Search Results for 'HB'

[Ken]

While the legal aspect may be tilted in the business owners favor, (those gears do grind slow) This “smells” like a political issue that our city council members should be made aware of. Perhaps by registered letter. If he does have a city contract, he might be in violation of the terms of that contract which, as far as I know, can get examined pretty damn quick when some politicians are annoyed.

If you have exhausted all legal means at your personal level as a homeowner, don’t leave the political aspect out of it.

http://www.seattle.gov/council/committees/planning_comm.htm

Oh look. There are some newly elected members on the Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee

and the Chair Sally Clark, I suspect, needs a chance to counter the charges of “too business friendly”.

They were all very friendly when they were asking for endorsements from the 34th district. Some of them even got it.

Tom Rasmussen has a great staff and a good record of being responsive to neighborhood issues even when he is running unopposed.

[Jack]

I live in the Westwood area of West Seattle. We have lived here for a long time. We like our neighborhood and chose to live here because it was residential and not commercial.

In October of 2005 our neighbor relocated his business to his home. He is a contractor who pumps raw sewage. He also contracts with the city to water Seattle public property. This means he has LARGE vehicles, stinky hoses, many employees, an office separate from his home (one of those mobile construction trailers), people coming and going ON OUR street that is ZONED residential. The mobile construction trailer apparently is not considered a violation because it can be “moved easily” and is “temporary”. If it didn’t have wheels he would be in violation and be considered “permanent”.

This does NOT make for a nice place to live. I thought it was a temporary situation. It is not. After about a year of what I thought was temporary, in November 2006 I contacted the DPD and made a complaint. He was in violation of the city code and was cited. He took this case to court and lost. The judge said he was in violation. BUT, he is still operating his business.

What makes me so angry is that we are rewarding him with a City Contract and he is allowed to violate the CITY code without having to give up his city contracts.

I have contacted the DPD (Dept. of Land Use whose is job it is to stop him), King5 News, my district Representative, Parking Enforcement, City of Seattle business licensing, Labor and Industry, ground water protection service, the Seattle Times, and more. There has not been ONE thing done except give my neighbor a citation. He has received one citation and has failed seven inspections. I was told by the DPD it has taken some cases up to 10 years to resolve. There are only a couple of inspectors for the entire city who investigate over 4000 complaints a year.

My other neighbors have complained as well. NOT just me. If everyone was fine with it I would rethink my concerns but my neighbors keep asking me what more I know and when this guy is going to move his business.

If I had wanted to live next to a large industrial business I would have lived down by the Port of Seattle. I live in West Seattle, which is considered to be a residential neighborhood. I would like it to keep it this way.

Is there anyone out there who knows how to stop this effectively without resorting to poor behavior? I would love it if the entire WS blog complained to the DPD to keep WS what it should be! Here is the link http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Enforcement/Code_Compliance/Filing_a_Complaint/default.asp Case # 1010691 if you are so inclined. He is violating Zoning Codes and Parking Codes.

The WS Blog is such a wonderful place to find support and advocacy. Thank you for this venue.

–Name Withheld for fear of retribution. (This gentleman can be rather intimidating)

[credmond]

Jimmy G, Al, others,

–

The 54 serves a larger transit ridership because it goes through more neighborhoods than the 21. Metro chose the 54 for reasons which included the overall population served. Metro also knows that the 21 is due upgrades.

–

The new Rapid Ride service is “new” money and as soon as it’s implemented, circa 2011, the existing 54 service hours can be completely redirected here in WS. That’s probably enough hours to expand the 21 to 20 minute service, lengthen the service day for the 22, and probably increase the 128 to 20 minute service also. That’s what Metro plans to go over next year, this year they’re working on the alignment and station locations. That’s where the energy should be focused now.

–

Does RR improve the 54 service corridor? or does it improve some other service corridor? The present alignment includes the option of intersecting the RR service with the 21 or saving maybe three minutes and getting on the Fauntleroy Causeway directly. Most of us on the advisory board are arguing for the intersect even though it will “waste” 3 minutes. Anyway, send your comments in and attend one of the meetings next week – WSB has it on the events page. Metro is listening, honestly!

[Sue]

Jill, I’m a renter, and the house I’m living in right now was found on Craigslist. I also go around the neighborhood looking for signs. I never used any kind of agency because I always assumed there was some catch, some hidden fee they weren’t telling me about to find a place, or that it was a scam in general.

As for pricing, you might try going to Craigslist and search for houses in your area to see if there a common theme in pricing. Newspaper ads also could be helpful in that.

[swimcat]

Oh, this whole thing is such a debacle. There are other neighborhoods in WS that need Metro’s attention. The 54 seems to have enough buses IMO; the 21 definitely needs some updating, especially more express buses. I don’t know how anyone who lives in High Point can even get on a 21 express downtown as they seem to fill up before Morgan.

[gregorywade]

I was wondering if anyone was currently participating, or would be interested in participating, in groups aimed at developing individual and neighborhood solutions for the energy challenges society will be facing.

Currently, I’ve taken up an organic garden and intend on doing so again this year. I still have a lot to learn as last year was a mix of successes and failures. I would also like to learn the proper techniques for composting. Anybody interested in sharing labor, knowledge, and ideas?

I’m also interested in techniques and skills such as food preparation, energy conservation, and bicycle maintenance just to name a few. I’ve spent some time researching and experimenting on my own, but would enjoy sharing ideas, knowledge and tools with people who are doing similar things.

[Anonymous]

Also in White Center, Malo’s auto body just south of Roxbury on 17th. http://www.malosautobody.com/ Family owned, been there forever and the manager used to be my neighbor and is a great guy.

[TheVelvetBulldog]

To Erik: We could Anti-Freeze our little neighborhood. If you’re interested in a walking buddy, send your email address to the fine WSB-keepers and they’ll pass it along to me.

[Anonymous]

Please tell me what we did wrong: I went to our daughters school (Roxhill) and delivered cupcakes and invites for the entire class for ice skating. We did not receive not 1 call to RSVP for the party, only 1 girl and her Mom bothered to show up at the rink. What is with people! We wrote our phone number on each and every invitation. This is so rude! We will instead get to know the kids in her swim class and not bother to intite the kids from Roxhill since their parents can’t bother to call or show up at the party. Too bad because alot of the kids were excited to skate for the first time and our daughter was all excited about her upcoming party. I am fully aware there are more important things going on in the world now, but to not even call that is rude!! How darn hard is i to pick up the phone and call?

We tried the neighborhood school, it didn’t work out and we had no playdates, not 1! We left that school because of academics and now our daughter has moved up a grade since being at Roxhill, but now we find there most likely won’t be any parties or playdates.

Also, what is with the schools having all these diversification parties to celebrate other traditional celebrations but in an elementary school no holiday (we say Christmas in our house!), no observation to Thanksgivings Day, and most likely no Valentines Day party and so on?

Shame on you Roxhill parents!

Also, on your blog about the Seattle Freeze, I have had more of the freeze from other parents!

[credmond]

deby,

Interesting, I think we get more sun here than other sections of the city, too. We certainly get the grand views in all directions. Maybe that contributes to a more open frame of mind. I’ve met and become friends with a way-far neighbor (about 7 blocks) who has seen this place change over the 50 years she and her husband have lived there. I love talking to her, it’s like a window into someone else’s experiences and life. Anyway, she’s a native and wasn’t in a freeze when I walked past her house several years ago and said “hi, nice day isn’t it?” She’s got a great view from her garden, too, of the ferry dock, Vashon, Southworth and beyond.

[debypatterson]

I moved to west seattle because I think there is more warmth here (less ice) than in the rest of Seattle. Natives don’t understand about the freeze because they have no idea what it’s like elsewhere, where people are warm, open and welcoming to strangers. I lived a very Caspar-like existence (wonderful analogy) in other Puget Sound neighborhoods until I moved to West Seattle.

I like the post from the person who said they were a native but could make new friends if they wanted to..There you have it. natives just don’t want to, they don’t think they need to.

Maybe it is all about being too nice, too polite. There have been moments where it seemed like this is a very proper Victorian English village…you are never supposed to acknowledge someone you haven’t been properly introduced to. But the rest of the world isn’t like that. And for those that are not native here, no family, no school buddies, etc., it can be very bleak, very cold.

But I love what I read on these posts, people open to making eye contact, saying hello, making it change! ! As I said before, I find WSeattle more open and friendlier than other parts of the city, must be so much sun…

[cjboffoli]

Can anyone recommend a good local company who does central air conditioning installs for a reasonable price? It is not just the sunny, hot Seattle summers I’m trying to remedy. I happen to live in a very densely-built neighborhood and I have neighbors who are degenerate smokers. I can’t open my windows without my place filling with their smoke. I think central AC might be the key to cool, clean air when the weather gets hot again. Thanks in advance.

[PDH]

Hi, I am looking for an auto body repair facility to fix some minor damage. Insurance company recommended Thoroughbred on 38th or Bernard Imports on 8th SW. Anyone heard good/bad regarding these facilities?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We still receive these coupons for trips to the City Dump, it comes every Fall and again in the Spring. We hauled a bunch of items from our house and acouple neighbors just this past Fall.

[JoB]

jan s…

i would be happy to go to member profiles if i could just figure out where. could you help a neighbor out and point me in the right direction:)

and.. i can drive.

[Ken]

I guess I never noticed any “freeze” even though it appears to be a common enough occurrence to be legendary.

I am a large guy with a face that scares children so I assumed anyone who appears shy or evasive feels they have good reason.

As a transplant from NC (by way of a dozen cities on the east coast both north and south), I find Seattle natives to be, by and large, more honest about their feelings, fears and social interactions than many other places.

I have been in the state since 88 so I am still considered a transplant after 20 years.

The myth of southern hospitality is just as pervasive and misunderstood. I would rather cut through the surface friendliness to the core distrust of the stranger than go through that crazy dance of fake politeness, insincere smiles and the Q and A designed to classify you into one of their acceptable compartments of class, religion or politics.

I meet people without expecting them to automatically want to interact with me. Friends happen if your honest, sincere, and willing to help strangers without the calculation of what you will get out of it.

Of course if you want to meet your neighbors, one way is via politics. I go up the walk and knock on the door and ask if everyone in the house is registered to vote. That’s an ice breaker here in West Seattle. Some of you who might live in Highpoint have also found it is not safe to jog by my house, with or with out dog since I ask every pedestrian and even those in slow moving cars if they are registered to vote.

There are still some residents of my precinct who run when I try to talk to them or refuse to answer the door. I consider that any residents prerogative and am not offended by it. :)

If you are interested in meeting your neighbors in the near term, show up at the party caucus location of which ever party you feel closest to, and you will probably meet those who have similar political views (with some wide variations on the Dem side). Apparently you can meet every republican in West Seattle if you attend the single caucus location at SW community center.

For caucus information see the other posts on the political forum of the main page updates.

[Goody]

My freeze was unfrozen by meeting a great group of women who each took a long time to get to know. It was worth it! However, I had a lot of “freezes” and had I not lucked into a great group of friends, it could have been a sad year. Back from a much friendlier and warm place, I landed next to the screaming neighbor from hell-complete with divisive actions straight from a soap opera written by Dante.

It was one foot in heaven/one in hell and I think I was frozen and thawed. I made some really good friends here and ignore the ones I am territorially tied to. There is a certain amount of righteousness that abounds throughout the community. It took awhile for people at my coffee shop to allow me in the inner circle-first few months I heard one woman talking about newcomers as though we were scum. However, I kept showing up and smiling and I met people.

I love W.S., the women at PCC got me through a lot of colds, shopping is good, the Sunday market is great, the views spectacular, the housing stock ok(I was able to buy away from the nutty harridan and will move next month). Friends are all what it is about for me and I bless my lucky stars I made some. I do think it is different here. I work downtown and people there are much less open. I have always made friends easily but was in despair about here initially. So, overall I am thawing my own little space-inch by inch.

[picklemom]

I just returned from a walk in beautiful Lincoln Park, and though I’ve lived in Seattle for about 20 years, I still find it perplexing when I

get the “Casper treatment.” I’m sure it happens to others, too.

What is the Casper treatment? Well, remember the old “Casper the Friendly Ghost” cartoon? The little ghost just wanted to be friendly, but whenever he said “hi” to someone, they would panic, staggering away and stammering “A g-g-g-GHOST!” Now, when I greet a stranger during my walks, they don’t panic (I’m pretty normal-looking). But, nine times out of 10, I get one of the following Classic Seattle Responses:

1. The Seattle Stare: The recipient of my “hi” gives me a blank stare.

2. The Seattle Shun: The recipient averts his or her eyes.

3. The Seattle Scowl: Self-explanatory.

It would be nice to get more “Seattle Smiles” or, if that’s too much to ask, at least a grunted “Hello” or a half-nod.

So, I’d like to propose that readers of the WSB, cool people that they are, start saying “Hi,”

preferably accompanied by a neighborly smile, when they’re out taking a walk. And if someone greets them, how about greeting them back? Call it what you will: The Casper Campaign, or whatever, but, let’s try it!

[JanS]

Bonnie, funny about your friend from Texas. I had a neighbor who rented the next door apartment for 6 months. He was from Austin..a musician who wanted to try the music scene here…and was totally homesick for Austin. After 6 months he up and left, went home, met a girl, they’re becoming parents, and is totally happy now. He, too, said that he was lonely here, even with friendly neighbors (Happy Hour once a week – lol)

[Bonnie]

Well, after reading some of the responses I guess some of it could be true. I wouldn’t go confront my neighbor if they were having a party (maybe I’d call the cops…but not confront them!). I probably wouldn’t show my true feelings to someone. Also, I can be in an exercise class at the Y and be right next to someone and still they don’t say a word to me and I don’t say a word to them. The Moms in my daughter’s preschool just make small talk but that’s it. Don’t know why, but I don’t think it’s because people are meaning to be RUDE.

As for the people who always compare their home to Seattle and Seattle comes up short…I agree. Go home. (but of course I wouldn’t SAY it to them because I’m too polite. LOL!)

Now, I do have a friend who is from Texas (and other areas) who says that Seattle is the loneliest place to live.

[CMP]

I think a majority of Seattle residents put on the freeze. Sometimes I’m guilty (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to confront my upstairs neighbor at 2:00 am for being loud…or even go up there during the day to calmly talk about it), but I won’t b/c I’m afraid of the reaction I’ll get. I went running on Christmas morning and encountered at least 15 people and only two acknowledged my “Merry Christmas” or “good morning”. I’ve stood at the bar at Matador and Peso’s for 20 minutes waiting for friends to show up and not a single person approached me to talk. And no, I’m not an unattractive or mean looking person. My sister and I joke that if anyone approaches us while out and about, they must not be from here. And we’re usually right. I think our brother is the exception but he traveled solo for a year around the world so he can talk to anyone after that experience. Make eye contact and smile a bit…makes a world of difference!

[Kayleigh]

Sue, you are entirely right.

I hadn’t heard people talk about the Seattle “freeze” until the last couple of years. So I think throughout my 20s, I internalized a lot of the social “rejections” I got and now I rarely ask new people over for dinner. I need to reach out more anyway, though.

I hope it’s a boundary thing and not snobbiness that keeps people at arm’s length. I would hate to think this city with all its liberalism and compassion somehow thinks it’s too good to meet the neighbors for coffee.

I have been told so many times by newcomers that I’m a “breath of fresh air” because I’m both more direct and open and more friendly than is typical Seattle. Which is kind of funny, if you know me, because I am sometimes reserved and shy. Makes you wonder what the other end of the spectrum must look like!

[TheVelvetBulldog]

Erik – what does your lab look like? I’ll say Hi the next time I see you walking in the neighborhood. (I have to assume from your post that YOU’RE terrifying.) :-)

[hopey]

Here’s my experience as a transplanted Chicagoan…

The Seattle Freeze is real. After some discussion with a friend who relocated here from Iowa, we have decided that a lot of it actually results from an overwhelming fear of offending *somebody* by saying *something* wrong. Let me give you a really specific example.

I am nearly 40 years old and recently had braces put on my teeth. Not a single coworker in my office said ONE WORD when I walked into work the first day I wore braces. No one acknowledged there was *anything* different about me that day, outside of the surreptitious looks and a bit of a startle response the first time I opened my mouth to speak. It was my boss’s boss (who is from the Midwest) who casually remarked, “Oh hey! You got braces! How long will you have them on?” and chatted with me in a friendly way about it. I think the rest of my coworkers were worried that if they acknowledged I had changed anything, I would somehow be offended. Better to not say anything at all.

This is very different from the Midwest idea, which is that by commenting on changes in appearance, you are showing that you notice — and therefore, you *care*. It is an expression of interest and caring, not an insult or intrusion into an intensely private matter.

Extrapolate this into the way neighbors and people on the street interact, and you get a “friendliness” which exists on the surface but never delves any deeper. I know it’s not just me, because when I discuss this theory with other transplanted Midwesterners, they agree that I am spot-on. If it were not for my fiance and his circle of friends, I’m convinced I wouldn’t have made a single friend here in Seattle.

[Erik]

As a native WSer and scandihoovien my family was the epitome of aloofness. I’ve always been kind of the weirdo (comments from the peanut gallery are accepted) in the family as I will go up to total strangers and say what’s on my mind. This used to bother my late wife to no end when she was with me. I will admit that a massive shy streak comes over me when I see an attractive lady.

I’m amazed daily when I ride the bus that the seat next to me is almost always empty even if people are standing. The people I work with laugh when I tell them this because they know me as a goofball and not a scary person. I’m just direct in my approach.

If it wasn’t for my lab and our daily walks around the point I’d probably never meet any of my neighbors.