Humble Pie, hops plants in the foreground.

It’s not often you find a chicken coop at a pizza joint. Or a restaurant constructed of shipping containers. Or basil plants growing in a rooftop garden.

But such is the scene at Humble Pie, open for just over a month now at 525 Rainier Ave, at Weller Street. Owner Brian Solazzi has labored on the odd-shaped lot for a year and a half, building his pizza restaurant. He’s incorporated two shipping containers, one for storage and the other for the kitchen and bathroom. Solazzi also built the coop, a large patio and outdoor seating area, and a small deck near the ordering window. He’s currently growing hops for eventual beer making, has plans to expand the gardens, and will start using eggs from his chickens in the fall.

The chicken coop, the rooftop garden, and the shipping containers are all part of Solazzi’s vision for a sustainable enterprise. Solazzi, who holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Carnegie Mellon, designed Humble Pie in accordance with LEED principles. (The building isn’t LEED certified, though; LEED only certifies buildings that are at least 1,000 square feet and Humble Pie is a mere 192.)

Humble Pie’s chicken coop

“LEED has a concept that I apply which is the triple bottom line, meaning we’re not only about profitability, we’re also about community development and sustainability,” Solazzi says. “With the building we tried to make something that has as small a footprint as possible. We wanted to be able to process 100% of rainwater on site. We wanted to have an outdoor environment and we wanted to grow as much of our food as we could.”

The Humble Pie menu will always have ten pies and a salad, but Solazzi is hoping to have specials that reflect seasonal ingredients. The current pies include a traditional Margherita, an apple pizza with Beecher’s Flagship cheese, and a prosciutto and arugula pie with a fried egg draped over the middle.

“We’re very interested in seasonal stuff as well as exploring more interesting types of pizza,” Solazzi says. “We’re not a strictly Italian place so that gives us freedom to explore other influences.”

Pizza and beer at Humble Pie

Beyond what he grows on site, Solazzi sources as much of his ingredients locally. Meat comes from Zoe’s Meats in SODO, and the pizza is made with Washington flour. Beer and wine is sourced from “as close to Seattle as possible,” Solazzi says. When he can, Solazzi opts for organic ingredients. And everything that passes through the ordering window is compostable or recyclable.

The chickens will help close the loop as much as possible by eating scraps or spoiled vegetables, and by contributing waste as fertilizer.

Humble Pie is currently open from 5 pm to 9 pm Tuesday through Sunday, but they’re currently hiring and hoping to expand to lunch hours soon.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the news, and our subscription drive has taken a back seat to reporting these breaking events.

But we wanted to remind you we’re still accepting donations to help keep Central District News relevant and useful, and to expand our coverage as our neighborhood grows.

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Though we won’t restrict access to the site, the added income will help us grow. Our goal is to gather 100 subscribers (at levels of $5, $10, or $20 each month) by the end of September. We’ll keep CDN going even if we don’t make the goal — but our plans to continue the coverage you’ve come to depend on and grow it will have to be adjusted.

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The damage at Med Mix.

Yesterday we reported that the Seattle Police Department has determined the fire at Med Mix on Monday morning was intentionally started.

The graffito on the Neighbor Lady building that reads “4 Pratt and Trayv”

Last night, KIRO 7 released footage of a hooded person approaching the Neighbor Lady building across the alley and spray painting the words “4 Pratt + Trayv.”

“Trayv” is likely a reference to Trayvon Martin, and “Pratt” may refer to Edwin Pratt, a local civil rights leader who was killed in 1969. The graffito was painted on the wall where there was once a mural featuring Pratt and other African American leaders.

The award sign on the Med Mix building.

The video also shows the person pouring a gas from a can over a fence and into the Med Mix storage area. The suspect then lights the gas and leaves the scene.

The restaurant is currently closed, though the owner does have plans to rebuild and reopen. Fire line tape surrounds much of the building.

There is sign on the building offering a $10,000 reward for any information pertaining to the case. Anyone with information is instructed to call 1-800-55-ARSON.

Here’s the video capturing the suspect spray painting the graffito and starting the fire:

UPDATE: The man who allegedly shot a Metro bus driver Monday morning has died from  injuries he sustained when he was shot by Seattle police, according to SPD. The suspect shot the bus driver multiple times in the face and body this morning on 3rd Ave. near Benaroya Hall. After shooting the bus operator, the suspect reportedly boarded another bus at 2nd and Seneca, where Seattle police officers shot the man through the bus windshield. He died several hours later at Harborview Medical Center.

The bus driver is in stable condition at Harborview. After visiting the hospital, King County Executive Dow Constantine told the Seattle Times that the 64-year-old operator is “remarkably upbeat.” No passengers were seriously injured in either shooting.

UPDATE: Harborview confirmed that the injured driver is Deloy Dupuis, reported the Seattle Times. Dupuis has worked for Metro since 1999 and has a clean record, according to Constantine.

KIRO 7 reported witnesses saw three men board the No. 27 bus without paying the fare around 8:50 AM. When the driver asked them to pay, the suspect, who was not one of the three, yelled “war” and started firing. The No. 27 bus line connects First Hill and the Central District with downtown.

The suspect then rushed into a No. 120 bus. That’s when police opened fire, hitting the suspect and putting several bullet holes through the bus windshield. Police have not yet identified the suspect, but the Seattle Times reports the man is 31-year-old Martin Duckworth.

UPDATE: Constantine joined Mayor Mike McGinn and acting SPD Chief Jim Pugel at a 2 PM press conference today to discuss the incident. Pugel said SPD officers shot the suspect when he raised his gun while inside the No. 120 bus. Officers fired again when the suspect appeared to raise his gun a second time. According to Pugel, officers were on the scene within minutes, and the incident was over seven minutes after police were called. Pugel said SPD would review security camera footage from both buses, as well as cell phone videos taken by witnesses. Constantine said that during his hospital visit the driver immediately asked if any passengers were injured in the shooting. The King County executive said he would not release the name of the driver until the driver’s family members were notified first.

“There are a lot of people out there with guns who shouldn’t have them,” Constantine said. He later added “I hope the next time you board a bus you will thank a Metro driver.”

At an earlier news briefing, Seattle police Assistant Chief Paul McDonagh acknowledged the danger that the officers posed by opening fire on a still-boarded bus, but said they made the right call.

“The officers are trained to make life and death decisions,” McDonagh said. “This was very dynamic situation, dangerous and dynamic.”

Southbound 3rd and 2nd avenues are closed between Pine and Seneca streets. Nearby businesses were also closed. Metro says expect delays on downtown routes as the police investigation continues.

Constantine, Mayor Mike McGinn, and acting police chief Jim Pugel are slated to hold a press conference today at 2 p.m. to talk about the shooting.

We have an official update from the city regarding the early morning fire at Med Mix on 23rd and Union.

The scene at Med Mix early this morning.

Seattle Fire Investigators have determined the incident was an incendiary fire, meaning one that is  intentionally set.The Seattle Police Department Arson Bomb Squad investigated the scene, which is protocol with intentionally-set fires. The fire originated in the exterior storage area behind the restaurant.

The fire wreaked an estimated $90,000 in damage, though there were no injuries in the blaze.

We’ve inquired whether SPD thinks the Med Mix fire is related to the recent string of arson fires in the area; they said they do not see any connection at this time other than proximity.

School board candidate and Central Area resident Olu Thomas has endorsed Stephan Blanford in the race to represent District Five on the Seattle School Board. 

Thomas notes that Blanford has the best potential to represent the interests of District Five, and to serve all of the students and families in Seattle Public Schools.

Blanford won 79% of the votes in District Five, consisting of the Central Area, Capitol Hill and parts of Downtown, in the primary election last Tuesday. Blanford, an educational consultant with a doctorate in educational policy and leadership, and LaCrese Green, a tutor and retired social worker, advance to the citywide election on November 5.

Upon hearing of the endorsement, Blanford stated, “Olu based her campaign on the need for more equitable outcomes for our students. I share her concerns and will continue her advocacy. I thank her for her spirited race and for her endorsement.”

Contact:
blanfordforseattleschools.com

Seattle Firefighters responded early Monday morning to a fire at 23rd and Union’s Med Mix.

The call went out around 2:15 a.m. and the response was large. The fire was under control by the time CDNews arrived at the scene shortly afterwards.

Firefighters could be seen inside and there was a ladder leading to the roof of the standalone building on the corner, once the home of Philly’s Cheese Steak.

We will update when we learn more.

UPDATE: A Seattle Fire spokesperson said the damage was limited to the outside of the building and that blaze is being investigated. There were no injuries in the incident.

UPDATE #2: Building owner Ian Eisenberg responds via Facebook:

Seattle Fire quickly extinguished a blaze in a building under construction on E Pine Sunday morning after flames were reported coming from the backside of the duplex project.

Investigators worked to determine the cause of the small fire first reported just before 6 AM. No damage estimates were yet available. UPDATE: SFD says the investigation has been handed over the police after investigation showed the fire, which did $5,000 in damage to the new construction, was intentionally set. It joins a small string of suspicious fires currently under investigation in the area.

City records show that the construction project entails raising the heigh of the duplex, transitioning a garage to a living space and creating surface parking at the address.