fairness and justice, Congestion, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattleseattle, seattleconstruction, poordesign, sdci, seattlealleys, loadingComment

Glimmer Of Hope For First Light Project

fairness and justice, Congestion, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattleseattle, seattleconstruction, poordesign, sdci, seattlealleys, loadingComment
Glimmer Of Hope For First Light Project

There was finally a glimmer of hope that the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections [SDCI] is finally “seeing the light”, if the recent 'Correction Letter-Transportation DPD-Cycle5' ,dated April 12, 2019, is any indication. For several years now, we have diligently challenged every new downtown high-rise development application that has inadequate and/or non-functional loading and waste design. The First Light project at 2000 3rd Ave. [#3026416], right across the alley from Serious Pie, certainly fits into that category.

Finally, SDCI is requesting the Applicant to address most of what we’ve been asking for years. Specifically, it states “Please also indicate the expected frequency of commercial deliveries and of residential move-ins/move-outs. As the project will provide three loading bays, please provide turning movement diagrams demonstrating that each bay can be accessed when other bays are occupied. Please also indicate whether and to what extent trucks using the loading bays will extend into the alley when ramps or lift gates are deployed….” You can read the full text here.

Without some material improvements in the current loading and waste design of First Light, they will not be able to successfully comply with this request.

This request is long overdue for this project; and SDCI should make a  similar request for every application now pending downtown. We already have serious traffic issues in streets and alleys in the downtown core, so honest design and complete and accurate Transportation Impact Analysis [TIA] is a must before these projects are approved or we will have unmitigated disaster.

We won’t get a “do-over” for generations once these towers go up, so we must get them right!

fairness and justice, Congestion, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattletraffic, seattle, seattletraffic, congestion, constructionComment

DOCK MANAGEMENT PLAN…that dog won’t hunt!

The Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) commonly uses the term Dock Management Plan as a “cure-all” for inadequate loading and waste facilities in proposed downtown high-rise projects, but the City of Seattle has no practical experience with their operation ,due either to the newness or incompleteness of the projects involved.

fairness and justice, Congestion, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattletraffic, seattle, seattletraffic, congestion, constructionComment
DOCK MANAGEMENT PLAN…that dog won’t hunt!
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, fairness and justice, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattleseattle, seattledesign, seattleconstruction, fairnessComment

Fairness in Design Review

Open letter to Nathan Torgelson, Director SDCI:

When you read the Mission Statement of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), “As stewards and regulators of land and buildings, we preserve and enhance the equity, livability, safety, and health in our communities”, it is easy to see how far from your mission you have strayed. We request a meeting with you and any other decision maker with the authority to require the Design Review process be structured to represent and protect all parties’ interests.

Design Review, fairness and justice, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattleseattle, seattledesign, seattleconstruction, fairnessComment
Fairness in Design Review
Design Review, fairness and justice, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattleseattle, seattledesignreview, seattledesign, designreview, design, poordesign, seattleconstructionComment

Downtown Design Review Board Asleep At The Wheel…Again!

The Developer of the Silver Cloud continues to disregard Code [SMC] and repeated direction from the Design Review Board (DRB) and SDOT as it proceeds through the Recommendation phase. And the DRB has not held them accountable. Unless modified Silver Cloud will have a devastating environmental impact on surrounding streets and right-of-ways.

Design Review, fairness and justice, Residential Dev StandardsDRA Seattleseattle, seattledesignreview, seattledesign, designreview, design, poordesign, seattleconstructionComment
Downtown Design Review Board Asleep At The Wheel…Again!