Shoreline Village: A plan for aging in your home, Part One

Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood Village members
Photo courtesy Senior Services

This is the first of a four-part series about the Village that is being planned for Shoreline.

A Village for Shoreline: Part One

By Dori Gillam, Aging Your Way, Senior Services

A few of your neighbors think Shoreline could benefit by forming a Village. And they hope to entice you to get involved by helping plan it, volunteer once it has launched, and/or become a member so you can enjoy all the benefits.

What is a Village? It is not so much a place as it is a plan for aging in your home. It is a membership-based organization with paid staff who act as a personal, central resource to coordinate access to services for you. The services will help you stay in your home as you age and could be provided by trained neighborhood volunteers, or you might be referred to screened vendors for more complex needs and services. Many Villages also offer social and activity groups. 

You can be part of a Village whether you need these services yourself, or can provide them for members. Services might include: yard work, rides to the doctor or a friend’s house, housecleaning, companionship, pet care, painters, plumbers, grocery shopping and educational and social events at nearby locations.

How did Villages get started? Originally started in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, MA in 2002, the Village concept arose out of community members’ desire to reside in their own homes while being able to access services that addressed their changing lifestyles as they aged. They wanted to take responsibility for their aging, which meant deciding how they would live and ultimately spend their last days. At its core, the Village Movement is customer and community-driven. Now there are more than 200 in the US.

Here is a short video featuring a member from the PNA Village in Seattle.

Is there a typical Village? Not really. “If you've seen one Village; you’ve seen one Village.” Each one is planned specifically to meet the needs of the local community. By design, all Villages focus on engagement to remain healthy, not on frailty and disability. Interdependence is the goal, not isolated independence. And for those of you who are already members of the SWEL Timebank, you can see that a Village is a great partner for Timebanking in a close-knit community like Shoreline.

What Are the Costs? Each Village determines its own annual fees, so they can range from $250 per year to $900 per year for an individual. Volunteer services are free to members; professionals and agencies charge fees but may give discounts to Village members.

Who is Involved in Shoreline So Far? It’s at the embryonic stage, so …. YOU could help plan it! Folks like Chris Eggen (Shoreline City Council), and Judy Parsons and Bob Lohmeyer of the Shoreline Senior Center are part of the planning group. 

There are already three Villages in Seattle: PNA Village (Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood), NEST (NE Seattle), and Wider Horizons (serving Central Seattle) 

In the next three articles, we'll go into more depth about who joins Villages, how they work, and how they get started and develop. 

Curious? To find out a bit more and about the next meeting on June 2, please contact Joanne Donohue at Senior Services joanned@seniorservices.org, 206-727-6206

See other articles in this series

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

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Shoreline Village: A plan for aging in your home, Part Two

NEST Village
Photo courtesy Senior Services

This is the second of a four-part series about the Village that is being planned for Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and North Seattle

A Village for Shoreline:  Part Two

By Dori Gillam, Aging Your Way, Senior Services

In Part One, we described what a Village is, history of the Village movement, costs and how you can get in on the planning here in Shoreline. This week, we'll focus on why someone would want to be a member.

Who Joins a Village?

Joining a Village is attractive to many types of people. Often, it is an individual or couple who are in their own house, condo or apartment who would like a bit of help now and then. Some might have adult children, friends or neighbors who help with spring cleaning, raking leaves, shoveling snow, gardening or repairing a back step. But some folks either do not have kids or the kids live in another state and can’t help with household projects. They might not feel comfortable asking a friend or neighbor to work around their house; and hiring an hourly worker to handle these types of tasks can get expensive. 

A highly requested service in most Villages is transportation. Usually it’s for simple errands to the store, dry cleaning, getting to hair and doctor appointments. Most Villages have volunteers who can pick up members for these trips.

Villages also often provide social activities like presentations, lectures, parties, dances and music. Members find this expands their social circle, connecting them with neighbors they might not have met in another way.

A video about the Beacon Hill Village in Boston gives a great profile of the kind of folks who can benefit from membership.

Joining a Village can mean different things to different people. Here is what joining Wider Horizons Village (in Seattle) as a founding member means to Denise Klein, former CEO of Senior Services. “Joining the Village means I’ll be gaining:

1. a social network…offering me the opportunity to tailor my own activities and to find friends and acquaintances who like to do what I like to do;

2. a structure where I can find meaning and purpose by volunteering…on my own terms and in my own neighborhood;

3. knowledge about and connection to the best services…what I need when I need it;

4. a plan in place for a future time when I may need more assistance;

5. more peace of mind for my loved ones since they know my Village will help support me;

6. an approach to aging in place that benefits the community and that I may want to support financially.”

Talk with your friends; perhaps they’d like to find out more, also. In the next two articles, we’ll go into more depth about who volunteers in Villages, how they work and how they get started and develop. 

Curious? To find out when the next meeting is, please contact Joanne Donohue at Senior Services, 206-727-6206.

See other articles in this series

Part 1

Part 3

Part 4

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Shoreline Village: A plan for aging in your home, Part Three

Photo courtesy Senior Services

This is the third of a four-part series about the Village that is being planned for Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and North Seattle

The Village is a membership-based organization with paid staff who act as a personal, central resource to coordinate access to services for you. The services will help you stay in your home as you age and could be provided by trained neighborhood volunteers, or you might be referred to screened vendors for more complex needs and services. Many Villages also offer social and activity groups.

A Village for Shoreline:  Part Three

By Dori Gillam, Aging Your Way, Senior Services

How Does a Village Work?

A Village is a collaborative effort between community members in the form of: Volunteers, screened Vendors and the Members themselves. Each of these parties can give something and receive something. All of the residents value community and intergenerational relationships. 

NEST Village in Seattle describes it like this:

“With one phone call, Members access benefits:

• Family members feel less stressed and isolated. 
• Neighbors of all ages become more deeply engaged in their communities. 
• Neighborhoods feel safer and more friendly. 
• Businesses see more customers and become more closely linked with their neighborhood. 
• Village Members receive dignified assistance when and if they want it, connections with their community, and can stay in the houses and neighborhoods they love. 

The Village:

• matches members with volunteers to assist with daily tasks like transportation, household tasks, and staying physically active.
• organizes events and activities for learning and fun
• maintains a list of pre-screened professionals and discounts at local businesses”

Villages work because they make it easier for people to connect in the ways that they want to. Whether for social activities or a hand around the house, Villages connect neighbors.

What Kind of Volunteering Could I Participate In?

Key players in all villages are the volunteers. Volunteers have the chance to provide the extra helping hand and neighborly support that makes it easier and safer for neighbors to stay in their homes as they age. Volunteers can

• Provide transportation to doctor’s visits, grocery stores, haircuts and other errands 
• Assist with computer and internet use 
• Help in the garden 
• Facilitate a member group 
• Climb a ladder 
• Work in the office 
• Take a walk 
• Extend a friendly visit 
• Plan events 

Volunteers have the freedom and flexibility to say yes or no to any volunteering opportunity. Depending on your interests and availability, volunteering can be something you do regularly each week or one time.

What About Professional Services?

Many Villages also screen local professionals and businesses (via background and reference checks) so their services can be offered through the Village. These might include plumbers, electricians, painters, auto mechanics, etc. This is an excellent benefit to local businesses. The idea is that when a member calls the village for a referral, one of the previously screened vendors can be contacted. This saves the member the job of researching professionals and relying on sketchy information. Many times, the vendors even offer a discount to members. 

So, to make a village work, everyone can participate regardless of age. You could be a member, a volunteer, or a local business.

Curious? To find out a bit more, including when the next meeting is, please contact Joanne Donohue at Senior Services, 206-727-6206

See other articles in this series

Part 1

Part 2

Part 4

Read more...

Shoreline Village: A plan for aging in your home, Part Four

Dancing at a NEST Village event

{This is the last of a four-part series about the Village that is being planned for Shoreline.}

The Village is a membership-based organization with paid staff who act as a personal, central resource to coordinate access to services for you. The services will help you stay in your home as you age and could be provided by trained neighborhood volunteers, or you might be referred to screened vendors for more complex needs and services. Many Villages also offer social and activity groups.

A Village for Shoreline: Part Four

By Dori Gillam, Aging Your Way, Senior Services

dorig@seniorservices.org

How Does a Village Get Started?

If you care about your neighborhood, you can start a village. Here are the steps. Where do your skills and passions fit in?Form a planning committee of other people interested in starting a Village. The members need organizational development skills, which means a broad set of skills: meeting facilitation, budgeting and financial management, research, marketing, grant writing, community organizing, public speaking and promotion or salesmanship skills.

• Decide on governance structure: independent non-profit, fiscal sponsorship through an existing non-profit or program of the non-profit.
• Decide on name and geographical area.
• Membership Dues - develop a structure for dues and membership policies
• Develop a Budget – in addition to membership dues, include corporate sponsorships, foundation grants and major donors
• Raise a modest amount of money to hire someone who can start the process of recruiting members and working with the planning group to launch the village. Or find a volunteer with the skills and the time who can commit to about 15 hours per week for a year or more.

On average it takes about two years to launch a Village. This may seem like a long time, but if you want the Village to be owned by the community, you need this much time to develop it. Senior Services will be there to provide the support and guidance and supplement skills needed to create the village.

AgeWise King County posted this article a few months ago.

People in Shoreline have already had a couple of meetings to work on this. To join them, please contact Joanne Donohue at Senior Services joanned@seniorservices.org, 206-727-6206

See previous articles in this series

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

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History of Aurora Village

Aurora Village probably in the 1970s
View of the west and south sides from Aurora
Photo courtesy History's Dumpster

From the Mall Hall of Fame

Reprinted with permission

AURORA VILLAGE CENTER
Aurora Ave N and N 205th St
King County (Shoreline), Washington

Greater Seattle's AURORA VILLAGE CENTER was developed by the Continental West Company.

The shopping hub occupied 35 acres, located 13.9 miles north of the center city. The site, then in unincorporated King County, was adjacent to the King-Snohomish County line.

Originally an open-air mall of fifty stores, AURORA VILLAGE CENTER opened in 1960. It featured a (30,000 square foot) J.C. Penney, (21,000 square foot) Pay 'n Save Drug, Lucky Stores supermarket and (40,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10.

This appears to be taken from Aurora
Photo courtesy Shoreline Historical Museum

Inline stores included Nordstrom's Shoes, Ernst Hardware, Jay Jacobs, Buster Brown Shoes, Turner Jewelers and Kinney Shoes. A 3-level (180,000 square foot), Seattle-based Frederick and Nelson opened, on the east end of the mall, in July 1963.

Shopping centers in the AURORA VILLAGE trade area included NORTHGATE CENTER / MALL (1950) {4.6 miles south, in King County (Seattle)}, AURORA SQUARE (1967) {2.2 miles southwest, in King County (Shoreline)} and ALDERWOOD MALL (1979) {4.7 miles northeast, in Snohomish County (Lynnwood)}.

Site plan ca 1979
Courtesy Mall Hall of Fame

A 2-level (71,000 square foot) Nordstrom was dedicated in May 1974, along with an adjacent parking deck. 5 years later, the complex was enclosed and climate-controlled. The newly-renovated center, now going as AURORA VILLAGE MALL, encompassed 550,000 leasable square feet and sixty stores and services.

The Luxury Theatres Aurora Village 4 took the place of a shuttered Lucky Stores supermarket and was in business by 1980. By the late 1980s, the shopping center was in a downward spiral. This was exacerbated by the closing of Frederick and Nelson in September 1991. The final nail in the proverbial coffin came on May 30, 1992, when Nordstrom closed its doors for good.

Frederick and Nelson closed in 1991

A redevelopment of the struggling retail hub had been on the drawing board for several years. The plan was to raze the mall, with its two anchors left standing. These were to be worked into a new 777,000 square foot complex with two levels of retail, a food court, multiplex cinema and over one hundred and forty stores and services.

Financing for the project was never secured. The mall fell into disrepair and became a haven for crime. It changed hands three times between 1987 and 1992. The final owner, New York City-based Citicorp, acquired the property by default in October 1992. With the anchor stores, and most of the mall, sitting vacant, Citicorp decided to raze the entire structure. Demolition commenced in late 1993.

A 370,000 square foot power center, known as AURORA VILLAGE CENTER, debuted in June of 1994. It included a 1-level (156,000 square foot) Costco, 1-level (130,000 square foot) Home Depot and Big 5 Sporting Goods (a tenant of the original mall). The shopping center site became part of the newly-incorporated city of Shoreline in August 1995.

Mall Hall of Fame Sources:
Malls of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster
The Seattle Times
www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest

Related: Article on Northgate Mall here

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Community Transit bus service in Shoreline cut and changed

Swift bus runs north from Aurora Village
Bus Rapid Transit

Updated and corrected 2-22-2012 12:43am

See changes within paragraphs in bold.

By Brian Doennebrink

Starting Monday, February 20, Community Transit's bus service was reduced again, a continued response to revenues that continue to be flat. For bus riders in Shoreline, that translates into less-frequent service and a shorter span of service, but there are also some new wrinkles to learn.

Swift rapid transit changes

For those riding Swift bus rapid transit from Aurora Village towards Everett on weekdays, service during the 5 a.m. hour will be every 20 minutes instead of every 10 minutes. From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., that service will run every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes. Put another way, that's 5 buses per hour instead of 6. While the service from 7 p.m. on continues to be spaced every 20 minutes, the last bus leaves Aurora Village at 9:40 p.m. On Saturdays, Swift bus rapid transit runs every 20 minutes, from Aurora Village starting at 6:00 a.m. with the last bus at 9:40 a.m. The service going the other direction is similar, important to keep in mind if you're attending an event at, say, Everett's Comcast Arena.

Non-BRT (bus rapid transit) routes

For non-BRT routes, the spans are cut similarly. The #101 that goes up 99 to South Everett remains at 30 minute intervals. Meanwhile, there are changes to the other local routes.

The #118 that went from Aurora Village to Edmonds Community College has been canceled. In its place is a lengthier route, the #115. It travels from Aurora Village to Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood Transit Center, Alderwood Mall, Mill Creek, and Mariner Park and Ride. It is scheduled to run from 5:20 to 8:46, but being a longer route means that keeping to schedule will be a challenge.

The #130 that travels from Aurora Village to Lynnwood continues, but at reduced span and frequency. The route also takes over part of the now-former #131, the part that went from Aurora Village to Edmonds. To go beyond that, however, will require a transfer to another route. A new route from Edmonds is the #196, which will travel from Edmonds to Alderwood Mall, with limited stops, via 196th.

Commuters to Seattle

The lone commuter route that touches Shoreline, the #416, has four peak-hour runs per day in each direction that cross N. 205th on their journey to and from downtown Seattle.

For more information about bus schedules, see this website.

Customer Service hours were also reduced on September 20. For Trip planning, customer comments, and transit information, call Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed weekends and holidays) 425/353-RIDE (7433) or 800/562-1375 TTY Relay: Dial 711, email.

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New Senior Housing Community in North Seattle

Zenith Capital and Village Concepts announced they are planning to build a new 100 unit assisted living and memory care community for seniors in north Seattle.

The Linden Village Assisted Living Community (Linden Village) will be newly constructed at 13524 Linden Avenue North in north Seattle’s Bitter Lake neighborhood. 

For neighbors and others interested in learning more about the project there will be an open house and short presentation on August 12th at 6:30 at the Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave N. The developer (Zenith), operator (Village Concepts) and architect (Innova) will be on hand to answer any questions about the project. Refreshments will be served.

Seattle is a dynamic city with a rapidly growing population. When most people think of Seattle’s rapid growth there are visions of young high-tech employees moving downtown. While that is one aspect of Seattle’s growth another mirrors the continued growth of the nation’s senior population. Over 10,000 baby boomers are retiring daily and there is an increasing need for assisted living and memory care facilities in the Seattle area.

Linden Village will offer 79 units of assisted living housing in studios, one and two bedroom configurations. There will also be 21 spaces available in the memory care wing. Such amenities as a rooftop deck, entertainment center, medication management and full meal plans will be available for residents. 

Federal Way headquartered Village Concepts - a pioneer in building and operating senior housing communities - will operate Linden Village. Seattle-based Zenith Capital is overseeing development and financing for Linden Village.

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Point Wells: Disappointment and uncertainty in the wake of decision by state Court of Appeals

By Tom McCormick

On December 27, 2022, the state Court of Appeals upheld Snohomish County’s denial of BSRE’s applications to develop Point Wells as an Urban Center. See my earlier article at: https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2022/12/point-wells-court-of-appeals-upholds.html

The court's decision is great news for our community and the environment, but in its wake there is disappointment and uncertainty.

Architectural site drawing from BSRE 

Disappointment: Wasted time and money.

When BSRE submitted its applications to the County in 2011, its plans included many buildings taller than the County's 90-foot maximum for Urban Centers (some as tall as 180 feet). BSRE assumed that the County would allow its 180-foot towers. BSRE assumed that it could satisfy the “additional height” conditions in the County Code: 

"A building height increase up to an additional 90 feet may be approved … when the additional height is documented to be necessary or desirable when the project is located near a high capacity transit route or station …." 

In its project narrative, BSRE stated: "The Point Wells Urban Center Plan assumes full use of this provision."

BSRE assumed wrong. 

In 2018 and again in 2021, the County denied BSRE’s applications because they substantially conflicted with Code requirements. One conflict stood out: BSRE’s plans included many buildings taller than the County’s 90-foot maximum. This was a Code conflict because the County concluded that BSRE did not satisfy the Code's “additional height” conditions necessary to permit buildings taller than 90 feet. The state Court of Appeals agreed. Relying solely on the building height conflict, it upheld the County’s denial of BSRE’s applications.

It is a mystery why, in 2011, BSRE did not ask the County for written confirmation that its assumption was correct. It could have asked the County for a formal Code Interpretation on the maximum building height— perhaps BSRE's single most important critical path issue. The entirety of its plans depended on having buildings taller than 90 feet.

"Central Village" site concept drawing from BSRE

Even after the County alerted BSRE in 2015 of concerns about whether BSRE satisfied the Code's “additional height” conditions, BSRE continued to assume that 180-foot buildings were allowable. (The County alerted BSRE promptly after receiving input from the public arguing that, due to the lack of high capacity transit access, buildings taller than 90 feet were not permitted.) It is a mystery why, even after the County alerted BSRE in 2015, BSRE did not ask the County for a formal Code Interpretation on the maximum building height  (or perhaps the County could have issued a Code Interpretation on its own initiative?).

If a Code Interpretation had been sought, and if the County had responded by confirming that 90 feet was the maximum building height due to BSRE not satisfying the high capacity transit and other conditions, everyone would have known years ago that 180-foot buildings were not permitted at Point Wells. 

BSRE would have revised its plans years ago, with no buildings taller than 90 feet. The parties would have avoided the years-long fight over the maximum building height and various dependent issues. The County, the public, the City of Shoreline, the Town of Woodway, and BSRE all would have saved vast amounts of time and money.

Uncertainty about what’s next: More court proceedings? Will BSRE apply to develop Point Wells as an Urban Village?

BSRE can ask the state Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision upholding the denial of BSRE’s applications, and/or BSRE could petition the state Supreme Court to review the decision (there is no appeal of right). We should know by late January how BSRE decides to proceed. 

If the decision by the state Court of Appeals stands, and if BSRE still wishes to develop Point Wells, it would need to start over, and apply to develop the site as an “Urban Village” (the site’s current designation). Urban Villages are not required to provide direct access to high capacity transit.

1. If Point Wells remains part of unincorporated Snohomish County.

Assuming Point Wells continues to be a part of unincorporated Snohomish County, BSRE would submit its Urban Village plans to the County for approval under the County’s development code governing Urban Villages (SCC 30.31A.115). Three provisions of interest are: 

— The maximum building height is 75 feet, but the County’s planning director may recommend a height increase in appropriate locations within the Urban Village of up to an additional 50 feet when the applicant prepares an environmental impact statement, and where such increased height in designated locations does not unreasonably interfere with the views from nearby residential structures. 

— The County’s more protective post-OSO landslide hazard rules will apply to any development at Point Wells.

— Maximum residential density is 44 residential units per gross acre. If all of Point Wells were considered as one site, the maximum density would be 2,684 residential units (= 44 X 61 acres). 

Importantly, this theoretical maximum density is subject to other restrictions and requirements that likely would reduce the density considerably. For instance, SCC 30.31A.115(9) provides special requirements applicable to Point Wells, including the following: 

"The applicant shall successfully negotiate binding agreements for public services, utilities or infrastructure that are to be provided by entities other than the county [(for example, the City of Shoreline)] prior to the county approving a development permit that necessitates the provision of public services, utilities or infrastructure; [and] The intensity of development shall be consistent with the level of service standards adopted by the entity identified as providing the public service, utility or infrastructure.” 

 

Transportation Corridor Study

Since the City of Shoreline has adopted a 4,000 average daily trip limit for the 2-lane Richmond Beach Drive (currently the only access to Point Wells), this limit alone could reduce the number of permitted residential units considerably. 

Further, the number of units could possibly be reduced as a result of the environmental review required by Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

2. If Point Wells is annexed by the Town of Woodway or the City of Shoreline.

A few years ago, the Town of Woodway and the City of Shoreline entered into an agreement that gives the Town the first right to annex Point Wells, provided it takes certain steps by June 11, 2023. If the Town fails to act by the deadline, then the City gets the right to annex Point Wells. 

The Woodway Town Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 4:00pm, at the Woodway Town Hall, to discuss Point Wells.

BSRE could wait to see if either the Town or the City annexes Point Wells, and then submit to the annexing jurisdiction an application to develop the site as an Urban Village under the annexing jurisdiction’s Urban Village rules. 

As part of the agreement between the Town and the City, the parties have adopted nearly identical development code provisions that will apply to proposals to develop Point Wells as an Urban Village following annexation. Three provisions of interest are (see Town of Woodway Municipal Code Chapter 14.40, and City of Shoreline Municipal Code Chapter 20.94):

— The maximum building height is 45 feet, except for areas east of the BNSF railroad right-of-way, where the maximum building height is 35 feet. The maximum building height may be increased to 75 feet west of the BNSF railroad right-of-way if the applicant conducts a view analysis demonstrating certain public views from Richmond Beach Drive to Admiralty Inlet are not impacted. 

— Rules similar to the County’s post-OSO landslide hazard rules will apply to any development at Point Wells.

— Maximum residential density is 44 units per "net acre," excluding roads, drainage detention/retention areas, biofiltration swales, areas required for public use, tidelands, and critical areas and their required buffers. Assuming 18 net acres at Point Wells, that is a maximum residential density of 792 units.

Point Wells would need environmental remediation before construction.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Site remediation

BSRE must remediate (clean up) the Point Wells site before commencing construction of an Urban Village. Remediation will take many years and cost millions of dollars.

In 2020, BSRE filed a lawsuit against the oil company, demanding that the oil company remediate the site. The oil company then filed claims against BSRE. The lawsuit is ongoing. Trial is set for late 2023. It is possible that the parties could settle the matter before then.

Resumption of oil operations?

Instead of developing the site as an Urban Village, could the marine fuel and asphalt oil storage and distribution operations at Point Wells be resumed? Snohomish County has not ruled on the matter.

The oil company at Point Wells had been operating marine fuel and asphalt oil storage and distribution operations until June 2020, when its lease with BSRE ended. About a year later, the public asked the County to rule that oil operations can never be resumed. The public cited a special Code provision prohibiting nonconforming uses from resuming if such uses have been discontinued for more than a year (oil operations are a nonconforming use under the site’s current Urban Village zoning). 

In November 2022, the County’s Department of Planning and Development Services (PDS) sent the oil company a letter that described the public’s concerns, and what PDS might do:

"Upon learning about [a recent] pier maintenance project, several members of the public expressed concern to PDS regarding the possibility that uses of the site, considered nonconforming under Snohomish County Code, have been abandoned and may not resume. ...

Although PDS is not currently requesting information from you related to prior or current uses at Richmond Beach Terminal, please know that the issue raised by the public regarding nonconforming and abandoned uses may be raised again in the future. At such point PDS may be required to directly respond to the question."

Stay tuned for further developments.

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ParentMap: 10 Lighted Seattle-Area Playgrounds to Brighten Your Night

The open design and lighted paths at Pathways Park are ideal for evening play. Photo: Meredith Charaba

"We’re well into the Big Dark season here in the Pacific Northwest. The sun might set before 5pm, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Although the day might seem to be over, many kids aren’t done playing. If you need a play break before dinner or want to wear them out before bedtime, these lighted playgrounds help keep the fun going while brightening your night.​"

This article in ParentMap reviews ten playgrounds around Puget Sound - including two near University Village - that have full lights when the rest of the world is dark.

Pathways Park, Seattle

Seattle’s largest, most inclusive park is well-lit at night. Lamp posts with LEDs line the paths and shine bright at sunset. The park has great visibility, too, with its open design. Plus, it’s just a few minutes’ drive from University Village, if you find yourself out late shopping and need a wide open space for the kids to run around afterward. We love the wide polished concrete slide, swing set and climbing structure.

Location: 5201 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle. Open 4am – 11:30pm.

The covered playground at University Village has lights and heat lamps. Photo: Meredith Charaba

University Village Playground, Seattle

This small playground, nestled within the University Village outdoor shopping center, is not only lit but also covered and equipped with heat lamps. The play equipment is geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, with a sign suggesting a height limit of about 46 inches. The turf ground is forgiving for crawlers and toddlers, and the enclosed area provides peace of mind for those with wandering little ones. The play structure provides opportunities to burn some energy climbing, sliding and balancing on stepping stones. The ride-on cars and rocking horse toys are a fun novelty, especially if you don’t have those at home.

Happy Lemon is right by the playground and is always well loved by kids, but there are endless options of family-friendly eats at University Village.

Location: 2623 N.E. University Village St., Seattle. Open Monday–Saturday, 10am – 8pm; Sunday, 11am – 6pm. ​

Read the article here

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Jobs: Part-time weekend jobs at Camlann Medieval Village

Workers at Camlann Medieval Village

If you're looking for a unique summer job look no further

Come be part of Camlann Medieval Village

Job Description: We are seeking enthusiastic and adventurous individuals to join our team for unique summer jobs in a medieval village! 

As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to transport yourself back in time and experience life in a medieval village, complete with period-accurate costumes, activities, and interactions with visitors.

Hiring for-

• Gift Shop Clerk
• Clothing Shop Clerk
• Kitchen Assistant

Requirements:

• Be available to work weekends during the summer season
• Ability to work in a team and independently, with good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable wearing period-accurate costumes and interacting with visitors in character
• Physical ability to perform tasks such as lifting, carrying, and standing for extended periods of time.

Compensation: $18 All positions are part-time
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 11:30-5:00 (May–September)

To Apply: please submit a letter of introduction and resume to roger at - camlannvillage@gmail.com

Camlann Village is located at 10320 Kelly Rd NE, Carnation, WA 98014, near Stillwater, halfway between Duvall and Carnation in east King county.

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Snohomish County designates Point Wells as Urban Village

BSRE Point Wells designated as Urban Village
Artist's conception courtesy BSRE

Press release from BSRE Point Wells

Snohomish County Council expands its regulations and re-designates Point Wells as a less dense Urban Village

The Snohomish County Council this week adopted legislation which creates a new, less dense "Urban Village" alternative to development under its Urban Center regulations. The Council then changed the designation of Point Wells from Urban Center to Urban Village.

The County's actions were in part designed to bring it into compliance with the requirements of the Growth Management Hearings Board decision in appeals of its earlier designation of Point Wells as an Urban Center.

The Board will review the sufficiency of the County's actions in a December hearing.

"We have followed and, where appropriate, supported the County's efforts to comply with the requirements of the Growth Management Hearings Board," said Gary Huff, land use counsel for BSRE Point Wells. "We trust that the Board will approve of the County's actions so that our collective efforts moving forward can focus on further understanding and appropriately mitigating the impacts of our specific proposal."

The County's efforts to comply with the requirements of the Growth Management Hearings Board order include the publication of an addendum to its 2009 urban center programmatic environmental impact statement. The addendum was written as if the analysis had been included in the County's 2009 programmatic EIS and reviews the impacts of a generic urban village-style

project.

Huff noted that the Board mandated "less dense alternative" addressed in the addendum does not reflect BSRE's proposal. More importantly, Huff emphasized that the specifics of BSRE's proposal will be thoroughly addressed in a future, project-specific environmental impact statement which will update and reflect the evolution of on-going discussions with interested parties regarding the optimal approach to limiting vehicle trips and most effectively mitigating project impacts.

"The upcoming project-specific EIS will include an expanded and updated traffic analysis. We are confident that project-related traffic can and will be effectively managed, limited and mitigated."

BSRE Point Wells is proposing to transform its 61 acre industrial site on Puget Sound into a signature mixed use community. The project will be developed in multiple phases over 20 years, beginning with clean-up of the aging petroleum facility. The new master-planned community would provide new public access opportunities to 2/3 mile of sandy beach, parks, a public pier, restored and enhanced habitat and other amenities.

Paramount Petroleum currently owns and operates a marine fuels distribution center and asphalt facility at the site.

More information on the proposed transformation at Point Wells.

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Kenmore City Council expected to approve MainStreet Property Group LLC as buyer for Kenmore Village Upper Parcel

Kenmore City Manager
Rob Karlinsky
recommends property sale

Purchase and Sale Agreement will be considered at the July 8 City Council meeting

Next week, the City of Kenmore City Council is expected to approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for the 4.75 acre upper parcel of Kenmore Village, formerly the King County Park / Ride. On July 8, during the City Council meeting, City Manager Rob Karlinsey will recommend MainStreet Property Group LLC (MainStreet) as the buyer for a $3.6 million purchase price.

The property is part of the redevelopment of the downtown. Kenmore Village, as it is known, is a commercial and residential area at the northwest corner of 68th Avenue and 181st Street, across from the Kenmore City Hall. MainStreet is the recommended buyer based on the company’s offer price, experience, financial wherewithal, implementation capability, and alignment with the City’s goals and position statement for the property. The deal will close when the building permit is issued.

“Real estate investors are bullish on Kenmore,” said Karlinsey. “We are at the forefront of new development with excellent partners like MainStreet.”

MainStreet expects to develop and build in excess of 160 units of quality multifamily apartments in downtown Kenmore, a portion of which will be affordable housing. Construction is expected to begin as soon as summer 2014.

The City purchased the property in 2005 for $2,525,000. It is currently an interim location for a skate park and layover point for two King County Metro bus routes. According to Karlinsey, the City is evaluating options for a new skate park site and will have the above-ground skate ramps relocated. King County Metro is planning to move the layover locations for the two bus lines to the Kenmore Park / Ride near 73rd Avenue and Bothell Way.

Last month, the City Council approved a PSA for the sale of the lower parcel of Kenmore Village. Benaroya Company and Real Property Investors are the approved purchasers for the commercial property next door to the parcel MainStreet is expected to purchase.

The two Kenmore Village projects combined will include the construction of retail and office space, high density residential units and a public gathering space. The city anticipates the potential for $25 million in new investment to the downtown area.

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Point Wells update

BSRE Architect's conception of Point Wells development

By Jack Malek

Save Richmond Beach

The Growth Management Hearings Board met over the summer to hear Snohomish County's request for an extension to the compliance deadline of April 25, 2012. At that hearing were the following parties of record: Save Richmond Beach (SRB), the Town of Woodway, and the City of Shoreline as "Petitioners"; the Tulalip Tribes as "Friends of the Court"; Blue Square Real Estate Developer (BSRE) as "Intervenor"; and Snohomish County as "Respondent."

The Petitioners (SRB, et al) argued that Snohomish County's efforts appear focused on facilitating the BSRE project and not on the more important task they are charged with, and that is for their plan to comply with the Growth Management Act (GMA) and with the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA). The Petitioners requested the Board impose sanctions, but they were denied.

The Growth Management Hearings Board did however make the following statement that recognized the Petitioners concerns:

"The Board has little sympathy with [Snohomish] County's six-month, front-end delay while the County sought to ensure that the BSRE application was vested. In the Board's view, this dispute is about more than filling out the right paperwork to pass SEPA and GMA muster. All the parties anticipate that real people - perhaps thousands - will live at Point Wells. Their on-the-ground demands for roadways and other facilities and services must be realistically anticipated and resolved, without imposing gridlock on their neighbors. The Board understands [that] necessary decision-making takes time, but the County remains in non-compliance until it brings its Plan into accord with the Board's FDO [Final Decision and Order]."

A six month extension was granted to Snohomish County, and this past August, Snohomish County presented a revised plan for the area, changing the designation from "Urban Center" to "Urban Village."

By its present definition, an Urban Village is smaller than an Urban Center, is less dense, and requires that the Village be located next to a principal arterial road. While this sounds like progress, the County is simultaneously working to change the definition of an Urban Village to allow for greater size and to remove the requirement that a Village be next to a principal arterial road. 

The end result seems little more than a name change with no substantial gains towards solving the traffic issues and complying with the GMA and SEPA.

Snohomish County continues their effort to appeal King County Superior Court's December 2011 decision that prevented BSRE from vesting and building. If the decision is successfully appealed, BSRE's Urban Center project application would then be vested, and they could resume their original project of 3000+ condominiums. This hearing is expected to occur in mid to late November, 2012.

To support SRB’s efforts, become a member.

Useful Websites:

• Save Richmond Beach 
• Richmond Beach Community Association
• Snohomish County Council Calendar (Watch for ordinances 12-068 and 12-069 )
• Growth Management Hearings Board Calendar

Calendar of upcoming events:

• October 24, 2012 - Compliance with GMA and SEPA Due
• November 7, 2012 - Compliance Report/Statement of Actions Taken to Comply and Index Compliance Record
• November (TBD) - King County Court of Appeals Hearing
• December 6, 2012 - Comp

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Maintenance and security improved at Aurora Transit Center

Mike is emptying trash, but he also does an incredible job
of cleaning the bus bays daily. He is amazing! Photo by Patrick Deagen

Story and photos by Patrick Deagen

“Excuse me, Do you know where there is a restroom?” A woman asked me at Aurora Village Transit Center. 

I wore a reflective safety vest, so she assumed I was knowledgeable about such things. 

“The closest one is in the Home Depot across the parking lot in the rear of the store.” 

This bus was headed to Northgate

Metro had advised me several times that their customers could use Home Depot’s restrooms. The woman lived in Lynnwood and was transferring buses on her way to work in North Seattle to work as a home health aide. She had a 20 minute layover. 

She carried a heavy bag and I offered, “I’ll walk with you.”

Restrooms are simply an issue of public health and human dignity. I have always appreciated the availability of toilets at work, school, restaurants and on recreational trips. Regular maintenance is needed. And sometimes an attendant is needed to be present to keep them safe and clean.

400 buses depart from Aurora Village Transit Center daily

Most days about 400 buses are scheduled to leave Aurora Village Transit Center taking passengers in many directions between two counties. The number of arrivals is about the same. For many travelers AVTC is the gateway to Shoreline. It is not unusual to see 20 to 40 travelers in the transit center.

“Are you telling me there is no latrine at the transit center?” The Veterans Administration counselor asked me in disbelief. “With that many people, they are a necessity.”

The anger that I felt in smelling urine, and in seeing feces at the Transit Center, at the park, and at nearby residences fueled my passion for a “safer, healthier Metro.” I think everyone can relate to that feeling of disgust.

But will toilets work at AVTC? Most think not. Many say “It is something we need but cannot achieve.” 

Cindy cleaned the bus shelter

I’ve never bought that. With consistent and regular maintenance the loos in Rainier Beach Playfield have been operational for nine years. Echo Lake Park has had a successful Loo for three and a half years.

Cindy repainting at AV Transit Center

The restrooms in nearby Costco and Home Depot are clean and pleasant. Sometimes I compare the restrooms of the new Kraken practice facility at Northgate to the failed restrooms at the Northgate Link Station. The difference is stark. It shows what planning can do.

The Echo Lake Neighborhood Association invited Chris Arkills of Metro and King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski to a meeting to discuss issues at the transit center. 

The pavement was pressure washed

Councilmember Dembowski said he would work to budget money for this effort. 

He did. 

The Shoreline City Council is pleased with Metro’s promised efforts due to the problematic impacts on our city.

Security has been increased

In the last month, security has been increased at Aurora Village Transit Center and routine cleaning has dramatically improved. 

And King County Metro is working on installing restrooms. Will they be safe, clean and available? Metro has good intentions, and with planning and follow through we hope the restrooms at Aurora Village Transit Center will be a success. Please stay tuned.

Patrick Deagen can be contacted at echolaketransitcenter@gmail.com

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Country Village in Bothell is no more

Country Village in Bothell

By Diane Hettrick

Did you ever go to Country Village in Bothell? From Lake Forest Park you follow Bothell Way to the center of Bothell, turn left, drive a couple of miles and it was on your left.

I was enchanted and disoriented the first time I went there. It felt like an amusement park. An eccentric collection of charming little buildings, each with a different business. Way in the back there was a candy shop with fantastic fudge. There were crafters right next to therapy offices. No - not art therapy - at least not that I saw.

The layout of the site was random and the colors were as eccentric as the layout and the shapes of the buildings.

I don't remember the 16 foot high spotted chicken, but I haven't been there for a long time.

But now it's being demolished and a mega housing unit will be built on the site. 

According to Bothell development services manager Jeff Smith, Pulte (the developer) will remove the pond, restore Little Swamp Creek and build a “promenade” walkway.

Tenants were notified a long time ago and most have found new homes - a couple landed in Town Center in Lake Forest Park.

Country Village plans to hold a big public auction for some of its iconic items: facades, lamp posts, murals, cabooses and other memorabilia.

Crosscut published a long article about Country Village - worth reading, I think. HERE.

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Kenmore City Council to review multiple offers for Kenmore Village Properties at February 25 meeting

The City of Kenmore has received multiple offers for the upper (former King County Park and Ride) and lower commercial properties at Kenmore Village. At the February 25 City Council meeting, the City Manager and Kenmore Village brokers will review the process and provide a recommendation for the top several proposals to move forward in the process. Citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting and provide feedback during the public comment portion of the discussion.

In 2012, the City of Kenmore retained two brokerage firms to list the Kenmore Village properties for sale. Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) listed the upper lot and Colliers International listed the lower lots. Prior to being listed for sale, the City led an extensive public involvement process to reconfirm the goals for the downtown, develop a Position Statement for the properties, and create a strategy to take the properties to market.

Multiple proposals were received on both the upper and lower properties. Colliers, JLL, City staff, and Spinnaker Strategies recently interviewed potential buyers for the properties. Based on the goals for the properties and the principles outlined in the Position Statement, four potential buyers for each of the properties are recommended to move forward in the process.

In keeping with the next steps outlined in fall 2012, the City should narrow down the finalists to one for each property in the near future with the anticipation of approving agreements for the properties in spring 2013.

The potential buyer summaries, position statement, and downtown goals are available in the February 25 City Council meeting agenda on the City’s website. More information on Kenmore Village.

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