Mercer Island City Manager Jessi Bon said the city hates to do it, but a two-week closure of the thrift shop is necessary for repairs in February.
City contractors’ construction schedule will include rebuilding the covered walkway and garage — which badly leaks during rainfall — during the Feb. 8-22 shutdown, Bon said at the Jan. 21 city council meeting. Crews will begin mobilizing on site on Feb. 3.
The vital work is a long time coming, said Bon, who added that no shopping or donation drop-offs will occur while contractors are on the job. Workers will also be getting in some painting and tackling other repairs during that time.
Regarding the shop — which supports Mercer Island Youth and Family Services — Bon said: “It’s doing quite well and bringing in money, but we can’t defer this maintenance any more. However, we know we’ll come back stronger and hopefully busier and we’ll look forward to everyone’s support when we bring it back online.”
A robust communications plan is underway to apprise the community of the situation, Bon added.
The city noted that online shopping will remain open during the physical closure, with fresh restocks every Friday at https://www.mercerislandthrift.org/shop-mits-online.
Upon the shop’s reopening date of Feb. 26, the city said, “We will introduce extended donation drop-off hours and a refreshed building.”
CITY PREPARING FOR LIGHT RAIL OPENING
In preparation for the MI light rail station opening expected for 2025, the city and King County Transportation crews have partnered to update some Town Center traffic signal timings.
The safety improvements include minor upgrades and activation of new four-section left-turn signal heads at the Southeast 27th Street/77th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 27th Street/78th Avenue Southeast intersections, which are getting busier and require this improved traffic flow, Bon said.
“All this work is timed to be happening ahead of the opening of the light rail anticipated for later this year,” Bon said. The Sound Transit web site also makes note of the future opening in 2025.
The project, which is nearly 90% finished, also includes new pedestrian push buttons and enhanced signal heads.
CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS
In the crosswalk realm, construction will resume the week of Feb. 17 on Island Crest Way improvements.
First up during mid-winter break, crews will trim branches and install conduit for Puget Sound Energy’s new power service drops. During the spring break week of April 14, crews will install and wire the pedestrian signal at Island Park Elementary, the rectangular rapid flashing beacons at Southeast 62nd and Southeast 63rd streets, new light poles and related equipment, according to a city document.
“To reduce traffic delays on Island Crest Way, construction is being scheduled during school breaks,” the city said.