Happy viral video New Year: 2024 begins with First Hill BASE jumpers, E Madison TJ’s gouda roll

There are lots of ways to enter the New Year. Some, like these illegal base jumpers spotted leaping from the 30-story 800 Columbia tower on First Hill Monday will float before an ungraceful plummet as reality sets in.

Too bad there are no skyscrapers on Capitol Hill.

Around here, others, like TikTok user @boeinghobo, will roll in with all the grace of a wheel of gouda from the Capitol Hill TJ’s.

@boeinghoboGouda Get’r♬ Piece of Me – Skid Row

We know the cheesy video is a few weeks old but it is only getting better with age. Happy New Year!

 

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First Hill building that became squat after 2022 fire burns again in massive 3-alarm blaze

The 9th and Madison building burned — again — Monday monring (Image: Seattle Fire)

A First Hill building emptied of residents and popular lounge Vito’s and troubled by squatters and trespassers since a major fire two years ago, burned again New Year’s Day, nearly completely charring the abandoned structure and forcing the displacement of residents in a neighboring apartment building.

Seattle Fire says the overnight January 1st Madison Apartments building fire at 9th and Madison required a three-alarm response and left the structure too unstable to complete a search for any possible victims.

According to city records, the building owned by developer Southport Financial Services had been in violation of the city’s Vacant Building Monitoring program and subject to an emergency order to correct safety issues in October. Continue reading

With First Hill’s Museum of Museums shuttered, new owner sought for its signature neon light sculpture

(Image: Museum of Museums)

A sad Seattle arts loss this year could be brightened with a new home for a creation that has lit up First Hill nights outside the Museum of Museums.

Artist Dylan Neuwirth’s ALL MY FRIENDS neon sculpture that has stood in front of the now-shuttered arts venue is currently up for auction on eBay. Starting bid? $30,000.

CHS reported here this summer as founder Greg Lundgren said heavy infrastructure costs to maintain and improve the former mid-century styled medical building were too much to continue the 2021-opened museum.

As part of the shutdown, Lundgren is now trying to find a new home for Neuwirth’s creation. Continue reading

Man reportedly shoots self while cleaning gun on First Hill

A man was shot in the head while reportedly cleaning his gun inside a First Hill apartment Tuesday night.

Seattle Police and Seattle Fire were called to the building in the 1000 block of Minor Ave just after 10:30 PM to the reported self-inflicted shooting. According to emergency radio updates, the man suffered a gunshot wound to the eye but was reported as conscious and speaking as police arrived.

Seattle Fire transported the victim to Harborview. We do not have an update on his condition.

 

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Seattle’s outdoor movie season isn’t over thanks to Autumn Movie Nights in Freeway Park

Seattle’s outdoor movie scene is becoming a year-round thing. Friday night will bring the latest screening in the Autumn Movie Nights series in Freeway Park. Bundle up.

This week’s free classic movie is The Goonies. One benefit to a Seattle November outdoor movie is you don’t have to wait as long for the sun to go down. The screenings begin at 7 PM.

The series isn’t over, either. December 8th will bring a showing of Elf as long as it isn’t raining. Snow? We’ll let the organizers from the Freeway Park Association decide on that.

 

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‘Stop the Skip’ — Seattle Subway calls for support for Midtown Station in light rail expansion plans

Sound Transit’s current vision for the future of key expansions like light rail to Ballard is muddier than Golden Gardens at low tide but one group continues to try to fight for clarity and access for Central Seattle transit riders.

The Seattle Subway group is calling for supporters to join an organizing meeting Wednesday night as Sound Transit is considering plans that would “skip” creation of a Midtown Station near 5th or 6th Ave as it tunnels through the area to create the new expanded lines.

“Sound Transit pledged a station for First Hill, the densest neighborhood in Washington, but they skipped it in Sound Move and are threatening to do it again in Sound Transit 3,” the Seattle Subway call reads. “Join Seattle Subway in saying NO to skipping Midtown Station! Let’s prevent Backroom Bruce from making transit worse for everyone in Puget Sound.”

CHS reported here earlier this year as rumblings grew around Sound Transit’s possible pullback on Midtown plans. The shifting plans could mean Sound Transit will once again be on the hook for offering an alternative after falling short on promised service to First Hill. Continue reading

Owner of Taurus Ox opening Ananas Pizzeria bringing Lao pizza and dive bar classics to First Hill

(Image: Ananas Pizzeria)

The flavors of a classic pizzeria and Lao cuisine are set to marry in Ananas Pizzeria, a pizza dive bar reintroducing classics while putting a spin on the classic pie from Seattle restaurateur Khampaeng Panyathong.

The pizza joint on 8th Ave is a new name returning to an old spot. The location was once filled by Primo Pizza Parlor, a favorite in the neighborhood. Taurus Ox and Ananas Pizzeria chef/owner Panyathong champions staying true to the roots of the local culture. The building has over 100 years of history within its walls and a new business is incoming.

“As soon as I walked in I was able to feel this energy and see beyond the rundown nature of the building,”  Panyathong said. “I was just envisioning the possibilities of what this space could become.”

Panyathong plans to open the new pizza joint this month.

Despite the Lao influence, Panyathong sees Ananas Pizzeria as a separate entity from Taurus Ox and its sibling Ox Burger. CHS reported here on the reshuffling of Taurus Ox and Ox Burger. Taurus Ox on 19th Ave E hosts a menu of traditional Lao cuisine, a mile southwest of the original Taurus Ox location, now Ox Burger. Panyathong says there are a few connections between his projects.

“I couldn’t miss this opportunity to do a Lao pizza,” Panyathong said. “We’re really close to figuring it out.” Continue reading

Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen bringing Liberian and Ghanaian flavors and West African favorites to First Hill

Fahnbulleh’s food is ready for more glamour shots (Image: Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen)

Tina Fahnbulleh celebrating in August as she got the keys to her first brick and mortar restaurant (Image: Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen)

 

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The West African flavors of Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen are set to join First Hill in a space filled with memories of home for owner Tina Fahnbulleh.

Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen was started in 2017 with a six-year journey of pop-ups and events by Fahnbulleh toward opening her own restaurant.

“My menu is based on the foods I grew up with,” Fahnbulleh said. “I’ve had to go without them in each place I’ve lived in Seattle and I just wanted a little bit of home with me.” Continue reading

With Polish donuts in a Polish deli, new owner marks 45 years of George’s Sausage & Delicatessen on First Hill

Polish donuts in a Polish deli (Image: George’s Deli)

With reporting by Soumya Gupta

George’s Deli just turned 45 and is in new, highly capable hands even as the First Hill fixture struggles through the massive disruptions from the bus rapid transit line construction that has torn up the neighborhood’s main business artery.

Mark Oliver, the paczki Polish donut guy, is now in charge. He celebrated the big birthday milestone earlier this month with free paczki.

“I used to come to George’s with my parents, and I knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of,” Oliver said. “I was familiar with how Janet ran the deli, and it just felt right.”

With its crafted sandwiches, groceries, and European specialities, the Polish deli has stood on First Hill since Janet Lidzbarski founded it in 1983. Now, the deli’s new owner, Oliver intends to carry the legacy of spreading Polish culture through gourmet ingredients and homemade recipes. He says he has spent most of his time creating and learning Polish recipes, and has had a deep passion to share his heritage with the neighborhood.

Oliver says a typical day at George’s starts off with the staff smoking and grinding sausages, which are sold individually or in their crafted sandwiches. Afternoons are the busiest, as they spend most of their time packing sandwiches for a long line of customers travelling from all parts of the city. The Reuben and George’s Special are customer favorites, Oliver says. In addition, the deli also offers an assortment of pickles, jams, jellies, mustard, and Polish beer and cookies. What sets George’s apart is the extensive smoking of their sausages, both fresh and flat, he says. Continue reading

Mayor begins 2024 Seattle budget debate with status quo proposal emphasizing affordable housing and boost for treatment and diversion

(Image: City of Seattle)

You can track changes with the Seattle Budget Dashboard

Seattle’s efforts to shape the city’s 2024 spending plan are beginning with a proposal from Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office that he says “doubles downs” on his administration’s priorities with a more than 30% increase in planned affordable housing funding, maintaining the city’s more than $100 million in annual funding for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, and $26.5 million to boost the newly formed Community Assisted Response and Engagement departments. But the proposal’s largest components including spending for the city’s existing first responders at Seattle Police and the Seattle Fire Department would be maintained at status quo levels.

“Seattle is a different city than when I took office nearly two years ago – we are continuing to see real progress, even while acknowledging the complex challenges still before us. Many of our toughest issues can’t be solved overnight but with a plan and solid investment strategy, we can show meaningful progress towards building the One Seattle we want to see,” Harrell said in the announcement of his 2024 budget proposal. “This budget doubles down on the priorities that matter for the city, focusing on critical needs like public safety and homelessness, supporting downtown and a healthy climate, and embracing a back-to-basics philosophy needed to advance Seattle’s economy, quality of life, and the essential city services residents deserve.”

The budget planning comes in a city facing challenged revenue forecasts in coming years. A workgroup convened to brainstorm possible “alternative revenue” sources has proposed options including capital gains, vacancy, and congestion pricing taxes. For now, the city is working with what it has including its more than $200 million a year JumpStart tax on its largest employers like Amazon and Starbucks.

(Image: The Rise)

Harrell made his budget speech Tuesday from First Hill at a newly opened affordable high-rise housing development on surplus Sound Transit land at Madison and Boylston, “these buildings represent the kind of outcomes we’re trying to achieve,” the mayor said. CHS reported here in May at the opening of the joint project from Plymouth Housing and Bellwether Housing where Plymouth operates Blake House on floors two through five with a total of 112 studio apartments focused on serving seniors and veterans who have experienced chronic homelessness while Bellwether operates The Rise on Madison on floors six through 17 with “250 homes affordable to families making 60% or less of area median income.”

“These projects provide affordable housing for our neighbors and bring people who have experienced chronic homelessness indoors with the support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives,” Harrell said.

The proposed budget now moves to the Seattle City Council for weeks of public comment, debate, additions, and subtractions.

Seattle’s operating budget reached $5.92 billion in 2023 with just over 40% of that earmarked for transportation infrastructure, utilities, and environment spending, and nearly 24% for administration at City Hall. The single biggest category beyond that base remains Public Safety at nearly 14% or $805.4 million. Its capital budget climbed to $1.51 billion in one-time spending and improvement projects.

In total, the mayor’s proposal calls for $7.386 billion in spending — down slightly from 2023’s approved $7.433 billion budget.

Continue reading