Monthly Archives: February 2024

CHS Classic | The Cayton-Revels House: a landmark to Seattle’s Black history on 14th Ave E

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Susie Revels Cayton and Horace Cayton Sr. with family in 1904 (Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature/Chicago Public Library)

Take a walk this Black History Month to visit Capitol Hill’s Cayton-Revels House.

Built in 1902, the Queen Anne Victorian-style house was once the home of Horace Roscoe Cayton, publisher of Seattle Black-owned newspaper the Seattle Republican, and his wife and associate editor Susie Sumner Revels Cayton. The 2021 landmark designation was a significant and necessary acknowledgement of Seattle’s Black history.

CHS reported here on the efforts of the 14th and Mercer structure’s owners to achieve landmark status and protections for the 1902-built house, honor the Cayton-Revels family, and recognize the legacy of the racial covenants that shaped Capitol Hill. According to the landmarks nomination, “the Caytons were one of only three Black American families living in today’s definition of Capitol Hill​ before racial restrictive covenants barred non-white residents in 1927.”

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The Seattle Republican was one of the most widely-read newspapers in the region at that time. In print from 1894 to 1913, the Republican appealed to national and local audiences of all races, but primarily focused on local politics and the Black experience. Horace Cayton, born a slave on a Mississippi cotton plantation and educated at Alcorn University, made his way to the Pacific Northwest in pursuit of greater freedoms in the frontier-era West. As Seattle changed from a frontier town to a growing city with increasingly racist power structures and property covenants, Black families were pushed into the Central District, where the Cayton-Revels eventually relocated.

“The Caytons were one of the most well-known Black American families in Seattle at the turn of the 20th century because of their business and political involvements,” said Taha Ebrahimi, a Capitol Hill resident who researched and wrote the 142-page landmark proposal for the Cayton-Revels house. Continue reading →

This week in CHS history | Bari Hill fatal hit and run investigation, Stranger leaves Capitol Hill, Snowbruary 2019

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Here are the top stories from this week in CHS history:

2023

 

Family of woman killed by E Madison hit and run driver asks for public’s help in investigation — UPDATE


Continue reading →

After more than 30 years, Capitol Hill’s Coastal Kitchen to make way for something new on 15th Ave E

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Coastal Kitchen will close this month after more than 30 years of business on Capitol Hill as the restaurant’s ownership says it has sold the 15th Ave E property to make way for a new restaurant.

The Sound Restaurant Family announced the planned closure and sale Friday. The identity of the buyer has not been revealed and is not yet public record. The 4,249-square-foot restaurant and the 1924-era building it calls home were recently listed for sale for $2.5 million.

“The 15th Ave E neighborhood in Seattle’s Capitol Hill is a vibrant and diverse area known for its unique character and community atmosphere,” the listing reads.

“We are so grateful to have been a part of Coastal Kitchen for these past eight years,” owners Dan and Jonathan Tweten said in a statement sent to CHS. “It’s been an honor to be part of this neighborhood and community, and we will miss it.” Continue reading →

8 Oz. closure ends 12 years of burger bar dreams on Capitol Hill — UPDATE

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You may be witnessing the end of the burger bar era (Image: 8 Oz. Burger)

After a dozen years on Capitol Hill, 8 Oz. Burger has shut down at Broadway and Union in a change that just might mark the end of an era in Seattle’s burger culture.

In a message to customers, 8 Oz. ownership said they planned to stay in business in Seattle with a commercial kitchen to continue offering their menu for delivery and takeout orders. They also continue to operate a Ballard 8 Oz. location — for now.

“This decision, though difficult, is driven by the realities we face: rising rental rates, increasing labor and food costs, especially as we commit to sustainable, local, and organic products and our concerns for the safety and well-being of our staff and customers in the current environment,” the message to customers reads.

CHS reached out to partners Kevin Chung, Kevin Lee, and Sujin Pang to ask more about the closure and, especially, the “safety and well-being” issues but the owners have not responded to our inquiries. Continue reading →

‘Message received’ — Liquor board suspends lewd conduct enforcement after protest from Capitol Hill queer bars

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The state liquor board says it is suspending “lewd conduct” inspections and will pause its participation with the City of Seattle’s Joint Enforcement Team after a wave of criticism sparked by so-called enforcement visits at Capitol Hill gay bars and clubs.

“At Wednesday’s Board meeting and in many private conversations, we heard strong objections to our actions,” Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board director Will Lukela said in a statement.

“The community also stressed the value of these clubs as a safe place for people who often face discrimination, threats, and violence. Message received.” Continue reading →

Seattle Women’s Chorus celebrates free expression with free books in little libraries, Banned & Beloved concert

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(Image: Seattle Women’s Chorus)

12th Ave is home to the city newest little free library as the Seattle Women’s Chorus headquarters has become a center of celebrating free expression with a banned book drive and Saturday’s performances of a Banned & Beloved concert at First Hill’s Town Hall:

Banning books is a nationwide issue. In just the first half of the 2022-23 school year, there were 1,477 instances of individual books banned, an increase of 28 percent from the second half of the prior school year, the vast majority of which are written by or about LGBTQIA+ individuals and people of color and centered on race, sexual orientation and gender, according to PEN America. Continue reading →

911 | I-5 concrete throwing arrest, 25th Ave gunpoint carjacking, Skate Like a Girl bus crash

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(Image: Skate Like a Girl)

See something others should know about? Email CHS or call/txt/Signal (206) 399-5959. You can view recent CHS 911 coverage here. Hear sirens and wondering what’s going on? Check out Twitter reports from @jseattle or join and check in with neighbors in the CHS Facebook Group.

  • 25th Ave carjacking: An armed duo of thieves carjacked a driver making a delivery in the area of E Olive St and 25th Ave Saturday night. According to SPD’s brief on the incident, the driver was robbed of his vehicle at gunpoint by two males around 8:30 PM. Police were searching for the red 2009 Toyota Camry taken in the incident. One of the suspects was reported armed with a handgun outfitted with what appeared to be a laser sight. There were no reported injuries and no arrests.

  • Man busted for throwing concrete onto I-5: Police say they arrested a man Tuesday morning after seeing him throw “a large chunk of concrete” onto I-5 from the Pike overpass. According to SPD, police received a report of a man throwing rocks onto the freeway just before noon Tuesday. As police arrived, the man reportedly seen throwing the chunk over a fence and down about 50 feet onto I-5. “Officers immediately engaged the suspect who fled west bound, resulting in a short foot pursuit before apprehending the individual,” SPD’s brief reads. Continue reading →

‘Organic, sustainable Central District bakery’ Shikorina Pastries ready for new start on Capitol Hill

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(Image: Shikorina Pastries)

(Image: Shikorina Pastries)

Shikorina Pastries is moving to E Pike.

It is a bittersweet change for pastry-maker Hana Yohannes who says she is leaving the E Union space where Shikorina was born three years ago with connections to the CD but optimism in putting the personal and business challenges of the old building behind.

“Now that our building is selling, it’s come time to find a new space,” Yohannes says. “We had been looking for a while and it was a huge relief when I found the space at Broadway and Pike. I put everything I have into acquiring the space and I’m so excited for this fresh start with a longer lease.”

With a hoped-for boost from a community fundraiser, Yohannes is planning to reopen Shikorina any day now on E Pike in the space left empty by the recent exit of Portland vegan Jewish deli chain Ben and Esther’s.

Replacing the Ben and Esther’s red with the purple and lavender glow of Shikorina, Yohannes will now bring her bakeshop and cafe to center of Pike/Pine. CHS talked with the business owner here in 2022 about her dedication to community and sustainability and the boost she received from the Pastry Project, a Seattle baking and pastry training program that creates economic opportunity for individuals with barriers to employment. “I think the nice thing about food, no matter what culture you come from, I think food is known to bring people together,” Yohannes told CHS about her approach. Continue reading →

Garfield Super Block design taking shape for 2025 construction with Pillars of Promise artists selection, community open house

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Artists have been selected for some key elements of the project as the neighborhood will gather for a community open house Thursday to see the latest updates to the $8.4 million plan to complete the Garfield Super Block and add new public art, renovate the park, add new play areas, and create a new promenade for this core of the Central District.

“During this meeting, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with the project team to ask questions and learn more about future site plans for the project,” Seattle Parks says about Thursday’s 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM gathering at the Garfield Community Center that will eventually be in the center of the project.

Seattle Parks says the Garfield Super Block has reached a “60%” design milestone. Construction had been hoped to begin by summer but is now listed as a 2025 by the city.

CHS reported here on the Garfield Super Block Coalition effort to lead the project hoped to reflect the history and cultures of the Central District including eight public art pieces with seven pieces being from different ethnic groups including the Duwamish, Jewish, African-American, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Italian communities that have helped shape the neighborhood. The final piece will be a collaborative piece from all seven ethnic groups.

The art will join the Legacy and Promise Promenade, a pathway fulfilling a long-envisioned goal of connecting Horace Mann School, now home to Nova High School, just on the other side of Cherry, with the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center in the center of the Garfield High School campus.

The coalition has announced the artists selected to contribute to some of the key elements of the Super Block with additional artists to be announced later this year. Continue reading →

One shot in arm in 24th Ave shootout on deadly night of gun violence in Seattle — UPDATE

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Seattle Police investigated an apparent shootout that left one person with non-life threatening injuries near 24th Ave and Columbia on a night of gun violence around the city including a fatal shooting in the International District.

Multiple callers reported shots fired in the Central District around 10:45 PM Wednesday. Arriving officers found one person with a gunshot injury to the arm and shell casings from multiple weapons on the ground, according to East Precinct radio updates.

Seattle Fire was called to the scene to treat the male patient who was transported by private ambulance in stable condition for further treatment. Continue reading →