This evening, the City gave North Shore Neighborhood a preview of the Master Plan for the redevelopment of Sunken Gardens. This preview was announced at the last Membership meeting and was published in the TIMES, but only 11 people took advantage of the preview. The Public Forum on this will take place Monday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sunshine Center, 330 5th Street North.
Here are some of the important points from the preview. Phase I will commence in Sept. 2001 and will be completed in 11-12 months. Phase I will include the complete restoration of the 1926 building to its Mediterranean Revival architecture with an open arcade with arches and columns on the front facade and two towers. The building plan is stunning, and it is hoped that the building will house Great Explorations Hands-on Museum and a restaurant.
Phase I also includes the removal of the faux-stone wall and the creation of a new entrance to the garden through an iron gate and a plaza. There will be only one entrance and exit off of 4th Street North in line with 19th Ave. N. on the West side of 4th.
Here is the component of the proposal that will interest North Shore residents most: the proposal to join the two existing parking lots by vacating a portion of 18th Avenue North and creating a cul-de-sac at the edge of City property. This plan will allow Sunken Gardens 208 parking spaces, still 50 short of City requirements for the square footage and usage of the building, so they're requesting a parking variance. If this proposal is rejected, they'll be short of meeting parking requirements by 100 spaces.
Residents on 18th Ave. N. between 3rd and 4th Street appeared with letters in hand in support of the proposal to vacate 18th Ave. One neighbor form 20th Avenue appeared requesting vacation and a cul-de-sac for 20th Avenue. Others raised questions, concerns and opposition to vacating the avenue. Concerns were the disruption of the grid pattern of an historic neighborhood; the diversion of the burden of traffic to other nearby avenues; and establishing a precedent for vacating portions of avenues along the commercial corridor.
Other issues were the lack of landscaping and lighting along the wall surrounding the garden and facing into our neighborhood and a service gate off of the 18th Avenue cul-de-sac for deliveries to the garden. Raul Quintana, representing the City Capitol Improvements Department, assured us that they will work with North Shore to develop an acceptable plan.
If this issue is of concern to you, come out for the public forum.
Here are some of the important points from the preview. Phase I will commence in Sept. 2001 and will be completed in 11-12 months. Phase I will include the complete restoration of the 1926 building to its Mediterranean Revival architecture with an open arcade with arches and columns on the front facade and two towers. The building plan is stunning, and it is hoped that the building will house Great Explorations Hands-on Museum and a restaurant.
Phase I also includes the removal of the faux-stone wall and the creation of a new entrance to the garden through an iron gate and a plaza. There will be only one entrance and exit off of 4th Street North in line with 19th Ave. N. on the West side of 4th.
Here is the component of the proposal that will interest North Shore residents most: the proposal to join the two existing parking lots by vacating a portion of 18th Avenue North and creating a cul-de-sac at the edge of City property. This plan will allow Sunken Gardens 208 parking spaces, still 50 short of City requirements for the square footage and usage of the building, so they're requesting a parking variance. If this proposal is rejected, they'll be short of meeting parking requirements by 100 spaces.
Residents on 18th Ave. N. between 3rd and 4th Street appeared with letters in hand in support of the proposal to vacate 18th Ave. One neighbor form 20th Avenue appeared requesting vacation and a cul-de-sac for 20th Avenue. Others raised questions, concerns and opposition to vacating the avenue. Concerns were the disruption of the grid pattern of an historic neighborhood; the diversion of the burden of traffic to other nearby avenues; and establishing a precedent for vacating portions of avenues along the commercial corridor.
Other issues were the lack of landscaping and lighting along the wall surrounding the garden and facing into our neighborhood and a service gate off of the 18th Avenue cul-de-sac for deliveries to the garden. Raul Quintana, representing the City Capitol Improvements Department, assured us that they will work with North Shore to develop an acceptable plan.
If this issue is of concern to you, come out for the public forum.
