All posts by Wendi Dunlap

Editor of the Beacon Hill Blog.
Volunteering and Giving

Rizal Park work party this Sunday

Craig Thompson sent this note to the BAN list. Potential volunteers take note:

This Saturday, August 13, a group of us who’ve worked to create a positive place around the orchard at Dr. Jose Rizal Park are going to have a work party, nothing too big, just some trail cleanup down to the orchard so this September, groups from Fred Hutchinson and Seattle Pacific University can access the site safely and effectively.

All tools will be provided, and we’re going to meet up 10 AM and go to 1 PM. We’ll cut back and haul up to the top a bit of brush – some of which is already down. It may be sunny, but long sleeves, long pants, and good shoes are what you’ll need to wear.

The Rizal Park orchard project was recently mentioned in a post in the Ear to the Ground blog from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Dr. Jose Rizal Park is located at 1008 12th Avenue South.

News

PacMed proposal “won’t work” for juvenile facility?

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BHB news partners KOMO report that the proposal to move the county juvenile court and detention facility to the PacMed building may not get too far:

…Several neighbors said they had been personally contacted by King County Executive Dow Constantine earlier in the day.

“Three members of the group were contacted by the King County Executive’s Office indicating that a decision on PacMed should made by end of this coming week (Thursday or Friday),” reads the post on Facebook.

In a separate email circulating on the BAN list another neighbor writes about those phone calls:

“Earlier in the day several of us received a call from Dow Constantine’s office to inform us that the PacMed building probably won’t work for the project and we should expect a formal announcement sometime later this week.”

The latter comment was also posted here on the Beacon Hill Blog by Hans, the organizer of Sunday’s “No Jail at PacMed” meeting. Here’s the comment in full:

“We had a very constructive meeting on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 to discuss ‘No Jail at PacMed’. Earlier in the day several of us received a call from Dow Constantine’s office to inform us that the PacMed building probably won’t work for the project and we should expect a formal announcement sometime later this week. Needless to say that would be VERY good news. However, even if the jail does not locate to the building we still intend to make every attempt to engage Wright Runstad and let them know that the North Beacon Hill is very interested in whoever they select as a tenant and we would welcome the opportunity to work with them as a neighborhood.”

Arts, Local Events

ROCKiT space cancels some events, adds others

ROCKiTspace has made some changes to the event schedule for the next couple of months.

The Open Mic events on the first and third Saturdays have been cancelled, and there will be no Folk Night in August. The Folk Night concerts will resume on September 27.

Three events have been added to the schedule:

  • Beacon Blues and BBQ: 7:30 p.m., Friday, August 26 at the Garden House, 2336 15th Ave. S. Smokin’ Js will play acoustic blues. Barbecue, beer, and wine will available for sale starting at 6:30.
  • NEPO 5K Hilltop Celebration, Saturday, September 10, with live entertainment from 6-10 p.m. Stay tuned for further information.
  • Beacon Harvest Carnival, Saturday, October 8th. An all day free community event sponsored by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, with cider pressing, food, music, and more. Stay tuned for the hours and the list of performers.

Thanks to Betty Jean Williamson!

Meetings

“No Jail at PacMed” groups organizing

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Neighbor Hans writes:

For anyone who supports “No Jail at PacMed” we’ve organized a neighborhood discussion that’ll take place at my home on Sunday at 4:00. Several people with postings on this blog plan to attend. I live 2 blocks south of the building, on 14th Ave S. If you would like to attend, please send me an email and I’ll provide the address.

Neighbors have also set up a Facebook page to help organize against the Wright Runstad proposal, which would move the King County juvenile court and detention facility to the landmark PacMed building on North Beacon Hill.

Local Events, Neighborhood Pride

Lawn Bowling Club commended as Championship approaches

Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37) has offered a resolution commending and honoring the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club, recognizing August 2011 as Lawn Bowling Month, and welcoming this month’s United States Lawn Bowling Championship to Beacon Hill and Seattle. You can read the resolution here.

Mayor McGinn and the City Council have also issued a similar proclamation, and King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed August 24-29 as Lawn Bowling Week in King County.

The U.S. National Championship will take place at Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club on August 23-28. Volunteers are wanted, and spectators are welcome. Here is the schedule of events.

(Thanks to Nita Chambers of the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club for the heads-up!)

BH in the News, News

More about the PacMed proposal

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The possibility that the King County Juvenile court/detention facility could move to the PacMed building on North Beacon caused a lot of conversation yesterday both here on the BHB and on other media outlets. KOMO (BHB news partner) covered the story, including quotes from neighbors Curtis Bonney and Craig Thompson.

Further coverage of the PacMed story comes from Eric Scigliano at Crosscut:

“At least one other prospect may still be in the picture: the Bellevue-based City University of Seattle, which, true to its name, has been trying to move to Seattle. ‘We have looked at their building, as well as a dozen other sites in Seattle,’ says City University spokesperson Christopher Ross. ‘We’re not far enough along in any of our negotiations to comment.'”

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.