Grand Lake and vicinity neighborhood

A Queen Palm was demolished earlier today when a car westbound on Lake Park skidded out of control. This is not an emergency since he tree has already been removed.

While I the hope the driver wasn't seriously injured, this incident raises two distinct issues:

#1: This was the third of the Queen Palms that were installed in 2003 as part of the Splash Pad project that were destroyed by out of control vehicles. On the first two occasions, as far as I know, no efforts were made by the city to sue for damages that would be used to plant replacement palms. An established Queen Palm this size is going to run about $600 -$700 and delivery and installation will double that price. Since the Public Works Department is extremely short-staffed and lacking in funds, this latest palm is not going to be replaced unless the driver's insurance company foots the bill. As we all know, the city is being sued constantly--often for far less clear-cut reasons. How about us trying to level the playing field?

#2: There have been numerous accidents on this short stretch of Lake Park -- typically cars speeding as they come off the freeway and/or speeding up to try and make the green light on Grand. The palm in the median across from KFC was destroyed several years ago and not replaced. The one today was across from Chao Thai. Another three palms in that median are heavily scarred from earlier accidents. I'd strongly suggest that Traffic Engineering look into installation of signs that warn of a curve ahead and/or 25mph speed limit signs or whatever else may do the trick.

The shooting on the morning of April 13th outside of shadow ultra lounge makes that the 10th shooting at that address in the last 3 years. That's probably some sort of record. Any chance that the operator of the nightclub could be evicted under the nuisance ordinance? Or do we have to get to 20 shootings before something can be done?

On Mandana boulevard, between Grand Avenue & Lakeshore Avenue, there is not a single cross walk....this is about a 6 (long) block stretch. It is unrealistic to think that people won't cross Mandana, and traffic continues to worsen. This is to request a quick study on what it would take to add painted pedestrian cross walks at Erie and at Walker.

The T-intersection at 41st and Gilbert is very dangerous. There is only one crosswalk across 41st on the east side of the intersection (with no stop sign), cars tend to drive very fast going up and down the hill. There is a preschool at the corner, and parents and kids often cross 41st on the side without the crosswalk because of the limited parking for drop off and pick up on Gilbert, so parents often park in the angled parking spots on 41st. There is minimal signage regarding the school zone on the west side of the intersection, so cars are unaware to slow down. Additionally, the visibility going east on 41st is limited because of the hill, so cars often cannot see pedestrians in the street until they are very close. It is an accident waiting to happen.

I would like to request improved traffic control measures to address these dangerous conditions, such as upgraded crosswalk striping, pedestrian crossing warning signage, pavement extensions, stop signs on the east and west sides of the intersection along 41st, and/or another crosswalk on the west side of the intersection.

As the photo shows, though it's not obvious exactly what it is. There's also tagging. Address approximate.

As with other pedestrian crosswalks in our community, this one at the Cleveland Cascade has no lighting to alert drivers that someone is crossing. I recently was almost hit when a driver began to brake as I approached and then accelerated through the crosswalk, narrowly missing me just as I stepped out into his or her path. This crosswalk needs the same blinking light system used in other area crosswalks.

A stop sign in both directions, on MacArthur Blvd, next to the existing bus stops at Alma Ave.
The stops will slow the increasingly fast pace of the cars in the long uninterrupted stretches of MacArthur from both directions, past the school, the pool, two churches, and dozens of residential properties.
The cars GAIN speed, due to the wide open nature of the road, in both directions. The drivers do not even notice they are "opening it up", after climbing hills from each direction. Some drivers do know how fast they go, as this is a cute little way to avoid a portion of 580, and they hit 45-50mph, through our neighborhood and past the school and bus stops.
We have been homeowners here 27 years and this problem truly needs to be addressed. A solution is SO simple and inexpensive. MacArthur at Alma is really a scary intersection for any pedestrian because cars are coming hard from each direction. Most drivers are real good about stopping for pedestrians, but many are not. Why not slow them all down. The responsible ones won't mind at all and the buses are already fairly often stopping there. Please help make our neighborhood safer.
We have a petition signed by neighbors who agree with the need for two additional stop signs at this intersection.
Thank you for your time and interest.