Neighborhood Association and blog reborn

We're now Miller Park Neighbors and live at:

http://millerparkneighbors.blogspot.com

Julia Place Apartments

Open house for mixed income green building

A neighbor invites us to the neighbors' open house for a very interesting project she's built on 22nd. In her own words:

 Long story short, I have built a 5-unit apartment building at 136 22nd Ave.E  between John and Madison, and it is ready for occupancy.  It's called Julia Place Apartments, is mixed affordable, one unit fully accessible, and has 5-Star BuiltGreen certification.  Sustainable features include solar power and heat, 5800 gal. rainwater tanks to supply toilets, laundries and irrigation, and all 'green' materials and design. 

See attached re this week's neighbors' preview (Tuesday 8/14/12, 10:30 AM - noon)  of Julia Place, and a public open house will be on Sun. 8/19 from 1-4 pm.

Aegis of Madison - Start of Construction

Dear Neighbors,

Andersen Construction Site Superintendent Reg Clowdsley informs us that tomorrow, May 31^st, construction will commence starting with the clearing of vegetation and the limbing of the elm trees.  Complete tree removal will take approximately 2 – 3 days.

                We know you have already been impacted by the reduction of parking along 22^nd.  Now, congestion and noise will become a regular occurrence and the temporary inconveniences that come with living near a major construction project.  Aegis and Andersen Construction promise to keep you apprised of the schedule and what you can expect beyond the usual hassles.  Please keep us apprised of any concerns or questions you have.  We will do everything we can to make this exciting new project as tolerable for you as we can.

                We appreciate your patience and your feedback,

The Aegis of Madison team

Michael J. Derr

Vice President of Development

Aegis Senior Communities LLC

17602 NE Union Hill Road
Redmond, WA 98052

(O) 425.861.9993

(C) 425.749.2990

www.aegisliving.com

Upcoming construction at 22nd & Madison

(Update on construction plans for the Aegis of Madison assisted living facility that is being built at 22nd & Madison)

Dear Neighbors,

It has been several months since we’ve communicated but our to-do checklist is almost complete and we believe we will be able to start preliminary work in early May.

We have hired Andersen Construction as our General Contractor.  Just like Aegis, they are a local family-owned and run firm that takes pride in being a conscientious and service-oriented builder of high quality multi-family, hospitality, retirement and health care projects.  Paul Hackett and Paul Beethe will be reaching out to the neighborhood as soon as possible to make introductions, provide contact information, and generally open up the lines of communication that will be available for the duration of the project.   We expect construction to be complete in September 2013, which is a long time to impact the neighborhood.

Please know that Andersen and Aegis will do everything we can to minimize the impact and inconvenience to you, but as with all urban construction projects, it will be hard not to notice that something is going on.

My contact information is below so feel free to call or email me with any questions or concerns.

We look forward to being a great neighbor even before Aegis of Madison is open and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we build the next great Aegis community.

With Warmest Regards,

Michael J. Derr

Vice President of Development

Aegis Senior Communities LLC

17602 NE Union Hill Road
Redmond, WA 98052

(O) 425.861.9993

(C) 425.749.2990

www.aegisliving.com

Central Area Garden Tour: June 9th

The Tenth Central District Garden Tour (GT12) will be from 11 am to 4 pm on June 9, 2012. Our theme is urban gardens, community/kids’ edible gardening and public art. The CD is one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, and many unique, community-friendly happenings are quietly sprouting and thriving in our midst. We will publicize some of these by listing them as “Check It Out” features. One is Green Plate Special (GPS), an independent garden-to-table pilot program, designed for at-risk and under-served youth, grades 6-8. The initial pilot program is located in the Madrona-Central district, on the corner of East Union Street and Martin Luther King Junior Way. “Our mission is to be part of a movement that provides access to and tools for our low income Seattle youth to become the healthiest next generation, breaking the cycle that surrounds inadequate diet, poor eating habits, and the lack of access to and knowledge of healthy whole foods.” http://greenplatespecial.org/about-2/

(click here for rest of info)

Lilac time

(5/2/12: The 2012 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. )

Jim Mueller projects: no news!

See CD News update.

Punxsutawney Phil

by Phil Meneely, Our Punxsutawney Correspondent.
(reprinted from the February 1991 edition of the "Miller Times")

For more than 100 years, the town of Punxsutawney, PA, has been the official home of the groundhog. It is here that, on February 2, the groundhog emerges from his burrow and forecasts the weather for the next six weeks. If he sees his shadow, the groundhog is frightened and sleeps for another six weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, he stays outside to enjoy an early spring. This is not a task that all groundhogs are able to perform. Only a select few, the descendants of a royal line of weather-forecasting groundhogs, are reliable forecasters—or, as we say in Punxsutawney, prognosticators. This groundhog is named Phil. And this groundhog lives only in one place, my home town of Punxsutawney, PA.

To ensure that there will always be an official prognosticator, the town of Punxsutawney built a burrow for Phil and his mate Phyllis in the city hall, between the library and the jail. For 364 days a year, Phil and Phyllis live in relative peace and quiet, their days disturbed only by occasional tourists and well-wishers. This is their residence, but is not the seat of the prognostication. The forecast itself comes from atop a hill outside of town, Gobblers Knob. (The current location of Gobblers Knob is a new one, about a mile from the original site, which is now a gas well.) On February 2, Phil awakens early in the morning and accompanies the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club from the city hall to Gobblers Knob. Amidst pomp and ceremony, he enters his burrow and emerges minutes after sun up for the forecast that the world awaits. Phil's prognostication is officially interpreted by the President of the Groundhog Club, who alone can speak the local groundhog dialect, and announced to the national and international news media. All of the networks are there, including (in recent years) CNN, and stations from Japan and Germany. The early announcement allows Phil's forecast to be broadcast on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and the other early morning programs, usually with live action footage of the shadow itself. Of course, the most important organ for communication is the Punxsutawney Spirit which holds the presses until Phil's pronouncement is made.

While Punxsutawney has been the home of the groundhog for more than 100 years, the ceremony has not always been this way. Phil is the current regent, but only 20 years ago the groundhog was Pete. Phil's original mate was Philomcna, who died with out producing an heir. Phyllis has been more successful, and the anxiety arising from the lack of a successor has abated. Phil was the first groundhog to occupy the city hall burrow, with Pete and all previous groundhogs being housed with the President of the Groundhog Club. Phil's image has also changed, from a dapper but solemn groundhog carrying an umbrella to a cheerful, buck toothed grin. But some parts will never change. There will always be groundhog tracks on the sidewalks of the downtown streets; there will always be groundhog statues in the park and in front of the school; the high school will get the afternoon out of class to crown the Groundhog King and Queen; the high school sports teams will be the Woodchucks (abbreviated Chucks); the Saint will continue to have a groundhog on its letterhead; and Hungers Stationery Store will be the best place to buy groundhog mugs, pennants, napkins, posters, cookie cutters (essential for making the traditional groundhog cookie), and other souvenirs of the only official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.

To reach Punxsutawney. From the north, follow the road through Stump Creek and Anna, and turn right where the Church of God burned down. From the south and west, go to Stuby's Farm and turn right in Covode, going past the old Dairy Queen. Turn left where the out-of control semi ran into the beer distributor. From the east, follow the road that flooded during Hurricane Agnes in 1974 to Cloe and Rossiter, and turn right towards Steffeys Market. Be sure to stop and say hello to Murray and Elin..

Feedback needed on Neighborhood Project Funds application

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. It's a continuation of last year's (unfunded) application to repair the sidewalks on out neighborhood "walking arterial", E. John/Thomas between 15th and 23rd.

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.

We seek to continue the repair and renovation of the sidewalks on main East-West pedestrian street in our neighborhood: East Thomas/John Street between 15^th and 23^rd Avenues East. Proposal is near Meany School (NOVA Alternative High School AND Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center). This continues SDOT work started in our neighborhood last year: see this neighborhood blog entry  http://tinyurl.com/3jsfp5j

How does the project address existing maintenance upgrade or repairs to existing city parks and/or streets?

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.

Our neighborhood is judged “Very Walkable” (score of 83, http://tinyurl.com/6uutsuj) by walkscore.com, but this walkability can ony be realized if the sidewalk allows safe and easy walking.

This continues SDOT work started in our neighborhood last year: see this neighborhood blog entry  http://tinyurl.com/3jsfp5j

My proposed application is posted here.

The application is due on Feb 1, 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.