A 25 year old man and a woman in her teens were shot this evening at about 6:45pm as they sat outside the Garfield Community Center at 23rd & E. Cherry. The victims and witnesses reportedly told police that a vehicle opened fire at them as it drove past. The good news, according to East Precinct Captain Paul McDonagh, is that neither of the victims’ injuries are considered life-threatening.

The victims ran across the street after the shooting to seek shelter at the AM/PM convenience store, and were treated by medics there before being taken to the hospital.

The victims told police that they did not recognize their assailants. SPD officers are at the hospital with the victims to attempt to get additional information, and are following up on possible leads about the vehicle involved in the shooting. SPD gang units are assisting with the investigation.

Today’s shooting broke a streak of relative peace in the neighborhood. Our last recorded incident of gun violence was back on April 11th, when a woman survived a shooting at 27th S. & S. Irving.

Just an hour after the shooting today, police were called back to the intersection at 23rd & Cherry to help a man with mental health issues who had cut his wrists. He was restrained, treated by medics, and taken to Harborview for further medical and psychiatric attention.

Here’s our original breaking-news report:

It appears that at least two people have been shot in the parking lot of the AM/PM on the steps of the Garfield Community Center at 23rd & Cherry.

One was just taken away by an ambulance, while medics treat another one near the store’s entrance. More as we get it.

As you may know, the plant store Envy has moved out [update: and moved over to 15th and Madison, opening later this month] and the commercial space (on the SW corner of 25th and Union) is currently available. A few locals and I want to quickly poll the community and ask: what kind of shop would you like to see there? We probably couldn’t open a full diner (which I agree from earlier posts would be better suited at 23rd & Union), but we’d certainly love to open something that would benefit the community. Thoughts?

Vote on your favorite option here

The kind of holiday bbq that you don’t want to be invited to is happening in the parking lot of the Curry Temple at 23rd & Spruce. A congregant says that the owner had just purchased the older gold Honda Accord. He noticed it smoking as he drove into the parking lot, telling the pastor “you may want to call the fire department – I think my car is on fire.”

A fire department officer at the scene described it as “a small little thing” as other members of the Engine Six team used a metal saw to open up the hood of the vehicle.

Photo courtesy Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com

Photo courtesy Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com

Photo courtesy Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com

The view from the shores of I-5:

Interesting article in Crosscut.

Excerpt:

Those ideas for adaptive reuse of the old schoolhouse are exactly the wrong kind of uses for the building, says local property owner Ron Rubin. He urges the city to “resist the temptation to turn [Mann] into low-income housing or drug counseling” or any use that’s not financially “sustainable,” but instead focus on a commercial venture that will “make it an anchor in the neighborhood” akin to the Wallingford Center, another former school turned into retail space. Rubin has a vested interest in the neighborhood; he owns a 12-unit apartment building across the street from Nova and a series of garages nearby that he wants to convert to micro-businesses. Though he’s personally not interested in purchasing the building, he believes “the minute it’s closed, it should go up for sale.” There’s no doubt in his mind that an empty Mann building will attract “trash, vandalism, graffiti, drug dealing, and prostitution.”

“As the landlord, I think the school district has an obligation to the community. My fear is that they are not going to uphold their responsibility as a property owner and there is going to be a blight. It could easily sit vacant for two-three years.” He continues, “The city spent 10 years and $115 million on the Garfield project, yet there is nothing in that neighborhood that encourages pedestrianism or discourages drug-dealing. They should protect the investment they made in Garfield and the community at large. All the pieces fit together.”

We are closed on Saturday for the 4th but will be open Sunday to accommodate all your family and friends!

APP special in light (no pun intended) of the 4th –

Home Made BBQ sauce pizza with chicken, bacon, red o, provolone 17.50/23.50 (no 1/2 & 1/2 pies)

delish!!

Also – REFRESHING SPICY APP jalepeno lemonade (2.25$)

Hi Neighbors. Had my Trek 930 Bike cable locked in my driveway for over a year now and last night, someone cut the cable. Besides wanting to vent, I am hoping you will keep an eye out and respond if you see it around the area. White frame with Red Decals and trim. Very sad and it hurts that people will do this kind of thing to one another. Stolen near 17 & Columbia – thanks and be aware!

Looking for something to do on this gorgeous Friday? They’ve got a huge music stage, booths, and food set up at Judkins Park for the Pacific Northwest Black Community Festival.

Right now the band Carmel Latte is on the stage with a good MJ tribute of Rock With You. See the festival’s website for more info on the music lineup.

Food includes General’s BBQ, short cakes, burgers, and more.

The festival continues today, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00am till 10:00pm.

Come sit in the grass and check it out!

From Seattle’s East Precinct, Friday, July 3, 2009

From Seattle’s East Precinct, Thursday, July 2, 2009