Join Seattle City Councilmember Sally J. Clark for a special Committee on the Built Environment meeting on:

Rowhouses, Apartments & Townhomes – New Rules for the Road

Saturday, March 20

10 a.m. – noon

Taproot Theatre in Greenwood (204 N 85^th St)

It’s time to change the way we design and shape new lowrise buildings in Seattle.  City Council will change the code to make quality, sustainable, well-designed multifamily housing that synchs with the neighborhoods where they are built – and we need your help!  This is a prime opportunity for Councilmembers to hear your feedback

Meeting Format:

 

• Council Staff will highlight some of the hot-button issues.
• Councilmembers will then work through some of the topics
• Substantial time will be dedicated to hearing from you, the attendees
• Coffee and doughnuts will fuel the creativity

Highlighted topics will include parking requirements, building heights, density limits, code simplification,...

SeattleCrime.com is reporting that the man who was arrested following a sexual assault at an Aurora motel last week never regained consciousness and died on Friday after being taken off of life support.  Though SeattleCrime.com reported that medics were called to remove Taser barbs from the suspect and that a Seattle Police Officers Guild was on the scene, the information released by the SPD has not yet commented on these reports, stating that indeed the man resisted arrest, but that he was subsequently transported to Harborview Medical Center due to a suspected drug overdose.

According to SeattleCrime.com,

According to SPD spokesman Sean Whitcomb, officers' use of force is being reviewed as per department policy.

The King County Medical Examiner's office has not determined the cause of Wright's death and may not have a final report for 8-10 weeks.

Meanwhile, a community organizer honors the motel manager that stepped in to stop the sexual assault.

Check out this Seattle Times article from the weekend in which Hugo Kugiya takes readers on a rather delicious tour of some of Seattle's more hidden eateries, including Aurora's own, Paladar Cubano.  Interestingly, Paladar Cubano was the first restaurant ever reviewed on the Aurora|Seattle "Reviews" page.  For a while it was the only restaurant reviewed... until reader "kateinbitterlake" added multiple reviews recently.  Thanks, Kate!

Kugiya has some great things to say about Aurora food:

SEATTLE, A FORWARD-LOOKING city in a New World country, serves plenty of well-prepared, creative food, but not very much traditional food. Here, most traditions have to be imported, then somehow nurtured without the benefit of large numbers, sometimes in a Chevy panel truck parked on a gravel lot.

That is where, 50 blocks north of Paseo, Pedro Vargas, a drummer raised in Bahia Honda, Cuba, serves the real Cuban sandwich. He came to Seattle years ago to perform at Jazz Alley, staying because he fell in love with a...

You've heard the police report about what happened last Sunday night at an Aurora motel.  Now Karen Cirulli, a community organizer along the Aurora corridor, salutes the brave motel manager who broke up the sexual assault and subdued the suspect until police (lots of them!) arrived:

This past year I have been delighted to meet new faces on Aurora, some of whom have become friends. Samantha is one of those folks that I have had the honor of getting to know. "Sammie" is a twenty-something office manager at the lovely Everspring Inn on Aurora Ave.  She is a very dedicated and hard working woman who takes great care of the Everspring office and guests, and has a heart for the community . Sammie helped host the Everspring BBQ back in November. Yes, November. Despite the slightly cold and rainy weather the community came out to listen to music, eat burgers and hang out. Aurora is not exactly a place to just hang out, let alone in a motel parking lot, so this was a beautiful picture...

The Aurora Traffic Safety Project announced today on their Facebook page that the left turn signals from 80th St. onto Aurora are now up and running!

The Project's Public Task Force reported that drivers often made risky left turns at this intersection. This put both drivers and pedestrians at risk - especially students walking to Bagley Elementary School. Thanks to the Aurora Traffic Safety Project, drivers now have a green arrow allowing them to make this turn without putting the pedal to the metal and putting others at risk. 

See all of our planned improvements on our website by clicking on "Action Plan".

 

Here's an update about a story we've been tracking from the SPD Blotter:

On March 2nd, the suspect wanted for the assault of a Seattle Police officer in North Seattle on February 10th, was taken into custody  in San Diego, Californina, as he was attempting to cross the border back into the United States from Mexico.  The Pacific Northwest Fugitive Apprehension Task Force (PNWFAT) worked tirelessly in their pursuit of  Steve C. Hyatt.   The PNWFAT is a U.S. Marshals-sponsored partnership comprised of investigators from the King County Sheriff’s Office, Seattle Police Department, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Washington State Department of Corrections, and the U.S. Marshals Service.   The Task Force was formed to concentrate apprehension efforts to remove federal, state and local fugitives from the streets.  The Task Force objective is to disrupt illegal gang, gun and drug activity in the Pacific Northwest...

The 46th Street Mural Project just opened its survey of the Fremont and Wallingford community surrounding the mural site. To take the survey, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7GSHTZR

At least thirteen police cars were parked outside the Everspring Inn at 82nd and Aurora just after 11 p.m. Sunday.  Officers were milling around and conversing in small groups.  They told Aurora|Seattle that "a disturbance occurred" and that is all they can share at this time. 

Meanwhile, the folks over at SeattleCrime.com are gathering details, saying that a man was seriously injured by a police taser.

Update: The Seattle Times has this report this morning.

Mayor Mike McGinn's Youth and Families Initiative community meetings, which were kicked off a week ago at the Rainer Community Center, will continue this week on Monday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in our neck of the woods at Northgate Elementary School.

According to the invitation extended to Seattleites on McGinn's website, the series of meetings have been convened around the city because, "The children and families of our city are facing many difficult challenges. As a community, we need to talk about what we want for our kids and how best to create a healthy, positive and equitable environment for all families in our city."

Indeed we must talk, says one emerging Seattle organization, Seattle Against Slavery, which sees the Youth and Families Initiative conversation as a fitting context within which to advocate for victims and survivors of human trafficking.  "The theme of these meeting is 'what's best for our kids'," stated Deana Berg, Metro Government Relations Director for Seattle Against Slavery (SAS)...

Aurora|Seattle partner, the Seattle Times, reported yesterday that the half-developed apartment building at Aurora Ave on 72nd Street known as the Tyee condo project has been sold to GramorDevelopment:

A half-built apartment building on the site of the landmark Twin Teepees restaurant near Green Lake has a new owner, who says it plans to resume construction and have the 24 units ready for leasing by June.

GramorDevelopment of Seattle purchased the property at Aurora Avenue North and North 72nd Street this week for $2.14 million, according to county records.

Work on the four-story project, Tyee at Green Lake, stopped a year ago when the previous developer, Bristol Homes, ran into financial trouble. A receiver was appointed to manage the project last March.

The neighborhood will have to wait and see how this project, which currently looks like a big orange box, turns out.

Join artists Susan Brown, Todd Lown and Kristen Ramirez, finalists, for a COMMUNITY CONVERSATION about THE 46TH STREET MURAL at the Aurora underpass.

TUESDAY, MARCH 2ND 6:30-8:30
FREMONT ABBEY ARTS CENTER
4272 Fremont Ave N | www.fremontabbey.org
 
Come have a voice for OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Supported by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods - Fremont Neighborhood Council <fiscal sponsor> - Fremont Chamber of Commerce - Wallingford Boys & Girls Club - Fremont Abbey - Fremont Arts Council - Rodda Paint - Stoneway Hardware - Bob Suh - Ballard Window Works and community members like you.  Learn more at http://fremocentrist.com/archives/074_02-24-10.html Follow the 46th Street Mural Project at http://twitter.com/46thStreetMural and become a fan of 46th Street Mural Project on Facebook http://www.facebook.com. 

A few months ago we reported on the new Aurora Traffic Safety Project billboards located on Aurora at 47th Street and 107th Street.  While these billboards had to do with combating speeding on the corridor, the next billboard campaign will aim to reduce distracted driving and remind drivers to expect pedestrians.

According to the SDOT blog, which gives a shout-out to Oprah's "No Phone Zone" pledge website, billboards stressing the themes of distracted driving and pedestrian safety will appear on Aurora Avenue North beginning this summer.

Currently, the billboard campaign is being developed by the task force Aurora Traffic Safety Project.  Once the group has solidified the themes, they will work with a focus group to gauge their effectiveness and work with Clear Channel to identify billboard locations, an SDOT representative told Aurora|Seattle.

Presumably, billboard content and locations that do not cause distraction will be chosen...

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) got the word out early this week to residents on streets neighboring Aurora Avenue about the SR 99 Intelligent Transportations Systems Project.

The project, which is a joint effort of WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), involves the installation of "Intelligent Transportation Systems," such as traffic cameras, new signal timing equipment including traffic sensors, and overhead electronic message boards.  According to the project website, these traffic information tools are part of a $11.5 million project that will "bring more real-time traffic information to drivers on SR 99" in an attempt to "keep traffic and freight moving during construction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement."

While much of the project work, which began in January and is expected to finish this July, will take place Monday through Friday during the day, some of the construction will happen at night to avoid significant traffic backups since multiple...

Our next door neighbors over at Phinneywood alerted us to this:

The Seattle Department of Transportation will close the right hand, southbound lane of the Aurora Bridge on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day to repair the exterior surface of a bridge column.

So if you’re heading downtown, be prepared for some slowdowns.

An interesting letter to the Editor over at shorelineareanews.com proposes that the Shoreline City Council change the name of their section of Highway 99 from Aurora Avenue to Shoreline Boulevard.  Among the advantages cited for changing the name are the following:

The name change gets rid of the old negative connotations associated with the name of Aurora.

It will be an aid to Economic Development.

It will strengthen the sense of Community.

It will tie in with the new City Hall

It will tie in with the work being done to create a new “ City Center.”

It only requires a Resolution by the City Council

What do you think about this idea?  Should they go for it?

Hopefully this idea doesn't migrate south - we'd have to rename this blog!

From SeattleCrime.com:

A man and a woman were attacked on Aurora over the weekend by a group of men who were apparently out looking for a prostitute.

The man and woman were walking home on 107th and Aurora at 11:00 p.m. on February 12th when a a silver 4 door sedan circled the block and pulled up alongside them.

Three men—described in the report as three black males, possibly Ethiopian—got out of the car and asked the woman if she was a prostitute. The couple got into an argument with the group of men, which quickly escalated into a physical confrontation.

For the complete story, visit here.

As our partner site, the Seattle Times, reported earlier today, the Seattle Police have released the photo of man who was charged last Friday with assaulting an officer following a car chase turned foot chase that began near Aurora Avenue North and 90th Street.

Seattle police are asking for the public's help in locating Steve C. Hyatt, who was charged last week with assaulting a police officer and attempting to disarm her following a Feb. 10 pursuit in North Seattle.

Hyatt, 33, was charged Friday with assault, attempting to disarm the officer, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and hit-and-run driving.

He is described as a white, 5-feet-6, 180 pounds, with green eyes and short-cropped hair. A recent photograph of Hyatt, taken by police after a separate arrest for driving while under the influence, was released by police.

Anyone who sees Hyatt should call 911 immediately, and anyone with information should call Seattle police Detective Tim Wear at 206-684-893...

Aurora|Seattle has been tracking the Aurora Traffic Safety Project for quite some time, but we don't catch everything!  Thanks to our neighbor blog, MyGreenLake, we were reminded about an event taking place at the Aurora PCC (okay, it's usually known as the Greenlake PCC) this Saturday, February 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m..

According to the SDOT blog, 

The Aurora Traffic Safety Project has partnered with PCC Natural Markets – Greenlake on a traffic safety education event to take place on Saturday, February 13^th.  The goal of this effort is to reduce unsafe behavior that contributes to collisions on Aurora such as speeding, failure to yield to vehicles and pedestrians, and inattention.   

We will be handing out informative cards containing facts about Aurora as well as safety reflectors and reusable shopping bags branded with the PCC and Aurora Traffic Safety Project logos (see photo below). 

From the SPD Blotter:

On 2/10/10, at approximately 12:45 a.m., an officer attempted to contact the suspect on a traffic violation in the area of 90th and Aurora Av N. The suspect, described as a white male in his 20’s, refused to yield to the officers lights and sirens.

A very brief pursuit ensued and was quickly terminated.  Moments later, the suspect crashed into a house in the area. There were people inside the home but they were not injured. The suspect got out of his vehicle and attempted to run away from the scene on foot. The officer chased the suspect at which point the suspect assaulted the officer and attempted to disarm her.

The officer continued to give chase and at some point lost sight of the suspect. The officer was treated on scene by Seattle Fire and transported to an area hospital with unknown injuries. 

As of 2:30 a.m., the suspect was still outstanding.

The Seattle Times reported earlier today that police arrested a man just after midnight on Monday morning at the 8900 block of Aurora for firing a pellet rifle repeatedly from a rooftop towards signs across the street.

For the complete story, go here.

According to an aware neighbor and an SDOT confirmation, the Seattle Department of Transportation has begun the process of installing left-turn signals for vehicles turning from 80th Street onto Aurora Avenue.  The process will also include the installation of new control boxes and a replacement utility pole "arm" for one that was repeatedly damaged by passing vehicles.  If the installation process continues as planned, the signals should be functioning by March.

In an email to Aurora|Seattle, Cindy Potter, Parent Teacher Association President at Daniel Bagley Elementary, stated:

Bagley Elementary parents and neighbors have been concerned about pedestrian safety at this intersection for many years and have asked SDOT on several occasions to install a left-turn signal. This intersection is heavily used by students walking to Bagley Elementary. In an informal survey last year, Bagley parents determined that approximately 14% of our student population walks or bikes across Aurora Avenue at least...

If your driving or walking or bus riding happens to be bringing you through the intersection at 85th and Aurora, just be aware that there is a temporary slowdown while some changes are being made on the wiring and the switches for the intersection's traffic lights.  Police officers are in the middle of the intersection directing traffic, so watch out!

In their most recent newsletter, GAIN announced a meeting intended to gather information from the public that will be used as part of the search process for a new police chief:

Mayor McGinn has appointed 26 people to serve on the search committee for a new police chief.  Cindy Potter from GAIN is one of the members of this committee.  As part of the process the committee is asking the public for input on what criteria you want used in evaluating candidates.  The committee is hosting a public meeting, February 10, 5:30-8:30pm at Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave NE.  Soon there will also be a website where you can provide input.  Stay tuned!

A man trying to cross Aurora Avenue at around 45th Street was struck by a southbound vehicle in the evening on January 28.  He was transported to Harborview, where he later died from injuries.  According to the SPD Blotter:

On January 28th, at approximately 8:12 pm, a Chevrolet Blazer was travelling southbound on Aurora Avenue North approaching the 4500 Block.  At that time, a pedestrian was crossing Aurora Avenue westbound.  When the pedestrian reached the southbound lanes, he was struck by the Blazer.  The male pedestrian was transported to Harborview Medical Center by SFD Medics.  He died from his injuries at the hospital.  Officers evaluated the driver of the Blazer for any signs of impairment, but none were found.  Detectives from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad responded and processed the scene.  The southbound lanes of Aurora Avenue at that block were closed for a time while detectives conducted their investigation.  The driver was interviewed...



CALL TO ARTISTS- 46TH ST. MURAL PROJECT:

A mural to bridge the Fremont and Wallingford communities in Seattle, to bring a positive visual message to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists traveling under Highway 99 (Aurora Ave.) at N. 46th St.

Our goal is to oversee the creation of a mural as a positive expression of our community and to bring people together from the local neighborhoods in the process.

The selected artist(s) will coordinate execution of their design with Urban Artworks (www.urbanartworks.org) who will serve as project manager. Urban Artworks will execute the actual painting of the mural. We are looking solely for a design from the artist.

LOCATION: North side of underpass at N. 46th St. at Aurora Avenue North–Hwy. 99–in Seattle, WA 98103

SITE: A long wall divided in to 3 sections that taper on both east and west ends– mural design also to include 9 columns that stand in front of the mural wall.

Dimensions–approx. 4500 sq. ft. total (see attached pictures + diagram):

West section: approx.1000 sq....