Back in October, the Seattle City Council scrambled to approve a rezone for land at Broadway and Jefferson so that the developer could meet a 2010 financing deadline. While we haven’t confirmed anything about the project, the appearance of “FOR SALE” signs at the lot might be an indication that, despite the council’s efforts, time has run out on the mixed-use development.

The council approved the project’s request for a rezone that gave them up to 70 feet in height, allowing them to build retail spaces on the ground floor compatible with the steep slope of the property.

The developer had previously stated that the project had a commitment for full funding that ran out in the fall of this year.

We’re checking in and will follow up when we learn more.

Just a few days after Tom told us about the Central District’s unusually high rate of pedestrian deaths, tonight there is another serious accident involving a vehicle vs. a pedestrian.

Police and medics are currently responding to the 2900 block of E. Union, where a pedestrian was struck and seriously injured.

Although we don’t have any details on the pedestrian’s condition, a 6-unit medic call is not a good sign. 

We’ll try to follow up tomorrow with more details.

There’s a theory that there are more crimes committed, more accidents, more mental problems, etc., on the nights when there is a full moon.  One might logically assume that when the full moon coincides with the solstice and with a total eclipse of the moon, the incidence of unfortunate happenings would skyrocket (pun intended).

In noting the dispatch calls for fire, aid, and police, and the various local media news reports for the past 24 hours, I do not see an obvious increase in the number of responses.

Has anyone else thought about this or looked at any statistics?  Maybe the whole theory is just a myth, but my personal experience in the past has backed up the “it must be the full moon” argument.  I usually notice that cars are driving even crazier than usual, there are even more jaywalkers than usual, etc.

There has not been a such a confluence of lunar events for several centuries until last night, so I guess there’s no history to either support or refute such a theory.

Just wondering.

A resident who may have tried to break up a brawl in the street near his apartment at 13th and Columbia struck one of the brawlers in the head with a hatchet, according to Seattle Crime. The fight occurred around 12:45 a.m. December 17th. The alleged fighters said the resident was angry because the group was being loud. The resident told police he was trying to break up a fight and brought the hatchet for self-defense.

The loud group had just left a bar near 13th and Columbia when the fight, which was captured on a Seattle University camera, started. Witnesses told police the resident yelled, “Shut the [expletive] up!” from his apartment before coming outside armed with a hatchet and a buck knife. He also allegedly tried to sic his dog on the group.

One of the brawlers ran at the man, who struck him with the blunt end of the hatchet in the head several times. The man then tried to flee, but several people chased him down.

From Seattle Crime:

The suspect then took off running, and one of the group members gave chase.

The group member eventually caught up to the suspect, who told them “What I did was wrong. I’m sorry,” the report says.

Police showed up to the scene and contacted the suspect, who gave police a very different version of events.

The man told police he heard “people outside of his apartment building arguing possibly even fighting” and heard someone say “I’m going to kill you.”

The man armed himself with a hatchet to go break up the fight.

When he went outside, the suspect saw the victim run towards him, and struck him in the head with the hatchet, apparently to defend himself.

The victim of the hatchet strikes had a “severe” laceration on the left side of his head, but was not seriously injured. He was taken to the hospital. The resident also had cuts on his face and a swollen eye. He was placed into custody.

Ice cream lovers have three more days this week to put their money where their mouths are and convince Molly Moon to bring a shop to Madrona.

The big blue truck “Leo” will be parked on 34th Ave Wednesday from 5-10pm, Thursday from 7-10pm and Friday, Christmas Eve, from 12-5pm. Then they’ll head to Queen Anne for January and Ballard for February before deciding which neighborhood has earned a brick-and-mortar store. 

From our vantage point (our apartment window directly faces the truck) it seems like there’s been a steady stream of customers throughout December, even despite the weather. One of the truck’s employees reported seeing repeat visitors day after day, as well as support from local business owners.

But it sounds like the final determination will be made this spring after looking at the numbers for each location (it can’t hurt to join the Facebook page, too.) And Molly Moon’s PR rep, Jennifer Carroll, tells us no potential storefronts in Madrona are confirmed at this time, though they’ll continue to evaluate options. 

Do you think Madrona can support an ice cream store – especially when put up against larger ‘hoods like Queen Anne and Ballard?

With word that a new bakery is destined for a corner of the 23rd/Union intersection, CDNews readers have been remembering other great bakeries in the area in recent years. One fondly remembered provider of baked deliciousness was 14th and Union’s Panzanella. Here’s a look at what’s coming next for that former bakery space.

Work is currently just getting started on an overhaul of the old Panzanella building to create a new craft distillery and tasting room. The work right now is limited to the outside of the building but we’ve heard that internal work should begin soon.

Oola Distillery is a project driven by Kirby Kallas-Lewis. Seattle Metropolitan Magazine spoke with Kallas-Lewis back in June to give us an idea of what to expect from Oola:

Yes, all you people who care about such things, he makes his own mash. And not just for the aged spirits. “Even with vodka, there’s a lot that happens in fermentation that affects the product,” says Kallas-Lewis. Amen to that, Kirby.

Originally, there was talk that Oola would be ready to open its tasting room by the end of August. That clearly isn’t happening. Instead, look forward to enjoying the new life for the old bakery space sometime in 2011.

We’ve documented the revival of a fantastic neighborhood asset as Washington Hall has achieved landmark status and is taking its rightful place as a cultural center in the Central District.

A new series of classes from Freehold Theatre further cements the Hall’s reemergence as a place for arts in Seattle. Here are the details:

Voice and Movement for Actors: The Basics

In this introduction to voice and movement for actors, students will participate in exercises designed to broaden their understanding of and capacity for sound and physical readiness. This work encourages students to explore the concept that all sounds have equal value. You will also begin to explore the idea of neutrality as it applies to the actor. The work will take students through both subtle and rigorous physical explorations, expanding both their vocal and physical awareness.

Series: Emerging Series

Series: Intermediate Series

Series: Advanced Series

Series: Workshops & Clinics

Upcoming Classes

Open for Registration

Dates: January 11 – February 22

Day/Time: Tuesdays 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Location: Lodge Room at Washington Hall

Discount Price: $390.00

Full Price: $445.00

Instructor(s):

Rhonda J. Soikowski

Soikowski is a Seattle theater vet having performed at at Washington Ensemble Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Strawberry Theatre Workshop, and Theater Schmeater. Rhonda directed “Leni” at Strawberry Theatre Workshop and “The House of Yes” at Theater Schmeater.

Monday, we noted that Hidmo also hopes to eventually relocate to Washington Hall.

Freehold Theatre is a Central District News advertiser.

Slog points to Hidmo’s site with news that the culture space is leaving its 20th and Jackson location with hopes of opening again inside Washington Hall.

Hidmo’s on Jackson Street is shutting down—the party to celebrate is tonight from 5 to midnight, with Gabriel Teodros spinning—but eventually it hopes to reopen as a tenant in Washington Hall. 

Here’s the Hidmo announcement from http://www.hidmo.org/

To our beloved Hidmo family,

Hidmo is transitioning out of our restaurant space at 20th and Jackson.  This year, both Asmeret and I have made major changes in our lives.  We’re taking some personal time for a couple of months.

We will have a final “Goodbye to Jackson Street” party on Monday, December 20th (details here), and will be moving and cleaning the space from now until Tuesday evening.  Feel free to drop by to say hello, lend a hand, or take things home.  After a short hiatus, we will be back at it with a community planning meeting at Washington Hall on April 13th, 2011 ready to expand our support team and build a new membership-based organizational model.

We’re calling this new phase “Hidmo NEXT”. We’re working with 4Culture and Historic Seattle on a plan to be an anchor tenant at Washington Hall. From now until April, we want you to stay in the loop and be a part of shaping the future of Hidmo by signing up for email updates and/or becoming a member of “Hidmo NEXT”. 

Space to build community is key. As an anchor tenant at Washington Hall, we will support and be supported by organizations that are more closely aligned with our core values. We will expand our own vision and mission to include preserving a historic landmark, both physically and symbolically. 

Team Hidmo has spent four incredible years nurturing community, supporting and growing local and independent art and music, and being a home base for many organizations and people.  In a short amount of time, Hidmo has come to mean so much more than a building.  Many corners of Seattle have been touched by Hidmo — whether through our food, our art and music showcases, the artists that Hidmo has helped to develop, or through organizing or activism that has either been launched from or produced at Hidmo.  Beyond Seattle, the Hidmo family has come to include artists, organizers and organizations in cities all over North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. 

Thank you for your role in making Hidmo what it has become.  Thank you for your ideas, time, art, hearts, and more. Join us in shaping Hidmo NEXT!

Rahwa Habte and Team Hidmo

SPD’s chase of a man who decided to make a break for it after he was pulled over near Seattle U’s campus paid off an hour later when they found the suspect hiding near 13th and Marion.

The search that started around 1:47 AM early Monday morning had an added tension as the Crown Victoria the suspect had been driving and another vehicle in the area matched the descriptions of two of the several vehicles seen fleeing a weekend shooting in South Lake Union, according to police radio reports.

The chase took officers and a K9 unit through the streets, backalleys and yards of the area east of SU’s campus.

The suspect was arrested and booked on three charges including DUI and reckless driving.