Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen released a proposal for creating more middle-income housing. Rasmussen's proposal aims to stimulate the development of moderately priced housing through changes to the city's Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program. Reducing taxes on buildings in exchange for a guarantee of lower rent or home prices is one of the few affordable housing strategies available to the city. The proposal follows numerous community meetings on affordable-housing strategies.
Homeowners with limited incomes will be eligible to defer paying half of their property taxes or special assessments beginning in 2008. To qualify, a homeowner must have owned the home for at least five years, reside in the home and have a combined annual household disposable income of $57,000 per year or less. Disposable income is defined as income from all sources.
APPEAL HEARINGS :❚ 514 E. Pine St. (3005493) on a Land Use Application to allow a six-story, 108-unit apartment building with ground-floor retail. Parking for 108 vehicles will be located in below-grade garage.The following decisions have been appealed: Design Review conditionally granted; Determination of Non-Significance with conditions (no Environmental Impact Statement required). Environmental review completed, and project conditioned as applicable. The appeal hearing will take place Jan. 3 at 9 a.m.
Frigid temperatures didn't stop residents from all over Seattle from coming down to Columbia City on Friday, Dec. 7, for the final Beat Walk of 2007. The dance action and good vibes were palpable at Awash Ethiopian Restaurant where Captain Leroy and The Zydeco Locals ) got the whole house hopping. For more information on this high-energy band that belts out traditional and modern bayou jams in English and French, visit www.zydecolocals.com. The traditional marimba and dance ensemble traces its roots to Zimbabwe and the music and culture of the Shona people. To learn more about the Seattle-based troupe visit www.myspace.com/sukutai.
Robrenisha Williams of Dearborn Park Elementary School was honored by the South End business community during the Dec. 6 monthly lunch gathering of the Rainier Chamber of Commerce members. "She sets a great work-ethic example for the other kids," said Dearborn Park Elementary fifth grade teacher Andy Russell. Robinisha Williams stands with her mother, Aldesia, and her teacher Andy Russell between them. At far left is the Rainier Chamber's education representative, Dennis Raymond. "I'd like to thank my mom and my teachers for helping me out from kindergarten through fifth Grade," Williams said after receiving her award. "I wouldn't be as smart as I am today without them."
First graders in Annie Le's class at John Muir Elementary School worked with Powerful Writers staff developer Arni Adler to create the poems featured below. Powerful Writers is part of Powerful Schools, a nationally recognized non-profit organization based in southeast Seattle. Powerful Schools is dedicated to engaging students in learning to promote achievement in reading, writing, and the arts. Powerful Schools expands what southeast Seattle public elementary schools can do for their students by collaborating with the school communities.
OTHELLO - Three Rainier Valley organizations were honored as public safety heroes on Mon., Dec. 3, with a $15,000 Community-Police Partnership Award by MetLife Foundation and Impact Capital, the Northwest affiliate of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The award recognizes partnerships between community development groups and police departments that have reduced crime and spurred housing development, economic activity and improved community services in low, and moderate, income communities.
The following information was provided by the city's Department of Planning and Development. The project number is in parentheses. For more information, call 684-8467.
After 17 years with the Wing Luke Asian Museum, executive director Ron Chew will step down as the $23.2 million capital campaign for the new museum facility nears completion.  Being executive director of the museum was more than a job for Chew, it was a labor of love.  Under his directorship, the museum has been elevated to nationwide prominence and the leadership team viewed as experts in the industry.  Additionally, the grassroots museum became the first Smithsonian-affiliated institution in the Pacific Northwest.Because of these accomplishments, Seattle mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council will proclaim Wednesday, Dec. 12, as "Ron Chew Day."
The cast of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 'Nutcracker' this season includes several future stars from Magnolia. The photo at left features, from left: Ashley Ochsner, of Fatima (Party Girl); Katharine Grimm, of Fatima (Tall Servant); and Eileen Kelly, of St. Anne (Party Girl). Above right we see Lauren English and Lindey English, of TOPS (as Infantry); Felecia Graham, of Fatima (Infanty Officer); and Caroline Little, of Fatima (Infantry).
Porter Westby, 3, enthusiastically helps his mother, Tracie, shovel mulch into a bucket at Dahl Playfield, 7700 25th Ave. N.E., during the Green Seattle Day event in early November. Volunteers planted trees and native plants in 17 parks all around the city as part of the Green Seattle Partnership that was formed in 2004.
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Group forms to amend condo-development plans for 35th N.E. and N.E. 86th In an on-line community ranking of Seattle's hippest neighborhoods, Wedgwood was ranked 76th of 99. That's tragically un-hip, according to the Amazon.com poll, though some residents are far more concerned with other neighborhood issues. Neighbors living in nearby single-family homes are more worried about an 85-unit condominium unit set to break ground next spring on the corner of 35th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 86th Street.The four-story building would stand nearly 40 feet tall and feature nearly 6,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.
Three North Seattle teachers and a local program have received 2007 Golden Apple Awards from KCTS public television. They are among 10 awards given statewide for exceptional innovation in education. KCTS began awarding Golden Apples in 1992. Since then, more than 160 teachers have been honored from all over the country. All winners will receive a Golden Apple statue. Individual winners receive $250, and programs get $500. Each winner also receives a $1,500 grant for his or her classroom, school or program. In February, winners will also be featured in a primetime broadcast statewide on public-television stations.
­Kirsten Piquette (on left) reads 'Miss Spider' with her son Nathan, 3, and his grandmother Martha Oman during the grand reopening of the Broadview Library, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N., on Saturday, Dec. 8.Hundreds of library patrons returned to get a look at the new, expanded library and the new stock of books and other materials.