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Jun

1

Capitol Hill Community Council’s Complete Streetcar Campaign

Filed Under Bicycling, Capitol Hill, Design, Environment, Gas prices, Parking, Pedestrians, SDOT, Seattle, Streets For People, Transit, Transportation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Great City volunteers and sustainable transportation advocates on Capitol Hill have been conspiring and brainstorming together for years.  We’ve been thrilled to see the great traction our friends on the Capitol Hill Community Council (CHCC) are getting with their innovative “Complete Streetcar” concept.  Here’s an update from the CHCC’s Mike Kent:

On Tuesday, May 4th, more than 50 transit advocates and active community members joined the Capitol Hill Community Council’s Complete Streetcar Campaign at Capitol Hill’s Sole Repair lounge in celebrating the group’s recent successes.

Million Dollar Nile regaled Capitol Hill Complete Streetcar fans with the world premiere performance of "My Streetcar's on Broadway" -- a twist on the Sir Mix-a-Lot classic.

The day before, the Seattle City Council voted into law legislation that brought the proposed First Hill Streetcar closer to completion.

Complete Streetcar Campaign supporter Web Crowell created the animations which ran on a loop throughout the event on Sole Repair’s flatscreen monitors throughout the night


The party honored the group’s success in advocating for an alignment that would run in both directions along Broadway north of Union Street, instead of looping around Cal Anderson park.

The group’s next steps include calling for an extension of the proposed streetcar route beyond Denny Way to the northern end of Broadway near East Aloha Street, as was originally envisioned, and pushing for a streetscape plan that includes, among other things, a separated two-way cycle track.

If you are interested in becoming active with the Complete Streetcar Campaign, send an e-mail to chcc.streetcar@gmail.com.

Apr

22

AIA Seattle’s Forum Magazine: Renewable City Call for Ideas

Filed Under Design | Leave a Comment

AIA Seattle’s Forum magazine is seeking illustrated ideas that repurpose or rethink underused or vacant spaces of all kinds for its upcoming issue, “Coming Out of the Curve.” They have issued a challenge to designers and artists to think boldly about innovative approaches to underutilized land, buildings or infrastructure. More info below:

Ideas to Repurpose Vacant Urban Spaces

We are living a new economic paradigm, with profound impacts on our built environment. To what creative uses can we put vacant or underutilized buildings? Can partially constructed projects contribute to, rather than diminish, our neighborhoods? Are there more constructive uses for vacant lots than just another parking lot? How might we rethink outmoded infrastructure? How does the new economy create opportunities for lean, fresh solutions to our urban problems?

Submittal instructions

Send a 72dpi jpeg with a 100 word synopsis to Isla McKetta at imcketta@aiaseattle.org by the deadline below. Jpegs should be at least 8.5″x9″. We cannot accept previously published images. If your idea is selected, a 300 dpi version will be requested. Selected ideas will be published in the August/September issue of Forum magazine.

Timeline

Coming Out of the Curve

Ideas due May 14, 2010

Publication date August / September 2010

Mission and Audience

Forum is a platform for critical dialogue about architecture in Washington and the Pacific Northwest. It reaches over 4000 architects and related professionals in the state of Washington.

To learn more visit http://www.aiaseattle.org/forum.

Feb

10

Great City Membership Event: Pre-Lecture Reception with Mark Johnson, of Civitas

Filed Under Design, Events, Membership, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

“In Search of Sustainable Urbanism: Systems and Territories”

Mark JohnsonA Great City Membership Event: Pre-Lecture Reception with Mark Johnson, FASLA

Location: Architecture Hall, Room 147,
Pre-lecture reception for Great City Members: 5:00
Lecture: 6:30 PM (More Info Here)
Date: Wednesday, February 17th
Hosted By Great City and the University of Washington Dept. of Landscape Architecture

Great City members are invited to attend a pre-lecture reception with Mark Johnson an hour and a half before the event. Snacks and Drinks will be included.

To RSVP, please email Paul Chasan at paul@greatcity.org.

To become a member, see: www.greatcity.org/contribute

Mark Johnson, FASLA, will discuss the development of both theory and projects, shedding light on the most current work and thinking about what it really takes to design cities for the next generation of urban life. His work is currently addressing significant waterfront regeneration in San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, St. Louis and New York; projects that reveal his thinking on the systems that make cities healthy and the territories that we design for living.

Mark Johnson, FASLA, is a leading urbanist, designer of public space and strategist for the re-generation of core cities. He is currently leading the re-generation of the Northside of downtown St. Louis, the design of the North Embarcadero in San Diego, the design of Museum Park on the Miami waterfront and a revitalization plan for the waterfront on the Harlem River in Manhattan. As a founding principal of Civitas Inc., Mr. Johnson has led many complex projects that have had a transformative impact on cities: three riverfront parks in Denver; 20 years leading the redevelopment of Stapleton International Airport; a master plan for Balboa Park in San Diego; a waterfront plan for Memphis; and a corridor plan to connect historic neighborhoods along Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue. He recently completed the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, a project that immediately gained national recognition for its economic, social and environmental impact. With Civitas he has focused on the design of healthier, more livable and more sustainable cities for 25 years. His projects have been at the leading edge of both the theory and practice of urban regeneration and landscape urbanism, with major transformative interventions achieved across the country.

Feb

8

Green Alleys Competition (Submissions Due Feb. 22nd)

Filed Under Design, Innovation, SDOT, Streets For People, Sustainability, walking | 3 Comments

Great City is Pleased to co-sponsor the Green Alleys Competition!

Seattle’s alleys offer intimate, small-scale spaces that, properly staged, invite people to walk and promise a host of sustainability benefits. Introducing greenery to Seattle’s forgotten spaces can create a small ecological system of its own by filtering city runoff before it hits the Puget Sound.

How green is your alley? The City of Seattle, the International Sustainability Institute, People for Puget Sound, and the AIA Seattle is sponsoring a contest on how to green our alleys. An all-star cast of designers, planners, residents and other alley-lovers will judge the entries for their originality, cost-effectiveness and practical implementation.

Join us in a unique design competition to green Seattle’s alleys

For more information send an email to:
green_alleys-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

OR email darby.watson@seattle.gov

Here is a PDF document containing project info, submission requirements and maps of the project area: Green_Alleys_info.pdf (836 KB)

greenAlley

Image by Gehl Architects

Interested parties can get more information by subscribing to (emailing): green_alleys-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Official Press Release Follows:

Guiding Principles

Alleys are a key resource in Seattle. Traditionally restricted to service uses, the Clear Alleys Program has opened up opportunities to use alleys in different ways. This design competition is focused on potential new uses that in combination could add functionality to our transportation and ecological systems as well as improving the aesthetic and community-building elements of our City. Below are some guiding principles to help you in your design of Seattle’s best Green Alley:

Green alleys should:

  • Welcome pedestrians, both as walkways and places to visit
  • Incorporate green stormwater infrastructure in both functional and aesthetic aspects
  • Encourage building design to provide doors, windows, and other elements that support non-service uses
  • Continue to provide access for service vehicles

Judging Criteria

  1. Design innovation and quality: 40%
  2. Thoughtful integration of green stormwater infrastructure: 20%
  3. Response to culture, community, and context: 20%
  4. Transferability of ideas and approach to other alleys: 20%

    5. Submittal Requirements

    Registration fee $10, payable at the time of submission to International Sustainability Institute, (ISI) (cash or check only)

    Up to two (2) 30″x40″ presentation boards (orientation may be landscape or portrait), include a CD with electronic versions of all boards in PDF or JPG format

    Address specifically the Nord alley within the project area (see project area information packet)
    Design on one side only of presentation boards, backsides should list submitters’ name(s), contact information and submission category

    Graphics may be any combination of sections, plans, and sketches that helps to convey your design
    Limit one submission per individual or team
    Submission Categories
    Submit under one category only:

    Student or New Professional: include current quarter enrollment information or proof of graduation from a degree or certificate program within the last three years.

    Non-affiliated designer: include a personal statement that you are not currently employed with a firm or agency where your primary role is design work.
    General: includes individuals, firms, or groups that are currently employed in a design field.

    Assumptions and notes:

    For this exercise assume that soils beneath the alley right-of-way are sufficient for stormwater infiltration (1″/hour permeability)

    The use of the Nord Alley does not preclude designs that may not comport with the Pioneer Square historic guidelines, the judging criteria includes the ability of a design to be transferable to other alleys within the City

    Designs may be proposed for within the right of way of the alley as well as retrofitting the existing buildings as those designs support the Guiding Principles for creating a Green Alley

    All electronic submissions become the property of the City of Seattle

    All submission materials will be available for pick up at ISI offices on March 5 during regular business hours

    Prizes:

    Grand Prize: Open to general submissions
    Best Student/New Professional:
    Best non-affiliated designer:
    People’s Choice: Winner selected at the alley party – see schedule

    We are awaiting confirmation of a cash award for each prize along with a super-cool trophy!
    All submissions will be published on the SDOT blog.

    Schedule

    Week of January 11: Release schedule, regulations, and base information on Yahoo Groups

    February 22: Entries due to ISI offices by 5 pm PST (314 1st Avenue South, 206-381-1630)

    February 24: Judging panel reviews and selects winners

    March 4: First Thursday Alley party, all entries displayed and winners announced in the Nord Alley

    Co-sponsored by:

    Great City, AIA Seattle, Pioneer Square Community Association, People for Puget Sound, City of Seattle, Great City, Downtown Seattle Association, Feet First, and the International Sustainability Institute.

Dec

10

aLIVe – Call for Ideas

Filed Under Bicycling, Cities, Design, Great City, Public Art, aLIVe | 2 Comments

aliveLogoSmallRevised2

aLIVe – Call for Ideas
Deadline: Monday, January 25, 2010 by 5:00pm
Eligibility: Professional artists and artist teams, architects, landscape architects, designers of all types, engineers, tinkerers and community members residing In Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia are invited to apply.

4Culture in collaboration with Great City is seeking ideas that will inspire and engage the broader community in a conversation about transportation. Currently, our transportation system is designed around 40 ton trucks, but what if we were to design around the human body instead? A bicycle is a low-impact vehicle. What else can be imagined? Selected project ideas will be funded and exhibited in a variety of ways, depending upon medium and context. This is a great opportunity for people working across disciplines to explore how the arts can enhance existing systems and stimulate public conversations about energy, livability and design. Citizens from all backgrounds are encouraged to submit ideas for everything from poetry to prototypes.

Guidelines and Applicationpdf-icon (small PDF)

To learn more about aLIVe, check out this see:
http://www.greatcity.org/about/alive

and http://www.4culture.org/publicart/calls/default.asp#alive

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