Monthly Archives: May 2012

What is going on in Seattle!?!?

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Breaking News on King5.com, Seattle Police are searching for a gunman who ran away from Cafe Racer in the just east of Green Lake and I-5 and west of Ravenna Park.  Two male victims were killed, and two more men and a woman were taken to Harborview Medical Center.

The suspect is described as a white male, 6 feet 1 inches tall, 30 to 40 years old, very thin with curly, light brown hair.  He was wearing a white and brown plaid shirt.

Roosevelt is on lockdown and Eckstein Middle School and Greenlake Elementary students are bing told to shelter in place.  The public has been encouraged to stay away from the area.

This comes just a week after a Madrona murder, a shooting at Folklife, drive-by shooting in South Seattle, and a shooting death just this morning in Downtown Seattle in an apparent carjacking.

4724 California Ave Design Reivew Meeting This Week

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Although development has been slowing down rapidly over the past two years, we are starting to see projects pick up in various areas, such as West Seattle, and North Seattle neighborhoods like Ballard and Fremont. Plans for the 4724 California Ave project in West Seattle are still underway, and a Southwest Design Review Board meeting will be held this Thursday night at 6:30PM at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. This is the first public design meeting for the roughly 100unit building with retail space on the ground floor in the junction at the old Petco site. For more information on this project status, or other developments in the neighborhood, please visit the Department of Planning and Development.

Seattle Summer Streets Days Coming to Ballard & West Seattle

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It’s that time of year again; Seattle’s annual series of Summer Streets Days is here, where certain streets are marked off for pedestrians, bicycles, skateboards and various block parties in the surrounding Seattle areas, in particular the Ballard and West Seattle

West Seattle Street Closure, Photo Courtesy of Seattle Department of Transportation

neighborhoods. Beginning tomorrow night, 22nd st NW in Ballard will be closed off from 4-7pm right next to Bergen Place Park. Also on Sunday the majority of Alki Avenue Southwest will be closed to motorized vehicles between 9am-5pm to clear out for morning traffic, a  5k fun run, live music, and other activities. Please be prepared for traffic backups, and utilize non-motorized vehicles for transportation.

2012 Farmer’s Markets Summer Season Updates

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If you weren’t out enjoying this lovely turn of the weather this weekend you were one of few; as the sun starts to come out, so do the summer crops and the local farmers markets will open in a few weeks with a ton of fresh new produce. The 2012 farmer’s market season took off running this year, with some markets already up and others soon to follow in the next few weeks. The surrounding Seattle areas will have a few new faces like the Shoreline Farmer’s Market that will open June 16th and will close down others like the

Photo Courtesy of Zachary D. Lyons, copyright from the 2011 Wallingford Farmer's Market

Georgetown market, who didn’t see enough foot traffic the last few years, but hopes to return in the fall with more people coming in and out of the neighborhood. Keep in mind the U District and West Seattle Markets run year round; here is a list of openings to look out for when you’re in the neighborhood:

Burien: 11am-6pm Thursdays

Columbia City: 3-7pm Wednesdays ( and will open early to chefs only to check out the loot before the crowds, from 2-3pm)

Lake City: 3-7pm Thursdays, beginning June 14.

Phinney: 3-7pm Fridays, starting June 3rd.

Madrona: 3-7pm Fridays beginning May 18th.

Magnolia: 10am-2pm, Saturdays starting June 9th.

Queen Anne: 3-7:30pm Thursdays, beginning June 7th.

Wallingford: 3:30-7pm Wednesdays beginning May 30th, (opening early for chefs only from 3-3:30)

 

Save the West Seattle Grand Parade!

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The Committee that organizes the West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade every year, (that huge parade down California Ave SW in July that thousands watch with the array of floats and costumes) said that they won’t be able to put it on this year, unless they receive $3,500 in funding to cover parade costs. This will be the 2nd year that the city has required groups to pay the cost of street closures and barricades.

Photo Courtesy of the West Seattle Blog

Parade co-coordinator Dave Vague said “we are now responsible for the cost of the street barricade signs and the bid has come in at $7,000, and so far we have only been able to raise half that amount. If we are unable to raise the additional money needed by June 1 we need to cancel the parade this year.” This will be the 79th year of the parade, and this year for an added bonus, they are planning to do a 5k run before the start. The parade will not run without the support from donors and time is running out for funding to come in. If you’re interested in donating, or becoming a parade sponsor, you can donate online on the Parade Website. If the parade is not canceled this year, it will be held on July 21st.

Home Prices in King County on the Rise!

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For the first time in a very long time, home prices in King County rose last month, and have increased significantly in the Seattle city limits. According to the Seattle Pi, the median sale price was $360,000 countrywide in April and was $425,000 in Seattle. Rates have risen 2.9% nationwide, and 10.4% in Seattle alone. There’s something to be said for the Northwest after all.

Of course, there are still areas within King County that aren’t seeing the same increase that Seattle is, such as South King County where activity was simply OK. Lender owned homes, which generally sell for less went up this month as well, and overall sales of homes and condos were up in Seattle, and nationwide 19.2%.  Pending sales in our city have risen, indicating an increase in activity even though some of these don’t always close. It’s very promising that although the prices of homes are continually on the rise in Seattle and the surrounding King County areas, sales are just as high as ever. For listings in the Seattle area, click here.