Search Results

From Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation: Dear Moorage Tenants and Project Advisory Team Members, This is the first in a series of regular updates we are starting to keep tenants informed of upcoming operational changes, project updates and future improvements to the Leschi and Lakewood Moorages. (The background was noted; this information is on our website.) Parks developed the following overarching goals to guide recommendations for the PATs and form the basis for our path forward: Maintain public ownership of the moorages; Provide safe, accessible and affordable moorage for Seattle residents; Protect shoreline habitat; Improve public access and community benefit without compromising security; Create quality facilities that are competitive in the marketplace; Enhance the sailing heritage at Leschi; Make moorages self-sustaining for ongoing capital upkeep and maintenance; and Ensure concessionaire quality with performance measures and regular auditing of the new concessionaire contract. Upcoming Operational Changes Last week, we gave 30-day notice to the current concessionaire that we will be terminating their contract. Parks will be taking over management, operations and maintenance of both the Lakewood and Leschi moorages beginning June 1, 2015. Once we get closer to the date we will provide you with contact information for the Parks staff in charge of operating these facilities. This management structure will be in place until we select a long-term concessionaire to make capital improvements and operate the moorage facilities. Future Plans for the Moorage Facilities Parks has determined that our goals can be best achieved by a private partner with the expertise and capital to make the marinas economically sustainable. Moorage operations are not a core line of business for Seattle Parks and Recreation and proceeding with a private investor, who has experience in this field, makes the most sense. We explored a number of options and a private/public partnership is the best option. It makes sense not only financially, but also from a customer service perspective. As you know, the condition of our moorages is getting worse by the day. Parks will issue a new RFP for a concessionaire to take over operations of the marinas, make the necessary capital improvements and perform ongoing major maintenance. Parks will continue to involve the community in the planned RFP process and ongoing operation. The new RFP will incorporate input from the PAT processes and at least one PAT member will be directly involved with its development. Once we have selected the Operator/Developer we will work hand in hand with them from start to finish and set up a process for continual evaluation of the contract, as well as opportunities for continual check-ins with the tenant community and surrounding neighborhood. In addition, we will work together to ensure that tenants and the community are up to date on construction timelines and moorage/neighborhood impacts. We are committed to ensure that the new RFP will address the individual needs at both facilities through one concessionaire, while recognizing that the space and surrounding neighborhood of the Lakewood Moorage is different from the Leschi neighborhood. Much of what we heard from the PATs will be included in the RFP process, both through the RFP and through the agreement with the successful operator. Project Updates In the last year and a half, there have been a number of urgent repairs that have occurred at South Leschi: Removed outer slips from service due to structural issues. Modified decking on all walkways including: Provided slip resistant (painted with granular material) high-density plywood overlay of existing decks. Mechanically fastened overlay to existing deck sub structure. Modified all connecting joints to include metal bottom plate to more strongly hold sections in place. Longitudinal thread rods reattached under deck to strengthen structures to resist twisting motion. Replaced main electrical circuit breaker panel and all breakers. Replaced service wire and individual receptacles at each slip. Repaired and remounted each light station at each slip. Sincerely, Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Coming soon to a backyard near you: a cottage…if certain changes to Seattle’s land use code go through. Proposed as a means to address the city’s increasingly unaffordable housing costs, the rules governing backyard cottages are being reexamined, in an effort to bring to market an increase in the number of this humble housing type. In the early ‘90s, state law was revised, obligating municipalities with over 20,000 residents to allow attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs, or what most people know as a mother-in-law apartment). Since 2010, Seattle has allowed property owners in single-family zones to build a second, separate residential structure on their property, a detached accessory unit or DADU, or in the more heartwarming parlance, backyard cottage. The target in large part for both of these modifications was affordability, while at the same time giving homeowners the opportunity for bolstering their long-term financial security, a means for getting something out of home equity without having to sell their home. The sticking point ever since has been one of implementation: remarkably few people in Seattle have pursued establishing a backyard cottage. The overheated housing market of recent years has brought the issue of affordability into sharp relief, renewing interest in the potential of DADUs to bring housing costs down and raising the question of why so little activity has occurred in the arena. Those familiar with the process began to point to a litany of rules that have likely been suppressing the backyard cottage appetite. Led in part by councilmember Mike O’Brien, the city has been looking into the specific impacts of certain regulations, while taking the temperature of the citizenry in public meetings and written testimony, testing our tolerance for change. One of the chief impediments identified has been reticence on the part of banks to loan for DADU projects. The culprit it would seem is the draconian penalty for violating city ordinance which, rather than just levying a simple fine, could result in the wholesale demolition of the structure. Considering that the DADU is likely the collateral for a construction loan, it’s easy to imagine that a bank might hesitate to take the risk. One of the avenues that could lead to this extreme scenario is the requirement that the property owner live on site (in either the primary or accessory unit), with no more than six months spent living elsewhere in any 12-month period. Seems harmless enough, and those arguing for keeping the ownership rule intact feel that without this rule, the DADU market will become a bonanza for developers, rather than a route to affordability for potential renters, and lead to instability and excessive transience in the neighborhoods. Others point out that the six-month limit becomes a serious problem for anyone who receives a job assignment that could take them out of town for more than a year. Moreover, if the homeowner decides to sell, the buyer must either abide by the same rule or tear the DADU down. Lending institutions are not fond of this level of uncertainty. That combined with the apparent majority of respondents coming down on the side of change would indicate a likely loosening of this regulation. ~Jeff Floor, Leschi CC Board Member and Co-Chair of the Land Use Review Committee

Gardening 101 Who knew that those coffee grounds from your cuppa (or several) could have a second life in your garden, whether flower or vegetable beds? Many of us toss our coffee grounds and coffee filters in to the yard waste bin (a good thing), but a recent article by Melissa McGinn (Madison Park Times, November 2015) suggests an even better solution for home gardeners. Coffee grounds are a rich source of nitrogen with a ph that is essentially neutral. This is a good thing to add to our acidic Northwest soil. If you have a worm bin, those red wrigglers just “adore coffee grounds.” The rough texture of the grounds sprinkled around veggie and flower plants helps deter slugs and snails from feasting on your crops. Adding crushed eggshells to the mix is even more effective. Cats usually dislike the texture and aroma of coffee grounds, so they may not use our garden as a litter box. Other uses for coffee grounds by non-gardeners suggested by Jennifer Simpson in This Old House magazine: Deodorize your refrigerator Clean tools and dishware Hide scratches on dark furniture Give paper an “antique” look Exfoliate hands when washing after handling garlic or fish Reduce dust from fireplace ash ~Diane Morris

BOOK REVIEW The map of the scenic byways of Madrona and Leschi are just part of the pleasure of Jake Jaramillo and Cathy Jaramillo’s Seattle Stairway Walks . This is a beautifully constructed pocket-sized guidebook as the books publisher, The Mountaineers Books, is so well known for. It’s packed with 25 walking tours, with detailed instructions, photographs and stories. Jake and Cathy led a tour of the Madrona/Leschi walk on February 9 and I was happy to tag along with the group of 20. We began at St. Therese’s School, wound our way down to Madrona Woods, hooked through the Madrona Stream Restoration, then up and down Leschi streets and stairways, past the Leschi Natural Area, finishing where we started—after climbing down 371 stairs and up 299 stairs. I wasn’t sure how I would do, since I hadn’t done that much climbing in a while, but it went well for me and seemed okay with the rest of us. Along the way, we had talks about neighborhood history and a pitch for joining FeetFirst, the tour’s sponsor. What is so special about these tours? To me, it’s the surprises and discoveries along the way—sudden views, spectacular homes snuggled in the hilly woods, treasured habitat areas nurtured by local volunteers, and great cues for walking shortcuts. It’s not bad exercise either. Jake and Cathy are obviously head over heels in love with their adopted city, having moved here a decade ago from southern California. This book is highly recommended. I grabbed my copy at Costco, but many local bookstores are carrying it. I’m keeping it in a zip-locked bag as it’s destined to weather frequent excursions. Oh, and check FeetFirst on Facebook for more photographs of stairway walking tours, and the website feetfirst.org. Who knows, walking with FeetFirst could become a habit, just as tromping with this book could become a habit! ~John Barber

May has arrived! If those 80-degree days last month were any indication of the summer that lies ahead, then we’ll need to be well stocked in rosé! It’s never too early to get into the rosé spirit. Here is the pre-summer Top-10 Best Rosé List! 1) 2015 Domaine de Triennes Rosé Vin de Pays de Méditerranée ($13.99) Always one of Leschi Market’s best sellers. “Pale pink. Red fruit and notes of citrus contribute to the aromatic complexity. It has the harmony and elegance that has earned worldwide appreciation of the rosés of Provence. Principally Cinsault, blended with Grenache, Syrah and Merlot.” –Winery notes. 2) 2015 Tranche Cellars Pink Pape Blackrock Vineyard Yakima ($14.99) One of the absolute best domestic pinks around! Consists of 31% Cinsault and 23% Counoise and 46% Grenache. “Pale salmon in color with light pink hue. Delicate aromas of rose petal, honeydew melon and white peach, with lifted notes of sweet pink grapefruit and lemon peel. The wine is fresh and lively with bright stone fruit and mountain berry flavors complemented by wet river rock minerality. Driving acidity and citrus qualities provide focus and direction, drawing out the palate to a mouthwatering finish. 637 cases made.” –Winemaker notes. 3) 2015 Gerard Bertrand Gris Blanc Rosé Pays d’Oc Languedoc Roussillon ($13.99) “A very pale pink color plus grey and almost white tints. Grenache is the king of grape varieties when it comes to making light, racy, fruity rosés in contemporary style. Grenache reveals all its suppleness and cherry aromas. Its fig and sometimes cocoa flavors, coupled with rounded sensations on the palate, make Grenache one of the great varieties of the south of France.” –Winemaker notes. 4) 2015 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé Pfalz Germany ($10.29) “Is made with fruit from vineyards farmed expressly for the purpose of producing a rosé. Upon harvest, the fruit is given a brief maceration to extract a lovely salmon color from the Pinot Noir grapes. The resulting wine is light and refreshing, with deliciously bright fruit flavors and a clean, zippy finish. It’s perfect for holiday meals, especially when ham is involved.” –Winemaker notes. 5) 2015 Vidal-Fleury Rosé Côtes du Rhône ($14.99) “Pale pink with salmon reflection. On the nose, delicate, based on a floral expression (peony) and fresh fruit (raspberry, strawberry). On the palate refreshing, fruity (raspberry). Mineral on the finish. A blend of 50% Cinsault, 30% Syrah and 20% Grenache.” -Winery notes. 6) 2015 Mr. Pink Rosé of Sangiovese Underground Wine Project Columbia Valley ($11.19) The first release of this all-Sangiovese Rosé from the Underground Wine Project, the collaboration of Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan and Trey Busch of Sleight of Hand! Bright strawberry and watermelon fruit with spicy notes and a refreshing acidity make this a perfect go-to rosé. 7) 2015 Syncline Rosé McKinley Springs Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills ($18.69) “Our creation of this wine is in direct response to our love of crisp, dry Rosé. The color is a striking pale salmon pink with aromas and flavors of tart strawberries and melon skin. Finishing completely dry, this is as serious as Rosé gets. 39% Cinsault, 36% Carignan and 25% Grenache. 595 cases produced.” –Winemaker notes. 8) 2015 Château de Campuget Rosé Costières de Nîmes ($9.39) 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre. “This wine is an intense peony pink color. Its bouquet is very aromatic, exhaling scents of small red fruits such as raspberries or black currants. In the mouth, there is a perfect balance between vivacity and mellowness. The final taste is very long, leaving a delicate impression of fruitiness.” -Winemaker notes 9) 2015 Château Beaulieu Rosé Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence ($13.99) “This traditional dry Provençal Rosé is bright and fruit-forward with exotic fruits of guava and papaya, and white floral aromas on the nose. It has body and structure, yet is fresh on the palate with beautiful minerality. A versatile wine that pairs beautifully with a wide variety of seafood.” –Winemaker notes. 10) 2015 AIX Rosé Coteaux d’Aix en Provence ($13.99) A Leschi Market staple, the Aix Rosé is a bright, pale pink in color and offers soft, ripe summer fruit character with delicate balance and crisp acidity. Aix is perfect for an aperitif and a great match with light salads, grilled fish, white meats and Asian food. CHEERS! ENJOY! Kenneth Benner, a Seattle area native, is a trained chef and has worked in such restaurants as Barbacoa, B.O.K.A. Kitchen + Bar, and Dahlia Lounge. Ken is the wine buyer at Leschi Market. He has a passion for learning, a meticulous palate, and a tenacity for searching out the best for his customers while offering some of the most highly coveted wines in the area. His wine column is intended to inspire and explore new choices in wine, learn about wine with his readers, and share his knowledge and experiences in the wine world. Check out the latest at www.LeschiMarket.com or request to be added to email updates or send questions, comments, or suggestions to ken@leschimarket.com and follow the wine department directly on twitter at twitter.com/leschimarket .

For several years, the grocery store on the southwest corner of 28th and Jackson has been plagued with graffiti, vandalism, open-air drug dealing and other criminal activity. The store owner would diligently paint out the graffiti, and it would reappear again and again. One day, Urban Artworks, a local non-profit headed by Leschi resident, Stephanie Tschida, received a phone call from Blast Radius, an online marketing and branding firm, offering 30 volunteers on a Thursday in August. The project, according to Blast Radius, should focus on a youth and family theme. Artworks contacted Randy Beaulieu, coordinator of the Central Seattle Drug Free Coalition (CSDFCC), and proposed a partnership to paint a mural for the 28th and Jackson site. Since the mission of CSDFCC is to reduce use of drugs and alcohol among underage minors, this mural idea was a perfect fit, and the Coalition agreed to fund the project. Urban Artworks’ artist Jake Wagoner, who also created the mural on 22nd and Jackson, designed a ‘Family Tree” idea, where actual frames would be mounted onto the painted tree, and, within the frames, photos of actual neighborhood families past and present! On August 23rd, the 30 wonderful young people from Blast Radius, along with Urban Artworks staff, the Central Seattle Drug Free Communities and Daniel Sims, of Seattle Public Utilities Graffiti removal program, arrived at 11 AM to begin painting the mural and over the graffiti on the opposite side of the building. We were joined by Colman Neighborhood’s Knox Gardner, founder of Jackson Commons, a movement to revitalize Jackson Street, who came with his “Pop-up Cafe”- chairs, tables and umbrellas, giving the site a festive appearance. Several neighborhood volunteers and members of the Seattle Police Department also joined us. As the project progressed, many more folks became involved. Neighbors have proclaimed that they will be watching it...keeping taggers away. We received amazing photos of neighborhood families, including the young Ernestine Anderson, who grew up in the neighborhood! This project has become a legacy to the history and pride of the neighborhood. We are witnessing community building at it's finest! ~Stephanie Tschida

Now that the soil has been softened by fall rains, it is time to tackle some of the invasive weeds trying to overtake our yards and parks. One of the most easily identified is English Ivy, which was originally brought over from Europe to “green up” our fair city after the clear cutting in the early 1900’s. It quickly became a pest, invading vacant lots and parks and attacking trees. It can be controlled by constant maintenance; with annual shearing, it can be a tolerable ground cover. But without a gardening staff to maintain it, it becomes a hazardous invasive, because it wants to climb upon every bush, shrub, tree and building. It flowers and produces berries which are transported by our avian friends to other areas. “Down with English Ivy” should be everyone’s mantra! Another noxious weed in our midst is wild clematis, sometimes called “old man’s beard”, because of the tiny puff balls of seed pods it produces. These become airborne in winter and spring, sprouting everywhere. Wild clematis is also an aerial climber, like English ivy, and with time, it produces tarzan-like cables. In big winds, these cables act like sails, capable of bringing down full-grown trees. Both ivy and clematis are fully controlled only by digging, but the roots can reach sizable proportions. Other invasive weeds that need controlling include Himalayan blackberries, Herb Robert (also called Stinky Bob) and Japanese knotweed to name a few. It is possible to learn more about these weeds and recommendations for control by contacting the King County Noxious Weed Control Program at 206.296.0290. Washington State Noxious Weed Control has an illustrated booklet identifying noxious weeds. Call 360.725.5764 to order PUB 820-264W (n/6/09) or go to nwcb.wa.gov. The Benefits of Eggshells If your family eats eggs regularly or you bake often, do not throw away the eggshells. They are good for your garden and for wild birds! First, you must rinse the eggshells, and then crush them before you add them to your garden beds. High in calcium, eggshells provide a nutrient often deficient in the northwest, according to Ciscoe Morris, but which is required for healthy cell growth in plants. They also release other minerals and nutrients as they break down. The finer the crush, the quicker plants can utilize these nutrients. Just work them into the soil around shrubs and perennials. These same shells, not so finely crushed, help to deter slugs, snails and cutworms, who do not like to have their tender undersides scratched on the sharp points of the shells. Just place around tender plants. Wild birds benefit from crushed eggshells in your garden; they provide grit for digestion and calcium for egg laying females, resulting in stronger egg cases. The Magic of Mulch Leaves from deciduous trees are beneficial to your garden too. Mulch your flower and vegetable garden beds with the fallen fall leaves, they break down over the winter to enrich the soil with many needed nutrients and prevent unwanted weed seeds from germinating, saving you much labor and yielding healthier plants too! The leaf litter also provides a warm and dry habitat for beneficial insects, e.g. ladybugs, butterfly larvae, spiders and others that need to hibernate until spring. If you have a worm bin, you can mix in leaves when it gets smelly or too wet. Or mix with grass clippings to compost at a 1 to 3 ratio. ~Diane Morris (with thanks to Ciscoe Morris (no relation) and Katie Vincent, Garden Hotline Educator for Seattle Tilth)

January 12, 2016—Attending: Diane Snell, Diane Morris, Kim Murillo, Jeff Floor, Yousef Shulman, Amy Fink, and Tracy Bier. Kim/Treasury Diane S. did a lot of work on advertising and brought in ad money. We also have some new advertisers. Please see Kim’s report. Financially we’re in good shape. Diane suggested we go ahead and pay $10,000 for the work done on Frink Park (based on the grant from King County). The motion was made and carried unanimously. Jeff/LURC LURC has been working on re-writing their bylaws. They’re in discussion with Vulcan for a site they may be interested in on the Promenade 23rd S. site. Jeff is looking at this situation as a potential subject for a general meeting. HALA Flexibility HALA is changing regulations around backyard cottages/basement apartments. The group is also looking for flexibility from communities in relaxing single-family zoning. Diane is looking for input/info on this subject. Jeff will take the request to LURC. Programming/February General meeting The board discussed paying an honorarium for the scheduled speaker, writer David Williams. The motion was made and carried. Moorage report The Parks dept. has received 2 proposals. One of the proposals is for Lakewood moorage only. The other proposal is from Foss. ‘Pot Shop’ Buffer Zone Issue The City Council voted to reduce buffer zones from 1000 ft. to 500 ft. Board offered no objections to this. The board noted that the corner Uncle Ike’s occupies has become safer since the pot shop moved in. Website We need a new hosting site; Yousef will research options. Central Area Senior Center Operation of the facility is a part of Senior Services, but the building is owned by the city. Senior Services may be interested in obtaining the building for multiple purposes, including low-income housing. There are some concerns as to whether the proposed changes might result in a loss in terms of community availability to the facility. Reminder Exec board elections are coming up in May. ~Submitted by Amy Fink

A friend called me the other day and said how about checking out FATS Chicken and Waffles for lunch? Great idea. Walking a few blocks on a sunny day and having a tasty lunch at a very reasonable price is perfect. I ordered the catfish sandwich with a side of fries and she had the fried green tomato sandwich with a side of okra. We shared the generous sides and the sandwiches were a nice lunchtime size. The catfish was delicious with a light batter. Both sandwiches should satisfy non-meat eaters. When FATS opened, I will admit that fried chicken and waffles were not on my culinary radar. Several months ago, some former neighbors were visiting Seattle. They knew all about chicken and waffles and we invited them to try the new restaurant in their old neighborhood. On that visit, we ordered shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, chicken and waffles, assorted sides and a few beers. All very good. It is fun to have another eating choice in the neighborhood. And a special thank you to FATS for touching up the great MLK JR Mural! We’ll be back! FATS Chicken and Waffles 2726 E Cherry 206.602.6853 Hours: Tues-Fri 11-9; Sat & Sun 9-3 and 5-9; Closed Mondays ~Hope Hensley

This winter has rewritten the rulebook for strong El Niños. Meteorologists were so certain that Southern California would be far wetter than normal, while the Pacific Northwest would be drier than normal. Instead, Southern California ended up with below-average rainfall for yet another winter, and the Pacific Northwest witnessed the rainiest winter in many locations on record. To our credit, many other things we predicted, such as a lack of lowland snowfall and above-normal temperatures throughout the West Coast, have come true, but still, this year is one many seasonal forecasters would like to forget. We’ve had several strong storm systems over the past 12 months. We had our summer blow on August 29 and an intense storm on November 17. We even had a significant storm on March 10 that caused extensive coastal flooding throughout the region and ripped a Bellingham Home Depot to shreds. But the most impressive storm, in my mind, has to be the one that occurred only three days later. ​It wasn’t the windiest storm, and it wasn’t the biggest. However, the low-pressure system itself was one of the most symmetrical, picturesque lows I have ever seen. It doesn’t take a meteorologist to see that this was an intense storm! Moreover, this storm tracked just off the Washington Coast, and our new coastal radar was able to pick up some incredible pictures. The day of the windstorm, I was teaching ski lessons up at Alpental, near Snoqualmie Pass. It was extremely gusty up there – I know that Summit West had a gust to 68 mph, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw similarly strong gusts at times at Alpental. It was quite a sight to see all of the snow being blown around. Many of the kids found the winds scary, but they persevered through the storm and were a pleasure to be with the entire day. Down here, winds were quite gusty. Sea-Tac gusted to 56 mph, Boeing Field gusted to 54, and the University of Washington gusted to 49. Winds were even higher up north, with Everett, Bellingham and the Whidbey Naval Air Station gusting to 60, 64 and 66 mph, respectively. As is usual, the coast was the windiest place of all. Aptly named Destruction Island clocked a 79 mph gust at 3 pm. One of my friends, a post-doctoral atmospheric sciences graduate from the University of British Columbia focusing on Pacific Northwest windstorms, estimated gusts of 55-60 mph by Seward Park based on tree damage nearby. Indeed, many trees were toppled in this storm due to the extraordinarily saturated soils from this past winter, including this one right by the #2 bus turnaround at the bottom of Madrona Hill. (Tree that fell under the storm’s fierce winds at the bottom of Madrona Hill. Courtesy of the author.) None of the individual storms this past year will go down in the record books. But, taken as a whole, this winter was one of the stormiest on record for the Pacific Northwest. Let’s hope next winter is a little bit calmer! ~Charlie Phillips Charlie Phillips, a Madrona resident, just received his B.S. in atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington. Check out his personal weather blog at www.charliesweatherforecasts.blogspot.com !

Trees are valuable not only to the environment but also to the neighborhood. Yet, sometimes it seems they disappear mysteriously, or sometimes not so mysteriously, in plain sight. Seattle has rules — many of them — about cutting trees. Namely, permits are required in most cases no matter whether the tree is on private or public property. Any tree that is on public property, including street rights-of-way, is protected by ordinance. One must obtain a permit from the appropriate city agency responsible for the tree before taking any measures to remove or prune it. In most cases, the applicant must pay a permit fee, hire a qualified arborist and replace each tree with two trees that are acceptable to the city. More information is available from the Seattle Department of Transportation at (206) 684-8733 and from the Department of Parks and Recreation at (206) 684-4113. Private property owners are covered by rules for any tree over 6 inches in diameter, or for any tree located on environmentally sensitive land (steep slope, or landslide prone, wetlands, wildlife habitat), or for any tree of exceptional value (any tree that is of significant size or has historical, ecological or aesthetic value.) The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections regulates tree cutting on private property and issues the permits. Private property owners cannot cut down more than three non-exceptional trees 6 inches or greater in diameter each year. Call at (206) 684-8850 for information or access to application forms. The rules, generally for privately owned land, are: You cannot remove any exceptional trees. Exceptional trees are trees that are of significant size or have historical, ecological or aesthetic value. You cannot cut down more than three non-exceptional trees 6 inches or greater in diameter each year. You can remove trees determined to be hazardous through a hazard tree assessment by a certified tree risk professional. The Department of Construction and Inspections also has restrictions on when private property owners remove shrubs and other vegetation. As citizens, we should feel free to report tree-cutting we observe to the appropriate city agencies to make sure that it is permitted and if not appropriate, enforcement actions are taken. ~John Barber, Leschi CC Chair of Parks & Greenspace

Leschi Community Meeting, April 6, 2016 Gazing out over Lake Washington with Mt. Rainer in perfect, plain sight, Leschi community members convened on April 6 to discuss two hot topics regarding the magnificent view, Colman Park and the Leschi moorages. The monthly community council meeting was welcomed by representatives from the Mount Baker community council as well as the Seattle Parks Department to have an open discussion about these two respective topics. The meeting began with a presentation from Mount Baker community members, Margy Bresslour and Evan Wright, regarding a project to restore Colman Park to the original Olmsted Brothers’ vision. What once was envisioned by the Olmsted brothers to be a beautiful park that “borrowed the landscape” from its pristine location has since become overgrown, littered and uncared for due to lack of park funding and involvement? The Mount Baker community council wishes to restore the park from Holgate to Massachusetts street, cut back and yes - cut down - some of the trees in order to establish a viewshed looking out over 31st Ave. The council members were present to gain feedback from the Leschi community regarding the project and sought any interest or additional involvement from residents. Their presentation garnered a lot of excitement and fond memories from attendees. One in particular spoke to the importance of opening up this viewpoint, she said, “It is a spirituality thing, being closed in within a city has an effect on people,” and many others seemed to agree. The presentation inspired interest from two community members who volunteered to sit on a committee for this Colman Park restoration project. They will represent the Leschi community in its undertaking, and others are encouraged to reach out and join the committee as well. In the future, there will be three public meetings regarding this project, and all community members are welcome to attend. These upcoming meetings will feature professionals, including an arborist who will be talking in more detail about next steps, especially the environmental preservation concerns of this community initiative. The second half of the Leschi community meeting was focused on the restoration of the north and south Leschi moorages. Paul Wilkinson, manager of moorage for Seattle Parks, and Paula Hoff, also of Seattle Parks, were present for an open discussion regarding the future of our community’s treasured marinas. Simply put, the Leschi moorages are slowly falling apart. They have not had proper upkeep, and the safety of these facilities has been questioned. While the Parks department is responsible for their upkeep, budgets are limited and the moorages don’t serve as many community members as other Parks’ initiatives therefore they are not as high of a priority for the department. However, Seattle Parks does indeed care for their history and the purpose they serve. This is why they recently put out a public request for proposal, or RFP, to garner third party interest in the management and restoration takeover of both the Leschi and the Lakewood moorages. There were two bids submitted to the RFP and Foss Marina Management was ultimately selected. According to Hoff, Foss’s priorities and plans for the moorages closely align with those of Parks and the community. Those priorities include making the moorages safe, accessible and affordable, protecting the surrounding habitat and the facilities’ original footprint, ensuring a community benefit, maintaining the sailing heritage of the area and improving public access. This agreement will be a strategic partnership between the two entities, and Seattle Parks will still own the moorages. (Images courtesy Kim Murillo) The Parks’ representatives made it clear that this project is in the very beginning stages of development, what will come next is a long permit process with a plethora of requirements to be met, then a contract will be negotiated with Foss, and what will follow will of course include input from the Leschi community to ensure the projects are executed in accordance with community interests. Once a contract is agreed upon and a design is drawn, there will be opportunities, including community meetings, for public and community input regarding the project. While there are a lot of fears regarding hiring a third party corporation to come in and manage Leschi’s marinas, Parks’ ensured Foss’s positive track record and intent to preserve the moorages’ historic presence in the community. Foss has taken on a similar marina restoration project in Tacoma at the Tacoma waterways near the Museum of Glass. One of the fears of the management change is that it will price out the lower end boater and lead to larger boats at the moorages and the stacking of boats. Parks mentioned that while Foss plans for a return on investment, as any business would in a similar endeavor, the history and traditions of Leschi’s moorages will be kept intact. Wilkinson said, “We want to preserve the boats that are there, but we can see stacking in the future: stacking of sail boards in order to increase the use of the facilities.” Tentatively speaking of a timeline for this project, Parks mentioned that they would like to start replacing the south Leschi moorage by the end of this year, with the north moorage replaced soon after. Once again, they highlighted the craziness of the permitting process, but hope to also have a contract signed and agreed upon with Foss by the end of the summer. In Foss’s proposal to Parks, they envisioned the timeline for the project lasting up to five years. For more information regarding Parks and the Leschi moorages, including Foss’s proposal, visit seattle.gov/parks/marinas. Park’s also welcomes any questions, feedback or input via email from the Leschi community regarding the future of these beloved marinas. ~Caroline Emde Caroline Emde is a recent graduate from the University of Missouri School of Journalism as well as a recent addition to the Leschi Community. She recently moved here from Chicago and currently works in public relations for a small firm in Seattle. When she isn’t writing for work or for pleasure, she enjoys being outside, hiking, swimming, painting and exploring the city! She is excited to have the opportunity to write for Leschi News and delve deeper into the local community.