9.7.13 Ballard Greenway Grand Opening, a set on Flickr.
We’re so excited to see the Ballard Greenway open and so many people who came out to support it at the grand opening last Saturday.
Category Archives: Community Events
Ballard Greenway grand opening celebration
With the construction of the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway nearly complete, SDOT and Ballard Greenways are inviting the community to a free and family friendly grand opening celebration. Activities include a Kidical Mass, bike rodeo, Undriver Licensing™ Station, walking tours, and a ribbon cutting.
Saturday, September 7th from 2 to 5 pm along NW 58th St between 20th and 22nd
For more information about the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway project, click here.
Design Review Meeting this Monday for Apodments in East Ballard
DESIGN REVIEW MEETING FOR 1426 NW 62ND
Date: Monday, August 26, 2013
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Ballard High School Library, 1418 NW 65th St
This coming Monday, the City will be holding a Design Review Meeting at the Ballard High School for a high-density housing solution that is new to our neighborhood, yet exists aleady in other dense neighborhoods in Seattle and around the world. This housing solution is commonly referred to as “apodments” and, in this case, the structure planned for the site in East Ballard at 1426 NW 62nd, would be a 4-story structure with 27 units.
The City has invited the community to attend this Design Review Meeting and if you do decide to attend or provide comment, the EBCA wants to make sure you have all of the facts and understand the topics that are currently under discussion in other communities.
The following is a link from TheStranger to a very in-depth look at “apodments” that explores the pros and cons that are under discussion. It’s an excellent read that gets you up to speed: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/the-fight-against-small-apartments/Content?oid=16701155
Seattle Magazine also printed a very informative article last year here: http://www.seattlemag.com/article/are-apodments-ruining-seattle-neighborhoods
The following are detailed links and project description information related to the proposed building in East Ballard:
Land Use Bulletin information: http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?BID=838&NID=15727
Permit status: http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitstatus/Project.aspx?id=3015381&t=4
Property Owner’s Website: http://www.greenbuilddevelopmentllc.com/index.html
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposal is for a 4-story structure with 27 residential units. Existing single family structure to be demolished.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT
The Director will accept written comments to assist in the preparation of the early design guidance through August 26, 2013. You are invited to offer comments regarding important site planning and design issues, which you believe, should be addressed in the design for this project.
Comments and requests to be made party of record should be submitted toPRC@seattle.gov or
City of Seattle – DPD – PRC
700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000
PO Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019
http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?BID=838&NID=15727
Pics from August Night Out
8.6.13 August Night Out, a set on Flickr.
Thanks to all who came out for such a fun time on August Night Out. We had tons of food to share, happy faces painted, lots of great live music, farm animals to play with, live art demonstrations to watch, games to play, local programs to get involved in and pirates to mingle with. A lot of planning and preparation went into this event and so we thank our dedicated volunteer crew who made this event so successful.
Burke Gilman Trail Missing Link Open House tonight at Ballard High School
photo credit to http://www.burkegilmantrail.org/
On Thursday, August 8, the Seattle Department of Transportation will host an open house for the Burke Gilman Trail Extension (Missing Link) Project to take comments on the scope and alternatives to be considered in the proposed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. Stations at the meeting will include the EIS Scoping process and timeline, existing area zoning, and aerial maps for the public to note how they suggest connecting the Burke-Gilman Trail through Ballard. The meeting will be:
When: Thursday, August 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Ballard High School Commons
1418 NW 65th Street, Seattle, 98117
The Missing Link Project would complete the regional trail system running through Seattle, to Issaquah via the Sammamish River Trail and the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Completing the project is the city’s top-rated trail priority as identified by the Bicycle Master Plan.
The August 8th meeting continues outreach efforts for the July 17 – August 16, 2013 public comment period. If you are unable to attend the August 8th meeting, you may also send comments to:
Peter Hahn, Director
Seattle Department of Transportation
c/o Mark Mazzola, Environmental Manager
700 5th Avenue, Suite 3900
Seattle, WA 98104
Mark.mazzola@seattle.gov
For more information on the Environmental Scoping Process, click here to view the Environmental Scoping Notice.
The Cascade Bicycle Club also has a web form for providing online comment here.
East Ballard August Night Out is tomorrow!
Everything’s set for tomorrow’s August Night Out, Tuesday Aug 6, 6-10pm on the east side of 14th Ave NW between NW 59th and NW 61st. Bring a potluck item to share, we’ll have a grill set up and other food as well. There will be live music, goats and chickens, lots of games for all ages and face painting for the kids, art with fire demonstrations and so much more!
Don’t forget to bring a donation item for Sustainable Ballard’s program to welcome the Nyer Urness House to Ballard as well.
And bring a dark t-shirt, tote bag or whatever suits your fancy and make your screen print of the EBCA logo.
Join us for East Ballard Night Out
This will be EBCA’s second year in a row celebrating August Night Out on 14th Ave NW along the site of the future park and our 9th year celebrating August Night out in East Ballard. This year we’ll be celebrating on Tuesday August 6 from 6-10 pm on 14th Ave NW between NW 59th and 61st. So take a stroll through the neighborhood that night and join friends and neighbors for great food thanks to Shelby Locke at Foodz Catering. The folks at Seattle Farm Supply will be bringing goats and chickens for the kids to check out and for the adults to learn about how they can set up their own in-city farm. Blowing Sands Glass will be setting up art demonstrations for all to enjoy. Our own East Ballard resident band “Seeing Blind” will be performing a set of original music. Join in on games for all ages. Bring an item to screen print the EBCA logo on and while you’re going through your closets, select a donation item to help the EBCA and Sustainable Ballardextend a warm welcome to the new Ballard residents at Nyer Urness House.
When you arrive, be sure to check-in at the EBCA booth to pick-up your nametag and passport. Get your passport stamped at 3 activity stations and be eligible to win a $100 gift certificate from The Ballard Market! We’re looking forward to seeing you at this year’s event and as always, if you’d like to help out with this event or any in the future, pleasecontact us and we’ll get you in on the fun!
Update on the East Ballard Rain Gardens
Thank-you Cari Simson, Project Manager and Research Faculty at Antioch University and project coordinator for the East Ballard Rain Gardens for the following update:
Thanks to the great group of East Ballard neighbors and the EBCA, who have been shepherding this process along, we have selected a stretch of 11th Avenue NW between NW 56th Street and NW 58th Street for a series of roadside rain gardens. In March we conducted soil drainage tests (infiltration) and found very quick-draining soils in the project area. Over the Summer we will submit our complete permit package to SDOT, including the engineering drawings.
This Summer we will work with homeowners to select plants and trees for the roadside rain gardens. Stay tuned for many volunteer planting opportunities this Fall!
Later this summer, many homes in this area of E. Ballard will also be eligible for rain garden or cistern rebates through the RainWise program– stay tuned for this exciting opportunity!
What ARE roadside rain gardens?
Our small natural drainage projects will be engineered to absorb and filter the roadway runoff through swales that will drain quickly to prevent ponding, and divert any heavy storm flows back to the street and into the catch basin.
Polluted runoff – what’s the big deal?
The area known as East Ballard contributes approximately 2 million gallons of polluted runoff to Salmon Bay each year. Imagine three Olympic sized swimming pools filled with roadway runoff!
Polluted runoff starts as clean rainwater that then comes in contact with toxins in our built environment, such as vehicle exhaust particles that settle on the ground, oil leaks, pet waste, garbage and other chemicals that end up on our roads, parking lots, roofs or other hard surfaces and flows into the nearest catch basin, which collects runoff underneath the drains found on most street corners.
Most of East Ballard’s North-South oriented catch basins connect into one big pipe that empties into Salmon Bay near the Fred Meyer store, with no treatment or filtration.
Polluted runoff enters the food chain and affects the health of marine creatures and the people who eat fish or shellfish.
Neighborhood history – the “11th Avenue Creek”
We learned from residents that an historic creek used to run parallel to 11th Avenue NW, from above where Ballard High School football field is down to Salmon Bay next to where the Fred Meyer store is located today. There are anecdotal stories about catching large salmon in the creek in the early 1900s.
We are working with the University of Washington Department of Earth and Space Sciences to research additional details about the historic creek. Please contact us if you know anyone who might have photos or stories about the creek! We are interested in creating and sharing the oral histories.
We are also planning a neighborhood history tour this Fall that will highlight our research about the 11th Avenue Creek locations, East Ballard historical sites, and local natural drainage projects.
What is East Ballard Greenstreets?
In an effort to improve urban water quality and neighborhood livability, The Russell Family Foundation awarded Antioch University Seattle with funding to site, design and build demonstration roadside rain gardens in the East Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. The goals of our grant are specifically focused on reducing flows of polluted runoff to Salmon Bay, which connects to Puget Sound through the Ballard Locks. We are interested to learn how citizens choose to get involved in clean water efforts, specifically local natural drainage improvement projects that also provide street beautification, traffic-calming, tree canopy increases, and other goals.
The East Ballard Community Association (EBCA) is our neighborhood partner, and we welcome any residents from the area to get involved and help coordinate the design and construction process with the East Ballard property owners.
For more information, please contact Cari Simson, Project Manager and Research Faculty at Antioch University: csimson@antioch.edu / 206-234-5102
Learn more about the project on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EastBallardGreenstreet
East Ballard events this weekend
Join us for 3 East Ballard-related events going on this weekend that should fit right into your last minute plans! Bring your friends and family and enjoy life in the neighborhood! Click here to view the latest EBCA Newsletter detailing these events.
Also ark your calendar for August 6 at 6PM for EBCA’s Annual August Night Out along 14th Ave NW between NW 59th and 61st. More details to come. Check out last year’s event photos to get an idea of what you have to look forward to this year!
Stroll & Sip June 27th with Feet First and the EBCA
Feet First Presents Stroll & Sip: Join us for a close up view of exciting new changes happening in Ballard
On Thursday, June 27th, join some friendly folks from Feet First and the East Ballard Community Association at Reuben’s Brews for one or all of the following:
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Quench your thirst with a tasty beer
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Take a short stroll to learn about walkable Ballard
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Enjoy yummy food
Thank You Thursday at Reuben’s Brews
Seattle is home to great neighborhoods, great bars, and great brews. They all come together at Reuben’s Brews in Ballard, a homegrown — originally home-brewed — operation giving back to the community with Thank You Thursdays. Stop by Reuben’s Brews on Thursday, June 27th, any time between 3pm and 8pm and $1 of every pint* will go to Feet First. With a dozen beers on tap, including their award-winning rye ales, and the Cheese Wizards food truck waiting just outside, giving has never been more delicious.
Take a walk through Walkable Ballard
If you would like to join us for a stroll to learn about walkable Ballard, meet us at the brewery at 6pm. Feet First and The East Ballard Community Association are joining forces to take you on a free, short (a little over 1 mile) stroll around some East Ballard neighborhood features making Ballard an even more walkable and vibrant community:
Stop 1: Ballard Rapid Ride
Stop 2: Ballard Neighborhood Greenway
Stop 3: 14th Ave NW Park
Stop 4: Gilman Playground
End: Reuben’s Brews
If you’d like to join for the walk, please sign up here: http://thankyouthursday.brownpapertickets.com/ to help us manage the number of people and make your experience more enjoyable.
Hang around after the walk for EBCA’s monthly meeting at Reuben’s Brewery at 7:30pm
Thank You Thursdays on June 27 supports Feet First and gives you a great opportunity to hang out with other folks from the neighborhood. Plus, take advantage of the opportunity to become a Feet First member. When you join at Thank You Thursdays at the $30 level, you’ll receive a Feet First T-shirt (that is a $20 savings!).
We look forward to seeing you there!
Transport
Lots of buses stop within a couple of blocks of Reuben’s:15X, RapidRide D Line, 17X, 18X, 29, 40, 44, 61, and 62.
*Every pint $5 and over.
Photo of Reuben’s Brews above generously provide by Suzi Pratt, a Seattle-based photographer and writer. Learn more about her work at suzi-pratt.com.