More CleanScapes Award Proposals

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Ryan

At last night’s meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council, the results from last month’s SurveyMonkey poll were read out which asked residents which idea they liked best to submit to CleanScapes for the $50,000 award our neighborhood is sharing with surrounding areas.
Read the full minutes of the February meeting.
The most popular choice, adding a greenway or pedestrian path down NE 104th Way to Lake City Way, unfortunately would cost far more than $50,000 because of cost of the sewer work and sidewalks that would need to be installed. Many of the proposals centered around improvements to Victory Heights Park. Annie Fanning, a volunteer forest steward for Green Seattle Partnership, made a presentation for putting some large boulders near the trail head on Thornton Creek at 17th Avenue NE that “could provide seating out of the mud for meditation and quiet enjoyment of Thornton Creek.” She estimates this could be done for less than $5,000, but permission from the city would be required. Remember that anyone can submit proposals to CleanScapes prior to the April 15th deadline, the only requirements are it has to be a community improvement project, located in the “Thursday North” collection area, and “visible and easily accessible to the public.” In March, the Community Council is hoping to crystallize support behind one or more ideas and submit them on our behalf.
Other topics covered in the meeting included an attempted break-in at a residence on NE 106th Street, across from the park, on the morning of February 11th. After a back window was smashed by a large rock, an alert person at the nearby preschool heard the noise, observed a car with suspicious people parked in front of the house, and called 911. The car drove off with three occupants, who never got inside the house. The police arrived 10 minutes later and investigated. Moral of the story: see or hear something suspicious?, call 911!
And planning is beginning for another Neighborhood Night Out street party on Tuesday, August 5th, following up on the very successful one held last year.
The next Community Council meeting will be on Tuesday, March 18th. We love to see new people come and participate!
Please take a moment to “Like” the Victory Heights Blog Facebook page.

Posted in Community, News, Thornton Creek | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Crosscut: Victory Heights "Most Average" Political Neighborhood

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Ryan

On Wednesday, Benjamin Anderstone writing on Crosscut did a story about Seattle’s five most liberal and conservative neighborhoods, based on voting records. And for a coda, they determined Victory Heights was politically the most average neighborhood in the city.

Victory Heights ranks close to Seattle’s average demographics on race, income, education, and other political predictors. The neighborhood also has a mix of single-family homes, young renters, and senior living facilities. It’s heavily Democratic, culturally liberal, left-leaning on taxes, and a fierce battleground in most competitive local races. If you could bottle Seattle politics, it would taste a lot like Victory Heights.

You might recall I printed election results from the 2012 Presidential race that showed precincts in Victory Heights voted overwhelming for Obama.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Victory Heights Community Council Meeting February 18th

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Ryan

The next meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council is Tuesday, February 18th at 7 PM at the Pre-school building in Victory Heights Park.  Everyone is invited.
Among the things we’ll be discussing are narrowing down ideas to submit for the $50,000 CleanScapes award.  The deadline for proposals is April 15th.  Maybe you already answered our poll of possible suggestions. Help us come up with the best idea to help improve Victory Heights.
We’ll see you on Tuesday! (Don’t forget to bring your own chair if you don’t want to have to sit in a kiddie chair).
 

Posted in Community, Events | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Nearly 2 Inches Of Snow But Roads Passable

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Ryan

Looking east down NE 100th Street

Looking east down NE 100th Street


After an overnight snowfall that KOMO is calling the largest in two years, it is still possible to drive around Victory Heights. With nearly 2 inches of snow on the ground that started around 7:30 PM Saturday night, the roads don’t look too bad, although there is some ice present.  If taking a hill to get off Victory Heights seems too daunting until temperatures warm up later today, head for Northgate Way which is plowed and clear. Drive slowly and safely!

Posted in Community, News | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Upcoming Kingfisher Natural Area Work Parties

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Ryan

Photo courtesy Annie Fanning.

Photo courtesy Annie Fanning.


It’s that time of year again for volunteers to head down to Thornton Creek and help plant trees and clear out non-native plants. The Kingfisher Natural Area (KFNA) has had a terrific year thanks to the Maple Leaf-Victory Heights community and Green Seattle Partnership (GSP)! They’ve clocked over 200 volunteer hours during Fall 2013 and planted over 200 native plants and trees throughout the park with help from neighbors, local Boy Scouts, and Nathan Hale students.
Here are the dates and links to sign up:

Meet at the job box just inside the park on the Victory Heights side at NE 104th and 17th Ave NE. Dress in layers for the weather. Wear sturdy shoes — waterproof is always good. Long sleeves and long pants are recommended. Bring a personal water bottle if you have one. Snacks provided.

Volunteer hours are recorded and tracked providing GSP with community match for grants and our park with tools, plants, mulch, and other resources. (The more volunteer activity we post, the more resources our GSP-supported Natural Area receives.)

Posted in Community, Events, Thornton Creek | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Upcoming Events Schedule

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Ryan

Here are upcoming events and meetings around town you might be interested in:
Thursday, January 30: Thornton Creek Alliance Meeting. 7 PM, Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Ave NE. “Learn about important renovation projects, planting details, community benefits, and how you and your family can volunteer to get your hands dirty.”
Thursday, January 30: Parks Legacy Plan Meeting. 7 PM, Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave N. As the Parks Department works on its proposed ballot measure, the Lake City Community Center would like to see funding increased. Come show your support.
Friday, January 31: Chinese New Year. 7 PM, Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Avenue NE. Demonstrations and a Chinese Lion Dance at 8.
Saturday, February 1: Hands-On Skills Fair 2014. 10:00 AM-5 PM, Meadowbrook Community Center. Presented by Sustainable NE Seattle. Skills include beer brewing, bike repair, gardening, sewing and more.
Sunday, February 2: SuperBowl XLVIII. 3:35 PM, Channel 13. Find a friend and cheer on the Seahawks versus the Broncos.
Wednesday, February 5: North District Council Meeting. 7 PM, Lake City Library. Representatives of the Lake City Farmers Market will be there.
Saturday, February 8: Feet First Second Annual Stairway Walks Day. 10 AM, Maple Leaf and Thornton Creek. Eighteen different tours are being given around the city simultaneously featuring different stairways. Here in Maple Leaf/Victory Heights: “We’ll visit Thornton Creek, the largest year-round stream in Seattle, which provides a central theme.  We’ll cross and re-cross it; view it bank-side and from tree-canopy height. And we’ll see how it’s been re-engineered by both humans and animals.” Lead by Ruth Williams, President of the Thornton Creek Alliance. The walk will take 4.7 miles, 326 steps down, 136 steps up. Cost is free although they ask a $5 donation per person. Space is limited, sign up here.
Saturday, February 8: Neighbor Appreciation Day. A citywide event sponsored by the Department of Neighborhoods.
Saturday, February 8: Passport to Imagination. 10 AM – 2 PM, Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave NE. An event for families and kids to inaugurate their new playgound.
 

Posted in Community, Events | Leave a comment

Answer Our Survey: How To Spend $50,000

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Ryan

As you have read here and here, CleanScapes has awarded a $50,000 prize to be used somewhere in Victory Heights/Pinehurst/Lake City/Maple Leaf/Northgate for improvement projects. The Victory Heights Community Council would like to hear from residents about what we should put our efforts into for awarding a project in our neighborhood (we may end up splitting money with other communities, it’s not all-or-nothing). We’ve created a survey after a brief brainstorming session and would like you to vote on your favorite proposal (or suggest your own!).
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L95XTCX
Thanks!

Posted in Community, News | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

CleanScapes Accepting Project Proposals Through April 15th

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Ryan

At last night’s meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council, representatives from CleanScapes described in detail the process of awarding the $50,000 our neighborhood (shared with Lake City, Northgate, Pinehurst and Maple Leaf) received for reducing our waste last year (down 8.37% from 2012–woo hoo!).
Read the full minutes from the January Meeting.
While anyone in Seattle can propose a community improvement project, it must be located in the “Thursday North” collection area and “visible and easily accessible to the public.” The deadline for proposals is April 15, 2014, and afterwards in May and June, a selection committee made of representatives from each neighborhood’s community council will make the final determination of which projects to award the money to. Full details about the selection process can be found here, and a FAQ is available from CleanScapes here. If you have any good ideas, please bring them to future meetings of the Community Council or submit them on your own.
Other business at the meeting included the Seattle Police Department’s Community Police Academy Program, a free series of 11 meetings on Thursday evenings beginning March 13th to help residents become “familiar with various facets of the Seattle Police Department and gain insight into law enforcement’s role in the criminal justice system and the daily work of police employees.” Applications to participate are due in by January 31st.  More info at: http://www.seattle.gov/police/programs/policeacademy/
There will be a meeting of the Parks Legacy Committee on January 30th at the Bitter Lake Community Center at 7 PM in order to show support for improved staffing and getting more funding for the Lake City Community Center which is in woeful shape. Currently Lake City is only one of three in the system not staffed by the Parks Department and is so outmoded that it has no sports courts and no elevator.
The Lake City farmer’s market is looking for support this summer (i.e. come and shop!) when it resumes on Thursdays in June with new 3-7 PM hours.
And plans are afoot to replicate the success of last year’s Neighborhood Night Out, scheduled for August 5th, 2014.
The next meeting of the Community Council will be on Tuesday, February 18th, 2014 starting at 7 PM at the Preschool Building in Victory Heights Park.

Posted in Community, News | 1 Comment

Thornton Creek Gets NPR Shout-Out

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Ryan

Pb180388A story on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” today on daylighting streams mentioned Victory Height’s Thornton Creek. In the piece about efforts in Cincinatti to bring back an underground stream, they said, “It’s been almost seven years since Seattle spent $14 million to uncover Thornton Creek, it spurred $200 million in private development including a retirement community and a movie theater,” referring to Thornton Place at Northgate.  You can listen to the entire three minute story here.

Posted in Community, News, Thornton Creek | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Does 20th Ave NE & NE 105th Street Need Traffic Calming?

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Ryan

Looking north at the intersection of 20th Ave NE and NE 105th Street

Looking north at the intersection of 20th Ave NE and NE 105th Street


A topic that came up during last month’s meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council was a proposal to do some sort of “traffic calming” [Seattle-ese for traffic circles, yield signs, or speed bumps] at the intersection of 20th Avenue NE and NE 105th Street (the SE corner of Victory Heights Park). The is where 20th Avenue “jig jogs” as it crosses NE 105th to 19th Avenue NE, an uncontrolled intersection with many blind corners. However, speaking with the residents whose houses surround the intersection found most felt nothing needed to be added.  “People are careful,” said Jim whose tan house can be seen in the photo, directly behind where northbound 20th Avenue “T”s out. His driveway is on the 19th Avenue side (facing the park), and although he always exercises a lot of caution when backing out, he thinks people slow down at the intersection.
Jerry, his next door neighbor, also doesn’t see the need for a traffic circle, although he pointed out he never lets his children cross the intersection without him present because of the blind corners. He wasn’t against a yield sign being put in.
His neighbor across the street was very adamant against putting anything in the intersection, particularly a traffic circle, saying, “I’d be against that.”
In fact, four of five of the neighbors I spoke with said they’d never seen an accident at the intersection and seemed to think it was okay as it was.
However this view was in contrast to Sarah, who has lived on the corner for three years, and reported several near misses and an accident a year ago in which a tow truck had been required. She was in favor of yield or stop sign going in.
The consensus definitely was against putting in a traffic circle, like the one that already exists just one block north at NE 106th Street, or the one soon coming a few blocks east at 23rd Avenue NE. But maybe we haven’t heard the last of this. Feel free to add your comments below.
Please take a moment to “Like” the Victory Heights Blog Facebook page.

Posted in Community, News | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments