March 2008

The Washington Legislature failed to take action on a measure that would have helped Seattle offset the additional costs of providing services to residents of the North Highline Unincorporated Area if the city should annex the disputed region.

Previously, the Burien city council voted to push for rejection of the bill that died when the Legislature adjourned last week.

House Bill 1139 was opposed by six Burien council members.

If it had been approved, the measure would have eliminated a provision in state law that excludes cities with 400,000 or more residents

Be vigilant: West Seattle has been experiencing a rash of daytime forced-entry burglaries recently, along with an increase in reports of teenaged door-to-door (alleged) salespeople who might be canvassing the area to see if residents are home, particularly in the late morning and early afternoon. Ben Kinlow is the Crime Prevention Coordinator at the Southwest Precinct, and he has several suggestions that might help put a stop to these incidents: 1) Place prominent "No Solicitors" signs at your home to discourage activity. 2) Do not open the door to strangers.

A project on the drawing boards for several years is starting up the permit application process again, Charlie Conner of Conner Homes said last week.

Several years ago, Conner bought all of the property along the east side of California Avenue from Alaska Street south to the New Luck Toy restaurant and he acquired all of the buildings on the south side of Alaska Street between California and 42nd avenues.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will close Golden Gardens Drive just east of Seaview Avenue Northwest for about two weeks starting next Monday, March 24, so that a damaged pipe may be repaired,.

There will be no vehicle access for the off-leash dog area, upper comfort station or parking lots east of the railroad track. All areas of the park will remain open via the park trail system for pedestrians.

The closure provides construction access for the installation of a pipe casing under the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad for the park water service.

The owners of the Manning's/Denny's building, which was designated a Seattle landmark last month, have filed suit in King County Superior Court to officially challenge the action.

A development entity of The Benaroya Company, Mikie Ballard LLC, which owns the old diner and surrounding property, argue that landmark status prohibits them from making any money off their property.

The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted 6-3 on Feb. 20 to designate the exterior of the old diner at 5501 15th Ave. N.W.

The Washington Legislature has approved legislation that will create a pilot project allowing a small number of grocery stores in Washington to offer beer or wine samples.

"Washington is known throughout the world for the great beers and wines we produce across the state," said Kohl-Welles.

Author says Ballard is 'credible hero'

Early Ballard

Images of America

By Julie D. Pheasant-Albright

Arcadia Publishing, 2007

Softbound

Students of the University of Washington Geography Department will evaluate and track Ballard and Crown Hill's development growth during the past 10 years as part of their spring quarter class project.

Dr. Sarah Elwood teaches the class and introduced the assignment at last week's Ballard District Council meeting.

Elwood's spring quarter Geographic Information Systems class will focus on a project that was proposed by the Ballard District Council.

Mayor Greg Nickels says the city has acquired a 37,000 square foot piece of property in east Ballard for a new public park, the largest piece of land secured for open space here since Ballard Commons Park, which opened in 2005.

The lot between Northwest 70th and 73rd on 9th Avenue Northwest is a little less than one acre and will be purchased for $3 million from the Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund and some grants from King County.

(Editor's Note: This was Tim St. Clair's last story for the West Seattle Herald, sister paper to the Ballard News-Tribune. Tim was a regular bus rider to downtown and about anywhere else. He did this story shortly before his death from pancreatic cancer.)

By Tim St. Clair

With gas prices topping $3 per gallon, there are a lot more people riding buses these days, said a Metro bus driver, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Metro recently released figures showing ridership was up 7 percent between 2006 and 2007.