by Kirby Lindsay, posted 3 December 2014
At the November 2014 meeting of the Fremont Neighborhood Council (FNC,) the Board discussed the future of the organization along with getting updates from its committees.
The FNC also heard from residents at this meeting. In its mission, the organization declares that it ‘promotes the interests of the Fremont residents,’ and this monthly meeting gave a few people that live here a place to express their current interests.
Fremont Ave Traffic Concern
Heather McAuliffe has worked before with the FNC Board, most recently on traffic calming measures. She participated in efforts to improve pedestrian safety at 41st & Stone Way N. She also spearheaded installation of pedestrian safety flags at several corners along Fremont Avenue North, north of 39th Street. The flags provided pedestrians with a way to draw the attention of drivers, however they also disappeared from their holders, and were never recovered.
McAuliffe came to this meeting to voice her increasing concerns over traffic on Fremont Avenue. “I feel like I’m taking my life in my hands every time I cross it,” she said of the arterial. She did a public disclosure request from the City of Seattle Department of Transportation and found that between January 2004 – October 2014 there have been 541 reported collisions between N 34th St and N 45th St on Fremont Ave. The information she gained gave details about the types of collisions, but she acknowledged that she is not able to analyze the data.
McAuliffe also expressed her displeasure with proposed improvements at N 41st & Stone Way, and at N 43rd & Fremont Ave where the city has promised to install a crosswalk but no traffic signal. Linda Clifton, an FNC Board Member, also brought up the speeding traffic on N 39th St between Fremont Ave and Leary Way. The Board discussed many concerns over traffic, and parking, and agreed to invite a representative to come from the Department of Transportation to come and share an educated analysis.
Housing Concerns
The FNC Board has given a lot of time to traffic issues, and to housing. At this meeting, the Board approved a motion by the FNC Acting Board President, Toby Thaler, to hire a professional to review a parking study paid for by a developer who is seeking a permit for a multi-family project on Linden Ave. The Board agreed to spend up to $300 on this review.
This led to another resident raising concerns about a proposed development near his home, on Evanston Ave N, for 32 units and no parking. Thaler explained that the parking study was not commissioned by the FNC, and will only consider impacts from the Linden Ave project.
This all followed an effort by John Coelho to present his proposal to the FNC. Coelho has put forward a bold plan for solving Seattle’s housing problem. He handed out copies of his proposal which starts with a statement about how a lack of affordable housing has caused an exodus of working-class people from the city. The document further observes that real estate flipping, rising property taxes, increasing building costs, and a lack of incentives for landlords to lower rents contribute to the lack of affordable living space.
Coelho suggested changes to the tax structure to solve the problems, including increasing the capital-gains tax, placing a consumerism tax on “frivolous spending,” taxing those dwellings over a “reasonable ratio” of floor space per resident, and giving a break on property taxes to landlords that provide below market rents. He also suggested a state income tax – to lower property taxes – and proposed a tax on all children over replacement level.
Coelho also suggested creating a land bank. He proposed setting aside property for tent cities, travel trailer living and other alternate shelters. He encouraged that the city purchase property in low-price neighborhoods for sale at below market rates for developers willing to build affordable units. Coelho also suggested zoning changes, such as putting more multi-family allowances around the city, and letting single-family home owners convert properties into duplexes.
The FNC did not consider Coelho’s proposals. Thaler (who is also Land Use Chairperson) declared them too complex for consideration by the FNC. The proposal does put forward city-wide changes, beyond the scope of the neighborhood organization.
Safety, City-Wide, and ‘Whither Next’
FNC meeting attendees were also given a hand-out by Clifton about a safety meeting she attended in the Loyal Heights neighborhood with representatives from the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle City Council. Residents are concerned about crime, and they were given very specific suggestions on how to make themselves safer. Clifton wrote a very clear report on the meeting (available on the FNC website,) that included:
- 9-1-1 calls create statistics and emphasis patrols – when calling, ask for a follow-up to be able to speak with an officer, and give more details
- prevent property crime with alarms, lights, security video, a dog, and block watches – encourage vigilance among your neighbors
- unlocked doors equal opportunity, so lock house and car doors
- speak with the Community Policing Team about specific, chronic crime problems
In addition to these resident concerns, the FNC Board also discussed, again, whether to create a 501(c)3 non-profit for the organization, to aid in fundraising for community projects, and about membership. January is the annual FNC membership drive, and the Board wants new members – and new Board members, including a willing president.
The FNC does not meet in December, so the next meeting will be January 26th at 7p at Doric Lodge #92, and will be open-to-the-public for residents with concerns. Come learn more about the chartered organization, and how it can promote interests of Fremont residents.
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