March 2009

The Chair and Vice Chair of the King County Council’s Physical Environment Committee said March 9 that Metro Transit understands what needs to be in place so the transit agency can respond better to future winter storms, but that more needs to be done to ensure that bus riders aren’t left stranded in the cold.

“Today’s report by Metro shows us they are moving in the right direction, but they still have much to improve upon,” said committee chair Jane Hague. “Metro was not adequately prepared for snow events large and small. Better communication and increased reliability have to be top priorities going forward. Metro must continue to be creative about addressing these problems with the ongoing budget shortfall.”

Greetings West Seattle! Yes! We‘re still here, open and active in West Seattle!

First off, on behalf of Post 2713, allow me to thank all of you for your continued support and donations during the Memorial Day and Veterans Day weekends. It’s truly great to meet with you all face to face. We enjoy hearing your stories and those of veterans that are close to you. These two weekends are significant in raising money that go directly to our veterans program. Examples of this can be to help our veterans in distress, buying food and drinks for BINGO night at the VA hospital or donating money to local food banks.

The VFW also sponsors an essay contest that awards prizes for those that place. There are primarily two essays categories. The Patriots Pen, grades 6th~8th and Voice of Democracy, grades 9th~12th. The topic of essay will change from year to year, with last year’s topic being “What a Veteran means to me?” In 2007 your local VFW sent three kids to represent us at state level competition, with two of them winning second and third.

(Editor's note: the following appears in the council member's newsletter, Seattle View from Sally Clark.)

Our multifamily code -- the rules that apply to building anything from a townhouse up to a 40-story condo high-rise -- was last comprehensively reviewed in the 1980's before Seattleites created neighborhood plans, before the state created the Growth Management Act, and before we adopted Seattle's Comprehensive Plan.

The mayor recently sent a 277-page MFC update proposal to the city council with what looks at first glance to be some smart ideas. It took a couple of years for Department of Planning and Development staff to build this proposal and it will take Planing, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee more than a few months to dig through it and consider the proposed changes.

The Port of Seattle will begin construction on a 25,000 square foot, gravel and dirt lot at the Shilshole Bay Marina to make it at least slightly usable while the they wait for a tenant for the site.

The Port of Seattle Commission voted unanimously March 10 to fund the landscaping, paving and lighting of the site that was originally intended for a second Anthony’s Restaurant.

Anthony’s pulled out of negotiations with the Port in late September due to the economic downturn, and the site has sat empty and fenced off since then.

The plan is to now make the site accessible and usable to the public while not constructing anything that would need to be demolished for future development or could hamper any development.

The project team said they hope to eventually see a restaurant on the site, though it will be three to five years minimum before that happens.

The project, which is not to cost more than $300,000, is scheduled to be completed before January 2010.

Home For Good, a non-profit aimed at getting low to moderate income earners into their own homes, hopes its first Seattle project in Ballard will serve as an example that affordable homes can still be built in today's housing climate.

"We're trying to demonstrate that this can be done," said Melanie Gillespie, executive director of Home For Good. "Nothing would make me happier."

Though it eventually plans to build a total of 110 low-to-moderate income units in Ballard, the first project includes 22 homes.

The proposal calls for two buildings at 1506 N.W. 62nd St.; a four-story structure with 22 residential units and a ground-floor, 700 square foot commercial space.

The second development is for a two-unit townhouse. Underground parking is planned and the existing tri-plex on the lot would be demolished.

Fifty-one percent of the units at each site, or "Urban Gardens Project," planned by Home For Good in Seattle (105 in Capital Hill, 105 in the University District) will be affordable to those earning at or below 80 percent of area median income. The other 49 percent would be sold for between 80 and 120 percent of area median income.

Mayor Greg Nickels introduced changes to the city’s utility rate assistance programs that aims to help more residents with their electric and water bills.

Seattle City Light and Public Utilities now use a single eligibility standard, which is expected to increase participation in the program by up to five percent, or about 1,000 residents.

The Low-Income Rate Assistance program offers families of four with an annual income of $53,124 or less, a 50 percent reduction in utility bills for up to 18 months. Residents can then re-apply for additional assistance.

“We know this economic downturn is hitting families hard, and we want to help,” said Nickels in a statement. “This program cuts utility bills in half for thousands of residents, giving lower income residents a break when they need it most.”

Residents can apply for utility assistance and other benefits by going to community organizations, such as Southwest Seattle Youth and Family Services in Delridge. For a list of locations and times, go to: http://www.peoplepoint.info/.

1. Define what's going on - tell safe people and keep the information flowing

2. Ask for help - remember, we all need to give, so give others a chance to do so. Practice, practice, practice.

3. Be specific in your requests - it's easier for folks to help if they know what you need/want and can accept.

4. Get organized - so all the "casseroles" don't come on Tuesdays.

5. Don't take "no" personally - Really, it's more about the availability or limitations of others than about you!

6. Keep on giving to others - especially if you want to feel better, there's nothing like helping someone else.

Phyllis’ Safety Net Story

In April of last year I had my annual physical. My cholesterol was over 200 and I was at the highest weight I had been in my life.

I went on a trip to the Oregon coast with a good friend of mine. One night we talked about our goals. I said I wanted to get in better shape, especially after talking to my doctor. The one thing was that it was difficult to find the motivation.

She sat across the table from me and asked, 'What can I do to help?'

BalMar
5449 Ballard Ave. N.W.
(206) 297-0500
Open daily 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
21 and over

Exposed bricks in a beautiful old space set the tenor for this restaurant and lounge. It's airy yet cozy, big enough for a crowd yet intimate enough for a whispered how-do-you-do.

Many architectural features of the original building, which was a department store, have been maintained, and the fine crafted new fixtures fit in artfully.

Seating options abound: comfortable stools, tables, low seating with cushions. Two different and contrasting floors provide a variety of alternatives, including options for smaller groups.

BalMar is spacious, and a second living room to the nearby residents. Pretty glass pieces inlayed into stone counters add style and interest to bar-sitting. Candles burning in the niches of the weathered brick walls create a warm feel.

Lighting is subdued throughout, with more candles on the tables. There's a lot of room behind the bar, so the servers and bartenders don't trip over each other.

The Northwest Design Review Board, and six others in the city, review projects at public meetings, at least twice per development, Early Design Guidance and a Recommendation phase, for mixd-use projects of a certain size.

Administered by the Department of Planning and Development, the board reviews private development projects in the city and make recommendations to the city regarding massing, scale and character of the projects.

Here are some upcoming major projects under review in the Ballard area:

Market Street Landing
5501 15th Ave. N.W.
Project: 3006540

The design review board will convene in the Ballard High School library Monday, March 23, at 6:30 p.m. to see more designs for the Market Street Landing proposal. This is the site of the old Manning's/Denny's restaurants.

The proposal is for an eight- story structure with 261 residential units above 32,307 square feet of retail space. Parking for 437 vehicles to be provided at ground level and below grade.

The anchor tenant would be Bartell Drugs. Freiheit and Ho Architects, Inc are designing the development for developers Rhapsody Partners.

Dow Constantine spoke also spoke at last nights Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting about several local issues. He is running against fellow King County council member Larry Phillips for the county executive position that will be vacated by Ron Sims.

"Regarding the jail, the fact that relations between the county and its 39 cities have deteriorated so much and this bizarre (process) taking place with all these jail sites and proposals says something," he said last night. "We need to have a conversation between the 39 cities in the county, the city, port and state. There's never a rational discussion between these (communities) on how to most effectively plan the 21st Century."

"King County employees can see inefficiencies. We have to...allow them to know they have job security, and won't get fired, while they tell us what we can do better. If it's dependent on the guy at the top, you can't do it. To keep the engine moving smoothly you need (the other) employees which requires a change in culture."