My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog

Many Green Lake residents have a lot to say about the large crater at the site of the old Vitamilk Dairy, a.k.a. “The Big Hole.”

Recently, the City of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development gave Seattle citizens the opportunity to present ideas for interim uses for the city’s stalled project sites.

On Sunday, Deanna Erickson and Kathryn Stassen met this challenge and submitted the following proposal to the Seattle Design Commission:

A walk from home to the Grange at Green Lake

Photo courtesy Deanna Erickson and Kathryn Stassen

Our vision is for a temporary farmers and artists market connecting our community’s needs right now to the anticipated reinvestment in the sustainability of the Green Lake Residential Urban Village. We propose that the underground parking garage level be completed which could provide income and fill the need for additional parking in the area especially during the sunny weather months.

Ideally a new modern grange will be a gathering place for our sustainable food pioneers and others working for a more just and healthful future. A thriving, principled market will not only stimulate economic activity, it will provide much needed sustainability and permaculture educational programming and outreach.

Creating space for local farmers, artists, and sustainable entrepreneurs makes good sense right now. Everything needed is permitted and the call of the people for sustainability is being heard everyday. Let’s bring together all those who are working very hard to enhance our communities and increase our food security. Let’s create an everyday green festival at the Green Lake Residential Urban Village.

Fresh, local food and art is a leap forward toward the urban village’s vision to increase walk-ability and encourage a lively and thriving neighborhood business core. By offering a place for small vendors, performing artists, and connections to outreach and educational groups, we increase the potential for these new vibrant groups to ultimately take up more permanent residence along Green Lake’s Main Street.

Principles of permaculture and sustainability shall guide us in our vendor selection, programming, and design intent. The diverse mix of use to be realized via opening a door for small, independent, mobile venders will be of great service to both the dense residential community as well as visitors.

HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF GREEN LAKE RESIDENTIAL URBAN VILLAGE
2007 – PRESENT

Photo courtesy Deanna Erickson and Kathryn Stassen

Current non-use of this property is harming our neighborhood and our City. Financial damages are mounting. Every day that goes by is lost revenue and further decay. Failure to use the property equals waste and nuisance, both of which violate good public policy. Allowing non-use equals forgone opportunity. Non-use for such a long period of time means that the money being lost every day adds up to much more than the investment required for a thriving local temporary multi-use project.

FOOD SECURITY

Food security is a real issue, especially for densely populated urban villages. Any disruption, natural or man-made, to a food system relying on vulnerable and costly transportation systems, will mean catastrophic consequences for our citizens if we fail to take the opportunity to prepare a solid food security system.

Without action to create a solid food security system we will realize the full impact of very real scarcity of our healthy food resources, which are ever more scarce each passing day. Seed diversity is a crucial issue and supporting more local farms serves to improve seed diversity. Every day we learn more about the tremendous harm caused by processed food and pesticides. We must be compelled, for everyone’s sake, to commit to principles of sustainability and permaculture and to develop food security.

GOAL

Create a modern grange for local artists, farmers, mobile food vendors, performers, educators, and outreach programmers to
share and teach permaculture and sustainability principles, educate folks about food security, provide locally produced organic foods, health services, progressive transit options, and artistic expressions.

PURPOSE

• Serve the community’s need for food security and economic revitalization.

• Foster investment and economic activity for small local farmers, artists, sustainable entrepreneurs, educators, outreach program directors, and performing artists.

PROGRAMMING

Permaculture and Sustainability principles will come to life in a thriving market of numerous small ventures and projects. Food Security, Waste Management, Transportation, and Health topics will be communicated through real world use of the principles.  We envision urban agriculture demonstrations, centralized CSA registration, and a number of other practical demonstrations of the creative reuse of common household “waste” items.

DESIGN INTENT

Each vendor, artist, educator, performer, or other participant is considered a “design element.”  Each “design element” must actively and purposefully demonstrate the core principles that the project seeks to impart upon the visiting public.

EVERY DESIGN ELEMENT SHALL

SERVE MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE
ADDRESS ITS WASTE MANAGEMENT
DEMONSTRATE REUSE
DEMONSTRATE SOCIAL JUSTICE
DEMONSTRATE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Photo courtesy Deanna Erickson and Kathryn Stassen

Design staff must articulate the various goals/principles served by each design element before that element can be adopted.

Adoption of a design element requires that the element clearly evidence a number of permaculture and sustainability principles.

An on-going “green festival” at this site will provide a meeting place for sustainability-focused businesses and groups that have been working so hard to bring healthy food and education to our community. Projects committed to organic, local products and the development of secure food security system for our city will thrive in a neighborhood known for its commitment to healthy living. Ultimately some projects will take up semi-permanent residence in the Green Lake Residential Urban Village and we can devise a plan to retain our mobile venders.

Let’s redefine a healthy grocery store as a collective of small, local, independent farmers and food specialists all housed together.  Thriving out of the box and demonstrating true healthy lifestyles.

If you wish to show your support for this proposal, please contact the Seattle Design Commission, via Valerie Kinast, Coordinator, at Valerie.Kinast [at] seattle.gov.