From CollabLandWiki

A substantial proportion of Seattleites use their bicycles for recreation or transportation. It is estimated that about 36% of Seattle's 520,000 citizens engage in recreational bicycling, and between 4,000 and 8,000 people bicycle commute in Seattle each day, depending on the time of year and weather conditions. SDOT's Bicycle Program has been working steadily toward developing an urban trail system to accommodate bicyclists. Urban trails include shared use paths, bike lanes, signed bike routes, arterials with wide shoulders, and pedestrian pathways. Seattle has about 28 miles of shared use paths, 22 miles of on-street, striped bike lanes, and about 90 miles of signed bike routes.

The goal of the Urban Trails system is to: 1. Facilitate bicycling as a viable transportation choice; 2. Afford citizens the opportunity to experience the City's unique scenic and natural amenities; 3. Provide access to healthful recreational activities 4. Link major parks and open spaces with Seattle neighborhoods. [1]

Seattle and Salmon Protection

This is a webpage with quite a few studies on the preservation, and design alterations that have been/need to be done in the future to preserve the Chinook Salmon.

http://www.seattle.gov/util/About_SPU/Management/SPU_&_the_Environment/SalmonFriendlySeattle/SPU01_002751.asp

South Lake Union Transportation Study

http://www.collaborativelandscape.org/wiki/South_Lake_Union_Study

Seattle historic issues

Historic Comprehensive Plan:

This is an exerpt from the Seattle Parks and Recreation page, located at http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/olmsted.htm. The overall synopsis was that the Olmsted brothers created the comprehensive park plan for the city of Seattle starting in 1903. Their influence affected the University of Washington and the State Capitol, to name a few.

"OLMSTED BROTHERS PLAN

The Olmsted Brothers plan included numerous playgrounds and playfields, a manifestation of the new concept of public recreation which had been introduced with success in the East. These sites included buildings devoted to recreation (field houses) and facilities like ball fields, tennis courts, and playground apparatus which had unique maintenance requirements relative to park facilities. Hence, from quite early on, the Parks Division and the Recreation Division of the Department each had their own maintenance personnel.

During the first ten years after its submission, most of the primary elements of the plan would, through purchase, gift, condemnation, or bonded indebtedness, be incorporated into the city's structure.

The Olmsted Brothers continued to embark in Seattle, for both private and public clients, until 1936, when J. C. Olmsted made his last visit to the city to plan the Washington Park Arboretum. Over that 33-year period the firm would see more of its designs realized in the region: the campus of the University of Washington, the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (which would dictate the future of the U.W. campus), and the State Capitol plan."

Opinion Letter Discussing The Waterfront

Here is an opinion letter that was submitted to the Seattle Times on Sept. 26, 2006, that discussed the uses of the waterfront district as the city was evaluating its status and exploring redevelopment options for the area. The overall theme to the letter was that when considering redeveloping the waterfront area, the planners should consider saving the shipping ports and retain the jobs that the ports support. Feel free to look further: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003275499_port26.html

Seattle current issues

University of Washington Landscape Architecture Dept:

This department looks like it does a lot of cool, innovative things in looking at their coursework on the website. They do a design/build project in Guatemala, and have coursework in urban ecology, among other things. Anyway take a look http://www.caup.washington.edu/larch/

Property Development near downtown Seattle:

I found an article that talks about a development company that is working on providing affordable housing close to downtown Seattle. They work a lot to make sure that their properties are close to public transportation. I have also posted the development company's website.

Article http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/353712_apartments05.html

Developer http://www.harborproperties.com/

Landscape Architect Talks About Seattle Issues:

This is an article in which a Landscape Architect talks about some urban issues in Seattle, mainly an aging viaduct that cuts off pedestrians and neighborhoods from the waterfront.

http://modeshift.org/?p=309

Jon, Josh, Kyle

Industrial Land Planning Articles

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/static/DPD%20-%20Size%20of%20Use%20Limit%20ORD_LatestReleased_DPDP_020360.pdf http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@industriallands/documents/web_informational/dpdp_019808.pdf http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@industriallands/documents/web_informational/dpds_009795.pdf http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@industriallands/documents/web_informational/dpds_009794.pdf http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@industriallands/documents/web_informational/dpdp_020037.pdf

Background & Objectives

Background

Industrial zones occupy about 12% of the City’s land area – more than any other zone category, except single-family. Most of the industrial land is located in the City’s two designated manufacturing/industrial centers – the Duwamish and Ballard/Interbay (BINMIC). These zones are home to over 70,000 jobs and a significant portion of Seattle’s economic activity. Because of the limits on allowed uses in these areas, land prices tend to be lower for industrial land than for most other land in the city, leading some owners and investors to speculate that the land could be worth more if the rules about allowed uses were changed.

There are concerns that allowing non-industrial uses in industrial areas can harm existing businesses and discourage new ones from locating in those areas. Non-industrial uses can increase the cost of land (and rents), which can make it harder for industrial activities to be profitable. Office and retail uses increase the amount of traffic in an area, and can impede the trucks that bring supplies and deliver finished products for industrial firms. Large trucks need maneuvering room, which is sometimes diminished by on-street parking, or roadway adjustments made to accommodate retail and office users.

Housing in an industrial area can lead to even more conflicts. The original purpose of zoning was to separate dangerous industrial activities from places where people live. While most industrial activities today are less dangerous than they were a hundred years ago, they still produce noise, dust and odors that can seem like nuisances, or worse, for residents.

Objectives

In 2006, at the urging of the Planning Commission, the City Council adopted a supplemental budget, funding DPD to prepare an industrial lands strategy to:

  1. Ensure adequate land to accommodate the expected future amount of industrial uses, and
  2. Provide criteria for evaluating future requests to reclassify industrial lands.

Soil and Sediments - Restoring Contaminated Sites to Productive Use

The Challenge

In expanding Seaport facilities, the Port of Seattle has purchased former industrial sites, many of which were contaminated by more than 90 years of unregulated industrial use. Investment in Seaport infrastructure fuels the local economy and at the same time "recycles" these former unproductive industrial sites. Cleaning up existing soil and sediment contamination and then controlling usage to prevent any recontamination makes these sites once again usable for activities and businesses that require waterfront access. The Projects

Recent development and expansion projects have provided numerous opportunities to clean up contaminated soils while fostering opportunities for economic growth.

File:T18-twoships.jpg

Terminal 18 is a prime example of the Port combining redevelopment with environmental stewardship. Harbor Island is a federal Superfund site. The property's soil was contaminated with mercury, lead, arsenic, petroleum hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. While adding 90 acres of cargo facilities and creating some 2000 new jobs, the Port was also able to:

   * Substantially increase intermodal rail capacity (reducing dependence on highway use).
   * Excavated, treated and disposed of nearly 8,000 tons of highly contaminated soils.
   * Capped less contaminated soils to prevent infiltration of rainwater and to limit direct soil exposure.
   * Provided a new public park

File:T18park2.jpg

Seattle future issues

Steph, Jean, Laura

Downtown Could Dump Dumpsters

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377149_dumpsters30.html?source=rss This article discusses "Dumpster-Free Alley" Program that is currently being proposed in Seattle. The main focus of the article was about removing the dumpsters from the alleyways of businesses in downtown Seattle. Many business owners are concerned with the illegal activity happening in these alleys as well as the appearance and odor. Some buildings have removed their dumpsters and use a different waste management service called, CleanScapes. With this program, businesses can leave their waste in bags where the dumpsters once were. Trucks will come by and pick up the bags, pick ups can be multiple times per day. This article brings up a single problem with a single solution, which provides an array of possibilities. Not only may the removal of dumpsters lower the illeagal activity, but provide other things to the downtown. This includes aesthetically pleasing alleys and open alley to provide to different uses.

Recent Design Projects

Herring's House Park http://www.jabrennan.com/pmenu4.html

1616 Eastlake http://www.siteworkshop.net/port_detail.php?category=commercial#

Seahurst Park Master Plan http://www.anchorenv.com/services/pdfs/landscape_architecture_seahurst_park.pdf

Fremont Peak Park http://www.gglo.com/our-work/project.aspx?projectId=173&catId=3

Walkable Neighborhoods

http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/Seattle The map shown in this link is one of the most valuable pieces of the link.

http://www.worldchanging.com/local/seattle/archives/008334.html

Olympic Sculpture Park:

The Olympic Sculpture Park has transformed a nine-acre industrial site into open and vibrant green space for art. This new waterfront park gives Seattle residents and visitors the opportunity to experience a variety of sculpture in an outdoor setting, while enjoying the incredible views and beauty of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Admission is free.

History: The Olympic Sculpture Park evolved out of a mutual commitment of the Seattle Art Museum and the Trust for Public Land to preserve downtown Seattle's last undeveloped waterfront property. In 1999, the museum purchased property on Seattle's central waterfront from Union Oil of California (UNOCAL) with private and public funding. To make the future park complete and accessible to the waterfront, SAM later acquired an additional property (10 Broad St.) with the support of the City of Seattle and King County and leased part of the Alaskan Way right-of-way.

Landscape: The Olympic Sculpture Park celebrates a site remarkable for its dual connections to the city and the surrounding region. These connections are also reflected in a series of precincts that create several distinctive, archetypal landscapes found in the Pacific Northwest.

File:Sculpture park.pdf

Neighborhood celebrations

Neighoorhood Matching Fund

- "The fund awards grants to individuals and groups whose ideas produce a public benefit for their community"

- "Recipients must match the city's grant with cash, volunteer hours or donated services and materials."

- Sept. 27: Powell Barnett Park, 352 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will offer live music, free reusable shopping bags and a scrapbook station where people can create a page from a project they worked on.)

Types of things being done.

Street Scapes (green streets)

Building a community

Culture education

street festivities

Community Gardens

Neighborhood construction (fence building)

Beautification (paint recycle bins, plantings, ect.)

http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/database/nmf_post98.asp

City projects

Blue Ring

Open space development for the city center (Goals that include accessibility, open space, pedistrain friendly, along with sustainability for 100 years use.)

Other features like Public art, incorporate existing projects from the city, bike/walking paths)

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@citydesign/documents/web_informational/dpds_006515.pdf

West Street Design

Goal: Redesign of street

Features

include aesthetic rain catchers which serve the purpose of collecting rain while adding an unique feature to the city.

exposed channels of water which provide stormwater amenities along with a place for people to dip there feet.

A multitude of native plantings provide part of the survival of the design for 100 years along with providing greenness to the city

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@citydesign/documents/web_informational/dpds_008782.pdf

Green Streets

Goals: stormwater treatment, minimize water that is being piped, green infrastructure, and max street tree cover.

Features

trying for no isolation and for more integration, safety, make walkability a number one concern, bike system, texture and colors with paving techniques, porous/permeable concrete, planters on streets for gutter beautfication (flow through planters which allow water to flow),biological treatments, educational tools for the public, stormwater,

I think this would be interesting to see but I cannot find where it is located specifically

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@citydesign/documents/web_informational/dpds_008778.pdf

Seattle Urban Nature Seattle Urban Nature (SUN) is a local non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Puget Sound region by engaging communities to improve urban forests.

Current Projects

1. SUN's Citywide Habitat Assessment (CHA): In 2005, SUN established long-term monitoring plots in two of Seattle's eight forest types, the beginning of a process by which SUN hopes to assess current conditions of Seattle's forests.

2. Green Footprints Action Works (GFAW) mapping project: Green Footprints Action Works and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Educating neighbors in the Madison Valley about the importance of urban forests is one of the roles SUN plays in our advisory capacity to the GFAW project. The project area includes the hillside community of 2,520 residents bordering Washington Park Arboretum to the west. In October 2007, GFAW received a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to construct ecological resource maps of the neighborhood and identify opportunities throughout the area to improve their green infrastructure.

[2]

Ryan, David

Neighborhood Districts of Seattle, Washington.

Current Urban Issues

Measure Smog Levels for Seattle

Clean Air

Near the Puget Sound energy officials are keeping a close eye on smog levels. Smog is caused when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons have a chemical reaction with sunlight. Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons are released into the atmosphere from industrial and automotive equipment. When smog levels exceed the maximum limit the cities in violation receive fines.

Further Reading on Urban Issue: Clean Air

2nd Further Reading on Urban Issue: Clean Air

Attractive Waterfront

With an attractive waterfront businesses are are noticing an increase of economic activity and higher property values for nearby business and homes. This, however, does not come without costs. Cleanup projects that can often be very costly are needed before redevelopment to continue.The Urban Waterfront Alliance was developed to study shoreline redevelopment trends. Seattle is looking to promote waterfront redevelopment projects as well as create more spaces down by the water that are attractive to pedestrians and tourists to further boost the local economy.

Further Reading on Urban Issue: Attractive Waterfront

Light Rail

With increasing commuters and traffic levels the city of Seattle is contemplating the options of adding more highways and roads or installing Light rail on the East side. With light rail being built it would connect the two largest job centers in the city. With more and more people moving into the city a decisions will need to be made soon to ensure that the roads or light rail system will be able to handle the increased number of commuters.

Further Reading on Urban Issue: Light Rail

Contacts / Mentors

Peter Steinbrueck

An excellent and qualified contact we might be interested in finding would be Peter Steinbrueck. He was a member of the Seattle City Council from 1997 to 2007. In his later years on the Council, he was chair of the Urban Development and Planning Committee. Steinbrueck knows the area well since he was born and raised in Seattle and received his degree in architecture at the University of Washington.

wikipedia.org

David Dixon

has been invited to speak about revitalizing America’s downtowns and neighborhoods by the AIA, the Mayor’s Institute for City Design. His work has won national awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Congress for the New Urbanism, Society for College and University Planning, and American Society of Landscape Architects. He also has a master of Urban Design from Harvard University. David Dixion along with others will be speaking at an AIA event in Seattle while we are there!

www.goodyclancy.com

AIA event in Seattle

This event will be taking place on Thursday Sep 26 through the 28. The title of this event is, Design for Livability: Doing Density Right. They will be discussing how we will design our communities to accommodate enormous population growth, respond to critical environmental issues, and contribute to the standard of living of future generations.

Some sessions include:

Housing Typologies: Not Your Average Townhome 6-pack, Getting Great Design from Design Review, Sustainable Communities: Can LEED for Neighborhood Development help?, Character Building Growth for Small Cities, What To Do With The Automobile?

Project Development

Design Statement

Industrial Areas in Seattle

We would like to incorporate more greenery near the industrial areas of northern Seattle. By eliminating the junk yards and several industrial buildings we wish to extend the Chittenden Locks Park through the area of the proposed Nordic Heritage Museum down around the industrial buildings to the Ballard Bridge. This design proposal will increase pedestrian traffic through the area and will provide a visual buffer from the residential neighborhoods and the North Pacific fishing fleet all the while strengthening the physical connection of the fleet and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Design Location and Mapping

Distance of the site from the Space Needle

Redevelopment of Area surrounding the site

Close Picture of Redevelopment of Area

Parks Near Site

Relevant Readings

Eco-Industiral Park in Tuscon, Arizona

This article is an excellent example of a sustainable project that is being completed near a landfill. In the article they discuss ways to save energy and ways to refuse building materials found on the site from the industrial buildings. Some of these example include using storage containers to collect rain, glass from bottles to use for filtering materials, and solar energy to heat the water. These three are just several of the ideas that they are using to make this site as sustainable as possible.

Seattle's Industrial Vision

This article shows that some people want to keep the areas around certain parts of the park as industrial areas because it adds character to the city. City officials are trying to rezone the ares so that they can fit in housing. This article's writer feels that these officials do not know what should really being going on down in the industrial areas and that rezoning is not the answer to their problems.

Seattle's Waterfront Business

With an attractive waterfront businesses are are noticing an increase of economic activity and higher property values for nearby business and homes. This, however, does not come without costs. Cleanup projects that can often be very costly are needed before redevelopment to continue.The Urban Waterfront Alliance was developed to study shoreline redevelopment trends. Seattle is looking to promote waterfront redevelopment projects as well as create more spaces down by the water that are attractive to pedestrians and tourists to further boost the local economy.

Industiral parks go green

This article stars off with a brief historical summery of industrial parks from the 1950’s to present. It then discusses some technological infrastructure and park amenities designers are using to attract site seekers. One of these infrastructures is a system that collect water from the roof and condensate from air-conditioning units into a cistern and use that water to irrigate the park grounds.

Irving Green Industrial Park will be a North American first

This article describes the transformation of the first green certified industrial park in North America. Essential to the plan was a ready supply of inexpensive, reliable and clean energy. Initially they were hoping to use biomass power, but given the large volume needed they decided to use natural gas. The park includes a gypsum wallboard manufacturing facility which is a green building material. They are basically sourcing waste products that would otherwise end up in a landfill somewhere else.

Seattle’s Nordic Heritage Museum

This article describes the architects that will be designing the museum as well as the focus for the project. This article also talks about the heritage of the site as well as there ideas of designing a museum that reflects the Nordic history of the the city of Seattle.

Pictures of Chittenden Locks and Park

Precedent Study

Hunters Point Waterfront Park Project

San Francisco, California Hargreaves Associates,

client: Arc Ecology

Analysis

Shipyard redevelopment is part of a revitalization occurring in Hunters Point. Hunters Point is currently the site of many projects intending to improve environmental and economic conditions there, including a new light rail system connecting the Bay view back to the City, an African American community marketplace, and the restoration of the long-neglected Yosemite Slough. A waterfront park would complement and strengthen these efforts. This project proposes planning of a park early in the development process because it asserts that parks should be a major factor in development, not merely residual spaces. To allow for this reprioritization, we analyzed the major issues that face development:

1. Clean-up analysis

2. Economic analysis

3. Habitat analysis

Working with an environmental restoration engineer, the landscape architect designed a 20-acre stormwater wetland that would treat water from the site and adjacent neighborhoods. The park would create a critical linkage between several discontinuous shore-edge open spaces, including state park lands and an adjacent salt marsh, exponentially increasing their combined habitat and recreational value.

Design Concepts

The Hunters Point Waterfront Park Project presents four park alternatives which, as they increase in scale from 60 to 167 acres, demonstrate increased potential to fulfill the economic, habitat, and environmental justice goals for development at the shipyard. These goals are:

1. Reconnect Hunters Point to the water through recreational and cultural use of public trust land.

2. Link to Bay Trail system and continue trail system along waterfront to increase recreational and commuter use.

3. Create viable habitat areas by assuring adequate depth of habitat areas and protection from recreational areas.

4. Maximize flexibility of open areas to accommodate the desires of the community for large and small scale programming, as well as open space.

5. Attract tourism and regional visitors through variety and uniqueness of park offerings.

6. Anticipate complementary mixed-use, retail, and cultural developments.

The ASLA Award Winning Project

Revised Project Development

Bubble diagram

-We intend on connecting areas of high pedestrian activity with shaded pathways.

-Bike trails along the coast will ease travel for community members.

-Accessibility to the new Nordic Heritage Center is also a priority.

The Locks

The Locks

The locks park

Filling the Locks

Fish Latter

Sustainable Ballard

5th Annual Sustainable Ballard Festival!

It was held sep 27th and 28th in Ballard commons park. Community members and volunteers came together to educate people about sustainable living.

Ballard Festival Entrance

Ballard Festival Goers

Skate Bowl in Ballard Neighborhood park

Ballard Festival Goers

Sustainable Ballard is a non-profit organization developing a grassroots vision of sustainability for the community of Ballard. Sustainability roughly means "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," and it is a philosophy which affects every sphere of human activity.

Ballard

Time Line

Chidozie, Zach, Brent

Major Maintenance Project FREEWAY PARK RENOVATION

Project Description: The current goals of this project include: developing a landscape improvement plan, working with the original park designer, implementing improvements to Pigott Corridor, design renovations to the major fountains.

Website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/maintenance/freewaypark.htm

Housing demographics for seattle (1960-2000)

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/dpds_006760.pdf

seattle population and demographics (overview) http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Research/Population_Demographics/Overview/default.asp

Seatlle:Analysis and questions for design

Urban issues in seattle:

1.population size and density issues within the city

2.Income patterns within various working classes in the city(how these patterns affect housing and quality of living within the city.)

3.Major industrial businesses and site locations the city - how they affect city dynamics (pedestrian and vehicular movement). -how they affect housing type and compactibility(do people densify themselves around these major businesses and site locations within the city like wise small businesses). -Are these industries / establishments catalysts for growth within the city.

4.Why is the city planned the way it is and as such is it created in a way that is best suited for future growth.

Transportation influences

1.Major transportation patterns within the city (ie)Road networks , bridges , intersections , highways(etc) and how they affect the city makeup.

2.is Seattle more green or artificial as a result of this setup.(comparison between green and grey space(artificial space)in the city)

3.how influential is landscape architecture within the city , if influential how much and viceversa.

Enviromental issues 1.Air quality in the city of seattle -what affects its level of cleanliness or dirtiness -can it be bettered through better urban planning and design of the city. -would improved landscape architecture practices within the city help with air quality,if so how?

population demographics in seattle (2005 & 2008)

seatle(2005)

population size:573,991

population make up

white:394,889 black:47,541 American indians and Alaska natives:5,659 Asians:73,910 Hispanics /latinos:29,719 other races:13,432 two or more races:25,148

seattle 2008

population size:592,800 (growth rise of 18,809) population make up of seattle as at 2008

3/4 of population is white 5% of population is identified as multi-racial. 13% of population is identified as asian ( a large no of these being chinese) 8.4% identify themselves as black 1% identify themselves as native americans/Alaskans 0.5% identify themselves as native hawaain and pacific islanders.

Housing within the city of seattle

Number of households within the city:258,499 median rent:721 dollars

As at 1960 with the advent of the baby boom era after worlsd war 2 a large number of seattles population happened to be children.

By the year 2000 these children had reached ages(36-54) becoming part of the middle aged and older poplulation as well as making room for young adults who had become the majourity population within the city.The reason for this being the influx of migrants both nationally and internationally into the state in pursuit of educational , employment and lifestyle opportunities.

with an increase in young adults the traditional family unit(mother , father and childern) began to diminish as did the need for more space to house individauals.The new terend has become less private , one person households.With these came abpout unrelated living conditions in which people of no relation began to bide and share in common space for effective utilization of resources at hand.(money and space).Seattle is only second to SanFranscisco with regrds to households in which people are unrealetd to each other.

As at 2000 only 44% of seattles household were traditional families.This has also reduced average household size drastically where we see figures of 2.70 persons per household in the 1960's drop to 2.08persons per houehold in 2000.

It can be ascertained therefore that seattle is moving towards a trend where smaller, more affordable housing choices are in more demand and needed to meet further growth standards.

Income patterns within the city

per capita income(personal):$41,634 Median household income:$45,736 people in poverty:64,068 in comparison to the 465,732 who are living above and beyond poverty. Adults with college degrees within the city: 53.6% in comparison to 46.4% with some sort of qualification to nona at all. Civilian labour workforce as at 2006:1,781,300 in refrence to 573,991 residents within the city.This proves that a bulk of seattles work ofrce prefre to live outside the city than within it.Leading to the conclusion that the work conditions are condusive to many but not so much living conditions.

Land area Seattles land area:218kmsq Altitiude high in seattle sets in at 521 ft and its low at sea level City owned parks and playgrounds 400 in number amount 6200 acres of open recreational space.

Historical preservation

http://www.historicseattle.org/preservationseattle/publicpolicy/defaultaugust.htm

Historical presrvation of buildings within the city of seattle is an issue faced by local government .Most of the problems lie with the building choice for rennovation and preservation as well as fund generation for which to preserve these buildings of choice.Most likely tax incentive based funding as well as privately funded donations seem to be the avenue for which preservaation is based on.It is nice to see how seattle strives to maintain its history through monumental landmarks within its core, something all forward thinkung urban cities should strive to emulate.

preservation of seattles urban forests

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/08/18/11054/

This gives an overview of the plight faced by major urban forested areas in seattle.Here it is seen that there is agrowing disregard for the large grouping of differing species of trees and wildlife within seattles remaining forests.The need to teat down and build within the city has put these last few forest at risk leaving seattle with little to no reminder of what natural forested areas resemble.

places to visit in seattle

seattle space needle

http://www.spaceneedle.com/

Tillicum village

http://www.tillicumvillage.com/

Washington state ferries

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

Point defiance zoo and aquarium

http://www.pdza.org/

Olympic sculture park

http://www.grist.org/advice/books/2007/04/17/sculpture/

Gas works park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_Works_Park

DESIGN STATEMENT

We plan to work with a specific section of the seattle coastline (the elliot bay park strectch to Myrtle Edwrads park) with the goal of:

1)Aesthetic beautifiacation of this region of the coast which should involve tying together residential commercial and industrial regiong around the area.

2) Introduction of a fortified plant buffer system along the stretch to inhibit sea breezes and educes thier effects on the diffrent use sectors close to the coast.

3)Using plant materials within the buffer sysytem to combat carbon emission along the coast line as it is close to an industrial region.

4)Implimentation of a site that is flexible enough to accomodate open air market activities.

5)Improving the bike path connection within Elliot bay park and Myrtle Edwards park .Using these bike paths as connection points to the residential area around these park areas.

6) Looking at a way to preserve marine life around the coast line stretch bordering both park regions using (buffer systems, planting systems and neighbourhood monitoring systems to ensure that marine life and palnt life are safe from pollution and natural disasters.

SITE LOCATION

Elliot Bay park strecth to Myrtle Edwards park(Seattle Washington)

THEORITICAL READINGS THAT SUPPORT AND RELATE TO DESIGN PROPOSAL

1) How to design an ecological reserve system

http://community.middlebury.edu/~trombula/Reserves.html

This reading in summary gives an in depth look into the creation of a system close to the coast that supports plant and marine life with the purpose of of preservation for future uses.Its an incorporation of the physical aspects of designs such as buffer systems planting plans for ecological preferences, wildlife and marine life diversity,ways to clean up ocean fronts and much more.Its aims to see the sustainance of all life within a given ecological system along a coast.

2)10 environmental service project ways to keeping coastlines clean

http://tools.ysa.org/downloads/tipsheets/servicebasics/Ten_Environmental_Service_Project.pdf

This gives a summarized listing of ten ways to go about locally beautifying a coastal region, they include:

i)planting of trees

ii)testing water and soil within the region consistently

iii)regular sea coast clean up

iv)Recycling programs to encourage recycling of waste rather than dumping into the sea.

v)cleaning of vacant lots close to the coast

vi)termination of non - native plant species around the coastal area to avoid invasion

vii)Regular coastline clean up along coastal fronts.

viii)reduction of erosion around coastal areas using viable palnt material

ix)gutter and drain cleanup around the area

x)composting;recycling of organic waste to serve planting purposes along the coast.

3)Rhode Island Coastal Zone Program

http://www.epa.gov/nps/ordinance/documents/A2b-RhodeIsland.pdf

A Coastal Buffer Zone is a land area adjacent to a Shoreline Feature that is, or will be, vegetated with native shoreline species and which acts as a natural transition zone between the coast and adjacent upland development. A Coastal Buffer Zone differs from a construction setback in that the setback establishes a minimum distance between a shoreline feature and construction activities, while a buffer zone establishes a natural area adjacent to a shoreline feature that must be retained in, or restored to, a natural vegetative condition. The Coastal Buffer Zone is generally contained within the established construction setback.

4) Protecting and Restoring Oceans and Coasts

<http://www.nature.org/initiatives/marine/strategies/restoration.html>

i) Addresses the threats of coastal development, pollution and destructive fishing practices

ii) Science-based methods to return coastal habitats to healthy conditions

5) Low-cost Bicycle Loan System

i) The mayor of Tallinn, Estonia announced a bold plan to introduce a low-cost public bicycle loan system as means to combat urban congestion and pollution.

<http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/15597/>

RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT PREMISE/ARGUMENT

i)Seattle plans for the future shaped by climatic change

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/357223_port01.html

i) This indicates Seattles future plight as aresult of its rising sea levels at the coast.

ii)A 50 inch rise in sea level is expected within the city by 2010 which could engulf the entire coastal region.

iii)The need for better reinforcement of the coastal wall is also states to accomodate rising tides( abudjet of 600- 800 Million dollars has been set.

iv)it talks about planning industrial , residential and commercial developments away from the coast to avoid their destruction.

V) it also talks about carbon emission within the city and how its rates are effecting global warming.

vi) Poor accessability to park/bike path from nearby commercial and residential is aparent due to railroad tracks north of the park.

The Alaskan Sea Wall

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/seawall.htm

i)A sea wall built between 1916 and 1936 tot support rail and road access to shipping piers.

ii)its 2000ft of concrete walls built across the central water front area along with a timber supported concrete sidewalk sections between each wall.

iii)it gradually began to corrode as a result of the marine environment around it and in the face of ant possible seismic event stands the probability of giving way.This could cost Seattle's coastline greatly.

CASE STUDY READINGS

Casuarina's coastal forest shelter belts in Hambantona city, Sri-lanka

http://www.springerlink.com/content/b77777g6148088t2/

issue: The creation of a shelter belt along the Casuarina equisetifolia coast in Hambantotoa city to aid in the the preservation of beautifual natral snad dunes , preservation of visual amnity and creation of a barrier to sea water saky spray.

Results:Reduction of wind speeds along the Casuarina equisetifolia area , an improvement in hte aesthetic quality of the regions exsisting around it.Mostly areas that are of beach like territory.This will create an avenue for the attraction of tourists.

Karachis polluted coastline

http://www.american.edu/TED/karachi.htm

issue:Growing influx and activity of large vessel ships within the Karachi sea port.This was leading to the contamination of Mangrove forests and marine life within the karachi sea port.Untreated waste and oils from factories close to the port were being thrown into the ocean , enviroment degradation by way of dredging was being experienced by eco- systems close tot he port.Marine animals consumed a s sea food were passing on disease to humans in form of anmeia , kidney failuere and brain damage.

Solution

i)Coastal zone management paln that envisages recreational development along the coast line to prohibit a smuch shoreline activity as had been going on.

ii)Set up of watch unit survaillance sysytem to monitor waste discaharge and drudge from ships.

iii)Monitoring coastal sea pollution levels and marine life adaptability while at the same time setting up inland fisheries where matrine life could prosper without contamination thereby ecutting down the sickness toll.

Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail

Project Benefits: Provides a safe bicycle path and pedestrian route between Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, Provide a scenic multi-use trail for everyone to enjoy, reduces conflicts between bicyclists and motorists, EDUCATES the public about the National Marine Sanctuary

The trail was constructed in 2007 and is now in full use.

<http://www.tamcmonterey.org/programs/bikeped/pdf/Bike_Ped_01_Bike_and_Ped_with_MBSST.pdf>

Elko, Nevada Bicycle and Pathway Plan

<http://www.ci.elko.nv.us/commdev/bicycle_plan.htm>

Goals of Project:

1)To develop an integrated on-street non-motorized transportation system for pedestrians and cyclists to augment the traditional motorized vehicle transportation system.

2)To develop an integrated off-street pathway system for pedestrians, cyclists and similar users to provide recreational opportunity and to augment the traditional motorized vehicle transportation system.

3)To identify key connections to outlying areas beyond the corporate boundaries of the City to ensure system continuity.

4)To promote public safety through support, education and awareness of the City’s Police Department Bicycle Patrol Program.

5)To promote and encourage community and regional development that is more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

Lagoon Park, Santa Barbara, California

http://www.asla.org/awards/2008/08winners/201.html

This park achieves aesthetics, function and sustainability on a limited budget. Created wetland habitats, an inviting place for students, and a system that filters and cleans runoff—all have been incorporated into the site.

Goal of the Project

The goal of the project was to make the design as good for people as it was for the riparian plantings and the wildlife that inhabit it.

Ongoing Success

Students have adopted portions of the park to create new habitats, such as a dune garden, which is clearly intended to be beautiful, as well as functional. These gardens are a most meaningful sign of Lagoon Park's success.

Michael, Kavan, Jim

South Lake Union

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377008_southlake29.html

Discovery Park

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/375872_fortlawton21.html

Light Rail

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008122642_lightrailop19.html

Urban Farmland

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2008100439_gleanlocal09.html

Alaskan Way Viaduct Options

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004382163_viaduct30m.html

Design Intent

A dramatic increase in the population density of the South Lake Union area is inevitable. By structuring the growth of commercial and residential development along with well designed public spaces and community ammenities, the south lake union area will become a vibrant and ecologically responsible Urban center.

http://slufan.org

http://www.thesouthlake.com/2008/06/south-lake-union-upzoning-and-slufan.html

readings

Urban Infill: Innovations in Livable Density by: Ryan Reed

http://www.bnmag.com/viewnews.pl?id=1

This article gets into the infill of courtyard cottages as a way to increase density. This is not the exact direction we would like to take SLU but it does talk about some of the barriers that one comes across while attempting to increase density in an area.

"Increasing urban density by itself isn't the issue," says Seattle architect Marcia Gamble Hadley. "It's all about design—and political will."

"We leave developers to explain why their project is worthwhile, and it looks self-serving," she says. "It should be city leaders, elected officials, even city staff—someone needs to explain these things to citizens."

Often a few adamant opponents of density are its downfall. People tend to fear density, especially when it is in their backyard. This is probably due to images of density done horribly wrong. people packed into small spaces, the feeling of being trapped is visceral. People need to be shown the advantages of well thought out density, density that works as a means of bringing about amenity. Density makes beautiful public parks, vibrant culture and easy commutes possible. In SLU many people see future upzoning as ugly, they believe it will ruin their neighborhood and view when in reality it could be quite beautiful.

It's Time for L.A. to Grow Up By: Gloria Ohland

http://livableplaces.org/resources/vlibrary/growupla.html

According to this article mixed use development is occuring at a rate much higher than what was expected along the bay area's rail transit system. Due to transit oriented developments cities that were once decentralized and auto oriented are beginning to turn inward and are using public transit as the backbone for dense urban growth. As a result transit oriented development is bringing growth, jobs and vitality to once struggling neighborhoods along its adjacency. In the future it is imparative that dense urban areas such as what is proposed for the south lake union area occur around public transportation. If this doesnt happen city highways will continue to get more congested subsequently produce more pollution by burning more fuel that is becoming more scarce each day.

Case Studies

Seattle, WA