & Answer sessions for our community via Teams Live. Watch for the schedule of these events to come out in the Connections newsletter and get posted on the LWSD website. 

If you are part of a community group or organization and would like to have us come to your event to share an informational levy presentation, please follow this link on the website to provide us with the details: Levy Presentation Request - Lake Washington School District (lwsd.org). 

For more information about our upcoming levies, visit: 2022 Levies - Lake Washington School District (lwsd.org)"

-- Excerpt from LWPSTA Newsletter, 12/13/2021

Radiate Apartments Unveils Matt Babcock's "Curious?" - Fairfield

CURIOUS ?

"Curious 2020"  Art: Matt Babcock/ Photo: Bob Yoder

"I make public art because public spaces reflect the ways communities and individuals think of themselves in relation to others and to the larger world."

-- Matt Babcock, Seattle-based artist and architect

Updated opinion:  When I saw this orange blob next to Radiant Apartments I was curious so parked to see what it was.  After walking around it multiple times from all angles I decided it was an elephant.  I saw a trunk!  But after looking at this photo I could see it was a bear.  The artwork is close to Bear Creek Parkway.  Does that have any meaning?  

The City is bland.  We need colors to cheer our spirits, and outdoor art to celebrate our cultural diversity.  Many significant downtown projects were recently approved and numerous others are cued up. Is it too late to reward these developers (and taxpayers) with art installations; or incentivize them?  If it is too late, our government has really messed up.  

A few apartment buildings display art in their lobby. Excellent for the tenants; of little value to the neighborhoods.  Winter Lights has wonderful outdoor art but it's temporary.  Marymoor Village is eclectic, but how much is outdoor art, or is architecture their answer?  Overlake??  What a great place to celebrate our cultural diversity. The Downtown Park concrete plaza?  Interactive art?  The 22-acre Nelson Master Plan is a huge opportunity.

We need color and personality in our "villages" and artworks to celebrate our cultural diversity.  

Kudos to Radiant Apartments.   

"Curious" (clip) is located at the entrance to Radiate Apartments on
Bear Creek Trail just west of the Downtown Park. 

.-- Bob Yoder, 12/10/2021

Anderson, Fields, Stuart Sworn In To City Council

 

(lr) Melissa Stuart, Steve Fields, Jeralee Anderson
Courtesy of redmond.gov

Redmond, WA – In a ceremony during last night’s Redmond City Council meeting, newly elected Redmond resident Melissa Stuart (Council Position No. 4), along with re-elected residents Steve Fields (Council Position No. 2) and Jeralee Anderson (Council Position No. 6), were officially sworn in. Their terms are effective January 2022 through December 2025.

Melissa Stuart, MNPL, is a non-profit leader working to improve the lives of children, youth, and families.
She’s currently working on behalf of youth at Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. Her past work includes securing affordable access to behavioral healthcare for families at Youth Eastside Services, ensuring educational justice for youth in foster care at Treehouse, and more. Stuart is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, former board member at Zero Waste Washington, and previously served as a Redmond Library Trustee. Melissa grew up on the Kitsap Peninsula. She lives in Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood with her husband and stepson.

Anderson, Fields, Stuart  (click to enlarge)

Steve Fields has lived in Redmond for more than 30 years. He worked across all functions of government in his positions at King County and the City of Seattle in the Executive offices. Fields guided elected officials on policy, budget, and operational improvements. He advised department heads and their staff to help the government perform better. Fields is also a Redmond small business owner with his wife.

Jeralee Anderson is the President/CEO and Co-founder of Greenroads Foundation, a Redmond nonprofit organization focused on sustainability education, performance management, and strategic programming for transportation capital projects. She received her doctorate in sustainability and civil engineering from the University of Washington in 2012 and is a licensed professional engineer. She currently represents the City as an alternate on the Cascade Water Alliance (CWA), and she serves as an Association of Washington Cities (AWC) representative on the State Public Works Board.

"On Deck" Varisha Kahn, Vanessa Kritzer, David Carson
(click to enlarge)

Double click to enlarge 
This is the first time since the start of the pandemic that the entire Council and Mayor
attended an in-person Business meeting in Chambers. 

-- Bob Yoder, 12/8/2021

   Photos, Yoder

OPINION: Leah Choi Sworn Into LWSD Board

 

School Board Director Leah Choi

Leah Choi was sworn in a LWSD Board Director during last night's Regular Board meeting.  It didn't take me long to know how lucky we are.  She stepped right up with terrific questions and novel recommendations on various topics.  One Board member shocked by her alacrity put her on the spot with questions.  The member coined her as precocious.  IMO, one of the reasons Leah got elected was she is Asian and brings diversity to the Board.  District Asians (and other races) for the most part are highly engaged and take education seriously.  All participants on the superintendent selection committee I attended (Staven) were Asian except for me.  

-- Bob Yoder, opinion

    12/7/2021

AMLI Project Will Tear Down Value Village Mall and Dog Care Store

Value Village Mall: Fed Ex Office, Romos, Fun & Study,
 Kim's Hair and Nails, Costumes
(double click to enlarge)

 

Costume store (in the mall)
click to enlarge 

Dog DayCare (next to lone tree on the parcel)
click to enlarge 

The AMLI developer is using "a railroad theme" to market his property. (Railroads played a vital role in the development of Redmond. Light rail follows the Central Connector Trail, which followed the downtown railroad line.)

Report and photos, Yoder

12/6/2021  

Redmond 87 Apartments Will Have Rooftop Amenities

Good Year will be torn down.
Straight ahead see the All Together Center lumber
(double click to enlarge)

Kimmel Athletic Store will be torn down.
(double click to enlarge)
Old Kimmel Athletic Store is presently used by Friends of Youth.
We used to buy lacrosse stuff here.

Redmond 87 Apartments
(click to enlarge)

The new building will include 134 residential units, including 13 affordable units, consisting of studio, one, and two-bedroom floor plans, and approximately 7,900 sf of retail space. [Why not 3BR units for families?]

The project provides community open space in the form of a second story courtyard. The courtyard is complimented by a rooftop lounge, and deck. Both the courtyard and deck will include landscaping, and seating for residents.

-- Report and photos by Yoder, 12/6/2021

District Goes To New School Board System

The school district is using a new platform (BoardDocs) for providing government information on  School Board activities, their meetings, meeting agendas, the extended agenda, Board videos, and the like.  To shed some light on the platform, below are some helpful links:  

To find "BoardDocs:"  

https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/lwsd/Board.nsf/vpublic?open

Monthly Regular Board meetings [erratic] are televised on Comcast Channel 26 at 7 p.m.  To get email updates on upcoming school Board meetings: 

https://k12edition.hatchbuck.com/OnlineForm/3031107761

To find upcoming Board meetings agendas, meeting dates, times and Board videos.  Importantly, meetings are live streamed here:

https://www.lwsd.org/board/board-meeting-video  

**Public comments are taken at 7 p.m. Business meetings by phone or in writing to djenkins@lwsd.org or boardmembers@lwsd.org.