Monthly Archives: August 2011

News

Juvenile court and jail could move to PacMed

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The landmark PacMed building dominates the northern tip of Beacon Hill. Photo by Wendi.
The Seattle Times (BHB news partner) reports that King County’s juvenile court and jail could move into the historic PacMed building on the north tip of Beacon Hill under a proposal from the current leaseholders, development company Wright Runstad.

Wright Runstad were granted a 99-year lease on the PacMed property in 1998, and then converted the hospital to office space which it then subleased to Amazon. However, Amazon recently vacated the building for a new base in the South Lake Union neighborhood, and the Times writes that this has put Wright Runstad “in a financial bind,” owing more than $300,000 per month in lease and loan payments.

The Wright Runstad proposal is one of six proposals for the future of the county’s Youth Services Center and Youth Detention Center, and the only one that calls for moving the facility from its current location. County officials won’t comment on its viability, but according to the Times, it is “the leading proposal” among the six.

The Youth Services Center and Detention Center is currently located in the Central District at 12th Avenue and East Alder Street, and is in need of renovation; last summer, PCB contamination was found in the courthouse, and the building has had problems with plumbing issues, mold, and deteriorating infrastructure for some time.

Recreation

Teams wanted to compete in 3 on 3 b-ball tourney

Think your hoop skills are supreme? Get your friends together and form a team to prove it next week in a 3 on 3 half-court basketball tournament at Van Asselt Community Center.

The tournament will include two age groups: 8-17, and 18 and older. Tournament hours are 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 12, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. The registration cost is $50 per team. Teams are limited to four players, with three players on the court at all times, and games are played until 10 minutes or 15 points. Both boys and girls are welcome to play. The games will be played on the outside courts, so be prepared for warm weather.

Van Asselt Community Center is located at 2820 S. Myrtle St.

Getting Around, Life on the Hill

Blue Angels to buzz Beacon this week

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Blue Angels flying directly over 17th Ave. S. Photo by Wendi.
The Blue Angels are back in town for Seafair, which means that Beacon Hill residents can expect the usual close-up view of the Angels as they practice and perform their choreographed aerial acrobatics directly over our neighborhood.

The squadron will practice on Thursday, August 4 from 10 a.m. until noon and again from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Actual performances will be on Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 7, each day from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Practices and performances will force complete closures of I-90 due to Federal Aviation Administration safety rules, so be aware that there will be congestion. If you need to drive across the lake using I-90 on Thursday – Sunday mornings, you should drive at least one hour before the closure times.

On Thursday, I-90 will be closed twice. The express lanes will close at 9 a.m. and reopen by 3:30 p.m., and the mainline will close from 9:45 a.m. until noon, and then again from 1:15-2:30 p.m.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the express lanes will close at least two hours before the shows and reopen by 3:30 p.m., and the mainline will be closed from 12:45 – 2:40 p.m. each day.

There will be loud noise from the jets during the practices and performances, so take special care of your pets. As on the Fourth of July, some pets react negatively to the loud noise from the Blue Angels and may run away.

For further information about this year’s air show, see the Seafair website.

Getting Around

Fourth Ave S lanes to close nights in August

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Beacon neighbors who travel through Sodo should be aware that Fourth Avenue South will be reduced to one lane in each direction each night for up to three weeks beginning this Wednesday, August 3, as part of the work to widen the Spokane Street Viaduct.

Lane reductions on Fourth Avenue South on either side of the South Spokane Street intersection will run from 9 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the next morning, except for event nights, at which time work will start at 11 p.m. The lane closures are needed for the painting of steel girders.

See the project website for more details.

Getting Around

Jose Rizal Bridge repairs to close lane

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The Jose Rizal Bridge. Photo by Seattle Daily Photo in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Seattle Department of Transportation crews will repair the underside of the Jose Rizal Bridge (the 12th Ave. S. Bridge) from August 1 to August 26. They will close the northbound, right lane across the bridge from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during this time. The sidewalk will remain open. Please be aware that there may be some traffic congestion.