Blogging Georgetown

Regarding the Jail on the South End

2008-11-18T11:00:00.001-08:00

Tim Harris of Real Change speaks at a (gasp!) socialist conference on the proposed jail on the South End--and other topics. (note--not an endorsement of the particular group that sponsored the venue. Just sayin'.) He doesn't get to in until about the five or six minute mark, but stick with it.

Two Art Events Featuring Locals

2008-11-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

The Burien Arts Association is sponsoring an event on November 22nd, which is this Saturday:

...The Burien Arts Association invited twenty artists to each create twenty works of art which will be sold for $40 on November 22 at the 20/20 Vision art event. Stop by the Karuna Yoga Arts Studio 819 SW 152nd Ave in Olde Burien from 7-11 pm on November 22 to view the art and join the fun. Admission to the 20/20 Vision art event is completely free.

What's more is that some work from folks in Georgetown and South Park are being featured, including that of Brian Lane of PrintZero, Cyreeta Mitchell, Iosefatu Sua of Dewar Dye Screenprinting South Park, and some others (and if you're not mentioned, post in the comments and I'll update this post).

Another event, coming up on December 6--another Saturday, is the "Under $100 Art Sale" down in South Park. Click here for the directions, and a comprehensive list of artists, many of whom you will recognize.

Economy in Georgetown; development out with a whimper

2008-11-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

It was only recently that the number of permits to build Five Unit Lot Subdivisions(TM) dropped off the map for the neighborhood. For the short duration of Blogging Georgetown, development has been a top subject of discussion, like it or hate it. But the last time I wrote about it was to speculate (ahem) about the lack thereof in terms of who's buying. To state the obvious, things on this front won't be picking up anytime soon. To state the not- so- obvious, such a hiatus might be good for the neighborhood.

The temptation to quickly buy properties and radically alter their uses in a way inconsistent with what current residents of Georgetown desire will certainly be lessened. That will give people some time to adjust, and reclaim a certain amount of cultural ownership of the neighborhood. For those that kept their powder dry, now will be an opportunity to reclaim some space. Rents will come down, and so will sale prices. For those that already bailed and went to T-town, or Portland, well, we'll miss you. For those that stuck around, well, we know what to do.

The macro picture is not pretty at all, and it is likely that our paychecks will get thinner, if they arrive at all for some. There is a general link between crime and periods of unemployment, for obvious reasons, though the uncreative resource expenditures--more police--will not come to places like Georgetown or South Park. I'm not going to try and guess which businesses locally will be affected the most by a steady increase in broke-ness--don't want to jinx anyone here. Things will continue to get tough, but not bleak.

For neighborhoods such as ours, adversity is the fuel of our identity. It is such a place where creativity thrives and mutual cooperation is born of necessity. Remember the "Old Seattle" that people who haven't bought into the Urban Design Cult keeps talking about? It survived and was partially motivated in the 1970's by the unfinished off ramps just north of here, the bill boards about shutting off the lights, the lull in production on the other side of Ellis, and the shitty post war economy of the time. Things here will never slide back to the point where Airport Way looks like a deserted alleyway, because the alternatives were long razed for townhouse development. But in a way, the old Seattle will stay in Georgetown for a while, because it never really died. It was just on life support for a while.

For those who dismiss the years of "Old Seattle" as the pining of a better time by aging hippies, you are about to get a serious education.

Downtown hasn't figured it out yet. Just now I got an e-mail saying that the Seattle Police and the DOT are rousting homeless people out of the woods on the hill on the other side of the tracks. While many of us will become more sympathetic with folks in that situation--as we're all just a little closer to it these days, the mayor's office will continue to be in denial, while peddling the bullshit that there is plenty for everyone, even as they cut the budget and undermine existing resources. But when government is so out of touch with the hearts and minds of people, and most important--their economic needs, they are due for a sacking. That will be pretty fun to watch locally, if it looks anything like what we just saw nationally.

Developers and the mayor's office: cutting out the middle man

2008-11-13T21:33:00.000-08:00

Crosscut reports that the CEO of Urban Visions wants to run for mayor:

A political consultant close to [Greg] Smith explained that the developer has grown increasingly frustrated about the lack of progress on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, an issue over which Nickels has been locked in disputes with Gov. Chris Gregoire and state House Speaker Frank Chopp. Another possible cause of friction is the mayor's stand on preserving industrial zoning in areas south of downtown, where developers like Smith, CEO of Urban Visions, would like to build more housing and commercial space for new economy startups.

The fact that Smith feels that real estate development is a good bet these days, and that we should subsidize it through developer pet projects and zoning give-aways, demonstrates that Smith is unqualified for the position.

Links a-go-go

2008-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some catch up links for the week. I'm sure you noticed that posts are a little thin lately; it has to do with all those winter preparedness projects around the house. But speaking of preparedness:

There is an Emergency Preparedness Program at the South Park Neighborhood Center, 8201 10th Ave S, on Tuesday, November 18th, 6:30-8:00pm; says the e-mail:

Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare (SNAP) programs help you, your family and your neighborhood become better prepared for the next disaster. This interactive, fun and informative program will teach simple preparedness steps that don’t take a lot of time or money. You’ll learn that preparedness can be fun and empowering!

A profile on Georgetown artist hints at more Development Woes and loss of affordable housing for artists (and from a union brother at that).

The Port of Seattle will discuss the Duwamish Habitat restoration: that's Wednesday at 5:30 PM, at South Seattle Community College, Georgetown Campus, Gene J. Colin Education Building, 6737 Corson Avenue S. If you want to blow off the meeting, you can still take a look at the proposal and comment by the 19th.

The right-wing gun people on Beacon Hill got a web site.

The Weekly mentions Georgetown's second grocery store, Carleton Ave Grocery on their blog.

Georgetown Steam Plant Flume Project, via Historic Seattle:

...The Georgetown Steam Plant Flume is a 2,500 foot long system of wood or concrete-lined open ditches and buried pipes that run from the Plant to the Duwamish Waterway at Slip 4. The flume is part of both historic designations for the Plant. Built in the early 1900s to discharge cooling water from the Plant to the Duwamish after the river was straightened, the discharge stopped when the Plant closed in the 1960s. The flume continued to be used for storm water, surface runoff, and adjacent business property discharge. The flume contains PCB and other contaminants and must be cleaned prior to the planned cleanup of Slip 4. This is part of the larger effort to clean up the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site by agreement with the City of Seattle and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Because the flume is badly degraded, the wood lining portions must be removed. A new storm water pipe will be installed throughout the length of the flume corridor. Under the provisions of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, this is a federal undertaking with an impact to a designated historic property. Consequently, the EPA has prepared a report which includes a survey and effects analysis on the Plant, flume and associated resources. If you would like to receive a copy of the report, please contact Karen Keeley.

While City Council beefs up funding for SLU's Mercer Street project (See Licata's Urban Politics newsletter), the city funding for environmental work near the South Park Bridge may be cut. Greg "Green" Nickels strikes again. (UPDATE: a law firm is advocating against the "ramming through" of the Mercer Project).

The Spokane Street mess continues...

You know that cool, but very beat up old house underneath the intersection of the West Seattle Bridge and I-5? Toast.

And finally: something more about the crappy economy, to be discussed at yer local bar.

Art Attack on Saturday

2008-11-07T18:51:00.000-08:00

As usual, it all begins at six. Though this site isn't updated, hence, no cool November graphic to steal; it does still have a map for many of them, however. Some details went up on the neighborhood newsgroup:

Among the highlights: An exhibition reception for Don De Leva and Heather Rorabach at the Mix, followed by an evening concert by Strange Jerome and Susan Harper & the Conspiracy; and exhibition, book signing, and slide talk by legendary underground cartoonist Bill Griffith at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; Paintings by Seattle artist Jesse Link at the Stables; open studios including Helen Anderson and Amanda Michelle Dellinger at Bertoldi Studios; Day of the Dead group show, "Día de los Muertos," including Art Garcia, Chris Lefebvre, Amaranta Ibarra, Tamlin Marx, and others at Georgetown Tile Works; and the usual unique shopping, delicious dining, and boisterous socializing at many locations in close proximity.

New Grocer on Carleton

2008-11-07T06:28:00.001-08:00

There will not be any Thunderbird wine at this incarnation of the Carleton Market; from an e-mail:

If you haven't heard already, we finally got ourselves a grocery store
in Georgetown! Although small, it has a lot of great stuff and is
owned and operated by our neighbors, Allen and LaDele!

The Carleton Avenue Grocery is located on the corner of Carleton and
Warsaw, just south of the Hat & Boots (Oxbow) Park.

* * * Allen and LaDele invite you to come on down and try out some of
the yummy stuff they've stocked at a FREE TASTING from 2-4pm THIS
SATURDAY! * * *

Also, the shelves aren't completely full yet. So while you're there,
let them know your requests and recommendations about what you'd like
to see them carry.

If you can't make it this Saturday, please stop by soon and support
our new local grocery store!

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

2008-11-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, I mentioned a group up on Beacon Hill that was having meetings just south of Georgetown in one of my favorite diners, and also that they subsequently got a little attention in the Seattle Weekly. Being a regular blue collar guy, who grew up in a place with plenty of pickup trucks and gun collectors, I was intrigued by the idea of some kind of 2nd Amendment group that was open to everyone, including left wingers like myself, since that was the initial pitch sent out by one of the people sponsoring the group. After all, I can't give a dime to the NRA, because they seem to rally behind every politician that backs the Bush legacy of the soft police state, and, they simply don't like my kind--left wing and pro-union. But I am sorry to say that my hope that such would not be mired in partisan right wing gobblyguk anti-left rhetoric has been shot to hell, skinned, gutted, cut, and wrapped. It also tastes a little gamey.

Any temptation to attend one of their meetings, even from a "journalistic" point of view, was dampened by all of the commotion taking place on one of the local Georgetown-adjacent neighborhood e-mail news lists, the result of the promotion od the group and their tactics of "armed patrols". True enough that the nature of newsgroups can get a little testy, even if it does blow over in a few days. But for weeks my inbox has filled with message after message of sentiments raging from (I'm paraphrasing, not actual quotes), "can't we just get along" to "take your liberal shit elsewhere". I think liberals have miles to go when it comes to understanding the firearms issue, but I also think that the community of Second Amendment advocates are even farther behind when it comes to doing outreach.

I ended up on a mailing list, where members of this group were chatting back and forth. One post caught my eye, that I absolutely needed to see this video. Okay, so I looked at it, and I encourage my readers to do so. While I agree with most of the critique about how the government and other groups exaggerate the risk of firearm ownership, I was stuck by a detail. All of the people, the gun advocates--the "good guys" were the good old fashioned white guys. The bad guys--people who wanted to take our guns away--jump to a clip of the Reverend Al Sharpton, and people who want to evade the laws of responsible ownership--cut to Black and Hispanic prisoners (or what appears to be white folks with a tint in the photography) "bragging" about getting firearms extra-legally, and add a Hip-Hop musical bed in the production, and there is the implicit message: white people want to be responsible, and "other" people not only want to break the law, they want to make it harder for "law abiding" white people to protect themselves from the lawbreakers. The film short's implicit message is that we should associate gun violence with non-whites. Watch it for yourself.

This is John Bircher type stuff, and this is what is being discussed in our community amongst 2A advocates. In addition, the local advocates are the main force behind a group of people doing "street patrols" all over Beacon Hill, which is a multi-ethnic neighborhood. The discussion of all of it is on one of BH's neighborhood news groups.

If this wasn't enough, this message shows up in my box today, from one of the proponents:

"...we have been sold out by both parties and yes this country is becoming socialist. Your rights are being eaten away every day. Thats why i am neither democrat or republican or independent. I am an American. I stand firm on the constitution and the bill of rights as it is written. Nothing more nothing less. Never less we are being trampled by our own government. They want total control and that is socialistic aka if you will communist."

This was amidst a discussion of an (alleged) proposal in Olympia to levy a tax of real estate sales, posted by one of the main proponents of the firearms advocacy groups. In short: if you agree with taxes, you are a socialist or a communist. Perhaps the fact that the McCain/Palin folks have declared open season on the left has something to do with the increased frequency of classic red baiting. It wouldn't be so bad, if it was an informed critique of Lenin, Trotsky, Mao, et al. But it's not; it's a method of dehumanizing people with a term that already has negative connotations, simply because one isn't drinking today's right-wing Kool-Aid that makes the Reagan and Nixon stuff taste like Chianti. As a pro-second amendment, pro-union, libertarian socialist neighborhood blogger, that really burns me. When a group of people are dehumanized for political or ethnic or other reasons, it sets the stage for vigilante groups or even the government to perpetrate violence against them.

The above is merely two examples in strings of vitriol about "protecting the community"; but from what?

So I have to ask this: what is a group of people, who are armed, walking the neighborhood, who are also involved in a political organization whose members are openly hostile to specific political views and who share a sort of "us" vs "them people" mentality? If you're not sure what to think, I'll venture here: Sturmabteilung. It was a confederation of these groups that was eventually in part responsible for the rise of fascism in Germany. With the tack to the extreme right in the US culturally, and so much hatred being whipped up against a potential first Black president, and "socialist" boogeymen in ACORN (you know, those "commies" that want Semi-rigs parked in places other than our front yards), I have to wonder how a McCain victory would embolden such people.

Yes, they are my near-neighbors. But I'm calling bullshit. Everyone else needs to, too.

Links a go-go

2008-10-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest:

"Fidalgo's Home Decor in Georgetown is holding a Benefit party and private shop night for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network on Thursday, November 6th from 5pm until 9pm..." Contact them for more info here.

Local activist wins award: BJ Cummings of DRCC is featured in Seattle mag; here's the page of a lengthy article that makes mention.

Haunted House Brew Tour: gitcher tickets.

Zippy the Pinhead comic creator Bill Griffith will be here on November 8th.

Duwamish Habitat open house, via Port of Seattle, November 12th.

ECOSS is looking for volunteers to help with their annual dinner tonight.

More Georgetown Morgue commentary.

And more on Comet Lodge Cemetery.

The Stranger and Georgetown: If it's not dramatic, it's not worth covering

2008-10-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

The latest example:

But after slinging fried chickpeas and chicken shawarma every Friday night in front of the 9 Lb. Hammer on Airport Way South for 17 months, Baker says his truck, Hallava Falafel, has been targeted by angry Georgetown business owners who have interfered with his business and pushed him out of the neighborhood's nightlife scene.

Baker accuses one business owner in particular, Tim Ptak of the Airport Way bar Smarty Pants, of having a friend park a truck in Hallava's usual spot in front of the 9 Lb., restricting Hallava's access to the neighborhood's profitable main drag. Baker says the man, Bryce Wengard—the former owner of a Ballard auto-repair shop and friends with employees at Smarty Pants—leaves his half-ton Chevy pickup in the spot where Hallava used to park every Friday afternoon, getting in another car and driving home. Smarty Pants' Ptak denies any involvement in the situation. Wengard acknowledges trying to block the parking space with his truck.

Wow. Just what is up with that paper's obsession with personal disputes in our neighborhood, as paramount to all of the other actual news items that could get some decent coverage?

Nickelsville Asks Sabey Corporation for a Place to Stay

2008-10-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

On the eastern portion of Airport Way S is a vacant lot, once occupied by the Cold Storage building; the demo was the center of attention last winter. Just south of that site, Sabey owns another chunk of land, just south of the old Ranier General Office, also a vacant lot. Just south of us in Tukwila, the developer also owns a large chunk of property, the old Associated Grocers' warehouse.

While perusing the website of Nickelsville, we learn that organizers have already sent a letter to Sabey asking about a place to set up their community while dealing with litigation with the city, and in the interim while trying to find permanent residence. In a list of several property owners in the Seattle area to which Nickelsville has sent letters, we see this entry:

Sabey Corporation
Owns numerous large parcels, in areas including Georgetown and Boeing Field
Letter Written and Sent 9/29/08

Indeed, this is an opportunity for some positive work in a city that has felt the brunt of rising rents and lack of affordable housing. Would Sabey take the lead in being the first "developer" to extend a hand?

I can vouch that they would be good neighbors.

Writer disputes Story in UW Daily on Georgetown Morgue

2008-10-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the UW Daily posted a story about the morgue, which we linked to, and soon thereafter, a commenter with this moniker said it was pure fiction, adding on to some of the skepticism. Now another writer at the Examiner website is calling BS on the story as well:

1. The "Georgetown Morgue" sign on the building in the photograph is obviously Photoshopped.

2. There is no City of Seattle Department of Records.

3. As Yuen notes, the owner of the company putting on the haunted house is Scott Kolling. (Remember, Kolling Mortuary Services supposedly built this building in 1928?)

4. Crematorium smokestacks are never that tall. You don't see anything like that up at Evergreen-Washelli, do you?

5. What's at the corner of 5th & Seneca? The YWCA and the Olympic Hotel. The county morgue (note: not city) is in the King County Medical Examiner's Office at Harborview.

6. The only hits for most of the names mentioned in the purported history are for the page itself, or for items referencing the Haunted House.

7. Googling on 5000 E. Marginal Way S. brings up Totem Equipment Company, and the City of Seattle Property Finder shows the taxpayer as Totem Acquisition Company... absent from the HMS's history.

8. King County shows similar information and says the oldest building was put up in 1931.

9. Best of all, the HMS Web site is hosted on kube93.com... and the page for the Georgetown Morgue is the only one that's accessible.

Georgetown is no stranger to modern historical hoaxes, like this other one--reported by KUOW, the Seattle Times, and, um, the City of Tukwila.

But if you want the read deal, tonight--check these folks out for the Georgetown Haunted History Tour, and bring 7 bucks.

Stories of the Morgue

2008-10-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

The University of Washington newspaper features a story today on the Georgetown morgue:

...In 1939, Charles and Henry Broughton bought the mortuary and the name changed to Broughton Brothers Funeral Services. By 1943, they had built a crematorium that prepared about 100 bodies a day. Along with the crematory, two 110-foot smoke stacks were also added to the extended facilities. Charles and his wife lived in the brick home connected to the mortuary.

During the Broughton Brothers’ ownership, a series of horrific events occurred.

Supposedly, in 1947, jazz trumpeter John “Figgy” Dorsey’s body was reported missing from the embalming table at the Broughton Brothers Mortuary. The dead man was found the next morning on Mrs. Dorsey’s front lawn at her home in Ballard — dismembered. She sent the body parts back to Broughton Brothers so they could piece him back together for his funeral, but the explanation as to who committed this horrific act, and why, is still unknown. Figgy Dorsey was also a shady figure. There were two jazz musicians named Dorsey, a Jimmy and a Tommy, but no Figgy...

Right now, it's the site of the KUBE haunted house, and this soon to be restaurant.

South Park Restaurant Robbed

2008-10-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

It didn't get any wide media coverage yet, but a vague mention:

SEATTLE -- Police are looking for two men who robbed a south Seattle restaurant Thursday, said Seattle Police Department spokeswoman Renee Witt.

Around 2:30 p.m. two armed men entered the restaurant in the 8400 block of Dallas Avenue South.

Police are searching the area for the two robbers.

That's it, except that we'll assume it's this place.

Andy's Diner not open, but...

2008-10-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

According to Clark Humphery at misc, and good old Seattle DPD, the old rail cars are still there--but instead are hosting a Chinese fast-food place.

Links a go-go (belated)

2008-10-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Haunted History Tour is on Friday.

Seattlest has a great post with lot's o' fun facts and photos of the Duwamish.

According to KING 5, the Hangar Cafe has the best crepes in Western WA.

The Duwamish Longhouse gets a boost from Minnesota.

Seattle Metblogs gushes about the Corson building.

People stealin' shit, cops blogging about it. I wonder if that's a paid gig.

Ever been caught on that lower deck West Seattle bridge off Harbor Island? It may happen again.

And my new favorite website for this week...

Layoffs at PB Elemental

2008-10-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

You know the uber modernesque condos on Corson that are still empty, or the ones under construction on Cloverdale? The company involved in their development is seeing some trouble, and unfortunately, some employees are paying the price:

Pb Elemental, the development firm behind some of Seattle’s most daring and innovative towers and houses, laid off 16 of its 50 employees last Friday. The layoffs are across the board, including architects, project managers, and adminstrative staff.

It really sucks to lose your job. Unfortunately, it's always the employees who have to bear the brunt of the employers' repositioning in a bad market. Logging, Airplanes, IT, Housing; in spite of the best efforts of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, we are and will always be a boom/bust town.

New Restaurant on East Marginal

2008-10-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Above is the future home of a new restaurant ("Hudson") on 5000 East Marginal Way, to be opened by the owners of Smarty Pants. While barely a mention pops up on this blog over at the Seattle Weekly, I was able to confirm the location as the former Totem Ocean Trailer Express office ("TOTE"), just north of the intersections of 1st Ave S and Michigan St. The inside is torn apart, with lots of new construction, so it looks like it'll be a while.

Hiatus

2008-10-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

The author of this blog has been on hiatus, blah de blah, etc. I'll get some updated links up soon.

PI on Duwamish

2008-10-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

From this morning's paper:

The Duwamish Tribe -- the indigenous people of Seattle -- has one fewer hurdle in its legal battle with the U.S. government to gain federal recognition.

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour decided Tuesday not to allow the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to intervene in the case in opposition.

Federal recognition is critical to the almost 600 members of the Duwamish: It would bring federal dollars for housing, health care, education and cultural programs. And it would allow the tribe to put land into protected status for a reservation and to open a casino.

Nothing to add here, except, given that the Clinton administration granted recognition, later reversed by Bush II, I have little doubt that national elections will affect the outcome.

Comet Lodge documents

2008-10-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

After noticing that the old houses at 616 Lucile are slated for demolition, the address came in a search i did, turning up in a series of FOIA documents about the Comet Lodge Cemetery, concerning the dispute over the Comet Lodge site throughout the last 100 years. The disputes arises out of ownership and development rights; from the main web page:

City of Seattle's Mayor Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims have denied the existence of the historic Comet Lodge Cemetery. They have converted it to a dogs run free park. These requests for information will document the past and continuing desecrations. Ancestors and neighbors are invited to submit information.

An example of one of the obscure documents:

January 25, 1959 letter to the Board of King County Commissioners

Dear Sirs:

We are writing you regarding an abandoned cemetery on Beacon Hill which for years has been a serious problem. There has been no burials there for many years and many which have been buried there have been removed to Cemeteries with Endowed Care.

That you may know who we are and why the interest in this Cemetery as well as our reason to discuss the matter with your Board, we would like for you to know a little of the earlier history of this property. First, we are a committee appointed by the Grand Lodge of Washington and Alaska for the purpose of assisting any Lodge in this jurisdiction in the operation of their cemeteries, to work with the Washington State Board of Cemeteries, especially endowed care property, in the investment and protection of these funds.

Each member of this Board are thoroughly experienced in the operation of cemeteries and you will find attached a list of these members and we invite the investigation of any or all of these men. We also want it thoroughly understood that we in no way assume any liability for the care of this property but are merely offering assistance in clearing up this matter and ask for the cooperation of your board and the City of Seattle.

This cemetery was originally started by the now Defunct Comet Odd Fellows lodge #139 shortly after 1900. There have not been many burials there in the past forty five years. The whole area is covered by trees and undergrowth. Most markers are misplaced or lost entirely. Those, including City and County officials who in past years have endeavored to find a solution to this problem have given up, considering it too big a problem.

We have given this matter considerable study and have obtained much information and now believe we have the proper solution. The bodies that are buried there would be removed to endowed care property with a suitable memorial listing all names and dates. We feel the cost of this could be recovered by the sale of this property after the removals, clearing and leveling are complete. In order to do this we must be able to clear title which has apparently been complicated by efforts of the City and County to take possession of it in the past.

We would like to meet with you and discuss further, this whole matter. Some of the older county employee's could also give you additional information. If possible a late afternoon appointment would be preferable to us.

We sincerely thank you for the consideration of this matter.

Respectfully, Robert J. Taylor
Members of the Grand Lodge Odd Fellows Cemetery Endowment Care

More here:

Prior to 1881, this graveyard was used by the Duwamish Nation. Burials from the tribal roll occured while the Nation was supervised by the Federal Port Madison authority and continued into the 1900's. The granted land encompassing the Old Burial Grounds as it was called, was then sold to the Maple family. The Maples were among the first settlers to arrive by boat at Alki beach. The boat was guided by John Low, who returned for his family and the others after building a cabin in what is now Seattle.

And Moreover:

A letter from the Director of the Department of Construction and Land Use, Rick Krochalis, to Mayor Norm Rice and John Dickinson is very emphatic with its ukase. "There is no graveyard on Beacon Hill!" The Mayor's office during Rice and Schell's term continued their denial of the existence of the cemetery until Executive Ron Sims converted it to a dogs run free neighborhood park with decorative tombstones.

Here's the link to the letter:

The Department of Construction and Land Use [now DPD--ed.] did not, and does not, have any basis for concluding that the properties you have referred to have ever been used for burial purposes. In granting permits for development, the City does not give assurances as to the title, history or conditions of a piece of property. If the owners feel that the nature of the property was misrepresented to them in some material way, this is a private matter that they must take up with the sellers of the property. If you, or any of these owners, believe they have a legitimate claim against the City, that claim must be submitted to the City Attorney's office.

(In the collection of documents, this is where the address comes up:

The family of Lorenzo Brewer remains civicly interested, as was the intervening generation and I believe in the same home as in 1908, and Lawrenzo W. Brewer at 616 Lucile St may have or has knowledge of any records of Comet Lodge...

In 1979.)

Here's a list of burials here.

Links a go go

2008-10-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Did you get your Southeast Bus Service questionnaire in the mail? Southeast Bus what? Go here.

Washblog's K.T. Keller asks why Seattle's proposed "incentive zoning" is based upon road transit, instead of incorporating the future of light rail.

John Fox of the Displacement Coalition on this same subject questions the notion that 80% of Seattle's median income (median is 65 to 80k, depending on who you ask) constitutes low income.

The city hearing on incentive zoning is Tuesday, at 5:30.

Concerned about local disaster preparedness? Want to learn about it?

Want to be an election observer?

Sustainable South Seattle meets this Wednesday.

Calamity Jane's: o.k. for whiskey drinkin' mommas.

Speaking of drinking whiskey...

A thoughtful piece on "NIMBYism"

2008-10-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

This linked post is rather lengthy, but covers many subjects of thought of anyone who has ever dabbled in neighborhood politics. To write a commentary would simply distract from the many points made. I have no first hand knowledge on the subject covered--that of the rather dramatic SE Seattle 'hood politicking, but the nuts and bolts sound an awful lot like Americans re-experimenting with municipal democracy--a messy endeavor if there ever was one. Read on.

(hat tip, MBH blog).

Georgetown Haunted History Tour Tix on Sale

2008-10-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

This just in:

It's the first day of October and time to announce the Fourth Annual Georgetown Haunted History Tour. We had so much fun last year we decided to expanded and cover two nights of haunting this season!

We are also teaming up with the Theatre off Jackson for this spine tingling experience. Creepy stories, haunting theatrics and ghoulish music...

Tickets are 7 bones for the walk, 10 bones for the TOJ event, and 15 for both; dates are October 24th and 25th. More here.

"I'm moving, can I borrow your truck?" (UPDATED)

2008-10-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

This is the dreaded phrase that every pickup truck owner fears. But if you've said things like "I have a bunch'a so and so's stuff in the back", or, "It's not running right", or my favorite: "sure, but you have to help me unload the smelly garbage at the transfer station first", then here's your chane to make good:

At tonight's camp meeting Nickelodeons reaffirmed their commitment to leave The Washington State Department of Transportation Parking Lot on Wednesday, October 1st.

WE ARE CALLING ON ALL AVAILABLE FRIENDS OF NICKELSVILLE TO HELP US MOVE TO THE NEXT LOCATION. MEET UP AT NICKELSVILE 10 PM THURSDAY OCTOBER 1ST!

Here's an updated announcement:

Other updates today include:

- Seattle's Deputy Mayor has made First Contact with the Nickelodeons, emailing us to say "As we have stated previously, we will meet with you after you vacate the public property on which you are now located."

- The City has issued the State a Land Use Notice of Violation stating that Washington DOT's specific violation is "Maintenance of an illegal encampment. An encampment is prohibited in an industrial
zone." The City NOV then threatens to fine the State up to $150 a day for allowing us to stay on their property unless the use is discontinued by 5 PM Wednesday.

- Nickelsville's population is well over a 100, and growing every day.

- Women in Black is standing Vigil Wednesday October 1st at 12 PM in front of the Seattle Justice Center across from City Hall. The Vigil is for the 7 most recently discovered deaths of homeless people- outside or by violence - this year in King County.

After the Vigil Nickelodeons, Women in Black and others will go up to the Mayors Office to schedule a meeting with the Mayor. You are invited to join both the 12:00 Vigil and the Visit to the Mayors Office afterwards. The Seattle Justice Center is on 5th
Avenue, between Cherry and James.

- Check out the nickelsvilleseattle home page, and under documents see for yourself recent letters to the Governor, Mayor, and others.

It looks like Seattle DPD is putting the pressure on also. As mentioned above, and according to WSB, they plan to start fining the State of Washington. However, there is no record available at the usual on-line location for DPD, even when doing a multi-address search.

UPDATE: Here's where they ended up.