On one hand, the City of Seattle’s dabbling in relatively lightweight experiments in tactical urbanism should be lauded for its ability to test small, relatively inexpensive and unobtrusive concepts on the fly. On the other, it can make it look like nobody gave a shit about the principles behind the experiments in the first place when they are removed — poof — without a trace.
On 15th Ave E, one of those installations meant to reshape and help us rethink city streets has disappeared. Continue reading →
Trading street parking for places to sit and mingle in front of businesses across Seattle, streateries and parklets have been mostly about planning since the first wave was created and installed a few years back. There has been a lull in the actual construction and placement of the features but it looks like the pace might be picking up — you’ll find a new streatery open this week on 15th Ave E. A Melrose parklet is coming next. Meanwhile, the Seattle Department of Transportation is also looking for Capitol Hill food and drink establishments that might want to test out its new program to make it easier to create a light-weight sidewalk patio set-up without some of the heavier design elements required in the past. Continue reading →
The E Olive Way parklet under construction last summer (Image: CHS)
There will be at least five more. The Seattle Department of Transportation has put out a call for applicants for five additional parklet trial permits to continue testing the use of street parking spots as public open spaces paid for and supported by local businesses.
Guided by successful programs in other cities, City Hall gave the go ahead to Seattle’s first parklet that opened last summer on E Olive Way in front ofMontana. A Belltown parklet on 2nd Ave has also been approved while a Kickstarter to help fund an International District parklet reached its $12,000 goal last month.
The E Olive Way parklet exemplifies planners’ hopes for the projects. Though it is located in a neighborhood where on street parking is considered a premium, local businesses in the area involved in the parklet were willing to trade two parking spots for a more universally available asset for customers and neighbors. “90% of my customers are pedestrians,” Montana’s Rachel Marshall told assembled media as the parklet was prepared for opening last summer.
The extended pilot program “will allow SDOT to evaluate parklets in diverse neighborhoods and conditions before making recommendations on a permanent program,” according to the announcement. To apply, interested parklet creators must submit “a simple site plan showing the ideas for your parklet, collect at least two letters of support from businesses or residents near the proposed parklet, snap a few photos of the parklet location, and write a paragraph or two explaining why you want to host a parklet.”
On one hand, the City of Seattle’s dabbling in relatively lightweight experiments in tactical urbanism should be lauded for its ability to test small, relatively inexpensive and unobtrusive concepts on the fly. On the other, it can make it look like nobody gave a shit about the principles behind the experiments in the first place when they are removed — poof — without a trace.
