Submit a Comment
Do you have ideas for the landscaping and amenities at EWEB's College Hill water storage site? Click here to submit your feedback.
All input will be reviewed by the core College Hill project team.
To fulfill our promise to provide safe and reliable water service, EWEB must demolish the existing College Hill Reservoir and replace it with modern water storage tanks capable of surviving an earthquake. The top of the new tanks will not be accessible to the public to protect water quality.
EWEB recognizes that the College Hill Reservoir has become a valued community asset over the last eight decades. If it was feasible for EWEB to save the structure, we would. Unfortunately, because the reservoir cannot be retrofitted to meet current seismic standards, keeping it is not a viable option. What we can offer is to reimagine the space around the new tanks, so that the site will remain a useful gathering place for the community for decades to come.
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Explore this webpage: Our Commitment | How the Process will Work | Elevated Tank Site | Limits and Considerations | The Budget | Get Involved
For the Public by the Public
The current site supports many activities: walking, bike riding and roller skating, practicing Tai Chi, rehearsing emergency communications, star gazing, and providing a peaceful vantage point for city views, among others. In addition, the landscaping and other aesthetics contribute to the beauty and charm of the neighborhood.
As part of this project, EWEB is maintaining public space voluntarily as we recognize the important role this site has served in the community. Most of EWEB’s other water storage sites do not have public uses of any kind; this is a rare benefit for College Hill.
As of April 1, 2024, EWEB has received more than 200 comments related to landscaping at College Hill. The team is reviewing feedback and investigating the feasibility of different options (e.g., siting a new hardscape), as themes emerge. We will continue collecting input into 2025.
Submit a CommentHow the Process will Work
EWEB is gathering input from the public via an online comment form and physical comment cards at public meetings. For property retained by EWEB and not used for storing and protecting water, site neighbors and other residents are invited to provide input on:
- Landscape design such as trees, shrubs, berms and other vegetation features
- Public amenities (outside the fenced tanks) such as paths, ground surfaces, and spaces for recreational activities
Input is tracked, published in batches for public viewing, and provided to the landscape design firm working on this project.
EWEB and the landscape design firm are looking for trends in the feedback along with other data and will develop an initial landscaping proposal with renderings. We will present this proposal to the public and collect comments and ideas for refinement. The landscape design firm will incorporate feedback into the final design for approval by EWEB, which will then be shared with the public.
We are committed to listening, thoughtfully considering community input, striving to best meet public preferences and explaining the reasons behind decisions.
Elevated Tank Site
The elevated tank site, which is located south of the reservoir on the corner of Lawrence and 25th Street, will not be included in the landscaping plan. During construction, the site will be used for parking and staging to minimize street impacts in the neighborhood.
Following project completion, EWEB working alongside the City, will assess the site for long-term uses and inform the community of the path forward for the property.
Limits and Considerations
Inevitably, the public input process will unearth more suggestions than can be pursued. We will use the following values – which mirror those of the wider community – to filter suggestions and determine which alternatives will be implemented.
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Safety |
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Water Quality |
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Cost |
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Equity and Inclusion |
The Budget
Because not all customers have the benefit of an EWEB-owned accessible public space in their neighborhood, and consistent with EWEB’s community role, EWEB will stick to a responsible budget for the landscaping and amenities portion of this project. The landscaping consultant will keep all proposals within the budget allotment.
Get Involved
EWEB will send invitations to public meetings via email. If you are not already on the College Hill mailing list, please sign up here.
We also welcome written comments and phone calls to water.storage@eweb.org or 541-685-7899.
