Seattle Press on Line - A Colonnade Park for Eastlake?

There From Here

A Colonnade Park for Eastlake?

By Contributing Writer

Apr 11, 2002 -- I-5 runs across the Eastlake neighborhood like a scar along the chest of a heart bypass patient. Since 1962, when the Interstate was completed there, Capitol Hill and Eastlake have been like siblings who never get to see each other, except when time is made for a busy meeting at Roanoke Street. East is east, and west is west, but the Eastlake Community Council would like a bit more crossover. Capitol Hill could have better access to Lake Union, and Eastlake to Capitol Hill. These are two of the most densely populated areas around.

I-5 is elevated through most of this corridor, and the Eastlake neighborhood plan calls for developing areas underneath and along I-5 for bike and pedestrian access, mountain biking trails even--since there's a steep grade going east, and park space too. The peaks and dips along portions of the corridor really just scream, "giant skate-park!" This Colonnade Park idea derives its name from the towering circular columns that buttress I-5, and is less romantically referred to in city planning as the "I-5 Open Space Study."

The 2000 Pro-Parks Levy provided $1.8 million for this work, but plans have stalled because one partner wouldn't come to the table. Eastlake, now with some funding, was ready to talk, the Parks Department was there, but Washington State Department of Transportation wasn't interested, and it's WSDOT's right of way.

According to Chris Leman, vice chair of the Eastlake Neighborhood Plan Stewardship Committee, WSDOT has been more or less deaf for 40 years to the community's requests for anything in return for withstanding the noise and blight of I-5, until recently, when House Representatives Frank Chopp and Ed Murray met with the Secretary of Transportation and demanded a hearing. "They made it clear that I-5 has been real damaging, and WSDOT must be mindful of the needs of the neighborhood," said Leman.

While I-5 drivers are treated to a stunning view of Lake Union and downtown along this stretch, Eastlake merchants and residents get noise, the highway overcast, No Trespassing signs and barbed wire fencing along the poorly maintained and disused dead zone underneath.

Yet there's lots of land. The area under discussion for improvement is from at least Galer, or maybe Aloha, down as far as E. Newton--almost to downtown. The Parks Department has set sights on improving 7.5 acres of it, and wishes to relocate the temporary Volunteer Park off-leash dog area to the site. While that's a start, the Neighborhood Plan Stewardship Committee is negotiating for 20 acres at least, to get the most uses possible.

Now is a good time for state government to finally step in and help out, and for WSDOT to start listening to Eastlake. As Eastside politicians and some businesses look for increased state spending on highways, WSDOT must at least appear to be more responsive to dense and wealthy urban areas like Eastlake, to glean support for the State transportation tax vote in November, even if there's nothing in the package of spending increases to benefit Seattle. Listening is inexpensive, and the kinds of improvements that Eastlake wants don't have to cost a lot either.

The right of way is free, but WSDOT may want to keep it in reserve for needed water runoff treatment, repaving work, and the distant, off-chance of adding more lanes. Chris Leman argues that some of this can be easily integrated with community use, and possible highway use in the remote future is no reason to not put the land to use for the community today. Creative ways to come up with modest funds for the work can be found. Leman points out that federal grants are available. Also, he says, "Under State law, gas tax can be spent on highway impact mitigation. It tends to be spent on beautifying the parts of the highway that drivers can see." Perhaps WSDOT can be brought around to creating mitigation for the environment instead.

Liability for accidents is another reason WSDOT has kept the area fenced and off-limits. If we put in bike trails, what if a biker is injured on State property? "This seems funny to me," Leman said, "since WSDOT is not concerned about liability for highway vehicle accidents, which happen every day."

What is clear to the Eastlake neighborhood planning group is that the WSDOT, as they have for forty years, will do nothing about the I-5 scar without pressure--and now is an excellent time.

Chris Leman, of the Eastlake Neighborhood Plan Stewardship Committee, can be reached at (206) 322-5463 or cleman@oo.net.

Tara Peattie can be reached at peattie@drizzle.com.

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!

No comments yet!