- Just north of Beacon Hill, the Yesler Terrace low-income housing project is set for big changes. Dominic Holden reports that the Seattle Housing Authority has released plans to build a denser mixed-income Terrace, with buildings from six to 60 stories, increasing the number of units from 561 to between 3,000 and 5,000 while theoretically maintaining the presence of low-income units, as in the NewHolly redevelopment. (We note that tall buildings on that site would have some of the best views in Seattle.) Office space and retail space would be included, as would up to eight acres of park space. It won’t be finished too soon, though; breaking ground is planned for 2011, but the project won’t be completed until 2026. The Google image here shows a bit of what the current site looks like — Slog
View Larger Map - Ever wonder about the people behind Beacon Hill’s street names? Here’s the story of John Holgate — P-I Northwest Law blog
- In a terribly sad story of neglect, Seattle Police officers found an 83-year-old woman covered in maggots and lying in her own filth in a house on the 4900 block of 26th Avenue South on December 6. (There are even more horrific details at the Slog post. You have been warned.) The woman’s daughter showed up later with a bag of adult diapers to tell the cops that she lives at the house with her mother. The mother was taken to Harborview and the police are investigating the case — Slog
- On a happier note: we mentioned Deb Manuma a few weeks ago — she’s the Beacon Hill renter who faced eviction because her landlord didn’t pay his mortgage. David Albright tells us she now has a new place to live and a new mission: to increase awareness of renters’ rights — dalbright.com/blog
Winter storm warning cancelled — for now
The National Weather Service has cancelled the Winter Storm Warning for the Seattle area for tonight. However, they still say to expect some snow showers over the weekend, and the extra-cold temperatures will arrive on schedule and stick around for a few days.
An ongoing winter weather discussion is here in our forum.
High-poverty schools “sacrificial lambs” in school closures?
Sable Verity has a post up alleging some fairly unsavory behavior involving a School Board member and Arbor Heights PTSA members in West Seattle, in which they are working to target high-poverty schools in order to save the more affluent Arbor Heights. She quotes an AHPTSA co-president, in an email to the group, as saying: “…If we want to keep Arbor Heights open, we need to give them a sacrificial lamb…” This is relevant to Southeast Seattle because one of the schools targeted was allegedly Rainier Beach High School, which was targeted specifically because its closure would apparently free up enough money for the District to save Arbor Heights. I’m not sure what to make of all of this cloak-and-dagger, but I am certain that no child and no school in Seattle Schools should have to be someone’s “sacrificial lamb.”
On a related topic, Dick Lilly at Crosscut has another in a series of editorials about the current school closure fiasco that touches on some of the very things that have bothered me most about the current process. Here are some examples:
“School performance should not be a criterion for closure, because the success of a program is the responsibility of the superintendent who appoints the principal and district policies on how much is spent on what…
“Building condition should not be a criterion because, again, the order in which schools receive funding from the Building Excellence and other capital levies for major maintenance, renovation, or complete reconstruction is a decision made by the superintendent and board.”
Some schools and programs are being selected for closure because of perceived failure, when that “failure” often seems to be a direct result of District choices to neglect a particular building or program. Unfortunately, children and families are having to bear the brunt of this neglect. (Though, not in North Seattle, unless they go to an alternative school.)
Cold front coming — are you prepared?
Later in the weekend, more snow is predicted, and then the arrival of a serious cold wave. On Sunday night, the low temp is expected to be around 18. Monday, the high won’t even reach 30. I hope you have hats, scarves and gloves ready; you’ll need them.
The folks at Seattle Public Utilities want us to warn you to prepare for the cold weather and save yourself the money and hassle of emergency repairs to your water pipes. Here’s what they suggest:
- Prepare your water pipes for cold weather, ahead of time. Shut off outside faucets, drain the water and protect them by insulating them with rags or foam covers. Pipes in exposed or unheated areas (attics, basements and garages) should be wrapped with tape and insulating materials, available at local hardware stores. Drain and remove all outdoor hoses, and shut off and drain in-ground sprinkler systems.
- Once it drops below freezing, protect indoor sink pipes that are against exterior walls, by opening under-sink cabinet doors, allowing heat to circulate. During severe cold, allow the faucet farthest from your front door to slowly drip cold water. Set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, day or night (even if you are away).
- Do not leave water running in unoccupied buildings.
- Please don’t use hair dryers to thaw frozen pipes!
- If a water pipe breaks, immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop excessive flooding. If you cannot turn off the main shut-off valve, SPU customers can call (206) 386-1800 and a crew will turn off the water at the meter for a standard service charge.
- In the event of snow, residents are asked to help keep street drains clear by removing snow and other debris — if it can be done safely. As the snow melts, blockages in the gutters or drains will hinder runoff, increase the risk of flooding, and make the morning commute more difficult.
- If an inlet or street drain appears to be blocked by snow or debris, try to safely clear a channel to provide a path for the runoff. If the drain cannot be cleared, or if the cause of the blockage or flooding is uncertain, call SPU at (206) 386-1800.
Beyond those suggestions, SPU adds that:
‘Heavy rain following closely after heavy snowfall can increase the chance of landslides due to soil saturation that reduces slope stability. Property owners on slopes are advised to clear both drains on their buildings and storm drains near their property. If a landslide damages your property and you have an immediate concern for your safety, leave the premises and call 9-1-1.
“Seattle property owners with structures affected by or endangered by a landslide may contact the Department of Planning and Development at 206-684-7899, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., for a rapid evaluation of damage. Such evaluations are not meant to provide a comprehensive assessment, which will need to be completed by a private structural or geotechnical engineer.”
Find out more at the SPU website.
The Swinery brings home the bacon — again!
If bacon’s not your thing (what??) they’re also offering other meats, from duck to veal to pancetta. And they’re looking for contacts that can help them get their delectable wares into farmers markets around town. Let ’em know if you can help out.
In memory of Fred Nakagawa
Craig Thompson has posted a heartfelt eulogy for Fred Nakagawa, a Beacon Hill neighbor who passed away last week at the age of 88. Fred was a founder of the Beacon Alliance of Neighbors, and as Craig writes, “an advocate for the woods, for seniors, for public safety, for his family and friends, for Japanese Americans, for freedom, for democracy.” Craig’s post is here.
Beacon Bits: Condo market goes flat, streetcars go to Broadway (eventually)
- Mid Beacon Hill comments on the Beacon Flats’ journey from “edgy” condo project to rental apartment building
- Andre Helmstetter’s opinion piece about the Seattle School District’s mistreatment of the possibly-to-be-closed T.T. Minor Elementary may ring true to the ears of those involved with other Southeast and Central schools on the closure list — Central District News
- The CDN also has a map of potential streetcar routes from the International District up to Broadway. As mentioned here earlier, these may be useful for us — if they are faster and more reliable than taking the bus up there — Central District News
Holiday lights: South Columbian Way
We found more lights tonight. This cheerful house is on the 1700 block of South Columbian Way. (Know of others? Please tell us. We’ve gotten a couple of tips about light displays so far and were able to go out and photograph them. You’ll be seeing more photos soon.)
Here’s a map of the sites we’ve found so far (click on the map and scroll around or zoom out to see the other locations):
African-American Academy community meeting among several tonight
Among all the school closure craziness going on, we missed that there is a community meeting scheduled tonight (“to hear questions and concerns from our school community”) at the African-American Academy, 8311 Beacon Avenue South, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Tonight there are also meetings for Madrona K-8 (4:30 – 5:30 pm), Summit K-12 @ Jane Addams (6:00 – 8:00 pm), and Thurgood Marshall Elementary (6:00 – 7:00 pm).
Keep tabs on this school district page to see if any new meetings or hearings are scheduled. Things seem to be changing rapidly in this process.
School closure plan changes yet again: Rainier Beach/Cleveland merger off the table, for now
The recently proposed merger between Rainier Beach and Cleveland high schools is apparently off the table again. (Amber Campbell at the Rainier Valley Post posts a possible reason why: the potential gang violence, according to several unnamed Seattle Police Department South Precinct sources, would have been significant.) Instead, one potential option is to close Aki Kurose Middle School, moving those students to Rainier Beach, which would then have a 6-12 comprehensive performing arts program. Another involves discontinuing the Center School program and moving its students from Seattle Center to Rainier Beach.
The African-American Academy is still scheduled for closure, with students from Van Asselt to move into that building.