Some 21 marijuana retail stores are set to open beginning next year, but zoning restrictions are strict: pot shops must be 1,000 feet from schools, public parks, libraries, and transit centers.

As we’ve reported in the past, it turns out that 23rd and Union has the potential to become a “Little Amsterdam” as the area is one of the few spots that meets these zoning challenges.

This revelation has drawn mixed reactions from the neighborhood, as KUOW recently reported. They report that some community members are “worried that a cluster of pot stores could bring crime to the area. They’re also concerned about kids having easier access to marijuana and how legalization will change the perception of pot.”

Others, though, like real estate investor Ian Eisenberg, who owns property at the corner, are looking forward to the economic opportunities this presents.

“It would bring new people to the neighborhood who are scared of the area from the past perceptions of crime,” Eisenberg told KUOW. “You go to one shop, then you try out another shop next door. That’s the whole idea of a shopping mall, or a strip mall. If we can find a way to pull new customers into 23rd and Union to try out businesses in the new developments — restaurants and bars — it’ll be great.”

We want to know how you feel about the potential for pot shops at 23rd and Union. Let us know in the poll below.

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(Image shared with CDN by permission)

Remember the two young men recently arrested for a drunken graffiti spree that left Broadway’s Jimi Hendrix statue defaced in blue spray paint? What if instead of sending the alleged taggers through an expensive criminal justice process, they were given the option to sit down with those directly and indirectly affected to discuss what they did and come up with a mutual resolution?

That’s just one example of where a process called restorative justice could come into play, according to the director of Mayor Mike McGinn’s latest public safety initiative. The Restorative Justice Initiative pilot program is currently being rolled out in the East Precinct in an effort to keep low level offenders out of the criminal justice system and to foster better community relationships. Continue reading →

The city’s Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), is calling for an artist or team of artists to create artwork along 23rd Avenue, between John and Jackson streets, as part of the 23rd Avenue improvement project.

More on the project from the city:

The desired artistic approach will consider a unified visual and conceptual presence along the corridor and will address the historic and socio-cultural identity of the Central District.

The selected artist or artist team will begin design work immediately after selection in early January 2014 and deliver a final design proposal by June 2014. Construction of this project is scheduled to begin in fall 2014.

Eligibility: Open to professional artists residing in the United States who have experience working in public process and have successfully completed at least one public art commission.

Budget: The total project budget is estimated to be $200,000, all-inclusive of travel expenses, taxes and other project costs.

Interested artists can learn more and apply here. The deadline is 11 p.m. on November 18. 

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King County Metro Transit announced a slew of changes to bus routes starting Sept. 28. Fifty-five routes will be affected, including the 48 through the Central District.

Metro cites “streamlined service on Interstate 90, better timed connections and more bus trips in downtown Seattle,” as among the updates and changes to its routes.

“Transit demand keeps growing, and Metro continues to create efficiencies to maintain bus service within the funds available,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine in a press release. “A major source of revenue expires next year, and drastic cuts are on the horizon unless stable funding can be secured to keep King County moving.”

Route expansions are made possible by “by redistributing existing service or making no-cost operational changes. Other improvements to several routes in Seattle are fully funded through the City of Seattle.”

Route 48 will see slightly expanded service beginning on the 28th. Specifically:

The first northbound Route 48 Express trip to Loyal Heights leaving 15th Ave NE & NE 45th St at 3:18 pm will be converted to a local trip.

On weekdays, one southbound trip to the Mount Baker Transit Center leaving Loyal Heights at 12:10 am will be added. On Saturday, two northbound trips to Loyal Heights leaving the Mount Baker Transit Center at 12:06 and 6:06 am, and one southbound trip at 11:58 pm will be added.

The southbound 6:19 am trip leaving 15th Ave NE & NE 65th St will be revised to leave Loyal Heights at 5:59 am.

On Sunday, three northbound trips at 12:06 and 6:16 am, and 11:16 pm will be added. The northbound trip leaving the Mount Baker Transit Center at 11:31 am will be revised to leave 15 minutes later at 11:46 pm. Two southbound trips at 6:02 am and 11:59 pm will be added and the southbound trip leaving Loyal Heights at 11:38 pm will be revised to leave nine minutes earlier at 11:29 pm.

 

To read more about this and other service changes, visit the King County Metro Transit website.

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A seven-year-old boy was found abandoned at the Jackson Street Nickelsville. SPD has the details:

Officers responded to homeless campsite in the 2000 block of S. Jackson St to find an abandoned child wandering the grounds.  On September 23^rd at approximately 8:30 p.m., the suspect (child’s mother) left her 7- year- old son at the Nickelsville Homeless Camp.

One of the attendants at the camp called 9-1-1. Officers responded and found the child walking around the campsite.  The child’s clothing was damp from being out in the rain.

The child did not know where his mother was or when she would be back.  Officers transported the child to the East Precinct.  The child said he had not eaten since breakfast so officers took the child to McDonald’s while they waited for CPS to respond to take custody of the child.

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Learn more about 23rd Ave improvements from the Seattle Bike Blog

The target of this November’s battle of progressives pitting liberal neighbor vs. liberal neighbor, the Seattle Mayor’s office Monday unveiled the executive’s proposal for how the city should spend its money in 2014 complete with line items for bike and transit investments for 23rd Ave and the First Hill streetcar. You can view the proposed budget documents here.

The Seattle Times has details of the proposal that continues a path of recovery — including $65 million in “unanticipated revenue — from recent years following cuts in the wake of the economic slowdown to end the previous decade.

• 2010: City and county leaders roll out their plans to cut back for 2011
• 2011: The ‘Great Recession’ continues — Where Seattle budget cuts will hit the Hill
• 2012: Capitol Hill line items part of modest trimming as Seattle sees recovery

Under the budget proposal, the city would add 176 employees next year after laying off almost 550 between 2010 and 2012, the Seattle Times reports.

The Times also says Mayor Mike McGinn has added money for a new bikeway along 23rd Ave and a new pedestrian crossing for the Montlake light rail station. The mayor’s proposal includes $3.2 million to improve Seattle public transit including planning to connect the South Lake Union and First Hill streetcars.

The mayor has been rolling out some of the more important budget proposals in recent weeks:

• More cops in Seattle
• Traffic safety improvements
• Center City Initiative

The process for public feedback and City Council-sponsored modifications to the budget plan now begins.

2014 Seattle City Budget
Budget Documents, Agendas and Information

Do you have questions about the budget agendas or can’t find something? Search our City Council Budget Documents database or contact us at [email protected] or 206-684-8344.

 

How does the budget process work?

The City Council conducts its official budget deliberations from late September to mid-November, but drafting the budget is a year-long process. If you have any questions about the process, please contact the office of Council Budget Chair Tim Burgess at [email protected] or 206-684-8806.

Be involved

There are several ways for you to share your budget priorities. Help us create Seattle’s future by email, over the phone or at one of our two public hearings:

• October 3, 5:30 p.m.(5 p.m. sign up), Council Chambers, Seattle City Hall, Download the Public Hearing Agenda
• October 24, 6:00 p.m. (5:30 p.m. sign up), Location TBD

Be informed

• Search the archive of budget documents

• Watch this eight-minute audio slideshow from 2010 about City budget trends over the last 20 years

   

  If you value this coverage and want to support the continued independence of Central District News, please subscribe today for as little as $5/month — DRIVE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30.

Standard Brewing is hosting a competition for the Central District’s own homebrew club this Saturday (9/28) at noon. The club is known as the Central District Brewing Collective (CDBC), and they make some damn fine beer. The audience choice winner of the competition will co-brew the beer on Standard’s system, and it’ll go on tap at the brewery when it’s done!

The only problem is, we need a judging panel. If you’re interested in tasting a wide variety of some delicious homebrew and selecting a winner, please email [email protected]. We have to limit the number of judges to 15, so jump on it if you’re interested. First come, first served!

One man is dead in a car crash that occurred on the 12th Avenue South bridge Saturday morning. SPD has the full story:

Officers continue to investigate a collision on the 12th Avenue South Bridge that left one man dead this morning.

At approximately 3:13 a.m. officers responded to a one-vehicle collision on the 12th Avenue South Bridge, located in the 800 block of 12th Avenue South.  The involved vehicle had a total of three male occupants.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 22-year-old male was driving a white Oldsmobile sedan northbound on the 12th Avenue South Bridge just north of Pacific Medical Center.  The driver crossed the center line and impacted a light pole on the west side of the bridge.  The vehicle came to rest on the raised concrete barrier of the bridge.

Fire department medics responded to the scene and transported the driver and 22-year-old front seat passenger to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.  A 21-year-old man who was the vehicle’s only rear seat passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers evaluated the driver of the vehicle for signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.  Obvious signs of intoxication were observed and a blood draw was performed with the results pending laboratory analysis.

Once the driver is released from the hospital he will be booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Vehicular Homicide.

Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.