posted 04/29/09 11:21 PM | updated 04/29/09 11:28 PM
Views: 489 | Comments : 10 | Community

Turn the Cha Cha Memorial Parking Lot into the People's Parking Lot

By jseattle
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What should we do with the saddest empty lot in all of Capitol Hill? The developers don't seem to have any plans for it. This video says it's time for the people who live in the neighborhood to make it theirs.

Check out more and get involved on The People's Parking Lot web site.

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meh
Hard to watch:
* sound quality was *very* artifacty/overcompressed
* music plus tone were melodramatic... does this issue need melodrama?

That said, I'm very interested in seeing what develops on this block, but think it unrealistic to expect a fully baked plan until stretched commercial RE developers see clear signs of an uptick in the economy. With a little empathy, the "mystery" of this parking lot isn't so mysterious after all. The economy sucks, lending is restricted, and a large capital outlay could very well topple a struggling developer.
Comment by vc
10 months ago
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re: meh
hey vc,

thanks for watching though and commenting...

sorry about sound quality, my only audio equipment is the built in mic on a laptop. even the video was taken with just a digital point and shoot camera. i'm an amateur with no equipment or money.

as for tone, i thought it turned out a little dramatic (maybe a little too much like "loose change" even) but was so happy to have put it all together, to have used the music in a sequence that i thought gave it a narrative trajectory, and excited to post and share it that i didn't worry about it.

more than anything, i'm just hoping that folks will *do* something with the space.
Comment by keith
10 months ago
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RE: re: meh
Sorry to be so harsh on it. It did feel a bit like one of my favorite radio shows (This American Life) to me ... so I appreciated the artistic angle and the effort it took. I'm with you in that I hope that something is done with this spot. Certainly something better than the crappy-looking condo that *had* been planned for the spot. I'd like to see some real architecture go in there.
Comment by vladcole
10 months ago
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RE: re: meh
wasn't going to comment on the technical aspects of the video, but since it was already brought up...

The audio was artifacty, but it was understandable for the most part, except in a couple spots where the music overpowered the narration. A pretty common mistake is to mix the music too loud, and the narration too quiet, as is the case around 2:54-ish.

But good video, and great ideas, I didn't find it overly melodramatic. Good luck!
Comment by cheesecake
10 months ago
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Streets 4 People
I highly recommend getting coordinated with Cap Hill Streets 4 People to think about some longer term work to improve the space:
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2009/04/08/capitol-hill-st

But there's also something to making something more spontaneous happen. You can work to polish things for a long time -- or you can publish. I prefer publish :)

Would be great to just start using the parking lot. Kind of hope to see a series of random, poorly coordinate, under communicated 'projects' in addition to some more planned out efforts.
Comment by jseattle
10 months ago
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Peoples Pkg. Log.
Urban Pea Patch!!! Produce can be purchase by local restaurants, or those of us with time and means can cultivate the land for fresh produce for food banks. We obviously don't need another parking lot on this site, and it really does have some good sunlight. You could do several raised beds and make something of it.

Long term, I think it would be really cool to have a permanent greenhouse that grows produce year round that our local restaurants could use.

It would connect us urbanites closer to our food.
Comment by ProstSeattle
10 months ago
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owner?
doesn't kemper freeman own this lot? whatever gets planned there will have to be approved by them (i.e. liability insurance $$$$$$) does anyone know if they are open to it being used for something other than parking?
Comment by k.stineback
10 months ago
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It would be nice to see them develope a park or p-patch with help from the city. Why not even make it a a temp bigger home for the farmers market?
Comment by oiseau
10 months ago
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It's not allowed to be parking
it's not a parking lot.
Comment by Finish Tag
10 months ago
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RE: It's not allowed to be parking
that's right, it's not, but impark is patrolling it and it looks like one; parking lot seemed to be the best word to describe it.
Comment by keith
10 months ago
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