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Dear friend of Capitol Hill-
For more than a decade, Doug Schwartz has served our neighborhood as reporter and editor for the Capitol Hill Times. During this time, it’s likely no one has attended more design review sessions, building openings, school closure reviews, transit updates, public art kerfuffles and community council gatherings. From covering the big changes that have impacted Capitol Hill to the fine grain reporting that helps glue a neighborhood together, Doug has done a stellar job.
Due to the current economic conditions, Doug has been laid off from the Capitol Hill Times. Please join us in coming together over drinks to celebrate Doug’s years of work on Capitol Hill. And do pass this e-mail on to anyone else who may be interested.
A Drink with Doug Schwartz
Tuesday, March 31 beginning at 5:30
Elysian Brewery 1221 E. Pike.
Message from: Michael Seiwerath, Director of Fund Development,Capitol Hill Housing.
From a press release from Councilmember Jean Godden
SEATTLE - The Seattle City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 26 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers to hear from citizens their priorities for city government, including programs and services that they would like to see preserved.
“Designing a city budget works best when there is thoughtful and constructive input from citizens,” said Councilmember Jean Godden, chair of the Council’s budget committee. “It’s going to take all of us to make the difficult choices and steer us in the right direction”.
Since the budget was passed just over three months ago, the City’s sales tax and other revenues have significantly declined and continue to do so. This steep drop mirrors what is happening across the country. As a result, the City finds itself facing an estimated budget gap of more than $25 million dollars - and growing - for 2009.
From the KOMO weather blog:
North winds are generally an indicator of nice weather, while south winds are typically associated with cloudy and rainy weather. So when you see the planes coming over Downtown to land to the south, it usually means it's cloudy or rainy (if, for some reason, you haven't noticed the sky behind the jets.)
Actually went there in search of the elevation of Sea-Tac airport which is a) surprisingly high [433 feet] and b) variable [90' difference between the ends of the runway].
Tomorrow will be splendid (Friday, that is)...sunny and dry...but things change on Saturday morning when a cold front moves through, with very cold air behind. There could be some rain and snow showers after frontal passage..but I suspect the real fun will be later on Saturday and on Sunday morning when another convergence zone sets up. So don't be surprised to see some light snow somewhere over the Puget Sound lowlands. And the mountains will get plenty more.
(Cliff Mass weather blog)
Pedantic note: I should have used a possessive - Cliff Mass's weather blog, or Cliff Masses weather blog or (most correct?) the pretentious Cliff Mass' weather blog, but couldn't bring myself to.
Seen near the Oddfellows building this morning. Worth >=10^3 words.
Home Alive—the self-defense education group founded 16 years ago in response to the rape and murder of Mia Zapata—is $25,000 in debt. Self-defense classes will cease, and employees, who haven’t been paid in months, will lock the doors of the Capitol Hill offices at the end of the month.
Home Alive Fundraising Garage Sale!!! We are downsizing our office to a storage space, so we are selling our desks of all sizes, computers, office supplies, office furniture, books, folding tables, auction overflow, boxing equipment, Home Alive merchandise, and more. . . Where: Home Alive Studio, 1415 10th Ave (upstairs) On 10th between Union and Pike on Capitol Hill When: Saturday, Feb. 21st Time: 10am-2pm Bargain prices! This is a fundraiser, but the items must go! No checks accepted. Limited delivery in the greater Seattle area available for an additional fee. Contact Cait at info@homealive.org for more information. Feel free to forward to interested parties!
Danny Westneat's Sunday Seattle Times column about peoples' desires for good news mentions the CHS Good News map but notes:
Carder's map stalled, though. People stopped posting sunny stories last summer. He's not sure why. Maybe it wasn't newsy enough?
Care to help give the Good News map a kick in the whatever, and share something positive? I'd add something about the glorious sunny weather, if I could figure out where to put it!
Councilmember Conlin visits with the East District Council: Tuesday, 6:30 PM, Capitol Hill Library.
Parks and Recreation is proposing changes in access to open streets to pedestrians and bicyclists, with necessary local access for emergency, service, resident, and disability-permit vehicles:
§ Seward Park Upper Loop Road and Carkeek Park Road west of the Environmental Learning Center, “Walking Wednesdays” 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., May – September.
§ Lake Washington Boulevard S, even-numbered weekend days (replacing traditional Bicycle Saturday/Sunday), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May – September (except during the end of July and start of August for SeaFair), Mt. Baker Beach to the entrance to Seward Park; Seward Park to remain open.
§ Volunteer Park Western Loop around the reservoir, full-time year-round closure.
§ Arboretum Road south of the Graham Visitor Center, full-time year-round closure with access for permitted weekend events.
The Parks Board of Commissioners will hold a hearing on these proposals on February 26, 2009, 7-9 p.m. at Parks Headquarters, 100 Dexter Avenue N in Denny Park. For more information on this project and how to submit testimony to the Board, please go to www.seattle.gov/parks/parkboard
If you have additional questions, please contact Karen Tsao at 206-733-9107.
(Councilmember Rasmussen chairs the Council Parks Committee, but the Mayor has overall authority for Parks)
Lots of fussing going on (and Capitol Hill's Station is just getting going):
Join Seattle City Councilmember Sally J. Clark for a special Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee Informational Workshop on:
(see to left for nice picture that was here!)
Trains, Density & Change
Can rules about transit-oriented communities build great neighborhoods?
A Workshop on HB 1490While Seattle neighborhoods step into updating neighborhood plans, legislators in Olympia are considering House Bill (HB) 1490. One element that has garnered attention is a proposed requirement that zoning allow for a minimum average of 50 homes per acre in the half-mile circle around light rail station areas (present and future).
Smartly planned, dense communities can be good things. So, what does 50 units per acre look like? What’s the current zoning in some of these areas? How does this legislation relate to the current neighborhood planning update efforts in regard to change, affordability, walkability, and safety?
Councilmember Clark will moderate a panel with proponents of the legislation, critics, and representatives of Seattle’s Urban Land Institute to explain basic planning and density principles. Come find out about this legislation and how it might affect your community. There will be plenty of time for questions.
Trains, Density & Change
A Workshop on HB 1490
Wednesday, February 18
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Langston Hughes Cultural Center Auditorium
(104 17th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144)Parking is available in a lot across the street. You can plan your bus trip here.
If you've not been tracking this legislation and want to know what the current version of the Olympia bill contains, you can find a summary here.
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