It’s a good weekend to wash your ride. Our official news bike could definitely use a scrub. CDN advertiser Sea Suds wants to give you a free wash at 23rd and Union — for whatever vehicle you put to use.

We’re giving away three gift packs with 13 Sea Suds tokens — good for the $13 “automatic deluxe” or whatever you want to put them to use for a good scrubbing — to three commenters randomly selected below. All you need to do is post a link to a picture of your favorite Central District ride. Winners will be selected today at 5 PM.

CHS recently wrote about some small but life-saving changes in the way Seattle Fire responds to medical emergencies. This fall, King County residents will have the opportunity to vote to continue funding one of the underpinnings of 911 response in the city and through the county — Medic One. While it seems unlikely the levy could possibly fail at the ballot box, the announcement below from the King County Council is worth a read for a better understanding of how this vital service was created and how it works today.

Voters to decide in November on six-year levy
for Medic One services

Voters will have the opportunity to reauthorize funding for the regional system of paramedic and ambulance services with today’s unanimous adoption by the Metropolitan King County Council to place a six-year Medic One and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy on the November general election ballot. Continue reading →

Concept image courtesy of Lake Union Partners

The fenced-in, weed-filled vacant lot on the southwest corner of 23rd and Union may not stay that way much longer. An already approved but stalled six-story building is now set to break ground as early as August.

Formerly owned by Jim Mueller, the property and approved building design were sold to Ian Eisenberg, who also owns property on the northeast corner of the intersection including the car wash, Med Mix property and the building that houses the Neighbor Lady.

Eisenberg and the Lake Union Partners will build and maintain ownership of the building, which should open its doors in fall of 2014.

“The interesting thing—and fun thing for us—is to understand who the neighborhood is,” said Scott Roberts of Lake Union Partners. “I’m sure we can contribute to the next hopscotch.” Hopscotch CD ended at 23rd and Union Saturday.

The planned building includes 92 apartments, 74 underground parking stalls and 4,000 square feet of retail space. The developers are lobbying to identify a restaurant for the larger corner retail space, they said. No retail tenants have been officially lined up yet.

Leasing of rooms will start three or four months before the building opens in fall 2014. Rent rates are not yet available.

The new owners do plan a few tweaks to the design, mostly geared toward improving the pedestrian environment, they said. They want to give the retail storefronts “more of a residential feel.” Continue reading →