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There's a big news event in between then and now that might make you forget about it -- but here's an early reminder about Wednesday night's meeting of the Capitol Hill Design Board to review the latest plans for the 1530 11th Ave project. We've covered the redevelopment planning process of the old brick building that was once a factory and part of Capitol Hill's early auto industry. Wednesday's meeting is a chance for the design board to weigh in on the plans for the development and for the community to have a say in the process.
Here are some thoughts and questions from the CHS comments about the project:
joshmahar: I think the additional parking in lieu of arts and culture space would be a travesty and must be stopped.
kstinebeck: agree that the double height commercial space should be in 11th. In reality, because of the grade up to 12th, there is no reason this feature should be wasted on Pine. I personally don't mind metal siding as long as the bottom of the building speaks to the top.
mmariano: The new design proposal is (currently) very unfortunate. Look a block away to a good addition to a historic building - the old Packard building is respectfully restored and the addition is true to the year it was built. Replicating the historic parapet of Sunset Electric and other faux historic details do not make a good building in its entirety. Hopefully the Design Review Board meeting will be well attended by the community.
Finish Tag: Very frustrating to see a complete lack of options on this project. Basically the Applicant is saying (to the Board and to the neighbors), "Thanks, but we don't need your input." The Design Review Board still expects to weigh in on options for SOME aspect of the building at a second EDG, if not the massing. This packet looks like a Recommendation meeting packet, just without the colors. They were asked to come back for a second GUIDANCE meeting for a reason.
CapHillMax: So while we are talking about preservation, does anyone not see the folly of plopping a residential building right on a street that is full of bars, late-night restaurants and clubs?
Dennis Saxman: This would only be considered preservation in George Orwell's 1984
Project: 1530 11th Ave mapDesign Proposal available (3.65 MB)
Review Meeting: November 4, 6:30 pm S U Alumni Relations & Admissions Buildings 824 12th Ave map Meeting Room Review Phase: EDG--Early Design Guidance past reviews Project Number: 3010451 permit status | notice Planner: Lisa Rutzick
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Vote Now!, originally uploaded by prima seadiva.
We reported last week that mayoral candidate Mike McGinn's election night party will be held at the War Room but that's not the only political party celebrating, commiserating and/or blowing off steam happening on Capitol Hill Tuesday night. Here is the rundown of election night events on the Hill courtesy of this map provided by Brian Allen:
- APPROVE 71 - 7pm Pravda, 1406 10th Ave
- 43rd DEMS - 7pm Purr Lounge, 1518 11th Ave
- HOUSING LEVY - 6pm Sole Repair, 1001 E Pike St
- MCGINN - 7pm War Room, 722 E Pike St
- GINSBERG - 7pm Cafe Metropolitan, 1701 E Olive
View 2009 Seattle Election Night Parties Map in a larger map
Bailey/Coy Books, Broadway, Seattle, WA,
originally uploaded by djwudi.
UPDATE 12:10 PM:
I spoke with Bailey Coy owner Michael Wells this morning shortly after the shop opened for the first day of business since his big (and sad) announcement.
Wells said his decision to close for good after years of financial struggle came down to the fundamental question: What does an independent bookstore need to be in this era to survive?
Wells said he's been thinking of how to change for a long time. "I've considered so many permutations. Downsizing. Changing my stock. Events. The realities of book selling at this moment are such that I'm not even sure a change of retail model would even work," Wells said.
"I think a new bookstore has to look differently than in the past. I don't know that I can do that. I don't really understand what is needed. I don't know what e-books will do, how discounts will work, what it will take to do better."
So Wells said he has decided to do the prudent thing. Quit.
"Even if there was a huge groundswell of support from the community, the business model itself is so precarious," Wells said. "I wanted to end this with grace."
Not that the community hasn't tried to keep the story going. Wells confirmed that a prominent Capitol Hill business owner who is a longtime customer had been working with him to find a solution to keep Bailey Coy in business.
"A loan doesn't really help any more. The credit debt is too scary. We've gone through a couple of attempts to find financing and we end up in the same place. No," Wells said. "One of the pieces of this story is how hard it is for small businesses to get credit. At some point I stopped and said, 'I wouldn't even give us credit!'"
Wells said the financial condition of his shop wasn't dire -- in fact, he said he has never taken out a bank loan to keep the store afloat -- but that it had become clear that the struggle to survive was no longer worth the effort.
"This isn't the bookstore I want to be running. I only want to run a good bookstore. I cannot finance -- and the Cap Hill community -- cannot finance this store," Wells said.
Now, Wells said the best way for you to help him close Bailey Coy with 'grace' is to support the store as it sells off its remaining stock over the next four weeks. The prices will keep dropping, of course, but buying a book today will help Wells pay off remaining bills. He also said there will be a new 'Bailey Coy rummage' section of the store to sell off some of the memorabilia and etc. that has collected in the store over the years including a framed package wrapper from Feminist Press addressed to founder Barbara Bailey and some of the shop's classic window displays.
The best memorabilia will be part of an auction at a party Wells is planning to celebrate the store's history. Wells calls the party Bailey Coy's wake. "Barbara will be there," Wells said. "We'll auction off great memorabilia like a pair of underwear signed by David Sedaris."
The happy part of the whole thing, Wells said, is hearing from people about their love for the store. "I'm hearing so many stories. Stories about people coming here as a kid. We're connected to a variety of communities. A lot of people have different experiences. That's been great."
As for what comes next for Wells, he says he hasn't had time to think about it despite friends telling him for years that he should think about life after Bailey Coy.
"It's been a great 30 years," Wells said. "For 25 of those years, it was a profitable business. And then I bought it," he deadpans. Now that the struggle has ended, Wells can laugh.
UPDATE 9:25 AM:
Owner Michael Wells says thanks (and more!) in the comments below:
Thank YouThanks to all of you for your kind words. We will remain open the rest of this month and book cards and gift certificates are still redeemable.We're obviously very sad about this. We've been proud to be a part of your lives.I came to Bailey/Coy in 1989, so, while it's possible that I may be stuck in the 80's, it's far more likely that I'm stuck in the 90's. The 1890's, perhaps...
Original Post:
Michael Wells, owner of indie Capitol Hill bookstore Bailey Coy Books and a prominent member of the Hill business community, tonight announced that he is closing doors on the shop at the end of November. Publicola was the first to report on the closure in a report written by a Bailey Coy employee. The reporter included this press release from Wells about his decision:
Bailey/Coy Books, after serving the Capitol Hill community, the greater Seattle area and generations of book lovers everywhere for 26 years, will be closing its doors at the end of November.
This has not been an easy decision for us. We have struggled, along with independent bookstores across the country, for the last decade to keep our bookstore profitable and healthy. The economic downturn of the past year, combined with the rapidly changing world of bookselling, has led us to believe that this is the most responsible decision.
Starting this week, we will begin a closing sale with everything in the store marked down 20 percent. Gift certificates and redeemable book cards will be accepted until the final closing date, at the end of November.
The recent news that Elliott Bay Book Company is considering moving to Capitol Hill has no bearing on this decision. We wish Elliot Bay Book Company and all Seattle independent bookstores the best of luck in this challenging time.
Bailey/Coy Books began as B. Bailey Books, founded by Barbara Bailey, in the Rainier Square building in 1977. In 1982 she opened a second store on Broadway and in 1983 that store became Bailey/Coy Books. That year she sold the downtown store and Broadway became the store’s home. In 2003 Barbara retired from the bookselling business and sold the store to Michael Wells, the manager of the store since 1989.
Barbara created a bookstore that was not only a model of the best in bookstores but was also specifically designed to welcome a lesbian and gay clientele. The American bookselling landscape at that time included general independents and lesbian and gay stores but rarely did those two models mix. Barbara wanted to create a store where the best in general literature existed side by side with the best in lesbian and gay books. Today that seems like a fairly pedestrian idea, but in 1982 it was nothing short of revolutionary. We remain proud of our long history with the Seattle lesbian and gay community and the rich and varied culture that that community has supported over the years.
We have been active participants in the Broadway Business Improvement Area, the Mayor’s Task Force on Broadway and the newly formed Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. We have been deeply involved in the Capitol Hill community for over 20 years. It is our belief that this bookstore could not have flourished the way it once did in any other Seattle neighborhood. Capitol Hill’s history of diversity, eccentricity and a commitment to the arts are a part of our history that we cherish. Capitol Hill rules.
We would like to thank the customers and friends who have come through our doors in the last two decades. Our bookstore is a community that includes all of you. We urge you to continue to support independent business and especially independent bookstores. It makes a world of difference.
Again, thank you to all of our customers, to the hundreds of authors who have read in our store, to all of the Pacific Northwest bookselling community and book lovers everywhere. We are honored to have been part of your lives.
And a special thank you to the marvelous people who have staffed Bailey/Coy Books over the years. We have been lucky enough to work with the best and brightest in the Seattle community. We cannot begin to tell you how those people have enriched our lives and the life of this store.
Bailey Coy's recent struggles were not a secret. As the rumors of Elliott Bay Book Co. eyeing a new home on Capitol Hill churned, there was talk of a group of local business owners gathering together to help support Wells through the holiday season as the small retailer faced financial challenges that would prevent it from ordering the stock it needed for November and December.
Wells was recently named a 'Spirit of the Hill' award winner by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce for his work to keep a progressive small business alive on Capitol Hill. He had previously served as the Chamber's board president and was part of the discussions with Sound Transit about the agency's plans to provide mitigation for the Hill's businesses during the eight-year light rail station construction. Sound Transit recently announced a new marketing initiative and Web site yourcapitolhill.com (not yet live) as part of that initiative. Wells was also involved in shaping the city's Broadway revitalization project which started in 2006 and helped drive a clean-up of the street and improvements in business conditions on the Hill including the reformation of the Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, new piroshky place Zhivago's Cafe is scheduled to open next door to Bailey Coy this week.
SPD procession on Broadway (Photo by @jctrick)
A procession of Seattle Police Department cruisers accompanied the ambulance carrying the body of 39-year-old Tim Brenton, the officer killed in last night's Central District shooting, as the vehicle made its way from Harborview to the Bonney Watson Funeral home on Broadway this afternoon.
An officer stands guard outside Bonney Watson (Photo by: Scott Durham/Central District News)
Central District News covered this afternoon's press conference where police and city officials discussed details of the Halloween murder and the bravery of police trainee Brit Sweeney, who survived the attack that took the life of her mentor:
Interim Chief John Diaz at today's briefing
A press conference with the mayor and Seattle police commanders just concluded, identifying the deceased victim as 39 year old Timothy Brenton, a Police Training Officer and member of the Seattle police force for 8 years. He leaves behind a wife and two children, 8 and 11 years old. He has worked his entire SPD career here in the East Precinct.
Police are working with the family to schedule a memorial service and funeral for Officer Brenton, but no date is available yet. Police work ran strong in Brenton's family. His father and uncle are also retired members of the Seattle Police force.
The second victim, 33 year old police trainee Britt Sweeney, was grazed in the shooting and is now resting at her home. Assistant Chief Pugel said "it was a miracle that she survived" the incident. Only six to seven months out of the academy, her performance during the shooting was described as that of "a tenured veteran," as she "not only called for help and backup, called for the fire department, but also got out and fired at the suspects."
Police undertook a massive manhunt Halloween eve searching for the suspect vehicle, described as a small gray or light colored car. Investigators are now reviewing video footage from multiple on-board police cameras. There is no suspect description at this time. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
Mayor Greg Nickels announced that flags on city property will be flown at half-staff to honor Brenton. A memorial has formed at the shooting scene where people have been been leaving flowers.
Video of the briefing from West Seattle Blog coverage:
Here is the latest statement from the Seattle Police Department on the shooting:
It is with profound sadness that we must inform you that a Seattle Police Officer was killed in the line of duty last night. Officer Timothy Brenton, a Field Training Officer assigned to Third Watch, East Precinct, was shot to death while he and Student Officer Britt Sweeney, were parked in their patrol car in the 100 Block of 29th Avenue last night shortly after 10:00 p.m. The investigation thus far has shown that Officers Brenton and Sweeney had just completed a traffic stop and were discussing the stop as part of Officer Sweeney’s training. Their patrol car was parked facing southbound in the 100 Block of 29th Avenue on the west side of the street. Officer Sweeney was in the driver’s seat; Officer Brenton was in the front passenger seat. As they were discussing training, a vehicle, described as a light-colored small car, also travelling southbound, pulled up next to the patrol vehicle. The suspect(s) opened fire upon the officers. The bullets went by Officer Sweeney’s head, grazing her in the back of the neck and tearing her uniform shirt and vest. Bullets struck Officer Brenton in the head, killing him. The suspect vehicle then fled northbound on 29th Avenue. Officer Sweeney was able to exit the patrol car and return fire at the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle may have been struck. Officer Sweeney was able to get on the air and summon additional officers to the scene. Officer Sweeney’s performance was exemplary under the most stressful and horrific call imaginable.
There was a massive response from all points of the city and beyond. Patrol, detectives, and the Hospital Response Team all responded and provided support for officers and the families. Information is being developed as to possible suspect(s). SPD Homicide detectives are responsible for this investigation.
There is no other way to describe what occurred last night to Officers Brenton and Sweeney other than this was a deliberate act of murder. We have all the resources of the Department working on this investigation, and will not stop until we have those responsible answer for this heinous crime. We owe it to Officers Brenton and Sweeney, their families, ourselves and the community.
Officer Brenton was 39 years old and a 9-year veteran of the Department at the time of his death. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Officer Sweeney is 33 years old and a recent graduate of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center.
Funeral arrangements are being planned and more information will be forthcoming.
This is a profound tragedy and shock to our senses. We will take the time to grieve, reflect, and honor our fallen brother. The Department’s Crisis Incident Stress Management Team will be available for all those who request it.
The Department has set up a tip line for the public to provide information that may assist the investigation. That number is (206) 233-5000.
A bank account for Officer Timothy Brenton’s family is being set up at this time. We will provide more information when the details become available.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call either 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Unit at 206 684-5550, or the tipline at (206) 233-5000. Those wishing to remain annonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637). Your text message should include “TIP486″ to ensure proper routing. If a tip leads to an arrest and the filing of charges, callers may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000. An additional $20,000 reward is being offered by the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild, for a total of $21,000. Calls are taken 24 hours a day.
Central District News is reporting on a shooting incident tonight at 29th and Yesler that has left a female Seattle Police Department officer down and in unknown condition. UPDATE: A officer has died but it is not clear at this time if it was the female officer heard on the police radio during the incident. The hunt for the shooting suspect is underway. Follow CDN for updates.
Meanwhile, in other 911 activity from Halloween night, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle while crossing Broadway near Pike around 10:45 PM. There was no further information regarding the victim's injuries.
Just after midnight, a car fire on E. Olive Way brought out the Seattle Fire Department. Neighbor Kevin reports:
A car just exploded on Olive St just south of Harvard in front of Online Coffee and Cafe Metropolitain. No ambulances but the flames were high.
Update 8:50 a.m. 11/1/09
From the SPD Blotter regarding police offer shooting:
On October 31st, shortly after 10:00 p.m., a Field Training Officer (FTO) and his female student officer were parked in their patrol car in the 100 Block of 29th Avenue South. The student officer was seated in the driver’s seat and the FTO was in the passenger seat. A vehicle that has been described as a light-colored sedan pulled up next to the parked patrol car and the suspect(s) fired multiple shots into the patrol car. The Field Training Officer was struck multiple times, killing him. The student officer received minor injuries. She was able to get out of the patrol car, return fire several times to the fleeing suspect vehicle, and call for additional units. Officers from all precincts responded, as well as Homicide and CSI. This investigation is very much active and ongoing, and is a priority for the Department. Information is limited at this time, as it is still early in the investigation. There is a press conference tenatively scheduled for later this afternoon, where we hope to provide additional information.
Here are images and video from the Capitol Hill trick or treating scene near St. Joe's. We'll continue adding to this post as more pictures come in from the big night including scenes from Broadway and beyond.
Original Post:
We'll be taking, curating and posting images from Holiday fun across the Hill this weekend. Happy Halloween, Capitol Hill. Have something you want to share? CHS@capitolhillseattle.com or you can use simple HTML to add your picture in the comments. Looking for something to do? Here's our rundown of the Hill's Halloween fun.
Neighbor Kevin sent this lovely shot in via the CHS comments
UPDATE 8:13 PM:
A fun and mostly safe Halloween evening on Capitol Hill thus far. But be careful lazy, costume-less teens in the Capitol Hill trick or treat hot zone -- Dan Savage is waiting for you.
We'll have some more pictures from the night from CHS contributors plus the good stuff we find on Twitter, etc. We're also keeping one ear on the scanner. Thus far, the most interesting thing we've heard about was a flaming, homemade hot air balloon soaring westbound about 150 feet in the air in the vicinity of the huge crowds trick or treating around 15th Ave E and Aloha. The 3-foot-tall balloon was aflame and drifting around 7 PM. In less flammable news, we liked this politically-tinged costume idea found via Twitter.
UPDATE 4:20 PM:
Here are some kinda not-safe-for-work (but who's working) pumpkin pics courtesy of Babeland. Stop by to see the naughty gourds.
Original Post:
A little witch helps at the Seattle University/Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce street sweep. (Photo: Seattle University)
volunteer park conservatory,
originally uploaded
by carolynmanney.
_D041000, originally uploaded by picsbysomeguy.
(Not Cap Hill but geeky fun)
Two East Precinct police officers and assistant City Attorney Tienney Milnor were recognized with community awards for their work on the Drug Market Initiative project. The Seattle Neighborhood Group recognized Milnor and officers Sina Ebinger and Chris Kelley with their annual Community Builders Awards for their work on the program which combines treatment options with aggressive prosecution. In its early days, the program has had some successes -- and also some people who couldn't stay clean.
Milnor's recognition comes as the City Attorney staffer has dealt with criticism of her handling of a community meeting with Pike/Pine club owners that left some feeling threatened and under attack by City Attorney Tom Carr and the East Precinct.
There's a Friday night dress rehearsal for the Sound-Transit sponsored art installation in the empty lot cleared for light rail construction at the corner of Broadway and Denny. Word from the artist Dan Corson and Sound Transit art program manager Barbara Luecke is the 'rehearsal' will start at 7 PM and run 'until the generator gas tank is empty' around midnight. Same plan Halloween night. There's been some scrambling to complete the installation as weather and some mis-sized fiberglass rods have slowed progress. The installation isn't yet in final form but most of it is in place and there are lasers. What else could you ask for?
Joining the election night celebration on Capitol Hill, the Approve R-71 campaign announced they will be holding their party at Pravda Studios on 10th Ave in Pike/Pine. Mike McGinn's campaign, meanwhile, will be watching the results come in down the street at the War Room.
Approve 71 campaign releases Election Night Party details
When: 7 pm Tuesday, Nov. 3
Where: Pravda Studios, 1406 10th Ave., Suite 200, Seattle
www.pravdastudios.com
For information on other local election night parties visit http://approvereferendum71.org/election-night-party/
Who: Approve 71 Campaign Chair Anne Levinson, Approve 71 Campaign Manager Josh Friedes, the Approve 71 campaign team, volunteers, friends and allies
A Broadway small business has become entangled in business deal involving a wide-ranging Web of businesses and charities that has cost the independent retailer more than $20,000 in losses, according to its owner.
Bliss Soaps' owner Phil Wright tells CHS that he and his co-owner Chuck Sapronetti lost more than $20,000 on a wholesale order arranged with a business called Emperor's Essentials, a health and supplement product provider headquartered in Florida but active here in Washington state. Wright said everything with the deal -- one of the largest they've ever had -- seemed on the up and up until the last few weeks. Nearly three months after Bliss delivered the goods and got paid, Wright says Robert Friend, head of Emperor's Essentials, reversed the charges.
"He paid us. We made the products. Then he reversed the charges three months later. We didn't know which way to turn with it," Wright said.
Friend, it turns out, is not a stranger to financial controversy. He and his wife are involved with a group of charities that has been investigated for its questionable practices. Here is a Seattle PI article about the couple from 2007. Most recently, the activities of the American Veterans Coalition, which lists Friend as its 'registered agent,' were under scrutiny as the Gig Harbor-based charity settled claims in Arkansas and Kentucky. The office of the Washington State Attorney General would not comment on whether it is -- or is not -- investigating any of the charities Friend is involved with. Those include the AVC, the Cancer Assistance Network, the Disabled Firefighters Foundation, and the National Association for Disabled Police Officers. We have also requested information from the AG on any complaints against Friend, his organizations and his company, Emperor's Essentials. None of the organizations were included in the state's recent busts of so-called 'badge charities.
CHS also talked to Rebecca Sherrell, charities program manager for the Washington Secretary of State's office. Sherrell said her office had no documentation of any state actions against the Friend charities.
Back at Bliss, Wright said he didn't know what to do. So he gave Friend -- somebody he says he's known from the business world for seven years -- a call.
"He tries to intimidate," Wright said of Friend." "'I'm so right,' 'you don't have a chance.' I think a lot of people back down from the intimidation."
CHS got a small taste of this when we contacted Friend at his Gig Harbor home through a number provided on one of his organizations' Web sites. Friend answered the phone with a cheery "Emperor's Essentials!" Then he learned he was talking to a reporter. "Do not call me," Friend said. "This is a private residence and I do not want this to happen again."
Later that night, Friend forwarded us this e-mail without additional comment:
Phil and Chuck,
I am going to press criminal charges, a restraining order, and harassment charges, and take this to court very quickly if you do not stop your threats and harassment. Brian and I have been gentlemen to this point. Enough is enough. All your text's are documented and ready to be supplied to the legal authorities as needed. They are in black and white. There is no wiggle room in what you are doing. Some of what you are committing is criminal, and a lot is blat en civil wrongs.
We feel you have miss led us, duped us, and not provided us with what we have paid you for. We also feel you still owe us a sizable sum of money and have caused us large financial losses. Let's let the courts hand down a decision.
I suggest you allow the courts to deal with this and they will decide whom owes whom what. We have everything documented and we will provide it accordingly at the prescribed time. I am sure you are aware that Chase called last night and are leaving the charge backs right where they are, with Emperor's Essentials. They have your documents and they have ours, and they have made their decision accordingly.
We have been trying to be patient with you, but one more action, or phone call like today and we are filing charges.
Be under no allusion, you have been put on notice. Govern yourselves accordingly.
Robert Friend
Wright said Bliss won't back down.
"Yesterday, the intimidation almost worked until we saw the support of people coming out to support us," Wright said. Bliss sent out an e-mail to customers telling them about the situation and announcing a sale to help the shop recoup some of their losses.
"We've made most of it back," Wright said of the response. "We were getting an order an average of every two minutes online."
But Bliss isn't finished. Wright said he expects to report the deal gone bad to the State Attorney General's office and will pursue the matter in court.
"I don't know anything about the process," Wright said. "When you run a super honest business you usually don't care about these kinds of things."
