August 2007

Lock Vista folks vow to fight condo development

Tenants of the Lock Vista Apartments say they will fight the potential conversion of their building to condominiums.

Dozens of tenants, many of them senior citizens, showed up at a community meeting last week along with more than a 100 community members. It was standing room only as they crammed into the bottom level of the Ballard Works building off Market Street.

Residents spilled out into the parking lot and peered through upper floor windows to listen in.

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Food labeling is 'burdensome'

Restaurant owners in the Ballard area are chafing at new policies of the King County Board of Health, specifically the menu labeling requirement and the trans fat ban that are both scheduled to go into effect next year.

"At what point are people responsible for what they put in their bodies?" asked Pam Hansen, owner of The Lockspot Cafe on 54th St. The Lockspot is already voluntarily trans-fat free, and the menu labeling regulations would probably not affect the restaurant because it is not part of a chain.

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Nightlife ordinance passes committee

A controversial proposal placing more regulations on Ballard's nightlife establishments has passed a Seattle City Council committee, but council member Sally Clark isn't sure the license component will pass a full vote.

The panel voted 2-1 to pass recommendations for a nightclub license, though not as stringent as Mayor Greg Nickels' proposed enforcement ordinance that would have affected an estimated 300 businesses.

Under the committee's proposal, businesses would be required to apply for a regulatory license if they serve liquor after 10 p.m., charge admission, have a c

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Mayor seeks members for Landmarks board

Mayor Greg Nickels is looking for a new member to serve on the Landmarks Preservation Board in the real estate position.

The 12-member Landmarks Preservation Board makes recommendations to the City Council for landmark designation and reviews all proposed physical alterations to designated features of landmark properties.

The board is composed of two architects, two historians, one structural engineer, one representative each from the fields of real estate and finance, one member from the City Planning Commission, a Get Engaged member, and three members at-large.

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Elks Lodge to get outdoor deck

With the fresh salt air of Shilshole Bay outside their windows, the Ballard Elks Lodge will soon reap the benefits of a waterfront view as they start building a 470 square foot deck on the south side of their building.

"This will be the only Elk Lodge on the west coast with a deck," said Ballard Elks Deck Committee Secretary Bill Chandler.

With the club owning their waterfront home, the deck will provide room for five tables accessed through the Elks lounge.

The club's 585 members donated $60,000 for the project.

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Holiday state ferry schedules

Washington State Ferries asks that travelers allow for extra time over the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

The heaviest backups and overloading are anticipated 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, on westbound routes.

Return traffic is anticipated to be heaviest Sunday, Sept. 2, afternoon and evening and morning sailings on Labor Day, Sept.

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