An 89-foot mural celebrating the vibrancy of Greenwood and its ability to rebound after a series of arsons this summer and fall was unveiled Dec. 31 by Taproot Theatre and Seattle Mural Art.

The mural, created by local artists John Osgood, Zachary Bohnenkamp and Kevin Sullivan, features references to the fires that destroyed four businesses in the Eleanor Roosevelt Building on North 85th Street off Greenwood Avenue North, such as a flaming phoenix and a firefighter rescuing a kitten from the nearby Cat City.

But, the mural also pays tribute to the neighborhood with a depiction of the annual Greenwood Car Show and theater masks representing the neighboring Taproot Theatre.

"Hopefully this just makes people smile and remember what a great neighborhood we have," Scott Nolte, Taproot Theatre's producing artistic director, told the crowd at the unveiling.

Steve Giliberto, president of the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce, said the mural is perfect for a quiet, occasionally overlooked neighborhood like Greenwood.

"I'm very proud and very, very elated by it," Giliberto said. "It's as loud a statement as a community can make that you can kick us but we won't stay down."

The mural covers what is now a vacant space where Green Bean Coffee House, Szechuan Bistro, C.C. Teriyaki and Pho Tic Tac operated until an Oct. 23 arson destroyed all four businesses and damaged Taproot Theatre and Greenwood Academy of Hair.

Kevin Swalwell has been charged with first degree arson for the fires.

Employees at Green Bean Coffee House, now operating out of Greenwood Sip and Ship, were at the mural's debut, giving out coffee to members of the crowd, who said the mural really tells a story about the neighborhood and is much better than just a chain link fence surrounding a hole in the ground.

John Huddleston at Neptune Coffee around the corner from the mural snuck a peak at it the day before it officially premiered and said he thought it looked great.

Jessica Silvers at Sweet On You across the street said the mural will be good for the community and raise its spirits after the arson.

Gary Masters at Greenwood Optical across the street from the mural said he is amazed it doesn't also have to cover a hole where Taproot Theatre stands. He said he commends the Seattle Fire Department for working quickly and saving Taproot.

Taproot Theatre will be moving back into its Greenwood playhouse, starting with the premiere of "The Great Divorce" Jan. 29.

“Opening our 34th season would be exciting enough, but this one is extra special,” director Scott Nolte said in a press release. “After everything that’s happened, everything we’ve been through these past months, I’m thrilled to be marking this new period in Taproot Theatre’s history with a premiere of C.S. Lewis’ fictional masterpiece.”