Our Town Center - A Place That Matters in Shoreline!

We've talked a lot about Places That Matter in this blog. And today, I'm responding to a statement made in Shoreline LFP PATCH.

Shoreline's Ronald Place
preserved! 

Columnist Larry Lewis has an interesting column about the Town Center proposal which recently passed at City Council. He made a lot of correct statements, but I believe he's not correct in his final statement where he stated that there are,

"very few historical artifacts and places here." 

I responded that in fact we DO have many historical elements left, though some are not obvious. Here's my statement to him in a comment. http://shoreline.patch.com/blog_posts/we-do-have-many-worthwhile-places-that-matter-here-in-shoreline-that-are-historic-you-can-see-them-if-you-just-use-a-sharp-eye-and-imagine-what-we-might-be-with-a-little-creativity

Good column on the Town Center. However, I beg to differ with your last statement that we have "very few historical artifacts and places here".

In point of fact, the Red Brick Road (Ronald Place or North Trunk Road) is VERY historical and though it may be a bit below the radar of many, it is right there guiding us to a possible future that honors our heritage and especially points the way to a town center that can be a vibrant commercial area, where people can live, work and recreate. It is eligible for the National Historic Register.

The Red Brick Road can be highlighted and continued up through Firlands Way, which can be a "walkable street" potentially. The Town Center Park, could be a place that highlights the "RBR" and compliments it with places of interest to visit, such as a "interpretive center" about our history of development along Aurora Ave, maybe gardens, art, and how about an "arcade" to use as a shelter for events?
Also, as you mention we do still have other remaining historical elements and gems that can be highlighted. They are there if you care to look like the Richmond Masonic Lodge, Highland Ice Arena, Ronald Methodist Church, Auto Cabins and yes, the "outside" of the Ronald School. We also have many other historical elements in Shoreline, such as in Richmond Beach, The Crest Cinema, the Fircrest Chapel, and the old Firlands buildings, amazing parks, huge trees and many more.
The trick is we need to allow beneficial development that does not inadvertently destroy what's left and which can enhance our remaining heritage. Look at what some other cities have done to take advantage of their "main streets", like Bothell, Snohomish and Anacortes. We can still do a lot to make this a great place to live and also to visit.

Shoreline's Red Brick Road (Ronald Place or North Trunk Road), was built in 1912. That's right, next year will be the Centennial of this wonderful artifact. It is the last remaining piece of the original Aurora Ave, Hwy 99.  Shoreline became a place, because Judge J.T. Ronald advocated, cajoled and invested in having it built (he was a former Mayor of Seattle who built a summer home here). He dug the curving section that remains (Ronald Place) himself to ensure that it went around his house and well. He then donated the property for the Ronald School, because he believed in education. He's previously demanded a trolley station on the Interuban Rail, which ended up being named for him, though he had wanted it named for his daughters.

Let's make the Town Center Park a "Centennial Walk" to celebrate 100 years of our community's development, that extends up Firlands Way and provides an informative trail all around out Town Center.

Red Brick Road

Of course we also have many, many other historical elements here, which could be highlighted as we develop our Town Center and Town Center Park, if we plan carefully, and creatively. Let's get this right Shoreline! So many worthwhile things in Shoreline, if you just know where to look!

Shoreline's Town Center and the "Red Brick Road"

The "Town Center" Planning Process

Inquiring minds want to know; Why is the City featuring a design on their website and two 

out of three options for a "Town Center" Park which have the Red Brick Road dismantled?

The Red Brick Road (North Trunk Road) is eligible for listing on the National Historic Register.

So we are asking those who care about our heritage to consider carefully how we plan our town center

and how we integrate this historic element into our concept of ourselves.

Shoreline's Original North Trunk Road
aka Ronald Place

So, what's the big deal about this "Red Brick Road" anyway?

Ronald Place "South section" runs past the
soon to be rebuilt Aurora Rents and Skyline Windows

Shoreline is now undertaking a big planning process for our central area, termed the "Town Center" Planning Process. The "Red Brick Road", known officially as the North Trunk Road or Ronald Place runs North/South from below 175th and continues North through the "Interurban Park". It continues invisibly under Aurora Ave and on up Firlands Drive North-west of 185th N. 


It was built as a part of the original Highway 99. Judge JT Ronald, a Shoreline pioneer (former Mayor of Seattle) worked with developers at that time to bring the highway north as automobile travel became popular. His family's cottage was actually located right at the intersection of N 175th and the center of Aurora.  The story goes that he personally went out and dug the road himself to direct it around his home.

The City's own report dated 8/7/2007, "Cultural Resources Assessment for the Aurora Avenue North Multimodal Corridor Project: N 165th - N 205th St, City of Shoreline, WA" Glen D. Harman, Principal Investigator states; 

"The remnants of the North Trunk (Brick) Road on Ronald Place North, thus, are eligible for inclusion in the National Register under crtierion A due to its association with the region's commercial and residential development during the teens and 1920's. During this era development had become more auto-oriented, and centered along major arterials such as the North Trunk Road. In Shoreline, growth spread along the Interurban rail line and the expanding road network centered along the North Trunk Road. While a section of the brick road north of 175th was recently demolished for commercial development, the remaining segments of the Brick Road have retained integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. These segments are the only surviving examples of the North Trunk (Brick) Road, and one of the few brick roads left in King and Snohomish Counties.

But here is the way this precious piece of our history is currently being treated. 
Junk storage!

The City is now conducting a process, asking citizens to contribute their opinions about how to 
design our Town Center area (located between 173rd-189th and between Linden and Stone), which is 
scheduled for a "Rezone".  Also up for consideration is the "Town Center Park" which is now known as the Interurban Park between Midvale Ave N and Aurora.


These are crucial design processes which will make a huge difference on the character of our City as we move forward in the 21st Century.   


If you would like to contribute and let your voice be heard follow this link.
http://www.cityofshoreline.com/index.aspx?recordid=29&page=757
Next Thursday there is an important Planning Commission meeting to discuss these issues.
It will be held at 7pm at City Hall.

It is up to the citizens to oversee and watchdog this process. Otherwise it will be the OUTSIDE consultants who make the crucial decisions about OUR City. Our future and our history!