Seattle makes deadline for state Middle Housing law but still has big 20-year growth plan questions to solve

Posted on by
11

Tuesday’s council vote on the legislation was held in a virtual session as City Hall was closed in anticipation of a planned protest outside the building

By the hair on its chin, the Seattle City Council has met a statewide deadline for implementing new so-called Middle Housing legislation, approving a bill Tuesday setting the framework for expanded zoning to allow a greater range of housing types in more parts of the city.

CHS reported here on the final amendments shaped by the comprehensive code update committee led by District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth that will put many of the development and zoning changes proposed over months of debate back on the table now that the May 30th deadline for the interim legislation has been met.

The city turned to the interim legislation intended to form the structure of the comprehensive plan and Neighborhood Residential updates to implement the HB 1110 state Middle Housing laws after legal challenges to the planning process slowed down an already massively delayed process. Mayor Bruce Harrell’s initial 20-year plan proposal the council started with itself had landed around a year later than planned. Continue reading →

Church groups say holding another Cal Anderson Park rally in August — UPDATE: ‘Not granted’

Posted on by
88

Saturday’s counter-protest crowd faced a line of Seattle Police officers in riot gear

As the Seattle Police Department says it made eight new arrests as protesters squared off with fundamentalist Christian groups calling for the mayor’s resignation outside City Hall Tuesday night, organizers are crowing about another evangelical event they say is planned for Cal Anderson Park in August.

Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle officials, it seems, have a scheduling problem.

Anti-LGBTQ Christian groups said Tuesday they have a permit to hold a “Revive in 25” rally on Saturday, August 30th in the popular Capitol Hill park.

UPDATE 5/28/2025 3:20 PM: A parks spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon that the August permit “has not been granted” but went on to say that officials are working with organizers on finding a new location for the event.

“[The organizers] recently requested to move their event to a different park, and we are discussing options with them,” the spokesperson said.

Continue reading →

Health department’s unpermitted vendor crackdown has barely made a dent in Capitol Hill street food scene

Posted on by
14

Tacos Cometa vows it will rise again (Image: @tacoscometa)

The crackdown on unpermitted mobile food vendors has barely dented the Capitol Hill late night street food scene even as taco tents and hot dog grillers continued to get dinged by the health department.

One of the most recent shutdowns was Tacos Cometa, which Seattle/King County Public Health describes as a “pop-up table” inspectors cited for a list of violations including operating without a valid permit. That bust came at Nagle and Pine just after 5 PM on Friday, May 16th. Hours later, unpermitted vendors dotted corners around Cal Anderson Park and the Pike/Pine nightlife district joining the areas bars, restaurants, and vendors with permits serving late night crowds.

Other recent busts include Mero Mero Tamalero at Broadway and Cherry which was doing brisk business earlier this spring outside Swedish Medical Center. So much for health concerns.  Continue reading →

Hey, roomie — The Spot is moving in with a Capitol Hill salon to create a new cafe and music hangout on the backside of Pike/Pine

Posted on by
1

The Spot in its West Seattle days (Image: The Spot)

There will be a new set of Capitol Hill roommates on 11th Ave heading into the summer. Cafe and wine bar The Spot is moving in with salon Essensuals of London.

Hopefully they enjoy each other’s music.

“It’s a pretty cool concept,” The Spot’s Philip Sudore tells CHS. “The space is beautiful — big, open, high ceilings. We’re taking over one side of the building.”

A new life for The Spot at 11th and Union on the backside of Pike/Pine comes months after the West Seattle hangout shuttered on Avalon Way where it gutted out the height of the pandemic but ultimately couldn’t hold on.

The Spot’s rebirth on Capitol Hill will represent a streamlined version of Suerore’s little bit of everything cafe, bar, and music hangout. Sudore is jettisoning The Spot’s restaurant aspirations with the new start. Continue reading →

Seattle Council considers ‘Welcoming City’ resolution in support of immigrant rights

Posted on by
2


The City Council is set to vote Tuesday afternoon on a resolution expressing Seattle’s “Welcoming City” support for immigrant rights out of its committee set up to battle against the ongoing barrage of Trump administration executive orders.

The resolution was shaped and passed by the Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes led by citywide Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck earlier this month. Committee members Joy Hollingsworth, Bob Kettle, Mark Solomon, and Dan Strauss joined Rinck in the unanimous vote.

The resolution recognizes that Seattle “fosters a culture and environment that makes it a vibrant, global city where immigrant and refugee residents can fully participate in and be integrated into the social, civic, and economic fabric of Seattle” and calls for the city to maintain its commitment “to welcoming and actively supporting immigrants and refugees from all nationalities, religions, and backgrounds with policies programs, and dedicated resources that foster inclusion, meaningful participation, and economic opportunity for all.” Continue reading →

County working on next steps in Capitol Hill Crisis Care Center plan

Posted on by
2

King County officials are working on plans for a public meeting to answer questions and concerns around the proposed mental health Crisis Care Center at Broadway and Union.

CHS reported here on pushback over public safety concerns against the planned facility in a meeting with business and property owners as Department of Community and Human Services officials made the case for the emergency and walk-in clinic that would be part of a $1.25 billion network of five facilities across the county.

The Capitol Hill Community Council says it is working with the county to set up the next meeting with wider community goals and the organization has launched a survey to gather feedback in advance of the session. Continue reading →

Garfield High School asking families: Do you want a SPD ‘School Engagement Officer’ on campus?

Posted on by
8

SPD increased its presence outside Garfield following last June’s murder (Image: CHS)

Garfield High School is surveying student families as the district makes plans for the Seattle Police Department to assign a “School Engagement Officer” to the 23rd Ave campus.

“Garfield High School is gathering input from families to understand levels of support or opposition to the possible assignment of a School Engagement Officer (SEO) to our campus,” the survey begins. “An SEO is a uniformed law enforcement officer, similar to a School Resource Officer (SRO). SEOs may be assigned to schools to respond to emergencies, support campus safety, and build relationships with students and staff.”

Earlier this month, CHS reported here on $235 million earmarked in the proposed school levy renewal going to voters this fall for Seattle Public Schools safety investments including the possible return of police officers to Seattle campuses. Continue reading →

This week in CHS history | Black Lives Matter protests begin in Seattle, Spice SPC Indian Grocery debuts, driver smashes into Coastal Kitchen

Posted on by
Reply

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

2024

 

SDOT explains why so much of the new RapidRide G line is paint, not concrete


Continue reading →

Seattle Police make multiple arrests during counter-protest of fundamentalist church group’s rally in Cal Anderson Park — UPDATES

Posted on by
114

(Image: Alex Garland/CHS)

With reporting by Hannah Saunders

Seattle Police moved on counter-protesters at a fundamentalist Christian group’s rally Saturday afternoon in Cal Anderson Park. Multiple arrests and injuries were reported.

Groups were in the park to protest against a provocative rally organized by a Spokane fundamentalist church. CHS reported here on the planned “#DontMessWithOurKids” rally.

The clash with police came hours into the gathering as a phalanx of bicycle police moved into position near the front of a large crowd of counter-protesters near the rally stage and suddenly advanced on the crowd using their bikes and batons. Continue reading →

See yourself in art in the new Frye Parlor

Posted on by
Reply

Installation view of Frye Parlor x Jayme Yen, Frye Art Museum (Image: Jueqian Fang/Frye)

Jayme Yen (Image: Colin Beam)

By Caroline Carr

The Frye Art Museum has long been one of the grandest spaces Seattleites could dare consider a third place. Short of a first Thursday, it is one of the only museums in Seattle to offer free admission, a personal value of its founder Charles Frye. In collaboration with a local artist Jayme Yen, the museum recently launched Frye Parlor, a new exhibit that engages in ambitious alchemy, fusing an art installation with a gathering space.

This new concept takes elements from a traditional art exhibit and places them in a lounge, inviting guests to stay a while, socialize, and see themselves as participants in the art. Located outside the museum’s cafe, the installation is Yen’s abstract take on Frye Salon, the ornate, floor-to-ceiling display of the museum’s founding collection. Continue reading →