Madison Park
The Madison Park Community Council (MPCC) has been concerned for a number of years now about what will happen to traffic congestion to the north of our neighborhood when the existing eastbound on-ramp to state Route 520 is removed as part of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) ongoing expansion of the freeway.
We believe that, under current plans, having to cross Montlake Boulevard to access SR 520 will bring an already hopelessly overloaded intersection to the breakdown point. A replacement eastbound on-ramp seems to be the only rational solution. To that end, we met with both Speaker of the House, Rep. Frank Chopp, and with Sen. Jamie Pedersen, our legislators from our own 43rd District on Feb. 20. Mr. Chopp has always been sympathetic to our plight and pointed out that management of WSDOT is a little unsettled currently with the very recent replacement of Transportation Secretary Lynn Petersen. Mr. Pedersen said that the matter was primarily one for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).
However, our contacts with the city in the past have been quite unproductive, as SDOT is focused on bicycle and pedestrian issues in that area, considering that such things as freeway on- and off-ramps are matters for the state to handle.
We also met with 43rd District Rep. Brady Walkinshaw in Olympia on Feb. 10. Mr. Walkinshaw currently has the more pressing matter of his announced run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by the retirement of Jim McDermott but is supportive of MPCC’s efforts.
On a much smaller issue, we have resuscitated our interest in erecting a neighborhood kiosk-type of bulletin board, which was to have been part of the improvements on the southwest corner of the Bank of America property. MPCC did get the three stone benches installed, but the kiosk portion of the project was not approved by the then-Bank of America management. The local management of that bank branch has now changed, and we believe the completion of our original project is now possible.
We have researched the costs associated with erecting the kiosk and have concluded that a pre-manufactured unit will be considerably less expensive than one that is custom-constructed. However, we have only been able to find a heavy plastic kiosk, and have not actually been able to inspect one for quality. If anyone knows of a pre-made triangular kiosk or would like to be responsible for the provision and cost containment of a custom unit, MPCC would be very grateful.
We are still looking at the traffic situation around East Highland Drive. We have received a grant of $40,000 to study the issue and have arranged to jointly work on the study with the Madrona Community Council.
Finally, and with respect to funding our always-ongoing improvements to the Park, we would like to re-thank everyone who has contributed recently and in the past.
On the funding issue, we are in contact with the surrounding community councils. It is interesting to note that the Laurelhurst Community Club (not to be confused with the Laurelhurst Beach Club) requests an annual “membership” fee from its area residents. It has 2,800 households versus our 3,300. It requests $60 per year as dues from each household, $75 from businesses, reduced rates of $30 from seniors living alone and $20 from students. Many households actually contribute $100 per year, and, of course, some much more. It is very much a voluntary system, but it does report an average of more than 40-percent participation.
Should we institute something similar? Your thoughts on this subject and on anything else around the Park with which you are concerned are always welcome.
— Maurice Cooper, president