Construction on the Low Income Housing Institute‘s planned senior housing project near 20th and Jackson could start mid-August, according to LIHI’s Karen Anderson-Bittenbender. If all goes smoothly, the doors of the five-story building could open next fall.

Of the 60 or more seniors that will live in the building — designed by Runberg Architecture Group — 75 percent will be homeless people 55 years or older. The other 25 percent will be people 55 and up with incomes at or below 40 percent of the median income. For a person living alone, that means making less than $24,000 a year.

“Our goal is that the seniors will get a hold of issues and are no longer homeless,” said Anderson-Bittenbender. ” Our goal is to keep them healthy mentally as well as physically.”

Sound Mental Health will be in the building to offer services to residents, and the building will have a resident manager. There will also be a computer room, a classroom/community room and an exercise area. Outside, the sidewalk on Jackson will be widened and they will create a showcase on 20th Ave to display artwork from the nearby Pratt Fine Arts Center. There will also be garden space north of the building between it and phase two of their plans for the property — a workforce housing project at 21st and Jackson, which is still in and early search for funding.

While LIHI searches for funding to secure the second phase project rolling, they have donated that space to house the Jackson Street Music History Project.

Three months before completion of the project, LIHI will open up the application process. Non-homeless applicants will likely apply straight to LIHI. Homeless applicants will likely be referred through other agencies, such as Operation Nightwatch just down the street at 14th and Main.

The Safeway at Madison and 22nd is getting a significant overhaul to its pharmacy this year. The expanded space will make way for a care center for increased privacy and comfort, according to store manager Steve Ruud.

“It will offer a better facility for when we do flu shots and things like that,” said Ruud. Though he has not seen the plans yet, DPD records show that the city recently issued a permit for nearly $172,000 worth of work. Rudd was not sure when the work is expected to take place, but it will likely be before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, we reported last week that the Madison Temple Church of God in Christ, which is next door to Safeway, is planning to transform an old car garage space into a multi-purpose programming space before the end of the year.

Came upon accident scene just after it happened. If anyone has any further information about her condition, please keep thread updated. Praying for her. Thank you.

UPDATE from the editor: According to SFD, a woman was struck by a car while she was jogging shortly after 10:30 a.m. this morning. Medics treated her on the scene for about ten minutes, then sent her to Virginia Mason Hospital with minor injuries.

There have been reports of at least 4 cars in the Leschi neighborhood with tires slashed this weekend. All incidents have been around 29th and 30th between Jefferson and Yesler.  The cars all have what looks to be tire puncture marks, which occured Fri night or early Saturday morning.  If you see/hear anything please call the police – a report has already been filed. 

Out pet cat Wilson went missing on Sunday July 24th in the morning. From 29th block of Leschi (one block north of Yesler). He’s skinny has a red collar (with bell) is very old and is super friendly unless you’re a dog. His eyesight isn’t the best and might not hear so well. Please call 206-388-3919 with any information.

Coyote Central, whose Hit the Streets program has already installed public art all over the neighborhood, unveiled a new art-covered fence next to the organization’s new home at 23rd and Cherry.

Aside from public art, the organization offers classes for youth in everything from break dancing and playwrighting to cartoon drawing and welding. You can see the schedule and register for classes online.

There is a medium size, brown dog, short hair, with a black face near leshi elementary school. He/she has a chain link collar and tag.

You have two chances to see free live theater in an area park this weekend, thanks to Outdoor Trek and Green Stage (though, of course, donations are accepted and encouraged).

Allison Strickland as Cleopatra and Lyam White as Antony. Photo by Melizabethe Photography, via the Green Stage website.

Green Stage’s production of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra will be in Judkins Park July 22 starting at 7 p.m. The company’s productions are touring parks around the region and will land here for one night only.

From Green Stage:

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA – Shakespeare’s beautiful telling of one of history’s greatest and most ill-fated romances. It is two years after the death of Julius Caesar and a new Caesar, Octavius, is coming into his own. Aging Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of Rome, lives a lavish life of passion and indulgence with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. As Octavius and Rome pressure him to return to his duties, Antony and Cleopatra struggle to keep their own power while sharing a passion that tests their allegiances and begs the question, “What is life without love?” 

Featuring: Wilson Carpenter, Matthew Gilbert, Jalyn Green, Kyle McAuley, Geoff Ramler, Caleb Slavens, Allison Strickland, Daniel Stoltenberg, Bryan Sullivan, Kate Sumpter, Mckenna Turner, Lyam White, and Amy Williams.

Photo from Outdoor Trek

And for people who prefer to geek out in the modern era, Hello Earth presents Outdoor Trek, a live production of the classic Star Trek episode “This Side of Paradise.” The show opens Saturday at 7 p.m. in Lavizzo Park. The play will be staged weekends July 23 through August 7. Saturday productions start at 7 p.m. and Sundays start at 2.

Episode description, from Outdoor Trek:

“This Side of Paradise” was written by D.C. Fontana and Nathan Butler, and was the twenty-fourth episode of the first season. It is highly regarded among fans, ranked as one of the top ten episodes of the series on and IGN.com. When the crew of the lands on Omicron Ceti Three, they expect to find no survivors. Instead, they find mysterious colonists, mind-altering space pollen, and the final threat to Vulcan logic: love. Thematically, the story explores the conflict between desire and duty and achieving personal pleasure versus social progress. The production aims to both appreciate the humor in the writing and respect the thought-provoking underlying messages. It interprets not just as popular culture, but as a piece of art, with timeless concerns that take on timely nuances as American society moves into the future. In order to explore those nuances, the production employs everything from gender-blind casting to eclectic music choices, including but not limited to flute and banjo.

A Craigslist deal went wrong July 13 when the “seller” ran off with the victim’s cash, Seattle Crime reports. The victim responded to an ad on Craigslist for a $280 iPhone 3GS and they decided to meet up that evening.

From Seattle Crime:

The victim agreed to meet the seller at 23rd and Jackson around 9:00 p.m., and brought two friends along for the meet up.

When the victim met up with the suspect, the suspect said he “needed the money to be hand[ed] over to him prior to handing the phone because he had been robbed” before, according to a police report.

The victim (sigh) handed the suspect the money “expecting that the suspect would give him the iPhone,” the report says.

Instead, the supect ran off.

The victim chased the suspect but lost him near 25th and Washington.

As part of Congressman Jim McDermott‘s Coffee With Your Congressman series, McDermott will be at Judkins Street Cafe at 10 a.m. July 23 to hear from residents and area leaders.

More information from McDermott’s office:

Saturday, July 23rd – 10:00 AM

Judkins Street Café – Central District

2608 S Judkins Street (between S 26th Avenue & S Martin Luther King Jr. Way)

 

Congressman McDermott invites residents, business and community leaders in the Central District neighborhood to come meet with him at Judkins Street Cafe for a cup of coffee and  to exchange thoughts on current issues in Congress and/or to request help with issues with the federal government.

 

This is the fourth in a series of monthly neighborhood coffee events that the Congressman will be hosting throughout Seattle.

 

Please RSVP at (206) 553-7170