SquirePark.org

The Department of Neighborhoods has transferred to the City Office of Housing the responsibility for finding a purchaser for the City-owned property at the northeast corner of 12th Avenue and Jefferson.
This parcel is one of two properties still under City control among those acquired in 1992 as part of Mayor Norm Rice’s 12th Avenue Plan. Proceeds from the sale of those properties have been dedicated to capital improvements in the neighborhood. To date, the City has received an unknown amount from the sale and lease of the property. (The Department of Neighborhoods (DON), the office formerly with the responsibility to manage the 12th Avenue Plan, is not able to report how much money it has received over the Plan’s 15+ year period. Public sale records suggest that the sales price for all of the 12th Avenue property DON has sold was nearly $1.6 million. DON is unable to say how much has been received from property leases and unable to say how much has been spent on capital improvements; however, DON states that, at this time, approximately $358,000 is left in the 12th Avenue Capital Improvement fund. Additional street improvements may be performed on 12th Avenue and 14th Avenue with money from that fund. The amount remaining after that is slated to go toward planning and development of a 12th Avenue community gathering place. (See related 12th Ave park article.)
The 12th and Jefferson property, 9,791 square feet, has an assessed value of just over $1 million. At a meeting in July, the Office of Housing floated the idea of transferring that property to a developer for no money if the developer would agree to provide below market rate housing. There would, thus, be no money from the sale of that property for the 12th Avenue Development Fund. That idea was rejected by those attending the meeting, and the Office of Housing was requested to consider other strategies for providing affordable housing in the neighborhood.
—Bill Zosel

An early design review meeting for proposed development at 23rd and Yesler, project #3005392 was conducted in October 2007, and the report from this meeting was forwarded to the developer who may now apply for a Master Use Permit. Further design review meetings will only be called after the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) receives the application for the Master Use Permit. Further information, including the report and developer presentation, may be obtained at the DPD Web site (address follows) or by calling the planner, Art Pederson, at (206) 733-9074.
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Design_Review_Program/Project_Reviews/Reports/default.asp
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The planning and development of a new urban gathering place at 12th and James Ct., under the ownership of the Seattle Parks Department, is set to move forward. Money for development will come from funds within the so-called 12th Avenue Development Fund. The Development Fund is money received by the City from the sale of a number of parcels on and near 12th Avenue. The exact amount available for planning and development will not be known until the Department of Neighborhoods provides information on the cost of completing the incomplete street and pedestrian improvements called for in the Mayor’s (Norm Rice) 12th Avenue Development Plan.
The urban gathering place on 12th Avenue arose from a neighborhood proposal to the Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund which resulted in a set-aside of $500,000 for such a public space. (See http://www.seattle.gov/parks/ProParks/projects/12thAve.htm) Also, King County Conservation Futures money of $550,000 was awarded to purchase land for a park, bringing the amount available for purchase of a new park to slightly more than $1 million. After a search for possible urban gathering locations, the City-owned site at the southeast corner of 12th and James Ct. has been selected. This site has been transferred to the jurisdiction of the Parks Department and since no purchase price is involved this frees up the previously set aside $1 million+ acquisition money for buying an additional piece of land to serve as a park for the 12th Avenue area.
For more information, see the Squire Park Web site (www.squirepark.org) and sign up for the list service: SquirePark12thAveNeighborhor@yahoogroups.com.
—Bill Zosel

In the Spring of 2007, a committee of local residents, business owners, and community representatives convened through Casa Latina’s invitation to discuss neighborhood concerns regarding its move to 17th and Jackson. Some of these concerns included: parking, traffic, loitering, “hanger ons” to the day labor center, littering, a crime increase due to unknown individuals moving through the neighborhood, and safety issues for the elderly who live in the nearby area, as well as adequate problem-solving and enforcement tools for issues that may arise following Casa Latina’s move to its new site.
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Join City Year Seattle for a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as we build community through powerful service! On Monday, January 21, City Year Seattle/King County will unite community volunteers to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. Projects will benefit organizations in the Seattle area, and work tasks will include painting, landscaping, creating teacher packets, cleaning, organizing, and sorting. The services will take place at multiple locations, including West Seattle Elementary, World Vision, Seattle Indian Services Commission, EarthCorps, and the service hours will be 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, contact Dawn Jackowski at djackowski@cityyear.org or (206) 219-5012 or visit www.cityyear.org/seattle.

—Clanci Cochran
City Year Seattle/King County

On January 21, Seattle will hold its annual Martin Luther King Celebration, the largest annual MLK celebration in the country. This year’s theme is, “Let Freedom Ring, End Poverty, Racism, and War” and touches all of us. Due to construction at Garfield High School, Franklin High School will host this year’s celebration. Franklin is located at the intersection of MLK Way and Rainier Ave.

Workshops will begin at 9:30 am. The rally will take place in the Franklin gym at 11:00 am. There will be speakers and entertainment. The march will begin at noon and will wind its way to MLK Memorial Park. For more information or to get involved in the planning effort, call 206.296.1002.

Come participate in one of Seattle’s great traditions.

–John Jeannot

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is proposing significant revisions f to the Land Use Code for Multifamily Zones (MF), that is, zones in which buildings having two or more dwelling units are allowed, as opposed to Single Family Zones. Most of Squire Park is zoned for multifamily buildings. Even some blocks that currently have only, or mostly, single family homes are zoned MF.
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Some who receive the Squire Park Newsletter have wondered aloud how it gets there. Four times a year, members of the Squire Park Community Council board and other neighbors deliver nearly 3,000 newsletters. The main reason for doing this is the hope that you’ll come to a community council meeting—maybe because there is something on the agenda that interests you, or maybe because you have something you want to talk to your neighbors about.
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Dear East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition and Capitol Hill Neighbors,

In response to the tragic homicide of Capitol Hill resident Shannon Harps on New Year’s Eve, we are conducting a neighborhood safety forum to offer community members the opportunity to respond to the incident and discuss neighborhood safety. The police will be present at this forum to provide updates regarding this particular case as well as safety advice. The forum will be facilitated by Stephanie Tschida, EPCPC Chair and SPD East Precinct Lieutenant John Hayes.

When: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 6:00 PM

Where: Group Health Capitol Hill Campus, South Building, Level A, Atrium
201 16th Ave East, Seattle WA 98112
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This just in from Bill Zosel:

The Director of DPD is convening the Design Review Board for an early design guidance meeting.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposal is for a six-story building with ground floor commercial and residential units above. Parking for 20 vehicles will be located within the structure.

PROCESS
The applicants have applied for Design Review related to development of this site. At the early design guidance meeting, the applicants will present information about the site and vicinity. The public may offer comments regarding the design and siting of a structure on the subject site; and, the Design Review Board members will also offer comments and identify those Citywide Design Guidelines of highest priority in developing the site.
MEETING
Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Time: 08:00 p.m.
Location: Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, Room 3211
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When: Tuesday, December 11, 2007, 5:30 P.M.
Where: Seattle University, Lemieux Library Room 114 – (the Stimson Room)
What: Meeting of all interested in 12th Ave. area neighborhood — You will be asked to take part in making a decision about the future of the 12th Avenue Plan.

The following message is way too long, I apologize, but we don’t have a nimble Web site to post the info to, so the intent is to try to make sure that people get important information before the meeting. The 12th Avenue Plan which consists of 50+ pages is not in electronic form. But, if you are interested in reading it contact steve.sheppard@seattle.gov. Steve is the Dept. of Neighborhoods person who has been staffing the 12th Avenue Plan in the past.

In July many attended a meeting convened by the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) regarding the disposition of two lots owned by the City under the 12th Avenue Plan — a planning effort begun by neighborhood stakeholders in the early 1990’s. The two lots in question are at 12th and Jefferson, and 12th and James Ct. These are the last two 12th Avenue Plan lots remaining in City ownership. The others have been sold in order to support the implementation of the 12th Avenue Plan.
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Just in from Bill Zosel is this Good Neighbor Agreement .doc regarding CASA Latina’s Relocation to 17th and Jackson dated Nov 8, 2007. Click to download and view: revisedfinaldraftelementsofagreement110807.doc

A public meeting will be held, Wednesday, October 10, 6:30 p.m., at the Seattle Vocational Institute (2120 South Jackson St), regarding a new mixed-use development at 23rd & Yesler. The proposal by, Catholic Community Services, for subsidized housing is for a four-story, 51 unit apartment building with 2,400 sq. ft. retail and 4,000 sq. ft. of office at grade. Parking for 74 vehicles will be located at and below grade.

For more information regarding this application or the Design Review process, contact land use planner Arthur Pederson at (206)733-9074. If you are unable to attend this meeting but would like to be informed of future meetings, please call Arthur Pederson to become a party of record.

—Department of Planning and Development

Seattle Parks and Recreation is hosting a community meeting to discuss upcoming improvements at Spring Street Park (16th and Spring). The meeting will be held Friday, October 19, 2007 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Langston Hughes (104 17th Avenue S).

Spring Street Park is a neighborhood park ideal for young children. Some of the improvements that will be addressed are expanding the current playground area, upgrading the playground with new equipment, tree maintenance, ivy removal, and new plantings.

For further information or questions please contact Gary Gibbons, Project Manager at 206-684- 0190 or gary.gibbons@seattle.gov.