Community Center designer choice is good
March 20, 2013
By Administrator
At first blush, it might look a bit too cozy. Design firm Barker Rinker Seacat was paid for a feasibility study to tell Sammamish if the city could support a community and aquatic center. They found that the city could do so, and, as it happens, the firm is quite experienced in designing them, too.
Now city officials are negotiating a $2 million contract with Barker Rinker Seacat to design the new center.
Look closely, though, and the choice is a good one.
For one, the nationally recognized firm has good ideas. Their drawings and presentations helped residents understand what they would be getting when the city took its advisory vote. Their vision showed how, within a budget, a community center could be melded with an aquatic center. It showed how Sammamish could have a new facility that helps anchor a city center – something that has long been a goal of city leaders, even before incorporation.
Since completing the feasibility study, the design firm is well positioned to continue the work. They won’t be starting over and won’t need to familiarize themselves with the community, the geography and the plan, which should speed up the process. Speed matters — the community is excited!
With the new facility, Sammamish will have a complete civic center. City Hall, the library, the skate park, police station and Sammamish Commons are already in place. By completing the community center, Sammamish will have built itself a hub.
A city with a pronounced north-south divide will have a central location for people of all ages, from all parts of Sammamish. It will give people a reason to go to a place and linger.
If Sammamish is lucky, the community center might just be the crowning jewel that sparks development in Town Center, bringing mixed-use high density residential with shops, restaurants and office space. At the very least, it will be an amenity that adds value to current and future homes and quality of life.
Officials hope construction will start next year. It can’t come soon enough.
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“If Sammamish is lucky, ,the community center might just be the crowning jewel that sparks development in Town Center”. First, there is no “Town Center”. One cannot add a “crowning jewel” to something that doesn’t exist. The only thing that exists is an unworkable plan for one sitting on a shelf in City Hall. Second, the community center is costing the City $25 million. This is money that could have been used to jumpstart the construction of the town center if and when the plan is ever revised to make it actionable.
Sammamish does need a community center. A community center was an element of one or more of the original alternatives considered for the town center. But to set aside a huge amount of money for a second project, now, when the first project promised to us is dead in the water is irresponsible, reckless and oh so deliberate.
I completely agree with Valerie. Sammamish desperately needs to diversify its tax base away from property tax collected from residents to things like sales tax receipts and commercial property tax.
There are almost no entertainment options on the plateau. Want to go to a movie? Try Redmond or Bellevue. Bowling? Try Kirkland, Bellevue, or even Snoqualmie. A drink? Well, you’ve got Pine Lake Ale House here, and it’s a fine tavern, but it’s pretty sad that a city our size has a single watering hole.
Restaurants? Hah! There’s a reason why Sammamish Café is crazy busy for hours on end. Outside of fast food and the standard quick-serve Asian strip mall places, you’ve got Simone’s, Sammamish Café, and Pine Lake Ale House.
Shopping for general merchandise? You’re heading to Target, Costco, or Fred Meyer in Issaquah or Redmond. Hardware will soon be off the plateau too.
So let’s see. Residents can eat fast food, shop for groceries, get gas, go to Petco, and buy diodes at Radio Shack. Yeah, that seems like a great long term strategy.