Collapsing building Fw: Closed sidewalk on Greenwood at 77th (7708 Greenwood AVE N)

[Lee Bruch]

There has been lots of concern about the slumping building on Greenwood Ave that would endanger people walking on the sidewalk if it collapses. There is a lengthy email chain amongst various concerned members on NW Greenways.

The email chain below contains an update from the city on actions that are underway.

It's a complex situation involving the building owner, SDCI, SDOT, the city-s legal department, and others. Complex situations tend to drag on and on, with a seeming lack of urgency, until something disastrous happens, then suddenly the emergency response swings into action.

In hopes of bringing pressure to bear to speed up the response to ward off I'm forwarding information to CM Strauss's office, the Seattle Times, and to The Urbanist forwarding information about the situation. I don't know if that will spur interest by any of those parties.

Lee Bruch

     205-355-4282 Mobile & Text

     Lee....@outlook.com

---

From: Douglas MacDonald <dbmac...@earthlink.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 6:12 AM
To: Lee Bruch > <lee....@outlook.com>
Cc: Elizabeth Sheldon <Elizabet...@seattle.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Closed sidewalk on Greenwood at 77th (7708 Greenwood AVE N)

 

Lee. Forwarding to you from Massachusetts and trusting you will put this in the hands of anyone interested. thanks to Liz for responding and this will be her watching to see that is that in fact does arrange for temporary sidewalk access if this draws out.  I’ll be back soon.

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Sheldon, Elizabeth" <Elizabet...@seattle.gov>
Date: September 19, 2022 at 4:18:48 PM EDT
To: Douglas MacDonald <dbmac...@earthlink.net>
Cc: Brent McFarlane <mcfa...@me.com>, lee....@outlook.com, mrn...@gmail.com, Eitan Levi <ei...@skrud.ca>, Maureen Carr <mrn...@gmail.com>, John Dierks <johnd...@gmail.com>, "Burgesser, David" <David.B...@seattle.gov>, "Dougherty, Brian" <brian.d...@seattle.gov>, "Skinner, Jonathan" <Jonathan...@seattle.gov>, "Hewitt, Tom" <Tom.H...@seattle.gov>, "Rasmussen, Betty" <Betty.R...@seattle.gov>
Subject: FW: Closed sidewalk on Greenwood at 77th (7708 Greenwood AVE N)



Hi Doug –

 

I wasn’t aware of the closed sidewalk, so thanks for bringing it to my attention.  I wanted to give you all a quick update on the status, and let you know some updates from last week. 

 

The property owner has been working to address the current issues with the building and has been working with SDCI to provide a structural assessment.  However, there is no estimated timeframe for completion.   In the meantime, SDOT is working on two things simultaneously:

• Developing a long-term sidewalk closure plan with detour. 
• Working with the property owner to get the sidewalk closure under Street Use permit. 

 

Depending on the timing of the development of the plan and the work with the property owner, we will either have our crews do an initial installation of the closure or have the property owner take that on themselves.  You will likely see the change before I get a chance to provide another update, but I’ll keep you posted as I have more information.

 

Liz

 

 

 

From: Douglas MacDonald <dbmac...@earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2022 12:37 PM
To: Douglas Macdonald <dbmac...@earthlink.net>; Sheldon, Elizabeth <Elizabet...@seattle.gov>
Cc: Hewitt, Tom <Tom.H...@seattle.gov>; Brent McFarlane <mcfa...@me.com>; Lee Bruch > <lee....@outlook.com>; mrn...@gmail.com; Eitan Levi <ei...@skrud.ca>; Maureen Carr <mrn...@gmail.com>; John Dierks <johnd...@gmail.com>; Burgesser, David <David.B...@seattle.gov>; Dougherty, Brian <Brian.D...@seattle.gov>
Subject: Closed sidewalk on Greenwood at 77th

 

CAUTION: External Email

Hi, Liz.  Are you aware of the high degree of neighborhood concern about the closed sidewalk?

 

This is a situation where a building condemnation (I gather; I’m actually out of town and have not seen it myself, and my second-hand information may be a day out of touch) has caused a sidewalk closure out of concern that the building may fail and cause a collapse on to the sidewalk:

 

 

 

 

People I’ve heard from are very concerned about how and when and at the city, by whom, a shared passageway will be arranged for pedestrians - this is  heavily used sidewalk by walkers, people with children, strollers, dogs, etc., as I can attest to by previous photographs complaining about an unauthorized theorized situation when  the tenants were setting up tables and chairs without any street use or sidewalk cafe permit).

 

I’m sure someone at SDCI, probably not SDOT, will be dealing, probably not quickly, with the hazard condition of the structure itself.

 

In the meantime, isn’t it incumbent on SDOT to set up a barrier-protected pedestrian success in the street itself to provide safe pedestrian passage? This, for example, has existed for months (maybe years?) a few blocks south on Greenwood, I think in the 7700 block (west side) for the big multi-family construction project, probably in accordance with  the requirements of DR 10-2015.

 

There, of course, the protection requirement was the obligation of the building contractor. It doesn’t seem likely he building owner will be very responsive here. So in that case isn’t it the responsibility of SDOˇ to step up to installation of the barrier protection to preserve safe access?

 

BTW, there is no useable “detour” option across Greenwood to the other side of the street, given the volume of pedestrian use where the sidewalk is now closed. No marked crosswalk, etc., etc.  

 

I’d be very pleased to hear your thoughts on  this. Clearly not an easy one for SDOˇ to step into, but someone has to. Otherwise the pedestrian inaccessibility (and risk, since many people will simply ignore the closure sign and hope the building doesn’t fall on them.

 

Thanks.  

Doug MacDonald