Monthly Archives: November 2019

Inside Harborview Hall’s new ‘enhanced’ homeless shelter: a warm place to sleep, pets, laundry, and help around the clock

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Harborview Hall’s overnight shelter now offers more than a stay in a warm place to sleep. There is now room for loyal companions, new showers and bathrooms, a place to do your laundry, and counselors are there to help people find a path off the streets. And, most importantly, the new “enhanced” shelter is now open around the clock, seven days a week to be ready for the people who require a stay when they need it most.

“For our homeless neighbors at Harborview Hall, the 24/7 facility will be their home-base as they work to improve their situation,” said Bill Dickinson of The Salvation Army in the Northwest. “They can visit the shelter throughout the day as needed – from hygiene necessities of showers and laundry, to meeting with caseworkers for guidance in transitioning to independent housing.”

Powered by a $2.2 million King County contract, the Salvation Army runs the show at the First Hill facility, using a bed reservation and referral system to fill the beds. In collaboration with neighboring Harborview Medical Center, the Salvation Army holds five beds open each night for patients who are receiving assistance from the hospital and need a shelter bed overnight. Continue reading →

Shop the Hill: Small Business Saturday brings big ‘Night Market’ event to Melrose

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Small Business Saturday has become an annual marketing event for American Express to encourage shoppers to visit their local brick and mortar stores on one of the busiest shopping times of the year. It’s a worthy cause even with the big company backing.

On Saturday on Capitol Hill, in addition to lots of independent retailers doing their own things, there will be a Melrose Night Market including restaurant and shops of the popular market along with 20 other vendors from Seattle Made – a collaboration of approximately 600 local Seattle businesses.  Among the Seattle Made vendors will be: Firefly Kitchens; Filigree & Shadow; Kitten Mittens; and Laughing Elephant. Buskers and live entertainment will be present, and there will be a raffle with proceeds going to Seattle Made.  The event is free to the public.

CHS is also proud to do its part to help the local business community. This year with the help of GSBA’s new Capitol Hill Business Alliance, we’re again rolling out Shop the Hill. Check it out for daily updates on great gift ideas, sales, and useful tips like where to score your Capitol Hill Christmas tree.

Shop the Hill

CHS Pics | Giving thanks for the bounty at the Capitol Hill Farmers Market

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Last Sunday on a crisp afternoon, CHS found the sidewalk and plaza along Broadway in front of Seattle Central filled with the tents and vendors of the weekly Capitol Hill Farmers Market as shoppers stocked up on fresh vegetables and goods for their upcoming holiday feasts.

The dusk-like sunshine of an unusually dry Seattle November was a reminder that the sun will, indeed, be setting on this regular neighborhood scene. Don’t worry. There will be a new dawn in 2020. Continue reading →

On the List | What’s open on Capitol Hill Thanksgiving 2019, Small Business Saturday and Shop the Hill, WTO 20th anniversary

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The Urban Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving. We hope you have time to enjoy a feast or two. And hopefully you get as much time with friends and loved ones that you want. While we’re talking about hope and thanks, here are a few things to be grateful for getting out and doing around Capitol Hill this weekend. Check out the CHS Calendar for more.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27:  Community Lunch on Capitol Hill serves hot meals and provides survival services to the homeless and low-income in Seattle.  They provide four meals a week – lunch on Tuesday and Friday, and supper on Wednesday and Thursday.  Wednesday night, the Seattle Yang Gang – a group supporting entrepreneur and Democratic candidate, Andrew Yang – will be volunteering at the Community Lunch on Capitol Hill as a way to serve and connect with the community.  All Pilgrims Christian Church, 3 PM – 6:30 PM

** Community Lunch on Capitol Hill will also be serving a free Thanksgiving dinner Thursday starting at 5 PM at All Pilgrims. **

THURSDAY, Nov. 28:  Let us give thanks. For the baristas and the bartenders. The budtenders. The Amazon Prime delivery people. Bike shares. And your neighbor’s wi-fi. Below, we’ve compiled our annual roster of coffee joints, grocery stores, etc. where your friends and neighbors will be working to make sure you have the happiest holiday possible. As for getting a post-feast cocktail, that list is up to you. Take a chance. Make sure to tip. And be thankful. Continue reading →

8-1: As county makes legendary victory official, Sawant back to business at Seattle City Hall

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Kshama Sawant’s dramatic victory in the race to retain her District 3 seat on the Seattle City Council was formalized Tuesday as King County Elections certified its November 2019 results.

In the end, it was not close. Sawant tallied a solid 4.13-percentage point win over challenger Egan Orion. Turnout across District 3’s nearly 75,000 registered voters ticked in at just under 60%, only a smidge below turnout in Ballard’s District 6. Across King County, voters produced a 49% turnout, well above predictions.

CHS reported here on the Socialist Alternative incumbent’s victory as Sawant overcame historic spending by the business community and large companies like Amazon and Expedia to unseat progressive candidates in Seattle. “Our movement has won our socialist office for working people,” she said. “The election results are a repudiation of the billionaire class…and the relentless attacks and lies…and working people have stood up and said Seattle is not for sale!,” Sawant said in her victory speech the Saturday following the election. Continue reading →

After nearly 40 years, Pagliacci Pizza leaving Broadway

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(Image: Gibraltar Investment Property Solutions)

A part of the street since 1983, Pagliacci Pizza is leaving Broadway.

The Capitol Hill-headquartered chain confirmed the planned closure which they are calling a “move” and said the plan is for the 400 block Broadway E shop to close next month.

While many pixels have been spilt discussing Seattle pizza restaurant closures and the city’s minimum wage, the Broadway closure is about Pagliacci’s new project on Capitol Hill: Continue reading →

‘Derelict’ house burns in 10th Ave E fire — UPDATE: Reported violations

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Thanks to reader Neil for the pictures

Seattle Fire’s mission late Monday night was to keep the flames from spreading as a smoky blaze burned through a 10th Ave E house cleared for long-planned demolition and a new townhouse project.

A 911 caller first reported the smoke and flames around 11 PM coming from the house on 10th Ave E between John and Thomas. SFD units arrived to find the two-story structure fully engulfed. With fire spread across both floors and the house’s “derelict” status, SFD deployed a defensive strategy to keep the flames from spreading to nearby structures and trees.

The fire was significantly knocked down after about 30 minutes but crews were on site late into the night dealing with the blaze. Firefighters reported having to remove plywood from the structure’s boarded-up windows to allow access to spray water on the flames.
Continue reading →

Two-story penthouse slated to top Baker Linen in seismic overhaul of 1916-built Pike/Pine building

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(Image: Dunn and Hobbes)

Capitol Hill developer Liz Dunn has new plans for the historic Baker Linen building home to Retrofit Home and Cafe Pettirosso.

Centered around a full seismic overhaul of the 108-year-old building at 11th and Pike, the plans for the new design include the construction of penthouse apartments office space on top of the historical H.W. Baker Linen Supply Co. building and redesign of a freight elevator inside the building.

According to a representative for the Dunn and Hobbes project speaking at a recent meeting of the Pike/Pine Urban Neighborhood Council, the goal of the changes is to improve the building while still incorporating the unique character that makes the structure “stand out in the neighborhood.” Dunn and Hobbes feel “confident that the building will be landmarked,” and that the integrity of the former automotive building will stay intact.

UPDATE: Dunn tells CHS that there is currently no timeline for the project’s construction and that the project hinges on the city’s passage of mandatory unreinforced masonry upgrade legislation.

The new project could also trigger Mandatory Housing Affordability requirements on the planned 8,000 square feet of new penthouse housing space. Correction: Dunn says the project likely would not trigger design review if the building is afforded landmark status. Continue reading →

Seattle moving forward with plan to add 51 cent Uber/Lyft fee and minimum wage for drivers

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Vintage Lyft, circa 2015

Mayor Jenny Durkan also has something to celebrate in the City Council’s vote Monday to approve a 2020 Seattle budget with only a few progressive tweaks to her base $6.5 billion plan.

The process also produced legislative approval of the mayor’s “Fare Share” plan that will add a 51 cent fee to every Uber and Lyft ride in Seattle to pay for the Center City Connector streetcar, new housing, and ride-hail industry regulation. Continue reading →

Juice Club planning a ‘natural wine party’ on E Denny Way

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Organic, low intervention, simply complex, imbued with possible health benefits, it is no surprise that natural wine is becoming the official beverage of our times — or, at least, the official beverage of Capitol Hill, Seattle circa 2020.

Juice Club, a popular pop-up project that has grown into a Seattle phenomenon around the city’s bar scene, is making plans for its first rooted investment with a new joint on E Denny Way on the ground level of the Saint Florence.

The E Denny facing space in the 1914-built masonry apartment building just up from the E Olive Way intersection underwent a recent overhaul and is awaiting a new tenant. A state liquor license application shows the Club lining up to create a new “beer/wine specialty shop” in the space indicating a project leaning more toward the event and retail end of the natural wine spectrum. Continue reading →