Congestion, Alleys, Design Review, fairness and justiceDRA Seattleallery, seattle, seattletraffic, poordesign, traffic, congestion, toobigtofailComment

Too Big To Fail: Part 3 of 4; Jiffy Lube Site/Silver Cloud Hotel [#3025502]

Congestion, Alleys, Design Review, fairness and justiceDRA Seattleallery, seattle, seattletraffic, poordesign, traffic, congestion, toobigtofailComment
Too Big To Fail: Part 3 of 4; Jiffy Lube Site/Silver Cloud Hotel [#3025502]

The Applicant for project #3025502 ignored all substantive design guidance from EDG1: loading design, turn radius study, alley circulation, waste storage niche --only to focus on ribbons, colors, palette, etc. That’s like saying "The patient is terribly sick and may die...but is wearing a lovely color of hospital gown.” And what did the Board do in response? They passed the project on to the Recommendation Meeting phase. Unbelievable! If you agree, please voice your displeasure by writing to PRC@Seattle.gov and referencing project #3025502.

What is the incentive for the Applicant/Developer to make “real” design improvements, when the Design Review Board does not hold them accountable for following their own Design Guidance? None that we can see. Making this design approval even more ludicrous is the fact that SDOT had sent a letter to the DRB and the SDCI planner on the project on 1/14/19, eight days before the meeting [read aloud at the meeting by DRB Chair Grace Leong] that indicated their disapproval of the loading berth/alley ROW usage design. 

Here are a couple of key quotes (emphasis added): “SDOT does not support the applicant team’s request for a loading berth reduction as currently shown on p.39 of the EDG packet”. “The project may not use the public alley right-of-way to meet the code requirements on the development of private property”.

Full content of SDOT letter to DRB and DSCI

The following are detailed comments and drawings showing why this project fails to pass the test for good functional design:

Comment letter Project 3025502 1/22/2019

Hungry for more “Too Big To Fail“? We wish there weren’t more, but sadly — we’ve got you covered.

Congestion, Design Review, fairness and justiceDRA SeattleTower spacing, seattle, traffic, seattletraffic, toobigtofailComment

Too Big to Fail: Part 2 of 4 [Project #3028017, Griffin Building & Sheridan Apartments]

While the basic building design is more aesthetically attractive from the street than many of the “big box” designs we’ve seen, this design is not functional, and thus is nowhere close to meeting the standards for approval today. Further, they are not “preserving” the two historic buildings, only using the preservation of the façade to avoid necessary alley setbacks.You will be doing the Applicant a favor by requiring them to come back for a 2nd EDG with a functional ground-floor alley-side design. As is, you have a recipe for loading, servicing, and resident parking disaster.

Congestion, Design Review, fairness and justiceDRA SeattleTower spacing, seattle, traffic, seattletraffic, toobigtofailComment
Too Big to Fail: Part 2 of 4 [Project #3028017, Griffin Building & Sheridan Apartments]
Congestion, Design Review, fairness and justiceDRA Seattletraffic, seattletraffic, seattle, construction, toobigtofailComment

Too Big To Fail: Part 1 of 4; First Light at 2000 - 3rd Avenue


First Light Condominium at 2000-3rd Ave. boasts a rooftop pool and some of the best sunset views in the Pacific Northwest. Its problems come on the ground, where it is not a functional design.  As home to an anticipated 1,600 condo dwellers and office workers, this small village is requesting fewer and smaller loading berths than required by code. Most trucks won't be able to access the berths because the project's narrow alley is lined with dumpsters from neighboring older buildings, home to some of Seattle's most popular restaurants. And ingress and egress from its parking garage will be challenging, if not impossible.

Congestion, Design Review, fairness and justiceDRA Seattletraffic, seattletraffic, seattle, construction, toobigtofailComment
Too Big To Fail: Part 1 of 4; First Light at 2000 - 3rd Avenue
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, CongestionDRA Seattletraffic, seattletraffic, seattle, construction, alley2 Comments

Too Big to Fail: Part 4 of 4; 5th & Lenora [#3026266]

Just as in what appears to be the Design Review standard script, the Downtown DRB approved yet another major downtown Seattle high rise apartment building (MUP3026266, 2025-5th Ave) with only one, symbolic and for all practical purposes, unusable loading berth! 

How can the Design Review Board keep a straight face while claiming loading berths, waste storage, or parking aren't issues for them to consider? This is the same endless loop of pass the buck we've been fighting for over four years.The DRB says it’s not their purview and will be taken up in SEPA. In SEPA, it is presumed that it has been considered by DRB, when in reality no one has considered functional design.

Alleys, CongestionDRA Seattletraffic, seattletraffic, seattle, construction, alley2 Comments
Too Big to Fail: Part 4 of 4; 5th & Lenora [#3026266]
fairness and justice, Congestion, AlleysDRA Seattlealleys, alley, seattle, traffic, seattletraffic, congestion, parkingComment

Another Terrible Traffic Study: C’Mon Man!

The original TENW Traffic Study for First Light #3026416 at 2000-3rd Ave. and its Update of 1/3/19 (posted 1/16/19) are incomplete and misleading. The foundation of the study’s projection of future traffic volumes (and cumulative impact) is completely invalid having excluded the project’s closest tower neighbors .

fairness and justice, Congestion, AlleysDRA Seattlealleys, alley, seattle, traffic, seattletraffic, congestion, parkingComment
Another Terrible Traffic Study: C’Mon Man!