Tag Archives: north beacon

Urban Planning

Commentary: Stewardship, validation and small business owners

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by Frederica Merrell

Now we come to some interesting questions. How do we approve or “validate” our North Beacon Hill neighborhood plan recommendations before they are submitted to the City Council in November/December? Of course no one has any idea what exactly will be proposed by Department of Planning and Land Use (DPD) in September. But whatever comes out of the amazing brainstorming that has been going on, be it rerouting car traffic off Beacon Avenue onto 15th to create a bus, bike, pedestrian campus, or increasing zoning heights to 65′, or creating public benefit “baskets” for the key development properties (El Centro, Red Apple, Sound Transit block), or starting a temporary community garden on the empty land around the station, the ideas are all big, bold and exciting.

As a community with a number of different interest groups. we have to vote, or something, to say neah or yeah. And, we have to hope that DPD can correctly interpret our input in the short time between September and November 20 when the proposal must be submitted to Council (unless they give us more time). Who should get to vote, approve or validate our plan? I assume it will be residents and business owners of North Beacon Hill. How will DPD figure out who is validating? Will it just be community or will they inadvertently or intentionally also include developers, or people who don’t live here? Another question that has arisen for me is: how do the small business owners on Beacon Avenue get a fair say?
Continue reading Commentary: Stewardship, validation and small business owners →

Photos

This is the last weekend before the light rail opens

Here are a few photos of the area around the Beacon Hill light rail station as the clock ticks down to Opening Day.

The art outside the station has begun to be installed. The work on the north side of the building is by artist Carl Smool.
The art outside the station has begun to be installed. The work on the north side of the building is by artist Carl Smool.
This flag marks the spot where the last part of the Big Blue Fence was until recently. In the background is El Centro de la Raza.
This flag marks the spot where the last part of the Big Blue Fence was until recently. In the background is El Centro de la Raza.
Until recently, this area was covered with machinery and construction supplies. Now, its a smoothly-graded field of gravel.
Until recently, this area was covered with machinery and construction supplies. Now, it's a smoothly-graded field of gravel.
In anticipation of increased demand for parking near the station, this formerly-free parking lot has sprouted a brand-new Diamond Parking sign.
In anticipation of increased demand for parking near the station, this formerly-free parking lot at Beacon and Forest has sprouted a brand-new Diamond Parking sign.
A close-up of Carl Smools cut-metal artwork on the north side of the station.
A close-up of Carl Smool's cut-metal artwork on the north side of the station.

It is getting close to being finished, but it still looks like they will have to work 24X7 to get it done by next Saturday.

Photos by Wendi.

Getting Around

The RPZ is coming soon

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If you see this in your usual parking area, youll need to get a pass. Photo by Wendi.
If you see this in your usual parking area, you'll need to get a pass. Photo by Wendi.
In the last couple of weeks, new signs have been posted around the light rail station areas, with parking limitations “except by zone permit.” New Restricted Parking Zones (RPZs) are going into effect in July, to prevent people from using the neighborhoods immediately around each light rail station as unofficial park-and-rides. Park too long in an RPZ without the official city sticker declaring you as a resident, and you’ll get a ticket. (No, your “BeHi” sticker won’t help.)

The zones are in effect from 7:00 am until 6:00 pm on weekdays, limiting parking to two hours unless you have an RPZ pass. General information on the RPZ passes and how to apply may be found here, along with specific information for the zones at Beacon Hill, Mount Baker (McClellan), Columbia City, Othello, and Rainier Beach.

Pass fees are waived until spring 2011 for residents near the light rail stations, limited to two free resident passes and one free guest pass per household. There is a cost for additional permits.

Crime

Further details emerge about last night’s assault at 13th and Holgate

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KING5 News has posted more information and a video report about the victim in last night’s attack in North Beacon Hill. 25-year-old Sudanese immigrant Dawit Alemu, who was celebrating his upcoming graduation from Seattle Central Community College, was attacked by a group of men, knocked unconscious, robbed, and left for dead on the sidewalk in broad daylight. At least one witness took photos, which led the police to two suspects, aged 19 and 20, who are being held on $200,000 and $250,000 bail on suspicion of robbery pending the filing of charges. The other attackers remain at large. Alemu would have walked in his graduation ceremony tomorrow; instead, he remains in Harborview, unconscious with life-threatening injuries.

Police currently believe the attackers did not know Alemu.

(Post edited at 7:40 pm to add additional information about the bail, the age of the attackers, and that the attackers did not know the victim.)

Lost and Found

Have you seen Zoe?

Pretty Zoe is missing. Have you seen her?
Pretty Zoe is missing. Have you seen her?
There’s another lost tabby cat in North Beacon. Erin writes “We’ve lost our female cat Zoe. She is almost 2 years old, is a medium hair tabby, has black, grey and light brown coloring with a white chest and white paws. She was last seen with a multi-colored collar on with a purple heart tag. She has distinctive mackerel markings and a very fluffy tail. We last saw her near 13th Avenue South and Walker Street (near Beacon Ave before it heads down to Holgate).” If you think you’ve seen Zoe, please email meespanola@hotmail.com.

Life on the Hill

Walking with Tica: the Triangle Park stream

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Water leaking next to Stevens Place Park running north on 17th Avenue South. Photo by Wendi.
Water leaking next to Stevens Place Park running north on 17th Avenue South. Photo by Wendi.
I’m drafting a post about walking the stairs around Beacon Hill for fun and fitness (okay…not really that fun). That was yesterday’s walk–a little much for an old dog on a hot day.

Today’s walk was a slow stroll around the west side of Beacon Ave. As we often do, we looped around Triangle Park (Stevens Place) for a drink from the fresh, cool water running out into the gutter. Tica appreciates the drink and the chance to splash/pad around in the water. I’m a bit worried about the waste.

The water runs out from a pipe on the curb underneath this blue pillar. Often birds use the resulting puddle as a birdbath. Photo by Wendi.
The water runs out from a pipe on the curb underneath this blue pillar. Often birds use the resulting puddle as a birdbath. Photo by Wendi.
Has anyone else noticed this? There’s either a broken water main or some other problem, because I don’t think the City intentionally pumps large amounts of fresh water into the storm drains on a regular basis. This water has been flowing for at least 2 years. I keep forgetting to call it in and can’t find a way to email it in while it’s fresh in my mind.

Maybe if several of us call? Or if someone reading this works for Parks & Rec and/or Seattle Public Utilities? The water flows out directly underneath the locked blue box on the SW corner of Triangle Park.

Take advantage of the cooler weather and go out for a walk!

Getting Around

Columbian Way closed due to fallen tree, wire in road

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Columbian Way South (and part of South Alaska Street) is closed between Beacon Avenue South and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, due to a tree that fell and took some power lines with it in the 2500 block at 1:27 am. It’s expected to be closed until at least 8:30 this morning.

(Edited to add: a later story at KIRO has an overhead picture of the fallen tree. Wow, that was a big one!)

Power was out for about 3,000 folks on Beacon Hill and elsewhere in Southeast Seattle, including the VA Hospital. Power has since been restored to all but about 300 City Light customers, and the current expectation is that the power will be fully restored by noon. Here at the BHB, we noticed two power flickers at the time of the outage, but power stayed on in our part of the Hill.

According to City Light, the area now affected is bordered on the north by South Hinds Street, on the south by South Ferdinand Street, between 4th Avenue South and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South.

(Thanks to West Seattle Blog for tweeting useful info and more!)


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This is the approximate location of the downed wires and tree on Columbian Way South.
Getting Around

17th Avenue South to be closed at Lander for repaving

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Starting as soon as Monday, June 15 , 17th Avenue South will be closed at the intersection of South Lander Street for repaving. The closure will remain in place for 24 hours a day/7 days a week, and is anticipated to last for approximately 10-14 days.

Local access will be maintained at all times and all sidewalks will remain open. Flaggers will be available on site to allow local traffic through the work zone.

Sound Transit sends information on the recommended detours during the closure:

The recommended detours are as follows:

Traveling southbound on 17th Ave:
(Option 1) Traffic will be detoured left on S. College Street,
Right on 23rd Ave S,
Right on S. McClellan Street to return to 17th Ave S.

(Option 2), Traffic will be detoured right on S. College Street
Left on 15th Ave S
Left on S. McClellan Street to return to 17th Ave S.

Traveling northbound on 17th Ave:
(Option 1) Traffic will be detoured right on S. McClellan Street
Left on S. 23rd Ave S
Left on S. College Street

(Option 2) Traffic will be detoured left on S. McClellan Street
Right on 15th Ave S
Right on College Ave S to return to 17th Ave S

If you have any construction-related concerns, please call Sound Transit’s construction hotline at
(888) 298-2395.


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Local Events

Parks supe to hear Beacon neighbors at community meetings

Seattle Parks and Recreation is holding community meetings on Beacon Hill next week. At the events, neighbors will have a chance to meet with the Superintendent, Tim Gallagher, and have a dialog with Parks and Recreation about how the department is serving the needs of the community. This is intended to be an opportunity to meet the local Parks staff, discuss with the staff what is working, and what can be improved, and talk with the Superintendent about your ideas to make the parks serve the community better. All are welcome.

The meetings are scheduled for Monday, June 15, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at the Van Asselt Community Center, 2820 South Myrtle Street; and Tuesday, June 16
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at the Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Avenue South.