It’s clear that Wallingford has put some serious thought into what to do with the Festering Pit at 40th and Stone Way. Now, perhaps, the city is listening.
Stacey pointed us towards a Publicola article detailing several efforts underway to fill some of the eyesores around the city with…something better. The Seattle Design Commission has put out a call for ideas for interim uses for the stalled construction projects:
Have you noticed how many lots have been left empty or partially developed due to the stalled economy? These vacant project sites are all around us. Unattractive and unbecoming of our city, we pass by them every day: empty holes, barren plains of gravel, voids in the city fabric. How can we convert these eyesores to opportunities?
The Seattle Design Commission wants your ideas for Holding Patterns, interim uses for stalled project sites. We are seeking your concepts to transform the following types of stalled project sites around the city:
- holes in the ground
- surface lots
- ongoing construction above or below street level
Whether a concert space or a bumper car track, basketball hoops or a fleeting performance stage, from temporary to semi-permanent, wacky, practical or both, the Design Commission is welcoming any and all ideas. Artists, designers, non-profits, businesses, developers, students, astronauts, everyone is invited to contribute ideas.
Download the RFP if you’ve got a dream.
Publicola notes that the American Institute of Architects Seattle has put out a similar call, with the best results to be published in their magazine.
1) Festering empty pit with no use
2) Farmer’s Market getting squeezed out of its space & maybe moving into the street.
Anyone see an opportunity there? Would we show up for a farmer’s market on concrete at Stone & 45th? If yeah, I’ll make the suggestion. Thoughts???
You meant Stone and 40th, righht?
Whatever happened to the roller coaster that was recently ripped out of the Seattle Center Fun Forest? That would be a kick-ass addition to the neighborhood.
I’m wondering who owns the space? True it is an eyesore! Farmers market would only be in the summer. Mimi
Tent City?
I absolutely LOVE Vivian’s idea! Part of the reason the pit is what it is can be attributed to surrounding neighbors who persisted in saying ‘NO WAY!!’ to every proposal the developers made. A tent city might very well fit their criteria–somebody should pursue that one!
I like both Doug’s and Vivian’s ideas!
Let’s buy it and install a meadow. Open Space Park. Good sightlines, a happy place for birds, hummingbirds, bees and critters and leashed pets. Recreate the now-destroyed Community Garden at the south end of Wallingford Playfield on a larger scale.
p.s. Paint the back wall to look like an old-growth forest.
Chihuly museum!
Owner fill it in, and we can have another community VICTORY GARDEN.!!!!!
don’t fill the hole make it a community swimming hole.. Was in Austin Texas and they were quite proud of their spring fed pool.. We can have the same.. Imagine the dives off the high cliffs (painted like old growth).. Splash!
Would like to advise people the VARSITY Restaurant 34th & Wallingford is now open for dinner Tues-Sat. till 9:00 P M. Great menu, Mexican fair, very reasonable prices. They are a welcoming, friendly, family, & fun place to have a meal. Mimi
That’s filling a different pit, Mimi.
PS I hope you mean fare. There’s plenty of places already to get Mexican food that rates only fair.
Fruitbat, Filling a smaller pit is more gratifying, your right, cuisine would have been a better word. Mimi
Off leash dog area -Wallingford owners could help create it?
Mtn bike park – Big Tree Bikes might be interested in helping make it happen, or the folks who organized the effort around the Colonnade under I-5.
Has anyone actually submitted a proposal yet?
Lots of good ideas as to what to do with the Pit, but we still have no idea who owns the PIT. Maybe they don’t want to admit to the eye sore. Mimi
@Mimi, it’s owned by QFC / Kroger, but my understanding is that they are no longer interested in developing it. Redimensions LLC is the development company that is maintaining the space and trying to raise the capital to develop it. Follow the post trail back…