Love your BIKE! for Valentine’s Day

Beacon BIKES is hosting Love Your BIKE!, a Valentine’s Day open house at the Beacon Hill Library, with special guest speaker, KUOW commentator, Adventure Cyclist columnist, and Beacon Hill neighbor Willie Weir. Weir will tell “Tales of Bicycle Love,” including stories of his many cycling adventures and destinations.

The evening will also include an open house discussion of the current plans and ideas to improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation on the Hill, and sweet and savory Valentine treats for all.

The event is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 14, and is open to all, including children. The Beacon Hill Library is located at 2821 Beacon Avenue South.

For more information, contact Frederica Merrell, frmerrel@seattleschools.org.

Mayor McGinn to attend Town Hall

Mike McGinn at an earlier Town Hall meeting on Beacon Hill during his 2009 mayoral campaign. Photo by Melissa Jonas in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Mayor Mike McGinn will visit Beacon Hill for a Town Hall meeting next Tuesday, February 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Jefferson Community Center. The Mayor and City staff will host an open question and answer session, and representatives of City departments and local volunteer organizations will also be present to answer questions and discuss volunteer opportunities.

Entertainment will be provided by the Jefferson Park Community Center Lion Dancers.

For more information, please contact Becky Stanley, (206) 684-8106 or becky.stanley@seattle.gov.

Jefferson Community Center is located at 3801 Beacon Avenue South.

The evening’s agenda:

  • 5:30-6:30: Meet and Greet with City departments and local volunteer organizations
  • 6:30-6:35: Performance by the Jefferson Park Community Center Lion Dancers
  • 6:35-8:00: Q&A session with the Mayor and City staff

Opinion: 10 alternatives to a parking lot at El Centro

I am completely sympathetic to El Centro’s need to produce income for their programs while we wait out the zoning process, and I’m excited to see what the long term development will bring to the community. However, I don’t think that a parking lot will add much of anything other than traffic, and it seems like El Centro could develop something, even temporarily, that would coincide better with their values of building the community and serving low income families. Here are just a few ideas to get the ball rolling, with hopes that we can think of more.

A mercado booth. Photo by Victor Ramiro via Creative Commons.
  1. A mercado or traditional Mexican market. Stalls are rented for low prices and merchants offer a variety of goods. Mercados in Mexico are crowded, noisy, and kind of amazing. They are full of people shopping and offer choices for low income merchants and buyers to get their foot in the door.
  2. A community garden. Although it wouldn’t be a big money maker, it could directly produce food for low-income people. There are plenty of crops that can be grown year round here with a little help, and classes could be offered. Plots could be given to low-income people and rented to others.
  3. Food carts. How much fun would it be to have a choice between a variety of food carts for any given meal? Food carts can be very minimal, sometimes just a cooler strapped to a bicycle or a lemonade stand. Again, giving low-income people a chance to get their foot in the door of our economy.
  4. Farmers’ markets tend to be seasonal, but I still love them. Even if it were only one day a week, it would leave the space open for other activities the rest of the week while bringing locally grown produce to the community and generating income.
  5. I know that we are already getting a skate park, but I would love to offer up a place for young people in the community to gather. Probably not a big money maker, but still a good idea. Bring back the basketball court?
  6. I know that mini-golf sounds like a weird idea. But think about it. A great family activity, and with a little shelter, it could be a year-round destination. Build some kind of giant Godzilla statue eating the Eiffel Tower and this could put Beacon Hill on the map and employ a lot of people.
  7. We don’t really need a bookmobile since the library is so close, but as a kid this was a highlight of my youth. What other social services or small companies could be brought to the community by truck? Flower shop? Kite shop? Toy store?
  8. Everyone loves a flea market, right? A slightly less-permanent version of the market, it offers a chance to socialize and meet neighbors while you sell your old junk and obtain new junk. Another good foot in the door of the economy.
  9. There has been a lot of talk about creating an outdoor cinema, but it’s hard to imagine a better area than next to the light rail station. It could become a destination for people all along the light rail line and could be in conjunction with many other uses.
  10. What about a mini amusement park? Many rides are designed to be portable and could be cleared out when the time comes to build more permanent structures. Lets be honest, if we had a giant Ferris wheel I would ride it every day. Wouldn’t you?

(Do you have an opinion? We welcome opinion articles on topics related to Beacon Hill. Please email us your ideas.)

Opinion: Viva Community!

Neighbors enjoyed a Beacon Rocks performance on Festival Street last summer. The El Centro building and the proposed parking lot site are in the background. Photo by Wendi.
Beacon Hill is (and historically always has been) a community of mixed incomes, cultures, ages and lifestyles. I am sometimes teased by friends from other ’hoods for what seems like excessive neighborhood pride, but there’s a lot to be proud of! Our Neighborhood Council is an active and effective voice for the community, and meetings are almost always respectful and productive. Even comments on our neighborhood blog manage to stay civil most of the time.

I hope we can maintain the positive and productive tone as the process moves forward to plan the next stages of development activity at El Centro de la Raza. El Centro staff, volunteers, patrons and tenants are part of our Beacon Hill community. I don’t understand the “us versus them” tone that creeps into conversations and comment threads about El Centro—especially when we’re all in the same room. We share the same goals and priorities: making Beacon Hill safe, vibrant and successful for everyone who lives, works, plays, studies and shops here.

El Centro de la Raza is working towards a goal to develop affordable housing, commercial space, and a public plaza. They are trying to build the “beloved community.” The need is real and the goals are attainable. While the process of changing zoning around the light rail station moves forward, El Centro is trying to activate their now-vacant south lot. They want to encourage vendors and food trucks, and to improve security and pedestrian access.  They also need revenue and are proposing a gravel parking lot with 80 spaces for commuters and sports fans.

In 1972, the “Four Amigos” inspired countless volunteers to pressure elected officials for access to a space that would become a community meeting place. The original Beacon Hill Elementary building was vacant and seemed an ideal location. Their passion and dedication still inspire 38 years later.

El Centro de la Raza is the Center for all Peoples. The name is Spanish; the roots and mission multicultural. Roberto Maestas is the man best known for the occupation that led to El Centro’s foundation, but a photo of those involved in the occupation would make a classic Benetton t-shirt.

Today, the people who seek services (and those who provide them) are astonishingly diverse. Blonde acupuncture clients share the halls with East African mothers picking up children who learned Spanish with their Filipino classmates. Ukrainian seniors wait in line at the food bank staffed by Latino volunteers coordinated by an Asian AmeriCorps leader.

El Centro’s clients and staff are more than culturally diverse. They also represent the economic diversity of Beacon Hill. The food bank and meal programs help our hungry neighbors.  All services are supported by donors and volunteers who have extra time, money, or other resources to share. Several small businesses and independent nonprofit organizations thrive as tenants in the building.. Public art and cultural events are offered throughout the year. El Centro is also the new home for Tots Jam, the toddler music class that started at ROCKiT space.

In addition to the work that goes on inside the building, El Centro advocates for and represents those in our community who might not otherwise participate in the political process. Through translation services, advocacy training, public meetings hosted at accessible times, and other means, El Centro staff and volunteers engage and inspire the community.

I’m not thrilled about parking lots on Beacon Hill. I don’t like any part of the idea. However, I’m willing to support El Centro’s efforts to build a temporary lot while the slow zoning process moves forward. A safe, accessible area with vibrant small businesses is a better short term use of this area than an empty lot. Some small income to help support programs is better than nothing.

El Centro is a vital part of the incredible community I’m proud to call home. They need our help so they can help us.

Oh, by the way… a group of diverse community activists are working to secure public meeting space on Beacon Hill. The North Beacon Hill Council is working with the Beacon Hill Merchants’ Association and other groups to request free access to office space in the library. We need a place to share community information and provide storage and meeting space. Please contact the Mayor’s Office and City Council members to support our efforts. We’re not asking people to occupy the space—an email or tweet should suffice.

Viva Beacon Hill!

(Do you have an opinion? We welcome opinion articles on topics related to Beacon Hill. Please email us your ideas.)

Volunteers wanted to improve local green spaces

Do you love your neighborhood parks and green spaces? You can contribute to the beauty of our parks by volunteering at a local work party.

EOS Alliance is hosting monthly volunteer work parties at Maple School Natural Area on the first Saturday of every month, including this Saturday, February 5. Volunteers will help remove invasive blackberries and ivy from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then stay for a potluck.

If you plan to volunteer, you should wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Gloves and tools will be provided. Meet at the entrance located at the top of the stairs at 20th Avenue South and South Lucile Street. Bring a dish to share for the potluck, too.

Lewis Park volunteers are also starting up for the year this Sunday, February 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gloves, tools, and snacks are provided. Neighbor Lenny promises hot coffee and hot chocolate this week, too. If you plan to volunteer, please notify Vinh at vngyen.green@yahoo.com. Lewis Park is located at Golf Drive South and South Charles Street, near the Amazon/Pac Med building.

On MLK Day weekend last month, many volunteers worked in Beacon Hill parks, including a large group at the Cheasty Greenbelt. The crew was organized by EarthCorps and included volunteers from Starbucks and elsewhere who worked on planting trees and clearing out invasive ivy and blackberry vines. See a post and photos at the City Year Seattle Blog.

What’s happening this weekend (and beyond)

Image courtesy of Klara Glosova/NEPO House.
There’s another art show opening at NEPO House this weekend. The Pajama Game, an exhibition curated by Jason Hirata, features works by Gretchen Bennett, Sol Hashemi, Matthew Offenbacher, Daphne Stergides, and Ian Toms. The opening is on Saturday February 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Afterwards, there will be a movie screening in the NEPO House living room from 8 to 10 p.m.

Klara Glosova of NEPO House tells us,

This is the first installment in our brand new NEPO Little Treats series of exhibitions at NEPO House. We will present a series of monthly shows that will focus on presenting new work by individual artists and small group shows. In order to avoid moving too much furniture the shows will take place only and entirely in our entry room. The openings will take place on the first Saturday of a month from 6 to 8 p.m. (with optional movie screenings afterwards).

NEPO House regular open hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 12-2 p.m. and by appointment.

NEPO House is located at 1723 South Lander Street.

* * *

The Station will be hosting a Super Bowl watching event on Sunday, February 6. Owner Luis promises “beer, wine, mimosas, sangria and much much more!!” The Station is located at 2533 16th Avenue South, just north of Beacon Hill Station.

* * *

A public meeting is planned for Monday, February 7, to update the community on the city’s plans for a transitional encampment for homeless people and listen to neighborhood feedback. The meeting will include Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith and staff from the Department of Planning and Development, Human Services Department, and Seattle Police Department.

The meeting will be from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Monday, at the Seattle Department of Transportation Sign Shop, 4200 Airport Way South.

* * *

Jumping ahead to next weekend, local resident Tess Martin, who lives near the library and Stevens Place/Triangle Park, is hosting a neighborhood potluck on Saturday, February 12. If you’re interested in attending, please email tessmartin@hotmail.com for the exact address and time. Tess writes, “Come meet your neighbors! February 12 also happens to be Neighbor Appreciation Day according to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, so that’s another reason to attend besides, of course, the good food and conversation you will no doubt encounter.”

* * *

You may want to save the date for these other upcoming events:

  • El Centro de la Raza community meeting to discuss the development on their south lot, Saturday, February 19, 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at El Centro.
  • Town Hall meeting with Mayor McGinn, Tuesday, February 15, 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Jefferson Community Center.

More information about these events will be posted in the blog soon.

North Beacon Hill Council meeting agenda updated

(Changes have been made to the meeting agenda since our post last week. — Ed.)

The North Beacon Hill Council meeting tomorrow night will include updates on the activities of Beacon Hill merchants, pedestrians, cyclists, and artists, as well as the organization of a Festival Street committee.

Here’s the complete agenda:

  • 7:00 Hellos and Agenda
  • 7:05 El Centro de la Raza: Discussion of funding received, temporary parking on South Lot (advisory vote needed)
  • 7:25 Formation of NBHC Committee to oversee Festival Street Events
    • Suggested membership includes representatives from NBHC, El Centro, Beacon Arts and Beacon Merchants’ Association
    • Suggested committee tasks include determining dates of use, who will do advertising, types of events, ground rules for use of Street, who is responsible for key to bollards
    • Committee will need to meet ASAP in order to establish above, work closely with Shawn Marvin re: Festival Street permit
  • 7:40 Community Updates (5 minutes each)
    • Beacon Peds and Bikes, Devon Barton
    • Beacon Hill Merchants, Robert Hinrix
    • Beacon Arts and survey of community needs, Betty Jean Williamson
  • 8:00 Steve Louie, Neighborhood Coordinator: Large Fund, Neighborhood Appreciation Day, new alignment of Neighborhood Coordinators
  • 8:10 South Precinct Police Dep’t report: Devon Barton
  • 8:20 Other Community Concerns/Events
  • 8:30 Treasurer’s Report: Warren Yee
  • 8:35 Approval of Minutes: Chris Bailey
  • 8:40 Formal NBHC Meeting adjourned. Executive Board Meeting follows: Votes needed on parking at El Centro, Festival Street Committee membership

Upcoming Meetings

(Stay tuned for more info about these meetings on the blog — Ed.)

  • Monday, Feb. 7, 5:30: Seattle Sign Shop, Airport Way, Homeless Encampment Update
  • Monday, Feb. 14, 5:30: Love Your Bike with Willie Weir, Beacon Hill Library
  • Tuesday, Feb. 15, 5:30: Mayor McGinn Town Hall, Jefferson Park
  • Saturday, Feb. 19: Community Input Meeting on Proposed Development, El Centro de la Raza, time to be announced
  • Tuesday, Feb. 22, 6:30: Joint SE District, Greater Duwamish Council Meeting

The meeting is on Thursday, February 3, 7:00 pm, at the Beacon Hill Library, 2821 Beacon Avenue South. All are welcome.

Thanks to Judith Edwards for the info!

El Centro proposes parking lot

The El Centro building on opening day of Festival Street in December 2009. The lot behind the chain-link fence is proposed to become a temporary parking lot until it can be developed. Photo by Jason.
(Updated at 12:48 p.m. to add a link to Estela Ortega’s letter. The link was mistakenly left out of the story when posted earlier this morning. — Ed.)

El Centro de la Raza is seeking permission from the city to open a parking lot south of the El Centro building until the land on that site can be developed, and is asking neighbors to support this proposal.

A January 31 letter from El Centro’s Estela Ortega (read the full letter here) to the Beacon Hill community requests support for a temporary parking lot in El Centro’s south lot, adjacent to Beacon Hill Station. The proposal is for 80 public parking spaces, to “help generate much needed revenue to support (El Centro’s) programs and mission during these difficult economic times.” The letter goes on to describe potential benefits to the neighborhood including security improvements, access to Link Light Rail and neighborhood businesses, hosting of mobile food vendors, and parking for Festival Street events.

Currently new parking lots are not allowed in light rail station areas. A current proposed land use amendment would allow interim parking use on lots that already have legally established parking near Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello and Rainier Beach Stations, but the proposal says “Light rail parking would not be allowed within the North Beacon Hill station area.” However, though El Centro is adjacent to the station, it is not within the officially-defined “station area.” The land use amendment currently being considered would allow commuter and business parking on certain lots such as El Centro’s that are just outside the station area and already have existing parking.

You can give your opinion on the proposed parking lot at a hearing of the City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment on Wednesday, February 23 at 9:30 am in the City Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue.

Ortega’s letter lists other El Centro items of note:

  • Santos Rodriguez Park has new playground equipment and is open to all neighbors. $350,000 in funding from the Seattle Parks Opportunity Fund will be used to improve the park further, with input from a community advisory committee.
  • South Lander Street between 16th and 17th Avenues South will be renamed Roberto Maestas Festival Street in honor of El Centro’s late principal founder and leader. Lewis Park, at the north end of Beacon Hill near the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge will be renamed the Roberto Maestas Nature Park.
  • El Centro has received funding to begin a community process to plan the development of their south lot. A community meeting is planned for Saturday, February 19 to discuss the project. The meeting time will be announced later.

Also at El Centro:

  • United Way is operating a free tax preparation site. In addition to filing tax returns, customers will be able to purchase savings bonds, open credit union accounts, sign up for prepaid debit cards, and apply for public benefits such as the Washington Basic Food Program. Hours are Tuesdays from 5-9 p.m. (English, Spanish, and Arabic), Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. (English, Spanish, and Chinese), and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (English and Spanish).
  • Spanish classes at El Centro will run from April 12 until June 9, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuition is $300. Please contact 206-957-4605 or execasst@elcentrodelaraza.org for more info, or visit the El Centro website to enroll.
  • The Just Garden Project is kicking off their Spring into Bed fundraising campaign with an event at El Centro on March 5 from 7-9 p.m. Proceeds from the event go to building free and subsidized gardens for low-income families in King County. See the invitation for more info.
  • Estela Ortega has been confirmed as one of 14 community members to serve on the city’s Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III. This is the third committee of its kind that has selected to advise the city on questions that affect transportation in Seattle. Other members represent organizations including (among others) Cascade Bicycle Club, Downtown Seattle Association, Carpenters’ Union Local 131, Transportation Choices Coalition, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

January in photos

These are some of the photos added to the the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr during January. Thanks to the many photographers who contributed this month! Your photos are welcome, too.

Photo by Bridget Christian.
A Jefferson Park path end. Photo by go-team.
Stevens Place Park during the January 11 snow. Photo by Wendi.
Downtown sparkling like diamonds from Dr. Jose Rizal Park. Photo by Casey Sjogren.
A view down the west tunnel of the Southbound Link train at Beacon Hill Station. (Photo was taken from the platform, believe it or not.) Photo by natfoot.
At the Lunar New Year Festival last weekend in the nearby International District. Photo by RS_Photographs.