University District Pictures, Projects, etc... - Page 15

alexjonlin · December 11th, 2012, 01:20 AM

I heard anecdotally that the city wants to totally reconfigure that intersection in the long-term, but I'm guessing nothing within twenty years. I would hope for a regular, at-grade intersection of Roosevelt and Campus Parkway (I don't think they could make an at-grade intersection with 40th due to the University Bridge's height), doing away with all the freeway-interchange-like off-ramps. Everyone driving along there might be stuck in traffic for a couple more minutes, but the pedestrian environment around there would be so much better. I'm guessing that would cost like $80m, though, what with all the grading and construction that would be involved.
Also, I think retail might not be that bad here. It's true that in some ways it could dilute the demand for retail in the U District, but that could be a good ten minute walk to the retail part of the Ave, and more than that from the area along the freeway which has been getting a fair amount of development recently. It makes sense to have some small neighborhood retail like coffeeshops and convenience stores along Roosevelt. I think a lot of the retail spots along there that are currently underutilized could fill up as developments like this one make the street more cohesive.

mhays · December 11th, 2012, 03:19 AM

With a project like the redoing that intersection at grade, the tough part would be keeping things open during the work. But cut the left turn off the bridge just before the current exit and move some southbound traffic northward by a block or two (bus routes etc.) and maybe it wouldn't be too difficult.

As for retail, great location for a coffee shop. Roosevelt can handle sporadic retail, as it has a lot of density around it but not much retail, and it's a few blocks from the Ave.

Seasun · December 11th, 2012, 03:43 AM

I think there was/is a plan to close or greatly reduce the size of Campus Parkway which might relate to what alexjonlin is referring to.

Matt the Engineer · December 12th, 2012, 12:21 AM

The real problem with push-button lights is that they're all designed wrong. A button push should immediately change the light yellow, then red. Instead of prioritizing the person standing in the rain that the light knows exists (because of the button push), the standard seems to be to give the theoretical car two minutes away time to drive to drive through the intersection, despite having a warm comfortable box to sit in if they do have to wait.
</rant>

alexjonlin · December 12th, 2012, 12:26 AM

Push buttons shouldn't exist at normal intersections in the city. All lights should be timed to include a pedestrian signal in every single cycle. The only time there should be push buttons is like Matt describes, at "half signals" that are just for pedestrians to cross a major street, where pushing the button immediately triggers the light to change.

mhays · December 12th, 2012, 12:37 AM

Exactly. Having them at places like Denny Way, Boren, etc., is absolutely freaking moronic.

CityView Jim · December 12th, 2012, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt the Engineer

The real problem with push-button lights is that they're all designed wrong. A button push should immediately change the light yellow, then red. Instead of prioritizing the person standing in the rain that the light knows exists (because of the button push), the standard seems to be to give the theoretical car two minutes away time to drive to drive through the intersection, despite having a warm comfortable box to sit in if they do have to wait.
</rant>

That's all fine in certain areas. But when a red light affects other traffic (picturing Mercer Mess at the moment), for one pedestrian you may clog traffic and several other intersections.

An intersection over on say 15th on the way to Ballard might work better with your plan as there are very few traffic lights in the area between the Ballard Bridge and downtown.

Hope this makes sense.

Matt the Engineer · December 12th, 2012, 01:51 AM

A button push should immediately change the light yellow, then red, except when the pedestrian cycle's been completed within the past few minutes.

There, I fixed it.

I sure hope they don't put push-button lights on Mercer. The renderings all promise it'll be a pedestrian area. The cars are all rushing to wait in line on the freeway anyway - they can wait a minute for pedestrians in the heart of a city.

geoffloftus · December 17th, 2012, 07:29 PM

This project...

...the one bordered by 47th NE on the north, 11th on the east, and Roosevelt on the west -- right across 11th from the Avalon project -- appears to have begun.

This area is hopping with, now, three large projects ongoing.

geoffloftus · December 17th, 2012, 07:42 PM

Aha: I believe it's this project that is just starting...

http://www.spectrumdevsolutions.com/...ns-Article.pdf

BoulderGrad · December 17th, 2012, 07:48 PM

If it is where he says it is:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/G...endaID3747.pdf

geoffloftus · December 17th, 2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoulderGrad

If it is where he says it is:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/G...endaID3747.pdf

Yep, i believe that's it.

Ruffhauser · December 17th, 2012, 07:57 PM

From todays DJC

http://www.djc.com/news/re/12048232.html

December 17, 2012

Vulcan assessing demand for more apartments in U District

By NAT LEVY
Journal Staff Reporter

A design review board today will give its recommendations about Vulcan Real Estate's seven-story apartment project in the University District, but Vulcan isn't sure now is the right time to build.

Vulcan is planning 216 units and 3,607 square feet of retail on the site at 4041 Roosevelt Way N.E. A report for the design review board shows 4,422 square feet along Roosevelt Way will be an “active residential amenity,” and there will be 150 parking stalls.

Runberg Architecture Group is the architect and Exxel Pacific Inc. is doing preconstruction work. Vulcan has not picked a general contractor.

Vulcan Real Estate Investment Strategy Director Lori Mason Curran said the company is still assessing the condition of the market. If Vulcan decides to move forward, construction could begin by the middle of next year.

“We want to be aware of everything that's happening there before we put a shovel in the ground,” she said.

Vulcan plans to apply for the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption program and set aside 20 percent of the units for people making less than 80 percent of area median income. That level means $49,300 for an individual and $70,400 for a family of four.

Vulcan has held the site since 2001. An 8,000-square-foot, single-story office building is located there.

The apartments are designed to cater to young professionals and people who work at the university.

Mason Curran would not say if Vulcan is concerned about overbuilding of apartments.

Tom Cain of Apartment Insights Washington said he flagged the University District in 2011 as one of four areas in the city that could be at risk of overbuilding.

The university is planning to open the 928-unit Mercer Court apartments next year, and it is renovating Lander and Terry halls. Several other private housing projects for the U District are also in the pipeline.

“I am worried,” Cain said. The amount of new housing in that neighborhood is “substantial, and a lot of it is right across from Vulcan's site.”

Vulcan has been most active in South Lake Union, but it is expanding to other areas. Vulcan teamed up with Capitol Hill Housing to submit a proposal to be the master developer of Yesler Terrace. Vulcan was also chosen to redevelop Bothell's City Hall, though that project is on hold.

geoffloftus · December 17th, 2012, 07:59 PM

Actually now that I look at things more carefully, I'm becoming puzzled. The project is actually bounded on the west by the alleyway, not by Roosevelt. Yet most of today's action seems to be at the SE corner of 47th and Roosevelt -- and also there are still cars in the lot at the SW corner of 47th and 11th.

mSeattle · December 17th, 2012, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruffhauser

From todays DJC

http://www.djc.com/news/re/12048232.html

December 17, 2012

Vulcan assessing demand for more apartments in U District

What's there to assess? Just build the darn things already!

geoffloftus · January 15th, 2013, 11:26 PM

I just today realized that (two blocks from my office) is a pretty nice new supermarket in one of the new UW dorms (at the SW corner of the Ave and Campus Parkway). It definitely beats the decrepit Safeway at 50th and Brooklyn!

mSeattle · January 15th, 2013, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoffloftus

I just today realized that (two blocks from my office) is a pretty nice new supermarket in one of the new UW dorms (at the SW corner of the Ave and Campus Parkway). It definitely beats the decrepit Safeway at 50th and Brooklyn!

They renovated the inside of that Safeway, but that site needs a redevelopment. I'd love for it to be built like the several buildings on Western Ave between Pike and Union.
The Campus Parkway grocery is excellent addition. There's a restaurant open to the public (I think) in the dorm diagonal (northwest) to the grocery.

Tespia · January 16th, 2013, 12:42 AM

Yes, the restaurant is open to the public. It's called Cultivate and has decent food. The District Market is really nice, but silly expensive when you can walk over to Trader Joe's a couple blocks away.

BoulderGrad · January 16th, 2013, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tespia

Yes, the restaurant is open to the public. It's called Cultivate and has decent food. The District Market is really nice, but silly expensive when you can walk over to Trader Joe's a couple blocks away.

While I'm sure it would eliminate the price advantage, it would be cool to see both and Safeway and TJ's redeveloped to be the grocer on bottom/housing on top setup.

mSeattle · January 16th, 2013, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tespia

Yes, the restaurant is open to the public. It's called Cultivate and has decent food. The District Market is really nice, but silly expensive when you can walk over to Trader Joe's a couple blocks away.

DM will have some advantage for walkers living down the slope. No up-hill and no bus stop wait.

December 11th, 2012, 01:20 AM	#281
alexjonlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,284 Likes (Received): 89	I heard anecdotally that the city wants to totally reconfigure that intersection in the long-term, but I'm guessing nothing within twenty years. I would hope for a regular, at-grade intersection of Roosevelt and Campus Parkway (I don't think they could make an at-grade intersection with 40th due to the University Bridge's height), doing away with all the freeway-interchange-like off-ramps. Everyone driving along there might be stuck in traffic for a couple more minutes, but the pedestrian environment around there would be so much better. I'm guessing that would cost like $80m, though, what with all the grading and construction that would be involved. Also, I think retail might not be that bad here. It's true that in some ways it could dilute the demand for retail in the U District, but that could be a good ten minute walk to the retail part of the Ave, and more than that from the area along the freeway which has been getting a fair amount of development recently. It makes sense to have some small neighborhood retail like coffeeshops and convenience stores along Roosevelt. I think a lot of the retail spots along there that are currently underutilized could fill up as developments like this one make the street more cohesive. Last edited by alexjonlin; December 11th, 2012 at 01:26 AM.

December 17th, 2012, 07:29 PM	#289
geoffloftus Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 394 Likes (Received): 90	Updates: 47th NE This project... ...the one bordered by 47th NE on the north, 11th on the east, and Roosevelt on the west -- right across 11th from the Avalon project -- appears to have begun. This area is hopping with, now, three large projects ongoing.

December 17th, 2012, 07:48 PM	#291
BoulderGrad Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,376 Likes (Received): 43	If it is where he says it is: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/G...endaID3747.pdf __________________ My shrink once said to me: "Maybe life isn't for everyone..."

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December 11th, 2012, 03:19 AM	#282
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,468 Likes (Received): 125	With a project like the redoing that intersection at grade, the tough part would be keeping things open during the work. But cut the left turn off the bridge just before the current exit and move some southbound traffic northward by a block or two (bus routes etc.) and maybe it wouldn't be too difficult. As for retail, great location for a coffee shop. Roosevelt can handle sporadic retail, as it has a lot of density around it but not much retail, and it's a few blocks from the Ave.

December 11th, 2012, 03:43 AM	#283
Seasun Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,599 Likes (Received): 48	I think there was/is a plan to close or greatly reduce the size of Campus Parkway which might relate to what alexjonlin is referring to.

December 12th, 2012, 12:21 AM	#284
Matt the Engineer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 1,168 Likes (Received): 109	The real problem with push-button lights is that they're all designed wrong. A button push should immediately change the light yellow, then red. Instead of prioritizing the person standing in the rain that the light knows exists (because of the button push), the standard seems to be to give the theoretical car two minutes away time to drive to drive through the intersection, despite having a warm comfortable box to sit in if they do have to wait. </rant>

December 12th, 2012, 12:26 AM	#285
alexjonlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,284 Likes (Received): 89	Push buttons shouldn't exist at normal intersections in the city. All lights should be timed to include a pedestrian signal in every single cycle. The only time there should be push buttons is like Matt describes, at "half signals" that are just for pedestrians to cross a major street, where pushing the button immediately triggers the light to change.

December 12th, 2012, 12:37 AM	#286
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,468 Likes (Received): 125	Exactly. Having them at places like Denny Way, Boren, etc., is absolutely freaking moronic.

December 12th, 2012, 01:51 AM	#288
Matt the Engineer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 1,168 Likes (Received): 109	A button push should immediately change the light yellow, then red, except when the pedestrian cycle's been completed within the past few minutes. There, I fixed it. I sure hope they don't put push-button lights on Mercer. The renderings all promise it'll be a pedestrian area. The cars are all rushing to wait in line on the freeway anyway - they can wait a minute for pedestrians in the heart of a city.

December 17th, 2012, 07:42 PM	#290
geoffloftus Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 394 Likes (Received): 90	Aha: I believe it's this project that is just starting... http://www.spectrumdevsolutions.com/...ns-Article.pdf

December 17th, 2012, 07:57 PM	#293
Ruffhauser Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Belltown Posts: 1,432 Likes (Received): 261	From todays DJC http://www.djc.com/news/re/12048232.html December 17, 2012 Vulcan assessing demand for more apartments in U District By NAT LEVY Journal Staff Reporter A design review board today will give its recommendations about Vulcan Real Estate's seven-story apartment project in the University District, but Vulcan isn't sure now is the right time to build. Vulcan is planning 216 units and 3,607 square feet of retail on the site at 4041 Roosevelt Way N.E. A report for the design review board shows 4,422 square feet along Roosevelt Way will be an “active residential amenity,” and there will be 150 parking stalls. Runberg Architecture Group is the architect and Exxel Pacific Inc. is doing preconstruction work. Vulcan has not picked a general contractor. Vulcan Real Estate Investment Strategy Director Lori Mason Curran said the company is still assessing the condition of the market. If Vulcan decides to move forward, construction could begin by the middle of next year. “We want to be aware of everything that's happening there before we put a shovel in the ground,” she said. Vulcan plans to apply for the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption program and set aside 20 percent of the units for people making less than 80 percent of area median income. That level means $49,300 for an individual and $70,400 for a family of four. Vulcan has held the site since 2001. An 8,000-square-foot, single-story office building is located there. The apartments are designed to cater to young professionals and people who work at the university. Mason Curran would not say if Vulcan is concerned about overbuilding of apartments. Tom Cain of Apartment Insights Washington said he flagged the University District in 2011 as one of four areas in the city that could be at risk of overbuilding. The university is planning to open the 928-unit Mercer Court apartments next year, and it is renovating Lander and Terry halls. Several other private housing projects for the U District are also in the pipeline. “I am worried,” Cain said. The amount of new housing in that neighborhood is “substantial, and a lot of it is right across from Vulcan's site.” Vulcan has been most active in South Lake Union, but it is expanding to other areas. Vulcan teamed up with Capitol Hill Housing to submit a proposal to be the master developer of Yesler Terrace. Vulcan was also chosen to redevelop Bothell's City Hall, though that project is on hold.

December 17th, 2012, 07:59 PM	#294
geoffloftus Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 394 Likes (Received): 90	Actually now that I look at things more carefully, I'm becoming puzzled. The project is actually bounded on the west by the alleyway, not by Roosevelt. Yet most of today's action seems to be at the SE corner of 47th and Roosevelt -- and also there are still cars in the lot at the SW corner of 47th and 11th.

January 15th, 2013, 11:26 PM	#296
geoffloftus Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 394 Likes (Received): 90	I just today realized that (two blocks from my office) is a pretty nice new supermarket in one of the new UW dorms (at the SW corner of the Ave and Campus Parkway). It definitely beats the decrepit Safeway at 50th and Brooklyn!

January 16th, 2013, 12:42 AM	#298
Tespia Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Seattle Posts: 150 Likes (Received): 21	Yes, the restaurant is open to the public. It's called Cultivate and has decent food. The District Market is really nice, but silly expensive when you can walk over to Trader Joe's a couple blocks away.