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Architect selected for North East Library

The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has chosen The Miller/Hull Partnership to design the North East Library expansion. The decision was announced on March 8.

The Miller/Hull Partnership has designed other community projects around town including the Fremont Public Association Resource Center (which houses the Wallingford Library) and the Discovery Park Visitor Center. The firm has won over 100 design awards.

Ridgemont slated to be torn down

A real estate developer has plans to build a four-story-tall mixed-use building on the site of the old Ridgemont Theater building, located at 7720 Greenwood Ave. N.

The new building will include 21 condo units, 36 underground parking spaces and 2,400 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.

According to Michael Scoggins of Bernstead Construction, the developer of the project, the Ridgemont, a former movie theater, will likely be demolished closer to the time his company plans to begin construction. That, he said, could be a year away.

City seeks input on zoning changes for rail system

By the time Sound Transit's new light rail stations open in Seattle in 2009, they will likely bring with them more changes than just the addition of the stations themselves.

The City's Strategic Planning Office has been holding public meetings in March on proposed rezoning in station overlay districts for the University District and points south.

The City hopes to create pedestrian-friendly zones near transit stations by encouraging land uses like apartment buildings and retail shopping, and prohibiting more car-oriented businesses like manaufacturing, warehouses, car washing and repair ... the list goes on.

"Principle use long-term non-residential parking" would also be prohibited, which would rule out new park-and-rides around the light rail stations, according to a fact sheet issued by the City. Businesses already existing in overlay districts but considered less than pedestrian-friendly by the City would be grandfathered in.

The exact details of the station area overlay districts are not known, as public comment is still being accepted. Therese Casper, communications manager with the Strategic Planning Office, said the City Council will most likely hold public hearings on the rezones some time around May.

Questions about the Station Area Overlay District and rezones can be addressed to the City's Strategic Planning Office at 684-5359.

Lake City Farmers Market may come as early as this year

The Lake City Farmers Market which was scheduled to begin in summer of 2003 has gotten a head start and will most likely begin operation this summer.

The Farmers Market, managed by the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance in the University District, was actually scheduled to begin in Ballard this June. However, they ran into some difficulties acquiring a space within the heart of the Ballard business district.

According to Ballard Neighborhood Service Center coordinator, Rob Mattson, the Ballard community was willing to offer a space for the weekend but not during a weekday. Since the Alliance was hoping for a Thursday market, they chose to relocate to Lake City.

However, Lake City is also having difficulty finding a weekday location. The former Lake City Market which is now leased by Meikos Lake City Fitness has offered their parking lot, but for only this year.

Currently, the University District and West Seattle hold their markets on Saturday and Sunday, leaving the likelihood that other Seattle neighborhoods must choose a weekday. The Columbia City Market is on Wednesday.