Webster

One more example of history via poster sediment.  The management of the woefully disused (but lovingly postered) Sun electric building appear to have used a sawsall yeasterday to re-discover a long buried door beneath 5 inches of plywood and show posters on 11th.  

Below pounds of wheat-paste and staples the deepest layers are nearly indecipherable, although an ad for a show at the Catwalk from Nov. 26 2005 barely survives.  While the future of the corner building remains uncertain, at least it provides an occasional archive.

Design reviews begin Wednesday for the expansion of the Belroy apartment  building at 711 Bellevue Ave.  E.   The development proposed by Point 32 and Weinstein Architects not only refurbishes the original 1931 building but replaces four existing two story houses with three modern apartments.  

Weinstein and Point 32 held several meetings with Capitol hill residents to present their initial plan, discussing among other things, the amount of open space remaining for residents of the existing building, and the scale of the three proposed structures; two three story apartments match the scale of the existing building, one Northern building requires a variance.  

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Wednesday's meeting at 6:30 at the Seattle University Alumni building, 824 12th Ave is the first opportunity for public comment.   For many in the neighborhood the new construction is a test for a stretch of the hill which contains some of the best -- and most dismal -- urban design the neighborhood has to offer.

Nearly a dozen members of the community showed up Wednesday night at the second design review for 1111 E. Union – a building which has been a long time moving towards it’s arrival at the crossroads of 12th, Union and Madison.  Runberg Architecture group made a lengthy presentation of changes to their initial design including shifting and narrowing the driveway, and moving the entrances and pedestrian spaces to Union, away from Madison. 

While there was no love on display for the demise of the Under Arms apartments currently occupying the site, there was also an unusual unanimity of disdain for the proposed apartments on the prominent corner.  Both the city design review panelists and the neighbors scolded the drab color scheme of assorted greys, the array of siding materials, discordance with the adjacent architecture and the general scattered massing of the large building.  One commenter from a nearby condo did venture to say he liked the color, notably the only compliment the design received.

Ironically, the opposing triangular lot on that crossroads, new home to a resurgent Pony – now appears open for business and their choice of metal siding (stolen street signs) works quite nicely.

Friday, the near infamous Dead Baby Bike club downhill challenge took over the intersection of Pike and 10th in preparation for their annual  beer fueled high speed bike race.  This years competition began at the Comet Tavern, where contestants and spectators steadied their nerves for the customary no-holds barred race to the death.  

A gleeful crowd swelled, nearly filling the intersection outside the Comet Tavern, occasionally blocking traffic but without serious incident.  Bicycles were heaped on every rack and signpost around the corner as participants visited local watering holes.  Custom built tallbikes, costumed riders and a bike mounted sound system turned 10th ave. into a street party until roughly 6:45 when the starting pistols fired and the crowds emptied from the tavern, found their wheels and headed South to Georgetown.

The evening ended at the Dead Baby Bike club Headquarters with multiple bands and performances, including bike-driven amusement park rides by Cyclecide, bike jousting and needless to say, more beer.

Happy with your parks?  Recent land development?  Affordability?  Seattle neighborhoods are ten years into a long term plan - on the hill, goals range from building Cal Anderson Park to beautifying the North end of Broadway and maintaining the neighborhood character.  

You have until July 6 to go here: http://www.seattle.gov/planningcommission/ to fill out a quick questionnaire and let the city know what worked and where their energy and money needs to go now. 

Here are three steps to completing the feedback.

1. Watch the video here about the neighborhood plan process that has been presented at each of the public open houses
2. Review the 4 page draft status report for your neighborhood – it outlines the neighborhood’s vision and key strategies and provides information about public investments, housing, employment and demographics. Here is a link to the Capitol Hill status report, the Pike/Pine report and a CHS write-up on both.
3. Provide your comments using the city's questionnaire – it has the same four questions that will be discussed at the public meetings

There were rumors about the future occupant of the florist shop on E. Madison; today I biked by and beyond the unfriendly cyclone fence was the silhouette the hill hasn't seen since the bulldozers came to Pine St...