By Jack Mayne The Des Moines City Council approved a new master plan for Highline College’s proposed redevelopment, without objection from the public, at the Thursday night (Jan. 12) meeting. The project includes a “phased redevelopment of the campus” that includes redevelopment and renovation of buildings and replacement of others. The Council vote was 6 – 0 with Councilmember Victor Pennington absent. The Council also congratulated, with a proclamation, the North Hill Elementary School for being recognized with the “2016 School of Distinction Award after five consecutive years of outstanding improvement in student achievement, the second consecutive year that North Hill has been given this award.” The award is given to the top 5 percent of schools in the state that have made sustained improvements in reading and math. North Hill is one of only 51 elementary schools that met the performance criteria for the 2015-16 school year. The city’s proclamation said the “award process highlights the need to continue to support improvement efforts of our schools and the dedicated and talented leaders and staffs that make this kind of increased student achievement happen.”]]>
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Highline College continues to be a huge asset in the City of Des Moines. However it also has had a negative impact on the local community going back years that I hope this plan addresses. Parking in the surrounding neighborhoods has adversely impacted the quality of life for those people living in those areas surrounding the college. I sincerely hope this plan includes efforts to mitigate already existing parking concerns in advance of any expansion efforts. Without being able to enlarge its parking footprint the campus is in desperate need of a parking structure I am hoping city leadership was mindful of this prior to approving this plan. When I discussed this with college leaders years ago I was told there was no state funding for such structures. That mindset does not make the problem go away. Many such structures in downtown Seattle are built and operated off the fees
generated by the users. To ignore the problem would not be very respectful to your neighbors.
Highline College continues to be a huge asset in the City of Des Moines. However it also has had a negative impact on the local community going back years that I hope this plan addresses. Parking in the surrounding neighborhoods has adversely impacted the quality of life for those people living in those areas surrounding the college. I sincerely hope this plan includes efforts to mitigate already existing parking concerns in advance of any expansion efforts. Without being able to enlarge its parking footprint the campus is in desperate need of a parking structure I am hoping city leadership was mindful of this prior to approving this plan. When I discussed this with college leaders years ago I was told there was no state funding for such structures. That mindset does not make the problem go away. Many such structures in downtown Seattle are built and operated off the fees
generated by the users. To ignore the problem would not be very respectful to your neighbors.