12th Avenue Neighborhood & Business District

Cloud mock-up

The 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee got together last night for a great discussion about the James Court Park. Seattle Parks and the design team (Hewitt Architects and Ellen Sollod) presented 2 schemes for the park.  The majority of folks preferred the first scheme, as pictured above.  This includes a really cool feature called "the cloud," which is a flexible mesh material suspended above the center of the park on wires from adjacent poles.  In the "cloud" will be situated a series of (possibly) convex mirrored pieces that will reflect people and patterns from the ground as well as be see-through so that people can see through to the sky, creating different qualities of light for those under the "cloud."  I personally think it is a fantastically cool idea which will really set this park apart from others in Seattle.  Details are being figured out regarding the actual materials chosen and how the "cloud" will be illuminated at night.  There could be lights on the poles aimed at the cloud or perhaps the lights could be incorporated as part of the cloud.

The blue area in the scheme is not a water feature but instead a raised mound that can act as a stage or seating area. Plans are still coming together for what this piece looks like and how it might be used. Additional movable tables and chairs will be located throughout the park. The trees on the eastern side will act as a buffer against the single family residence adjacent to the park. The planters around the trees will also create seating options.

The full presentation, including the 2nd scheme is attached below. Stay tuned for a 3rd meeting on this park’s design, late August or early September.

Parks Presentation 2

Please join the Parks Department,  design team, and 12th Avenue community for a meeting next Tuesday, July 13th to discuss the design for the James Court Park. The team will be showing us several schematic designs for the park based on input from the community meeting back in May.  Click here for more information that came out of that meeting.

Please join us next week and share your thoughts. Refreshments will be provided.

Tuesday, July 13
5:30pm
Seattle University Alumni & Admissions Building
824 12th Avenue

Given our meeting-heavy month of May, the 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee meeting next Tuesday will be canceled.

Mark your calendars for July 13th at 5:30pm for the next meeting where we’ll be discussing the design ideas for the James Court Park.

The Seattle Parks Department held a meeting last week to discuss plans for the James Court Park on 12th Avenue. Landscape design work will be done by Hewitt and Ellen Sollod, local artist and resident of the 12th Avenue neighborhood.

The 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee sent a letter to the Parks Department last year with a set of recommendations for the park design and these ideas were the basis for discussions at the meeting.

Neighbors at the meeting continued the discussion with these major themes emerging:
- Need to activate the park to keep it lively
- The park should celebrate and be a product of the community
- Despite its small size, the park needs to create a presence on 12th Avenue
- Possible use of play surfacing (the spongy stuff found in playgrounds) in molded sculptural shapes that could provide seating as well as a neat place to play on for kids
- There should be an interactive element at the park — something to get the community engaged with one another (tables for games, stage for performances, regular events, etc.)
- No room for a traditional swingset or other kid-only function
- This is also a chance to create a gathering space for the community and Seattle University students to come together
- The park should be bold and claim the neighborhood
- There should be some landscaping in the park but we are limited in the size so these elements need to be mixed with hard surfaces
- There should be some art element at the park (something interactive, a rotating exhibit, etc.)
- Some sort of artistic lighting feature at night to activate the park (although safety was not a huge concern from the neighborhood)
- The park will be directly across James Court from the new Seattle University student housing project with first floor retail uses. On the other side is WaterTown so there will be lots of people in the area and lots of "eyes on the park".

We are still seeking input and ideas for the park. The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 13th at 5:30pm at the Seattle University Alumni and Admissions building.

If you have comments or ideas in the meantime, please contact Susanne Friedman at the Parks Department at 206-684-0902.

future location of james court gathering place park

There are a couple of great meetings coming up soon in the 12th Avenue and Squire Park neighborhoods. Please come out and get engaged in what is happening in your community…

The monthly meeting of the 12th Ave Stewardship Committee is next Tuesday, April 13 at 5:30 P.M. at 824 12th Avenue (Seattle U. A. and A. bldg.) All who have a stake in or who are interested in the neighborhood are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. Agenda will include:

• Seattle Parks Dept. regarding planning for new park (12th Avenue Gathering Place, pic above) at 12th and James Ct. and search for new additional new park space.

• Seattle Housing Authority on plans to expand Yesler Terrace, including possibility of expanding to 14th Avenue.

• Lorig Associates which is requesting a contract rezone for a new mixed-use development at Jefferson and Broadway.

• Transportation issues update: SDOT and the Mayor have recommended the two-way Broadway alignment for the First Hill streetcar. Interest in extending route on Broadway to Aloha? What are next steps for 12th Avenue?

We also want to advertise the upcoming Squire Park Community Council meeting ,  Saturday, April 10th 10am-Noon at 722 18th Ave (CAMP) . The agenda includes great topics and live music!

• Welcome, refreshments, and one Honkfest band: Bakra Bata (Caribbean).

• Kay Smith-Blum Seattle School Board Director: a conversation about community concerns and ideas regarding our neighborhood schools.

• King County Youth Detention Center development: Update on current status and next steps by representatives of King County and the development team.

• The Brass Messengers will lead the crowd at the end of the meeting to Honkfest! at Washington Hall.

Rendering of SU's 12th and Cherry building

Below are the meeting minutes and other related documents from the February and March 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee Meetings.

Happy reading!

Feb 2010 Meeting Minutes

Capitol Hill Community Council Streetcar Memo

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March 2010 Meeting Minutes

Photos of Potential Parks

Map of Potential New Parks

Where do you think a new park should be located? Plans are still moving forward for the 12th Avenue Gathering Place at 12th and E James Court. However, the Parks Department has money for new park acquisition so the neighborhood is trying to identify possible sites. Please check out the links below for pictures of sites we have in mind and where they are on a map. If you have other ideas, please leave a comment!

Pictures of Potential Park Locations

Map of Potential Park Locations

The 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee is back to its regular meeting schedule (the second Tuesday of the month). Please join us for our next meeting Tuesday, March 9th at 5:30pm at the Seattle University Alumni and Admissions Building (corner of 12th Avenue and E Marion Street).

Topics include:

• Discussion with King County and their developer on the future of the Youth Detention site
• Discussion with Seattle University and the Seneca Group on the 12th and Cherry development including the alley vacation conditions
• Brainstorming locations for a new park in the 12th Avenue Urban Village

We’ll see you there!

Just a reminder that the 12th Avenue Stewardship group is meeting this evening.

Thursday, February 25
7pm
Seattle University Alumni & Admissions Building (corner of 12th and E Marion)

All are welcome and there will be food and beverages.

Topics:
- Conversation with Ethan Melone of SDOT on the First Hill-Capitol Hill Streetcar
- Conversation with folks from the Capitol Hill Community Council on streetcar issues
- Planning and design discussion for the James Ct. Park and woonerf
- Brainstorming locations for a new park in the 12th Avenue Urban Village

The 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee is having their monthly meeting next week. Please note the new time.

Thursday, March 25th 7:00pm
Seattle Alumni & Admissions Building
(corner of 12th Avenue and E Marion Street)

Agenda topics include:

• Conversation with Ethan Melone from the Seattle Department of Transportation on the First Hill/Capitol Hill Streetcar
• Conversation with folks from the Capitol Hill Community Council on their view on the streetcar
• Planning and design discussion for the James Court Park and adjacent woonerf
• Brainstorming locations for a new park in the 12th Avenue urban village

Please join us.  Food and beverages will be provided.