April 2009

Last night representatives from Weber Thompson architects and Conner Homes delivered what they expected might be their final presentation of the Conner Homes project to the Southwest Design Review Board.

But after listening to significant public testimony and debating key concerns with the project for nearly three and a half hours, the board decided that the project would require at least one more meeting before delivering a recommendation.

It was the project's fourth design review meeting—one that was only scheduled because they had run out of time during the third on March 12.

Board members promise the next meeting, which they hope to hold April 23, will be much more focused. Through hours of discussion at last night’s meeting they were able to decide on all issues with the architect, Jim Westcott, except for common concerns over the massing of the building that will rest on California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street.

Dear Editor,

It is with great sadness that I heard of the poaching of the young wolf from the Lookout Pack. I have high hopes that Washington State will become the example of how people live with big predators. It is sad when one individual has no respect for the law. And no understanding of how nature works.

Most of us know that predators keep wild populations of animals like deer and elk healthy by taking the easiest to catch, often this is the sick or heavily parasite loaded individuals. If we kill off our big predators there is nothing left to do this service.

Why should we care? If you are farming especially organically you want wildlife to be healthy around you. Because your livestock being ruminants can catch the same diseases and parasites that the wild ruminants carry, such as deer and elk.
Nature has a clever and intricate balancing system. Do you know that wolves control coyote populations? If you take an apex predator out of the picture serious balancing problems occur.

PATH, currently at 1455 N.W. Leary Way, has announced it is leaving Ballard to relocate its headquarters office to a new location in South Lake Union by January 2010.

On April 2, 2009, PATH signed a letter of intent with Vulcan Real Estate to retain three floors (111,000 square feet) of 2201 Westlake Avenue, a 12-story building in the South Lake Union district, according to a notice on PATH's Web site.

It's been rumored that Mars Hill Church, located just down the street from PATH on Leary, has been eyeing the property. Ian Sanderson, who handles public relations for the church, said the organization is aware the property will become available.

"We're evaluating our options," said Sanderson.

PATH has occupied roughly 75,000 square feet of space in multiple buildings in Ballard since early 2002.

“The 2201 Westlake building in South Lake Union represents a holistic solution to meet PATH’s current and future needs,” said Dr. Christopher J. Elias, PATH’s president and chief executive officer. “We are very pleased with the exceptional agreement we have reached with Vulcan and what it means for the future of PATH’s work.”

Contractors for the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to resume preparations for paving 14th Avenue South on Saturday, April 4, due to the forecast for improved weather conditions, according to a release from the city.

Starting Saturday morning, until Wednesday, April 8, the southbound lanes of 14th Avenue South will be closed between South Cloverdale and South Director streets, and traffic will be detoured 24-hours a day, weather permitting.

A detour for southbound traffic will be provided on 7th and 8th avenue from South Cloverdale to South 96th streets. At least one
northbound lane will remain open.

For more overall information about the 14th Avenue South Street Improvements Project: Visit the transportation Web site.

South Park Library was treated to a professional prank-filled performance by Charlie Williams yesterday on April Fool's Day. His target audience were pre-schoolers and other youngsters, but by the end of his act, even the librarians were giggling.

Williams, who bares a resemblance to actor and comedian Jim Carey when flexing his face, opened with startlingly realistic sound effects of a jet flying low, water trickling, and, yes, a variety of gas-passing pitches.

He told a story about being a child in the back seat of his father's car in rural Alabama and how his father convinced him that "Mothmen" lived in the nearby forest.

"When we crossed a bumpy bridge the car wheels sounded like 'Mothman' wings flapping," Williams told the audience. "When the headlights hit two red reflectors on a mailbox, I thought those were its eyes. And my dad even had his left arm out the window so that his finger nails could scratch the roof of the car."

On its Web site, the 275-member Tibbetts United Methodist Church in West Seattle declares, “Open minds. Open Hearts. Open Doors.” For its popular reverend Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown, a relative newcomer to the church who is ushering in Tibbetts’ first 100 years in 2009, this statement is not a platitude, but the path she believes the church is on for the next 100 years.

“A lot of people in the Seattle area talk about spiritualism, and not organized religion," said Brown, who earned her PhD in church history and historical theology at Boston University. "To many, organized religion equals organized crime."

She teaches the reformation and North American church history at Seattle University.

“What happened to religion in people’s minds is that they find it intolerant, violent, homophobic, and believe it divides more than unites,” said the outspoken minister who proudly recalls another minister throwing her out of sunday school class back in her hometown of Pittsburgh when she was a pre-teen for contradicting his “conservative views.”

David Bloom, current candidate for Seattle City Council Position 4, said he has spent the past 30 years as an ordained minister in Seattle, an advocate for the homeless, low income housing, race relations and poverty issues.

Since council member Jan Drago, who currently holds Position 4, has no plans to run for reelection, Bloom will be running against Sally Bagshaw, past Chief of the Civil Division for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office under Norm Maleng.

Originally from the East Coast, Bloom came to Seattle to be a minister at University Baptist Church. His career grew with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, when he became more involved with city and neighborhood issues in Seattle.

“I’ve been an advocate, an organizer, a program developer, worked on fundamental issues of human needs, social justice and improvement of community quality,” Bloom said. “It’s because of my concern for the growing disparity in income in our city and the challenges that we have to provide housing that’s affordable to working families, both low and middle income.”

David Bloom, former Ballard resident, and current candidate for Seattle City Council Position 4, said he has spent the past 30 years as an ordained minister in Seattle, an advocate for the homeless, low income housing, race relations and poverty issues.

Since council member Jan Drago, who currently holds Position 4, has no plans to run for reelection, Bloom will be running against Sally Bagshaw, past Chief of the Civil Division for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office under Norm Maleng.

Originally from the East Coast, Bloom came to Seattle to be a minister at University Baptist Church. His career grew with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, when he became more involved with city and neighborhood issues in Seattle.

“I’ve been an advocate, an organizer, a program developer, worked on fundamental issues of human needs, social justice and improvement of community quality,” Bloom said. “It’s because of my concern for the growing disparity in income in our city and the challenges that we have to provide housing that’s affordable to working families, both low and middle income.”

The Ballard District Council meets next on Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m., in the
Ballard Library.

AGENDA

Chairperson: Andy MacDonald

1. Short Announcements by Member Organization Representatives. Please hold announcements to not more than one minute.

2. A Report Card on Seattle Industry, Brian Surratt, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development.
Brian will present the preliminary results of two recent economic studies which examined the health and well being of Seattle’s maritime industry and other Seattle “basic” industries.

3. Ballard Parks - Cherished Assets, Christopher Williams, Deputy Superintendent, Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation.

Christopher will provide an overview and status report on recent and pending park development activity in the Ballard district. He will also discuss efforts being made by Seattle Parks and by the community to keep our parks safe and free of criminal activity.

4. Introducing New Ballard District Web Site, Andy MacDonald & Rob
Mattson.

5. Prioritizing Ballard Projects Proposed for Funding from the Annual Neighborhood Projects Fund, Mary Hurley.

This weekend, April 4 and 5, Seattle Department of Transportation crews will assist Seattle City Light crews while they work on the overhead lighting of the Spokane Street Viaduct between I – 5 and First Avenue South.  

The work will require lane closures. The city will close the right westbound lane from 12 midnight on Friday to 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 4.  The next night, from 12 midnight on Saturday to 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, the right lane eastbound will be closed.

Motorists should use extra caution through the work zones.