Monthly Archives: April 2012

Local Events, Recreation

Try lawn bowling at free summer events

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The weather yesterday and today makes summer seem a long time off. But it’s coming soon, and the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club wants you to make note of some of their summer events.

Friday Night BBQ and Bowls will happen each Friday night from June 1 through August 31 (except for July 27), from 6 p.m. until dusk. This event is free, and open to anyone interested in trying lawn bowling. No experience or equipment is needed — just bring flat-soled shoes and something for the grill. Donations are welcome; alcohol is not.

On the Fourth of July, the Club is holding its annual Ice Cream Social and Bowls event from 7 – 10:30 p.m. This event is also free and open to anyone who is interested. Bring flat-soled shoes, and don’t bring any alcohol — it’s not allowed at this public event. Everything else is supplied by the Club.

The Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club is located at 4103 Beacon Ave. S. The Club is an all-volunteer non-profit organization, founded in 1942.

Photo by Kayugee via Flickr/Creative Commons.
Urban Planning

El Centro to present redevelopment concepts at open house

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This lot south of the main El Centro building is planned to become mixed-use transit-oriented development. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
On Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, El Centro de la Raza will hold a community open house to present the finalist design teams for the redevelopment of El Centro’s south parking lot into a mixed-use, “transit-oriented development” project. The finalist teams will present their site redevelopment ideas and concepts based on feedback from last year’s community meeting, and also on El Centro’s program needs and desires.

The two finalist teams, SMR Architects/Glenn and Glenn Architects/DKA Architecture and Weinstein A|U/Jones and Jones, were selected from an initial group of five teams. According to El Centro de la Raza, this was due to their “extensive experience in multi-family design, childcare and community facilities, and prior work with diverse organizations and communities.”

All interested neighbors are invited to the open house. Lunch, translation services and childcare will be provided. If you will be eating lunch, RSVP by noon on April 27 to 206-957-4605 or execasst@elcentrodelaraza.org. El Centro de la Raza is located at 2524 16th Ave. S.

History of the Hill, Photos

Ghost sign on Beacon Avenue

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Joel Lee, who took this photo and posted it in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr, writes:

“The owners of the building at 3210 Beacon Ave have been restoring their building and uncovered this AWESOME vintage mural, I hope they can figure out a way to keep it. I couldn’t get far enough back for a good photo so I collaged several together. You should go see it in person.”

Clean and Green, Education

Learn to can food from your own garden

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Photo by thebittenword.com via Creative Commons/Flickr.
Have you always wanted a cupboard full of homemade jam or pickles from your own garden? This could be your year to learn how. Rainier Valley Eats and the Beacon Hill Garden Club are hosting a basic canning class next Tuesday, April 24, from 6:30-9:00pm at the Garden House (2336 15th Ave. S.).

The class will cover the essentials of safe preserving, the equipment needed, how to gather recipes and resources, local fruit trees, and what you can find at farmers’ markets. The class costs $10. To register, email ankataa@yahoo.com and put “Canning Class” in the subject line. Please include your name and a phone number.

Arts, Volunteering and Giving

Beacon Hill contributes to “Spiral of Hope” in Lake Union Park

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Part of Beacon Hill will become a new temporary sculpture in Lake Union Park: “Spiral of Hope.” Thousands of tree branches from Dr. Jose Rizal Park and the greenbelt on the northwest side of Beacon Hill will be gathered and assembled by community volunteers to build the spiral, which will remain at Lake Union Park until June 17. The work is intended to give a diverse group of community members a chance to work together, as well as to stimulate thought and discussions about the issue of family homelessness.

Kiersten Throndsen of BHB news partner KOMO Communities recently posted about the project:

“Hope, opportunity, community – these are the words used to describe a new sculpture coming to Lake Union Park.

“‘We think art is an inspiring process,’ said Bryan Ohno, president of Urban Art Concept.

“Last fall, Ohno was approached by several students from Seattle University who shared a vision.

“‘They came to us and were wondering if we could use art as a tool to bring more awareness to family homelessness throughout the state of Washington,’ he said.

“Their idea sparked the ‘Spiral of Hope’ project.

“‘Usually someone is spiraling down, out of control but we are going to do the opposite, our spiral will soar up,’ said Ohno.”

Ohno worked with Beacon Hill resident Craig Thompson to organize the branch collection. Volunteers gathered branches at Rizal Park last weekend, but the project continues at the park this coming weekend as well (April 21-22). To join the volunteer project, sign up at the Facebook page, send an email to info@urbanartconcept.com with “Spiral Project Volunteer” in the subject line, or call 206-459-6857.

Volunteers are also needed to help build the sculpture on weekends starting on Friday, April 27 at Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Avenue North. The sculpture opens with a reception on Friday, May 18.

Meetings

Hasegawa, Hudgins hosting telephone town hall Thursday

L to R: Bob Hasegawa, Zack Hudgins. Photos courtesy http://www.leg.wa.gov.
At 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 11th District State Representatives Bob Hasegawa and Zack Hudgins will host a telephone town hall meeting for constituents to bring up any questions, comments, and concerns about legislative and other issues. The 11th District includes parts of South Seattle including the western part of Beacon Hill, Georgetown, Burien, Sea-Tac, Tukwila, and part of Renton.

Residents of the 11th District should get a telephone call around 6 p.m. to join the town hall. Once connected, constituents may ask questions by pressing *3 on the telephone.

Health and Safety, Local Events

Be prepared! Free Red Cross presentation this week at St. George School

1972 survival preparedness guide. Image courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives.

St. George School and the American Red Cross are holding a free disaster preparedness presentation this Thursday, April 19, from 6-7 p.m. at St. George School, 5117 13th Ave. S.

Topics covered at the hour-long interactive presentation will include:

  • Information on local disasters
  • What to do during an earthquake
  • Fire safety tips
  • How to plan your escape routes
  • Items to put into a disaster kit
  • …and more.

All are welcome to attend. The event will be held in the school hall.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: El Centro’s parking lot is open

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The new parking lot at El Centro is open on the future site of a new development. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.

Some Bits for you from the last few weeks:

El Centro de la Raza has opened their temporary light rail parking lot to the
public. Parking rates are listed here. The lot is in the south part of the El Centro site, directly adjacent to the Roberto Maestas Festival Street, across the street from Beacon Hill Station. The parking lot is an interim use of the site, limited to three years or less, after which El Centro plans to develop the site. Proceeds from the parking lot benefit El Centro’s human services and community building programs.

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Mayor McGinn recently led a delegation to Chongqing and Beijing, and while there distributed some Seattle souvenirs to local schoolchildren — including a Beacon Rocks! t-shirt.

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Doreen Deaver sent us this notice:

Now that the egg hunts are done, are you wondering what to do with all those plastic eggs? Jefferson Community Center is the place to bring them. We are recycling eggs! Bring them in and give them a good home. We can use them again. Thank you.

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Maple Elementary School art teacher Kate Baker was recently featured in the Seattle Times in an article about arts programs at Seattle schools.

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Blink and you’ll miss it, but Microsoft used a gorgeous photo taken from Beacon Hill in an an ad for the new Internet Explorer. (Thanks to former Beacon Hill neighbor Travis Mayfield at KOMO for noticing the photo!)

Lost and Found

Have you seen Ernie?

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(Editor’s note: The dog has been found! Thanks, everyone!)

Neighbors Phil and Yulia write:

“This little dog was lost this evening, Thursday 12th April, on Beacon Hill. His name is Ernie and he’s very skittish with strangers. He is licensed and chipped and has a red harness on. However, the phone number on his collar isn’t valid because his owner is out of the country and will probably not be able to receive cell phone calls where she is. If you have seen this dog or have found him, please contact us by email or phone [number removed now that Ernie is back home — ed.]. Thanks.”

Have you seen this dog?
Urban Planning

Application filed to build 5-story building at 12th and Holgate; appeals filed on South Beacon grading projects

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has announced a land use application to allow a 5-story, 22-unit residential building at 1814 12th Ave. S. Parking for 12 cars would be included below grade in the building. The existing 1922-built house on the 7,405 square-foot lot would be demolished.

The project will be required to go through the design review process, as well as a SEPA environmental determination. Comments on the project may be submitted to the DPD through April 15. You can submit your comments online via this link.


View Larger Map

On the far south end of the hill, appeals have been filed against the DPD’s recent Determination of Non-Significance with conditions (no environmental impact statement required), for a grading and vegetation removal project at three properties, as discussed on the Beacon Hill Blog recently. The appeal hearings for all three sites will be held on Wednesday, June 6 at 9:00 a.m.

The first is 8839 36th Ave. S. See the decision page here for more information. Here is the page about the appeal hearing.

The second project is nearby at 3400 Edward Dr. S. See the decision page here. Here is the page about the appeal hearing.

The third site is at 9025 Cecil Ave. S. See the decision page here. Here is the page about the appeal hearing.


View Grading projects on South Beacon Hill in a larger map