12th Ave Seattle
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Barista Boyz off Broadway -- which replaced the old Buzz Stop back in January at 1122 E. Madison -- had their grand opening on Saturday. I took a stroll down the hill to pay a visit after my partner called and said, "You have to get down here, the Boyz are shirtless!"
Barista Boyz of Broadway, 1122 E Madison St
Following the trend to feature bikini clad baristas to attract business in other parts of the state, owner Dave Ray thought topless guys would do well on Capitol Hill. It seems his theory may be proving true, "today is the busiest day I've had so far, and it is only half over," Ray said with a big smile.
They were playing dance music and offering free samples and coupons for their kosher hot dogs to people passing by.
"It's funny," Ray said, "the women are doing a double take. One woman turned bright red as she pointed at one of the Boyz. She clearly wanted to stop by, but her boyfriend was not so interested," he laughed.
Barista Boyz is adjacent to the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences. Ray said he had a meeting with the principal prior to opening to share his business plan. He assured the principal that shirts would stay on until 3:30 PM well after school was over. According to Ray, the principal was happy with that arrangement.
Coffee Cop froths some foam
One of the shirtless Boyz made my coffee. He was wearing hand-cuffs in his belt loop and aviator sunglasses. I asked him what his stage name was. "That's a great question," he pondered, "I don't have one yet. What do you think it should be?"
"How about Coffee Cop?" I suggested.
"Great! I'll go with that!" Coffee Cop said, while frothing milk for my latte.
Meanwhile, Ray was talking to a guy with curly brown hair straddling a 10 speed bike. He was interested in a job, "We'll be hiring more Boyz soon. You should stop buy in a couple of weeks," Ray said.
If you missed Saturday's Grand Opening, don't worry. Dave plans to keep the festivities going for the next several weekends. They are open M-F until 6:00 AM -6:00 PM and they are open until 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Here is what we know from Izilla Toys: "Join us this afternoon at our Cap HIll store to make awesome giant paper flowers! It's free, fun and will help make your day even sunnier! 4-6pm"
Velocity Dance Center is moving this month from the Oddfellows Building to the former Capitol Hill Arts Center at 1621 12th Avenue. They are asking for volunteers to help them with the move:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED MARCH 15 - 31We need many friends to help us move. There are a variety of tasks available and we are seeking help the following areas:
* Party Helpers
* Flyer distribution
* Furniture & small box movers
* Cleaners
* Office organizers
* Theater tech
* Ladder climbers
* Owners of trucks & vans
Mayor Mike McGinnwill be our special guest at the celebration, marching with us in the parade and joining us for the ribbon cutting at the new space! We can't wait for you to be part of the festivities too. ALL AGES WELCOME!
We'll have FREE food and drinks, bands, dj's, performances, face painting, groovy dancer contest, and more!
Thanks so much to our local business donors including Mighty O Donuts, Pacific Continental Bank, Laredo's Grille, and the Adventure School.
RSVP for Velocity's Grand Opening Celebration on 3/27 at 5 pm
Previous
In late February, we reported on officers from East Precinct collaring an unusual suspect on the run. Capitol Hill cops found a large breed dog running in afternoon traffic near the intersection of 12th and Pine in front of their precinct headquarters. They brought the dog inside and handed the detainee over to animal control.
The dog -- apparently a malamute breed -- wasn't claimed by an owner according to a little sign posted on the East Precinct's front door. If you are missing your malamute -- or want to adopt a big dog, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter.
Velocity Dance Center, a longtime tenant of the Odd Fellows building, is moving to 1621 12th Ave. (previously home to Crave). Details on Velocity's new location here. Photos by Clara Ganey | The Spectator
According to our news partners at SeattleCrime.com, emergency crews responded to an assault with weapons call near Cal Anderson this afternoon around 2 PM only to discover that the injury was a self-inflicted wound from an Airsoft gun.
No word on why the man was packing air heat and how he managed to wound himself. Details if/when we get them.
In one of the more humorous errors ever in the history of CHS corrections, CHS neighbor hobbes84k reported that the new Chinese restaurant opening on 12th Ave was going to celebrate its grand opening with a line dance. Not quite.
Get ready for fireworks, drums and, well, lions. Chungee's Drink and Eat celebrates its 12th Ave grand opening Saturday with a 'lion dance' celebration. Here's the announcement about Saturday's fun posted by Chungee's owners right here on CHS:
Hello! At last we are opening Chungee's!!!! On Saturday February 13th we will celebrate our grand opening with a Traditional Lion Dance (at 3:00pm) along with beating drums, firecrackers and Lion Dancers bringing good fortune to our new business. This should be pretty cool to watch, with this being the year of the Tiger as well!!! We hope to have lots of folks around and can't wait to open up! (We will actually be open starting on the 8th but our official lucky Chinese opening will be the 13th) Hope to see you there!!! Tom and Wen
Chungee's opened this week after replacing Esmeralda at the corner of Denny and 12th. Esmeralda's owner Robert Abergel, who sold his equipment and lease to Chungee's, said he hoped the Hill would support the new restaurant. "I'd like them to patronize these new people. The only food I eat out is oriental. There is an art to it and this woman is very, very talented," Abergel told CHS.
'This woman' would be Wen Long. She and partner Tom Farrell are the people behind Chungee's. Here's what Farrell told us via the CHS comments:
I've worked on First Hill for over 18 years and to be part of a business is a dream come true! We can't wait to meet more people and if the locals are any indication of how great the area is, then we have entered heaven!
Paul Constant over on the Slog sums it up nicely: "I hope Chungee's sticks around. It'll be good to have a late night (open 'til midnight) Chinese food joint with booze on Capitol Hill again."
UPDATE:
Here's a look at the day's fun. I asked owner Farrell if they were planning any specials for tonight's grand opening menu. "Specials? We're open!" he said.
We were walking past 12th and Denny today and saw people working hard on finalizing the interior of Chungee's which has taken over the old location of Esmerelda. Speaking quickly with the people inside, this is what we learned:
- On Monday, February 8th, the restaurant will have its soft opening
- Next Saturday there will be a grand opening party including line dancing out in front on the sidewalk of 12th
It looks pretty nice inside, but our group was understandably confused by the idea of line dancing. We shall see.
UPDATE by jseattle: Note in comments that the celebration will include a lion dance, not a line dance. Sounds like fun.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs just released an update on the humanitarian situation in Haiti. In sum, the UN OCHA states the following:
Over 3 million people were affected by the earthquake. Over 112,000 people are confirmed killed and another nearly 200,000 injured. The bottom line is that aid is flowing into Haiti, but it is still a challenge to reach everyone in need.
Locally, CHS Sponsor Coastal Kitchen raised $2100(earmarked for Haiti) for Mercy Corps a few weeks ago . As you can tell from the update above though, continuing aid will be needed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
Other Capitol Hill businesses are stepping forward. This Saturday February 6, Molly Moon's will be donating all proceeds, all day to Partners in Health. This offer is good at both their Wallingford and Capitol Hill locations. Molly Moon herself will be serving up scoops at the Capitol Hill location at 9 am (along with very special guest Congressman Jim McDermott). Some more info regarding the day from Molly Moon herself:
I just wanted to let you all know that this Saturday, February 6th is International Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. (I'm not even making it up!) Molly Moon's has an ice cream & oatmeal breakfast every weekend morning, but this morning is special. We are donating all sales from the entire day to Haiti relief organization Partners in Health, AND for your own health, we are serving Maple BACON Ice Cream on top of piping hot bowls of local, steel-cut oatmeal. (You can choose another flavor if you really want.)
La Spiga will also be hosting a generous fundraiser for Haiti next week. On Wednesday February 10, 2010, La Spiga will donate 100% of the funds raised to Haiti. The event will take place in La Spiga's mezzanine. For a suggested donation of $25 per person, guests will receive a full Italian buffet dinner. Call 206-323-8881 to reserve.
Update (2/10): :Note that La Spiga canceled today's fundraiser (we just learned today)
First a post on little league baseball and softball sign-ups, now an event involving kids, kid movies and pancakes. The Northwest Film Forum's Children's Film Festival starts next week and apparently Saturday's all-you-can-eat pancake fest is the Capitol Hill kid hot ticket event of the pancake season:
The Annual Children's Film Festival Pancake Breakfast!
January 23 at 9:30am
with movie screenings at 10:30 and 11am
Buy your tickets now at www.childrensfilmfestivalseattle.orgThis all-you-can-eat pancake and bacon breakfast is fun for the whole family! And of course we'll have gallons of hot coffee on hand for the adults. After breakfast, come to Northwest Film Forum for a special screening of What a Wonderful World, a program of international short films (see below). Plus, there will be a performance of traditional songs by the Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre group!
Tickets for this special event often sell-out, so avoid the tears and buy yours now!
Tickets are $12.50 each or $50 for an 'admit 4' family pass. NWFF is a CHS advertiser -- but we ran this post as a public service. These are pancakes we're talking about, after all.
Don't often see 6-year timeframes on No Parking signs: closure of Denny between Broadway and 10th for light rail construction. I admire their optimism on setting a re-opening date. Anyone want to go to Vegas and bet on it?
A companion piece to Capitol Hill light rail station Phase 2 about to begin: Let's get ready to tunnel
Last week, we noted that the on-street 'bike corral' in front of QFC had mysteriously disappeared. Now -- thanks to several reader tips -- we have found that the second Capitol Hill bike parking experiment in front of Cafe Presse on 12th Ave is also... gone. But we can happily report that it won't be gone for long.
Monday, instead of holding an overflow pack of Seattle U cycles and Stumptown fixies, we found the rack disassembled and in pieces on the parking strip along the 12th Ave sidewalk.
Seattle Department of Transportation's Rick Sheridan said the information he provided us last week turned out to be incorrect. The QFC corral wasn't removed because it was damaged -- that, it turns out, was the Cafe Presse rack. Good news, Sheridan says, is that the 12th Ave rack will be back in place by Thursday. He also says the city is exploring whether the driver that damaged the rack can be held liable for repair and replacement costs.
Meanwhile, Sheridan says the QFC rack is a different story. It was actually pulled because of 'low usage.'
As a year ends that will surely be remembered in part for violent acts against police officers, a group gathers tonight at a Capitol Hill memorial to a SPD officer killed in the line of duty 25 years ago.
Officer Nick Davis was shot to death with his own service revolver on this day in 1984 as he struggled with a man who had skipped out on a $4.55 tab for a cheese blintz at the International House of Pancakes. Despite mental illness, the man was sentenced to 27 years in prison. In 2003, the PI reports, he was deemed dangerously mentally ill and ordered to be held at a state mental hospital.
The Friday night memorial organizers Washington State Concerns of Police Survivors said people will gather starting at 5 PM in the parking lot in front of The Color Store at Union and Madison where the Davis memorial is located. That's the spot where Davis died in 1984.
Don't know what the plans are for the memorial when the demolition begins on that lot in preparation for a new mixed-use development. The Color Store has already announced it is leaving the Hill.
CHS couldn't swing by in time for the Nog Off competition but we did get there in time to ask Santa Feit for more ad revenue for Christmas. Here are a couple images from Northwest Film Forum's holiday party -- a free bash with journalism entrepreneur Josh Feit (Publicola.net) as Santa and vintage holiday programming including Pee-Wee’s Christmas Special on the big screens. They're probably still dancing if you feel like heading out.
Northwest Film Forum is a CHS partner.
Want to give a unique, Seattle-inspired and locally made gift this holiday season? Buy a CHS shirt! Or check out ZoneFour, a new apparel and print shop sandwiched between Lucky Devil Tattoo Parlor and The Capitol Hill Market on 12th Ave. and E. Howell Street.
Owner and designer Ian Anderson creates Seattle-inspired tee shirts and hoodies for men and women. The most popular design is the dripping Seattle skyline graphic. And while repping the city could turn off some locals, the graphics have a cool, relaxed tone without appearing too kitschy. If that's still not your style, don't worry, there are plenty of other looks and images to choose from. Plus, Ian said new designs will pop up every month.
"I wanted to create cool shit that isn't available anywhere else and really represents Capitol Hill and Seattle... interesting clothes I would want to wear that aren't tied to a specific trend or style," said Ian.
The shop also features prints by local artists and designers, with new featured graphics planned for every other week. They feature BLT's work prominently right now. He is Ian's mentor and business partner who designed concert posters for Seattle greats Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie, among others.
ZoneFour is named for the neighborhood parking zone. The store got its start working with The Comet Tavern and Zion's Gate Records, plus local bands and art projects.
While I was there, I took advantage of the opportunity to got some holiday shopping done. I picked up a cool montage of Pike Place Market for my mom, who recently moved out of the state, and a framed print of the Space Needle with a splash of green paint exploding from behind it. I figured my 13 year-old sister would love it since she moved to Texas and likes to remember Seattle.
As the business grows, Ian hopes to include other local artists in the mix, making the shop a kind of artistic hub on the Hill.
"ZoneFour is all about collaboration with other businesses, Capitol Hill artists and local people," he said.
The shop took over the small space once inhabited by People's Republic of Koffee, which moved two storefronts closer to Pine in a renovated house. It's now a full cafe and art gallery with great outdoor seating potential. People's Republic helped ZoneFour take over the space and they have plans to promote and work with each other in the future. (Ian told me about summer plans to host community bbqs and epic beer pong tournaments in the coffee house courtyard. Should be a party!)
Slog recently posted about the new Republic and included a picture of the new space.
In addition to its offline presence, ZoneFour operates an online Etsy store for the holidays. Mention CHS and you'll get 10% off your order. The store is open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays (closed Mondays) and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. You can also find them at Pike Place Market.
Lauren is a new CHS contributor. She is a 5-year Capitol Hill resident. Lauren received her degree in journalism from Seattle University and is a writer and photographer. Welcome to the gang, lauren.p!
With Capitol Hill's BMW dealership closing shop and moving south to SoDo, what will be the fate of the remaining auto dealerships on Capitol Hill?
I asked Tino Perrina, vice president of the 12th Ave. location, if Capitol Hill's Ferrari and Maserati Dealership would follow BMW's off the Hill.
“It’s business as usual,” says Perrina. “We’re doing well and have no plans to move."
Further down Pike St., the Capitol Hill Phil Smart Mercedes-Benz branch celebrated it's golden anniversary this year. But are they switching it up any time soon?
"[Mercedes] is planning on staying right where we've been for the last 50 years," said John Ramstetter, general sales manager of the Phill Smart Mercedes-Benz Capitol Hill branch.
But due to the current economy, who can invest in a $300,000 ride?
Perrina admits to a 20% drop in Ferrari sales since the national economy collapse but said Ferrari isn’t on the brink of closure, nor is the Capitol Hill branch in a financial crisis.
"Like almost all businesses in Seattle and around the country, [Mercedes] has experienced a substantial drop in business over the last 12 months," said Ramstetter. "This is due to the economic climate."
But, apparently, it's nothing to leave Capitol Hill over.
In what would be a surefire coup for 12th Avenue, we received the following tip from a CHS neighbor:
A customer recently identified himself as the owner of a new restaurant slated to go in at the Packard Building [at 12th and Pine]. The restaurant will be called "Skillet," and the menu will be "American food. Burgers and stuff." He says that he spent the week meeting with contractors, and that it is slated to open in January.
We were able to confirm with Kate Stineback of Capitol Hill Housing that the is designed to house a restaurant (wiring, ventilation, hood, etc).
Josh Henderson, Skillet's co-owner, responded to our inquiry with the following:
We are in discussions and could possibly be signing an LOI as soon as next week. Nothing is official at this point though
We also received a press release announcing that Fleurish, a floral design studio (currently open by appointment only at 1308 East Union) will soon be opening an orchid store at .
CHS has a call out to Nisha Kelen for comment. The website currently says the shop will open on 12/5/09.
Nisha Kelen, owner of Fleurish and one of Seattle’s most beloved floral designers, will open Fleurish-Orchidée at the beginning of December, just in time for the holidays. The shop will feature a range of orchid presentations from $5 stems to $500 potted orchids. Kelen is working with local artisans to craft vases and pots in wood, ceramic, glass, spun wood, concrete and stainless steel that will be unique to Fleurish-Orchidée. Watch the Web site for the opening date.
Republic of Koffee,
originally uploaded by flckrd1.
Some business changes at 1720 12th Ave (between Olive & Howell, Lucky Devil Tattoo Parlor building), none lost, one added:
The People's Republic of Koffee stand has left their garage-on-the-street location and moved into the house next door and expanded with seating (and future food service). Also in the space is the new People's Republic of Komedy office.
Zone 4 Printing has moved into the old PRK space and has a great, compact retail store right on the sidewalk with T-shirts and posters, etc.
Fore! Smash Putt, "a temporary mini golf course/art installation on Capitol Hill," is open for play:
Assembled inside a dingy 12th Avenue building by Rusty Oliver and a group of industrial artists who call themselves the Hazard Factory, it's 10 holes featuring crazy contraptions involving catapults, air compressors, power tools and 33-1/3 rpm turntables.
At hole No. 2, which is called "Driving Range," you can launch a ball through an air-powered machine gun toward the upturned innards of a piano: "Clang — ng-ng-ng."
At hole No. 5, "Roulette Francaise," a motorized scooter turns a platform that shoots your ball off in one of four directions — one containing a hole. (And feel free to toot the scooter's horn whenever, just for fun.)
There's also beer and snacks in the Miniature Golf Apocalypse clubhouse. You can buy tickets and get more info at http://www.smashputt.com/ The playing season is a short one -- Smash Putt will only be open for play these final three weekends of November.
The Hazard Factory is also responsible for Seattle Power Tool Races event. Here's a video of some of the, um, technology behind their putt-putt course:
UPDATE: Added this slideshow from Hank! in comments:
While the design process gets started for one Pike/Pine mixed-use redevelopment at 11th and Pine, another development at 12th and Pine is about to open its doors to those uses, mixed. Word from last night's 12th Ave community meeting is that the Packard Building Apartments will be open on January 1, 2010 after just over a year of construction. The 56 apartment units are listed from between $1,200 and $2,300 according to the info we received from the meeting.
The development also includes about 5,000 square feet of retail space on ground level and more office space above. Now word yet on businesses opening up in the Packard but we'll see what we can find out.
4 gorgeous retail spaces Large storefronts, HVAC, great signage, 17’ ceilings, garage rollup doors, and heavy pedestrian traffic both day and night. 714 - 3,877 RSF.
5 mezzanine office spaces Creative, flexible spaces, large windows, HVAC, and patios. 718 - 1,234 square feet; suites can be combined for a total of 4,704 square feet.
Rates | Retail $26-$28/SF/NNN | Office $22/SF/NNN
Many of the flowers from Tim Brenton's Friday memorial were moved over the weekend to his East Precinct headquarters at 12th and Pine. It's an odd little memorial, crowded and haphazardly stuffed into the lobby of the precinct HQ but it's also a very human display. The memorial that had grown on the sidewalk near where Brenton was gunned down Halloween night has been removed. Meanwhile the drama from the capture of Chris Monfort -- the alleged 'domestic terrorist' and a 'person of interest,' not a 'suspect' -- has settled somewhat. Latest reports have Monfort in serious but stable condition at Harborview on First Hill.
Northwest Film Forum (CHS partner) invites you to a party tonight:
Seattle writers Mark Rahner and Robert Horton host a Halloween party celebrating Rotten, their zombie-Western comic series (from Moonstone Books). The authors promise a highly animated—you might say "re-animated"—time including a film screening (title will be a surprise), selected shorts and various unhealthy high jinks.
Rotten follows the bloody exploits of government agents as they roam the West, fighting to explain and contain a mysterious outbreak of the undead in 1877. Along with head-splattering action, Rotten offers distinct parallels with recent political events—a world in which fear threatens to trump reason.
Costumes encouraged! Thursday (10/29) at 8 pm
Since 1999, when then Captain John Diaz (now the city's interim police chief) left the East Precinct following a lengthy tenure, there have been eight — count ‘em, eight — East Precinct Commanders minding the fort on 12th and Pine.
I think I can do this from memory, so here goes the captain roll call since then: Toni Malliet, Nick Metz, Mark Evenson, Fred Hill, Mike Meehan, Landy Black, Paul McDonagh and, beginning on October 28, Jim Dermody. Counting Diaz that's nine commanders in ten-and-a-half years. Of those who've held the post after Diaz' moved up, McDonagh's tenure, roughly two-and-a-half years, is the longest.
Seems like quite a lot, yes?
Yes. It is a lot. Because leaving aside the particular merits of each individual, such a revolving door calls into question whether the common good is as well served as it could and should be. So many transitions in such a short period of time by definition makes it harder for a commander to establish strong relationships with the community, and it certainly makes it harder for the community to get to know the commander in charge of the precinct. Building relationships take time, and continuously having to re-build such relationships is probably not the most efficient way to go about it regardless of the good intentions on both sides of the podium.
Assuming enthusiasm, intelligence and professional competence — and only one of the group of former commanders left the position under challenging circumstances (you get an extra bonus point for remembering which one, plus another point if you remember why) it's reasonable to assume that stability in the position is of considerable benefit, all the more so given the police department's official emphasis on neighborhood policing.
Certainly some commanders are better than others. And it's understandable that career goals and abilities direct captains to higher positions. Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz, for instance, took a turn as head of the East Precinct in 2000. And Landy Black left the East Precinct to become the Police Chief in Davis, Calif.
But it's disruptive when a well-regarded captain moves on. I remember quite a few people were upset when then Captain Diaz left the precinct after more than five years in the position. On the other side of the coin, several people asked me who Captain Evenson was after he was moved to another position following a short stint at the East Precinct.
I interviewed each of the East Precinct commanders around the time each took the reins. They had appropriately positive things to say about their new job, which, if memory serves, in each case represented a promotion and their first posting as a newly-minted captain. But after several such conversations I asked how long a new commander expected to stay on the Hill. Here's Mike Meehan's reply from 2004:
“I say this laughingly, but I told my boss that my intention is to stay here until the day I retire. I'll stay here as long as they allow me to stay. I am very happy to be at the East Precinct.”
Meehan stayed until mid-2005.
The community should and no doubt will welcome Captain Dermody to the neighborhood. Here's hoping he's able to stick around for awhile.
Wandering the streets of Paris in celebration of our 10th anniversary last month, my wife and I spotted a sign that stopped us in our tracks. It was the familiar Cafe Presse logo -- transported 5,000-plus miles and rotated a bit. Compare: Cafe Presse, Seattle vs. Cafe Presse, Paris.
No mere coincidence! After all, Cafe Presse (and Le Pichet) owners Joanne Herron and Jim Drohman have created a couple of successful, informal French restaurants in Seattle and are very deliberate in cultivating authenticity. Jim studied the culinary arts in France. [Update 1:] And, as a commenter below noted, the "Cafe Presse" logo is somewhat ubiquitous in Paris. It's used (licensed?) as a symbol by news vendors.
Unfortunately, this particular Cafe Presse location was closed when we walked by, so we couldn't compare the experience, but a peek inside the darkened windows indicated that it lacked the charm and ambiance of its Seattle doppelganger. We also very much doubt this particular Parisian establishment offers chicken quite so tasty as the cooked-to-order Poulet roti a votre commande of the 12th Avenue location (you've not tried it yet? Sacrebleu! Recession or no, there's really no excuse!).
I sent an email last Thursday to the owners of Cafe Presse, Seattle to ask about the coincidence in logo design but have not yet received a response to that inquiry. Thankfully, it looks like CHS commenters have helped figure it out.
This Sunday, October 18th Grace Kim of Capitol Hill's own Schemata Workshop will be hosting an event called, "Curious About Cohousing" at SU's new A&A building . The event is aimed at familiarizing people with cohousing and determining if their is sufficient interest for a cohousing community in or around Capitol Hill. For many people, including myself, the idea of cohousing conjures up images of free frolicking individuals milking cows and hosting drum circles under the full moon. But in reality, cohousing is a healthy alternative to standard home ownership and can be great way to have more control of your living situation.
According to the Cohousing Association of the US, the most defining characteristic of cohousing is that residents are, "consciously committed to living as a community" . Of course, this does not mean that individuals only get a small closet for privacy; many cohousing communities are made up of full single family homes or townhouses with all the private amenities one could need. But there is always an emphasis on community. There is always a set of shared spaces where residents can come together for meals, parties, movies, games, etc. Oftentimes these shared amenities might be things that are expensive in a private residence, for example, a large workshop, exercise room, crafts area, or even just guest rooms for visitors.
Another important aspect of cohousing is the participatory design process. Instead of a developer constructing a structure for residents and then selling it off, cohousing communities are heavily involved in the planning and design process, making sure that it fits their needs and wants.
Daybreak community in Portland, design by Schemata (photo courtesy of Grace Kim)
Sunday's event is an opportunity for Schemata Workshop to bring their nationally-recognized expertise to their own neighborhood. According to Firm principal Grace Kim, Schemata Workshop is one of only a dozen firms in the country who are known for cohousing. Schemata recently helped the Daybreak community in Portland design their new cohousing complex, which officially opened this month. Kim, herself is a board member of the Cohousing Association of the United States and was the chairperson for the 2009 Cohousing Conference in Seattle in June. This year Schemata will recieve the Mayor's small business award for fostering communities that "emphasize a holistic view of social, ecological and economic sustainability" .
So if you have been thinking about mixing up your living situation, this is your chance to learn the benefits and challenges of creating a cohousing community. And if you're happy where you are, then consider coming out to Sunday's event simply to learn about the different cohousing communities throughout the US and beyond.
Curious About Cohousing?
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2009
Time: 2:00 - 4:00pm
Location: SU Alumni and Admissions Building (12th and Marion)
Register at http://cohousing.eventbrite.com/
