February 2007

The campaign to convert Seattle's waterfront into a park and boulevard is getting set to swing into high gear. The choice is no longer between a tunnel or a viaduct but rather is Alaskan Way to serve the 120,000 cars that use it every day or to become a row of million dollar condominiums facing a park.

Over 50 years ago the people realized that Highway 99, the main highway through Seattle, could not continue to carry more and more cars through the city on Fourth Avenue.

Wish your property taxes were lower? Me too. Most of us in Washington, if we've lived in our homes more than a couple of years, have seen the value of our property increase. Housing values continue to rise faster than most things in our lives, faster than inflation, wages, groceries, even gas prices.

Some would say that means housing has been a great investment. And, of course, they're right - if and when we want to sell our homes. But for most of us, our house isn't an investment.

With the mayor battling for a tunnel, the governor pushing for a new viaduct, and Seattle voters wondering if their March 13 vote will even slightly affect the outcome, the future of vehicular transportation along the downtown waterfront remains murky.

Is there a feasible third alternative?

In August, the Washington State Department of Transportation presented to the Seattle City Council with some of the different proposals state engineers had studied on their way to ultimately recommending a six-lane, two-deck tunnel.

Landscape architects along with students from the University of Washington asked White Center residents' opinions about what activities and structures they want at White Center Heights Park when it is remodeled in June.

Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. recently announced it would donate $550,000 toward remodeling White Center Heights Park as part of its neighborhood park grants program. A key part of the program is the remodeling work itself, which is accomplished in one week's time. The "extreme makeover" is scheduled for June 8-15.

The city of Seattle is changing the definitions of its land-use code to allow more density as well as flexibility in areas designated for duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, apartment buildings, condominiums and other multifamily developments.

Mayor Greg Nickels ordered an update of Seattle's land-use code and, since 2005, the city's Department of Planning and Development has been reviewing the city's multifamily-zone regulations.

A replacement for West Seattle High's outgoing principal Susan Ders/ probably won't be appointed until the end of the school year, said Patti Spencer, spokeswoman for Seattle Public Schools.

The district is working on a "combination of leadership roles for the interim period," said Spencer.

Ders/, who has spent the past 18-and-a-half years as a high school principal for the Shoreline, Kent, and Seattle school districts, has been on medical leave for most of the school year.

In November, interim principal Judy Peterson announced Ders/ would be returning after th

The Port of Seattle will build a new container terminal and relocate an existing cruise terminal, the Port Commission decided last week.

"Recent and anticipated growth in the Port's container shipping business is driving this project," said Port of Seattle Chief Mic Dinsmore.

Container volumes in Seattle grew by nearly 40 percent from 2003 to 2005, and while volumes were down slightly in 2006, additional growth of approximately 8 percent annually is expected in the coming years.

"Container shipping at the Port of Seattle generates more than 18,000 jobs and over

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council is seeking applicants for an open at-large council position.

Candidates must be 18 years and older, a resident of the area, a business/property owner in the area or an official employed representative of a nonprofit in the area.

To obtain a candidate filing statement or to learn more about the open position contact Heidi Johnson, 931-0849, or visit our web site for more information and to download a form at: www.northhighlineuac.org.

Filing deadline is March 8 and the selection of the candidate will be March 15 at

Y = Yes N = No E = Excused NV = Not Voting

HB 1116

Creating a plan to increase the homeownership rate to 75 percent by 2020.

By a vote of 65 to 31 on Feb. 12, the House approved HB 1116, which would require the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to develop a plan for increasing homeownership rates to 75% by 2020. The plan must be a joint effort between the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and other housing stakeholders.

Around 5:30 a.m. Monday, after picking up a dumpster and loading its contents into his garbage truck, a driver was waiting at a long stop light. All of a sudden, a man - bleeding from the mouth - appeared on top of the cab and began climbing down the front windshield. He denied needing help and simply walked off southbound. Following a hunch by the truck driver, an officer returned to the most recently emptied dumpster and found that the mystery man had climbed back into it and gone to sleep.