Editor's note: The following letter, written by Magnolia resident Christine Atkins, was sent Aug. 31 to Scott Minnix of the city's Department of Neighborhoods.
We the residents of the neighborhood adjacent to the Fort Lawton Army Reserve have concerns about the closing and surplus of the reserve.
Our neighborhood is unique: it is comprised of dead-end streets; is adjacent to large tracts of green space and park properties; is in close proximity to the Puget Sound and Ship Canal; is home to the largest colony of Great Blue Herons in Seattle; serves as a wildlife reserve/corridor; and is in development transition.
We request that the city and the federal government take a close look at the impacts and uses of future tenants of current Army Reserve property on our neighborhood. These uses must not have a negative effect on our parks, the greater community of Magnolia and our neighborhood.
The Fort Lawton Army Reserve is adjacent to our neighborhood along its north and east boundary, and to Discovery Park-a 534 acre natural area park-along the south and west boundaries. Discovery Park is the largest city park in Seattle and occupies most of the former Fort Lawton site.
Our neighborhood is nestled between Discovery Park, the Army Reserve, the Kiwanis Ravine-an urban forest and wildlife corridor-and the waterways of the ship canal.
Our neighborhood is a grid of dead-end streets. The only entrance and exit is along 36th Avenue West. There is no passage directly between the Fort Lawton Army Reserve and our neighborhood.
Currently, the Army Reserve uses Texas Way as its main entrance. The sole entrance to the reserve honors an earlier agreement between our neighborhood and the reserve to maintain separate entrances/exits in order to reduce traffic flow and congestion along 36th Avenue West.
There are currently 175 single-family residences, three 4- to-6-unit condominium/town houses and one small business. Our neighborhood is in a development transition, as is most of Seattle.
The demand for housing increases pressure to maximize the number and size of buildings on large lots. Elderly homeowners have passed away or sold their homes to young families and developers, thereby revitalizing and changing our neighborhood.
We are concerned that the unique opportunity to expand and protect Discovery Park and connect Kiwanis Ravine may be lost forever by decisions to develop the park in a manner inconsistent and threatening to a natural environment.
In addition, homes on larger lots are torn down and two take its place, thus reducing green space in the residential areas.
The Seattle Parks Department, the local Heron Habitat Helpers and the city of Seattle (through its 1993-adopted Green Space Policy) have actively promoted the wildlife corridor between the Kiwanis Ravine and Discovery Park by buying property and extending grants to restore park properties to a thriving, native ecosystem. The success of these programs can be seen in an increased environmental awareness, recent sightings of fox, coyote, eagles, owls and raptors, and an unprecedented count this year of 50 nests in the great blue heron rookery.
The citizens of Seattle deserve this valuable green space. The expansion of Discovery Park into the Fort Lawton Army Reserve property would reflect continued support of this vision.
Regardless of who may take over the property and its buildings, our requests and concerns are as follows:
1. Honor the existing agreement between the Fort Lawton Army Reserve and Seattle Metro Transit to maintain 36th Avenue West as the sole neighborhood entrance and exit. Leave Texas Way as the only entrance and exit to the surplus property from the south and west boundaries.
2. Retain and maintain the trees and landscaped barrier between 36th Avenue West and West Lawton Street, to the east and north of the Fort Lawton Army Reserve boundary. Allow no access from 36th Avenue West or West Lawton Street through this landscaped barrier.
3. Any new tenants of the Fort Lawton Army Reserve surplus property will need to be sensitive to their adjacent neighbors. Dimmed lighting at night and proper drainage to the streets below are of specific concern.
4. The neighborhood residents want to see the land of the Fort Lawton Army Reserve be deeded to the Seattle Parks Department, who will continue to expand the unique wildlife corridor already established.
Christine Atkins, a Magnolia resident, is a member of the Thirty-Sixth Street Neighborhood Team (TNT).[[In-content Ad]]
