From Seattle’s East Precinct, Thursday, June 25, 2009

It looks like the three classic houses that are in the way of the Epiphany School’s expansion in Madrona may yet be saved. Crews from Nichols Brothers House Moving are working now to prepare the houses for their trip to new properties. They’ve been jacked up off of their foundations and large steel beams have been slid underneath.

A construction schedule available on the school’s website shows that one house will be moved on July 13th, and the other two will be moved July 20th.

A fourth home of more recent construction was not able to be moved and was torn town last week.

It’s not clear yet what has changed in the project to make the moves economically feasible. We were unable to reach school officials or the prospective buyers of the homes for comment.

Email tipster R.S. tells us that there is still some minor controversy about neighbor’s trees that will have to be trimmed before the move. But as our tipster points out, hopefully people will realize that keeping good homes out of the landfill is much more green than a few tree limbs.

Update: I just spoke to Alan Serebrin, one of the prospective house buyers, who said that the project is at risk again as of late yesterday. The house moving project was made economically feasible by a new plan to move the houses on Howell, which has less utilities that would have to be moved than the larger arterial on Denny Way.

But Howell is a narrow street, and the twenty-eight foot wide houses would require temporary removal of five small trees in the planting strip. But suddenly some homeowners have objected to to the project based on its impact to those trees, each of which is less than 2″ in diameter. Mr. Serebrin stressed that the trees would only be temporarily taken out for three days and then put back in, and there are other discussions under way to guarantee the tree’s survival afterwards or even replace them with much larger trees.

Those neighbors will reportedly be meeting tonight to decide their course of action. If they continue to put up a fight, the school may give up and order the demolition of the homes as soon as next week. We’ll let you know how it turns out.

E. Howell Street, showing the small trees that are a new source of controversy

From Seattle’s East Precinct, Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The ex-CD residents at Vintage Seattle have focused their talents on the Walla School, aka Mann School, which until last week was home of the NOVA alternative program. In addition to a great testimonial to the current school from a NOVA parent, they dug up a Seattle Schools document that gives the history of the structure:

• Opened as the Walla Walla School in 1902 to relieve overcrowding from TT Minor, with elementary students in 12 rooms
• Was built according to James Stephen’s “Model School” plan, which included provisions for a never-realized addition on the north side
• Was renamed the Mann School in 1921 to honor Horace Mann, the “Father of Free Fchools”
• The school’s harmonica program was interrupted during WWII because harmonicas weren’t manufactured
• Reached a peak enrollment of 596 in 1965-66
• Closed as an elementary school in 1968
• Became an alternative school in 1970

The NOVA program is moving to the Meany Middle School building in Miller Park for the 2009/2010 school year. (2009/2010… can that be right? yikes…)

For more photos, see the great post at Vintage Seattle

Commenter unreal reality pointed us to the posting on craigslist:

DEVELOPMENT SITE FOR SALE 23RD AND EAST UNION 

1400 23rd Avenue 

• Located at a Strategic Commercial Corner, in the Path of a New Wave of Urban Residential and Commercial Growth; Including such Projects as The Summit at Madison Park, at 23rd Madison, with a New Safeway and 242 Residential Units.

We contacted David Behar, the listing agent, and found that it’s actually both for sale at $1.45 million and for lease at $30 per square foot. Promotional flyers with additional details are attached as pdf files below.

Talking to some friends the other day, we came to the conclusion that this end of the neighborhood is badly in need of a good diner. Something with tasty but basic breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Anyone out there with some cooking skills and an entrepreneurial spirit?  As the marketing flyers note: the 2008 census says that average household income in that area is $82,619 a year…

are you missing a mtn bike? black coloring with a black and white hard seat (very italian looking)?

if so, i witnessed a gentleman spray painting one in the alley by 27th and Pike yesterday morning. I called the police, who asked a curious question–“how do you know it’s stolen?” My response: “well, i don’t often see people randomly spray painting bikes on the street. not a really popular hobby for bike owners.” flabbergasted at the stupidity of the question.

upon review of the concrete where the bike was being sprayed, the gentleman left a “E Union St Hustlers” tag on the alley. my guess is he wasn’t just making his bike look better.

So, if you’re missing a bike, some folks up on 22nd and Union might just have it.

From Seattle’s East Precinct, Tuesday, June 23, 2009

We’re pushing this week to get the rest of the field on the farm planted before it gets too late in the season. The entire field has been plowed, and with 20 people for a day or two, we can get things in the ground. We’d really like to take advantage of planting the entire field, but need your help to do it.

We’re working on getting groups out on Wednesday and Saturday, but let us know if you’d like to go out another day. There’s usually someone from the project on the farm every weekday morning, and we’ll find a way to get you there if you need a ride. RSVP at http://www.cleangreensfarm.com/events/event/listUpcoming to let us know if you can make it. Call 206-323-5958, if you’d like to arrange to work at the farm another day.

Meet up at New Hope Baptist Church on 21st & Fir at 9am on Wednesday or Saturday, or meet us on the farm. Check in before heading out to the farm. We’ll post a note at www.cleangreensfarm.com if the event is canceled. Sign up as a member at the site to get regular invites to events.

Thanks!!!

From Seattle’s East Precinct, Monday, June 22, 2009

Today is the opening celebration for The Corner, the oral history and art project at 23rd & Union. The artists are there all afternoon to talk to neighbors about the project, and they’ve got a big table set up with some tasty looking BBQ.

With the art installation now completed, the next step is to get more people involved in the history part of the project. They want everyone with a memory or a story to tell about the intersection to call 877-723-8646 and leave a recording. Those will then be packaged up into podcasts and a larger documentary about the intersection. You can also get involved via the project’s website or their very active Facebook page.

The art installation sits on the vacant lot where Jim Mueller has filed plans to build a 6-story apartment building, a project which has been delayed due to the turmoil in the financing markets. 

The celebration runs through 5pm today.

Here’s some photos from the event:

Two of the artists: Jenny Asarnow and Scratchmaster Joe Martinez

Carolyn Walden & Jean Tinnea (who stars in the artwork) enjoy some BBQ