Monthly Archives: July 2014

Capitol Hill developer sues homeowner for stalling 15th and Mercer project

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The future Stream 15th

The future Stream 15th

A Capitol Hill developer has sued a homeowner for breaking a property lease agreement and stalling construction of a new 15th and Mercer mixed-use project, according to court documents obtained by CHS.

Stream Real Estate, developers of the Stream 15 project at the former Chutney’s Grille on the Hill site, filed a lawsuit in June against Chris Rugh, claiming the landowner prevented construction crews from rightfully accessing his property adjacent to the project site and bringing to a halt the construction of the four-story, mixed-use apartment building with 33 units, 3,400 square feet of retail or restaurant space and underground parking spaces.

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Though it’s a battle over a laurel hedge and a temporary utility pole, the situation is causing a rare pause in the somewhat relentless pace of development around Capitol Hill.

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CHS Community Post | Trees for Neighborhoods Application Opens August 4th!

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T4N-LogoFree Trees for Your Home!

Trees for Neighborhoods helps Seattle residents plant trees around their home. Through the City of Seattle’s Trees for Neighborhoods program, Seattle residents have planted over 4,000 trees since 2009. That’s 4,000 more trees that help clean our air and water, make our streets more walkable, and our neighborhoods safer and healthier. Join the movement this year—plant a tree and help grow Seattle’s urban forest!

The 2014 application season kicks off on Monday, August 4th. Seattle residents are eligible to apply for up to four free trees to plant in their yards and within their planting strips. Residents who participate also receive free watering bags, training on proper tree planting and care, and workshop opportunities. This year, the program is offering 12 tree species ranging from large native conifers to small deciduous trees appropriate for planting under power lines and along the street. Some favorites this year include Douglas fir, black tupelo, and incense cedar. Check out the complete list and see photos at our website here: http://www.seattle.gov/trees/availabletrees2014.html.

Ready to plant a tree? Visit www.seattle.gov/trees for a list of this year’s tree species and a link to the online application, which will open Monday, August 4th. Trees go very quickly, so mark your calendar and apply early! All questions about the program should be directed to [email protected] or (206) 684-3979.T4N-Participant

Urban Animal growing into new space to serve Capitol Hill’s dogs, cats and pals

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Screen Shot 2014-07-29 at 10.28.24 AMUrban Animal veterinary care clinic is moving closer to the heart of the neighborhood it has been serving for two yearswith a move to The Lyric building on 10th and Thomas in this fall

Dr. Cherri Trusheim said she wanted to keep her clinic’s well earned client base by staying in the Broadway neighborhood.

“We are expanding now,” says veterinary assistant Ross Tindale, “business has been steadily increasing on a month to month basis, this summer has been pretty crazy so far.” Continue reading →

Capitol Hill food+drink | With mission to offer ‘$17 rolls’ for $10, Yuzu coming to E Union

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Yuzu's new home at 954 E Union is *almost* ready to open after a few construction delays

Yuzu’s new home at 954 E Union is *almost* ready to open after a few construction delays

Over Block Party weekend, the Madison Holdings-backed Kaisho concept quietly debuted, replacing the Madison Holdings-backed Boom Noodle at 12th and Pike. It was part of the group CHS called — tongue in cheek, Eater Seattle-style — 9 of Capitol Hill’s most anticipated summer, maybe fall Asian restaurant openings… ever earlier this year. On the backside of Pike/Pine, another new player part of the Asian-flavored wave has plans cut from cloth altogether different than its 12th and Pike counterpart.

The owner will also have something in common with many of his customers.

“My rent is ridiculous!” Jun Park tells us about his partnership’s investment in a new restaurant space in the new construction at 10th Ave and E Union.

Yuzu by Musashi will bring together two longtime Seattle food and drink owners teaming up for the first time for their foray into the teeming Capitol Hill entertainment economy. Park opened Musashi’s in Factoria about two years ago in the spirit of the longtime N 45th St sushi favorite. His partner Sam Park is the proprietor behind Tig Asian Tapas Bar on 1st Ave. Their prior ventures are solid if not unspectacular components of Seattle food and drink. Jun Park says he wants Yuzu to make a bigger — but affordable — splash on Capitol Hill.

“I want to bring those $17, $18 rolls to people for $10 and $12,” Park said. “We’ll let people try more exotic fish without emptying out their wallets.”

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One year after troubled man killed in E Denny Way standoff, state laws are easing on involuntary treatments

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Reuter

Reuter

Last July, Joel Reuter was shot and killed by two Seattle SWAT snipers. Reuter, suffering from a manic episode, fired a gun from inside his Bellevue and E Denny Way apartment after an 8-hour standoff.

Six months later, a 7-member jury found both officers had reason to believe Reuter, 28, posed an imminent threat to himself and others. Family and friends of Reuter that spoke with CHS agreed that police did everything within reason to deescalate the situation. What Reuter’s family decried was their inability to have their son involuntarily committed for treatment because of strict protections in Washington state law.

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Ready for another Capitol Hill music festival? Vibrations returns to Volunteer Park

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558273_10151170275526351_935403658_nProrated over the entire slate of Capitol Hill’s summer music festivals, Block Party’s $60 ticket prices are downright reasonable. You can start to achieve that actuarial discount Sunday, August 3rd as the Vibrations festival makes a triumphant return to Volunteer Park.

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This spring, CHS told you about festival organizers Cairo reviving the free summer music festival with a crowdfunded version of the event free of corporate sponsorship. While the online drive generated only a fraction of the $10,000 goal, producers have moved ahead with the free day of music, art — and summertime dancing on the Volunteer Park grass. Continue reading →

Broadway bank held up in reported armed robbery — UPDATE: Suspect photos

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photo (36)Police are looking for an armed man who held up the Capitol Hill branch of Homestreet Bank Monday morning.

According to police radio dispatches, the suspect entered the bank in the 700 block of Broadway E around 9:30 AM in the hold-up. He was reportedly armed with an “old revolver.”

The suspect was described as a black male in his 30s, around 6′ with a medium build, and wearing a red jacket, blue ball cap, blue jeans and black plastic, square-framed sunglasses. He left on foot headed northbound from the north Broadway bank. The suspect’s red jacket was found discarded outside the bank.

There were no reported injuries.

UPDATE 1 PM: SPD has posted a brief and photos of the suspect —

A man wearing a red jacket and brandishing a handgun robbed a Capitol Hill bank this morning.

The suspect, who appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, walked into the Homestreet bank in the 700 block of Broadway East, displayed a gun and demanded money. Seattle police officers arrived within minutes, but the suspect had fled, ditching the jacket he was wearing.

Robbery detectives and a K9 unit responded and are searching for the man. If you know the suspect, or have any helpful information, please call 206-684-5535. The man is armed, so if you see him call 911 immediately.

Seattle making plans for new downtown school

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The new Northwest School building -- complete with rooftop sports field -- could be a model for a new downtown school at 2nd and Spring (Image: CHS)

The new Northwest School building — complete with rooftop sports field — could be a model for a new downtown school at 2nd and Spring (Image: CHS)

Monday night, Seattle Public Schools will host a meeting to discuss a proposal to create a downtown elementary school by taking over the former Federal Reserve building at 2nd and Spring. It’s not exactly Capitol Hill news except for the fact E Mercer’s Lowell Elementary currently serves as the district’s destination for downtown families. Continue reading →

How will new apartment dwellers mix with Pike/Pine nightlife?

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The Capitol Hill Block Party's Vera stage had a new background in 2014

The Capitol Hill Block Party’s Vera stage had a new background in 2014. By 2015, there will be hundreds of residents in the new building at 11th and Union. “There is poignant juxtaposition… residential development and music festival. Next year there will be people living in those apartments,” CHBP producer Jason Lajeunesse told CHS. (Image: Jim Bennett/CHBP with permission to CHS)

If residents in new Pike/Pine buildings weren’t aware of both the fun and the noise of the nightlife-focused neighborhood they moved into, they certainly got a full dose of it during the weekend’s 18th annual Capitol Hill Block Party. With hundreds more apartment units slated to come online in the dense nightlife corridor, existing bar and club owners are hoping their new neighbors will be down with the sound. Even with soaring rents, turns out building developers aren’t doing much more than hoping the same thing, too.

Architects and other experts tell CHS that few, if any, new developments within Pike/Pine are especially equipped to dampen street noise from rattling inside units. With few affordable solutions and no regulatory mandates, there seems to be little incentive to equip units with high performance windows or soundproof insulation or to design the buildings to better serve the existing neighborhood. Continue reading →

CHS Pics | Dykes vs. Drag Queens, Sisters kickball, 20th SummeRun highlight Hill-style sports weekend

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(Image: Jim Simandl for CHS)

(Image: Jim Simandl for CHS)

(Image: Jim Simandl for CHS)

(Image: Jim Simandl for CHS)

A double-header of LGTBQ friendly sports and a run/walk helped raise money for good causes on Capitol Hill over the weekend. Images from Saturday’s Jockstraps and Glitter rugby kickball match, Sunday afternoon’s Bat ‘n’ Rouge softball game and Sunday morning’s SummerRun and Walk are below. You’ll also find a bunch of great photos from the events in the CHS Flickr pool.

CHS wrote here about the longtime favorite Bat ‘n’ Rouge fundraiser pitting Dykes vs. Drag Queens playing out its game for the first time just a block from the Capitol Hill Block Party in an effort to drum up new interest in the annual event. Bat ‘n’ Rouge benefits Hill-based Seattle Area Support Group. Check out sasgcc.org you’d like to give or learn more about the organization. Continue reading →