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‘Bikeways and schools to housing and commercial development’ — I-5 lid designs come together

John Feit at January’s kickoff design event (Image: Alec Dietz for CHS)

The process bringing neighborhoods from both sides of I-5 together to design solutions for lidding the busy freeway with space for resources like open park space and housing will move forward with a night of beer-fueled presentations Thursday night.

It’s time for the Central Hills Triangle Collaborative Collab #1 event:

Central Hills Triangle Collaborative — Collab #1

CHS reported on the January design charrette that kicked off the process as teams of community members, engineers, and architects worked together to explore possibilities for lidded space above I-5.

In 2017, developers of the Washington State Convention Center agreed to a $80 million package of community benefits as part of the downtown facility’s $1.6 billion expansion. Included in that package is $1.5 million to power a City of Seattle feasibility study of building a lid across I-5 adjacent the WSCC.

Led by co-chairs and architects John Feit of the Pike/Pine Urban Neighborhood Council and Scott Bonjukian of the Lid I-5 effort, the collaborative’s goal is to “inform the scope” of the city’s lid feasibility study and “to create captivating illustrations of how lids will benefit the health, economy, and cohesion of urban neighborhoods.” It is powered by a $48,000 grant from the Department of Neighborhoods.

Thursday night’s event will feature “seven professional teams” presenting proposals for “a major urban design effort: re-imagining what the space above I-5 could look like when the freeway is eventually lidded.”

“Everything is on the table,” the group writes, “from bikeways and schools to housing and commercial development, and we need your help! This is your chance to critique the early design concepts and challenge the teams to dig deeper and embody community priorities.”

The next event is planned for May 15th, with a third in July before a final presentation currently planned for September.

Meanwhile, the Lid I-5 group and the collaborative announced the City Council will hold an April 18th public hearing before voting on the WSCC community benefits package.

 

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Nope
Nope
6 years ago

Good to,see them chewing through the $1.5m – what kind of food and drink do we get at these events ?

In a parallel universe our kids go to school in portable classrooms, have computers so old none of us would use, can’t afford to keep greenhouses open. And that is just the one down the block. But spend the $1.5 dreaming,…

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
6 years ago

Think how nice it’ll be to walk through blocks of homeless people, acres of urine-smelling bushes or mini-parks, and acres of tents, on your walk up Capitol Hill from downtown. Won’t that be fun?

D Del Rio
D Del Rio
6 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

That is exactly what I was thinking. The idea seems nice, but unless something changes drastically here in Seattle, this is what will probably happen.

Jason
6 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

We do that already, Jim, thanks to people like you who object to building housing for the poor. (For those unfamiliar, Jim unapologetically regards poor people as “shit.”) Wouldn’t it be nicer if you could experience the effects of poor people without the noise and pollution of highway traffic getting in the way?

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
6 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

I think things *will* change here….unfortunately, the change will be things get worse, not better. Housing is getting ever more expensive, not cheaper. For employment, increasingly smaller # of highly technical people make ever-more money while non-techie jobs are eliminated and wages flatline for remaining jobs. It’s a recipe for change, but certainly not for improvement.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
6 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

Spare me Jason. I don’t regard poor people as shit. I won’t engage in this drivel conversation again simply because you’re incapable of grasping the meaning of common colloquial expressions. Learn a new song.

Jason
6 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

It’s OK, Jim. We know that you don’t approve of anyone poorer, richer, or more Mexican than you living or working on the Hill. You’re free to leave if you feel that it’s gone to shit. Please don’t leave the comments section, though. Your comments help drive traffic, which increases ad impressions, which helps to fund local news.

23 years in the CD
23 years in the CD
6 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

@Jason, have you made a conscious decision to be a flat out troll or did you not read and follow the thread you have seemingly chosen to misrepresent?

Glenn
Glenn
6 years ago

Jason,

You twisted Jim’s words to undermine him without addressing his arguments.

Bob Knudson
Bob Knudson
6 years ago

I think that Jason is best ignored. Don’t feed the troll.