Alley Cat Series, AlleysDRA Seattlealleys, alley, seattleComment

The Downtown Alley Cat is On the Prowl: Episode 11

Alley Cat Series, AlleysDRA Seattlealleys, alley, seattleComment
The Downtown Alley Cat is On the Prowl: Episode 11

When will this human madness end? As I walk different alleys to try to find a safe place for my family and me, I just find more of the same. The proposed tower at 2nd & Virginia [#3033067] will hold 1,000 people in condos, hotel rooms, restaurants and offices yet it has no working loading berths and no space for trash collection on the alley.  It will share the alley with two other recent developments with no loading facilities. Between the trucks that line the alley and drivers trying to access 461 parking stalls, a worker on the block calls this alley a "nightmare.” 

And yet when my human friends attend the Design Review Meetings during Early Design Guidance (EDG) to deliver comments on the project's non-functional design, their serious concerns are often dismissed and the public is told to remain silent while the developer's attorney is allowed to interrupt Board deliberations to provide information on the developer's discussions with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) in a way that could easily be mistaken for an attempt to guide the board's decisions.

The stakes are high for everyone participating in the Design Review process. If developer attorneys are allowed to interject during Design Review Board decision making, everyone should have the right. From here in the alley, it looks like "the jury is rigged” and everyone in the room knows it.

If you agree, please voice your concerns to SDCI Director Nathan Torgelson: nathan.torgelson@seattle.gov.

Design Review, AlleysDRA Seattletraffic, seattletraffic, alley, congestion, seattleComment

Here We Go Again! 5th & Stewart Altitude [#3018037]

Nothing has really changed on the 5th & Stewart [Altitude] plans. The tower's loading and waste design will cause major back-ups in its alley and surrounding streets. None of its berths will fit the trucks for which they're intended.  There is no space on the alley for garbage collection. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. If you agree, please express your concerns to PRC@Seattle.gov.

Design Review, AlleysDRA Seattletraffic, seattletraffic, alley, congestion, seattleComment
Here We Go Again! 5th & Stewart Altitude [#3018037]
Alleys, Congestion, Alley Cat SeriesDRA Seattlealley, alleys, seattle, congestion2 Comments

The Downtown Alley Cat Is Now On The Prowl: Part 9

My dad, Dac*, started this series of posts three years ago. Now that he’s retired, I have decided to come out of the shadows to continue his good work and share with you what I see today walking the downtown alleys. And I’m afraid it’s not pretty. If the Mayor and City Council don’t “see the light” and make some meaningful improvements to Alley Code, you’re going to see some real “cat fights” in these alleys (See what we need and why we need it at the end of this post).    --*Downtown Alley Cat

Alleys, Congestion, Alley Cat SeriesDRA Seattlealley, alleys, seattle, congestion2 Comments
The Downtown Alley Cat Is Now On The Prowl: Part 9
Alley Cat Series, AlleysDRA Seattlealleys, alley, seattleComment

The Downtown Alley Cat Is Now On The Prowl: Part 10

As I walk the alleys of Seattle every day, I see more and more evidence of why an alley code amendment is long overdue. When I heard that the design team for the high-rise proposal at 1516-2nd Ave [#3032531] said they wanted to make the already busy alley behind the tower the "front door" of the building, I meowed under my breath “you cannot be serious!!!” 

Alley Cat Series, AlleysDRA Seattlealleys, alley, seattleComment
The Downtown Alley Cat Is Now On The Prowl: Part 10
Alley Cat Series, AlleysDRA Seattleseattle, seattlealleys, alley, alleys, congestion, seattlecongestionComment

The Downtown Alley Cat Is On The Prowl: Episode 12

I went over to the alley behind Escala to take a look at a big truck sticking out of their loading dock and blocking all alley traffic. And sure enough, a picture of this truck belongs right at the top of any list showing why a downtown alley code amendment is absolutely necessary here in Seattle; and why none of these new pending high-rise projects downtown should be approved without demonstrating that large trucks such as this one will fit completely in their loading berth(s) and not extend out into the alley right-of-way.

Alley Cat Series, AlleysDRA Seattleseattle, seattlealleys, alley, alleys, congestion, seattlecongestionComment
The Downtown Alley Cat Is On The Prowl: Episode 12
Congestion, Alleys, fairness and justiceDRA Seattlealley, seattle, seattlealleys, alleys, congestion, seattlecongestionComment

Downtown Alley Code Amendment: It’s really elementary my dear Watson.

We’ve had it with broken promises at all levels of city government. This Alley Code Amendment is not an unreasonable request. It’s something that is long overdue in order to have functional design of loading, waste, and delivery facilities in downtown Seattle.

For District 7 Candidates, you have no excuse for “waffling” on the issue unless you really don’t support us and don’t have the guts to say so.

Congestion, Alleys, fairness and justiceDRA Seattlealley, seattle, seattlealleys, alleys, congestion, seattlecongestionComment
Downtown Alley Code Amendment: It’s really elementary my dear Watson.