Tag: lynnwood

Some significant changes in Lynnwood

Carl Setzer

My town has seen some rapid changes these last few months. Several major projects are in process, both public and private. These are bringing much needed growth to the area.

Costco’s long delayed new store on the old Lynnwood high school site finally launched; moving really fast. I’m glad the City is being thoughtful with the road structure around the area. Adding much more capacity to the area is quite critical, as traffic volumes are going to go nuts when Costco comes online.

Another significant spot of change is off of 196th & 36th. The aging and dilapidated Alderwood Manor Hardware Store building was finally razed. And just a few feet away, a multi-story apartment building or condo tower will be built. That will significantly impact traffic in that area, already a heavily traveled spot. But the City already had improvements in process.

These are just a few highlights. There’s a CVS pharmacy in the works for 196th near 99, the long-overdue traffic revision by the Post Office on 208th, and more. Lynnwood is coming alive economically. It’s amazing and delightful to watch.

City of Lynnwood Purchases Seabrook Property for Environmental Conservation

Carl Setzer
Neighbors and Community Members

This makes me happy and proud!

City of Lynnwood Purchases Seabrook Property for Environmental Conservation,
ensuring environmental preservation in perpetuity

LYNNWOOD, WA (March 23, 2015) – The City of Lynnwood is please to announce that the title transfer of the the Seabrook Heights Property from West View Properties, Inc to the City of Lynnwood has been completed. Thanks to a $5 million Snohomish County Conservation Futures grant awarded to the City of Lynnwood in 2013 and $1 million from the City, the purchase of this piece of land was possible. This area of land was slated for residential development and the City’s purchase will ensure the natural environment is preserved in perpetuity.

The Seabrook Heights Property is located within Lynnwood’s Municipal Urban Growth Area on the northern boundary of Lund’s Gulch, south of Fisher Road, and north of Meadowdale Beach Park. The property is north of, and contiguous to 77.23 acres of open space that the City of Lynnwood and the Brackett’s Landing Foundation acquired from 1996-2004 with Conservation Futures Funds.

The Seabrook Property displays many of the same physical characteristics, wildlife and habitat as Lund’s Gulch and Meadowdale Beach Park. It is heavily wooded with second growth forest of Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Alder; hosts a native understory, steep slopes, and wetlands; and includes partial views to Puget Sound. One third of the property slopes downhill with gradients between 33-78%. The site supports a variety of wildlife including nesting eagles, and serves as a migration route for land birds and other mammals.

For many years, residents of the surrounding area have fought against the development of the Seabrook Heights property using their own money and resources. The planned development included 70 homes in this environmentally sensitive, landslide hazard area. The potential for landslides caused by increased runoff would pose a real threat to the downhill properties and to the habitat of Lunds Gulch Creek. The proposed development would have caused increased runoff, potentially causing causing severe hydrologic impacts to these properties and their wetland resources.

Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Sordel states, “Lynnwood currently manages over 350 acres of parks and open space, including 77 acres of open space in Lund’s Gulch, and we are absolutely thrilled to add the Seabrook Property under our stewardship and conservation. We want to commend the community members that fought so hard to preserve this area’s natural environment and also thank Snohomish County for their generous grant. The City of Lynnwood will take great care of this wetland and wildlife habitat and ensure it’s conservation for our future generations.”

For more information on the City of Lynnwood’s Parks, Trails and Open Space, visit us at www.PlayLynnwood.com.

Buskers and Street Performers of All Stripes, Lynnwood Seeks Thee!

Carl Setzer

Oooh, summer time is sneaking up on us, and with that Farmer’s Market time! If you’re a performer, here’s a great opportunity to arrange a fun gig in the sun. Ok, it’ll be sunny some of the time…

Call for Performers

Seeking Singers, Musicians, Bands, Jugglers & Magicians

The City of Lynnwood would like to spotlight local musicians and performing artists this summer. Based on audition videos, the Lynnwood Arts Commission will select artists or groups to perform at the Lynnwood Farmers Market, a free community celebration expected to attract up to 2,000 visitors weekly. Performances will be scheduled on Thursdays, June 11 – September 10, 2015 between 3 – 7PM (set times vary) at Wilcox Park, 5215 196th St SW.

Singers, bands, instrumentalists, jugglers, magicians, and performance artists are invited to apply. Download and mail your application along with a CD or DVD of your performance or a similar performance -OR- email application along with a link to a Youtube video.

This is an opportunity for emerging artists to be seen by an audience in South Snohomish County. Performers will be allowed to busk and sell CDs and merchandise and will be promoted through the Market’s website and Facebook page.

Deadline for Performing Artist applications is Friday, May 1, 2015.

For more information, visit www.LynnwoodFarmersMarket.com or contact Sarah Olson at solson@ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

 

Congrats to the Lynnwood High Girls Basketball Team

Carl Setzer

Earlier this week, Lynnwood’s Mayor and City Council were able to give the most formal of congratulations to our local State Champs!  As a Meadowdale alum and long-time Lynnwood resident, just want to say how proud I am of our local kids doing great things.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that our local Pacific Little League boys were in the Little League World Series. This region has some good sports genes I guess.

A Saturday Walk

Carl Setzer

Today’s lovely rainy morning makes me glad I spent so much time outside yesterday. Walked quite a bit around Lynnwood. My FitBit motivates me to exercise. Dropping a few pounds really encouraged me to go further. For a suburb, Lynnwood is remarkably walkable. Not like downtown Edmonds, but still. Crossing 99 is a little nerve-wracking, as everyone there is in such a hurry that common sense and compassion fail. Anyways, walking in Lynnwood’s challenge: the bigger time-commitment.

I walked over to Scriber Lake park. As it’s been rainy, I expected to see Yoda pop out crying “slimy mud-hole? My home this is! ” Ok, some of the trail was a little squishy, but it was mainly fine. This time of year, make sure you have non-leaky shoes.

I wandered from there up to Edmonds Community College, then over to Lynndale. On the whole walk, I saw three land-use signs up. One at the ancient Taco Bell, (of late a taco shack) next to Ed’s Surplus. Sadly, didn’t like too closely to see what’s going in. Then one at the old Ballys. Looks like a church is building there. And then the college is getting ready to build a science, engineering and technology building. Lots of growth coming. That didn’t count all the road work projects.

There are things I notice while walking that I otherwise missed. Too much hurry and we miss detail, and it’s these details that build connection to ‘place’. Hence why I love walking and bicycling to explore, to understand. The weight loss helps, too.

Meeting the New Meadowdale Middle

Carl Setzer

A few nights ago I attended Meadowdale Middle School’s Information Night. As an alum it’s a particularly unique sensation. The evening definitely clarified the transition upon us: the journey into the middle school years. Oddly, I haven’t felt much fear or angst about the boy’s transition, though others on this journey around me do. Talking with those other parents, I think the roots of that anxiety stem from our own journey into those years.

When I transitioned from Beverly to Meadowdale Junior High, I don’t remember much in the way of support or discussion. I remember the cheerleaders coming to my school, and talks about registering. I think we even walked the mile or so down to the school. Of course, that was quite some time ago and my memory probably isn’t to be fully trusted. I was rather unique, though. I lived a relatively small amount of time in this community. Attending Beverly for all of 6th grade, and had lived in this neighborhood for about 3 months prior (I spend 1/2 of my 5th year at College Place, and before that I was in the Philippines, and before that…well, that’s a post for another day). I didn’t know any kids from the other schools, and barely the kids at mine. When I went to Junior High, the general feeling was one of anxiety, though my vagabond childhood and left me with great adaptive skills.

So, last Thursday, I’m walking through the quite different halls of the same institution. Rebuilt just a few years ago (the first class of the new building is still in highschool, I believe), it’s a bright and delightful space. The design reminds me very much of the buildings on the Microsoft campus. And the staff I interacted with were wonderful. For me, though, the best part, BEST part was the community. My son’s world will intersect wonderfully at this school. Friends from so many different programs, places we’ve lived, communities we love all feed into this one place. One very deliberate thing I wanted my son to have, growing up, was a deep sense of place, of community. It delights me, then, that this is exactly what I saw.

He had a great time, and so did I. Any lingering anxieties about all of this have been put to rest. Dare I say it, but I’m actually looking forward to these next few years. The programs and staff come across as ready to coach my boy these next steps. I couldn’t be more pleased.

Why’s It Called Nike Hill, Anyway?

Carl Setzer

This morning I drove out to Bothell from Lynnwood. As I hate the freeways, especially in the morning, I back-roaded it out there. Passing a number of construction sites out there didn’t surprise me. This area is quite high in demand, as it’s really the furthermost north end the East-side. One thing in particular stood out: some houses  on Vine Road with fencing around them.

I first remember seeing these decades ago. These looked just like all the military housing I’d grew up around. At first that seemed strange, then I learned about Nike Hill. Named after the missile silo not-so-secretly placed on the summit of the hill, I believed the housing was originally for those soldiers. They were built in in 1950, right around the time the silo first came online. Also, the street (technically 216th Pl SW) is Nike Manor Rd. So, viola!

Now, the buildings are owned by the Navy, so my guess is that they were housing sailors stationed with the Everett Homeport. Today, fenced off and vacant, I wondered if they’d been sold to private developers, but they still show as owned by the LLC that the Navy set up to manage properties in the region. So, perhaps they’re going to upgrade these. As they’re pretty much unchanged from the 1950s, that should be rather welcome.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing what’s to come there.

 

Sidebar: Here’s an interesting article about the site, and how it became the FEMA regional headquarters it is now.

BOTHELL’S NIKE HILL HOME TO REGIONAL FEMA HEADQUARTERS

Good Ole Lynndale

Carl Setzer

My son’s current school will be undergoing a tear-down/re-build next year. Though this won’t impact us directly, we care about our neighborhood school. Several of his friends will still be attending, plus, I’ve spent most of my life around this building. The existing structure was built in 1957, so it’s really well past time for an update. I have a little blend of mixed feelings. Mostly, though, I’m excited for the new space, properly equipped for 21st century education.

One of the communications I received, though, said that the school will be located at the former Woodway Elementary site, which puzzled me. That site is now the City of Edmonds’ Hickman Park.  I expect they meant the Old Woodway Highschool, which is actually really close by, and the building still stands. Currently, the building houses Scriber Lake High School, Edmonds Heights K-12, and a few other programs for the district.

Though disruption is always unpleasant, I look forward to a fine new building getting the kids ready for 21st century lives.

Zeeks Pizza Coming To Lynnwood

Carl Setzer
Zekes Coming Soon sign in Lynnwood

I passed this on my way to work this morning. This in front of the old Wong’s China Kitchen on 44th & 196th, a smidge east of Fred Meyer. .

 

Zeeks Coming Soon sign in Lynnwood
Zeeks Coming Soon sign in Lynnwood

 

I’ve long enjoyed Zeeks, so am quite delighted to see them coming into the neighborhood.

 

Yet, it is interesting how many of the more urban focused Seattle businesses are making their way into south Snohomish County. Such as Pagliacci, Ezells and PCC just to name a few. I feel this reflects the changing nature of the area; it’s growing urban feel. I, for one, am enjoying this change. But many are disquieted that this venerable suburb is changing quite dramatically. Such is life, I suppose.

Lynnwood’s Corner of 195th & 36th

Carl Setzer1 Comment

I’ve noticed that the old Manor Hardware building has been fenced in for some time. It’s been dilapidated and decaying for some time, so the thought of something happening here pleases me. This spot does hold some significant history for good ol’ Lynnwood. Built in 1915, it harkens back to the Alderwood Manor/Pre-Lynnwood days. I didn’t see any public notifications for this property, but that doesn’t mean nothing is in the works. There is a lot happening in that area right now, so I expect something might get leveraged. This is part of the historic record, which will make any work challenging.

 

While looking into this, I found that there’s going to be a significant new apartment building going in on the old Edmonds School District office space (across from the Convention Center). The size of this really amazes me. It will be a nice location, though. That area should be able to absorb the additional traffic pretty well.