From our friends at Magnolia Manor Park
Many of you know that a previous mayor discontinued support of the 13 Neighborhood District Councils. Created in the 1980s to foster more citizen input into the operation of our city and neighborhoods. Yes, these district councils desperately needed support in digital outreach, language translation and more. Cutting these established grass-roots organizations was a very top-down maneuver; the very anti-thesis of grass-roots. And, here in Seattle, we love to engage and have our voices heard!!
Magnolia Queen Anne District Council is now The Coalition, and open to all.
The good news is that many of these councils are still alive and flourishing. Our own, the former Magnolia Queen Anne Neighborhood District Council has been reimagined as The Coalition: Magnolia, Queen Anne and Interbay Neighborhoods. The current members participated in a strategic re-branding exercise; creating a new mission statement and vision. The by-laws were re-written for more open membership by both individuals and groups.
The Coalition meetings are monthly; go to The Coalition: Magnolia, Queen Anne, and Interbay Neighborhoods Facebook page and message for the current meeting information. Everyone is welcome!
Sound Transit Route in Interbay TBD in 2018!
The most impactful issue to the Coalition right now is the Sound Transit route through our
neighborhoods. A few months ago, Sound Transit stopped by The Coalition meeting to discuss initial
ideas of routing light rail from Downtown to Ballard. This routing will go through our neighborhoods and
in 2018 Sound Transit will select the Preferred Alternative; for the routing of the line.
About two years ago Ben Broesamie (Magnolia Community Council) helped put together a multi-
organization group that encouraged Sound Transit to plan for a route of the light rail off of 15th Avenue
West. Many of us continue to feel that a light rail route off of 15th Avenue West will be best for our
neighborhoods.
Therefore 2018 will be an important year to connect together and advocate Sound Transit for a
routing that is best for our communities. The Coalition will work with elected officials, industry
(Fishermens Terminal agrees with our position), and perhaps businesses along 15th Avenue West.
Ben’s group will be working with The Coalition on this task; Mike Davis – Transportation Chair for
Uptown Alliance, and Laura Day – Transportation Chair for QACC have agreed as well.
2018 will be a busy year to talk to our neighbors and business community and let them know that Sound
Transit is selecting this impactful route soon and inviting them to share their opinions. Ben drew up an
idea of light rail routing in the attached figure.
Want to be involved? Attend Coalition meetings! Message ideas via The Coalition Facebook page
1. What groups should The Coalition reach out and invite to work with us on this issue? (e.g. Ballard
Community Council).
2. What actions will enable The Coalition to reach out to the community? (e.g. Farmers Markets)
Local Small Businesses Kick Off Eighth Annual Small Business Saturday
In 2010, American Express created Small Business Saturday in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers during the busy holiday shopping season.
Celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, Small Business Saturday helps shine a light on the small, independent businesses that keep our communities thriving. Of consumers who are aware of Small Business Saturday, 89% agree that the day encourages them to Shop Small all year long, not just during the holiday season.
This year Small Business Saturday is on November 25, and Magnolia is celebrating with an Art Walk on the day.
Magnolia Art Walk
* Location: 3209 W McGraw St., Seattle
* Time: 4 PM – 7 PM PT
* Details: Businesses throughout Magnolia are hosting a Small Business Saturday art walk. Led by Vixen Day Spa and Boutique, businesses will host artists in-store in addition to live music and Small Business Saturday promotions.
Seattle Parks and Recreation is beginning the next phase of the design process for Smith Cove Park. A component of moving the design forward from our last public meeting held in February 2017 has been to refine the project budget. To that end, they are proposing to phase the project to maximize investment opportunities.
All are welcome to join Seattle Parks and Recreation staff and Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN) on December 5. At this meeting, they will outline their phasing strategy and schedule for the park development. This is an opportunity to learn about the project, receive design updates and ask them any questions you may have about the project. The community is encouraged to attend.
Public Meeting
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
6 – 7 p.m.
Catharine Blaine School
2550 34th Ave W
From Seattle Parks and Rec:
Pipe Replacement Project
On August 21, King County’s contractor began staging equipment for prep work to replace the 3,200-foot pipe connecting the existing sewer system to a storage tank in Smith Cove Park. The pipe was installed in 2014-15 to keep more of Magnolia’s sewage and stormwater out of Puget Sound. It was confirmed to be broken in November 2016. Earlier this year, the pipe break was located about 150 feet below West Galer Street near Thorndyke Avenue West.
Download the Magnolia Pipe Replacement Project document for maps and information. For additional information on the pipe replacement please go to this page.
Thank you to the over 90 people who attended the second public meeting for the Seattle Park District funded Smith Cove Park project on February 8. The project planner and designers reviewed design options and we heard input from people representing specific groups (dog-off-leash area, sand volleyball, Little League/youth sports, and habitat groups) and from long-time Magnolia residents. This project develops the 4.9 acre easterly waterfront property recently acquired and makes improvements to the playfield half of Smith Cove Park (west of 23rd Avenue West) used for youth sports. The project could include a restroom, improved beach access, playfield improvements to drainage and irrigation, walking and biking trails, sand volleyball courts, dog-off-leash-area and other passive and active opportunities for all. Download the presentation from the February 8 meeting.
About Smith Cove Park
In 2015, the Friends of Smith Cove Park (FoSCP) received a grant from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to undertake the initial public outreach and conceptual design for the expansion of Smith Cove Park. In early 2016 Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) hired GGN as the design consultant. They will use the outreach and concept completed by the FoSCP as the starting point for the design of the park. Amenities may include paths, landscaping, waterfront access points, a play area, and related improvements. Some improvements will also be made to the existing part of Smith Cove Park (west of this site), currently used for sports such as soccer. The improved park will provide waterfront access and ADA accessibility; provide enhanced opportunities for active recreation, increase environmental-sensitivity, and make the park inviting and usable for more people.
All are invited to join in the beautification of Discovery Park this Saturday, November 18th from 1-4pm. Participants will plant native shrubs and trees to increase rich habitats for wildlife at Discovery Park. Please call to let them know you are coming so they have enough gloves, tools and plants for all. (206) 386 – 4237.
Bartell Drugs is once again partnering with the Salvation Army to provide holiday gifts for children in need by collecting new, unwrapped toys during its 15th annual Salvation Army “Toy ‘N’ Joy” drive.
The toy drive will run November 12 through December 9 at 65 of Bartell’s locations in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
Toys will be distributed to low-income children and youth the week before Christmas through the Salvation Army’s “toy warehouses.”
Donation options include:
- Donate at the cash register at any Bartell Drugs location.
- Donate new, unwrapped gifts appropriate for children up to 14 years of age.
“This community-wide drive helps make the holiday season brighter for deserving children in the neighborhoods we serve,” says Bartell Drugs CFO Rob Jensen. “The generous response by our customers over the past 15 years has been extremely gratifying.”
The month-long drive in 2016 generated over 5,800 toys provided by Bartell customers—the equivalent of $88,710 in toys provided to the Salvation Army.
