Miller Park Neighborhood Association

Some personal notes

2011-12-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

Links to my Annual Family Newsletter, and to a load of photos of what I've been up to and to the blog about his late wife Meg's journey with brain cancer.

The one paragraph summary is that Meg's death in October was expected, left an immense hole in my life, but was made very much easier by the love and support of everyone around me. I apologize if I have not thanked you all personally for your letters and E-mails of support, your kind inquiries, your offers of help.

My intention in the New Year is to ease back into neighborhood activities, and to inquire gently if there is a desire for more active neighborhood participation in the immediate Miller Park area.

Wishing you all a happy and as prosperous a New Year as circumstances will permit!

Emergency preparedness: your voice is needed

2011-10-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge to readable size

"Deano's" Madison Street Project in the news

2011-09-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

The September 17th Seattle Times Pacific Magazine main article, "Architecture 2011" is about local architectural innovations:

Seattle AIA's FutureShack showcases projects by local architects, creative responses to our fast-morphing urban lifestyles, across a wide range of building types, budgets, constraints and social agendas. It is part public debate, part recognition of innovative architecture.

The featured designs can also be seen on the AIA website.

Jim Mueller's design for the large empty lot at Madison and Denny is one of the featured projects.

From the Times' article:

Firm's description: Situated on a corner in the commercial core of Madrona, Pike Station is a sustainable community for residents and the neighborhood. Each live/work unit has a retail space opening to the sidewalk. The units have private rooftop decks for urban agriculture and two-bedroom/two-bathroom living spaces. A community courtyard allows south light into each unit and nurtures a living wall. The property owner, an artist, seeks to create a community of artists, environmental activists and architects.There is groundwater recharge with permeable paving, cisterns and a living wall for graywater reuse. Rainwater will be stored in underground cisterns to service rooftop irrigation, toilets and laundry appliances. Photovoltaic arrays provide power for community lighting. Each unit is designed to accommodate photovoltaics and incorporates energy-efficient assemblies to reduce heating/cooling loads.

Jury comments: Promotes sustainability and demonstrates how it can be done within small-scale infill. The idea of live/work combined with sustainability is commendable; reinforces the idea of sustainability with life/work balance. Many live/work units are just lofts, so this could be more flexible. It fits in with the neighborhood despite different style. There is value in keeping artists in the city, not pushing them out.

When will it be built? Maybe Jim will comment on this post!

Madison Street closure, Sept 26th - 30th

2011-09-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Madison Valley Stormwater Project Update – September 19, 2011

Reminder: Stop by a drop-in session to learn more about the planned temporary intersection closure at E Madison St and 28th Ave E starting September 26 for pavement restoration:

Wednesday, September 21, 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Café Flora

2901 E Madison St

The temporary intersection closure to complete this work will require crews to:

· Detour traffic off of E Madison St to local streets. Detour routes will be one-way and clearly marked (see below and attached map for details).

· Place no park signs along the detour route.

· Work extended hours, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., starting Monday, September 26. Traffic is planned to be restored on E Madison St on Friday, September 30.

SPU is working to provide temporary load and unload zones along E Madison St to accommodate deliveries to businesses and garbage pick-up to the neighborhood. Emergency vehicles will always have access during this work.

Aegis of Madison (2200 E Madison) Neighborhood Meeting

2011-09-17T22:23:00.001-07:00

(links to older posts about this application)

Aegis Senior Communities, the owner of the proposed Aegis on Madison Assisted Living Community, is hosting an Open House for the neighborhood next Tuesday, September 20^th at the Elizabeth James House Community Room (109 23rd Avenue E) starting at 7:00 PM.

Aegis is proposing a six-story 103-unit assisted living and memory care community with a 1,400 sf retail space on the corner of 22^nd and Madison. The project will have underground parking. The project has completed two “Early Design Guidance” submissions and will have its first Design Review meeting the next night, Wednesday the 21^st. Details of that meeting are located at the bottom of this note.

Representatives from Aegis Senior Communities and Via Architecture will provide an update on the project design and schedule and be available to answer any questions.

As of this posting, design drawings are not available yet on the DPD website. Aegis will have images to present at the Open House.

(The applicant's presentation slides will probably be available soon at this link. Andrew)

Some essential project information is as follows:

DPD Project Number 3001064

Design Review Board Presentation Information:

Project: 2200 E Madison St

Design Proposal available at review meeting

Review Meeting:	September 21, 8:00 pm
	SU Alumni Relations and Admissions Building
	824 12th Ave map
	Meeting Room
Review Phase:	Recommendation past reviews
Project Number:	3001064 permit status \| notice
Planner:	Lisa Rutzick

Link to the DPD Land Use Bulletin: http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/LUIB/Notice.aspx?BID=644&NID=12617

Link to Aegis website: www.aegisliving.com;

Michael J. Derr

Vice President of Development

Aegis Senior Communities LLC

17602 NE Union Hill Road
Redmond, WA 98052

(O) 425.861.9993

www.aegisliving.com

19th & Mercer development meeting

2011-09-05T09:54:00.001-07:00

(development site is just south of Kingfish, on east side of 19th: former funeral parlor, a gift store and a hairdresser, Capitol Hill Hair)

Urban Life, Heavy Sigh...

2011-09-05T09:51:00.001-07:00

(from a neighbor on 22nd, near Madison)

For the second time this year, my ancient station wagon has been broken into and things stolen. More times than not, I street park the car on 22nd. As with the first time, either I had left windows down to allow for easy access, or simply not locked it, for even easier access. This is in good part my own damn fault. There is definitely the "Big City Car Prowl" argument for leaving ones cars unlocked to avoid malicious persons breaking windows, which can come with a big repair cost, but regardless, leaving things of "Value" in the car is never a good idea. First time the car was gone through it was mostly just rifled through, not much taken. This time, however, they cleaned me out. Including the car's owners manual, an emergency kit, and the very odd theft of a bag of my dogs' toys we keep in the car to keep them entertained on longer trips. And a pair of "Crocs", shoes so unpleasant I don't like them in my house, relinquishing them to reside in the car in case of emergency. Also taken, a set of inclement weather gear, gloves/hats/sweatshirts, that sort of thing - including a nice hooded rain jacket. Doh!

One assumes the theft of a crate of engine oil, transmission fluid, and assorted car tools put the neerdowell's off stealing the actual car, which is clearly on it's last legs.

Upshot of which is - although the neighborhood is so very much improved since the bad ol' days of drugs & guns in the street - it's still urban living and one should still lock one's doors and not leave anything of any even visual interest in one's car, even in the event one owns a very old and rustic car full of dirty gloves, oil, ugly rubber "shoes", and dog toys.

Sidewalk Repair on Thomas: trees could not be saved

2011-06-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

My name is Lou Stubecki. I’m the Arboriculturist for SDOT Urban Forestry working on the sidewalk repair project in your neighborhood. We gave our best efforts, but unfortunately, we were only able to save 3 of the 15 trees involved in the sidewalk repair. We were lucky to have been able to move the sidewalk over at the park, otherwise we may have lost all of the trees. Removing 12 trees is a significant loss of canopy that is inconsistent with the City’s goals for increasing tree canopy. We would love to put trees back in the 1900 block of E Thomas St, but we can’t because the right of way has effectively been shortened from 12’ wide to 8’ wide due to property encroachment. We would like to find spots in the neighborhood where we can plant new trees, and I thought, with your intimate knowledge of the neighborhood, you would able to help me identify spots in need of trees. Please contact me and let me know if we could meet to look over some sights. I look forward to meeting you.

All Best,

Lou Stubecki
Arboriculturist
Certified Arborist /Certified Tree Risk Assessor #483
Seattle Department of Transportation-Urban Forestry
PO Box 34996
(206) 684-7570 office
(206) 423-1837 cell
lou.stubecki@seattle.com

Bilingual Students' Dance and Artwork Show on Saturday

2011-06-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

The Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (the SBOC) is Seattle's and Miller community's own World School - home to middle and high school newcomer students from all over the world. Sharing the Meany School with NOVA students, SBOC students are learning English and adjusting to their new country. They bring with them wonderful traditions and each year students perform their traditional dances at the Folklife festival, and this Saturday, for their families, friends, and the larger SBOC community.

We invite the Miller community to the SBOC this Saturday for an informal presentation of multicultural dances, artwork by SBOC students, a show of

fabulous photos from SBOC students' Club Photo (recently showcased at Seattle Symphony's Benaroya Hall) and a sale of students' art cards to raise funds for student scholarships. We would love to share our wonderful school with our neighbors - come meet our students, staff, and friends of SBOC.

The dance program is Saturday, June 18th, from 12:30 - 2 -- come at 12:15 to see the art and check out our beautiful art cards.

any questions: 890-8897 or 784-0843

Madison Street neighbors in the news

2011-05-23T06:52:00.001-07:00

Sunday, 5/22/11, Seattle Times Pacific Magazine "Then and Now" features a streetcar crash at 19th & Madison: the building involved, which now houses the Capitol Hill Alano Club and which recently suffered a fire, seemed little harmed by the collision and looks pretty similar today.

Monday 5/23/11 Seattle Times NW Monday has a big feature about 22nd & Madison fixture , and Central Area Chamber of Commerce Chair, DeCharlene Williams. She's also featured in this interesting book about race, basketball, gentrification and the Central Area (in which I get a cameo appearance).

Bonus (just south of us): Seattle Times Pacific Magazine article about upcoming June 4th Central Area Garden Tour.

SDOT working on sidewalk repairs at 21st Ave E and E Thomas; UPDATED

2011-05-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

5/20/11: "Today SDOT crews poured sidewalk along the south side of Miller Playfield.

Check out the hop scotch!"

From SDOT, about progress on the previously noted project in our neighborhood:

SDOT crews continued with breaking out sidewalk at 21^st Ave E and E Thomas. Two trees will be removed Wednesday by a contractor. One is at the NW corner of 21^st Ave E and E Thomas. The other is at the SW corner of 20^th Ave E and E Thomas. Three trees adjacent to Miller Park are being protected and will be root pruned and given more growing space as we are shifting the sidewalk two feet further and narrowing it to four feet.

I’ll provide updates as we know more. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Liz Ellis
SDOT Street Maintenance
Sidewalk Repair Program
206-233-2768
Liz.Ellis@Seattle.Gov

Lilac time

2011-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

(5/14/11: The 2011 lilac season is just starting. Drop by soon.)

The lilac bush at the bottom of my yard has just started its beautiful, fragrant, but oh so brief flowering season.

So, if you're passing 20th & John, do help yourself to a little bit of the blooms that are hanging over the sidewalk. You might need a ladder, and you'd better not wait too long!

Hope you enjoy them,

Andrew

(Repost from 5/11/08. )

May 22nd Potluck celebration of René Soulard's life

2011-05-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Potluck celebration of René Soulard's life

Date: Sunday, May 22, 2011

Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Place: Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E., Seattle, WA 98112.

What to bring: The organizers are trying to "seed" the potluck by requesting that different groups bring different categories of food. You are invited to bring salads and side dishes with serving utensils.

Buses: #12 stops outside Center, #8, 43 half a block away. 10, 11, 48 nearby.

Parking: Small lot off 19th just south of Center. Larger lot accessed from 20th: north on 19th, right on Republican, right on 20th.

Links:

Memorial website: pictures, writings, videos
Obituary
My CHS piece
Documentary about Miller fountain: René featured throughout. The film (40') will be playing at the memorial. Let me know if you'd like a copy of the DVD and I can make you one (or you can download it from Vimeo to your computer as an MP4 file).

Video about fountain, neighborhood, René, volunteers

2011-05-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

Dreaming in Stone: The Ron K. Bills Fountain at Miller Park from Andrew Taylor on Vimeo.

This 40 minute video was produced by Sidney Beaumont, a (then aspiring) video producer who stumbled upon the neighborhood and the fountain project early on. As I recall, the video was a training exercise for him and was a wonderful gift to our neighborhood. I rewatched it soon after learning of René's death, and saw what a great tribute and memorial to him it would be. Took a while to get it together, but here it is.

More about René Soulard

2011-04-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

(again from Debrah, René's neighbor)

A Memorial and Celebration of Rene's life will be held on Sunday, May 22nd, at the Miller Community Center. I'm not sure of the time yet. Frank Chaffee has offered to coordinate that event and if you want to help, Andrew can forward E-mails to him (tayles@jps.net)

Rene's obituary will be in the paper this Sunday and there is talk that a blog site may go up so people can better exchange their thoughts about Rene and maybe post some favorite photo's.

Several of you have asked for further details about Rene's passing and I just wrote to Pascal and Marie in France about that so I'll copy that note here.

As almost everyone has said Rene's passing is pretty unbeliveable because in most ways Rene was so strong and healthy. Never the less he had high blood pressure and things had been pretty tough for him for a while. On Thursday night a friend spoke with him on the phone and his speech was slurred. Some time that night he had a massive stroke followed by a series of small ones. In the MRI there was a hemorrhage in his brain and blood work showed he had had a minor heart attack (probably caused from the strokes). When he collapsed he hit his head pretty hard as well.

The neighbor who found him on Friday called emp's and he was helicoptered off Orcas Island to a Bellingham hospital. Larry arrived to the hospital on Saturday and although Rene was not able to open his eye's or speak he was responsive to Larry and motioned with his right hand. He knew that Larry, and later Gary was there, and responded when he was told that others were on their way. The doctors told them that recovery would be long and hard if at all. We all believe that Rene would not have wanted to survive all that.

Each day is a little easier. Yesterday they were able to find his will and instructions for a "celebration of his life". Rene wants his friends to come together for a good time and that just might be the best way to honor his life and memory. There is something very positive about these instructions. I hope you can be there.

Debrah

Neighborhood Sidewalk Repair Project: East John & E. Thomas

2011-04-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge/read)

I will be distributing these as fliers to all of the abutting property owners tomorrow and also sending this information to the Capitol Hil Blog. SDOT plans to start this work in May after we have heard from the community.

Liz Ellis

SDOT Street Maintenance

Sidewalk Repair Program

206-233-2768

Liz.Ellis@Seattle.Gov

Death of René Soulard, MPNA co-founder

2011-04-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

This message was received at 2PM 4/11/11 from René's next-door neighbor:

"Rene passed away about an hour ago.

He has been living and working up on Orcas Island and was found on the floor unable to move last Friday. The last time anyone saw him was 24 hours before that. He initially was able to say his age and that he wasn't assaulted. Rene was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Bellingham. In the last few days he was not able to speak but clearly knew people. Gary and Larry, Ron's brothers were with him and their folks have been in constant touch from Idaho.

If any of you know other friends please let them know.
There will be a lot to sort through and make sense of in the next few weeks. We are in shock, in fact I can't take in that Rene could be gone. It doesn't seem possible. We will be in touch as we know more.

Debrah"

I will pass on any inquiries to Debrah.

Andrew Taylor, tayles@jps.net

René was the co-founder of the Miller Park Neighborhood Association. He was a very dear friend, a wonderful neighbor and a tireless advocate for our little neighborhood. News of his death has shocked me more than almost anything else in my life.
He will be sorely missed. I will post more details here as they become available.

Treatment Plans

2011-03-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

(wrong blog! sorry)

March 22nd Mayor's Town Hall

2011-03-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

Most of us in the Miller Park neighborhood look towards Capitol Hill (or at least to 15th) for our needs and our identity.

However, we were lumped in with the Central Area for neighborhood planning purposes, and our attention may turn in that direction if/when the East Madison Street commercial area gets developed.

So, you will certainly be welcomed at the Mayor's Town Hall on the 22nd.

Many neighborhood organizations are offering information/meet & greet tables at the event. If you would like to represent the Miller neighborhood, please see the information after the poster. (For personal reasons I will probably not attend). Contact me if you want some handouts, etc. Andrew Taylor

(click poster to enlarge and read)

To date, 17 community organizations have confirmed their participation by agreeing to staff an information table that evening between 5:30-6:30 p.m. They are:

1) Madrona Community Council; 2) Center for Multicultural Health; 3) Center Seattle Parent Resource; 4) African American Veterans Group of Washington; 5) Central District Public Art Project; 6) Jackson Place Community Council/Jackson Street Music History Project; 7) 12^th Avenue Neighborhood Plan Stewardship Committee; 8) Squire Park Community Council; 9) Seattle University Youth Initiative; 10) Central Area Development Association; 11) Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center; 12) Coyote Central; 13) Washington Hall/Historic Seattle; 14) First Place School; 15) Pratt Fine Arts Center; 16) Northwest African American Museum; and 17) Seattle Neighborhood Group.

Please contact me with questions or if your organization would like to reserve a table. –Stan

Stan Lock, Neighborhood District Coordinator

Department of Neighborhoods

Central Region

2301 South Jackson Street

Seattle, WA 98144

(206) 233-2045 - Office

(206) 423-9917 - Cell

stan.lock@seattle.gov

Feedback needed on Neighborhood Project Funds application

2011-03-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

Apologies for very late notice, but I'd like your advice/feedback on an application for Neighborhood Project Funds that I would like to submit on behalf of the Miller Park Neighborhood.

Essence of proposal (here's a Google Streetview of an example):

What is the physical location of the proposed project or problem? Please provide the EXACT address and/or cross streets. If it is near a school, please identify.
The 2009 block of East John, Some spot repair adjacent to Miller Park on East John, and if there is funding, sidewalk repairs at 1820 and 1821 East Thomas.
City trees have damaged the sidewalk all along East John and east Thomas from 15^th Ave E to 23^rd Ave E. In many cases sidewalk has been repeatedly shimmed by the city and now needs to be repaired. We understand that some removal of street trees may be necessary to make lasting repairs.

This stretch of sidewalk serves shopping, transit, Meany School (NOVA Alternative High School AND Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center) and the Miller Community Center.

Continue with sidewalk repair along East John/Thomas with a phase 2 NSF to repair sidewalk adjacent to Miller Park and west of 19^th Ave East where there is a Metro bus stop.

My proposed application is posted here.

The application is due tomorrow (Tuesday March 8th) so I'll need to hear from you by 2PM Tuesday.
(apologies for very late notice: personal issues).

E-mail me your thoughts, if desired.

Parks Survey

2011-02-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

Seattle Parks Foundation and their partners are asking for our input on a how we should address the chronic funding shortfall faced by Seattle’s park system. They have prepared a short survey here to voice your opinion, as well as a webpage where you can download a copy of the report. Since the results of the survey are available to those who take it, it is not only a great opportunity to voice your opinion on this important issue (and maybe win a $50 REI gift card!) but also to see what others have to say. Please take a moment to share your opinion now. Thank you!

4 Year Anniversary

2011-02-23T00:14:00.000-08:00

On March 1st , 2007, Club Chocolate City closed, and the decades-long street crimes that had surrounded the bar vanished (literally) overnight. [OK, so the pictures were taken on Saturday 3/3/07, but you get the idea].

Club Chocolate City closed on 2/28/07

All the drug dealers etc immediately disappeared

And regular neighbors took back the streets

I thought the dealers might move down to the store (which stayed open for a few weeks)

but none did. Guess there must have been some direct connection between the bar and the street dealing!

PS (before you ask), it was NO FUN living around the bar back then.

Money for street or park improvements

2011-02-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

Have Ideas for Neighborhood Improvements?

Propose a Project Today!

What is the Neighborhood Projects Funds (NPF)?

NPF consists of two City budget sources: the Neighborhood Street Fund and the Cumulative Reserve Subfund. Through this program, approximately $1.2M is set aside in the 2012 City budget for small scale improvements to neighborhood streets and parks. These funds are unique because NPF projects are proposed by the community.

What projects are eligible?

The NPF can be used for projects valued up to $90K to fund street or park improvements, such as sidewalk repair, traffic circles and traffic calming, sidewalks, school zone speed limit signs, playground improvements, etc. NPF projects are required to meet the following criteria:

Projects funded by the Cumulative Reserve Subfund (approx. $1 Million total) can only be used for maintenance or repairs, projects which address safety issues, or upgrades related to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) like wheelchair access improvements; and must relate to the implementation of an existing Neighborhood Plan. View Neighborhood Plans online at http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/plans.htm.
Projects funded by the Neighborhood Street Fund (approx. $200K total) must be transportation-related. These projects may include new construction and do not have to relate to Neighborhood Plans, but there is less money to go around in this fund.

Who decides which projects will be funded?

Each District Council will review applications and choose three projects. Then the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Parks and Recreation (Parks) will perform detailed feasibility and cost analysis, and provide feedback. The City will make funding decisions based on recommendations from District Councils, Parks and SDOT, with the final decision made by the Mayor. For more information, contact your District Coordinator

http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nsc/coordinators.htm

How are proposals evaluated?

District Councils are looking for projects which meet one or more of the following criteria:

ü Significant Impact: The project will have a widespread positive impact on the neighborhood as a whole.

ü Neighborhood Plan Implementation: The project implements one or more recommendations in an adopted neighborhood plan. Priority will be given to projects that are located in or provide service to urban centers and villages.

ü Broad Support: The project has the support of multiple neighborhood or community groups. Both residential and business groups are encouraged to apply.

ü Leveraging Opportunities: The project also qualifies for funding from another City source, and therefore leaves more NPF money available for other projects.

ü Equity: Funding is to be equitably shared among the districts over time. Neighborhoods that are already receiving significant public investment from other sources may be also given lower priority.

What is the project review timeline?

The flow chart below describes this year’s timeline.

Neighborhood Projects Funds
Timeline (2011)
3/8/2011	Applications due to Department of Neighborhoods (DON). DON begins sorting applications by Neighborhood District.
3/22/2011	DON distributes new 2011 applications and applications prioritized but not funded in 2010 to Neighborhood District Councils.
4/25/2011	Neighborhood District Councils review applications and submit their preliminary list of top 3 projects to DON.
6/20/2011	DON forwards feasible projects with cost estimates back to Neighborhood District Councils.
7/25/2011	Neighborhood District Councils submit prioritized projects to DON.
8/22/2011	DON announces funding recommendations to Neighborhood District Councils
September	Mayor’s proposed budget includes funding recommendations.
November	Seattle City Council considers recommendations and adopts 2012 budget.
December	DON announces funding awards.
2012	Project implementation.

How do I propose a project?

Complete a simple one page form which is available from your Neighborhood District Coordinator or online at http://www.seattle.gov/Neighborhoods/btgnsfcrf/documents/2011NPFApplication.doc.

Applications may be submitted by mail, (PO Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649, Att: Pamela Banks) fax 206-233-5142 or email to NeighborhoodProjectFund@seattle.gov

Questions or Assistance?

Contact your Neighborhood District Coordinator.

Christa Dumpys, Neighborhood District Coordinator

(206) 684-4812 or christa.dumpys@seattle.gov

Tim Durkan, Neighborhood District Coordinator

(206) 684-4054 or tim.durkan@seattle.gov

Stan Lock, Neighborhood District Coordinator

(206) 233-2045 or stan.lock@seattle.gov.

Central Region Team

City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

2301 S. Jackson St., Suite 208

Seattle, WA 98144-2357

The Aging Your Way Initiative

2011-02-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

(or see CD News post)

Graphic illustration from the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park gathering.

Conversations for Community Change

What would your community have to look like to support you as you age?

Would you like to take part in designing that community?

Senior Services is asking local Baby Boomers to do just that – design “communities-for-all” that will support us so we can age confidently and safely. It’s part of our new initiative, “Aging Your Way”.

If you’re like most people, you don’t like to think about aging; yet every day about 10,000 Baby Boomers hit their 60^th birthday. The current programs, services and structures just don’t have the capacity to deal with that demographic. “Aging Your Way” provides the opportunity for you to tell us what you want and what talents you can contribute to make it happen.

We’ve already held events in SE, SW and NE Seattle and in Shoreline, with five more communities in line next and a summit in the fall. Everything about these four events outstripped our expectations: we had capacity crowds; the participants represented the individual community demographics; they easily created and communicated their visions; they identified projects that would help make those visions a reality; and they signed up for Action Teams where they can bring their individual passion, knowledge, skills and resources to the process.

What key factors have contributed to our success so far? First, the time is right for this work to begin – Baby Boomers are often in denial about their own aging, but as they step in as care givers for their parents or spouses, they’re finding that some neighborhoods just aren’t equipped to support an aging population. They know it’s time to re-think and prepare. Second, we hired Jim Diers, professional community organizer and former Director of Neighborhoods for the City of Seattle to be our facilitator and Anne Jess to capture the energy in a graphic. And third, we seem to have a lot of “spark plugs” in King County. When our residents find a topic they feel strongly about – they engage.

Who should attend? We are looking for residents of these communities, ages 45-65 and other younger-thinking older adults who are creative and who are ready to bring ideas and action to the table. The gathering in your neighborhood will be held on Thursday, March 3, from 5:30 until 8:30 at the Garfield Community Center, located at 2323 East Cherry St. Attendees must pre-register to attend a gathering. Please go to: www.seniorservices.org, then click on Aging Your Way to register online. If you have questions or would prefer to talk to someone in person, please contact Sabrina Jones at 206-268-6702.

2200 East Madison Street: another Design Review Hearing

2011-02-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

revised plan for 22nd Ave. Click to enlarge. Compare with previous plan

At the first Early Design Guidance Hearing for this proposed assisted living facility at 22nd & Madison, the Design Review Board liked much of the plan, but really didn't like the plans for the 22nd Avenue side of the building, and sent the architects back to try again!

The architects kindly shared their revised plans with us, and will be eagerly awaiting your comments at the second Early Design Guidance Hearing, at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, February 16, at Seattle Vocational Institute, 2120 S Jackson St. ( see DPD link, my report on previous hearing and the Design Review Board report).

On a brief glance it appears to me that the architects have done much of what the board requested, though the changes have resulted in the loss of the mini-park and the moving of the traffic entrance yet further into the residential street (22nd Ave. E.). I encourage you to look at their design, and come to the meeting with your constructive comments ready.

Fratelli's development underway

2011-02-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

Took this movie (and this one and this one) recently at the now busy building site on the NW corner of 19th & Madison, former home of the Fratelli's Cows.

The project was planned way back in 2001, and you'll have to visit the old Miller Park website to read the planning notes & reports (here's my one page version). The Capitol Hill Seattle blog has some up to date news about the project.

Herewith a few thoughts, from the memory banks:

In brief: planned 2001 - 2002 by Val Thomas, well known developer/architect who built the 19th Ave Lofts across street from project. Architect is Sam Cameron, who [as I recall] did the Design Review presentations way back then (as part of Streeter Architects: Mel Streeter [now deceased] was premier African-American architect in Seattle.)

Sam is now at: RolludaArchitects.com

Sam Cameron contacted me recently:

I am the chair of the Mount Zion Building Ministry and we have been working on a master plan for the Mount Zion Campus. We are in the process of sharing that vision with members of the community.

(See http://www.dkarch.com/project.php?id=16 for a previous [2004 era] view of their vision)

I met with Sam and another Mt. Zion representative: they are planning a community meeting in February to share Mt. Zion's development plans with the community. They need an upzone as part of their master plan, and hence want to share their plans the neighborhood.

They took my suggestion that we use the meeting to update neighbors on the general state of Madison Street development. Val Thomas and Jim Mueller will be there as will people from the 2200 E. Madison Street development.

2200 East Madison: Design Review Report AND another hearing!

2011-01-26T23:47:00.000-08:00

Summary of planning for development of an assisted living facility on Madison between 22nd and 23rd:

Architects Wolf Saar & Matt Roewe at the informal meeting

Design Review team at work

Jan 4th: informal meeting with architects and Aegis Living reps at Capitol Hill Housing's Elizabeth James house (just N. of the planned facility). Well attended, very informative meeting: many neighbors, mostly from 22nd Ave E., learnt about the plans and questioned the developers. A good fraction turned up at:
Jan 5th Early Design Guidance Hearing, the official City planning meeting. Architects slide presentation is here and the Design Review report is here, and my impressions are below. In brief: the Board approved plans to chop down several large "exceptional" trees, but didn't like the plans for the visitor and delivery driveways on 22nd, and required the applicants to rework them and present them at:
another Early Design Guidance Meeting at 6:30 PM on Wednesday February 16th, in room 102/103 of Seattle Vocational Institute, 2120 S. Jackson Street. The applicants Design Proposal should be available here a few days prior to the meeting.

The team would be happy to meet informally with us again on Tuesday Feb 15th, if there is sufficient community interest. Please E-mail me, tayles@jps.net, if you would like a meeting.
NOTE: I video recorded the architect and Aegis reps presentations at the Board hearing and posted them on YouTube. I suggest you follow along using the architects' illustrations. Here is Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of the videos (about 10 mins each).

Here are excerpts from the Review Board report, illustrated with excerpts from the architects' presentation, about the main issue raised by the board. The concern, the impacts of the handling of vehicular traffic, dovetails well with the main concerns expressed by the 22nd Ave. neighbors. BTW the neighbors liked the trees on the site, but were resigned to seeing them cut down: the Design Review Team were also happy with the architects' reasons for removing the trees (see report), and easily agreed that the architects' preferred design was the only viable one.

A-8 Parking and Vehicle Access. Siting should minimize the impact of automobile parking and driveways on the pedestrian environment, adjacent properties, and pedestrian safety.

At the Early Design Guidance Meeting, the Board discussed at length the proposed location of the vehicle access and loading and drop off area clustered along the 22nd Avenue frontage. The Board was concerned that all of the back of house functions and curb cuts created a vehicle dominated and harsh pedestrian environment that lacks contribution to an active streetscape. The Board strongly recommended consolidation of these multiple drive lanes and garage openings to create a design that defers to the pedestrian and creates a more vibrant ground level. The Board observed that the proposed circulation was creating a large hole in the streetscape and a large gap between the gateway corner and the Lowrise zone to the north. The Board also stressed that the ground level should be integrated into the overall façade composition to present a cohesive design.

C-5 Structured Parking Entrances. The presence and appearance of garage entrances should be minimized so that they do not dominate the street frontage of a building.

See A-8. The Board expressed support for departures from the loading berth size and driveway width if such reductions would result in a vibrant and attractive pedestrian streetscape along 22nd Avenue. The Board expressed support a decrease from the quantity of loading berths, if such an option is available through the Land Use Code.

(click to enlarge and make legible)

DEVELOPMENT STANDARD DEPARTURES

3. Parking Location & Access (SMC 23.47A.032.B1b): The Code requires that street level parking be separated from street level, street facing facades by another permitted use. The applicant proposes to locate two parking stalls along 22nd Avenue.

The Board indicated concern with the dominance of the 22nd Avenue frontage by curb cuts and driveways. The Board would like to see the vehicular access dimensions minimized and consolidated. See recommendations contained in this report.

4. Curb Cut Width (SMC 23.54.030.F1b): The Code requires that single curb cut may not exceed ten feet in width or two may combined for a width of 20 feet. The applicant proposes two curb cuts on 22nd Avenue – one 15 feet wide and the other 30 feet wide.

Sketches of proposed design, from architects' presentation

Meetings about proposed development on Madison

2010-12-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

Aegis Living, an assisted living provider based in Redmond, is planning to build its first in-city development at 2200 E. Madison, across from the (former) car wash. It will be a six-story assisted living facility with partial below-grade parking. More details in this Capitol Hill Seattle blog post, which first alerted us to the project. The architect's design proposal (as will presented at the meeting) is now on the DPD website.

At 7 PM on Tuesday Jan 4, 2011, there will be an informal meeting for neighbors to meet with architect Wolf Saar and an Aegis representative and exchange ideas. Meeting is in the Elizabeth James House community room. Walk to the front of the building (109 23^rd Ave E) and enter through the wood gate just to the right of the front door (goes directly to the community room). This meeting was arranged by Andrew Taylor of the Miller Park Neighborhood Association and room use was donated by Capitol Hill Housing.

At 6:30 PM on Wednesday, Jan 5th, the Department of Planning and Development is holding an Early Design Guidance Meeting, in Rooms 102/103 of Seattle Vocational Institute, 2120 S. Jackson Street. At the early design guidance meeting, the applicants will present information about the site and vicinity. The public may offer comments regarding the design and siting of a development on the subject site; and the Design Review Board members will also offer comments and identify those Citywide Design Guidelines of highest priority in developing the site. Details are on DPD website.

Miller year in review

2010-12-15T23:01:00.000-08:00

It's been a pretty quiet year in Miller Park, Seattle. I've taken a break from neighborhood stuff, but Meg's doing so well that I'm tempted to get my feet dirty again. I started off by helping (in a very small way) with the recent Miller Holiday Party. Many thanks to those who answered the call to volunteer (and BTW, how about joining the volunteer advisory council for the Miller Community Center?).

Here are my (disjointed) thoughts about this last year.

The presence of two excellent neighborhood blogs (for Capitol Hill and the Central District) has made this blog somewhat superfluous, so I've taken to writing for those two blogs (here are my Capitol Hill and CD blog contributions).

When we started the Miller Park Neighborhood Association back in 1989, we had a number of things we'd like changed in the neighborhood. Twenty-one years later, they've just about all got done, some due in part to our persistence, others seemingly without our intervention.

Our one remaining interest is the redevelopment of the commercial area along East Madison Street. Other that the Safeway, there has been no development there, though there has been an interminable series of planning meetings. Several large projects were about to happen, but the recession and the banking crisis seemingly put them on an interminable hold, and I gave up updating my Madison Street redevelopment map, because nothing was changing!

It looks, however, as though things will change in 2011:

Mount Zion Baptist Church contacted me and will host a meeting early in 2011 to share their vision for the development of their campus.
I hear that one of the stalled projects on Madison may get going early in 2011 (come to the meeting to hear more).
The empty lot at 22nd & Madison (formerly owned by the Madison Temple across the street from it) will be developed in 2011 as a 6-story assisted living facility. Expect a Design Review Hearing early in the year where you can share your views.
Jim Mueller (owner of the Deano's and Twilight Exit lots he has plans to redevelop) is reported by CD News (which summarizes all the stalled projects) to be "hopeful for 2011".

In the interim you might care to help the Capitol Hill Alano Club by patronizing its Christmas Tree lot, which is on the Deano's site at 22nd & Madison.

You'll recall that Meany Middle School was replaced by Nova High School and the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (SBOC) and that we met and welcomed the new schools in the Spring of '09. Both schools seem to have settled in well in the neighborhood and I have heard of no issues involving them. Recently I ran into a member of "Friends of SBOC" - they would like to start a dialog with the neighborhood (stay tuned).

Note that, as a cost-saving measure, the City is closing our "Little City Hall", depriving us of the office and of the invaluable services of our Neighborhood District Coordinator. It remains to be seen if the District Council system (an excellent way of communicating with the City) will survive the loss of support for its meetings.

That's it for what seems to me to be relevant very local neighborhood news. Feel free to correct me (tayles@jps.net)

Finally, on a personal note, I offer you links to my Family Christmas Letter, my website of family photos and thoughts, and my blog about Meg's recovery from her illness.

Happy Holidays to all!

Please bear with me

2010-01-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

While I attend to urgent family matters, I will probably be unable to publish much on this blog. However, if you drop me a message, I may well be able to point you in the right direction

I recommend you use these neighborhood resources in my absence:

Capitol Hill Seattle blog
Central District News blog
Capitol Hill Yahoo group
Madison Valley Yahoo group
Capitol Hill Neighborhood Service Center. José Cervantes (about to retire), 684-4574
Central Area Neighborhood Service Center: Ted Divina, 233-7257
Miller Community Center, Director Jeremy Doane, 684-4753
Seattle's Customer Service Bureau

All the best,

Andrew Taylor

Department of Neighborhoods Survey

2009-12-22T20:18:00.000-08:00

I recently received an email from Stella Chao, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ director, asking me to complete a survey. I pass this onto you.

By answering these questions about your experiences with the department, you will help them understand what you value most, and increase their positive impact on our shared community.

To participate, please click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2bVy_2b31mcihsxbxw_2fCr_2bc4g_3d_3d

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers and your responses are completely anonymous so please be candid.

Andrew

Reason for lack of blog posts

2009-12-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

http://meg-holmes.blogspot.com/

Miller holiday party reminder (for guests and volunteers)

2009-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

1) The holiday party for disadvantaged families will be on Saturday, 10 - 2 PM at Miller Community Center. Go here for details and go here to volunteer for the event.

2) An article in Thursday's Seattle Times notes the dwindling supplies of toys for tots, and reports that one neighboring community center (Yesler) will not be distributing toys this year. This could result in even larger crowds at Miller than last year, and an even greater need for your volunteer efforts.

The article notes this unfortunate reality of such holiday parties, but puts it in the right perspective:
Brown said he was never aware of anyone who abused the program. But he has encountered individuals that bounce from church to agency to organization, gathering all the holiday freebies they can.

"You have those people," he said, "but then you have the people who are really struggling, and that's who we're trying to help."

Care to volunteer at the December 12th Miller Community Center Holiday Party?

2009-12-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

(Click here to volunteer right now, or read on for details)

The Miller Community Center and The Country Doctor's Holiday Party (for the clinic's patient families and other underprivileged Seattleites) is Saturday, December 12th from 10 AM to 2 PM.

This year we are expecting an attendance of about 1,200 people of many ethnic backgrounds. We have many activities for kids including a visit (with pictures) with Santa, games, two bouncy toys, cookie decorating, arts & crafts, and of course Christmas presents. Click here for a slide show from a couple of years ago, to get an idea of what goes on.

From Miller Holiday Party 12/15/07

Lake Street Catering is again providing a free lunch for families and volunteers.

To volunteer to help at this wonderful event, please go to this Surveymonkey survey, where you can leave contact details, and choose when and what you'd like to do to help. Many thanks,

Andrew Taylor, on behalf of the Miller Community Center Advisory Council.

For any questions, please email Community Center Director jeremy.doane@seattle.gov or call the Community Center 206-684-4753.

Nova School Craft Fair: Tuesday Dec. 8

2009-12-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

Nova Craft Fair
Tuesday, Dec 8, 6-8:30p
Onsite at Nova- 300 20th Ave E

(Nova is an alternative high school which was relocated from the Horace Mann building near Garfield to the Meany School building this Fall. Entrance is on the west side of the school, NOT the main Meany entrance on 21st).

Admission is free, donations of non-perishable foods welcome.

WHAT: An "open house" style Craft Fair featuring make-and-take projects and ready-made crafts and arts shared by the Nova community. Crafts for all ages and interests starting at $1. Nothing over $10! Cider and treats too!

WHO: Nova community, family, friends, neighbors...

WHY: A fun celebration of community skills and inspiration to benefit the Nova Family Support program.

Or check their E-vite.

Friday: Parade, Lights, Fireworks

2009-11-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

(from Macy's press release)

Macy’s Holiday Parade: Friday, November 27 Seattle, 8:45 a.m. Start 7th and Pine, west to 5th Avenue, south on 5th Avenue to University Street, west on University Street to 4th Avenue, and north on 4th Avenue, where it will deliver Santa to Macy’s.

Twenty balloon floats and inflatables, local high school marching bands, over 500 costumed characters, and community drill teams. The parade concludes with Santa’s arrival at Macy’s on a festive balloon float under a dramatic confetti snowstorm. Other floats feature a giant gingerbread house, sponsored by The Sheraton Hotel, a larger than life inflatable Frango™ and Ukranian Nesting Dolls.

Macy’s Star Lighting & Fireworks Show

At 5:00 p.m. on the corner of 4th and Pine street, Macy’s will light its famous, 161-foot high, 3,600-bulb Holiday Star in conjunction with the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony. The star lighting will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display, weather permitting.

Got a project you'd like done?

2009-11-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

Our City's Department of Neighborhoods sponsors the Neighborhood Matching Fund, which helps neighborhood groups fund and administer public service projects, large and small. Our neighborhood has benefitted in larger (Miller Fountain) and smaller (traffic circles) ways from this innovative way to get neighborhood projects accomplished. (Go here and search for Miller Park to see a list).

A recent letter from the Department Director, Stella Chao, lists recent changes in the program to make it even easier to use. Maybe this will prompt some Miller denizens to leap into action. Stella notes:

Over its 21 years, the Neighborhood Matching Fund team has made continuous improvements to the program. Following up from a formal assessment in which several of you participated, we have identified improvements, and I’m pleased to announce the following changes to the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) beginning in January 2010.

NMF Guidelines:
· The NMF guidelines are now clearer and easier to navigate. In fact, all four NMF funding programs are covered under the same guidelines document.
· The value of volunteer time has increased to $20 per hour keeping up with Independent Sector research on average volunteer time value.
Fund Category and Dollar Limit Changes:
· The Outreach Fund is now combined with the Small Sparks Fund, which will continue to provide support for community building projects with small funding needs, along with the enhancement of more flexible guidelines.
· To keep up with rising costs, fund request limits have increased for the Small Sparks Fund up to $1,000 and the Small and Simple Fund up to $20,000 per project.

Application Forms:
· The forms have been redesigned to be easier to use, along with simplified questions, fill-in electronic formatting, and simpler work plan and budget forms.
· Signatures documenting community match pledges are no longer required for the application stage.
Technical Assistance:
· To increase our outreach and assistance to projects, the Neighborhood Matching Fund staff will hold one to two technical assistance workshops every month at various locations around the city.
· Our website has been revamped to ease navigation and provide clearer information with the inclusion of a “Frequently Asked Questions” section. Watch for the launch of our new webpages on December 1. Our website will continue to expand, allowing community members access to NMF advice and technical assistance – any time, any day.
As mentioned earlier, our team is continuously looking at ways to enhance our program. We are excited about these improvements and trust you will find them helpful as you, your organization or your neighborhood participate in the NMF.

Regards,

Stella Chao, Director
Department of Neighborhoods
PO BOX 94649 Seattle, WA 98124-4649
T: (206) 684-0465

Dark and dreary: time for action

2009-11-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

(reposted from last year: it's wet and windy and Fall again)

1) The City invites you to Adopt A Drain and keep it clear of leaves and debris. I told you of this program two years ago, and applied for a set of tools to share with the neighborhood......still waiting!

Ann Donovan noted (Capitol Hill Yahoo Group):

With the leaves falling in mass and the rains starting storm drains
start to clog. It is a great time for volunteers to help out by taking
a few minutes to remove any debris blocking the drains.

If you find a drain in need of further servicing (I found one yesterday
blocked with dirt) then use the form on the Seattle Public Utilities
site to report it in for service -- noting location of the problem.

http://web1.seattle.gov/spu/CRMIQ/ContactSPU.aspx

2) City Light tells us:

City Light is launching a new streetlight maintenance program. Instead of relying on streetlight trouble reports, crews will replace, clean and adjust lamps for maximum illumination every four years to ensure proper maintenance. With a regular replacement schedule, repair times will improve for most problems individually reported by customers.

and then in the next paragraph tells us how to report burnt out bulbs:

To report a burned out or flickering streetlight, call (206) 684-7056 or go online to www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight. Please be prepared to provide the pole number (yellow numbers 6 to 15 feet above the ground) and the nearest address.

A while ago I suggested that we share in the task of noting and reporting burnt out streetlights, via a sort of "Adopt a Streetlight" program. Now that the dark is upon us again, perhaps it's time to revisit that idea and to get more of our neighbors to take part.

See map below, which shows which streets have been adopted, and see the original post for instructions.

View Larger Map

Seattle Marathon Street closures: how to escape Capitol Hill

2009-11-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

On Sunday November 29th, 2009 the Seattle Marathon encircles Capitol Hill, with various streets closed. Races start at ~ 7 AM; I-90 reopens at ~ 11 AM; all roads reopen by 2:15 PM. Going north on 23rd to the University District or getting to I-5 via the Roanoke onramps won't work. Accessing I-5 via Madison, Denny-Steward-Yale (southbound) or Olive (northbound) will work. (link to maps on Marathon website). Note that the I5 off-ramp at Olive is closed for light rail construction.

Who will do what in the City Council

2009-11-19T22:15:00.000-08:00

(from a press release)

Seattle – Today, Council President Richard Conlin officially announced the Councilmember committee assignments for the 2010-2011 cycle.

Keeping most of her current assignment is Councilmember Sally J. Clark, who will chair the Committee of the Built Environment. In January the committee will focus on the review of Children’s Hospitals’ Major Institution Master Plan.

Councilmember Tim Burgess will continue chairing the Public Safety and Education Committee while relinquishing Human Services.

The Energy and Technology Committee maintains its chair as well, with Councilmember Bruce Harrell taking the committee for a second term, and adding Civil Rights to the committee work.

Councilmember Jean Godden is the fourth Councilmember who will not change assignments, maintaining her role as chair of the Finance and Budget Committee.

New/revised assignments include:

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – will chair the Transportation Committee.

Councilmember Nick Licata – will chair Human Services and Culture along with a new committee covering Housing.

Council President Richard Conlin – will chair the Sustainability and Regional Development Committee, continuing his responsibility of Open Government, Emergency Management, Sustainability and Intergovernmental Relations, while adding Economic Development and Libraries, and turning over Public Utilities.

Incoming Councilmember Sally Bagshaw – will chair the Parks and Seattle Center Committee.

Incoming Councilmember Mike O’Brien – will chair a new committee covering Seattle Public Utilities and Neighborhoods.

New Councilmembers will be sworn in on Jan. 4, 2010 at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers, marking the official start of the 2010-2011 Council year. The first committee meetings will be held the following week

Letter to neighborhood from Police Department

2009-11-19T12:04:00.001-08:00

Neighborhood Plan Status "Checks"

2009-11-08T22:45:00.000-08:00

(click on image to enlarge/read)

Below is the City's official attempt to interest you in Tuesday's Neighborhood Plan meeting.

For a much more palatable invitation, try the version from the chair of the Capitol Hill Community Council.

Status Check – Seattle Citizens Assess Their Neighborhood Plans

There are now TWO more options to participate. Join us at the November 10th meeting (see below) , or complete an on-line questionnaire.

(There's more! click on title of post to see it all)

For More Information about these meetings contact David Goldberg:
davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov or (206) 615-1447

During June and July, many neighbors joined in meetings and many other hundreds participated in on line questionnaires to review the Draft Neighborhood Status Reports and comment on changes— good, bad, and unexpected —that have occurred since Seattle’s Neighborhood Plans were written in the late 90's. We explored growth, transportation, housing, economic development, utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety. The Planning Commission’s reports on comments can be reviewed at http://www.seattle.gov/planningcommission/

The Neighborhood Plan Advisory Committee (NPAC) and the Seattle Planning Commission want to report back to you on the trends that emerged so far and to get your help to identify the continuing priorities and new issues that should be emphasized in the final Status Reports and a State of the Neighborhood Report that will be presented to the City Council and Mayor. These reports will contribute to policy decisions including decisions about whether or how to updates neighborhood plans. Your input will also be important as NPAC shapes its recommendations on conducting, prioritizing and funding updates to the neighborhood plans listed below.

6-8 pm,Tuesday, November 10^th Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway – Room BE 1110/11

Directions http://seattlecentral.edu/maps/

Areas to be discussed: Queen Anne / Uptown, Belltown, Pike/Pine, First Hill, Eastlake, Capitol Hill, Central Area

Hosts: Neighborhood Plan Advisory Committee and the Seattle Planning Commission

NPAC http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/npac.htm
Seattle Planning Commission http://www.seattlegov/planningcommission/
More info on Status Reports and Neighborhood Planning can be found at: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning /Neighborhood_Planning/Overview/

Seattle Comprehensive Plan overview: 2030 and beyond

2009-11-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

Join former Mayor Norm Rice for the kick-off of a major update of

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan – “Seattle 2030 and Beyond”

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Presentation at 6:30 pm

Miller Community Center

330 19th Ave E (served by Metro Routes 8, 10, 11, 12 and 43)

Seattle 2030 and Beyond … meeting the challenges and opportunities of a new world

· 20 years ago we adopted the state Growth Management Act

· 15 years ago we adopted Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan … Toward a Sustainable Seattle

· As we move into the 21^st century, our population continues to grow and becomes more diverse

· Since 2005, Seattle and over 1000 other American cities have pledged to meet or beat the goals of the Kyoto Treaty

· Seattle now has more renters than home-owners

· We have more public transportation options … light rail, street car, and pedestrian and bicycle friendly streets

· We are known as a green/sustainable city

· We are known as a creative city, an innovative city

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1994, sets policies and goals for a full range of elements that affect how a city will grow, including land use, transportation, housing, capital facilities, utilities, economic development, neighborhood planning, human development, cultural resources and the environment.

Help shape Seattle’s future – join us as we take these important steps to guide Seattle through the 21^st century.

How will we meet the growing climate challenges? How can we retain and improve our truly great neighborhoods? How can we accommodate new residential and employment growth? How will we continue to be inclusive and caring? How do we stay competitive and entrepreneurial in the world marketplace?

Our challenge to you - In 150 words or less, describe your Seattle 2030 or Seattle 2050.

Send your comments to Kristian.kofoed@seattle.gov

The best place for you to learn more and get involved is through DPD’s web page

www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/compplan

You may also contact Tom Hauger (206 684 8380) or Kristian Kofoed (206 233 7191).

Congratulations, Captain Meehan: updated

2009-11-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

Captain Mike Meehan was the commander of the East Precinct from 2004 to 2006ish and was very helpful in our ongoing struggles with the street crimes that emanated from Deano's Bar / Club Chocolate City.

Since then he's been in charge of many SPD divisions, as summarized in this SPD Blotter posting from July:

Captain Mike Meehan, a 23-year veteran, is leaving the Narcotics Section to take over the Violent Crimes Section, which consists of overseeing the Homicide, Robbery, CSI, Gang, Polygraph, Bias Crimes and Fugitive Units. Captain Meehan has previously commanded East Precinct, Narcotics, Vice, Field Training and Audit, Accreditation and Policy.

Yesterday I was contacted by a reporter from the Berkeley Daily Planet (a free twice-weekly paper): their paper had just broken the story that Captain Meehan will (assuming he's OK'd by their City Council on Tuesday) be the next Police Chief in Berkeley, California.

I hope you will join me in congratulating Captain Meehan on his promotion. I note that (while the East Precinct has had many commanders in my time here), quite a few of them have gone on to more senior positions: John Diaz (SPD Interim Chief), Nick Metz (SPD Assistant Chief), Landy Black (Davis, CA Police Chief), and now Captain Meehan.

More details of Mike's promotion may be found on Capitol Hill Seattle and on the Seattle PI blog, or by a quick Googling:

By the way, I noted that the Berkeley paper, the SPD Blog, the above Google search, and many of the other sources were using the same photo, which seemed strangely familiar to me. I eventually realized that it was one I had taken, in March 2004 at an East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition meeting, and posted on the old Miller website. The PI had obtained it from the SPD media relations office, who are apparently using it as their standard picture of Mike. I'm flattered!

By way of thanking Mike, and sending him on his way, here is that photo, together with one from his 3 hour fact-finding tour of our neighborhood. His (solo) visit with our neighbors, his ready ability to communicate, and his frank, honest appraisal of what SPD could and could not do to help us, was what really impressed me about him, and made it so easy for me to recommend him to the Berkeley people when asked.

PS: One way to follow Captain Meehan's progress in Berkeley will be via the Berkeley Daily Planet's reporter's tweets, which of course remind Seattleites of this song.

Update (11/20/09): The Berkeley university newspaper, the Daily Cal, has an article about Captain Meehan, with quotes from me and from Stephanie Tschida, chair of the East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition.

The Berkeley Daily Planet has another article about Captain Meehan, with quotes from me and from Dominic Holden of the Stranger.

From the Friends of the Library

2009-11-04T21:26:00.000-08:00

(FWIW I've E-mailed the Council, suspecting that the cuts would be made, and suggested that the Monday to Thursday hours all be 1 - 8 PM, to allow people to go after work)

My name is Jennifer Johnson-Fong, I volunteer as the Vice President on the board of Friends of The Seattle Public Library. If you have reported about The Seattle Public Library budget in the past thank you and I hope you can support the Friends again as Seattle City Council makes their final decisions on the proposed 2010 Library budget. If you haven’t reported before or the Friends haven’t contacted you in the past, I hope you’ll help get an important message out to your neighborhood.

The Friends of The Seattle Public Library want to see Option A pass by the Seattle City Council. I would so appreciate your support in this email campaign.

Here is the message:

TO: sally.clark@seattle.gov; jan.drago@seattle.gov; tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov ; richard.conlin@seattle.gov ; jean.godden@seattle.gov

CC: tim.burgess@seattle.gov; bruce.harrell@seattle.gov; nick.licata@seattle.gov

SUBJECT: 1.2 M Restoration of Library Funds

TEXT: Dear Councilmembers Clark, Conlin, Drago, Godden, and Rasmussen

Please join fellow Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata and vote for Option A– restoring the 330 weekly service hours to keep our libraries open normal hours in 2010.

OPTIONAL: I use the XYZ neighborhood branch for XYZ. OR Share a more personal message about why your neighborhood branch is important to you.

The email message is simple and straightforward, but needs to reach as many in your neighborhood as possible. Any additional support you can give to the email campaign beyond your news service either by emailing list servs, posting on Facebook, Twittering, or just emailing Seattle friends and family would be greatly appreciated.

As you may know your neighborhood branch Library’s hours will drastically change if the Mayor’s proposed 2010 budget passes. The proposed budget eliminates 17,160 public service hours per year and would impact your neighborhood directly with the closure of your neighborhood branch on Friday and Sunday plus a reduction in hours – all year round. Your neighborhood branch would be open after six only twice a week. Among many other services, hour changes will impact story times, nighttime classes, community meeting room availability and homework help programs. Your neighborhood’s access to The Library’s free public computers and free Wi-Fi will be another lost resource that many community members without a computer or internet access depend on.

The good news is that Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata are committed to preserving the hours of operations at all neighborhood branches of The Seattle Public Library. On November 2^ndSeattle City Councimembers began discussing four options to partially restore the 5% reduction in the endorsed library budget. None of the options will prevent another one week furlough in 2010, but the best choice, Option A, does preserve Library hours in your neighborhood branch at their current level and prevents the loss of 27 library staff positions. The Friends have launched this final email campaign targeted at Councilmembers Clark, Conlin, Drago, Godden and Rasmussen to urge them to join Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata in preserving our present neighborhood Library hours.

Please let me know if I can provide you with any other information. I have included additional background information below on the proposed 2010 budget’s impact on The Seattle Public Library and neighborhood branches.

Thank you,

Jennifer Johnson-Fong

Vice President, Friends of The Seattle Public Library

Member, Advocacy Committee

Email: advocacy@friendsofspl.org

Blog: http://friendsofspl.wordpress.com
Web: http://www.friendsofspl.org
Facebook: http://www.causes.com/friendsoftheseattlepubliclibrary

Survey: Friends Neighborhood Library Usage survey

Sarel Rowe
Advocacy Chair, Friends of The Seattle Public Library

Background Information

The Seattle Public Library is a City Department with an Operations Budget funded by the City of Seattle’s General Fund and a Capital Budget funded by the Real Estate Excise Tax or REET. The operations budget funds collections and staff, while the capital budget funds building maintenance. This year Seattle City Council specifically asked Mayor Nickels to preserve funding for The Seattle Public Library Collections budget and thus the collections budget is not decreasing or increasing this year.

The Seattle Public Library hours at 21 neighborhood branches are going to change drastically if the proposed budget is approved. The City Council is now reviewing Mayor Greg Nickels' proposed 2010 budget, which includes $2.8 million in cuts to the Library budget. Proposed cuts include a reduction in branch operating hours and a one-week closure of the entire Library system. The proposed hours reduction would mean that 21 Library locations would be closed on Fridays and Sundays, plus operate on reduced hours - all year. A proposed change to the hours at Central Library, Douglass-Truth, Lake City, Ballard, Rainier Beach and Southwest branches attempts to compensate the displaced patrons who use the 21 neighborhood branches impacted by the proposed 2010 City Budget. Overall, the Library would lose about 23 percent of its open hours compared with 2009.

The 21 neighborhood branches are Beacon Hill, Broadview, Capitol Hill, Columbia. Delridge, Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood, High Point, International District / Chinatown, Madrona-Sally Goldmark,Magnolia, Montlake, NewHolly, Northeast, Northgate, Queen Anne, South Park, University, Wallingford and West Seattle. If the Mayor’s proposed 2010 budget is adopted the hours for these branches would be:

Monday, Tuesday:
1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Thursday:
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLOSED FRIDAY

Saturday:
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLOSED SUNDAY

The proposed budget will impact all of our communities and neighbors who are relying on our libraries for computer access, job search resources, educational support, gathering spaces, and librarian assistance. In 2008, more than 13 million customers visited the Library and so far this year, visits are up another 8 percent. Circulation of books and other items was up 20 percent in 2008; this year it is up an additional 11 percent.

2010 Proposed Budget Information about the Operations Budget (collections and hours) and Capital (major building maintenance) on The Seattle Public Library’s website: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=about_history

Vote as you please, but please vote (better do it now)

2009-11-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

Your ballot's around the house somewhere. Remember that it has to be postmarked by TUESDAY (good luck finding a pickup after 6 PM). A stamp (remember stamps?) is 44 cents. Safeway has 'em.
Voters' pamphlets, locations of 24 hour drop boxes, etc is all right here.
Nearest drop box: Central Area Neighborhood Service Center, 2301 S. Jackson

Ballot drop boxes will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3.

You all did so well last November. Please get out those ballots and make us all proud.
Thank you.

PS: You really will MAKE A DIFFERENCE

PPS: Running late? Latest mailbox pickup I could find was 7:30 PM. You're better off going to the drop box at 23rd & Jackson. BE THERE BEFORE 8PM!

A good walk (not) ruined. Hear about an amazing journey!

2009-10-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

I've know Erin since she was about 6: she's the daughter of a former colleague at the Hutch, and she was (rather more recently) a graduate student in a lab down the hall. Erin and Hig really did walk and paddle all the way from Seattle to the end of the Aleutian peninsula, blogging as they went! You can read their adventures on the blog, or you can read the book and/or come to the slide show. Erin will be interviewed on KING5 at 8AM on the 29th, and by KUOW at 9AM on the 30th.

We also go to the same dentist. At one point their inflatable raft was ripped apart by a bear. The thing that impressed our dentist most was that they were carrying enough dental floss to sew raft (and tent) back together again.

It's a great story. See you there.

Halloween at the Bottleneck Lounge

2009-10-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

The BottleNeck Lounge and Skillet Present the Third Annual Hillside Harvest Feast

On Halloween!!

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Time: 3:00 PM - close

Where: The Bottleneck Lounge

2328 E. Madison St. (between John and 23^rd on Capitol Hill)

www.bottlenecklounge.com (206.323.1098)

www.skilletstreetfood.com

Charge: No cover

The BottleNeck Lounge and Skillet Street Food combine forces on October 31^st to present the best Halloween Party this side of Transylvania. Skillet’s Airstream will be parked directly in front of the newly-expanded BottleNeck Lounge, located at 2328 E. Madison St. on the backside of Capitol Hill. Doors open at 3 PM and Skillet begins service at 4PM. We’re bringing in some great seasonals, including Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale and Spire Mountain Dark and Dry Cider. Enjoy with a tasty burger smothered in bacon jam (and yes, veggie fare will be available too). Load up for your night on the town or hunker down with us for a spooktacular event!

Skillet will stop serving when the food runs out (hard to guess) but the party goes all night! Prizes for best costume awarded at 6 PM and midnight and toasty drink specials created with Amarula Cream Liqueur until close. Great food, great company – a ghoulishly good time!

The BottleNeck Lounge is a 21+ venue.

Halloween in the Arboretum!

2009-10-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

(click image for readable version)

Miller Halloween Carnival (and toddler pumpkin patch)

2009-10-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

(Reminder) The staff at Miller will be happy to see you and your children. They will be equally happy if you can volunteer to help at the event - contact Director Jeremy Doane at 684-4753. (click on image for legible version)

Miller Community Center Preschool

2009-10-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

Miller Community Center is starting a half-day preschool for 3 to 5 year olds, starting November 2nd. For further details see the brochure, available on paper at the Center, or right here (via the miracle of electrons). For more details contact Center Director Jeremy Doane at 684-4753 or the preschool: miller.preschool@seattle.gov

Community Council Election Forum

2009-10-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Capitol Hill Community Council is proud to present a forum featuring candidates for Seattle Mayor. The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for residents and other stakeholders on Capitol Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods to meet the candidates and learn more about them. More specifically, the Council will engage the candidates in dialogue concerning their vision for the city and how they will seek to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Seattle. We will discuss topics such as the relationship of city government to its residents & neighborhoods, city planning in regard to open space & land use, and transportation. We hope you can join us for this exciting event!

Date:                    Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Time:                   4-6pm
Location:            Pigott Auditorium, Albers School of Business & Economics - Seattle University

If you have questions pertaining to the topics above that you would like posed to the candidates, please send them to us at chcc.officers@gmail.com. Please note that there will also be time for general audience Q&A. This is an event sponsored by the Capitol Hill Community Council with the gracious donation of space from Seattle University.

************* informal notes****************

The format will go something like this

4pm Welcome, introductions, CHCC announcements

4:15 Mallahan question round

5pm Short Break

5:15 McGinn question round

6pm End

Our innovative format allows the Council to get into issues one-on-one with each candidate - it's a dialogue between each candidate and the community rather than an argument between opponents.

We're also encouraging folks to attend the A&A Building Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Seattle University right before the mayoral candidate forum from 3-4pm. The A&A Building is lovely, and this event is also a celebration of SU's commitment to community.

Seattle University map: http://tinyurl.com/forum-map

More info at CHS blog:

Chicks Play Hard 2009

2009-10-02T00:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let you know that Chicks Play Hard 2009 is coming up in a few weeks. We are looking for both volunteers and participants.

We are pleased to once again partner with Seattle Parks & Recreation/ Miller Community Center to provide this event free for the community. Cappy's boxing returns this year to Chicks, as well as belly dancing, double dutch and fencing.

Chicks Play Hard will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, at Miller Community Center from 11 am to 4 pm. Participants should be ages 9 to 13.

Each year we rely on volunteers to serve girls in the community and provide them with a great day. Volunteers should send an email to chicksplayhard@gmail.com and let us know if you can volunteer for part of the day, or the entire time.

Registration and more information at www.chicksplayhard.com

Thank you for helping us spread the word, and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Sincerely,

Mary Guiden
Chicks Play Hard volunteer

Saturday: Capitol Hill Park Groundbreaking

2009-10-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

Miller Playfield Inauguration Update: field users to be told about parking lot

2009-09-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

Many Nova and SBOC families and students, and a few Miller

residents, gathered at Miller on Saturday Sept. 19th, and enjoyed watching lacrosse and soccer demonstrations while dining on the remarkable and delicious selection of potluck dishes that they had brought. The meal finished with a variety of flavors of ice-cream donated by Bluebird Ice Cream and Tearoom (I'm still not convinced by the beer-flavored ice-cream, even if it is Elysian Porter).

A note from (guest of honor) Councilmember Rasmussen, to the Parks Department:

Saturday evening I attend the celebration of the completion of the Miller Playfield. It was well attended and the community is very happy with the results. Several people wanted me to know how helpful Karen O'Connor was in the success of the event.

One area where they need help is with the amount of on street parking that impacts the neighborhood. They asked if the Parks Department would encourage the teams and other people or groups who use the community center and especially the athletic fields to use the parking lot that is between the school and the community center.

Would you be able to develop signs or provide notice to people that the parking is available and encouraged there?

Thanks very much.
Tom Rasmussen

I replied:

I second Councilmember Rasmussen's thanks to Karen O' Conner and would add that Ted Holden, the projec
t manager for th e field replacement, was a joy to work with and was very diligent.

Directing field patrons to the lower parking lot: I attach a specimen map I made a while ago (at end). I'd be happy to aid
in the design of an official map to distribute to teams and post on Parks websites, and would suggest that Parks require teams to distribute either the maps or
links to a Parks website.

I would further suggest that SDOT post brown directional signs to point out the way to the parking lot: the attached map makes good locations obvious.
Many thanks again, both for the lovely new playfield, and for last Saturday's celebration.

And many thanks to Councilmember Rasmussen for taking the time on a Saturday evening to attend the event.

The Parks Department has agreed to implement many of our suggestions:

September 23, 2009

Dear Mr. Taylor and Councilmember Rasmussen:

Superintendent Gallagher asked me to respond to your email about the parking impact at Miller Playfield. It is exciting to hear that Miller Playfield Project was such a great success and I thank you for your continued support for Miller Community Center and Playfield.

I have asked Dennis Cook, Citywide Athletics Manager, to compose a letter to be sent immediately to current Miller Playfield users to direct them to the parking lot off 20th and E Republican St., adjacent to the west of Meany Middle School and east of Miller Community Center. That letter will also be sent with all new field permits so field users know in advance where to park to help mitigate the parking impacts. Also, we will ask the larger athletic organizations to post the Miller Playfield parking instructions on their websites. Dennis will work with the Athletic Field Coordinators to plan regular meetings with user groups to explain
to them the importance of parking in the assigned parking lot. We will also look into possibly developing signs or maps to help direct Miller Playfield users know where to park.

Other athletic fields have experienced similar parking problems and we have, working with the user groups, gotten the parking situation under control. It will take the support of all involved to make the parking a success, but I am confident the field users want to be good neighbors

If you have further questions or concerns please contact me at christopher.williams@seattle.gov or 206-684-4136.
Sincerely,
Christopher Williams
Deputy Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

cc: John Bates, Athletic Field Scheduler, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Dennis Cook, Citywide Athletics Manager, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Sue Goodwin, Recreation Division Director, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Raft Hollingsworth, Athletic Field Coordinator, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Christopher M. Williams
Deputy Superintendent/Chief of StaffSeattle Parks and Recreation
(206) 684-4136 Office
(206) 233-7023 Fax
christopher.williams@seattle.gov

I'm sure you'll join me in thanking the Parks Department for the elegant new playfield, and for the ongoing efforts to make it work for everyone.

Granite Falls Railroad Days Parade

2009-09-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

(reposted, yet again, to remind you that the parade is Saturday October 3rd, noon in Granite Falls. Weather looks good for another viewing of the Shriners' waterproof fez covers).

I've been to the Granite Falls Parade (Railroad Days, 1st Saturday in October) several times: it's the classic small town parade (class of 2009, 2010, 2011 etc, assorted kids' floats) but also Seafair Pirates, multiple Shriners' groups and lots more local fun. Don't miss the BBQ sandwich at the Fire Hall afterwards!
Still pictures of a moving (OK, slowly moving) parade can't capture the essence of the event, so here are a few little movies. (you might need to install the Flash Player to see them)

Yes, it was drizzling: note the transparent fez covers!

Washington Ensemble Theatre on 19th

2009-09-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's Mary Bliss from the Washington Ensemble Theatre (corner of Roy and 19th next to Kingfish). Would you mind passing on our press release for our season opening show to the MPNA list? It's a community event and we'd love to see our friends and neighbors there!

Thanks!

Mary Bliss Mather
Actress-Coach-Event Planner-General Superstar
Co-Artistic Director, Washington Ensemble Theatre
www.washingtonensemble.org

www.geocities.com/maryblissmather

WASHINGTON ENSEMBLE THEATRE is Showing:
The WEST COAST Premiere of
NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM
Written by Jennifer Haley
Directed by Makaela Pollock

WHAT:
NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM

There’s something in the neighborhood. Something’s coming....

WHO:

Written by Jennifer Haley

Directed by Makaela Pollock

WHEN:

September 25 - October 26, 2009

Thursdays through Mondays, at 7:30PM.

Sneak Peak Thursday Preview, September 24th at 7:30PM.

Opening Night Gala, Friday, September 25 at 7:30PM.

WHERE:

608 19th Avenue East, at The Little Theatre in Capitol Hill (between Mercer & Roy)

Visit www.washingtonensemble.org for directions.

TICKETS:

$12-$18. Available through Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006 or

www.brownpapertickets.com.

ABOUT THE PLAY:

Something sinister is coming to the subdivision. Lurking on the hard-drive of every teenager in suburbia, “Neighborhood 3” is a video game that allows kids to fight zombies in a virtual reality that looks strangely familiar.

Parents grow increasingly frantic as players descend deeper into the game-world. Playwright Jennifer Haley invites us to examine the veneer of control that shrouds the world of identical houses and exposes a suburban dystopia. As the boundaries crumble between our world and its virtual mirror, what happens when we replace interaction with interface? Panic pervades this compelling zombie thriller and fear takes on a life of its own.

Featuring: Josh Aaseng, Patrick Allcorn, Natalie Breitmeyer, Kelly Hyde

With designs by: Andrea Bryn Bush, Ben Zamora, Brendan Patrick Hogan, Pete Rush, Amiya Brown

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are $12-18, available at the door or in advance through Brown Paper Tickets. Students and seniors $12. The Washington Ensemble Theatre box office opens one hour prior to performance for walk-up sales. For advance ticket orders call 800-838-3006 or visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com

INDUSTRY NIGHT

Theatre artists and TPS members are offered $12 tickets at every Monday evening performance (discount applies to walk-up sales only).

PREVIEWS:

$10 preview tickets are offered at 7:30PM on the Thursday before Opening Night of each production. There are no advance sales for previews; walk-up sales only.

* * * *

“The Ensemble [has an] exceptional history of challenging and genuinely innovative new plays and imaginative productions. This little theater on the backside of Capitol Hill is the most reliable place in town to find the best of truly modern theatre.”

- Jerry Kraft, SeattleActor.com

“Washington Ensemble Theatre is among the most artistically daring theatres in town.”

- Inside Encore Magazine

“This is ensemble work at its best.”

- Brendan Kiley, The Stranger

“Washington Ensemble Theatre is known for edgy, poetic, eerie scripts that challenge and linger on in thoughts days after attending the show. […] The Ensemble often seems more able than many theaters to appeal to the young adults who crave something different.”

- Miryam Gordon, Seattle Gay News

Saturday Miller Playfield Celebration: final details

2009-09-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

In brief:

6:30 PM: Meet at Miller Community Center / Playfield to celebrate our new field
Watch Seattle University soccer clinic
Watch Lacrosse demonstrations
Participate (if you wish) in potluck organized by NOVA High School Students
Enjoy FREE ice-cream, courtesy of Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room
7 PM: brief ceremony, speech by Councilmember Rasmussen, chair of Parks Committee
watch NOVA students demonstrate "3 way soccer"
field available for pick-up games till 10 PM
Weather looks OK for Saturday evening (Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east southeast. )

By the way, a few volunteers would be appreciated to help set-up, serve ice-cream, help tidy up afterwards. Please E-mail Andrew (tayles@jps.net) if interested.

The details:

Saturday, September 19th, 6:30 PM we celebrate the inauguration of our new playfield at Miller (330 - 19th Avenue East): here's a poster to share/print.

The Capitol Hill Times has an article about the field and the event.

Here's the City Press Release.

The students of NOVA alternative High School, which shares the Meany School building with the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (SBOC) have embraced the event, and are holding a potluck as part of the celebration, and invite you to bring a potluck dish to share (and suggest that it be an ample size, as the SBOC families who have been invited may be unfamiliar with the potluck concept!).

Parks Department translated the invitation into 5 languages for the SBOC familes (Oromo, Chinese, Amheric, Spanish and Vietnamese), and we hope that some of them will be able to attend, and that their tournament-winning soccer team will play on the field.

The evening will include:

A welcome by Councilmember Rasmussen, chair of the Council Parks Committee

The potluck!

Ice-Cream, donated by Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room

a soccer clinic presented by Seattle University Men’s Soccer. You can cheer the SU Redhawks on against Oregon State at 12:30 on Saturday at SU Championship Field located on the corner of E. Jefferson St and 13th Ave.

a lacrosse demonstration presented by Northwest Women’s Lacrosse Association (NWWLA)

It will be a great chance for the neighborhood to meet the students, staff and parents of both schools, and members of the sports groups who share our playfield.

But wait, there's more!

Later in the evening (about 8:30?):

NOVA students will demonstrate their unique collaborative sport: Three-Way Soccer . (pictures)

SBOC teams will (we hope) demonstrate their soccer skills

The playfield will be available till 10 PM for your pickup soccer games, frisbee or (presumably) lacrosse use!

(Project details, history of Miller, Field Scheduling)

Capitol Hill Times article about Miller Playfield

2009-09-16T21:52:00.001-07:00

The 9/16/09 Capitol Hill Times has a long article about our new playfield and the new schools at Meany, together with a picture of Nova students practicing "Three Way Soccer".

(BTW here are ALL the details of Saturday's playfield celebration)

You can read the article:

the old-fashioned way by picking up a copy of the paper
the fancy modern way by visiting their website
by clicking on this scan of the article, to make it big enough to read.

Miller Playfield Inauguration: Saturday Sept. 19th

2009-09-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

Save the date (Sat. Sept. 19th, 6:30 PM) for a neighborhood gathering to celebrate the completion of our lovely all weather Miller Playfield. We'll have ice cream, chat, watch soccer and lacrosse demonstrations, and then will all get to use the field till the lights go off at 10 PM.

Seattle University Men's Soccer is organizing the soccer clinic for the Miller Playfield inauguration. If you want to see their skills in action earlier in the day, please come cheer the SU Redhawks on against Oregon State at 12:30 on SU Championship Field located on the corner of E. Jefferson St and 13th Ave.

We'll also meet people from the two schools that have just moved into the Meany School building next door (Nova High School and the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center). They're still frantically moving into the school: let's hope we can contact and invite them!

The event is sponsored by:

Seattle Parks and Recreation
Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream and Tearoom
Capitol Hill Seattle blog
Design Kompany, a (very) local small business that made the lovely poster.

Please click on the poster to admire and read it, print it, share it, and please tell your friends about this neighborhood gathering.

Neighborhood Plan Status Report Meeting — in person!

2009-08-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

(preamble: YES I did encourage you to submit your thoughts online, and YES, many of us did do so, but the City has relented and offered us an in-person make-up session, to make up for the very slim attendance at the earlier meetings. The City is promoting the meeting for the Central Area, which includes Madison-Miller, but will bring left-over handouts for the nearby areas: Capitol Hill, Pike-Pine, 12th Avenue. Should be a good chance to discuss ideas of joint interest.

BTW: note that after the meeting we can all retire to the nearby Bottleneck Lounge to celebrate their expansion and continue the discussion.)

Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E 98112, 6 - 8 PM, Thursday, September 3rd.
-
Please join members of the Seattle Planning Commission and the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee on for an important community meeting.
-
These two citizen groups want to hear your thoughts. Come and tell us how the Central Area, Pike/Pine and Capitol Hill has changed since the creation of their Neighborhood Plans. Your comments and input at this meeting will help the City of Seattle complete a status report that will look at how well your neighborhood plan is achieving its goals and strategies.
-
This meeting will provide an opportunity to learn about your neighborhood plan, the projects that have been implemented, and growth and changes that have occurred since your plan was written in the late 90's. We will explore issues such as growth, transportation, housing, economic development , basic utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety, and other issues.
-
It would also be helpful to know your Neighborhood Plan and to bring it with you, so you can reference to them when needed. So, here are the links to your Neighborhood Plans:

Madison-Miller Neighborhood Plan:

http://millerparkseattle.blogspot.com/2007/05/neighborhood-plans-miller-plan-now.html
-
Central Area:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/plans/central/
-
Pike/Pine:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/plans/ppine/
-
Capitol Hill:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/plans/CAPHILL/
-
You can review draft status reports on-line at:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Neighborhood_Planning/StatusReports/default.asp
-
The follow up series of meetings, tentatively scheduled for late October, will be an opportunity to review the final status report.

Thursday: Bottleneck Lounge Expansion Celebration

2009-08-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

(click to expand to legible size)

Shopping & amenities map

2009-08-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of sets of visitors, in different parts of Capitol Hill, inspired me to make this Google map. I invite you to add to it. I think you'll need to be signed in to your Google account to edit/add to the map.

View Capitol Hill attractions and amenities in a larger map

Assorted Notes

2009-08-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Time to vote

Chance to provide feedback on neighborhood plans.

Need a low-interest home repair loan?

Have a lovely summer,

Andrew

School Board Candidate Forum: July 20th

2009-07-15T07:18:00.001-07:00

Central District neighbor running for School Board

2009-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

(Disclosure: I'm helping to run a candidate evening [July 27, 6 - 9 PM @ Mt. Zion], at which Joanna and the other candidates for District Director #5 will appear. Other candidates: I'll happily post your info here!)

Joanna Cullen is a longtime Central Area resident and her daughter and mine were class mates at Garfield (I recall them completing, late, a school project together). Joanna is now running for School Board and would like to tell you about her upcoming Friday July 10th kickoff event:

Joanna Cullen For Seattle Schools
Join us for the Friday, July 10th Kickoff
Join family, friends and supporters of Joanna.

Enjoy some great home cooking and conversation.

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
1710 29th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
Hosted by Rickie Malone

For more information:
Email: jfoxcullen@voteforjoanna.com
Phone: 206-329-8514
voteforjoanna.com

Donations will be accepted.
If you can't attend donations may be mailed to:
Joanna Cullen for Seattle Schools
Director Position #5
P.O. Box 22255
Seattle, WA 98122

City Council Districts Charter Amendment Petition

2009-06-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

(I'm doggedly neutral on this, but wanted to pass on the information for you to decide. Here's their website and here's Councilmember Burgess's view on the idea)

A friend is currently working to give citizens of Seattle representation by district at our City Council.You might consider signing the attached petition to: Give Seattle voters a chance to vote on changing the structure of our City Council by adding your signature to the DISTRICTS NOW Charter Amendment. Your signature helps put this Charter Amendment on the November 2009 ballot.

The goal of this Charter Amendment is to change our City Council from 9 all at-large Council positions to 5 districted and 4 at-large positions. Everyone will still get to vote for 5 of the 9 City Council positions – their district representative and the 4 at-large positions.

Some of the reasons Seattle voters have been supporting this Amendment are:

To give a stronger voice to neighborhoods.
To strengthen our ability to hold our elected Councilmembers accountable with our vote.
Enables the districted positions to do grassroots campaigning within their community to get to know the local issues.
90% of all U.S. cities (population of 350,000+) have either all districts or a hybrid with a majority of districted positions.
Only 5 of the 52 largest U.S. cities have all at-large Councils, with Detroit being the largest at-large city in the Nation.
Seattle’s Council structure was put into place in 1910 and no longer serves a city that has more than doubled in size.
Save a tree – 5 candidates won’t be mailing or dropping pamphlets throughout the entire city.

If you haven’t already signed the DISTRICTS NOW Charter Amendment, you could take just a few minutes to download, print both pages (on regular 8.5” x 11” paper), staple together, sign and mail to the address at the bottom of the petition. Call the sponsor, Action Seattle, if you have any questions at: 206.774.9146. The deadline to submit signatures has been extended to July 7th.

Three neighborhood events on Thursday

2009-06-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

Capitol Hill Community Council Elections will be held at the Cal Anderson Park Shelter House on Thursday, June 25th. The polls will be open from 7-9pm.

This year, the Council is expanding its leadership committee to seven positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and three "At-Large" representative positions. All candidates will make presentations at the meeting, to guide you in your voting. The positions of chair and vice-chair have two candidates each.

View candidate profiles here:

http://www.capitolhillcommunitycouncil.org/forum/t-155020/chcc-elections-2009
East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition
Thursday, June 25, 2009, 6:30-8:00pm
Seattle Vocational Institute, room 102-103
2120 S. Jackson St, (free parking available in SVI parking lot, even if they forget to take the no parking sign down)

Topics: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, Community Concerns & Precinct Updates
SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency), Pacific Marine Center on Lake Union
1801 Fairview Avenue East
http://seattlefederation.blogspot.com/
Thursday, June 25, 2009, 7 - 9 PM

AGENDA: Can Seattle Afford to Renew the Housing Levy?
8:00 Round Robin
1. Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee—Status Report: How well are the City’s 24 neighborhood plans responding to issues such as growth, transportation, housing, economic development, open space, public safety and other issues?
2. Multi-Family Code Update
3. Other issues/projects

NOAA is a federal facility on high security alert, so attendees must enter by the security gate and may need to present photo ID. If you haven't attended a recent Federation meeting, please send your name, contact information, and address to rickbarrett@gmail.com to be added to the entry list. No e-mail? Call 206-365-1267. The building is ADA compliant, with ample parking in front.

Friday: last day for Meany Middle School

2009-06-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Friday is the last day of Meany Middle School (1 hour early dismissal).

There were disturbances during their graduation on Tuesday:

"2 arrested at Seattle middle-school graduation melee", http://tinyurl.com/knnd8j

and other goings on yesterday:

(via Police scanner) "2:26PM - 21st Ave E and E Thomas Ave - Fight Disturbance - Group of girls heading to 28th and Jackson to finish a fight that started at their graduation ceremony last night" http://tinyurl.com/nwgx3w

You might want to be on the lookout for some exuberant behavior from the students when the school closes (1 hour early, 1:15 PM) on Friday.

Miller Playfield improvements: letter from Parks Superintendent

2009-06-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

(in reply to my letter to him. My reply is below. Your comments are, of course, most welcome)

June 15, 2009

Andrew Taylor
Miller Park Neighborhood Association
Vice-President, Miller Advisory Council
andrew_taylor@mac.com

Dear Mr. Taylor,

Thanks very much for writing in with your suggestions.

1) Free time on the field for pickup games

We considered the possibility of setting certain times for drop-in play, but after discussion decided against it. The problem is that organizations would travel to the fields to use the open fields for (free) practice. Field demand always exceeds supply. What is proving to work well at Loyal Heights, and what we can do for Miller, is to post online the scheduled field times. That gives would-be drop-in players some sense of what times are available but is not so standard that organizations can count on it for practice times.

2) Encourage teams to use off-street parking

When we issue field permits, we provide teams with information on parking, and we’ll certainly do that at Miller Playfield.

Also, as part of the playfield renovation project if funds allow, we’ll install two pedestrian lights between the play area and the lower parking lot to make access safer at night.

We will also install a kiosk adjacent to the playfield, and we’ll use that to post a sign encouraging field users to use the lower parking lot instead of street parking or the upper (community center) parking lot. We can supply the map you generously offer to the teams and ask that they encourage use of the lower lot. It was also requested at the public meeting that additional lighting be added in the area of the outdoor accessed restroom. Here again we’ll do that if project funds allow.

Of course enforcement is always a problem. SPD’s Parking Enforcement steps in only when laws are being broken and, then, only when an officer is available.

3) Equip the outdoor bathrooms at Miller Community Center with automatic locks, to allow their use by players after evening games

If we can install automatic locks on the outdoor accessed restrooms at a reasonable cost that can be absorbed by the field project, we’ll do that. Staff have started researching that option. (The best systems require laptops, software, power.) It will take time for us to research work out a good plan.

In the meantime, starting June 15, we have contracted with Northwest Security to start locking the restrooms at night. Miller Community Center staff will open them weekday mornings, and Grounds Maintenance Crew staff weekend mornings.

Again, thank you for your good suggestions. We look forward to Miller’s new and improved playfield getting a lot of use when it’s ready for play at the end of August.

Sincerely,
Timothy Gallagher
Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

cc:
Larry Campbell, Parks Security, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Dennis Cook, Athletics Office, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Jeremy Doane, Miller Community Center, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Ted Holden, Miller Playfield Project, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Katie Mitchell, Facilities Maintenance, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Paul Wilkinson, Facilities Maintenance, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Christopher Williams, Deputy Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Many thanks for your prompt and very informative reply to my suggestions.

Several of your items are contingent on there being sufficient funds in the field renovation project to allow their completion. I gather that the bids for the field renovation work were, due to the recession, significantly lower than anticipated. I presume that these extra funds are being used elsewhere, but would hope that they could be tapped to fund the improvements we have discussed.

In my previous letter I mentioned signage: the lower Miller parking lot is not obvious from the main roads (19th, 23rd, John). i suggest that directional signs be installed at appropriate intersections to guide field users to the parking lot. This should cost very little, and will be of great utility: the field users I've talked to have often been totally ignorant of the existence of the parking lot. The routes noted on my map would be appropriate places for signs.

Thanks again,

Andrew Taylor

Saturday benefit for Jack the Stoner Dog

2009-06-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

From the Press Release:
The BottleNeck Lounge will host a benefit for Jack “The Stoner Dog” on Saturday, June 20th from 4:30 to 8:30 PM. Proceeds will be used to defray the $1500 vet bill incurred by a Seattle couple when their dog inadvertently sniffed out – and ate – a harvested marijuana stash hidden in a wooded section of Seattle’s Seward Park.

As reported by The Stranger, Jen Waddell says she was walking her dog, Jack – a black/lab Dalmatian mix—in Seward Park on May 17th when he ran off into the woods. Three hours later…Jack couldn’t walk, his eyes were unfocused and hazy and he was kind of paranoid.” As Jen further explained to King 5 TV, Jack “was jus stoned.”

Jack survived the ordeal but the Waddell’s, who are expecting their first baby within weeks, incurred a whopping $1500 vet bill. As The New York Times reports, “Waddell told police about the drugs and joked they could borrow Jack to find them if they paid the $1.500 vet bill.” At present, the Seattle Police Dept. has not accepted the Waddell’s invitation – but The BottleNeck Lounge is stepping in to help raise money to pay the bill.

Jack’s story has been featured in the media throughout the world, including The Huffington Post, KING 5 News, KOM 4 News, The New York Times, CNN, and The Chicago Tribune. The dog’s rise to fame, however, began when he was featured on The Hair of the Dog Drink Menu at The BottleNeck Lounge in 2007. His drink, The Blue Eyed Angel, was an instant hit.

100% of the suggested donation will be applied to Jack’s vet bill. In addition, the bar will feature his cocktail, The Blue Eyed Angel, during the event and drink proceeds will also be given to the Waddell’s. Door prizes have been donated by local businesses, brownies will be served, and a celebrity appearance is rumored. The BottleNeck Lounge is a 21+ venue.

July 4th at Cal Anderson Park

2009-06-10T23:05:00.001-07:00

(click on either image to enlarge to readable size for old eyes)

And afterwards, sneak off to my secret spot to watch the fireworks (a quick preview of the show).

Miller Park Neighborhood Association

Some personal notes

Emergency preparedness: your voice is needed

"Deano's" Madison Street Project in the news

Madison Street closure, Sept 26th - 30th

Aegis of Madison (2200 E Madison) Neighborhood Meeting

19th & Mercer development meeting

Urban Life, Heavy Sigh...

Sidewalk Repair on Thomas: trees could not be saved

Bilingual Students' Dance and Artwork Show on Saturday

Madison Street neighbors in the news

SDOT working on sidewalk repairs at 21st Ave E and E Thomas; UPDATED

Lilac time

May 22nd Potluck celebration of René Soulard's life

Video about fountain, neighborhood, René, volunteers

More about René Soulard

Neighborhood Sidewalk Repair Project: East John & E. Thomas

Death of René Soulard, MPNA co-founder

Treatment Plans

March 22nd Mayor's Town Hall

Feedback needed on Neighborhood Project Funds application

Parks Survey

4 Year Anniversary

Money for street or park improvements

The Aging Your Way Initiative

2200 East Madison Street: another Design Review Hearing

Fratelli's development underway

2200 East Madison: Design Review Report AND another hearing!

Meetings about proposed development on Madison

Miller year in review

Please bear with me

Department of Neighborhoods Survey

Reason for lack of blog posts

Miller holiday party reminder (for guests and volunteers)

Care to volunteer at the December 12th Miller Community Center Holiday Party?

Nova School Craft Fair: Tuesday Dec. 8

Friday: Parade, Lights, Fireworks

Got a project you'd like done?

Dark and dreary: time for action

Seattle Marathon Street closures: how to escape Capitol Hill

Who will do what in the City Council

Letter to neighborhood from Police Department

Neighborhood Plan Status "Checks"

For More Information about these meetings contact David Goldberg: davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov or (206) 615-1447

Hosts: Neighborhood Plan Advisory Committee and the Seattle Planning Commission

NPAC http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/npac.htm Seattle Planning Commission http://www.seattlegov/planningcommission/ More info on Status Reports and Neighborhood Planning can be found at: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Neighborhood_Planning/Overview/

Seattle Comprehensive Plan overview: 2030 and beyond

Congratulations, Captain Meehan: updated

From the Friends of the Library

Vote as you please, but please vote (better do it now)

A good walk (not) ruined. Hear about an amazing journey!

Halloween at the Bottleneck Lounge

Halloween in the Arboretum!

Miller Halloween Carnival (and toddler pumpkin patch)

Miller Community Center Preschool

Community Council Election Forum

Chicks Play Hard 2009

Saturday: Capitol Hill Park Groundbreaking

Miller Playfield Inauguration Update: field users to be told about parking lot

Granite Falls Railroad Days Parade

Washington Ensemble Theatre on 19th

Saturday Miller Playfield Celebration: final details

Capitol Hill Times article about Miller Playfield

Miller Playfield Inauguration: Saturday Sept. 19th

Neighborhood Plan Status Report Meeting — in person!

Thursday: Bottleneck Lounge Expansion Celebration

Shopping & amenities map

Assorted Notes

School Board Candidate Forum: July 20th

Central District neighbor running for School Board

City Council Districts Charter Amendment Petition

Three neighborhood events on Thursday

Friday: last day for Meany Middle School

Miller Playfield improvements: letter from Parks Superintendent

Saturday benefit for Jack the Stoner Dog

July 4th at Cal Anderson Park

For More Information about these meetings contact David Goldberg:
davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov or (206) 615-1447

NPAC http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/npac.htm
Seattle Planning Commission http://www.seattlegov/planningcommission/
More info on Status Reports and Neighborhood Planning can be found at: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning /Neighborhood_Planning/Overview/