Here are the Council, OPCD and SDCI Land Use notices in the past month for communities from 18th Ave. to Lake Washington and E Union St. to SR-520.

2320 E Union St - Design Review
Design Review Board Recommendation Meeting for proposed six story structure with a total of 115 apartment units above 3,264 sq. ft. of commercial space. Parking for 18 vehicles will be located within the structure. This project requires a contract rezone from Neighborhood Commercial 2 with a 40′ height limit and pedestrian overlay and a Neighborhood Commercial 2 with a 40′ height limit — no pedestrian overlay to a Neighborhood Commercial 2 with 65′ height limit and pedestrian overlay. Comments and request to be made a party of record may be submitted through November 30 to [email protected]

Wednesday, November 30, 2016, 6:30 p.m.
Seattle University
824 12th Ave
Admissions & Alumni Community Building - Stuart T Rolfe Room
Campus Map
Notice of Design Review Meeting

1106 34th Ave
Council Land Use Action to rezone a 10,917 sq. ft. portion of land from LR2 (Multi-Family) to NC1-30 (Neighborhood Commercial). The property is bounded on the South by East Spring Street, to the West by 34th Avenue, to the North by a commercial building at 1112 34th Ave and to the East by an unimproved alley adjacent to 1101 35th Avenue. Comments regarding environmental impacts may be submitted through November 30 to [email protected]
Notice of Revised Application

111 26th Ave E
Application to allow one, 3-story, four-unit rowhouse structure in an environmentally critical area. Parking for 14 vehicles proposed within the structure. Existing structure to be demolished. Environmental review includes future unit lot subdivision. Zone: Potential slide area, steep slope (>=40%), Lowrise 2
Notice of Application

2212 E Miller St
Application to allow a covered porch addition to a single-family dwelling unit with a variance to allow principal structure to extend into required front yard. Zone: Single Family 5000
Notice of Application

457 39th Ave E
Decision on application to allow a new three-story, single-family dwelling unit in an environmentally critical area. Parking for one vehicle to be located within the structure. Existing single family dwelling to be demolished. Zone: Urban residential, potential slide area, steep slope (>=40%), scenic view within 500 ft., Single Family 7200
Notice of Decision

2814 E Union St
Application to subdivide one development site into three unit lots. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots. Zone: Lowrise 1, arterial within 100 ft.
Notice of Application

154 20th Ave E
Application to subdivide one development site into two unit lots. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots. Zone: Lowrise-3, Urban Village overlay
Notice of Application

131 22nd Ave E
Decision on application to subdivide one development site into seven unit lots. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots. Zone: Lowrise-3, scenic view within 500ft., Urban Village overlay
Notice of Decision

132 21st Ave E
Decision on application to subdivide one development site into four unit lots. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots. Zone: Lowrise-3, scenic view within 500 ft., Urban Village overlay
Notice of Decision

Resources

Land Use Information Bulletins
Property & Building Activity Interactive Map 
Design Review Board
Buildings in Design Review Map
Seattle In Progress

There were 54 incidents in Madison Valley reported to the police during October, an increase to more typical levels after four months of abnormally low totals. As usual, increases in car prowls and vehicular theft drove the change from previous months, but the number of burglaries also increased.

1. During the early afternoon of Oct. 1 a burglar entered a home on 22nd near Roy through an unlocked front door. At the time of the burglary the residents had taken their newly born daughter to a medical appointment and two grandparents had taken the household dog for a short walk. Police suspect that the burglar had been observing the home in anticipation of a burglary opportunity. The burglar stole two iPads and two laptop computers. Police found no fingerprints at the scene.

2. Sometime between 7 AM and 6 PM on Oct. 3 a burglar broke into a storage unit at a residence on 23rd near Olive and stole a Windows PC. Police found no usable fingerprints in the unit.

3. During the night of Oct. 4–5, someone entered the unlocked garage of a house on 21st Ave. E. near Prospect and stole an orange Schwinn bicycle. The burglar also took other items from the garage and bundled them in a large blanket, but left the bundled items in the alleyway. There were no fingerprints at the scene.

4. Also during the night of Oct. 4–5 someone broke into a detached garage of a house on 20th Ave. E. near Prospect and stole a bicycle and a pair of skiing boots. When they discovered the break in, the residents found another bicycle next to the garage that was apparently left by the burglar. Although the police report for this incident does not specify the type of bicycle left by the burglar, it appears that it was the orange Schwinn that was taken during the burglary described above (the two garages are on the same alleyway). The police found no fingerprints.

5. Sometime between 2 PM and 4:30 PM on Oct 6 a burglar broke into a house on 26th near Mercer through a rear deck door and stole electronic equipment and a movie projector.  The same house was burglarized in September.  Painters who were working at a house across the street reported that they had seen a white male with black hair and a beard knock at the front door and then walk to the back of the house. Police found fingerprints in the house.

6. At approximately 1:30 AM on Oct. 7 two burglars broke into a restaurant on E. Madison near Lake Washington Blvd. Once inside, the burglars attempted but failed to open a drop-box safe and then left. Security cameras yielded a poor quality record of the burglary, showing only that the two burglars were male, with one being white and the other being black. Police did not attempt to find fingerprints on the safe because it had been handled by employees since the burglary.

7. During the night of Oct. 9–10 someone broke into a business on Aloha near 19th by breaking a glass door. The burglar stole a desktop computer worth approximately $3000. Police found no fingerprints.

8. On Oct. 10 police were called to investigate a burglary at the residence that had reported a garage burglary several days earlier (burglary #3 above). The owner reported that she had been away from home the past couple of days and that when she returned she found that someone had broken into her house through a window. The burglar left muddy footprints throughout the home as he searched for items to take. The police report does not report the items taken or their value nor does it specify whether there was a search for fingerprints.

9. Sometime during Oct. 17–18 someone broke into a shed at a residence on 20th near Republican and stole two mountain bikes worth approximately $650.

Finally, on Oct. 24 at around 7:30 AM police were called to 19th and Pine to investigate a report of an aggravated assault. When they arrived a fire department squad was already there and the victim had been told that he should go to a hospital and have a foot injury examined. The victim was generally unresponsive when the police questioned him about what had happened, but eventually he gave details about the assault that did not match his physical injuries. The victim also refused emergency transportation to a medical facility, stating that he would instead take a bus.

Lowell Hargens is a Madison Valley resident and former University of Washington professor of sociology specializing in the statistical analysis of data.

I sat down last month with Jim Henkens of Marine Area 7 to learn more about him and his Madison Valley business. We sat near the register on a beautiful afternoon. The door was open and Jim graciously answered my questions between tending to customers.

Lindy: Jim, how would you describe Marine Area 7?

Jim: It’s a curated store of things that I find beautiful and functional.

I know you’re a well-respected food photographer. How does your photography and the store work together?

I’ve been a food photographer for ten years. I source the props at flea markets and sales in the US and Europe. I’d accumulated a storage locker of these culinary antiques, but I couldn’t keep using the same stuff, so my wife Jennifer and I thought it would be fun to open a store selling them, along with other unique culinary items. This is my version of a kitchen store, where you can find things you can’t find anywhere else.

I love that you go on buying trips around the world looking for beautiful objects.

I look for vintage items, as those sell the best. We just got back from ten days in Texas at the Round Top antique fair, and we’re about to get our shipment in.

It seems like just yesterday you opened. How long has your store been open?

We opened in December of 2014, so almost two years.

Who are your customers?

Neighborhood people. People in the food and lifestyle businesses – photographers, stylists, and buyers. We’re slowly getting known for larger items such as furniture and fixtures.

I’ve noticed you’re doing private events here. How did that come to be?

I installed a kitchen in the back for my food photography. Once the kitchen was there customers started asking if they could rent the space. It’s a beautiful space for private parties. We’ve done dinners for 10–14 people. I do the cooking or invite a guest chef to cook.

And are you’re doing public events in the shop?”

Yes. We’re trying to do one a week.

For example, December 10th from 4:00–6:00 we’re have a book signing with Cynthia Nims. We’re featuring her two new books Crab and Oysters.

Your photos in these books are beautiful.

Thank you. They gave me a lot of freedom with the photos.

Where does the name Marine Area 7 come from?

Marine Area 7 is the San Juan Islands, where we go crabbing. You have to write the name of the marine area on your catch card, and after writing Marine Area 7 so often, it seemed like a natural.

What do you want customers to know about Marine Area 7?

I want them to know that they can find things here that they can’t find anywhere else. What we sell is unique, high quality, functional, and beautiful.

Marine Area 7
2814 E Madison Street
Open: Tuesday-Saturday 11-6, Sunday 12-5
http://www.marinearea7.com
https://www.instagram.com/marinearea7/

Madison Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service will provide public transportation between Martin Luther King Jr Way in Madison Valley and First Avenue downtown. The project received design feedback from the public in August and is incorporating this feedback into the next design milestone, scheduled for early 2017. Subsequently, the project will move forward with the environmental review process and engage property owners, businesses, and residents to develop a construction phasing plan. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2018.

For more information, please visit www.seattle.gov/transportation/MadisonBRT.htm or email Emily Reardon, Public Information Officer, at [email protected].

Bush teacher Ben Wheeler’s elective Urban Forestry class has taken to the muddy slopes of the Harrison Ridge Greenbelt with smiles all around. It’s a popular class. Ben combines classroom learning with two days of field work per week for several weeks of two sessions a year in the spring and fall.

The students use picks and loppers to remove invasive plants such as ivy and blackberries. They create “life rings” around trees to protect them from the invasives. A layer of burlap and wood chips is then put down over the newly bare areas.

Each session has its own rewards. In spring, the students experience the bare branches of shrubs and trees at the beginning of their session and then delight in the leafing out and flowering that occurs over the weeks.

Fall’s reward is the installation of new plants. The Parks Department delivers a treasure trove of native ferns, trees, and shrubs that were ordered by the Greenbelt’s forest stewards. It’s tons of fun to plant the new forest baby plants.

Ben Wheeler working alongside a student.

Some people mistakenly think that the wild areas around Seattle can be left unattended. This attitude of benevolent neglect, however, does not promote a healthy urban forest. Committed removal of invasive plants and the nurturing of a diverse selection of new natives create sustainable flora and habitat for wildlife.

Harrison Ridge Greenbelt Forest Stewards Trina Wherry and Catherine Nunneley are immensely grateful to Ben and his students. We love working alongside them and are always astonished at the huge progress they are able to make. Thanks a bunch, Bush School!!

New paintings by Rebecca Allan will be showing at the Baas Framing Studio & Madison Art Collective from November 10 – December 31, 2016.

The opening Reception is Thursday November 10, 5 to 8 p.m.

“Port Miou, Cassis II,” acrylic on canvas

Rebecca Allan’s richly chromatic paintings are inspired by her interests in ecology, botany, and geology. Watershed and coastal landscapes are favorite subjects, drawn from the artist’s travels in the US and Europe and from her current home in New York. Allan has exhibited her work in over twenty solo exhibitions across the US during a career spanning 25 years. She was a visiting artist at the Lebanese American University in Beirut in 2015. To learn more about the artist, visit her web site.

Also new at the gallery: ceramics by Curtis Yu

Opening Reception: Thursday November 10, 5 to 8 p.m.

“Vessel with Horsehair #8,” raku-fired stoneware

We are pleased to introduce our clients to the artwork of Seattle ceramic artist Curtis Yu. Yu began creating in clay at a young age and has pursued his study of ceramics with a rare passion. Yu creates one-of-a-kind pieces with unique and subtle surfaces. The Gallery will feature a generous selection of his raku-fired vessels in clear crackle glazes and horsehair designs.

Join us at the opening reception to meet this talented young artist!

Baas Framing Studio & Madison Art Collective
206-324-4742
http://www.baasframingstudio.com
2703 E. Madison

Mark your calendars! The next public meeting of the Madison Valley Community Council is on Tuesday, November 15th, at the MLK F.A.M.E. Community Center. We hope you’ll join us to catch up on events over the last few months, get involved in making some new projects happen, and share your thoughts on where we should be focusing our efforts.

Topics we’ll be covering include:

• Proposals for short-term and long-term community projects / committee sign-up

• Clarification of distinctions between Madison Valley Community Council (MVCC), Madison Valley Merchants Association (MVMA), and Save Madison Valley (SMV)

• Changes to MVCC board and open officer position

• Pending revisions to MVCC by-laws

• Treasurer’s report

• New public meeting schedule

The meeting will be only an hour long, so bring a few bucks for the donation jar, grab a cookie, and enjoy some quality time with your neighbors. See you there!

Penelope Karovsky
President
Madison Valley Community Council

UPDATE: After a year's work in finding and training just the right groomers, Just Around The Corner dog grooming is NOW OPEN!

Finally, a dog groomer in Madison Valley! 

I’ve been asking groomers across the city to open a location in Madison Valley for years, and now I’m happy to report that Just Around the Corner dog grooming will be located next door to All the Best Pets. 

JATC offers a complete range of dog grooming services, including nail trims. The full range of services is available here: http://www.jatcgrooming.com

This will be the second location for JATC, their first is in Queen Anne. The Queen Anne location has 80 reviews, most of them 5 star.

Long-standing traditions are what Thanksgiving is about, and Cafe Flora’s celebration is no exception! For 25 years Cafe Flora has offered a memorable, vegetarian Thanksgiving and this year it takes form in two thoughtfully crafted, four-course menus for the whole family. The adult four-course menu includes seasonally-inspired options such as Heirloom Potato, Celery Root, and Black Garlic Soup with black pepper shortbread (available vegan/gluten free), Marsala Mushroom and Cauliflower Ragout over roasted squash with smashed rutabaga and Yukon gold potato, green bean fried shallots and fresh pomegranate-Asian pear chutney (vegan and gluten free), and Pumpkin Cheesecake with graham crust, meringue, candied pepitas with chamomile anglaise (vegan and gluten free) and more.

Cafe Flora also offers a four-course vegan and gluten-free kids menu with fun, tasty dishes including Cauliflower Potato Corn Chowder with crunchy onion rounds, Garden Salad with carrot ribbons, orange segments, pomegranate seeds and creamy ranch dressing, Mini Shepherd’s Pie with seasonal vegetables in a creamy sauce, topped with Yukon gold mashed potato, served with green beans, crispy onions and cranberry sauce, and Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream for dessert!

The four-course menu is $75 per person; the kids menu is $25 for children age 12 and under. Full menus can be viewed by visiting cafeflora.com and reservations can be made by calling 206.325.9100. Cafe Flora is located in Madison Valley at 2901 East Madison Street. 

Charles McDade was the vice president of the Greater Madison Valley Community Council (GMVCC) for 20 years. That term must be some kind of a record for voluntary community service! For Charles, service and kindness to others are the guiding principles of his life.

Charles grew up on a family farm in Winnfield, Louisiana during the 1940s. He found life extremely difficult during this period. His family struggled financially, racial tensions were stressful, and corporal punishment was a household norm. He was miserable. Even as a child, Charles frequently contemplated death as a deliverance from what he viewed as a hopeless existence.

Then one day, Charles had an experience that changed his life.

At the age of 11, Charles had a vision of a great tree falling and crushing him into the ground. Over the next two years, he had this exact vision on multiple occasions. He began to think that perhaps this was the death and release for which he had yearned.

When Charles was 13, he was helping his brother chop down a tree on their property. Suddenly, the tree snapped prematurely and came crashing down towards him. He recognized it as his vision and felt the weight of his whole life, both past and future. Instead of embracing the death he had sought, Charles leapt from harm and saved himself. He describes this experience as an epiphany. In that instant in which he chose life, Charles matured and felt in control of his destiny. “I decided then to start living. I had a realization that if I led a life of kindness towards others that everything would go well for me.”

Charles moved with his family to Portland, Oregon when he was 18, and then on to Seattle a couple months later. He began work collecting garbage for a Seattle disposal company and quickly became a favorite among the customers. One couple offered him a job with their advertising company. His facility with people enabled him to assist the company as a worldwide representative. He traveled not only for business but was able to visit many countries for pleasure. These experiences served to confirm his belief that we are all one people and deserve only kindness from each other.

After other employment and retirement, Charles sought community service in his neighborhood as a means to practice his beliefs in kindness. He boldly confronted sex workers, violent gang members, and drug dealers, asking them to take their business out of the neighborhood. He has offered assistance to the elderly and has helped organize block parties. His calm presence has often been requested at the bedside of a dying neighbor. He is well loved and appreciated by all who know him.

As our community council vice president, Charles served as a voice for all volunteers. He reminds members that service as a volunteer does not mean overextending yourself or stressing about projects. Our responsibility is to serve as a forum for neighbors to come together and to create interest groups in order to accomplish goals together.

After the 16 years of service, this reporter hypothesized that Charles would be our vice president for life. Alas, this was not to be. He served us in that capacity for another four years and then: Enough!! He now enjoys himself with friends and family but does keep up with community issues.

Gratitude is an inadequate word for our heartfelt feeling for Charles.