October / November 2005

Open Forum Nov 15, Time for the ECC to Listen!

Initiative 912 Threatens I-5 Noise Wall Project

Louisa Street End Park: Good News!

Don’t Forget to Water on Dry Fall Days

Volunteers needed for Community-Buidling

Entering Eastlake — What Should the Sign Say and Look Like?

City Reverses Parking and Road Restrictions for School Bus Loading

2005 Eastlake Shake Festival The Biggest Ever

Colonnade Park to Open This Month

City, School, and Monorail Candidates Debate at Oct. 11 ECC Annual Meeting

Get Prepared for Disaster and Crime

Emergency And Police Numbers

Classified Ads

PUBLIC EVENTS

Tues., Oct. 11 - ECC annual elections meeting and forum – Candidates for City Council and the School and Monorail boards, and pro/con campaigns on the gas tax and monorail ballot measures, 7-9 p.m., TOPS-Seward School, 2500 Franklin Ave.

Fri., Oct. 14 - Groundbreaking for Colonnade Park mountain bike area. (Time not avail- able at press date.). Info: 206-524-2900 or justin@bbtc.org

Sat., Oct. 15 - Good Turn Park work party, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Martin street-end at 3149 Fairview Ave. E. Info: 860-3866

Sat., Oct. 22 - Fairview Park work party, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (between Eastlake Ave. and Fairview Ave. at Shelby St.) Info: 328-2161.

Tues., Nov. 8 - Election Day - be sure to vote!

Tues., Nov. 15 - ECC public meeting. Please let us know one or more topics you would like to have this meeting cover (see article) 7-9 p.m., TOPS-Seward School, 2500 Franklin Ave

Sun., Nov. 27 - Seattle Marathon. At mid-morning, runners and walkers go west across the Roanoke Street bridge and south on Boylston and Lakeview Blvd. E. Info: 729-3660, www.seattlemarathon.org

Open Forum Nov 15, Time for the ECC to Listen!

The Eastlake Community Council would like to know how we best advocate for our community and invites you to an open forum meeting.
We want to hear from you about community issues and concerns. Anything from a traffic problem, school, need for a new coffee shop… you name it! Most likely we will not have answers right away or be able to solve problems over night ……but it’s a start and we’ll work on it. We can also answer your questions about what’s going on in Eastlake at the moment.
Please do not bring your boxing gloves because we are not looking for a fight, we simply want to hear from you, meet you and maybe help you to get more excited about our great neighborhood here in Eastlake. And most likely you’ll meet some new neighbors!
When and where: Tues., Nov. 15, 7 p.m. - TOPS-Seward Library
For more information please contact Becki Chandler @ 206.323.7424

Initiative 912 Threatens I-5 Noise Wall Project

Now that the I-5 noise walls are going up on Boylston Ave. E. between Roanoke and Lynn streets, take a walk on Boylston Ave. E. and notice how much quieter it is. We would have had that wall years ago, but for a Tim Eyman 90s-era initiative that repealed some transportation taxes. We’ve finally gotten started on a small segment, but continuing the noise walls north to Shelby and south to Newton depends on the moderate increase in the gas tax that, led by our own Rep. Ed Murray, the state legislature and governor passed this spring. Now the anti-tax crowd has put on the November ballot a repeal of this gas tax increase. Repeal would delay or kill the noise wall project, a noise reduction retrofit of the I-5 ship canal bridge, and many other needed transportation projects. In September, the Eastlake Community Council board of directors voted unanimously to oppose Initiative 912. Please get involved, and vote no. The campaign can be reached at 206-632-1005, 206-972-0385, or www.voteno912.org.

Louisa Street End Park: Good News!

On August 15th the ECC was officially awarded $15,000 for the improvement of Louisa street end park by the department of Neighborhoods. Many Eastlake neighbors donated time and money to the project and this effort was rewarded with a ‘Small and Simple Matching Fund Program’ contribution of $15,000 by the City of Seattle.
The award document was handed to the ECC by Yvonne Sanchez (Director Dept. of Neighborhoods) and Seattle City Council member David Della. Theo Ianuly who did most of the work for the actual application and Carsten Stinn will check all requirements to claim the award.
The image shows the latest layout for this beautiful little spot on Fairview Avenue after we incorporated the first comments from SDOT and several neighbors.
As mentioned above we will investigate what the necessary permitting and procedural steps are and send out a draft schedule and work plan soon. If you have any questions or comments regarding the park contact Theo at theoi@aol.com or Carsten at teamenzo@hotmail.com.
Very exciting news! Thanks again to everyone who helped pull this together, Carsten Stinn

Don’t Forget to Water on Dry Fall Days

If it is another dry autumn, be sure to water your plants. Already stressed by the dry summer, some plants will be on the brink unless they get a drink (as Johnnie Cochran might have said). If you see a tree suffering from lack of water, mention it to someone at that address, and or just water it yourself. Street trees are on public property, and there’s no public purpose served in letting them die.

ECC Needs Volunteers & Donations

The Eastlake Community Council builds community and enhances the neighborhood only with your help. We are all-volunteer, so donations of cash, stock, bequests, or real estate will go a long way. We are also looking for a used digital projector to go along with our old Kodak carousel projector. And we need your volunteer effort in any of the following:

(1) Organize an Eastlake auction or a neighborhood-wide day of yard sales.
(2) Weed in parks or organize new tree-planting efforts (see calendar for work parties)
(3) Help clean up a street—especially Boylston, which suffers from freeway debris.
(4) Serve on ECC’s land use committee, helping the board review land use proposals
(5) Help make Lynn Street between Boylston and Eastlake avenues safer and more beautiful
(6) Distribute the Eastlake News on your block or nearby
(7) Interview Eastlake pioneers to preserve our irreplaceable history
(8) Help the Eastlake Arts Council organize an arts walk and art shows
(9) With latex and plaster (provided), make a cast at the southwest corner of the University Bridge, of the 1917 plaque dedicating the original name as the Eastlake Avenue Bridge.
(10) Help organize a block or dock watch for crime prevention and disaster preparedness.

Interested? Write to ECC, 117 E. Louisa Street #1, Seattle 98102, cleman@oo.net, or phone 720-4792.

Entering Eastlake — What Should the Sign Say and Look Like?

Eastlake lacks a sign welcoming people to the neighborhood. The signs cost $300 each, and donations may be sent to ECC Sign Fund, 117 E. Louisa St. #1, Seattle 98102. Around the city, a lot of the signs are plain and lack illustrations. Can Eastlake’s sign be more distinctive in its words and look? Please write in your suggestions, to Susan Savelle at Bridge Blond Salon, 2373 Eastlake Ave., Seattle 98102 (329-1362) and by e-mail to cleman@oo.net. Here are some of the proposals (serious or not-so-serious) that have been submitted so far:

Welcome to Eastlake, the little neighborhood with a big heart
Welcome to Eastlake by boat, seaplane, foot, bus, or car
Eastlake—You’ve already found it
Eastlake, Schmeastlake
Eastlake, the Least Fake!
Eastlake. Yes, here it is
Eastlake—East of the Lake
EAST (of the) LAKE
Eastlake—Where urbanity meets small-town hospitality
Eastlake—A dream come true
Eastlake—Center of Coziness
Eastlake—Welcome to Houseboat City
Eastlake. We like it here.
Eastlake: Own a back yard, next to downtown!
Eastlake—My pet likes it to.
Eastlake—Proud to Belong
Eastlake—Proud to be Long

We also welcome designs to complement the text. The winning design might also be used for the Eastlake News and ECC website. Please submit your artwork until October 31st by e-mail to uengelmann@comcast.net or as hardcopy to ECC, 117 E. Louisa St. #1, Seattle 98102.

City Reverses Parking and Road Restrictions for School Bus Loading

Residents just north of Seward School contacted ECC in alarm on Sept. 1 when they saw “no parking” signs going up on Franklin and Roanoke streets, and a road closure sign on Roanoke from Boylston Ave. down to Franklin Ave. We soon learned that the Seattle and Washington departments of transportation had worked out with the school district many months ago a departure from the bus loading plan to adjust to the closure of the northbound lane of Boylston during the I-5 noise wall construction. In conversations and e-mails, a lower-level SDOT official threatened to close down the noise wall construction if the changes were not followed to the letter.
The school bus loading plan that was being departed from had been developed with extensive community involvement and is required by the City permit under which TOPS-Seward School was expanded. The changes were adopted without notifying the neighborhood or seeking its comments, and were based on a vast over-estimate of the problems posed by the noise wall construction, that community comment would almost certainly have brought down to reality. Rep. Ed Murray got involved to ensure that the neighborhood was heard this time by the City and State.
ECC board members worked with the neighbors to present alternative proposals, most of which were later adopted by the City in a stunning reversal. Pilot tests in the first two weeks of school showed SDOT, WSDOT, and the School District that most of the traffic and parking restrictions were not necessary. As a result, most of the parking on Roanoke and Franklin was restored, and the closure of Roanoke Street was changed from seven days a week to just an hour and a half on weekday afternoons.
On September 22, Katherine Casseday, the City Traffic Engineer, wrote to the state and the community as follows: “We have a number of lessons learned from this experience, and appreciate the input and patience of you and other stakeholders as we have sorted through a variety of issues. On projects permitted by the City of Seattle but led by another agency, we need to coordinate our outreach efforts to those who might be impacted. We realize the public just wants a quality project. We also need to fully understand the concerns of stakeholders as early in the process as possible so that we can involve them in our project planning and clearly communicate decisions made. On behalf of all those involved in this effort, I apologize for any inconvenience this project and the necessary traffic control plans and changes have caused, and I greatly appreciate your continued patience as WSDOT completes construction of the noise walls. This is a project that has been desired by the community for some time, and it is up to us to ensure that it proceeds as safely and efficiently as possible.”
ECC welcomes TOPS-Seward School’s agreement to establish a joint school/community advisory committee, administered by ECC, which will work on the many traffic and parking issues surrounding the school. School representatives will be designated by the principal, and resident or business representatives will be named by the ECC. To suggest issues that should be considered by this committee, or to volunteer to serve on it, contact the ECC at 117 E. Louisa St. #1, Seattle 98102 or cleman@oo.net.

After articles in both the Times and the P-I lamenting our impending loss of Hines Public Market Coffee, this popular business found a new location for its roaster and coffee house at 2203 Eastlake Ave. (behind Aloha Cleaners). Their new landlord, Tim Yerger, also owns a classic apartment building nearby and knows the need for places other than home and work for people to meet and relax. There is talk of an old-time “barn-raising” to help Hines expand its new quarters. Top Drawer Studio (2015 Franklin Ave. E. #4) illustrator Jere Smith designed some tasteful stamps with scenes memorializing the soon-to-be-demolished old Hines quarters. … This summer, Eastlake residents Lynn Coker, Nicki Harbo, and Giff Jones have had the dream assignment of riding the Coast Starlight and the Empire Builder, as guests of AMTRAK to give naturalist and historical talks in a special rail car about the national parks and other features along the spectacular route.

The Eastlake neighborhood is honored that one of our state legislators has moved his offices here. Rep. Ed Murray, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has opened new offices at 3302 Fuhrman Avenue East, the Northern Passage Building. Phone is 720-3074, and e-mail is murray_ed@leg.wsa.gov. Murray also lives on the west slope of Capitol Hill, just a few blocks from Eastlake. … Neptune’s Juice has opened at 2501 Eastlake Ave. E. (www.neptunesjuice.com, 425-503-6013. Along with a wide range of healthful drinks, it has well-lit tables and free wireless broadband. ... Congrats to Eastlake’s Danny Sullivan on the positive reviews for Georg M!, a Civic Light Opera (www.clo-musicaltheatre.org) production for which he was musical director. … And congrats to former ECC board member Kari Mosden, recently appointed to the Seattle Bike Advisory Board. She has been working toward a safer situation for bicyclists and pedestrians at the north end of the University Bridge, where off-ramps and on-ramps are difficult to cross safely.

Eastlake Framing (1520 Eastlake Ave. #108, 322-5080) not only does custom framing, but also sells interesting mirrors and throw and commuter pillows. Hours are TThF 6-8 and Saturdays 10-4. … Patrick Howe Gallery (3200 Harvard Ave. E., 322-5540, www.patrickhowe.com) is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. … Salon 1520 (1520 Eastlake Ave .E., 328-8161) has added hair stylist Karla Jordan, and massage therapist Katy Ball. Hours are Tues-Fri 10-7, and Sat 10-5. … Friends of Gas Works Park, whose board includes designer Richard Haag, is working to preserve and improve this internationally acclaimed civic icon. Memberships are $30, to PO Box 95354, Seattle 98145-0842. … Condolences to the family and friends of Robert Murase, who’s Murase Associates (200 E. Boston Street, 322-4937) has been a landscape architecture firm in Eastlake since 1987. Victim of a heart attack at 66, Murase did such notable designs as Benaroya Hall’s Garden of Remembrance, and a rock-and-water sculpture dedicated last year in Sea-Tac airport’s international terminal.

Local actress and activist Marjorie Nelson Steinbrueck reminds us that help is needed now to meet the heartbreak and devastation on the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. Knowing how important the Eastlake neighborhood is to us, just imagine how it must be to lose everything. Please give generously, such as to the Red Cross. Tax-deductible checks may be sent to: American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 24325, Seattle, WA 98124. For further information or to donate on-line: www.seattleredcross.org, 323-2345.

Mention in this column does not imply endorsement by the ECC, writer, or editor. Send your news to Chris Leman (cleman@oo.net) or c/o ECC, 117 E. Louisa St. #1, Seattle 98102.

2005 Eastlake Shake Festival The Biggest Ever

This year’s August 20 Eastlake Shake neighborhood festival (our third annual) had its biggest turnout yet. Franklin Avenue East between TOPS-Seward School and Rogers Playfield had booths, music, a beer garden, sports, a pet parade (separate article) and children’s activities. We thank the many sponsors whose financial support makes the Eastlake Shake possible. They are all listed on the Eastlake Shake web site, www.eastlakeshake.com.
The Eastlake Shake neighborhood festival is a joint event of the Eastlake Community Council and the Eastlake Community Land Trust. ECC and ECLT appreciate the hard work of the hundreds of volunteers who produce the Eastlake Shake and make it the best neighborhood festival in Seattle. In the constant effort to improve, we invite your comments and suggestions (and offers of volunteer time). Letters may be sent to ECC/ECLT, 117 E. Louisa St. #1, Seattle 98102. E-mail: cleman@oo.net. Also, check out the Shake website at www.eastlakeshake.com.

Pet Parade a Howling Success

Last year along with the dogs we had two cats, a fish, and a duck. This year, it was mainly dogs (23 of them), although there was one lizard (pulled in a red wagon by Isabella, who says Lizzie is “really smart and beautiful and has a big personality, is very curious and wants to meet you”). In the heat, we were glad to have water bowls for the dogs, and there were a few barking encounters, but no dog fights or interspecies assaults.
Some of the dogs were costumed. The colorfully dressed Grand Marshal, Dick Arnold (stage and screen actor, and a former ECC board member who had recently lost his own dog) accurately introduced one German Shepherd as “the only dog here with feathers.” A wire hair Jack Russell was dressed as an officer, with tickets for those who don’t scoop their poop. Some of the owners, too, had costumes, including a very authentic if somewhat diminutive Darth Vader.
Grand Marshall Arnold dramatically led the paraders around the block. At the reviewing stand, the audience lustily applauded as he pronounced every dog—and the lizard—as “best in show,” and introduced each with some words suggested by the owner: “Small dog, big attitude!” “LOVES food and is quite fond of sleeping on soft things” “Likes to run away a lot. Everybody should keep an eye out for her. Otherwise, a nice doggie” “He is not aware that he is smaller than other dogs” “All food is gourmet food to him” “He is bilingual” “Marches to his own drum. Follows his nose and never changes his mind.” “Recently cleared a five-foot fence to be where she should not have been” “Used to belong to a homeless kid who had to leave down. Dances for treats. Hates crows.” “A Pisces, he loves long walks, stereos, and collies.” “Jumpers and Tunnellers Novice Agility Champion Dog!” “I am a lot of work and love long, long walks.”

Colonnade Park to Open This Month

By Chris Leman
Our beautiful new park under I-5—one of the world’s largest under a freeway—is about to open! Fences will come down in late October, and the dedication ceremony will be in early December. The park includes wide new steps connecting Franklin Avenue E. to Lakeview Blvd., thus creating a pedestrian route almost from Lake Union to the Howe and Blaine Street steps that go up Capitol Hill to 10th. There are also wheelchair-and stroller-accessible asphalt paths for making the same climb and descent between Franklin and Lakeview.
The park also features general park areas with picnic tables and benches, an off-leash area, and a unique art work by San Francisco Art Institute professor John Roloff. For details on all these features, and for the exact date of the December park dedication, see www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/i-5 openspace.htm. A stewardship group to keep the park well-maintained is being formed; volunteers should write to Colonnade volunteers, ECC, 117 E. Louisa St. #1, Seattle 98102, or e-mail to cleman@oo.net.
Still under development is a mountain biking area, on terrain too steep to be useful for other park uses. A groundbreaking ceremony for the mountain biking area is scheduled for Oct. 14, likely in the afternoon. The Eastlake community appreciates the mountain biking community’s commitment to raise $270,000 privately, leaving more public funds for the rest of the park. Although $120,000 has been raised so far, another $150,000 is needed. Tax-deductible donations (checks made out to BBTC) may be sent to Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club, P.O. Box 21288, Seattle, WA 98111 (questions: 206-524-2900 or justin@bbtc.org).
Colonnade Park would not have happened without years of effort by countless volunteers, non-profit groups, civil servants, and elected officials (for a more detailed history, contact the author). It was not unlike the “perils of Pauline,” in that seemingly impassable barriers continually arose but were overcome. The 1998 Eastlake Neighborhood Plan proposed a park at the Colonnade site (and Robert Rudine of the Olmsted-Fairview Park Commission contributed the name). But we soon discovered that Seattle’s Parks Dept. was in negotiations with WSDOT about using it only as an off-leash area. A grassroots 2000 amendment to Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan that calls for a pedestrian/bicycle connection at this location helped convince Seattle’s departments of Parks and Transportation to support steps and paths through the site.
Once we got support in principle for a multi-use park, the park still had to be funded. The Eastlake Community Council and the Olmsted-Fairview Park Commission (aided by other organizations, and many e-mails and letters and petition signatures) convinced a parks advisory committee, the Parks Dept., and the Mayor and City Council to put $1.8 million for the project into the 2000 parks levy, and then local volunteers helped in the campaign for voter approval. But the project nearly died again (the money would have been moved to parks elsewhere in the City) when WSDOT resisted a lease and then set too high a price.
Among elected officials, City Councilmember Richard McIver was our earliest and strongest supporter, and key assistance came later from Council members Richard Conlin, Nick Licata, and Peter Steinbrueck, who with McIver ensured full City funding and support for the project. State Rep. Ed Murray played a key role in convincing WSDOT to lease to the City, and at reasonable terms. Thanks also go to our other legislators, and to Mayors Schell and Nickels, and the rest of the City Council, as our support was ultimately unanimous.
Of course, it was the unique energy and breadth of the citizen coalition that set the stage and saw it through. It is all very satisfying—savor it, as not every open space campaign has a happy ending. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way. Enjoy this park knowing that you made it happen!

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City, School, and Monorail Candidates Debate at Oct. 11 ECC Annual Meeting

ECC’s Tuesday, Oct. 11 annual meeting (7-9 p.m. at TOPS-Seward School) is your chance to quiz Mayor, City Council, School Board, and Monorail Authority candidates; we will also hear the pro and con sides on gas tax repeal and whether to close or shorten the proposed new Monorail. Bring your written questions Oct. 11, or send them to ECC at 117 E. Louisa St. #1, Seattle 98102, cleman@oo.net. Thanks to ECC volunteer Melissa Ahlers for organizing the candidate and issues forum. The meeting begins with the ECC annual meeting and elections; meet and elect and your new ECC board.

Get Prepared for Disaster and Crime

Disarray in response to the Gulf Coast hurricanes reminds us to be better prepared for Seattle’s eventual earthquake, which would be even more crippling to our roads, bridges, airports, buildings, utilities, phones, etc. Every home should have a “72 hour kit,” with essentials like water, food, bandages, and a radio that does not need to be plugged in. Secure your water heater to the wall, as it can tip over and cause a fire or explosion. Get together with your neighbors to form a block or dock team for disaster preparedness and crime prevention. For assistance, contact the City’s emergency management office at 233-5076 or sdart@seattle.gov. And send an article for our next issue on how you are doing.

Emergency And Police Numbers

911 Crime, fire, health, or other emergency in progress
684-4071 Harbor Police
684-8763 Illegally parked or abandoned vehicles
684-5740 Investigations of burglary and theft
684-5797 Narcotics investigations
684-0330 Domestic violence
625-5911 Crime problems not requiring an immediate response
684-7717 Advice on setting up a block watch

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Quiet Rental Wanted (including separate space in home) wanted as second, part-time residence. (206) 417-0689

Eastlake News - a publication by the

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Seattle, WA 98102-3278

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Usch Engelmann. Please contact Usch at uengelmann@comcast.net . We welcome any comments, articles or images for possible publication.