This is the State bill which funded the $309,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to study an Urban Creek (bioswale) along 223rd Street as part of the Skylab Marina Redevelopment drawings. (Search for “Des Moines”) This is how ‘the sausage’ is made. Cities request monies for various pet projects in the form of grants
Policy
Why won’t you stay dead, Item 4a?
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!
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......
Some Marina Study Session pre-meeting information
Charting a new path toward housing affordability in Washington state
Jan. 13, 2023 at 11:46 am Updated Jan. 13, 2023 at 11:49 am New apartments under construction are set to open this summer, near the Space Needle, on Dec. 18. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times) By Brad Smith and Phyllis Campbell It’s no secret that Washington state is embroiled in a housing affordability
... continue reading.Sea lions, seals might be hampering WA salmon recovery. What can be done?
dy their true effect on the fish. (Ramon Dompor / The Seattle Times) By Isabella Breda Seattle Times staff reporter SAN JUAN CHANNEL — The earthy, fishy smell wafted aboard Joseph Gaydos’ research vessel first. Then came the guttural growls. Dozens of massive tan Steller’s sea lions were resting on the rocky islet. Gaydos, science director
... continue reading.Better information for upcoming Marina Study Session
Leave a comment on Better information for upcoming Marina Study SessionOne of my attempts from the January 12, 2023 CIty Council Meeting to get the Council to adopt a more transparent process and get more people engaged in the public process wrt the Marina. We could simply adopt my Marina Town Hall Proposal from 2021 and get 90% of the way there....
Council Retreat 11/15/2014 (Part 2) Marina
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
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....
Storefront Studio North Parking Lot
In 2008 the City of Des Moines hired the UW School of Architecture (Storefront Studio) to do a ‘reimagining’ of Des Moines. Actually, we did this twice. I keep meaning to upload these images. It covered all of the downtown as well as the Marina. It had all kinds of cool ideas–including making 223rd the