Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A Brighter Future
Yesterday was a turning point for Tillicum. It's a bit hard to explain Tillicum to those who don't know it. It's a part of Lakewood cut off from the rest of the city except by I-5. It is bordered by military bases, beautiful American Lake, and a country club. But it's a poor, poor place with old buildings and a poverty rate that's 60 percentage points higher than the state average. The crime rate's been real low lately, but if you ask a real estate investor from Seattle what he or she thinks about Tillicum, you're going to hear old stories about crimes.
You would think urbanized land next to military bases and an Interstate, and within the shadow of Tacoma and within range of Portland and Seattle, would be a thriving place. The lack of any sewer system has kept building size and investment down.
Yesterday, the Lakewood City Council voted to hire a contractor for $9 million - $3 million less than estimates - to bring sewers to Tillicum. This will be huge. It will create an atmosphere where we can get things like newer housing and hotels and restaurants. The contractor is Northwest Cascade, a local company.
So that was step one. Step two was introduction of a plan that would allow Tillicum to unfold in some sort of sensible way that balances the interests of private property owners with certain public needs. We want businesses that bring employment. We want to get rid of whatever trashy housing remains; and yet not displace people who've lived there for years and can't normally afford to live in an area that is going to be, for lack of a better term, gentrified.
The plan was just provided in draft form last year. There are going to be scads and scads of public meetings in Tillicum, so nothing is settled. It's based loosely on a wonderful private collaboration awhile back led by BCRA architects that envisioned a vibrant, lovely, thriving area. (The cover of it is pictured above)
We're a long ways from approving anything in the plan like flexible parking and design standards. We have some time because it's going to take a couple years to get the sewers in and make private investment worthwhile. Let's hope people collaborate on a great vision and plan for the community, agreeing to disagree on some things and moving on. The potential is enormous.
You can download the draft ... draft ... did I say draft ... Tillicum plan here. It's a 13M file; the city is selling CD copies for $1.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Lakewood Museum Update
The Lakewood Historical Society may very well shut its temporary museum to focus on developing its permanent home, members agreed last week.
There was a very productive summit called last week.
It only attracted 20 people, which is disturbing, but not at all surprising. I was pleased to see Mayor Doug Richardson there, along with the two people who co-chaired the cityhood campaign many years ago, Andi Gernon and former Mayor Bill Harrison.
The turnout was not surprising, especially when you consider that it was clear the 'program' was going to be about whether to keep the temporary museum going. A Lakewood museum is only probably going to attract a large following when it can develop exhibits and programs related to two of the most exciting parts of Lakewood history, a raceway and an airfield. Right now, you have to care about what's basically a history of a suburb ... and not everyone does.
That said, everyone who comes into the 1,300-square-foot museum is astonished at the large amount of information ranging from pioneer times to the story of Chief Leschi, the old maps, furniture, etc...
However, the society just can't keep up the rent. So members agreed to soldier up for as much as six months, trying to find a free or much less expensive space. That might happen, either by alliance with some other nonprofit group, or finding some kind landlord who wants space occupied at an attractive rent in a recession. If it doesn't happen, then items will likely be put into storage and small exhibits posted in some of the businesses around town.
As a co-founder of the museum, I welcome this as something we simply must do. When we started 2.5 years ago, we hoped that creating an active schools program and building connections with the many small museums in the area would bring in more people. Well, despite a couple people working incredibly hard, it hasn't. So it goes. We look forward to a new home. We can all agree it's going to be an amazing place to interpret our rich history for future generations.
Forward this post
There was a very productive summit called last week.
It only attracted 20 people, which is disturbing, but not at all surprising. I was pleased to see Mayor Doug Richardson there, along with the two people who co-chaired the cityhood campaign many years ago, Andi Gernon and former Mayor Bill Harrison.
The turnout was not surprising, especially when you consider that it was clear the 'program' was going to be about whether to keep the temporary museum going. A Lakewood museum is only probably going to attract a large following when it can develop exhibits and programs related to two of the most exciting parts of Lakewood history, a raceway and an airfield. Right now, you have to care about what's basically a history of a suburb ... and not everyone does.
That said, everyone who comes into the 1,300-square-foot museum is astonished at the large amount of information ranging from pioneer times to the story of Chief Leschi, the old maps, furniture, etc...
However, the society just can't keep up the rent. So members agreed to soldier up for as much as six months, trying to find a free or much less expensive space. That might happen, either by alliance with some other nonprofit group, or finding some kind landlord who wants space occupied at an attractive rent in a recession. If it doesn't happen, then items will likely be put into storage and small exhibits posted in some of the businesses around town.
As a co-founder of the museum, I welcome this as something we simply must do. When we started 2.5 years ago, we hoped that creating an active schools program and building connections with the many small museums in the area would bring in more people. Well, despite a couple people working incredibly hard, it hasn't. So it goes. We look forward to a new home. We can all agree it's going to be an amazing place to interpret our rich history for future generations.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Increasing the Collection of Traffic Fines ... and Getting Feedback in the New Media Age
There's been a lot of buzz about how electronic media will allow elected officials and citizens to exchange ideas. So I tried a little experiment, and posted some news on Facebook and on Twitter.
The news was that the city of Lakewood's collection of traffic fines is up 40 percent for the first three months of 2009 compared with the first three months of 2008, for total of about $200,000 more. I have to say, I didn't get a lot of feedback, but what I got was very high quality.
This is what I posted, because I was interested in what people thought: Lakewood WA traffic cameras collecting 200K more so far in 09, up 40%. Keeping drivers safe or fining people too much?
One person on Twitter, a former co-worker, wrote: or just creepy Big Brother technology that should rile small "l" libertarian minds like yours?
Another person offered two thoughts:
Assuming accident rates are down 20% in camera zones, how does that compare to non-camera zones? w/out those numbers, can't tell.
I responded that there was indeed a reduction and then the other person responded: Thx. If trying to decide if cameras improve safety, prob should get stats on camera v. non-camera areas. 20% citywide is good news.
and meanwhile, another person who've I've never met in the flesh asked for more info. I gave her some News Tribune stories about the subject of traffic fines and traffic cameras. She responded Cool, just curious. Wenatchee is in process of installing red-light cameras.
So that was Twitter.
Meantime, here was the reaction on Facebook. Four very thoughtful reactions:
It depends, if it's you running the red lights. It is frustrating when the light turns green and you have to wait for 4-5 more cars as they keep going through.
It is obviously not high enough. People are still running the lights. It is a major cause of traffic death here in Florida where the red light means next 3 cars.
My theory: Weak budgets and hungry cops. At a minimum, I suspect there is pressure from the top to enforce hard, it seems to be that way everywhere these days.
Keep up the GOOD work. TOO many people speed every day and there is NO reason to drive fast. We are not driving the Indy 500 here - Speed KILLS!
I have to tell you ... I was very impressed with the points of view.
BUT
and there's a BUT
Not a single one of these folks lives in Lakewood.
So ... great views. Great Internet exchanges. Zip interaction with Lakewood.
I think in part it's because Lakewood folks are not on the Internet as much as they will be in, say, a few months or a year. Or .... it might just be I'm not in the right places. So now I am posting this on my Lakewood blog ... will be interested to see if I get more reaction ...
Forward this post
The news was that the city of Lakewood's collection of traffic fines is up 40 percent for the first three months of 2009 compared with the first three months of 2008, for total of about $200,000 more. I have to say, I didn't get a lot of feedback, but what I got was very high quality.
This is what I posted, because I was interested in what people thought: Lakewood WA traffic cameras collecting 200K more so far in 09, up 40%. Keeping drivers safe or fining people too much?
One person on Twitter, a former co-worker, wrote: or just creepy Big Brother technology that should rile small "l" libertarian minds like yours?
Another person offered two thoughts:
Assuming accident rates are down 20% in camera zones, how does that compare to non-camera zones? w/out those numbers, can't tell.
I responded that there was indeed a reduction and then the other person responded: Thx. If trying to decide if cameras improve safety, prob should get stats on camera v. non-camera areas. 20% citywide is good news.
and meanwhile, another person who've I've never met in the flesh asked for more info. I gave her some News Tribune stories about the subject of traffic fines and traffic cameras. She responded Cool, just curious. Wenatchee is in process of installing red-light cameras.
So that was Twitter.
Meantime, here was the reaction on Facebook. Four very thoughtful reactions:
It depends, if it's you running the red lights. It is frustrating when the light turns green and you have to wait for 4-5 more cars as they keep going through.
It is obviously not high enough. People are still running the lights. It is a major cause of traffic death here in Florida where the red light means next 3 cars.
My theory: Weak budgets and hungry cops. At a minimum, I suspect there is pressure from the top to enforce hard, it seems to be that way everywhere these days.
Keep up the GOOD work. TOO many people speed every day and there is NO reason to drive fast. We are not driving the Indy 500 here - Speed KILLS!
I have to tell you ... I was very impressed with the points of view.
BUT
and there's a BUT
Not a single one of these folks lives in Lakewood.
So ... great views. Great Internet exchanges. Zip interaction with Lakewood.
I think in part it's because Lakewood folks are not on the Internet as much as they will be in, say, a few months or a year. Or .... it might just be I'm not in the right places. So now I am posting this on my Lakewood blog ... will be interested to see if I get more reaction ...
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Great Boy Scout Project
Great news from The Sub Times about an Eagle Scout project that would beautiful a true and prominent eyesore, the old cemetery on Washington. Please consider getting in touch with the young man and showing your support.Historic Woodbrook and a book-signing
I stopped by the Barnes and Noble in Lakewood to visit my daughter and was delighted to learn there's another photo book out about Lakewood history. They're having a booksigning 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday, April 18, for "Woodbrook Hunt Club."If you don't have the book yet, it would be great if you can stop by. For one thing, your presence and purchase would show support of another Lakewood history book. The Woodbrook Hunt Club has quite a history that's otherwise pretty much just represented by some excellent posts in the Tacoma Library such such as this one and this one. Imagine trying to re-enact that second photo with today's liability laws!
Your presence would also show support of the Lakewood Barnes and Noble having a book signing; back when Steve Dunkelberger and I compiled the Lakewood book they were not doing those. It's great to see the Barnes and Noble stepping up and being part of the Lakewood community.
'Course most importantly ... if you get the book you'd learn more about Lakewood's rich history!
