Groundswell NW has joined forces with the Sunset Hill Community Association on a Neighborhood Matching Fund project to study potential public uses for the Sunset Substation, 3209 NW 65th Street. The project will gather community input on how the site could be used and hire a team of experts to analyze potential uses, including the prospect of a solar array mounted over a neighborhood gathering space.

A kick-off meeting was held on December 19, with over 50 neighbors attending to learn about the project, see examples of other pocket parks and solar installations and give their ideas on possible uses of the site. After hiring Cast architecture to lead a team to help develop plans, a second meeting on Feb. 23 engaged nearly 30 neighbors in exercises to develop a vision statement and site layouts, as reported in the Ballard News Tribune. A third Community Workshop will be held 6:30-9pm, March 24 at the Sunset Hill Community Association, 3003 NW 66th St. Read the latest news from the Sunset Substation website.

To indentify qualfied consultants to help with the study, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued. Three excellent responses were received, and a team led by CAST architecture was selected.

Request for Qualifications:

Friends of Sunset Substation (FoSS) seeks qualifications to conduct a community-based study of potential public uses of a former substation in the Sunset Hill neighborhood of Ballard in northwest Seattle. The study should include a range of potential uses, including a feasibility study to develop a combined public open space and grid-tied photovoltaic generating station. The subject parcel is 6300sf, currently owned by Seattle City Light but considered surplus, located at 3209 NW 65^th St. in Seattle. The study will include an analysis of the financial feasibility of alternate proposed uses and the capacity of the land to accommodate them. Qualified teams should demonstrate the ability to analyze and present alternative conceptual uses for the site, perform a technical assessment for a photovoltaic installation and to produce design alternatives for public open space that are compatible with the photovoltaic installation; provide design-level construction cost estimates; participate in three (3) public meetings at which design alternatives are presented and community input is solicited; meet with a volunteer neighborhood steering committee up to six (6) times; recommend public and private funding sources; meet with City staff; present a final written and illustrated report of conclusions to the project’s steering committee.

The selected consultant should demonstrate experience with similar or relevant community-initiated projects and working with a limited budget, knowledge of funding possibilities, and creativity. A Statement of approach should also be included.

Questions may be addressed to Robert Drucker, 206-257-8622, robert@redcottagestudios.com.

Neighborhood Matching Fund Application:

Further details about the project can be found in our Neighborhood Matching Fund application, including a revised project timeline.

View of the site from the southwest corner

Further project details to come.