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Questions for Marina Study Session

Last Updated:February 10th, 2023 @ 02:41PM
Categories Economic Development, Environment, MarinaTags

These are the questions I put together in advance of our Marina Study Session. Many are from residents and many are extremely well-reasoned. The vast majority concern ‘the hotel’ and 100% are opposed to siting it in the north parking lot. I conclude by demonstrating the long standing connections with the Port of Seattle and Des Moines Creek Business Park. The insane ‘master plan’ was always that the DMCBP, a ‘ferry’, and anything else that might further airport and cruise traffic would bring some economic renaissance to DM.

Why won’t you stay dead, Item 4a?

Categories History, MarinaTags , 1 Comment on Why won’t you stay dead, Item 4a?

The idea of a passenger ferry keeps coming back every few years. Here’s a meeting from 2012 which should have driven a stake through its heart. I think the reason it keeps rising from the grave is that most people don’t know about these previous attempts. They don’t know all the reasons both the County and the State keep trying to tell us, “bad idea.” But leadership always thinks “this time will be different!” and says “the situation has changed!” Decide for yourself how much has really changed.

Let’s talk about drainage!

Categories Environment, Marina, Transparency

I’m pleasantly surprised to hear that there is a lot of interest in the whole ‘bioswale’ and ‘urban creek’ discussion from the September 27, 2022 Marina Town Hall. Because nothing gets me excited quite like having a few drinks and talking about drainage. 🙂 The problem is that every scientist you speak to tends to respond “Hell yeah!” They may even talk in terms of ‘Environmental Justice’ and ‘under-served communities’ which might create the impression that any concerns about ‘costs’ are reactionary and anti-environment. Au contraire…

Council Retreat 11/15/2014 (Part 2) Marina

Categories History, Marina, TransparencyTags

The Council used to do these Saturday morning planning retreats off-site, which means that there is only audio or no recording at all. This is Part 2 of a very significant planning meeting concerning the Marina. In the words of then Harbormaster Joe Dusenberry, “What do we want the Marina to be?”

The topics are all mainly about the Marina, but about the 1:05:00 mark, when the Mayor is wrapping it up, City Manager Piaskecki raises a final discussion about ‘Communications’, including: improving the City’s web sites, ongoing complaints regarding Comcast, the need to improve Internet options, and for the City to improve public outreach.

UW Storefront Studio Re-imagines Des Moines

Last Updated:February 10th, 2023 @ 03:24PM
Categories History, MarinaTags , , 4 Comments on UW Storefront Studio Re-imagines Des Moines

In 2008 the City of Des Moines hired the UW School of Architecture ‘Storefront Studio’ to do a ‘re-imagining’ of Des Moines. (Actually, we did this again in 2011 witha WayFinding project.) Here is a complete copy of their great work plus some explainers on some of the key ideas and images. If you have any interest in Marina Redevelopment, this is a must-read.