Yearly Archives: 2013

CHS Year in Review 2013 | Most important Capitol Hill stories of 2013

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The Bullitt Center opened in April, 2013 (Image: CHS)

The Bullitt Center opened in April, 2013 (Image: CHS)

The top stories of 2012 on Capitol Hill were larger issues that also played out on our streets as marriage equality and marijuana legalization changed our world. 2013’s selection of top stories, below, seems likely to be defined by more local outcomes. There’s an amazing new building standing along E Madison. A man who lives and loves Capitol Hill has been elected the city’s mayor. Another who lives and loves here vaulted to pop superstardom.

Below, we’ve compiled our annual selection of the most important neighborhood stories of the year based on how many of you read, shared and commented on the news and some good old-fashioned editorial judgement. As we’ve said in the past — 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 — it’s an arbitrary process — and the culled selection included in the poll is even more arbitrary. You can tell us all about it in comments.

Also as we’ve said before, thanks. Thank you for being part of CHS and helping the site continue to be part of the neighborhood. We’re lucky to have so many important stories to tell.

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Capitol Hill Christmas 2013 Open Thread — Including what’s open, Christmas Eve services

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Below, find a brightly-wrapped package of Christmas Eve and Christmas things to do and more around Capitol Hill.

We’ll add more as we find them so please comment, send us a note or holler via Twitter or call/txt (206) 399-5959 with additions.

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Olympia notes: No transportation package, Pedersen & Walkinshaw sworn in

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  • It might be time for Plan B. In November, Exec Dow Constantine said King County would employ a “Plan B” if state leaders couldn’t pass a new transportation funding package. While the Olympians have promised to resume discussing the funding when regular sessions resume in January, no special session was called to nail down the needed multi-billion dollar package:

    The Senate majority wants that slice of sales-tax revenue to be applied to transportation projects, estimating it could boost spending by $750 million over the next 12 years.

    Democrats have said they want the money to remain in the general fund, noting the state will need billions of dollars in the coming years to meet a state Supreme Court mandate to increase funding for education.

Frank Chopp, Pedersen and Murray at a 2011 town hall (Image: CHS)

Frank Chopp, Pedersen and Murray at a 2011 town hall (Image: CHS)

  • The Olympia shuffle is complete. Jamie Pedersen has been sworn in to continue representing the 43rd District — now as a state senator. CHS reported on the Capitol Hill rep’s likely path to take over for Ed Murray who stepped down following his victory in the Seattle mayor’s race. “I am honored to serve the people of the 43rd Legislative District,” Pedersen said. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues in the Senate,” Pedersen says in a statement on the appointment. Meanwhile, another Capitol Hill resident was selected to fill Pedersen’s former place in the state House. We introduced you to Brady Walkinshaw here.

‘3 booms and power is out’ in northwest Capitol Hill — UPDATE

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Screen Shot 2013-12-23 at 6.12.48 AMCity Light is working to restore power to more than 3,7Screen Shot 2013-12-23 at 6.07.17 AM00 customers in Eastlake and on the northwest edge of Capitol Hill following an outage in the area starting around 5:45 AM Monday morning. UPDATE: Good progress! City Light says the outage is down to 1,700 customers as of 6:22 AM.

People living in the area reported booms before the power failed — typically a sign of blown transformers.

City Light currently estimates crews will have the situation fixed by 11:40 AM. City Light reports the boundaries are on the North, E Allison St, on the south, E. Republican St, on the east 13th Ave E and on the west Minor Ave E.

The agency is also dealing with an outage in West Seattle “Crews are en route to both locations,” City Light says. “Not all customers within these boundaries are affected.”

Hopefully your plan to make a little figgy pudding can wait.

UPDATE 9:45 AM: From City Light — “@SEACityLight: Power out on Capitol Hill. 6390 customers out. Outage related to the earlier outage, which caused a second feeder to trip. crews enroute.” City Light estimates service will be restored by 1 PM.

UPDATE 1:00 PM: Around 3,700 customers still remain without power around Capitol Hill. City Light’s estimate for repair is now 2 PM.

UPDATE 1:15 PM: All is well. From City Light: “Power has been restored to outage affecting Eastlake and Capitol Hill.  Crews on site said a distribution wire had failed.”

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CHS Pics | Bridge and North Pole crowd invades Capitol Hill

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1521830_10152091765491351_363173630_nOMG. There were sooo many bridge and North Polers on Capitol Hill Saturday night.

Of course, CHS noticed a few locals donning gay apparel, also.

As obnoxious as much of it was, the convergence of the Santarchy 2013 finale and March of the Mistletomosexuals at bars across Capitol Hill put non-costumed barhoppers into a kind of champion’s league of finding great bars somehow off the path of the drunken Santa horde. Knowing well and good we’d be bumped around out and about in Pike/Pine Saturday night, CHS braved it and found refuge at a Rudolph-free Bar Ferd’nand. There were similar scenes across the neighborhood of the more casual Capitol Hill holiday revelers sitting in relief inside their favorite “secret” non-Santa hideaway. In other words, with Santarchy and Mistletoomosexuals also enjoying their holiday shenanigans, everybody was happy.

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Lots of pictures of the fun below. Thanks to Alex Crick and Alex Garland for braving the madness on our behalf. You’ll find more — not all of it safe for Christmas! — on the CHS Facebook page.

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CHS Community Post: This is what 40 years of neglect looks like… goodbye to 16th Ave E

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Editor’s note: CHS Community Posts feature stories posted by neighbors and readers about neighborhood stories and issues. This submission features a unique 16th Ave E house CHS reported on earlier this year that is slated for demolition and redevelopment. Thanks to J R Fox for a look inside.
DSC07856Certainly one of our neighborhoods most interesting haunted houses has been this one at 339 16th Ave East which was moved to it current site in 1972 to make way for a Group Health building at 15th and Thomas. I have always been curious about the inside and Graham Black (owner) was gracious enough to give me the keys so that my partner and I could take some pictures of it. Within a few days it will be demolished to make way for a new townhouse development.DSC07811

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Hillebrity | Jessica, Sean, & Alisa

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 Jessica, Sean, & Alisa – Retailers

imageWhat are a few last minute Christmas gifts shoppers can find at Glasswing?

1. Glasswing Candles, in our favorite fall scents: Vanilla Cedarwood, Mandarin Orange Ginger and Honey Milk Pumpkin Spice. $16 and will warm up any home!

2. Apolis Market Tote, $68. Glasswing is home to Seattle’s first market tote. Beautiful veggie tanned leather handles and fully lined! Would be great gift filled with someone’s favorite veggies or stocking stuffers!

3. Scout Seattle Handkerchiefs, $48. Made in the USA and in three beautiful designs: Nautilus, Pine Cone and Cannabis.

4. Found Terrariums, Starting at $28. Each container is crafted with love and no two are alike! Great for those maybe lacking a green thumb!

Glasswing is located at 1525 Melrose Ave. CHS wrote about the apparel and furniture retailer here — Glasswing, Pacific Northwest indie apparel and furniture, readies for Black Friday opening in Melrose Market.

For more last-minute, local shopping ideas, check out our Shop the Hill page.

Previously on Hillebrity

One year ago this week on Capitol Hill

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8445820427_82ccc0fc05_oHere are the top CHS posts from this week in 2012:

  1. $4.15 million later, Capitol Hill’s Colman Automotive building restored to 1916 glory
  2. Pie Bar, Kedai Makan coming to E Olive Way
  3. Blotter | Christmas gunpoint robbery on Capitol Hill, alley phone mugging, light rail art theft
  4. Victim says robbed by man with ‘gold badge’ in Volunteer Park — UPDATE: 2nd report of fake cop
  5. Blotter | Indecent Santa reported in Hill bar, SPD taser arrest on E Pike
  6. A diorama Volunteer Park holiday

 

CHS Pics | E Madison performance a start to community garden outside Capitol Hill 7-11?

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IMG_7131Before Friday’s snowy morning, there was another peculiar sight along E Madison.

Thursday night, a group — who tells CHS they plan to turn the parking strip adjacent the E Madison 7-11 into a community garden — gathered with a jury-rigged speaker and lighting set-up to dance and turn the soil in one of the more unique performances set to Chopin’s Nocturnes you might ever witness.

CHS stopped by to see the show. We’ll be checking in on the garden project as it progresses and look forward to Chopin up some freshly grown E Madison vegetables. Happy Solstice!

You’ll definitely dig what’s happening in that area shortly. CHS reported earlier this year on a project to dig up and swap out the massive fuel tanks under the 7-11 property. We’re told that project is slated to begin next month.

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Police search for Broadway bank robbery suspect — UPDATE

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Screen Shot 2013-12-20 at 6.31.09 PMPolice were searching for the suspect in a bank robbery on Broadway Friday evening.

We’re still sorting out details of the heist but SPD responded to a reported robbery in the 500 block of Broadway E just after 5 PM. The suspect fled a bank in the area and was last seen near 11th and Republican.

The suspect implied he had a weapon and reportedly made off with less than $100 in $1 and $2 bills. UPDATE: Police say the man’s haul included the small bills — plus six $100 bills.

He is described as a white male, in his mid to late 40s, goatee, red hoodie under tan jacket, black shoes, khaki pants, wore black gloves, sunglasses, black hat with a light colored “W” on his hat.

In October, a man who police say robbed the Broadway Chase bank at Thomas made it to breakfast at Charlie’s before being arrested about three blocks away.

UPDATE: Here’s SPD’s take on the incident at the Broadway Umpqua Bank:

Bank Robbery on Broadway – Suspect at Large

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A man who robbed a bank on Broadway early this evening remains at large. At approximately 5:09 p.m. officers responded to the 500 block of Broadway Avenue East for the report of a bank robbery.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the adult male suspect walked up to counter at Umpqua Bank and handed the teller a note indicating that it was a robbery and that he had a gun. The teller handed the suspect cash and the suspect exited the bank without further incident.  No gun was actually seen.

There were three customers in the bank at the time of the robbery but none noticed the suspect or were aware that a robbery had taken place. Responding officers set up containment and an area search was conducted but the suspect was not located.

The initial description provided by the bank differed substantially from the actual description as observed on bank surveillance footage.

The suspect is a white male in his 40′s with a goatee. He was last seen wearing sunglasses, a black ball cap with a light colored “W” on the front, a red hoodie underneath a tan jacket, khaki pants, black shoes, and black gloves.

Nobody was injured during the robbery.

Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identity or whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call 911 or the Seattle Police and refer to this incident.

Anonymous tips are welcome.

This remains an active and on-going bank robbery investigation.