Trouble for Midtown Station plan as Sound Transit board embraces new option for light rail’s future in the International District

The Sound Transit board has set a new path for its planned light rail expansions by embracing a plan that would split a light rail station in the heart of the International District into two smaller stations north and south of Chinatown that proponents say would be less disruptive to the communities and small businesses of the area. But the split would have repercussions up and down the city including eliminating the planned Midtown Station near 4th and Madison that would serve as a relatively nearby access point for the neighborhoods of First Hill.

The governing board voted 15-1 Thursday to pursue the “North of C-ID” option hinging on a last minute proposal backed by King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell that will create one of the likely twin stations at 4th and James. Another south of the ID would also be required to manage the future light rail traffic flows as the system branches out to Ballard and West Seattle. Continue reading

One to hospital, suspect quickly in custody in First Hill shooting — UPDATE

One person was reported shot and a suspect was in custody after gunfire at a First Hill apartment building Wednesday night.

Police were called to the building at 1000 8th Ave around 7:19 PM to the reported shooting and reported a suspect in custody only minutes later according to East Precinct radio updates. The address is listed as the The Mill at First Hill apartment building.

Seattle Fire was called to the scene to treat one person with a reported gunshot wound injury to the head. The victim was taken by SFD to Harborview.

UPDATE 3/23/23 8:40 AM: Police say a woman in her 40s was shot in the head in the incident but her injuries were not life-threatening.

Continue reading

43rd District town hall with Pedersen, Macri, and Chopp set for March 11th

Pedersen, Macri, and Chopp

The annual town hall meeting to help constituents catch up and hold our state representatives accountable on issues including gun control, traffic safety, mental health and school funding, homelessness, and housing affordability will take place next week.

This year’s 43rd District town hall is scheduled for Saturday, March 11th at First Hill’s First Baptist Church. Continue reading

First Hill Improvement Association: Save Midtown Station!

From Sound Transit’s “Background Information for Section 4.10, Geology and Soils” appendix before First Hill Station was cut from U-Link planning

The First Hill neighborhood already has a history of being let down by the region’s plans for light rail. Now, community leaders are calling for the neighborhood’s residents, workers, and businesses to speak up as the Sound Transit board is considering an important change that could once again leave the neighborhood disconnected from the growing light rail network around Seattle.

The First Hill Improvement Association is calling for people to email and testify before the board Thursday as it takes up a future alignment proposal that would eliminate the Midtown Station, a facility planned near 4th and Madison that would serve as a relatively nearby access point for the transit service from First Hill as Sound Transit prepares its plans to expand lines to Ballard in the north and to West Seattle.

“Back in 2016, regional voters approved Sound Transit 3 – which included a Midtown Station in downtown Seattle. Sounds Transit estimates show this will be the third-highest ridership station in the entire system – with 15,500 people estimated to ride it to and from our neighborhood every day,” the FHIA writes. “First Hill residents and workers are waiting for and counting on the transit access the Midtown Station will bring to our community.” Continue reading

After a pandemic pause, Seattle nomadic arts venue Love City Love is back with a stop on First Hill

Thanks to a CHS reader for sending in this picture of the sign

Love City Love is back on the move with a new home on First Hill as the nomadic Seattle arts, music, and community venue awakens from a pandemic-induced hibernation.

“We’re moving forward and things are coming back,” founder Lucien Pellegrin tells CHS. “That was the only reason Love City Love paused. We would have been marching along the whole time.”

In appropriate fashion, the latest Love City Love incarnation will celebrate its opening with a Valentine’s Day party on February 14th.

As usual for the venue and its ability to make new gathering spaces in buildings slated for demolition or redevelopment, the terms of Love City Love’s stay on Seneca Street will be indefinite. Continue reading

With her heart on First Hill, Hudson joins race for District 3 with a neighborhood approach to urbanist policy

With love for a home neighborhood at the core of the decision to enter the race, First Hill resident and Transportation Choices Coalition executive director Alex Hudson is running for the District 3 seat on the Seattle City Council.

“When I say that’s the vision for the City of Seattle that my leadership has produced and will continue to produce, I’m not saying that because it’s an urbanist fantasy,” Hudson says of her home turf and its almost one of a kind in Seattle mix of housing types from old mansions to affordable skyscrapers. “I’m saying that because I live in that neighborhood, and I see it, and I’ve helped to build it.”

The leader of the transit policy and advocacy organization and former head of the First Hill Improvement Association says she believes her progressive record of accomplishments in diverse policy areas and ability to build coalitions and find common ground across divides is what the district needs to rebuild hope after years of political battles under Kshama Sawant and in a city facing significant challenges in housing affordability, homelessness, public safety, and the health and vitality of small business districts.

“It is not naive to believe that Seattle’s best days are still in front of us and that there are solutions to these problems that are at our fingers,” Hudson says. “All of this stuff, it feels really hard. It feels really intractable. We can have it and we will have it if we come together, roll up our sleeves, listen to each other, and have a real solution space… we can fix these things and we’re going to.” Continue reading

Dead body with stab wounds found in abandoned Prosch House, a First Hill landmark with a tragic history — UPDATE

(Image: SPD)

Seattle Police say they are investigating after the body of a man with fatal stab wounds was found Wednesday night inside an abandoned historic First Hill structure burned in a fire earlier this month.

Police say a 911 caller reported finding the body just before 8 PM in the 9th Ave Prosch House.

The interior and structure of the 1900-era rooming house part of the landmarked German Club property was charred and damaged in a December 2nd fire that swept through the old house.

The house property has been fenced-off since the blaze but its owners have been cited repeatedly over the years by the city’s vacant buildings program for allowing squatters and trash to accumulate on the site. Continue reading

‘Unpriced, Best Offer’ — Seattle First Baptist Church seeks partner to preserve landmark house of worship, develop valuable First Hill land

 

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(Image: Seattle First Baptist Church)

By Jadenne Radoc Cabahug, CHS reporting intern

(Image: Meriwether Advisors)

Part of the First Hill neighborhood for 110 years, Harvard Ave’s landmark Seattle First Baptist Church is on the market and lining its valuable land up for redevelopment.

Any deal will be a partnership and, the church’s community hopes, the structure will remain as part of the new project

Rev. Anita Peebles said the church is seeking a development partner to collaborate with the church’s council of ministries and work with the neighborhoods and communities that a redevelopment process will impact.

“We love our Capitol Hill and First Hill neighbors and we’re really dedicated to staying here to serving this neighborhood, and really trying to respond to the needs that we see within the neighborhood,” Peebles said.

The landmarks-protected church is known for its beautiful sanctuary space that hosts various events throughout the year for different community organizations.

Doug Holtom, executive director of the First Hill Improvement Association said the church itself is an asset to the First Hill neighborhood due to the historic architecture of the building.

Holtom said many residents on First Hill “admire the building that Seattle First Baptist Church occupies.” Continue reading

First Hill’s Vito’s puts up $1K reward for safe return of Cougar Room mascot after Thanksgiving weekend break-in

(Image: Vito’s)

First Hill nightclub Vito’s is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of its mountain lion.

Barbara, the big taxidermied puma that has been a centerpiece in the club’s Cougar Room, was ripped off in a break-in at the First Hill joint that has been shuttered since a June fire damaged its E Madison building.

“This weekend thieves broke into Vito’s and among other things, smashed the glass and STOLE our beloved cougar in the COUGAR ROOM,” Vito’s posted about the Thanksgiving weekend heist. “The photos are much too depressing to post, but we suspect these idiots will try and sell, or at least brag about the theft of this antique, large and beautiful mountain lion.” Continue reading

With COVID-19 state of emergency coming to an end, First Hill’s Frye Art Museum adding new ‘mask-required hours’

(Image: Jonathan Vanderweit/Frye)

The end of October will bring an end to nearly 1,000 days of Washington’s COVID-19 state of emergency. But, of course, it doesn’t bring the end of the pandemic. The transition is leaving many important decisions regarding life with the virus to individuals, private businesses, and organizations to sort out and find the best paths forward.

First Hill’s Frye Art Museum is taking steps to create a safe environment for all of its visitors by instituting new “mask-required hours” during the first Sunday of every month. Expect to see more similar solutions in Seattle.

“To accommodate immunocompromised individuals and those who prefer to visit when all guests and staff are required to mask, we offer mask-required hours on the first Sunday of the month from 11 am– 1 pm,” Frye’s announcement reads. Continue reading