Cat shot in Wedgwood.

Wow, this is terrible. A cat was shot in Wedgwood on Saturday. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009095393_webcat21m.html

Fundraising event for city council candidate David Miller in Wedgwood this Wednesday the 22nd.

As we found out during the Wedgwood condo project a couple of years ago, it is critical that the city actively supports our efforts to plan for Wedgwood's future growth and to help us work through controversial developments like the one that was planned for Wedgwood.

So this is why I want to let you know about an opportunity to support a candidate who is running for city council this year that would give Wedgwood this kind of support.

David Miller is the former president of the Maple Leaf Community Council and he spearheaded the efforts to help mitigate the impacts of similar development in the Maple Leaf community. I took this quote from his campaign:

David wants to Strengthen Neighborhoods - by bringing a neighborhood voice to the council, Prioritizing People - by revitalizing neighborhood business districts and make our neighborhoods safer for families, Growing Responsibly - by recommitting to the urban village strategy to prevent intra-urban sprawl and make the most of our transit investments. And David wants to Return to the Basics - it’s time to build sidewalks, improve pedestrian safety, spend prudently, and invest responsibly in our future.

But, what is critical for David's campaign now is that he needs to continue to raise funds to continue getting the word out. That's why we would like to invite you to David Miller's Fundraising Reception in Wedgwood:

Wednesday – April 22nd, 2009
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

HomeStreet Bank
8200 – 35th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 981115

If you are not able to attend, I hope that you will consider sending a contribution to support David in this campaign. Please go online to make a secure donation at www.millerforseattle.org

Thanks!

Greg

Oh yeah, and check out the list of endorsements he has received. It includes endorsements from both our very own King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson and former Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck.

Wedgwood's Bank of America robbed on Wednesday.

The Bank of America on the corner of 35th and 85th was robbed around 2pm yesterday.

Dubbed the 'Michael Moore' bandit by one PI wag, here's a photo of the alleged robber.

Muggings at the QFC?

Just saw this over at the Wedgwood blog - reports of two muggings on the north side of QFC. If you've got any additional info, pass it along.

Wedgwood condo building featured in the Seattle PI

One thing not mentiond in the article is that Murray Franklyn also gave us the okay to paint a neighborhood mural on the condo building on 35th.

You can read the article from the PI at:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/384193_noparking21.html

Tour de Wedgwood Graffiti - Summer 2008!

Here's the first contribution to our new 59.5 foot Festivus pole/cell phone tower at the corner of 75th and 35th.



These next two are from the old JCC building.




And this one is from - well the Zipcar sign on 35th.


It's been kind of a rough summer for the W-wood, with our neighborhood sign being stolen and vandals spraypainting buildings.

Could Wedgwood actually be in-line for some open space investment from the city?

Wanted to pass this along because it could be a benefit for Wedgwood.

The citizen's advisory committee for the upcoming Parks and Green Spaces Levy has made their final recommendation. (You can grab it here).

What is interesting for Wedgwood is that $24 million is being set aside for park acquisition - and of specific note were those neighborhoods that lag behind others in terms of how much open space they have. Well, guess whose on the list, our very own misspelled Wedgwood.

Anyway, two potential properties for acquisition are - the pocket park at the corner of 35th Ave NE and NE 86th Street, and the open space at 35th Ave NE and NE 80th Street.

So, there's going to be two public hearings on this - if you want to do something to help Wedgwood, these would be great meetings to attend and make your voice heard.
Public Hearing Times, Dates and Locations:

Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 5:30 start time
Seattle City Council Chambers
City Hall
600 4th Ave. 2nd Floor

Wednesday, July 17, 2008 - 5:30 start time
Seattle City Council Chambers
City Hall
600 4th Ave. 2nd Floor

Park Land, Facilities or Trail Corridors in Urban Villages and Single Family Neighborhoods - $24 million

Description:
This project will allow for the purchase of land in areas of the Seattle that have been identified by the Seattle Parks and Recreation as having most deficit in its 2006 Development Plan and Gap Analysis.

Urban Villages:
To increase open space in urban villages, this project focuses on those areas where the amount of available open space does not meet City standards in 50 percent or more of the village. Open space could be increased either by acquiring property for new parks, facilities or trail corridors and/or by buying property to expand existing parks, facilities or trail corridors. The 17 urban villages which do not meet City standards in 50 percent or more of the village area are:
-12th Avenue Urban Center Village
-Ballard Urban Village
-Belltown Urban Center Village
-Bitter Lake Hub Urban Village
-Capitol Hill Urban Center Village
-Chinatown-International District Urban Center Village
-Commercial Core Urban Center Village
-Denny Triangle Urban Center Village
-First Hill Urban Center Village
-Fremont Hub Urban Village
-Greenwood-Phinney Ridge Residential Urban Village
-Morgan Junction Residential Urban Village
-North Rainier Hub Urban Village
-Ravenna Urban Center Village
-University Urban Center Village
-West Seattle Junction Hub Urban Village
-Westwood-Highland Residential Urban Village

Single Family Areas:
To increase open space in single family areas that do not meet City open space standards, this project allows for the acquisition of property for new parks, facilities or trail corridors. Single family areas that are deficient in open space are:
-Wedgewood (sic) Neighborhood NE of Dahl Playfield
-Beach Drive Northwest of Morgan Junction

Why is there a new 59 1/2 foot cell phone tower in Wedgwood?

Recently saw a comment on the blog asking why a cell phone tower was built without public comment at the corner of 35th and 75th.

There actually was a comment period, and I've listed a response from Seattle City Light below. How well the comment period was promoted within the neighborhood is another question, but on the other hand nobody really stepped up to try to stop it. So, the thing now is to try and make the best of the situation.

The subject pole is in a Neighborhood Commercial 2-30 (NC 2-30) zone, and the proposed height (59′6″) is under 60′, so DPD review is not required by code and the facility is exempt from SEPA review. T-Mobile provided SCL a copy of the notice of a neighborhood meeting held at Eckstein Middle School on 12/11/06 and reported that the notice was sent to property owners (151) within 500′ of the pole. T-Mobile also reported that only one person attended the meeting; she did not want to sign in but was in favor of the project because her T-Mobile service is so poor. SCL did not receive any written comments.

Update - Wedgwood condo development on hiatus too.

Just wanted to send out this quick update - I talked to a representative from Murray Franklyn and due to the current market conditions, now isn't the best time for them to start this condo project. Construction may start in 6 to 9 months, but nothing is firm.

Blog on hiatus

Hi, just wanted to write up that since everything seems to be all quiet on the Wedgwood front right now, that the blog will be on hiatus until anything pops up again.

Reality denied. Church says no to hosting tent city this summer in View Ridge.

On March 10th the Sand Point Community United Methodist Church voted to decline hosting a tent city this July and August. The church didn't mention the specific reasons why in their press release, but KOMO TV coverage of an earlier tent city meeting strongly hints at why this failed - high tensions with View Ridge residents.

One quote from KOMO TV said,

"The fear is not for me, it's for my children and that is my responsibility," yelled another parent. "They're the most vulnerable members of this community and for you to stand up and tell me it's irrational is completely unacceptable!"

Personally, I think tent cities can be good opportunities for sheltered neighbors to tackle some of their fears about the homeless and perhaps even use it as an opportunity to educate their families about what being homeless is like. In a way, you could say that the View Ridge neighborhood lost the most by letting go of the opportunity to learn about a different reality.

Hopefully the View Ridge community will now focus their passion and efforts on helping the tent city find a new location this summer. I'll update you on that progress later.

Tent City at Sand Point United Methodist this summer?

The Sand Point United Methodist church is currently debating whether to host Tent City this summer. There was a community meeting about this last night (sorry about the lack of notice) and the church has put together a page on their web site with more info.

And here's something I just learned, not only was Wedgwood a host to Tent City back in 2003, but it seemed to have been a good experience for everyone. The PI wrote an article about it called 'Roving shelter wins over neighborhood'.

Hopefully the Wedgwood experience here can help provide some guidance to ensuring that this summer's tent city is as equally successful.

(PI photo - getting your braid on in Wedgwood)

Yummy cafe is...what's the word I'm thinking of...oh, right, yummy!

I thought it would be fun to start giving shout outs to some of the great businesses in the Wedgwood/View Ridge/Hawthorne Hills metroplex. So with that in mind...let me start off with one of my top take-out joints.

Located across the street from the Hawthorne Hills Metropolitan Market in a cheerfully lit double-wide, Yummy Cafe not only offers a fine dining experience inside, but they deliver all the way up to Wedgwood! (Very important when you'd rather stay at home watching Flight of the Conchords).

Some of my faves here; hot and sour soup, beef chow fun, and brocolli in oyster sauce.

And if you don't trust my food choices, check out the sign they posted from the 55th Street School - c'mon, you don't get something like that if your food isn't good.

Wedgwood Democratic caucus packs 'em in, Obama wins the fightin' 46-2271st (4 to 2)

Wow, I now know that you can pack an entire neighborhood into a small elementary school. Things were pretty chaotic between 1-1:30pm today as folks jammed into AEII/Thornton Creek Elementary to caucus for Clinton and Obama today.

Things took a little slower to get going, but it's because the turnout was WAY more than what was expected.

In the 46-2271 precinct 119 folks showed up and voted 79 for Obama, 35 for Clinton, and 7 undecided (down from 14 at the beginning of the caucus). Because we were given 6 delegates, it means that 4 went to Obama and 2 to Clinton.

When people stood up to speak for their candidates, I felt that the Clinton supporters had more consistent and on-point messages. However, at the end of the day, the main points I took away from each side were:

Pro-Clinton - Clinton is experienced and knows how to get things done.

Pro-Obama - Obama can rally the nation and beat the Republicans.

Against-Clinton - Clinton voted for the Iraq war and when pushed she will abandon her core convictions.

Against-Obama - Obama hasn't given us his specific plans, can't solve issues with generalities.

All-in-all though, it was a good natured group of Democrats and they all appear ready to line up behind whoever wins the party nomination.

Here are some photos from today's caucus, and 'good job' to everyone who showed up!
(If anyone has any Wedgwood Republican updates they want to send - let me know).

Wedgwood neighborhood history display - now available at the NE Branch Library

Make sure to check out the Wedgwood neighborhood history display at the NE Branch Libary - You can learn more about Wedgwood's history from our neighborhood historian Valarie Bunn.

If you enjoy seeing photos of Wedgwood in the old days, please visit the neighborhood history display at the North East Branch Library, 6801 35th Avenue NE, in the month of February. The display includes Wedgwood, Meadowbrook, Laurelhurst and others. I'll be there every Wednesday at 1 PM to hear your questions and comments.
--Valarie Bunn, Wedgwood neighborhood historian