Mayor Mike McGinn visited Ballard on Tuesday, February 28th, to visit some of the local businesses and hear from the owners before attending a public Town Hall meeting at The Ballard Landmark.

"I like getting out into the community. I like hearing from you and learning about our neighborhoods," said McGinn, who is a Greenwood resident.

The Mayor's Walk started at the Tom Miller Memorial on NW Market & Ballard Ave NW and wandered down Ballard Avenue. The mayor was joined by various representatives of the community including North Precinct police officers, Beth Miller from the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, Michael Kahrs from the newly formed Central Ballard Residents Association, Laura Cooper from the Ballard Historical Society, and Rob Mattson from the Department of Neighborhoods.

The first stop of the tour was at the historic City Hall Bell where McGinn was educated about its history and a group of Pacific Crest fourth-graders performed a bell song for him before letting the bell toll. The Bell is tolling again thanks to a Department of Neighborhoods Matching Fund grant.

McGinn also stopped at Bastille, The Tractor Tavern, and Second Ascent to hear from the owners on how they're doing in the current economy and what their concerns are.

Bastille manager James Lechner recognized the growth of Ballard's restaurant scene but expressed concern about limited parking.

"It's great to see so many places opening. The more, the merrier, but where will people park? It's becoming an issue," he said.

McGinn acknowledged the parking issue and stated that earlier this year, the Office of Economic Development partnered with the Seattle Department of Transportation to better understand the purpose and patterns of travel by visitors in Ballard by conducting an intercept survey. This study will be released shortly and will help the city understand who shops, eats, and plays in Ballard and how to address issues like transportation and parking.

McGinn said that Ballard is one of the neighborhoods with a highest percentage of non-resident customers.

"Ballard is destination," he said. "We're looking at how people get here."

Dan Cowen, owner of the Tractor Tavern, as well as Greg Shaw, owner of neighboring Second Ascent retail shop, echoed Letchner's concern about limited parking.

"Parking is challenging but I'm not sure what the answer is," Shaw said."I have been here for 16 years and we're still growing so I can't complain but it is a common problem."

At the Tractor Tavern, McGinn recalled seeing the Gourds play in that venue and dancing with his wife. Cowen presented him with a Tractor Tavern hoodie to be worn "inside that new stadium".

Cowen stated that business has been really good for the venue but that he's unhappy with the State's "dance tax", a tax on cover charges collected at the door of a clubs and tavern that provide dancing space. The Tractor is one of three Seattle night clubs that was recently audited and charged thousands of dollars in back taxes.

At Second Ascent, McGinn talked bicycles and retail.

Shaw said the shop is doing well but that in addition to parking, he expressed concerns about a lack of law enforcement presence on Ballard Avenue.

The police enforcement has seen a big cut in numbers these past few years and McGinn said they're trying to utilize the limited numbers of officers as effectively as possible. North Precinct Sergeant Newsom, present at the walk, said she'll change the Ballard Avenue patrol routes to also include the lower sections of the Avenue.

McGinn made a final stop at the New York Fashion Academy before his town hall meeting at The Ballard Landmark to address the Ballard community as a whole.