Alex on Mar 23rd 2012 12th Avenue Initiative,Clean and Safe,Neighborhood Groups,Special Events

Help us clean up 12th Avenue!

Capitol Hill Housing is working with the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce to plan cleanup work on 12th Avenue as part of The Clean Sweep. The Clean Sweep, a neighborhood street clean that covers Broadway and 12th Avenue, is on Saturday, May 12th from 10am to noon.  Volunteers (that means you!) are invited to gather at Cal Anderson Park at 10am for a pre-clean up breakfast and inspiring speeches from local elected officials.  Everyone will get equipped to clean, put together in teams (you’re welcome to create your own), and sent out to clean up areas. After a few hours hard work, volunteers will gather back at Cal Anderson Park for lunch and musical entertainment.

If you’d like to help us spruce up the 12th Avenue neighborhood, please RSVP with Jennifer Power, Sustainable Communities Assistant, at jpower(at)capitolhillhousing.org.

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Alex on Mar 3rd 2012 Uncategorized

The Rebirth of Sustainable Capitol Hill

After a year of hibernation, Sustainable Capitol Hill is back with a string of Spring meetings focusing on food and the environment.  At the first of these meetings Capitol Hill Housing will give an introduction to our organization and then plunge into a workshop on sustainability and the connections between food systems, stormwater infrastructure, and urban gardening.  The workshop comes thanks to research CHH has done as part of our EcoDistrict Initiative.  Stay tuned for announcements about the release of our EcoDistrict report later this Spring.

The March meeting is just around the corner (Monday).  Details and facebook sign up below.

—

We’ll start at 6:30pm with a potluck and continue with
the meeting at 7pm.

Hope to see you there!

Sustainable Capitol Hill March Meeting

Monday, March 5
6:30p Potluck

7:00p CHH & EcoDistrict Presentation

At Bluebird Microcreamery

1205 E Pike St., Suite 1A

Second Floor Meeting Room

RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/175327292582826/

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Alex on Dec 9th 2011 Seattle University,Small Business

SU’s Small Business Institute Offers Low & No-Cost Small Business & Non-Profit Analysis

For the past 35 years, Seattle University’s Small Business Institute (SBI) program has provided free and low cost consulting services to over 2,000 small businesses and nonprofits.  This winter quarter, SU professor and SBI Director Dr. Harriet Stephenson will be teaching two undergraduate classes of students who will provide an overall analysis for businesses and nonprofits. This analysis consists of:

  1. defining the business and its mission
  2. establishing goals or where you want the business to be a year and five years from now including revenue and profit goals
  3. assessing where the business is now–strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats; which usually includes marketing research to help identify target market(s), develop an appropriate Internet strategy, and construct a rudimentary marketing plan
  4. performing cash flow projections and a pro forma P&L and balance sheet for one year
  5. recommendations for action to help achieve those projections and goals

The analysis is a ten-week project which coincides with the academic quarter. Each business is assigned a team of 2-5 students, who invest 70-120 hours each to the project of the course of the quarter. The owner or executive director of the organization receiving consulting services is expected to invest an average of 20 hours during the quarter meeting with their student team. Organizations with an annual income/sales/revenue of $300,000 or more and startups with a projected first year sales of $300,000 or more will be asked to pay a $500 administrative fee. Any business whose revenue falls under $300,000 will not be charged.

Organizations will be considered for the program if they 1) have 1-50 employees, 2) are willing to have their student consultant team review their prior financials (such as P&L statements and balance sheets), and 3) register online before the program begins on January 4th – the sooner the better.  If you think a comprehensive small business analysis would benefit your organization, sign up today!

 

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Alex on Aug 12th 2011 12th Avenue Initiative,Small Business,Special Events

12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival returns to Capitol Hill this Sunday!

WHEN: August 14, 2011 from Noon – 6:00 p.m (This Sunday!)

WHERE: 12th Avenue, between E. Madison & E. Pike on Seattle’s Capitol Hill

COST: Free.  All food priced at $5.00 or less

CAPITOL HILL, SEATTLE –   Bring the family and experience Pike/Pine’s 12thAvenue in its second annual neighborhood street festival.  Enjoy performances from local artists and taste small plates from Seattle’s most eclectic mix of local restaurants – priced at $5 and under!  Building on last year’s successful debut, the 12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival returns on Sunday, August 14th.  Closing 12th Avenue to vehicles between E. Pike and E. Madison Streets, the pedestrian-friendly celebration showcases the best of the neighborhood.

Stroll down restaurant row and discover favorite dishes from 12th Avenue and nearby eateries such as Poquitos, Lark, Plum, Café Presse, Osteria La Spiga, Caffe Vita, Barrio, Zobel Ethiopian Restaurant, High 5 Pie, Caffe Pettirosso, Bluebird Microcreamery, Molly Moon Ice Cream, Poquitos, Ambassel Ethiopian Restaurant, Skillet, The Local Vine, Tavern Law, Kokeb, Via Tribunali, and Boom Noodle.

Shop local by visiting neighborhood retailers at the festival such as Sweatbox Yoga, Health First Chiropractic, Retail Therapy, Porchlight Records, Doghouse Leathers, 14th Avenue Hair, Bootyland, Barre3, Zipcar, Broadway Veterinary Hospital, Oola Distillery, Acupuncture Associates and Wellness Group, Golden Fish Bodyworks, Anchor Bodyworks, Swedish Medical Center, and Gilt City.

Find out more about 12th Avenue nonprofits and community organizations at the info booths of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, Capitol Hill Community Council, Washington Bus, the Greater Seattle Business Association, GLSEN Washington State, 3 Dollar Bill Cinema, Seattle Out and Proud, Lifelong AIDS Alliance and Capitol Hill Housing.

“In the spirit of the Italian holiday Ferragosto, 12th Avenue restaurants and retailers will showcase their goods and services in a celebration of community, friendship and entertainment,” stated Sabrina Tinsley, co-owner of Osteria La Spiga.

The festival is the signature event of the 12th Avenue Initiative, a neighborhood plan working with businesses, residents and local institutions to strengthen the 12th Avenue Community.

For more information, or to get involved with the festival, contact Alex Brennan at (206) 204-3832 or abrennan@capitolhillhousing.org.  The 12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival is produced by the Capitol Hill Housing Foundation.

12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival Sponsors: Seattle University, Swedish Medical Center, Capitol Hill Housing Foundation, Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, DEI Creative, Cleanscapes, Dunn & Hobbes, The Douglas Building at Seattle University, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, CapitolHillSeattle.com, Central District News.com, Seattle Gay News, Caffe Vita, La Spiga, Via Tribunali, & Zipcar.

Contact: Alex Brennan

Phone: (206) 204-3832
abrennan@capitolhillhousing.org
www.12thaveseattle.com

ABOUT CAPITOL HILL HOUSING: Capitol Hill Housing provides affordable housing and leads community development efforts— helping families, immigrants and the recently homeless.  Based in Capitol Hill, we have properties in nine Seattle neighborhoods.  Since 1976, we have served low and moderate income residents and worked to improve the Capitol Hill neighborhood for all.

CHH helps people of limited means have a home. We provide a secure, affordable home to more than 1,600 people each night, including hundreds of children.  We place a special focus on affordable housing for families.  In neighborhoods where two and three bedroom homes are rare, CHH works to develop new large apartments.

Our Community Development work focuses on transit oriented development, preservation of historic buildings, creating walkable neighborhood, running the 12th Avenue Initiative and  supporting a thriving commerical district on Capitol Hill.  We strive to impact specific households we serve as well as the entire community.

CHH currently owns and operates 42 buildings across Seattle, including historic Seattle apartments and new, award-winning projects.  We are proud to develop buildings in a community context and provide affordable homes that strengthen the neighborhoods we live in.

 

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admin on Apr 27th 2011 Neighborhood Groups,Urban Design

James Court Woonerf Community Meeting

example of a woonerf

Please join the 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee and the Seattle Parks Department for the first community meeting for the James Court woonerf project.

A woonerf (a Dutch term) is a street where pedestrians and bicycles have equal priority of the street, along with cars.  A woonerf will usually also have a different paving pattern, low or no curbs, and more greenery than a typical street.  The James Court woonerf was a community-initiated project that will create a woonerf on James Court between 12th and 13th Avenues.  The redesigned street will create shared spaces, increase the feeling of openness and connection with the adjacent James Court Park (which will be constructed at the same time), and slow down traffic on James Court.  This will be one of the first streets of this kind in the city.

Please join us for the first community meeting where Parks staff will outline the project scope and schedule, and we can share community priorities for the project.

Tuesday, May 10th
5:30 – 7:00pm
Seattle University Alumni & Admissions Building
824 12th Avenue (corner of 12th and E Marion Street)

Questions:  Please contact Susanne Rockwell at Seattle Parks and Recreation 206-684-0902 or susanne.rockwell@seattle.gov

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admin on Apr 7th 2011 Neighborhood Groups

Upcoming 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee meeting

Please join the 12th Avenue community for our monthly meeting next week.

Tuesday, April 12th
5:30pm
Seattle University Alumni & Admissions building
(12th Ave and E Marion Street)

Agenda items include:

  • Meeting the owner of the Project Room, a new community arts space opening on E Pine Street
  • Discussion with King County on the Youth Detention Center redevelopment
  • Discussion about bylaws and election of officers for the Stewardship Committee

Please note that we are not meeting with the Parks Department to discuss the plan for the future James Court woonerf.  That meeting will hopefully happen in May.  More details coming soon.

As always, food and drinks will be provided.  See you next Tuesday!

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admin on Apr 1st 2011 Small Business

Great article about Bluebird Ice Cream

We all know Bluebird Ice Cream is awesome and folks at MSN agreed when they named Bluebird one of the top 10 ice cream joints in the country.

Bluebird is also a great neighbor and donates ice cream to community events all the time. Find out more about Bluebird’s awesomeness in this great article from Seattle University’s Community Connections publication here: Bluebird article

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admin on Mar 16th 2011 Neighborhood Groups

Mayor’s Town Hall in the Central Area – March 22

Mayor McGinn will be hosting a Town Hall meeting next week for Central Area residents. Come and meet your neighbors, find out what groups are active in your area and how to get involved, and have the chance to ask questions of the Mayor and other City staff.

5:30-6:30  Meet and Greet with local organizations
6:30-6:40  Performance by local youth group
6:40-8:00  Q & A with the Mayor
Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry Street

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admin on Mar 11th 2011 History

History in pictures of E James Court

The Seattle Parks Department has extended the deadline for suggestions for names for the future pocket park at 12th Avenue and E James Court.

I did a little historic research to see what used to be on the site. City records are a little hard to track down before the mid 1930s but from old city atlases, it looks like the area around E James Court was platted but didn’t have any homes on it. A couple single family homes surrounded the area.

1908 Baist Atlas showing James Court Park site in red

The subdivision is Squire’s WC Replat which is likely referencing original plats by Watson C. Squire from around 1890. There’s some interesting history on Squire here at the University of Washington archive information page.  He served in the Civil War in New York and Ohio, worked at E Remington Company which sold firearms, moved to Washington in 1879 and later became governor of the Washington Territory in 1884.

This neighborhood is still known as Squire Park so having an actual park called Squire Park might be a little duplicative and confusing.

More history of the area can be found from 1937-38 when King County did a survey and photographed every structure in the county.  This was part of a huge project to re-assess all properties for tax purposes since many were incorrectly assessed.  King County is apparently the only place this happened in the country and left us with a fantastic historic resource of pictures and other data. I found photos of the homes near the park site, which are below. Most were built around 1918 and are still on the street today.

Gas station at park site in 1938

In 1938, a gas station was on the actual park site, with the sign showing “Mohawk” and “Luboil Refining Co, Inc.”
City directories show that it was later Olympic Tires and McKale’s Inc Tires in the 1940s and then Commercial Company (perhaps general contractors) in the 50s and 60s. By the 70s there was a small building on the site occupied by the US Veteran’s Administration.

I’m wondering if there is significance in the name Mohawk?  It is here on the Luboil Refining Co sign from the 30s.  The apartment building at the corner of 13th and E Jefferson is also called the Mohawk Apartments.  Any ideas on why?  I haven’t been able to find any information on either.

I hope you enjoy the historic photos and maybe this gets some creative juices flowing so we can come up with a fun name for the future E James Court park.

 

1209 E James Court (demolished - would have been on the park site - built 1907)

1211 E James Court (existing)

1215 E James Court (existing)

1217 E James Court (existing-built 1918)

1221 E James Court (demolished - where the Union Hall is now-built 1918)

1204 E James Court (on the SU construction site across from the park site-built 1904)

 

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admin on Mar 3rd 2011 Transportation and Transit

Parking changes on 12th Avenue (and greater Capitol Hill)

I miss the tactile qualities of the old parking meters

There will be some changes coming to the paid parking rates and times in Capitol Hill and along 12th Avenue. CHS covered SDOT’s study of parking in the area a while back.

 

Changes are happening soon though!  From SDOT’s website:

Coming Soon – New Pre-Payment Options:  Coming in February and March 2011, with deployment of the new rates, the hours that pay stations collect payment will change. Pay stations will close at 6pm as they do now, but they will re-open at 10pm to allow pre-payment for the first two hours the next morning.
(Author note: This was recommended as part of the Mayor’s new Nightlife Initiative so that when someone realizes they have had too much to drink, they can leave their car overnight and pre-pay for a couple hours of parking in the morning, allowing them to sleep off their hangover until 10am instead of having to get the car at 8am when the meters start running.  Brilliant.)

Coming Soon – Evening Rate: Seattle’s center city and many neighborhood business districts are active destinations for customers and visitors well into the evening. Charging in the evening will enhance parking turnover and access in areas with an active nightlife and other evening businesses. Extended paid parking into the evening until 8pm is coming to the Commercial Core, Belltown, Pioneer Square, Chinatown/International District, Broadway, Pike-Pine, Uptown, and the University District. This effort will roll out starting in April 2011 and continue through September 2011.

Street parking on 12th Avenue and around Swedish Cherry Hill went up to $1.50 per hour with the hours of 8am to 6pm remaining the same.  Parking rate changes began in January so they should be effective currently.

Street parking in Pike/Pine increased to $2.00/hour and around Broadway to $3.00 per hour.  In April, you’ll need to feed the meter until 8pm.  (The later hours starts in April but implementation looks like it’ll take some time and continue to roll-out throughout the summer.)

Check the posted hours on the meters closely when parking!

Here’s the parking map from SDOT.

 

 

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