Building a Better Bellevue (BBB) has come out with a piece that suggests that the South Bellevue Park and Ride in Bellevue could be returned to a park/wetland status if the B7R alignment is adopted for Sound Transit’s East Link light rail, utilizing the A2 station option.

Another aspect of this plan would be that the B7R alignment protects the only property on the National Register for Historic Preservation (NRHP) on the Eastside, by avoiding it altogether.

The B2M alignment would pass directly in front of the historic stucco house, and there is concern from historians that vibration from the trains would damage the stucco, and eventually require the house to be removed from NRHP status.

Muddying the (peat) water further (much of the land near Mercer Slough is a thick peat bog), is the fact that Sound Transit must show due diligence in a good faith effort to “avoid” historic properties when it accepts federal funds for transportation projects, per federal laws 106 and 4(f), or to show why it is “necessary” to choose an alignment that adversely impacts a historical property.

Sound Transit’s FEIS was just released; it remains to be seen whether they have proven their case regarding due diligence, when B7R has been studied to a 5% level of engineering, and B2M has been studied to a 30% level of engineering…

Additionally, a fact unacknowledged by supporters of B2M is that the B2M alignment actually utilizes land in the wetland on the east side of Bellevue Way and 112th Avenue…

See BBB’s article at www.betterbellevue.org :

 

“Rejuvenation and Revival of Mercer Slough Wilderness and Wetlands, Once B7R Is Implemented

Preserving Mercer Slough, and creating a unique Nature Park there, has been a vision and desire of many nature supporters starting from the 1960s. As time progressed and development pressures intensified in the late 1980s several major commercial developments were in preparation to be constructed in the Mercer Slough wetlands.  They included the Enatai Plaza Office Complex, Enatai Corporation Office Complex, White PUD and the North West Building Corporation Office Complex.

At that time a proactive group was formed called “Save the Mercer Slough Committee” — our objective to save the remaining lands of the Mercer Slough and ensure that they would forever be kept for the public benefit and enjoyment.

Working with the City, King County and The Trust for Public Lands we were successful in having Park bond measures placed on the ballot for public approval. The levies were approved and the remaining lands saved.

There was one significant piece of land, some 11.5 acres, located along Bellevue Way that had already been covered in asphalt for a Park and Ride facility. This was recognized by our committee and by the public at large as an environmentally damaging result for the Mercer Slough.

Fast forward to today as “Building a Better Bellevue” (BBB) and the majority of our City Council are supporting the B7R light rail alignment (along I-405) rather than Sound Transit’s B2M alignment along Bellevue Way that will result in further expansion of the existing Park and Ride facility, and thereby creating further damage and blight to the Mercer Slough.

The B7R alignment with a new Parking/Transit (A2) station  (on firm lands) near I-90 will result in the existing Park and Ride facility along Bellevue Way becoming redundant, with an attendant opportunity to remove the asphalt and return the 11.5 acres of land to a natural vegetative state to become part of a larger, better and  more complete Mercer Slough Nature Park.

As a steering committee member of BBB I whole-heartedly support the B7R alignment and of the opportunity to enhance the Mercer Slough Nature Park and protect the historical Winters House.”

~Geoffrey Bidwell, a Steering Committee member of BBB

and former Chair of the “Save the Mercer Slough Committee”

 

 

Building a Better Bellevue has posted a study titled: “Inconvenient Truths That Prove the Feasibility of B7R for East Link”, which argues that the B7 alignment for Sound Transit’s East Link light rail in Bellevue is:

• cost-effective,
• has similar or better ridership,
• would have less traffic impacts during construction,
• and would reduce some impacts to the community.

See the post at Building a Better Bellevue’s site (click here).

The City of Bellevue has strong new leadership tonight, as the duties of the Mayor were passed to Dr. Don Davidson, a longtime Bellevue Councilman who advocates for fiscal responsibility, a healthy business climate, and protection of Bellevue’s neighborhoods.

Longtime Bellevue Councilman Conrad Lee was also swept in as Deputy Mayor.

Both Councilmen were part of a Bellevue City Council majority that recently refused to raise taxes on Bellevue citizens in the currently depressed economic climate, and who are supportive of a Sound Transit light rail alignment through Bellevue that is intended to serve the region’s commuters, while doing a better job of protecting Bellevue’s businesses, historic resources, parks, wildlife & endangered species, natural resources and neighborhoods.

Surrey Downs on endangered property list Seattle Times, United States Sound Transit recently decided to explore and study a route that would run along I-90, up Bellevue Way Northeast and then turn east near Southeast Eighth Street. The neighborhoods argue that light rail on Bellevue Way would bring more traffic into ...

Endangered Property: Surrey Downs Tacoma Daily News, WA As Sound Transit continues to focus on an alignment for the proposed East Link transit corridor through Bellevue, options under consideration could result in potential adverse impacts to the Surrey Downs neighborhood. Collectively, the Mithun & Neslund ...

Here is an excerpt from reporter Aubrey Cohen’s article in the Seattle P-I , titled: “P-I Globe Tops ‘Endangered List’ ” (click here):

 ”The most noteworthy of the other entrants may be Bellevue’s Surrey Downs neighborhood, because the threat listed is Sound Transit’s East Link light-rail line.

The trust called the neighborhood “significant as an intact, early subdivision of Bellevue exemplifying 1950s residential architecture” and notes the houses could be part of a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.

“Collectively, they make up a great representation of mid-century modern design,” trust Field Director Chris Moore said Tuesday.

Bellevue City Councilman Conrad Lee called inclusion of the neighborhood on the trust’s list “a real treat,” noting: “Bellevue is a relatively new city.”

Sound Transit’s board recently chose a route through the area as its preferred option for East Link, though officials will continue to study other options.

The draft environmental impact statement for East Link says a portion of the neighborhood “is potentially eligible for the (national register) as a historic district” because of its post-World-War II ‘Northwest Modern’ style home designs. The review notes that the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has deemed 35 houses in the area potentially affected by the rail project as potential contributing elements to a neighborhood historic district.

Moore called East Link “a needed project,” adding that he hoped the historic significance of Surrey Downs “is taken into full consideration.”

See Responsible Transportation Forum’s previous articles on the Surrey Downs Mithun & Neslund Mid-Century Modern homes (click here), (here), and (here).

Yesterday, on May 26th, 2009, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation (WTHP), a 501(c)3 non profit organization, announced at the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle their “List of Endangered Properties”.

The “list” is essentially a list of historic resources in Washington State, that the WTHP has determined to be architecturally and historically significant enough to merit inclusion.

The designation is solely to raise awareness and advocate for preservation, and does not have any regulatory bearing on anyone’s property (in other words, property owners may do whatever they wish with their properties, including adding  a room or redeveloping their property).

By listing particular properties, the WTHP commits to efforts to raise awareness about the historical resources, and to advocate for and work to preserve and protect the resources for one year, after which, they are placed on WTHP’s “watch list”.

The Surrey Downs Mithun & Neslund Mid-Century Modern homes were placed on the WTHP list due to the recent development that they could be the largest contiguous collection of Mid-Century Modern homes in Washington State.

See the list at (click here): http://www.wa-trust.org/MostEndangered/index.htm

Additionally, the Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) recently determined that the M/N homes are “eligibile” to be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

Another determining factor for the listing was the potentially negative impacts, including right of way acquisition (or condemnation), and other major impacts from some of Sound Transit’s potential alignments for East Link light rail.

Seattle City Council members Sally Clark and Dow Constantine spoke in support of historic preservation at the announcement, as did Bellevue City Council member Conrad Lee, who read excerpts from the City of Bellevue’s June 21, 2007 Proclamation that specifically mentions the architectural and historical significance of the Surrey Downs Mithun & Neslund Mid-Century Modern architecure.

Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has just officially announced its 2009 list of the “state’s most endangered historic properties,” which includes the fire-damaged Alki Homestead - one of four Seattle “resources” on the list, along with the P-I Globe. Washington Trust sent media organizations a preview of this for planning purposes last week and we honored its requested “embargo” of the list until this afternoon’s planned announcement, which explains:

Inclusion in our annual list is intended to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing historic resources across the state and ...

PI globe tops 'endangered' list Seattle Post Intelligencer The most noteworthy of the other entrants may be Bellevue's Surrey Downs neighborhood, because the threat listed is Sound Transit's East Link light-rail line. The trust called the neighborhood "significant as an intact, early subdivision of Bellevue ...

Editor's note: This speech was given last week at the 35th anniversary celebration and awards banquet of Historic Seattle. It's great to be here with you this evening under the stained glass of the Arctic Club Hotel. This historic building looms large in my mind because of its walrus "gargoyles," the faces that line the outside of the building and look like Mike Holmgren. These made a great impression on me as a child, and I think they made an impression on my father. He was born and raised in Seattle too, the second ...