Tonight is the scheduled meeting between the New Hope Baptist Church pastor and the church’s neighbors to continue the conversation about the pastor’s plans for a transitional housing program for recently released felons.

We’ve heard from a neighbor that flyers were distributed that listed the meeting as Thursday. We’re following up with church staff this morning to try and clear that up, and will update this story once we find out.

Update: We’ve placed several calls and left a message, but have not heard back from the church whether the meeting is on. We’ll be there regardless

New information also came out of the EPCPC meeting late last week, where a large contingent of Department of Corrections staffers tried to clear up confusion about their role in the project. Donta Harper, DOC manager for community corrections in King County, said that “the department is not in any sort of agreement or partnership with Mr. Jeffrey,” and that DOC has not had any conversations with the pastor about the project, but that they would try to set up a meeting with him very soon.

However, the lack of an agreement or partnership is not necessarily an obstacle to the project. When prisoners are released to the community, it can be either with or without ongoing supervision. If supervision is not a condition of their release, they can live anywhere they want, including in congregant housing of the type Reverend Jeffrey envisions.

If a felon is released with supervision, then DOC officers have to specifically approve the place where the felon will live. That place could be a group residence such as is planned by New Hope, if DOC staff were confident that it was in the best interest of that person.

Felons under supervision qualify for a $500 monthly housing voucher for the first three months of their release. That voucher has been cited as one way to cover the costs of running the transitional housing project. However, Reverend Jeffrey says that they only expect that vouchers will pay the lease on the building, and that it will not be a profit-making enterprise.

Update: We spoke with Alan Justad from the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, who said that they’ve looked into this specific situation and found that it is a legal duplex, and can house up to 8 unrelated people per unit without any further permits.

Assistant City Attorney Jim Kenny was also at the EPCPC meeting, and said that there could be issues with city permitting as well. A residence of this type could be considered Congregant Housing, which requires a specific permit and additional parking spaces to accomodate all of the residents. Although such a permit does not require public notification, the planning department would accept public comment on the application.

This story has more twists, turns, and complexity than any other we’ve covered. So stay tuned as we all learn more.

From the SPD blotter:

On February 28th at approximately 2:40 a.m. officers responded to the 100 block of 25th Avenue East to investigate a prowler call.  Witnesses had called 911 to report that an unknown suspect was outside of a residence at that location.  Witnesses heard loud crashing noises and believed the suspect was trying to break into an apartment.  Responding officers located the suspect and took him into custody without incident.

Although the suspect was not successful in breaking into anyone’s apartment, he attempted entry into two units, damaging a glass door in the lower unit and a window in the upper unit.  The suspect also damaged a cable box, a phone box, and a barbecue grill that were outside the building.

The 34-year-old male suspect was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Burglary.

The man arrested appears to have a criminal history that includes conviction for robbery and assault in Mason County back in the mid-90’s.

Sometimes we like to depart from eggs and toast for weekend brunch.  Other than cooking at home (we tend to make chilaquiles), there are only a few choices.  One delicious option we have is to go down to B&O Espresso for their Foul (can be served with/without egg).  Crosscut published a recent article praising the Foul at Ambassel.  Here is how they describe foul:

Foul (also spelled fuul or ful and pronounced fool) is the classic breakfast of the Red Sea region, eaten in Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, parts of the Middle East, and Ethiopia. Preparation and garnish varies by region, but the basic idea is the same. Foul is mashed up fava beans, topped with egg, occasionally with meat, and served with bread, commonly pita, but here in Seattle with French bread — lots of it.

فول
Originally uploaded by *Noema*

We attempted to try the foul at Ambassel this morning at 10:40 am but found them to be closed. According to Crosscut, they were to open at 10 am, and you may be able to see the open sign in the window in the photo at left.  They appear to have taken over the space formerly occupied by Addis.

Crosscut and some others recommend the foul at Cafe Selam.  What say you guys?  Have you tried either Ambassal or Cafe Selam?  If you have, let us know what you would recommend there in the comments.

Want to catch the last bit of Olympic fever? Team USA plays Canada in the hockey championship at noon on Sunday, and the mega olympic fans at The BottleNeck are opening up early to show the game.

BottleNeck owner Eric says that:

We’re opening The BottleNeck lounge early in order to catch the Gold Medal Game.  We’ll be featuring our signature Bloody Mary — although we’ll have some Canadian Bacon on hand for you folks from up north.  Paint your face and get $1 off your first drink.  Spread the word, grab a flag, and get here early!   Doors at 11:30 – Match at noon.

Hello,

Do any of the ISPs available in the CD carry ESPN360 (it’s the online streaming, not a cable channel)?  I’m guessing Broadstripe is too crappy to pay for it, but what about Qwest or others?  Anyone know?

A few notes for your weekend entertainment:

• Central Cinema (CDNews sponsors) is showing the Blues Brothers Friday and Saturday nights at 7pm, and Repo Man Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10pm.
• The PostGlobe likes The Red Riding Trilogy, currently showing at the NW Film Forum on 12th Ave
• The SunBreak really liked the 5th Avenue’s Legally Blonde, and they didn’t expect to
• The SunBreak has also written up Erickson Threatre’s original play Man on the Beach
• Another Capitol Hill production, Artattack Theater’s Fat Pig, has an extended run and a positive review from The SunBreak.
• See more film reviews and show times in the Post Globe’s weekly film wrap-up

There’s only three days left in Black History Month, and Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center is planning to send it off with four more performances in their Black Heroes and Heroines series.

Each performance includes a professional actor or actress who tells the story of the historical figures that our neighborhood parks are named after.

Here’s the four performances that are on tap for tomorrow:

2pm – Powell Barnett Park – Learn about the talented musician, baseball player, and community leader from Leschi

2pm – Homer Harris Park – Find out more about the namesake of the neighborhood’s newest park, a star football player, Garfield alum, and well-known physician from the Central District. (We also covered the dedication of the park two years ago)

4pm – Flo Ware Park – Named after an education activist and foster mother for 20 children.

4pm – Prentis Frazier – A former slave who became a newspaper publisher and entrepreneur in Seattle

Looks like we’ll be getting a burger shop in the old Collins Gold Exchange building across from the post office. I don’t know the details on opening date, menu and such- but hear that the owners are looking to open a “nice” shop- good food, warm/open layout. I directed them to CDNews, so hopefully we’ll hear more soon!

Horse back in his home. Wily goat accomplice not pictured

Here’s something you don’t see every day in the Central District: 911 operators received a report of a gray horse walking up 32nd street in Madison Valley.

We raced over there, expecting the neighborhood news photo of a lifetime, and found that the horse was safe and sound in his barn.

A city employee working on a construction project told us that they saw the horse and his goat pal out on a stroll, and they escorted them back to their yard. Evidently the goat is wily, and has found a way to open the lock on the fence. They caught him trying it again a bit later.

Happy Friday from Seattle’s East Precinct: