Seattle

Thanks to all of the folks from the Community Council and everyone who donated stuff to make this happen. The day was beautiful and the event was a fun opportunity for everyone to come out, eat some food, listen to the sweet sounds of the Marimba band and get to know each other better. With hot dogs, ice cream, veggie burgers, bouncy houses, and fire truck, everyone who showed up had a really great time. Hope to see all of you out there next year! In the mean time, here are some images from todays event.

Update: by Scott - Joanna tells me that they counted almost 200 people at the BBQ - it was a great time on a beautiful day, and really cool to meet so may neighbors.  Thanks!

Last month we talked about the plans for the old copier building at 20th & Union, and one big concern was their plan of having surface parking for 10 vehicles.  Big parking lots create a lot of unfriendly dead space and are definitely not a positive addition for a budding business district.

Last week they held the first design review for the project, and now we can get a glimpse of what they're planning.  They sketched out three options - one with a surface parking lot in the back of the development, and two with underground parking garages.   Every option has a varying amount of ground-floor retail, with 2 stories of residential units above that.   Here's some details for each:

Option 1 contains 4 retail spaces with between 600 and 1000 square feet of space each.  There's an underground parking garage with a driveway on the west side of the building along 20th Ave.   Ten two-story residential units sit on top of the retail, seven facing Union, two facing east towards the gas station, and one facing west on 20th above the garage entry.   The odd thing about this one is the big chunk of open space along the back of the property.  I suppose it gives a buffer to the neighbors to the south, but parts of it exist underneath the residential units that stick out over the retail space.  Why not have larger retail spaces instead?  

Option 2 has a much larger 5,000 square feet of retail space over an underground parking garage, and eight two-story residential units above that.   This seems to make a much better use of the property, although with a smaller buffer facing the southern neighbors.  The garage entrance is still located on the southwest corner of the building on 20th Ave.

Option 3 is the surface parking option (placed at the rear, southern side of the lot), with a smaller amount of retail space and two driveway entrances, one on 20th and one curving around to the northeast corner on Union.   Ten residential units sit on top of the retail and cantilever over park of the back parking lot.   Not only does this have the problematic parking lot, but the additional driveway on Union seems a really bad direction to go, breaking up the sidewalk and ruining what could be a really great pedestrian environment on that side of the street.   The smaller amount of retail (taken by the parking lot) is less than code requires for this zoning.

Overall, I'm impressed with the preliminary sketches of how the building will appear.  But I'm personally hoping the review board kills off options 1 and 3, leaving the much more pedestrian and retail-friendly option 2.

You can download the entire proposal from the city's website at:  http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/dpd/AppDocs/GroupMeetings/DRProp  (warning: it's big, about 45 MB)

I know a lot of people were concerned about the underground fire & explosion last Saturday at 23rd & Pike.  This morning I got in touch with the very helpful Peter Clarke at Seattle City Light, and he filled in a few details about the incident (and big kudos to City Light for being responsive to a lowly neighborhood blog such as this - wish we were so lucky with other agencies).

I'm sure you've seen the big electrical facility behind the 70's style brick wall along 23rd, between Pike & Pine streets.  That is the East Pine Substation, and it takes the high voltage that comes into the city from the Bonneville Power Administration and distributes it to the eastern part of town, stepping it down from 230,000 volts to 26,000 volts in the process.   The substation serves the area roughly between the ship canal and I-90 on the north and south, and Lake Washington & I-5 on the east and west.  

The underground vault where the explosion occurred contains multiple feeder lines that take the power from the substation and send it out to the various neighborhoods on this side of town.   The wires carrying that power are in close proximity to each other, and insulation is used to keep the wires from touching and causing short circuits.   But on Saturday some of that insulation failed for unknown reasons (I'm guessing it's just old), causing a short.  Due to the high voltage in those wires, a short can release an immense amount of heat very quickly, causing the loud explosive sounds and the resulting fire.   Circuit breakers quickly detected the fault and tripped, cutting power to a big part of the neighborhood.

One of the risks with electrical equipment is the presence of PCBs.   It's a nasty, toxic, potentially cancer-causing chemical that was used to cool electrical equipment up until the point when it was banned by the EPA in the 70s.  But older equipment still contains PCBs and can pose an environmental & health hazard if it leaks out or the equipment containing it is damaged. 

The good news here is that there isn't any equipment in the underground vault that contains PCBs.  And while there are 3 transformers in the neighboring substation that do contain "very small amounts" of PCBs, they were not damaged or otherwise affected by the underground incident.   City Light also assures me that they have active monitoring and spill prevention/response plans for the older equipment in the substation that contain PCBs.

FYI

Over 90% of the janitors working in King County are represented by Service Employees International Union, Local 6. They're in contract negotiations right now, trying to get living wages and affordable full family health care. After hearing of a recent proposal from the employers, workers chanted "Strike!"

Tomorrow is the big day: the city hearing examiner will be taking public testimony on Jim Mueller's new building at 23rd & Union. The main issue under consideration is whether to rezone the property to accommodate the 65-foot height of the project.

This is the second to the last hurdle for the proposed development, with the final one being city council approval of the rezone. When I spoke to Jim yesterday morning, he said that construction should begin next spring if the rezone is granted.

The hearing begins at 1:30pm in Key Tower:
700 5th Avenue, Suite 4000

Today's Seattle Times has an article describing the trials and tribulations of New Bethel's attempt to grow food locally.

Urban folks find farming a tough row to hoe
A new farming venture aimed at providing organic produce to residents of Seattle's Central Area and other urban neighborhoods needs help saving its first crop...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004474432_n

I met the farmers at the Buy Local event this winter which, while sponsored by the Balck Dollar Days Coalition, is a collaboration of many efforts by people of diverse backgrounds to support our locally based economy.

I was impressed by the goals of the farming effort and have spent some very pleasant hours with Lottie Cross at New Bethel hearing about her desire that our city children get their hands in the soil.

I don't know if folks can come together to help. Just thought I'd make you all aware of what is going on.

Friends and neighbors of the CD:

For years we have lived in relative peace with our well-heeled neighbors to the north. Although it's never been a particularly warm relationship, it has been generally civil. But now I'm afraid that our Pax E. Seattle may be coming to an end.

For years all rational observers have considered E. Madison street as the firm dividing line between the Central District and Capitol Hill. Fancy, idle upper-classers lived to the north, and hard-working, salt-of-the-earth folks lived to the south. But a bold land grab is now under way, with the hillster's making a claim that would extend their territory all the way to Union & Spring streets. They're even trying to grab the beloved Cafe Presse right out from under us.

I know - it's utterly ridiculous. Their plans would place Mt. Zion Baptist Church, arguably the spiritual soul of the CD, on Capitol Hill. They would make TT Minor Elementary into a Capitol Hill School, but with a total of zero kids who actually live on Capitol Hill. And most offensively, they would take the "Welcome to the Central District Area" sign that sits between 14th & 15th on Madison and have it exist in a totally separate neighborhood.

I think I'm speaking for all in the CD when I say that we will not stand for this. I understand that they've got a new government that may be inexperienced in the art of diplomacy and neighborly relations. So I'm willing to let bygones be bygones if they withdraw their aggressive claims. But we won't shy away from escalating the fight if necessary to preserve our territorial integrity.

And finally, a word to the triangular Alsace-Lorraine of Seattle that we're fighting over. I know you're upset that we haven't paid enough attention to you. We left you out of all of our coolest neighborhood governments, and sped through your streets on the way to and from Trader Joe's. And I'm sure there's some confusion from the fact that your real-estate agent told you your new townhouse was in "South Capitol Hill" (they do tend to embellish). But you'll always be second class citizens on Capitol Hill - never invited to their wine & cheese parties and exotic HRC fundraisers. So come back, and we'll get you a box of tasty chicken and some deliciously exotic ethiopian cuisine. We need you, and I think you need us too.

Join your neighbors to talk about forming a Sustainable Central District group.



Tuesday June 10

Snacks at 6:30pm Discussion at 7pm



At the Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist Church:

835 Yesler Way - This is two blocks west of Boren at the south end of Broadway. Next to the Yesler Community Center. The building is accessible, with a level entrance from the street. On Metro Route 60 or 27 and near Route 7. Bike and car parking in the back.



Snacks from Madison Market Provided



Contact:

Polly 206.779.1412

Paul 206-852-5080

Email: SustainableCD@gmail.com



- Let us know your coming or just drop by -

Leschi Elementary is getting a new playground!

Please join us to help build it on Saturday, July 26th!

For many of you out there, Leschi Elementary is your reference school and whether you are a current parent, future parent or community member you are most welcome!

If you are interested in volunteering or providing a cash donation for the grant matching fund, please contact Jessica Silverthorne at 206-443-4790 or jessicasilverthorne@hotmail.com.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

The new playground is made possible with funding and volunteer power from Washington Mutual, the Leschi Elementary community, the Seattle School District and KaBOOM (a national playground advocacy organization).

What does sustainability look like in the CD?




Join your neighbors to talk about forming a Sustainable Central District group. We are interested in: Development, gentrification, energy, transportation, local businesses, urban agriculture and socializing with neighbors!

Tuesday May 27th and Tuesday June 10
Snacks at 6:30pm Discussion at 7pm

At the Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist Church:
835 Yesler Way - This is two blocks west of Boren at the south end of Broadway. Next to the Yesler Community Center. The building is accessible, with a level entrance from the street. On Metro Route 60 or 27 and near Route 7. Bike and car parking in the back.

Snacks from Madison Market Provided

Contact:
Polly 206.779.1412
Paul 206-852-5080
Email: SustainableCD@gmail.com
Visit our google group page: www.google.com/group/sustainablecd

- Let us know your coming or just drop by -