Be a part of the Greenwood Council – Leadership Roles Available.

Rezoning near Fred Meyer?
Evan Bourquard of the Greater Greenwood Design & Development Advisory Group has responded to Town Center rezone concerns with the following update, and will discuss at the next GCC.
Greenwood Upzoning near Fred Meyer?
Next Meeting:
The next GCC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16th in the Greenwood library meeting room, from 7:00pm-8:30pm. The agenda includes: updates on the status of the Neighborhood Park Acquisition; elections for board members; and Greater Greenwood Design & Development Advisory Group presentation on the upzoning risks.

Board Positions:
We have Board positions for interested community members available including: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer. and the following standing committee positions. If you’re interested, email info@greenwoodcommunitycouncil.org

Committees:
Planning and Land Use Committee: to engage ongoing neighborhood development activities and to proactively engage in community planning and development utilizing existing City and Neighborhood plans, including but not limited to zoning, parks, and design review.

Health and Safety Committee: to engage in neighborhood environmental health and safety issues, work with existing community/public safety groups including but not limited to G.A.I.N. (Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors) and local police/fire personnel.

Public Outreach Committee: to engage community neighbors on matters involving the GCC, solicit community involvement within the GCC, manage GCC social events, liaison with other community social groups, and update social events calendar, including events not directly associated with the GCC.

Transportation Committee: to engage in the maintenance and development of vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian circulation, including but not limited to sidewalks, traffic calming, crosswalks, pedestrian corridors and mass transit.

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Upzoning in Greenwood: How it can impact your home’s value.

Around 35 Greenwood neighbors showed up to the Greenwood Library on Tuesday night to discuss a new zoning proposal for the neighborhood’s urban core. Although the Greenwood Community Council has no power to change zoning on its own, it serves as liaison between Greenwood residents and the City Council. GCC president (and, currently, sole board member — contact him via the GCC website if you’d like to get involved!) Trevor Stanley emphasized the importance of getting input from the neighborhood before talking to City Council members.
The proposed rezoning plan would upzone the entire area around the planned Fred Meyer development project in Greenwood’s urban core, including some single-family houses that border the current Fred Meyer lot. Upzoning would mean taller buildings and more potential to bring new developers to the area, but it would also mean that those single-family dwellings could be replaced by Ballard-style townhouses.

Some neighbors expressed concerns that an upzone could also mean increased property taxes for residents who chose not to sell their lots to developers. Barbara L. Shale, of the King County Tax Advisory Office, addresse the issue by explaining that a jump from single-family to L3 zoning — L3 is the low-rise zone most commonly occupied by clusters of townhomes — wouldn’t increase anyone’s taxes overnight. She said that the value of a house often goes down when the value of the land itself goes up, and that taxes would likely stay about the same until the next physical property inspection of the area, in 2015 or 2016.

Although most of the debate was about the “buffer” of single-family homes, neighbors were also concerned about upzoning the commercial lots at the core of the Fred Meyer development. Proposed changes would allow buildings that currently top out at 40 feet to be raised to 65 feet. Although this is obviously attractive to developers, Stanley made it clear that the Advisory Group behind the zoning proposal was thinking about the future growth of Greenwood, not about Fred Meyer.

Fred Meyer’s plans for a new shopping center don’t actually include or require any zoning changes.
“I’m going to sorely miss Greenwood Market,” Stanley said, “but that’s not something [the GCC] have any control over. That’s not something we’re trying to have control over.”

The neighbors at the meeting felt they hadn’t been given enough time or information to make a decision about the new changes, so they unanimously passed Resolution 2. That resolution opposes the changes “at this time,” and urges the City Council to “demonstrate community support for [future changes] and the notify those impacted by the change.”

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Couth Buzzard Books – Opening Soon & Volunteers Wanted !!!

The new Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café (8310 Greenwood Ave. N) is counting down the days to their grand reopening! The tentative debut is now set for December 16th, pending final passage of the Seattle City Health Department Inspection.

In preparation for the big day, Couth Buzzard is actively soliciting volunteer help for sorting and shelving thousands of books. This Saturday and Sunday, (December 12-13) the owners will be hosting all-day work parties, so stop by if you have a chance and lend a hand!

Contact Couth Buzzard directly at 206 436-2960 or call Theo Dzielak (206 418-9522, melodyplay@earthlink.net) for more information.

By: Alicia Craven

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Greenwood Arson Community Meeting Packs the House

Concerned Greenwood neighborhood residents packed the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church this evening for a community meeting with city fire and police officials on the string of arson fires plaguing the community. The latest of these fires occurred late Sunday night, and early Monday morning, bringing the total to 14 since last June.

Assistant Fire Chief A.D. Vickery and representatives of the Seattle police department briefed the crowded room about the status of the investigation and answered community members’ questions about how to protect their homes and businesses.

A cooperative task force—the joint effort of police, fire, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) officials are conducting nightly patrols in the neighborhood, looking for suspicious activity. They’re encouraging local residents to help in the investigation and report any out of the ordinary behavior by calling 911, the Crime Stopper phone line (1-800-222-TIPS), or the Arson hotline (1-800-55-ARSON). The city is also in the midst of constructing a new webpage to coordinate the arson investigation between the Seattle Fire and Police Departments.

There is currently a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arsonist’s capture. The Greenwood neighborhood Taproot theater, itself a recent victim of one of the fires, donated $15,000 of its insurance money towards the fund.

Chief Vickery had a number of concrete recommendations for residents to decrease their fire risk such as removing combustible materials from outdoor recycling bins, and making sure all fire alarms and extinguishers were in working order. People can contact the fire department for additional fire alarm instillation if needed, he reminded the audience.

People should also contact the city to report potential fire hazards such as abandoned buildings, or overflowing dumpsters (206-386-1450), or to get streetlights replaced in darkened areas (206-684-CITY).

Vickery cautioned local business owners against sleeping in their businesses. He warned that many fire-related deaths result from smoke inhalation, which would be an increased risk to someone sleeping in a building an arsonist targeted.

During the question and answer period, the Seattle police department said they did not have a working profile of the individual or group of individuals perpetrating the fires. Chillingly, one audience member raised his hand to suggest that the arsonist was likely in the audience. Vickery responded by encouraging community members to adopt an attitude of trust towards one another, while remaining vigilant.

Another audience member announced that people looking to make donations to businesses impacted by the fires could contact the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce, or make donations directly through a relief fund at the Chase Bank on 8500 Greenwood Ave.

When the meeting ended, officials headed upstairs to the church sanctuary where an additional 100-150 community members who could not fit in the downstairs briefing room were waiting for information.

By: Alicia Craven

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Greenwood Arson Prevention Meeting Goes Over Capacity

Tuesday night’s community meeting about the wave of arsons plaguing Greenwood was so well-attended that the basement of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church reached capacity. About 15 minutes into the meeting, city councilmember Jean Godden arrived, announcing that 100-150 more people were waiting upstairs. A second meeting took place later, to accommodate all the neighbors who showed up.

Chiefs from the Seattle Police and Seattle Fire Department weren’t able to tell the huge crowd — which included multiple city council members and mayor-elect Mike McGinn — what they came to hear: who might be behind the string of 14 fires set in Greenwood since June. The Police Department doesn’t have a true profile of the arsonist (or arsonists) yet, and they couldn’t say why small businesses seem to be the main targets. Visible and invisible police patrols have been stepped up around the neighborhood, and the fire department also now sends two trucks to every suspected fire, in hopes of catching it early.

Every speaker at the meeting emphasized community involvement in stopping the arsons. All of the fires so far have been set using readily-available combustible materials, and the fire department urged residents and business owners to clear trash from around their buildings. The combustibles in one of the fires apparently came from over a mile away.

The police aren’t discouraging citizen patrols, and they’re asking the community to provide extra eyes and ears. They are discouraging confronting any suspicious people. If you see anything out of the ordinary, call 911 instead. The fire department also addressed rumors about business owners sleeping in their businesses overnight. They strongly advise against it, saying it doesn’t protect your store, and only puts you at risk and makes it harder for firefighters to work.

The Police, Fire Department and mayor’s office all offered resources to help residents who want to do something about the arsons:

For help with dead streetlights or overflowing dumpsters, call the City’s general customer service line at (206) 684-CITY.

There will be a joint Police and Fire webpage with information about the ongoing investigation. Until then, the Police website lists some non-emergency numbers you can call with tips.

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Arson Prevention in Greenwood – Town Hall Meeting Tuesday

From the Greenwood Community Council:

Concerned Greenwood residents and friends,

For information about the recent arsons in our Greenwood neighborhood and to learn what you can do to help prevent arson, the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department will present during a community meeting at 7:00 p.m. this Tuesday, November 10, at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church at 7500 Greenwood Ave. N. It can hold more people and is ADA accessible. This is a public meeting and all in the community are welcome to attend. Keep in mind that seating will be limited.

The agenda will include introductions from Fire and Police officials, followed by each representative explaining what their department is doing and who they are coordinating with, and finally offering suggestions for the public that would be helpful for the particular department (possible involvement, steps to remain safe, etc.), the floor will then be opened for questions after they are finished.

If you have questions or concerns and are not able to attend the meeting, please email info@greenwoodcommunitycouncil.org and we will try to see that thoughts are included in the discussion.

In addition to this meeting, the Fire Department is distributing informational flyers to help prevent arson. Copies of the flyers, along with other information about the arsons, can be found by visiting Read More at GreenwoodCommunityCouncil.org

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Who will have Greenwood’s BEST Holiday Lights?

The Greenwood area hosts an annual holiday light contest and 2009 will be our best ever. This year Wacktastic Light Show is changing a wee bit to increase community participation even more. There will be two contests:

Contest 1: RESIDENCE WACKTASTIC LIGHT DISPLAYS
Folks can enter the contest at the Wacktastic website, and be placed on a map. Then, during the week of Dec. 10th thru 17th, anybody can vote online (once per household) for their favorite display and the top ten will be awarded prizes from esteemed Greenwood-Phinney businesses (i.e. you). We would like the prizes to be gift certificates to ease up our collection time (and backs–and if your business doesn’t have gift certificates, we will gladly supply you with Official Wacktastic Bucks). Then the prizes (and a slide show of all entries) will be presented at the Wacktastic Awards Party on Sunday 12.20.09 at The Greenwood Collective.

Boundaries from Aurora to 8th Ave between 105th and 65th.

Contest 2: RETAIL WACKTASTIC LIGHT DISPLAYS
This is where YOU can let your Wacky Flag Fly and win a free advertising package. Three local celebrity judge will travel from 65th to 105th and Greenwood and choose their top two favorite Business Light Displays that are The Most Wacktastic. Again, prizes will be awarded at the Wacktastic Awards Party, 12.20.09 at the Greenwood Collective.

There is also going to be food donation bins at local pubs Greenwood Pub Association for the Greenwood Food Bank.

Thank you for supporting Greenwood and power to the people! We cannot wait to see what your wacky minds dream up to display!

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Greenwood Space Travel Supply: An Intergalactic Resource

The regulars at Greenwood Space Travel Supply are easy to spot—eschewing the superfluous side door, these savvy youthful patrons make a bee-line past the displays of tantalizing intergalactic accessories like Space Vehicle Hull Repair Patches and inflatable Interplanetary Puppies, and head straight for the teleporter at the back of the store. Although Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. does a brisk business selling Cherry-scented smoking alien stun guns, and anti-gravity gyroscopes, it is, essentially, an elaborate front. For beyond its futuristic inky black revolving teleporter doorway is the headquarters of 826 Seattle —a non-profit youth writing and after-school tutoring center.

826 Seattle is a Greenwood institution. It’s the Seattle branch of 826 National—a writing, tutoring, and publishing organization started by the renowned author, screenwriter and philanthropist, Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, “Away We Go”). Founded in San Francisco in 2002, the group has since opened writing centers in seven cities across the country.

Since it’s opening four years ago, 826 Seattle has become a treasured fixture of the neighborhood—adding to the quirky, creative charm for which Greenwood is known. The center hosts many popular programs, chief among them free, drop-in homework help to neighborhood students of all ages. From 3-6 pm, Monday through Thursday, teams of dedicated volunteer tutors and students descend on 826 Seattle, settling in around expansive oak tables to practice spelling words, hash out fractions, and pen eloquent essays. A decorative penguin, outfitted in shimmering silver intergalactic attire, sits on a bookshelf perch, presiding over the vivacious buzz of creative energy below. With it’s festive, space travel themed décor, and warm, welcoming ambiance, 826 Seattle feels more like a secret clubhouse than a traditional sterile tutoring center.

In addition to drop-in tutoring, 826 Seattle also teams up with local schools to promote students’ love of writing by offering dynamic, in-house writing field trips. During these field trips, a local teacher brings his or her class to 826 Seattle where, in just two hours, students collaboratively brainstorm, and compose a completed creative story (i.e.-“Knucklehead’s Extreme Desert Wrestling Match” or “Super S’more and the Terrible Toasting Dragon.”) The texts are printed, bound, and each student leaves, a published writer, with a customized copy.

On the weekends, the action at 826 Seattle continues with free Saturday youth writing workshops. The gauntlet of topics in October alone ranges from: “Unleashing the Wild Things”—an imaginative story writing class about being marooned on a deserted island, to the Halloween inspired “Monsters in Your Closet: Writing from Real Life”—a class on crafting personal narratives and creative non-fiction. The output of these workshops is visible in the Space Travel Supply Co. where glossy paperback anthologies of students’ work line the bookshelves.

Adults too can hone their writing chops at 826 Seattle by signing up for the “Write Like I Do” monthly writing workshops . Local literary luminaries (i.e.-Nancy Pearl, David Schmader. John Roderick) lead seminars on everything from novel writing, to music reviews, to lyrics composition. Classes are $30, and 100% of the proceeds go towards 826 Seattle programming. All purchases at Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. also help fund 826 Seattle’s valuable work. So to those who have long marveled curiously at the display windows of 8414 Greenwood Ave.—the discount rocket fuel, and stylishly attired mannequins putting the cosmo back in cosmopolitan—consider an in-person visit. Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co.—a worthy front, indeed.

By: Alicia Craven

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Taproot Theatre Presents Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol

Holiday traditions are getting a twist with the world premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol at Taproot Theatre Company. Written by local playwright John Longenbaugh and directed by Scott Nolte, this is a mystery that will delight the entire family. These then are the facts: The year, 1894. The date, Christmas Eve. The location, 221B Baker Street. After being presumed dead for three years, a hardened Sherlock Holmes resurfaces, turning his back on the people who need him most. Three unexpected callers arrive on Christmas Eve uncovering clues from the detective’s past, present and future. Can they save Holmes and his world from a dire end? They must “do it all in one night” to accomplish the task. Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol opens on November 27 and runs through December 30, with low-price previews on November 20 & 21, plus a pay-what-you-can performance on November 25.

**** NOTE – THIS SHOW WILL BE PLAYED AT AN ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE LOCATION DUE TO THE GREENWOOD FIRE. CHECK WEBSITE FOR DETAILS. ****

TICKETS: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees, $26-28; Friday and Saturday evenings, $30-33; preview performances, $20-22. Senior matinee performance on December 2 is $20. $20 Tuesdays on December 1 (sold out!), 8 and 15.

Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance on November 25 go on sale day of show at the box office only. A limited supply of $10 tickets will be offered from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. on November 25 for that evening’s performance. Regular pay-what-you-can tickets will go on sale at 5:00 p.m. on November 25. Limit 6 tickets per person between 12:00 and 5:00 p.m., and 4 tickets per person after 5:00 p.m.

For tickets contact Taproot Theatre’s box office at (206) 781-9707. Group rates are available. For groups, call (206) 781-9708.

In The Final Problem, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote what he believed would be the final story in his series about his legendary detective. In this story, Sherlock Holmes faces his nemesis Professor Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls, and tumbles into the roaring rapids below. Outraged at the hero’s death and at the series’ end, fans demanded that the writer bring Holmes back and continue writing. So, the Holmes stories can be filed in two categories: before the incident at Reichenbach Falls, and the years following the fall, starting in 1894, when Holmes reappeared in The Adventure of the Empty House. But what happened between 1891 and 1894, the “missing years,” which are one of the great unsolved mysteries of the time? Where did Holmes go? What really happened to him? And what could that mean for the future? Uncover the startling answers in this world premiere production.

Playwright John Longenbaugh has been involved in the Seattle theatre scene for years. Formerly writing about Seattle theatre in a column in Seattle Weekly, Longenbaugh is now the media relations manager at 5th Avenue Theatre.

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol features Terry Moore as Sherlock Holmes, David Nail as Watson and Alex Robertson as Moriarty, plus David Dorrian, Aaron Lamb, Jesse Notehelfer, Pam Nolte and Eric Riedmann. The production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon and lighting designer Jody Briggs. Sarah Dale Rice serves as stage manager and Judy Naegeli as dramaturg.

“Puzzles, enigmas—I never understood your delight in such things. Well then: let’s see if you can solve the riddle of who you are, and what you will become.” – Moriarty

CALENDAR:
Fri. November 20 8:00 p.m. Preview

Sat. November 21 8:00 p.m. Preview

Tues. November 24 7:30 p.m. Special Private Performance

Wed. November 25 7:30 p.m. Post-play Discussion, PWYC

Thurs. November 26 Thanksgiving Day, no performance

Fri. November 27 8:00 p.m. Opening Night with Reception

Sat. November 28 2:00 p.m.

Sat. November 28 8:00 p.m.

Tues. December 1 7:30 p.m. $20 Tuesday (sold out!)

Wed. December 2 2:00 p.m. Senior Matinee

Wed. December 2 7:30 p.m. Dinner & Theatre, Post-play Discussion

Thurs. December 3 7:30 p.m.

Fri. December 4 8:00 p.m.

Sat. December 5 2:00 p.m.

Sat. December 5 8:00 p.m.

Tues. December 8 7:30 p.m. $20 Tuesday

Wed. December 9 7:30 p.m. Dinner & Theatre, Post-play Discussion

Thurs. December 10 7:30 p.m.

Fri. December 11 8:00 p.m.

Sat. December 12 2:00 p.m.

Sat. December 12 8:00 p.m.

Tues. December 15 7:30 p.m. $20 Tuesday

Wed. December 16 7:30 p.m. Post-play Discussion

Thurs. December 17 7:30 p.m.

Fri. December 18 8:00 p.m.

Sat. December 19 2:00 p.m.

Sat. December 19 8:00 p.m.

Tues. December 22 7:30 p.m.

Wed. December 23 7:30 p.m. Post-play Discussion

Thurs. December 24 Christmas Eve, no performance

Fri. December 25 Christmas Day, no performance

Sat. December 26 2:00 p.m.

Sat. December 26 8:00 p.m.

Tues. December 29 7:30 p.m.

Wed. December 30 7:30 p.m. Closing Night

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Taproot Theater Presents Enchanted April – Full Calendar

Bask in the warmth and enchantment of Italy without leaving Seattle during Taproot Theatre Company’s production of Enchanted April. Elizabeth von Arnim’s resplendent 1920s novel comes to life on stage in this Tony Award-nominated play by Matthew Barber. The enticement of an enchanting Italian holiday captivates the hearts of two British housewives on a drizzly London afternoon in 1922, and fills their imaginations with wisteria and sunshine. By the time they arrive at their Mediterranean villa, an aging matron and a young socialite have joined their quest for something more. The gardens, sea, cinnamon and pasta are just the beginning of the transformation they discover. Enchanted April, directed by associate artistic director Karen Lund, runs through October 24 .

Adapted first for the stage in 1925 and for film in 1935, von Arnim’s novel was also the basis for the popular 1992 film, the DVD of which was just released this year. This stage play based on von Arnim’s novel was originally produced in February 2000 by the Hartford Stage Company in Connecticut, and produced on Broadway in April 2003 at the Belasco Theatre, with Molly Ringwald as Rose Arnott.

Ultimately a story of escaping to a place of beauty and being transformed, the play begins in Great Britain just a few years after World War I, in a time of darkness and devastation, when people are still dealing with the great losses from the war.

“There’s this need to get away,” said Lund. “For all four of the women, there’s an amazing transformation that happens once they get to Italy where there’s sun, flowers and fresh air, and a new way of looking at life. It’s almost magical how the sunshine and fresh air brings them back to life emotionally, spiritually and sexually.”

“We’re in some really difficult times right now,” said Lund, “and it’s easy to be discouraged and disheartened. And so to come back to what gives us hope and the drive to keep moving forward is very inspiring. It’s a reminder that things can be restored—that marriages, happiness and balance can be restored.”

Taproot Theatre’s production features Jeff Berryman, Ryan Childers, Aaron Finley, Llysa Holland, Anne Kennedy, Kim Morris, Charity Parenzini and Nikki Visel. The production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon and lighting designer Monty Taylor. Anne Hitt serves as stage manager, Gin Hammond as dialect coach and Katrina Moore as dramaturg.

After Enchanted April, Taproot Theatre presents the world premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol by Seattle playwright John Longenbaugh. (November 20-December 30).

“Perhaps that’s why we need something beautiful now. To remind us of the possibility.”

- Lotty, Enchanted April

Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday matinee, 2:00 p.m.

Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St. in Seattle.

TICKETS: Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees, $26-28; Friday and Saturday evenings, $30-33; preview performances, $20-22; senior/student discount is now 10% off regular priced ticket; ages 25 and under, $10.

For tickets contact Taproot Theatre’s box office at (206) 781-9707. Group rates are available. For groups, call (206) 781-9708.

CALENDAR:

Wed. October 7 7:30 p.m. Post-play Discussion

Thurs. October 8 7:30 p.m.

Fri. October 9 8:00 p.m.

Sat. October 10 2:00 p.m.

Sat. October 10 8:00 p.m.

Wed. October 14 7:30 p.m. Post-play Discussion

Thurs. October 15 7:30 p.m.

Fri. October 16 8:00 p.m.

Sat. October 17 2:00 p.m.

Sat. October 17 8:00 p.m.

Wed. October 21 7:30 p.m. Post-play Discussion

Thurs. October 22 7:30 p.m.

Fri. October 23 8:00 p.m.

Sat. October 24 2:00 p.m.

Sat. October 24 8:00 p.m. Closing Night

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