Lid I-5

In this newsletter:

1. Comment on the Freeway Park landmark designation by July 6.
2. Join us July 5 for a national webinar presentation.
3. Call for volunteers! We’re looking to expand the Steering Committee.
4. Get engaged on Seattle’s comprehensive and transportation planning.
5. Recap of the Monday walking tour.

• Whether written or verbal, you can take points from our suggested comments to the Board here
• You can email a written comment anytime to erin.doherty@seattle.gov and sarah.sodt@seattle.gov; include the subject line “Comment on item 070622.5 Freeway Park designation”
• To speak at the meeting (for up to 2 minutes) you must register between 1:30 and 3:30 at the form located here
• After this public hearing and subsequent negotiations with the property owner (Seattle Parks & Recreation Department), the designation will eventually go to the Seattle City Council for final approval. Learn more about the process here.

At Lid I-5, we are excited about the landmarking. This means the park would achieve special protected status under City of Seattle regulations, and could open up opportunities for funding to preserve and maintain the park long into the future.

However, we want to make sure that the “Controls and Incentives Agreement” placed upon the park retains flexibility for modifications and expansion. The park cannot remain frozen in place as the neighborhoods around it change. For example, the community has demonstrated a strong interest in filling in the gap over University Street and in the box garden area south of Seneca Street. Maintaining the ability to expand the park is also an equity issue since this diverse section of Seattle has some of the lowest access to green space of any neighborhood.

Thanks for your help! Questions? Contact us any time at mail@lidi5.org.

Join A Freeway Fighters Webinar

Join us Tuesday, July 5, 9:00 AM Pacific Time for On the Park Bench, a webinar series presenting interactive conversations with thought leaders in New Urbanism and allied industries. Register here. Participation is free and audience members will have a chance to ask questions after presentations by the panelists.

Lid I-5 will be presenting news on the Seattle front and lessons on effective engagement. Alongside us will be leaders from the Rethink35 campaign in Austin, TX and the Albany, NY Riverfront Collective.

Call for Volunteers!

The Steering Committee is looking to expand our ranks with energetic and enthusiastic communityleaders! Submit your interest by July 31. Volunteering with Lid I-5 is a great way to get engaged with the future of your neighborhood and building a more connected, equitable, and sustainable city.

We’re looking for people who are representative of the diversity of the Seattle community. Women and people of color are highly encouraged to inquire. 

Volunteering on the Steering Committee is a flexible commitment, with terms of 6-12 months. Steering Committee members are expected to contribute at least 5 hours per month toward their area of interest or expertise (such as public outreach, advocacy, writing, fundraising, event planning, etc.). The team meets monthly and frequently communicates electronically. Reliable participation is expected.

We welcome people working in all fields with skills that translate to public outreach, advocacy, and other campaign activities. Experience in fields like architecture, urban planning, engineering, or real estate is a plus. For a better understanding of everything that Lid I-5 does, check out our recent newsletters, team info, candidate responses, and letter archive.

To start, fill out the interest form by July 31. We look forward to hearing from you!

Get Engaged on Seattle’s Plans

Seattle is working on two major planning efforts relevant to Lid I-5. Each has a new online “engagement hub” where you can take surveys, send in your ideas, and find upcoming events.

Seattle Comprehensive Plan (One Seattle Plan)
Seattle Transportation Plan

We encourage you to send in support for lidding I-5 citywide – not just in central Seattle – because of the important opportunities for reconnecting our streets, advancing social justice, and improving our environment. Lids can also provide much-needed space in a growing city for new parks, housing, and other needs. Key opportunity sites are in the Downtown/Capitol Hill/First Hill area, University District, Roosevelt/Green Lake, and Georgetown.

Members of the Lid I-5 team have already left a few comments on the maps and other input tools, including this comment on the comprehensive plan. Also check out multiple comments on the transportation plan’s interactive map.

Of course, this is also a great time to send in your other priorities about our growth strategy and housing, transportation, parks, the economy, and other elements of city planning.

Thanks for your help!

Walking Tour Recap

Monday saw the return of our popular walking tour series, with a great turnout of residents from every corner of Seattle. We were jointed by state Senator Marko Liias, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Attendees experienced the sights and sounds of the traffic canyon firsthand, and also saw how a beautiful space like Freeway Park can begin to reknit our community.

Thank you to everyone who participated and asked great questions! We heard interest specifically in reconnecting streets, topography, how buildings would be supported, noise buffers, and reducing the urban heat island. That last point was especially relevant as the temperature climbed north of 90 degrees on Monday, an issue that was covered in Crosscut last year.

Thank you also the donors who raised $200 to support our costs for printing and other organizational expenses.