The artist collective The In is working out a solution with the City of Seattle to remain on 17th Ave, a person who says he is a representative for the group tells CHS.

“We have already began work in regards to housing compliance, and are now almost up to code,” Daniel Burnett wrote in an email sent to CHS following our post last week about violations of Land Use and Housing and Building Maintenance codes at the collective’s 17th at E Olive St home.

Burnett, who says he is a public liaison for the group and lists his occupation as journalist at the Capitol Hill Times, asked CHS to post the following information from the collective. He also provided text of a petition circulated in the neighborhood “to show community support” following The In’s “house/zoning complications.” You might consider it a template if you want to contact the Department of Planning and Development to show support for The In and efforts like it.

The In is an incorporated non-profit that has been housing artists for approximately four years. For a long time events and shows were infrequent, yet at around the end of last summer activity within the house began picking up. We treat our presence in the neighborhood as a primary concern and continually take steps silence noise leakage, monitor the behavior of those that attend events and maintain clean public areas around the house (there has not been an incidence of trash from our house sitting in public areas since I moved into the In 10 months ago). Although our sound-proofing efforts don’t always hold we have been able to maintain healthy communication with our neighbors and, in response to our efforts, we have been met with a great deal of patience, understanding and care. A few weeks ago a representative from the co-op in the alleyway offered to sign her support (and bring the rest of the co-op on board) with the In. The purpose of the signature was for a petition that the In created after hearing about or house/zoning complications. The petition was made simply to show community support. I am pasting a copy of the petition at the end of this email for your consideration.

We have already began work in regards to housing compliance, and are now almost up to code. Our zoning dilemma is quite odd. We are zoned as a residence, yet our parcel section reads as ‘community business’ and we also have some case of prior use that is not directly residential. We were unaware that our stage area was in violation of zoning. We respect the DPD’s decision and have discontinued performances until we can legitimize our use.

Bon Voyage vintage does, in fact, own a business license. I think it is important to note that the premises was the issue, not the legality of the shop’s identity. Two other things to note are that the store in California was 100% legal and the couple were vending by Trader Joes prior to the store opening, however were not homeless. 

The In Petition
“The In Arts NW is a non-profit artist collective on the top of Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA. We house 30 artists from the community and host events such as musical performances, theatrical performances, writer’s groups, women’s groups, craft fairs, Karaoke nights and creative workshops. Our art gallery rotates different local artists each month and is featured in Blitz! Capitol Hill Artwalk. One of our most popular events, a free-for-all open mic called Move, occurs bi-monthly and is included in the Artwalk. The In Arts NW intends to maintain our service to Capitol Hill’s rich arts community as we have been for the past three years. Our organization continues to evolve, however one department of the city has recently presented us with a challenge; attempting to end our performances. We would like to demonstrate that we are a supported part of Seattle’s community enrichment, and need your help to do so! Please sign below to preserve a part of the Seattle art scene and show your support for The In Arts NW.” 

The compliance deadline for both complaints filed with DPD came and went with the end of March. We’re following up with the city to find out more about what happens next.