A group of Crown Hill neighbors is asking for support from the Ballard District Council for sidewalks in their area.
Every three years the voter-adopted Bridging the Gap Large Project fund comes around, bringing $4.5 million city-wide to fund neighborhood-generated transportation projects. In 2007, Ballard received $330,000 to rebuild the sidewalks in the Ballard Avenue Historic District.
In 2010, west Crown Hill residents want to see sidewalks in their neighborhood. “We would like to formally state our desire to make this neighborhood more pedestrian friendly for its residents and people passing through,” the proposal reads. “While sidewalks/walkways for the entire neighborhood would be preferable, our top priority is to receive funding from the Bridging the Gap Fund/Neighborhood Street Fund to create a safe pedestrian throughway on 18th Ave NW from NW 85th St to NW 90th St (where Soundview playfield and Whitman Middle School are located). Also, to build a safe pedestrian throughway on NW 87th St from 20th Ave NW to 15th Ave NW for pedestrians to walk to local businesses and bus stops at NW 90th, NW 87th and NW 85th streets,” according to the proposal. (Click here for a map of the area.)
At the next Ballard District Council meeting on January 13th, a six-member committee will present its recommended priority projects. According to Rob Mattson, the Ballard District Coordinator, the “review committee has spent a great deal of time discussing these proposals with applicants and city staff.” Because no city agency is running a new process for the Bridging the Gap program, the District Council will only consider unfunded projects from 2007 and any new projects which the DC considers to be a high priority. During the December meeting, more than 30 neighbors showed up to voice support for the sidewalk proposal, which is new this year.
The cost for the sidewalks in this area is estimated by organizers as either $80,000 per block/per side with a traditional curb and gutter with concrete sidewalks or up to $40,000 with curb and gutter with asphalt walkway. According to Mattson, “If there’s an equitable distribution of these resources; each of the 13 districts can expect to see funded projects valued totally $300-350K.” For more information on this project email westcrownhill@gmail.com.