CDNews reader SW emailed us and asked:

Can you tell me what the story is with the vacant lot across from Grocery Outlet?Just curious, wondering about gardening there. 

That vacant lot on the southwest corner of the intersection there is owned by Marty Liebowitz of The Madrona Company. He’s a neighborhood developer who’s work you’ll probably recognize in the Bowling Green apartments in Madrona, or the Yesler Mews development in the 100 block of 22nd Ave.

Marty also owns the old green apartment building next door, and has plans to build a new mixed-use development on the property. Like many large projects, it’s currently on hold pending an improvement in the credit markets. We ran into Mr. Liebowitz at a meeting a couple of weeks ago, and he said that while there’s no certain start date, but he’s hopeful that things will improve in the second half of this year.

Anyone with ideas for the property in the meantime can contact Marty at his website:

http://www.madronacompany.com/millermews1.htm

It’s Tuesday on the streets of Seattle’s East Precinct:

Although there was still a surplus of mistrust and fear in last night’s meeting on the proposed transitional residence for felons, there was less shouting than two weeks ago, and the meeting ended with a commitment between neighbors and Reverend Jeffrey to work together on an agreement both sides can live with.

The new direction seems to have come from a realization by both sides that a continued stand-off won’t prevent the project from happening. But continued ill-will could make it a worse for everyone involved over the long term.

The state Department of Corrections attended and made it clear that they will not be placing supervised felons in the house as long as the community is at odds with the transitional housing project. But that leaves a big population of unsupervised felons who still need a place to live, and Reverend Jeffrey needs residents to start moving into the house soon so that he can pay for the multi-thousand dollar monthly lease.

So the community has agreed to work together with Jeffrey to develop a Good Neighbor Agreement that lays out the operation of the house and rules to lessen its impact on its neighbors. 

The agreement will include:

• Restrictions that rule out felons with a history of sexual crimes, homicide, and other offenses
• Limits on the maximum number of residents in the house
• Participation by neighbors on the residence’s steering committee that will decide who is admitted to the program
• Notification to area schools and organizations that serve children
• Restrictions against residents taking up limited on-street parking spaces
• Restrictions on where residents can smoke around the property

The next steps include a possible meeting on March 8th to talk about the details of the Good Neighbor Agreement, and an open house this Thursday to allow residents to walk through the house and meet the people involved in the project.

We want to get to know you better!  Stop by All Purpose Pizza (CDNews sponsors) tonight any time between 5:30 and 7:30 and have a slice and a beer with the staff of CDNews. 

The last CDNews get-together in the real world was a blast, way back in 2008. We’ve resolved to do it a lot more often in 2010, so please join us tonight.

All Purpose Pizza is at 2901 S. Jackson St

The Gustav Mendoza Salon is helping a great cause in the Identification of landmines. The salon is promoting Crazy Tuesdays which offers world class haircuts for $10.00. And for every haircut Gustav is donating $2.00 to the Mine Seekers and the Sole of Africa project.

Until now, the removal of these deadly menaces has been slow and costly, mainly due to the time it takes to locate their position, whether buried in the ground or hidden in the undergrowth, it can take hours to locate just one.

Currently, it is estimated that it costs $3 USD to make one landmine and $1,000 to locate and remove it.It could take up to 600 years to completely rid them from our planet. 

LANDMINE FACTS

The facts surrounding landmines are best estimates, the truth of the matter is we simply do not know where or how many of these devices are below the ground.

100 million landmines on the planet.

The last estimates provided by the United Nations and anti-landmine organizations estimate this figure. As landmines are still in use today, it is impossible to give an accurate number.

Every 19 minutes someone is affected

Statistics show that a person, normally a civilian – a mother or child is involved in a landmine incident.

It could take 600 years to clear the planet

Using the existing technology available it would take this amount of time to ensure that the land that is known to be mined, is cleared.

Thank you for your time and please forward this email to anyone who you think needs to look good and feel better. We look forward to seeing you soon.

http://hairdreams.genbook.com

or Call Gustav at 206.390.4050

Please watch this video to understand the meaning of your haircut and donation.

http://www.thesoleofafica.tv

Neighors at 36th and Pike were concerned about the huge fire response to the large, white classic home on the corner there. But firefighters at the scene tell me that it turned out to be a relatively small issue: a furnace fire. No injuries, and damage was minor.

Want to get quick answers for sirens you hear? Get the FREE Seattle Crime App on your iPhone:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftwa

Anyone know where all of the fire trucks and support vehicles are headed?  They just blazed up Union Street…

Central District’s own Jessie Oleson (better known as Cakespy) has been nominated by Saveur Magazine for publishing the Best Baking and Desserts blog and Best Individual Post.  Jessie is an illustrator and writer.    Jessie and her husband Danny live in the neighborhood with their pug Porkchop and their two guinea pigs Falafael and Hot Pocket.  They read CD News regularly and have both commented on the blog.   Jessie is a big fan of our sponsor Immortal Dog Pet Supply & Bakery.   You can help Jessie win these awards by voting in the Saveur contests.  

Other Seattle-area Seattle nominees include Michael Natkin of Herbivoracious for Best Special Interest Blog.  You should vote for his great blog as well.  Vote between March 1st and April 2nd. Winners will be announced on April 5th.     

Update (3/2): looks like another Seattle-area nominee Small Potatoes (based somewhere in Kitsap) has also been nominated for Best Regional Cuisine blog

Happy March! Here’s the scoop from Seattle’s East Precinct:

I often here the police in my neigborhood, MLK Jr Way and Mass. Police  cars buzzing up and down the street, helicoptors…..

Seeing the police go up and down the streets, circling and hoping to find…What??

I would be glad to help look if I knew what they were looking for!  There must be a way to enlist neighbors help in a police action searching for a specific car, or person!

Can we as neighbors help in local police searchs and stake outs?

I feel like I am watching, concerned, and may see what the police dont as the “getaway car” sneeks away before my eyes!

There is a system I beleive at the college campus that alerts of some danger on a phone list or e mail chain.  There is an Amber Alert system for missing kids.

Ther must be a way to include the public, that is threatened, if willing, of course, to be included and enlisted in large scale police actions.  The helicoptors, 4 or more police cars etc.

I want these criminals off the streets very badly as well.

Its unsettling to know that potentially I could help, perhaps even saw the get away car speeding North as the police head South….get the picture?

Dont have a solution, not looking to be a vigilante,  just offering to help.