Laurelhurst Blog

February Neighborhood Crime Activity

2023-02-10T05:22:00.000-08:00

Below is the neighborhood Seattle Police Department crime activity report for January:

1/2 10:32pm 5000 block of 50th Avenue NE
BURGLARY

1/3 6:40am 4700 block of 41st Avenue NE
BURGLARY

1/11 11:26pm 3900 block of 48th Place NE
VANDALISM

1/11 11:36pm 3900 block of 48th Place NE
BURGLARY

1/12 12:07am 4100 block of 55th Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS PERSON

1/12 2:08am 4500 block of 55th Avenue NE
PROWLER

1/15 6:57am 4400 block of 51st Avenue NE
LARCENY-THEFT

1/15 9:57am 4400 block of 51st theft
THEFT

1/15 5:19pm 5100 block of NE 54th Street
BURGLARY

1/17 12:09am 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS PERSON

1/19 3:17pm 3800 block of NE 41st Street
BURGLARY

1/19 9pm 3800 block of 42nd Avenue NE
LARCENY

1/24 noon 4700 block of 41st Avenue NE
ASSAULT

1/24 4:09pm 4500 block of 46th Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS PERSON

1/25 12:15pm 3100 block of West Laurelhurst Drive
THEFT - IMPERSONATION

Neighbors Again Asking For Fireworks To Stop Going Off Late At Night In Park

2023-02-09T13:24:00.003-08:00

fireworks found in the park

The Laurelhurst Blog continues to receive numerous emails about people letting off fireworks in the park almost every week-end and sometimes on weekdays.

The last report received was very loud fireworks being set off middle of last week. Fireworks usually happen between 9:3pm-11:30pm and last sometimes for several minutes and are extremely loud, according to neighbors.

Neighbors are requesting that "if anyone knows who is doing it to please stop as it causing a great deal of stress for families and espeically for pets" one neighbor told the Laurelhurst Blog.

Here are some reports from neighbors:

Last month a large amoutn of fireworks was let off at the Park. These fireworks were special: they woke everyone up and added to terrified dogs already worst day of the year. The risk is fires, fireworks gone wrong, injury from a delayed explosion and not super great for the environment. Begs the question: is there anything we can do to prevent this at parks with multiple points of entry?

The nightly fireworks are extremely tressful for pets and sleeping families, including elderly and adults. It is extremely insensitive of whomever is doing this causing such anxiety on so many people and so late at night.

The fireworks are usually so loud and long that is actually seemed like cars were blowing up as the sound echoes and magnifies off the school and the hospital on the north side of the park. It is extremely scarey, jarring and traumatic for so many people.

Please put out a plea to the neighborhood to do all they can to discourage fireworks from being set off in the neighborhood. Besides being dangerous for people, there are nesting eagles and many other birds in the neighborhood as well as many, many dogs who do not do well the noise from fireworks.

Some neighbors may not know that there are at least 3 families of nesting eagles in our neighborhood. Please also consider the other birds and the many, many pets (especially dogs) in Laurelhurst.

The people that are doing this are not only committing a crime but are in violation of the City Ordinance as they over the allowed decibel level, especially when they are being set off so close to homes.

What about the sick children at the Hospital being awoken and terrified by the loud noise of the fireworks?

Fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. SPD advises to use the 625-5011 line to report any fireworks violations.

Two Eagles Down

2023-02-08T07:54:00.002-08:00

Here is a recent post from the Uni on Bay Watch Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time local photographer and birder.

Eagles Down January 11, 2023

Eagles grabbing talons and cartwheeling through the air is not a common occurrence, but it does happen. This photo, from 2015, is the only time I have seen it happen near Union Bay. This pair of immature eagles ultimately let go of each other - thereby avoiding a splash-down in Montlake Cut.

My friend, Tom Cotner, pointed out that with adults cartwheeling is often part of their courtship behavior. Our three local adult pairs have been residents of Union Bay for many years. I have never seen any of them cartwheeling. I wonder if courtship is no longer required once a relationship passes a certain age.

Saturday, just before dark, I received a message from Tom. He had heard that two Bald Eagles had fallen to the ground and were still entangled near the Montlake Community Center. We assumed this was the result of them cartwheeling and then failing to disengage before hitting the ground. Tom was told that one of the two might be dead. He was wondering how and if we could help.

The only appropriate and legal way to help is to contact someone who is federally authorized and trained to handle Bald Eagles. However, I was hesitant to call for help without personally accessing the situation. Sometimes, stunned eagles can shake off a fall and simply get up and fly away. We both hurried to the site.

It was beginning to get dark, but there was still enough light to see both eagles were perfectly still. The open eye on the upper eagle did not even blink. I wondered if they were both dead. The upper eagle seemed a bit immature, given its tail and head were not quite completely covered with pure white feathers. I wondered if it initiated the cartwheel as practice for future courting. The other Bald Eagle looked mature. Although, in this case, there was some discoloration which appeared to be blood on the tail.

Tom eventually moved slightly closer to the eagles while trying to determine if they were alive. I imagine he was looking for signs of breathing. Both eagles shifted their heads to keep an eye on him. I immediately called the Seattle Animal Shelter, explained the situation, and requested help. An officer was dispatched to recover the eagles.

A few other concerned souls gathered nearby to quietly wait for the rescue. Behind us in the middle of the Montlake track, a group of people and their off-leash dogs were running around unaware of the eagles on the ground. While we waited, I explained to them that an Animal Control Officer was on the way to help with the eagles. They leashed their dogs, which was much safer for the eagles, before leaving.

Even without dogs around, if the eagles were stuck on the ground at night they would not be safe. We have coyotes, otters and raccoons in the city and I imagine any one of them might be interested in a bald eagle that is unable to fly.

Suddenly, both eagles seemed to come to life and started calling and struggling with each other. The one on top began flapping its wings and pulling to get free. They finally separated and for a moment they stood side by side. Then the younger bird spread its wings and flew away to the north. Disappearing into the dusk.

The older bird walked slowly into the surrounding foliage, something about its left wing did not look right. As darkness fell the reflection of its white head was the only clue to its location. Eventually, the Animal Control Officers arrived and captured the injured eagle. As they left the officers confirmed it was bleeding from the left wing.

Eventually, I heard that on Sunday the injured eagle was transferred to PAWs, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society in Lynnwood. The fact that the eagle lived through the night is encouraging. We will hopefully learn more about its prognosis in a few days after it is examined by a qualified specialist.

For the last five years, the area around the Montlake Community Center, just south of Portage Bay, has been part of the territory that belongs to Monty and Marsha, the Bald Eagles who nest near the southeast corner of Montlake Cut. This January 2018 photo shows Monty and Marsha at their first (partially constructed) nest.

The scenario that seemed most likely was that one of these two local adults had been defending their territory when the encounter with the younger eagle occurred. While I wondered if the injured eagle was Monty or Marsha several other questions came to mind. How long will it take to recover? Would a healthy mate, who suddenly found itself flying solo, just before nesting season, decide to take a new mate in the meantime? If the injured eagle recovered and was then released, Would it return to the territory and begin fighting with its replacement?

These were interesting questions, but I actually had no proof that the older eagle was Monty or Marsha. I decided to try to determine if both of them were still present in their usual locations.

On Sunday, I could not find either of the Montlake Cut eagles at any of their normal roosting spots.

On Monday, I found what appeared to be one of the two in their favorite cottonwood tree just north of the Waterfront Activity Center. At the time I wasn't sure whether it was Monty or Marsha, but after comparing it to other photos I believe this is a photo of Marsha.

On Tuesday, my luck improved. I saw one adult Bald Eagle chasing after a second one that had just caught food. Later, I would learn that someone closer to the situation saw the eagle eating a bird with black feathers. I suspect it was one of the wintering American Coots.

After a bit, the eagles moved again, and I lost sight of them. I could still hear them calling. I headed towards the Waterfront Activity Center. I was planning to check their favorite cottonwood tree when I ran into my friend Sarah. She had also been watching the eagles but from a greater distance and a different angle. She had seen them head back toward the nest tree.

When we circled back we noticed Marsha in the nest and Monty sitting in one of his usual protective spots just above the nest. At the same time, a third Bald Eagle was sitting a few trees to the east of the nest. Apparently, all of the noise was Monty and Marsha telling the intruder to move along.

I hurried back across the bridge and around to the south side of the nest in hopes of catching some photos with a bit better lighting. Monty had left but after a few minutes, he returned. I suspect he escorted the intruder away. In any case, if you look closely you can see that both Monty and Marsha are calling out greetings to each other.

Their faces do appear to be changing as they mature. Monty is getting more of a heavy eyebrow similar to Marsha's. However, Marsha still has a tinge of discoloration on her face immediately behind her eye. In the same area, Monty seems to be developing a small furrow running away from the "back corner" of his eye. Granted, these details can be enhanced or invisible depending on the lighting.

I am happy to know these two are still together and likely to produce young again this year. However, I am still concerned for the unknown eagle that was injured and picked up near the Montlake Community Center. I will let you know when I hear more about its prognosis.

Since that eagle was not Monty or Marsha it makes me rethink what caused the entanglement that led to its injury. I wonder if it was the one who attempted a courtship ritual. Perhaps its efforts were not well received. The wonderful thing about the mysteries of nature is there are always more questions to ask and we will never know all the answers.

Boilers At Hospital Switching to Diesel

2023-02-07T12:44:00.002-08:00

Children's Hospital posted this information:

Boilers At Hospital Switching to Diesel

Last week, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) notified Seattle Children’s (along with other large institutions in the area) to reduce natural gas usage until further notice while emergency repairs are made to the regional gas system.

Boilers at the hospital campus will switch to diesel fuel until Children’s is advised to switch back to natural gas. The boilers are critical for heating the hospital and powering steam production for sterile supplies.

Nearby neighbors and workforce members may temporarily see and smell diesel fumes coming from the hospital during this time.

For any questions or concern email construction@seattlechildrens.org.

Evening Burglary On Webster Point

2023-02-06T06:50:00.001-08:00

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

Two homes in the 3000 block of Webster Point Road NE were burglarized on Saturday February 4 between 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm while both homeowners were gone.

Entry had been gained by climbing up and smashing through sliding glass doors on the second and third floors of the homes.

Cars in both of their driveways were not vandalized but both homes were thoroughly searched, trashed and many items were stolen.

Videos show three men wearing dark clothes and masks.

Copies of security footage were sent to police and reports were filed.

Some Interesting History of Laurelhurst Past Businesses

2023-02-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

LCC published this Laurelhurst history in a recent newsletter:

History of Laurelhurst - Glimpses of the 1950s written by Jim Rupp, LCC trustee
When I was a young boy in the 1950s, Emmett Ziebarth had an easy walk to work from his house in Laurelhurst. He lived in a lovely home on Union Bay at 3615 42nd Avenue NE (replaced by a larger modern home several years ago) and it was a short trip to his business, Ziebarth’s Hardware. It was located in the buildings on NE 45th Street that now house the businesses that extend from Jaks restaurant to the Marlai Thai restaurant.

The buildings were constructed in 1948, and I think Ziebarth probably built them. He owned the whole block. Back then neighborhoods didn’t have the large grocery stores or shopping centers that we’re now accustomed to, only small neighborhood stores. Ziebarth started out across the street, where Valarmos Pizzeria is now located, with a hardware and grocery store. When he moved into the new building, Ziebarth’s retail enterprise was limited to hardware. He leased space to other businesses that served the neighborhood well. The Ziebarth block had much to offer.

You could walk into the butcher shop and Carl Pollard could provide a wide range of meat for the table. And next to that was Walt Landis’s grocery store. The store owners knew most of their customers by name and personal service was key. Some allowed you to run a tab and pay at the end of the month. When my father visited Ziebarth’s he might say, “Emmett, I need a 4 inch, 3/8th inch bolt,” and Mr. Ziebarth would find it for him.

When my mother visited Pollard’s, he’d have the hamburger she’d ordered over the phone or requested on the spot. Where Marlai Thai now serves meals, Graham Condie’s pharmacy filled prescriptions and provided various sundry products. Pill prescriptions came in small glass bottles with plastic tops that easily popped off.

My parents always went to Condie’s. Many others went to Zoff’s, across Sand Point Way between where the Laurelhurst Condos and El Camion are now located, in what ultimately became a bicycle shop. The only time I remember being in Zoff’s was when I was in sixth grade. Tom Hatch and I went in to look at Playboy magazine.

Mr. Zoff quickly shooed us away with a stern look of disapproval. Over the years new and varied enterprises have come and gone in the Ziebarth block and larger stores have replaced most small local purveyors in Seattle. In our area, I believe Tradewell and Thriftway were the first of the larger “super” markets where you could buy everything.

One opened in the building where City People’s now resides, and the other was located in the southwest corner of the University Village. When Emmett Ziebarth died in 1985 he still owned the block. It’s now owned by a Ziebarth family trust.

The Laurelhurst Blog has posted about the history of Zopf pharmacy and a conversation the staff had with the owner's grandson, here.

Neighbors Would Like To Remind Dog Owners To Not Dump Bags In Other's Trash

2023-02-02T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Laurelhurst Blog often receives emails and posts about residents frustrated over dog owners not picking up after their dogs or putting their dog's waste in some else's garbage.

Here are some comments received:

Throwing the plastic bag full of dog poop into a neighbor’s flower bed is gross, unacceptable, rude, disgusting and against the law. If your dog poops in your neighbor’s yard, it is your responsibility to clean it up and take it with you. It’s so awful, especially with kids. Do not put it in your neighbor’s garbage can or yard waste or flower bed. Be a decent person, and take it with you and dispose of it properly.

We have noticed that someone is putting their dog feces in our garbage can on Mondays when we put our can out for pick up. The doggie bag is not double bagged. We no longer have dogs and certainly do not want the dog feces in our containers. Dog walkers and neighbors need to carry the bag back to the dog's home and dispose of it there.

Please remember to only use the waste cans that are either yours or ones furnished by the City. The waste cans at the bus stops are not to be used for the disposal of dog waste. Notices have been placed on the Metro waste cans to not use them for pet waste.

Please don’t put your bagged dog poop in garbage cans that have been emptied on garbage day - or even worse, in an empty recycling container that is still on the curb.

Please dog owners, use your own garbage can to dispose of your pet's poo. I don't appreciate your calling card in my can.

Several ago we saw someone put their dog feces bag into our "clean green" container. When I caught up with her the person said she thought the bag could go into the clean green container since the bag would decompose. According to my search, the feces need to be double bagged and go into the regular garbage containers. This regulation is for the safety of the trash collectors. I would encourage the neighbors who have dog walkers make certain that their walkers also know where the bags should go.

Please remember to only use the waste cans that are either yours or ones furnished by the City. The waste cans at the bus stops are not to be used for the disposal of dog waste. Notices have been placed on the Metro waste cans to not use them for pet waste.

Recently when I went out to roll my trash container to the curb, I found a little black bag of dog poo in my container which smelled...it was the only item in my container. What gives dog owners the right to throw their dog’s waste into their neighbors trash can. This problem has been a problem for a long time and continues to be a problem that I know annoys many folks.

Could you please not place poop in other people’s cans. Even in plastic, it smells horrible. The bin you choose may not belong to a pet owner!

I am a long time Laurelhurst resident. And I am so tired of picking up other people's dog's poop. I have a dog, I pick up his poop. It's not rocket science. Please, neighbors, be responsible.

Here is a related list of City Municipal Codes and corresponding violations with fine amounts imposed by the City of Seattle:

Offenses Related to Safety and Sanitation
$109 Allowing accumulation of feces SMC 9.25.082 (A)
$54 Not removing feces from another’s property SMC 9.25.082 (B)
$54 Not having equipment to remove feces SMC 9.25.082 (C)

Seattle Public Utilities reports on their website:

Pet waste amounts to about 50,000 lbs of pet waste every day.
Left on streets, curb strips and in yards and parks, pet waste can be carried by rainwater to storm drains and into our creeks, lakes and Puget Sound without treatment. It is one of the leading causes of bacterial contamination in our streams and causes other water quality problems just like livestock manure and fertilizer.

There are bacteria and micro-organisms in pet waste such as Roundworms, E. coli, and Giardia that can make people sick if they’re ingested. Some can last in your yard for as long as four years if not cleaned up.

Children who play outside and adults who garden are at greatest risk of infection. If pet waste is washed into the storm drain it ends up in lakes, streams or marine water, and people can accidentally swallow bacteria and other disease-causing organisms while swimming or playing in the water. These bacteria also end up in shellfish, and can make the people who eat them very sick.

Put pet waste in a plastic bag, seal it, and throw it in the garbage- not in the yard waste! There are also Mutt Mitt (pdf) dispensers located around the City. The next time you're out walking your pet, take advantage of this free resource to help keep our waterways clean.

There are laws in Seattle to protect our health and our environment which require pet waste to be picked up and disposed of properly.

Go here for more information.

Winter Bird Activity At Union Bay Natural Area

2023-02-01T06:59:00.001-08:00

Here is a recent post from the Uni on Bay Watch Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time local photographer and birder.

The Wonders of Winter

The red waxy tips, on their inner wing feathers, inspired the last name of the Cedar Waxwings.

A female American Robin is a surprisingly beautiful bird. Her head and back are similar in color to a Waxwing, the white and dark streaks on her throat and the broken white eye-rings create wonderful contrasting highlights. Best of all her breast is a subtle shade of russet-orange that may be the most beautiful hue on a color wheel.

The glowing display of the last lingering leaves is another wonderful aspect of winter beauty.

By the way, in my previous post, there is a new update regarding Varied Thrush. My friend Etta kindly reminded me that Varied Thrush do not breed in urban areas. This is also documented in BirdWeb our local, free, online birding application from Seattle Audubon.

Last week, this tiny Hermit Thrush attracted my attention, as it searched for food on this moss-covered support for the Wilcox walking bridge, in the Arboretum.

When it flew, it landed nearby in this leafless tree. The Hermit Thrush was clearly focusing its attention on the little pink spheres.

Its feeding strategy, i.e. fluttering up, and seizing the food while hovering in mid-air, seemed somewhat extravagant. I wondered, What was attracting this exceptional attention?

When I looked more closely, my confusion increased. I wondered, What is this? Is it a fruit, flower, or seed? Are the outer pink parts edible? How much of this do the birds eat?

After repeated trips, I documented one of the larger and calmer Varied Thrush as it sat and pulled out the inner reddish-orange part. Plus, as I looked closer, I realized that the empty pink "husks" were being left hanging on the tree.

Online, I found websites like this one, that solved the mystery. The pink unit as a whole is the fruit of the Spindle tree. The pink parts open up to reveal its orange seeds. On a cautionary note, this tree and its fruit are poisonous to humans, but it does not seem to bother our local Thrush.

The other mystery about this tree is how it got its name. It is called a Spindle tree because historically its durable wood was carved into spindles for spinning wool into yarn.

Mallards are another common bird whose beauty can be easily overlooked. In early Winter, the males are adorned in a fresh set of feathers. Its beautiful new breeding plumage will hopefully attract a mate. The blue speculum, at some angles, looks purple, and it is often hidden by the bird's outer wing feathers.

We also tend to overlook female Hooded Mergansers, partly, because of the way their subtle coloring blends with the world around them.

But also, because the more extravagant males, with their contrasting colors and flashy mating behaviors, easily attract our attention.

The male Wood Duck has a beauty we see year-round, however with such a variety of colors, we tend to overlook the blue highlights on its back. I believe these are from the secondary feathers in its folded wings.

Another beautiful duck, that we usually see only during the colder months, is the Northern Pintail.

Year-round we can find Red-winged Blackbirds. Early in their lives, the males wear basic brown like the females. However, there is a window of time in their first year when the tips of their mature black feathers still retain beautiful youthful highlights of beige and brown.

This time of year, male Northern Shovelers tend to have dark green heads while still having a few dark crescents from their non-breeding plumage on their chests. Their rich chestnut sides do an excellent job of offsetting the bright green of their speculums.

Monty and Marsha, our local Montlake Cut Bald Eagles, have bright yellow bills that blend perfectly with the Fall leaves in their favorite cottonwood tree.

Just to the north, mated pairs of the elegant Trumpeter Swans, calmly dip and feed on the aquatic vegetation below Union Bay. We are lucky to live near a bay that is shallow enough to have vegetation and yet deep enough, and south enough, to not freeze in Winter.

However, for me, one of the most heart-warming sights this week was repeatedly seeing this Wilson's Snipe and watching it bobbing its body up and down, while totally confident in its awesome camouflage.

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!

City Changes Standing Advisory Committee Name

2023-01-31T09:11:00.002-08:00

The Department of Neighborhoods recently sent out this information:

Earlier last year, the City Council passed Ordinance 126685, which made several technical corrections and clarifications to the City’s land use regulations (Titles 23 and 25 of the Seattle Municipal Code). The legislation recently went into effect and includes some minor adjustments to the City’s Major Institution Advisory Committee process. Namely, “Citizens’ Advisory Committees (CAC)” will now be known as “Development Advisory Committees” and “Standing Advisory Committees (SAC)” will now be known as “Implementation Advisory Committees.”

These changes were made to clarify and better reflect the functions of these committees. The committees’ role, authority and scope of work remains unchanged.

To review a copy of Ordinance 126685, see SDCI 2021 Omnibus (legistar.com).

If you have questions about the changes, please reach out to (nelson.pesigan@seattle.gov) or Dipti Garg (dipti.garg@seattle.gov).

A SAC (Standing Advisory Committee) meets several times a year to advise the City on the Master Plan development for Children's Hospital. The last meeting was March 2022 and was the 29th meeting held since the committee was formed by the City.

Neighborhood Mixed Use Building Sells For Over $10M

2023-01-30T16:15:00.002-08:00

A mixed-use building at 3501 NE 45th Street. The building has several businesses, including a physical therapy business, a barber and a cell phone repair shop. In the back part of the building are about 6 apartments, several appear to still be under construction after almost a decade.

Daily Journal of Commerce published this information

Laurelhurst property sells for over $10M

A mixed-use complex at 3501-3515 N.E. 45th St. recently sold for a little over $10.6 million, according to King County records. The seller was a local family that had owned the land for decades, and developed the two buildings.

The buyer was Caspian Holdings LLC, which is associated with Lake Forest Park investor Mansour Samadpour, the chief executive of the international food-safety and testing firm IEH Laboratories.

Kim Dale with Windermere Real Estate told the Laurelhurst Blog:

I had the opportunity to speak to one of the tenants in the building block that has been sold. The new owners are investors but as of this time they do not have plans to take down the current structures and are in the process of renewing the current tenants' leases.

520 To Close Again Completely 2/10 Week-end

2023-01-26T12:07:00.002-08:00

WSDOT published this information:

In this update:

Plan ahead! SR 520 and trail fully closing across Lake Washington weekend of Feb. 10

SR 520 will be closed in both directions between I-5 in Seattle and 92nd Avenue Northeast on the Eastside from 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13. The SR 520 Trail and Foster Island Trail also will be closed.

During this closure, crews will place girders for a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge across SR 520 and an HOV direct-access ramp to the Montlake lid.

Mysterious mailbox Near NE 45th Street

2023-01-25T08:57:00.002-08:00

The Laurelhurst BLog received this information and picture

I have to wonder who owns this box at the corner of NE 45th Street and 42nd Avenue NE. Is it functioning? Is it abandoned? What is/was it for?

Please send email to laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com if you have information.

Middle School Boys Vandalized Talaris

2023-01-23T14:46:00.001-08:00

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

At about 4:30 pm on Tuesday January 10, four middle school-aged boys were crouched down on the NE 41^st side of the Talaris property, then they ran away up the hill.

A short time later the Talaris groundskeeper came looking for them and reported that they had been vandalizing the Talaris buildings – breaking lights among other things.

One boy had light brown/blond hair and a pale complexion (with pink cheeks from running) and he wore a powder blue t-shirt. One of the other boys wore a yellow t-shirt and had brown hair.

All four ran up NE 41^st, then down the 43^rd NE boulevard, then left onto West Laurelhurst Drive NE, then they turned left onto 45^th Avenue NE.

I assume they live somewhere in that part of Laurelhurst, but every time they saw me they ran for it, so I don’t know where they ended up. If you know who they are, it would be good to talk to them or their parents before they get into big trouble. I understand the police have been alerted.

December Neighbor hood Real Estate Activity

2023-01-23T08:39:00.010-08:00

Kim Dales has provided this neighborhood real estate activity for December:

December 2021 to December 2022 was quite a difference. December 2021 had only 1 active and 1 sold with a median price of $1,295,000 and December 2022 had 7 active and 4 sold home with a median price point of $1,416,500. The year finished out strong.

If you are selling, find a strong agent who knows the neighborhood and has strong marketing experience and is known in the community. For buyers the same is true. Experience and the relationships with other agents is important in an ever changing market environment.

ACTIVE LISTINGS AS OF 01/04/2022

Address	List Price	Beds/ Baths	Year Built	Sq.Ft	CDOM	Price p/sq.ft
4272 NE 50th St	$899,400	4/2.5	2019	2,020	82	$445.25
5051 50th Ave NE, #28	$1,298,000	2/2.5	1986	2,271	111	$571.55
4545 49th Ave NE	$1,672,000	4/3.25	1950	2,440	96	$685.25
4565 E Laurel Dr NE	$1,995,000	3/2	1951	2,180	166	$915.14
3620 42nd Ave NE	$2,500,000	5/3.25	1926	4,140	21	$603.86
5107 48th Ave NE	$3,449,950	5/3.25	2022	4,397	56	$784.61
3201 43rd Ave NE	$18,700,000	5/6	2017	8,562	152	$2,184.07

SOLD IN DECEMBER

Address	List Price	Sold Price	CDOM	Beds/ Baths	Sq.Ft	Price p/sq.ft	Date Sold
5032 Sand Point Pl NE	$1,195,000	$1,000,000	88	3/2.5	1,522	$662.25	12/12
3816 42nd Ave NE	$1,487,000	$1,235,000	71	3/2	2,760	$447.56	12/09
4322 NE 43rd St	$1,698,000	$1,598,000	24	4/2.5	3,050	$523.93	12/20
4750 45th Ave NE	$1,750,000	$1,755,000	103	4/3.75	2,850	$615.79	12/22
Averages		$1,397,000	72			$562.36

Median Sales Price = $1,416,500

CDOM = Cumulative Days on Market

Happy Holidays From Laurelhurst Blog Staff

2022-12-09T13:46:00.001-08:00

The Laurelhurst Blog staff is on vacation and will return to posting on January 23rd.

In the meantime, please keep sending in your informative news tips and emails and we look forward to responding.

Happy Holidays!

Burgermaster and Safeway May Be Torn Down For Mixed Use Buildings

2022-12-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of Seattle Urbanize)

Plans have been submitted to the City (Design Review #3039209-EG) for three - 8 story buildings where Burgermaster and Safeway are currently located.

Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) told the Laurelhurst Blog that there has not been additional information published by the City except for the Early Design Review process which was completed in October. LCC added that the next step, if any, is for the owner to apply for a MUP (Master Use Permit) which has not yet been submitted.

LCC said that "nothing else has been vetted except the requirements of the design review process report for the City record."

Here are LCC's comments on the project submitted in October:

1.Project # 3039209 -EG requires a change in zoning, and is requesting code departures for an additional 10 feet in height on a very condensed site that both changes the zoning, and displaces two essential businesses.

Context & Site design guidelines state "Prefer that buildings are sited to preserve and incorporate existing mature trees, and configure open space to accommodate large canopy trees". Thus, the design guideline is that exceptional trees should be not removed at all, but rather incorporated in the design to comply with Design Guidelines. The proposed demolition of all other site trees at a minimum requires that the applicant retain at least one mature tree. The City of Seattle's tree canopy shrunk by 2% in these past 3 years mostly due to highly density projects that clearcut this type of development site. To insure that to achieve Seattle's goal of a 30% canopy is achieved in 15 years, healthy mature trees should be saved outright to provide shade to prevent heat islands and clean the air, especially in newly built residential areas.
Retaining only ONE existing exceptional tree actually on the site to shade its new 780 residents is not a good reason for the Design Review committee to grant a 10 foot height departure, regardless of adding some new small trees. Certainly, one tree (or more) can be "designed around" to retain it.

2. Urban Pattern & Form design guidelines require zone and height transitions at edges. Allowing extra height at the edge of the 8 story tower is opposite of the design requirements intent and the 10' departure should be denied as it does NOT comply with SC2 b. which requires, " transitions to zoning edges" instead of more height. Nearby existing buildings which complied with the existing code of 75', 65' or 55' including the apartments (55') and detached home dwellers (30')located behind the commercial strip in the Bryant neighborhood, may be adversely impacted by an additional 10 feet of height which is more visible from the north, and in the viewline of public view corridors of Mt. Rainier. The extra height departure should be DENIED as it does not meet the transition criteria.
Secondly, the massing of the project is too dense as it faces the pedestrian activity and adjacent apartments on the ground level streets. Ironically the applicant claims to align its philosophy with the open space of the Union Bay Natural area (page 37) which is inside Laurelhurst, but its own footprint is the complete opposite with massive walls of solid concrete (page 19), especially along Union Bay Place NE street where the most of the pedestrian traffic occurs. The site also does nothing to blend into the existing low rise street appeal at the 5 corners intersection, and should not be approved without opening it up, and lowering its entrance to ground level in an open and inviting way , rather than massive stepped up buildings away from street level.

2. PL (Public Life) It states, "Include open space at grade that physically or visually engages the public realm". More large commercial space is needed to be designed in the project which requests a change in zoning from commercial to residential mixed use, and displaces the venerable Burgermaster and Safeway. Both commercial entities have served the adjacent neighborhoods as "essential services" which provide access to fresh food access for these new and existing residents, who need to eat real meals, not available in coffee houses. Burgermaster serves 3 hot meals a day since 1952 (including Bill Gates, Jr.), and its business is robust today even without all of the new residential buildings in place. Safeway provides an easy option for essential groceries for renters who can access it without a car. The QFC is far enough away to be a long walk with groceries, and its shelves are already half empty from too much demand (and some supply issues). Thus, the applicant should include larger commercial space in this project that is easily accessed from a ground floor for the "public realm" to provide essential needs-a large grocery store and the Burgermaster. There will also be an Aegis senior facility (already underway) across the street from this project in 2024 for 136 residents and staff, and 240 new units of UW student housing units in 2025 across the other side of the street who will also need a grocery store and full service restaurant that already exists. It is imperative that access to commercial food sources be retained in the development plans instead of building only apartment units.

3. Outreach -This review outreach process for this project has been flawed, and should be expanded and re-noticed to include more impacted people. The report says that 12 people "took the project survey" and 9 people attended one of the public meetings. then , the applicant extrapolates percentages from such a low number of respondents. The 500 foot "radius approach" in this case is insufficient because contains almost no "people". The 500 feet notices , which are 250 feet from the commercial center, were sent to : The Safeway grocery store, the Burgermaster, one apartment building across the street, a sub shop, a vape store, Fedex shop, a small gym, a bank, and to "the geese" on the University of WA play field. Masterfully, the "mailing map" did not include ANY residents in the northeast detached home neighbors in Bryant, nor across the street to Laurelhurst residential neighbors and the business district along NE 45th Street. These existing residents and businesses will be the most impacted by adding over 1,000 people with 684 cars to the congested 5 corners intersection, and will experience the real loss of a grocery store and a full service large restaurant without receiving a real "notice". Most have no knowledge that it is happening and no "big signs" have been placed to inform these impacted neighbors. This is an inadequate "outreach" process and should be re-done to include more impacted people and the nearby community associations and the businesses in Bryant and Laurelhurst along NE 45th St.

Here are some recent on-line articles:

Burgermaster CEO Alex Jensen revealed on "CASCADE OF HISTORY" on SPACE 101.1 FM that the University Village location - the original Burgermaster which dates to 1952 - is likely closing permanently as early as the end of February 2023. "About 30 years ago, the Mowat family that had owned this property sold to the Safeway next door. Safeway has merged with Albertson's, and somewhere along the line, they made an agreement with a developer to sell the properties. So we do think there's a very good chance from everything we're hearing that we're probably out of here next year, early in the year . . . I know the gym next door I think is supposed to be out at the end of February. We don't know if we're going to be around the same time. We haven't had a long-term lease for a long time. We've been basically operating on a month-to-month basis."

Lennar Multifamily Communities has filed a draft early design guidance package for an eight-story, three building mixed-use apartment project near University Village, on the site of an existing Safeway grocery store and Burgermaster restaurant. As proposed, the development would be one of the largest mixed-use residential projects in the city. The proposal shows ~760 apartments, ~25,300 square feet of retail and structured parking for ~650 cars. Parking and retail will be on levels one and two, and the apartments will be on levels 3 through 8. The site is adjacent to the east of the University Village mall, and across 45th street to the north of the UW ballfields. Typical of early design guidance proposals, LMC shows three potential designs for the site. The third plan - typically the developer's preferred option - includes a large public plaza facing 45th street. Two large london plane trees would be kept in their current locations. Under all options, new street trees would be added. According to the PSBJ, in Spring 2021 Safeway parent company Albertsons paid $25 million for the 1.8-acre site, where Safeway has operated since 1976. Albertsons also owns the surrounding property, making the land assemblage over 4 acres.

Go here for more information.

Neighbors Plea To Stop Letting Off Fireworks Causing Huge Distress For Families and Pets

2022-12-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

The Laurelhurst Blog has received numerous emails about people letting off fireworks in the park almost nightly from July through last month. They usually happen between 9:3pm-11:30pm and last sometimes for several minutes and are extremely loud.

fireworks found in the park

Here are some emails from neighbors:

Last month a large amoutn of fireworks was let off at the Park. These fireworks were special: they woke everyone up and added to terrified dogs already worst day of the year. The risk is fires, fireworks gone wrong, injury from a delayed explosion and not super great for the environment. Begs the question: is there anything we can do to prevent this at parks with multiple points of entry?

The nightly fireworks are extremely tressful for pets and sleeping families, including elderly and adults. It is extremely insensitive of whomever is doing this causing such anxiety on so many people and so late at night.

The fireworks are usually so loud and long that is actually seemed like cars were blowing up as the sound echoes and magnifies off the school and the hospital on the north side of the park. It is extremely scarey, jarring and traumatic for so many people.

Please put out a plea to the neighborhood to do all they can to discourage fireworks from being set off in the neighborhood. Besides being dangerous for people, there are nesting eagles and many other birds in the neighborhood as well as many, many dogs who do not do well the noise from fireworks.

Some neighbors may not know that there are at least 3 families of nesting eagles in our neighborhood. Please also consider the other birds and the many, many pets (especially dogs) in Laurelhurst.

The people that are doing this are not only committing a crime but are in violation of the City Ordinance as they over the allowed decibel level, especially when they are being set off so close to homes.

What about the sick children at the Hospital being awoken and terrified by the loud noise of the fireworks?

Firworks are illegal in the City of Seattle. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. SPD advises to use the 625-5011 line to report any fireworks violations.

November Neighborhood Real Estate Activity

2022-12-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

Kim Dales has provided this neighborhood real estate activity for November:

Here are some statistics from last month:

8 active listings, many of which were listed in October, resulting in more days on the market
4 homes closed in November, the same number as November of last year
Median sales price in Laurelhurst last year was $1,940,000. This November was $2,420,000. Almost a $500,000 increase

Despite the increase in days on market prices remained strong, The takeaway is that buyers are out there, they want to buy homes in Laurelhurst, and are looking past the holidays to make their move.

ACTIVE LISTINGS (AS OF 12/5/2022)

Address	List Price	Beds/ Baths	Year Built	Sq.Ft	CDOM	Price p/sq.ft
4278 NE 50th St	$999,400	4/2.5	2019	2,020	66	$494.75
5035 47th Ave NE	$1,095,000	2/1.75	1940	2,240	60	$488.84
5051 50th Ave NE, #28	$1,298,000	2/2.5	1986	2,271	81	$571.55
4545 49th Ave NE	$1,672,000	4/3.25	1950	2,440	66	$685.25
4565 E Laurel Dr NE	$2,195,000	3/2	1951	2,180	136	$1,006.88
5107 48th Ave NE	$3,449,950	5/3.25	2022	4,397	26	$784.61
3141 E Laurelhurst Dr NE	$3,598,000	3/3.25	1923	3,840	173	$936.98
3201 43rd Ave NE	$18,700,000	5/6	2017	8,562	122	$2,184.07

PENDING IN NOVEMBER

Address	List Price	Beds/ Baths	Year Built	Sq.Ft	CDOM	Price p/sq.ft
5032 Sand Point Pl NE	$1,150,000	3/2.5	2021	1,510	88	$761.59
4322 NE 43rd St	$1,598,000	4/2.5	1928	3,050	24	$523.93
4750 45th Ave NE	$1,750,000	4/3.75	1941	2,850	103	$614.04

SOLD IN NOVEMBER

Address	List Price	Sold Price	CDOM	Beds/ Baths	Sq.Ft	Price p/sq.ft	Date Sold
4814 NE 43rd St	$1,295,000	$1,295,000	6	4/1.75	2,425	$534.02	11/30
5051 50th Ave NE, #20	$1,595,000	$1,440,000	38	2/2.50	2,760	$521.74	11/07
5113 48th Ave NE	$3,795,000	$3,400,000	159	5/3.25	4,397	$773.25	11/22
3879 51st Ave NE	$5,495,000	$5,495,000	4	4/3	4,196	$1,309.58	11/15
Averages		$2,907,500	52			$784.65

Median Sales Price = $2,420,000

CDOM = Cumulative Days on Market

Subscribe Now To Laurelhurst Private Security Patrol

2022-12-06T07:40:00.001-08:00

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC), recently sent out a newsletterto all neighbors regarding subscription to the Private Security Patrol, which covers the entire neighborhood area south of Sand Point Way from Mary Gates Way to NE 55th Street for $200 per year.

LCC told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff that the success of the patrol, now in its fourteenth year, "depends on neighbor participation - the more families that subscribe, the more coverage the patrol can offer."

A uniformed, off-duty Seattle Police officers patrol the neighborhood approximately six nights/days a week for five hours each shift. Nights and hours will vary depending on funding received. The officer carries a police radio and police firearms and drives an unmarked personal vehicle. The officer monitors incoming 911 calls and responds to neighborhood calls, vacation checks, while on patrol as well as working with the official response from the on-duty police officers.

To participate, neighbors can use LCC’s secure on-line payment option (preferred) at www.laurelhurstcc.com, or send a $200 check payable to LCC Laurelhurst Community Club, PMB #373, 4616 25th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105. When paying by check, include name, address, email, and emergency contact information.

The Stranger posted an article about neighborhood private security patrols.

In 2015, KIRO TV published a report on the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Security Patrol (below) and the Security Patrol was also mentioned in an article in the Seattle Times in November.

For more information or for questions email crimeprevention@laurelhurstcc.com.

Christmas Ship Schedule For Neighborhood

2022-12-05T06:04:00.004-08:00

The annual Christmas Ship Parade will be in the area on:

December 9th ASUW Shell House 5:35pm
December 10th Magnuson Park 2-3:30pm
December 11th Laurelhurst Beach Club 5-6:30pm

For more information go here.

(photo courtesy of Argosy Cruises)

November Neighborhood Crime Activity - Multiple Car Thefts, Burglaries and Assaults

2022-12-02T14:48:00.007-08:00

Below is the neighborhood Seattle Police Department crime activity report for November including:

7 burglaries
7 car thefts
3 assaults

11/3 11am 4000 block of NE 45th Street
BURGLARY

11/4 11am 4700 block of 41st Avenue NE
CAR THEFT

11/5 12am 3100 block of East Laurelhurst Drive NE
ASSAULT

11/5 4am 3100 block of East Laurelhurst Drive NE
ASSAULT

11/5 8:45pm 4700 block of 41st Avenue NE
ASSAULT

11/8 3:28am 3700 block of 41st Avenue NE
BURGLARY

11/8 4:30am 4400 block of 38th Avenue NE
BURGLARY

11/8 7:30am 4400 block of 38th Avenue NE

BURGLARY

11/8 12:28am 3700 block of 41st Avenue NE
BURGLARY

11/16 noon 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
CAR THEFT

11/16 1:27pm 5000 block of 39th Avenue NE
THEFT

11/16 3pm 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
CAR THEFT

11/18 8:53pm 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
THEFT

11/18 11:53pm 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
CAR PARTS THEFT

11/18 11:53pm 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
THEFT

11/19 10:32am 4500 block of West Laurelhurst Drive
SUSPICIOUS PERSON

11/21 8:30am 3600 block of 43rd Avenue NE
CAR THEFT

11/21 11:30am 3500 block of West Laurelhurst Drive
CAR THEFT

11/21 3:02pm 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
CAR THEFT

11/22 12:37am 3500 block of West Laurelhurst Drive
CAR THEFT

11/22 10:06pm 4500 block of 51st Avenue NE
BURGLARY

11/27 11:06pm 4400 block of 43rd Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

11/28 1:39am 4200 block of 43rd Avenue NE
BURGLARY

All About Fruit-Eating Birds

2022-12-01T16:37:00.001-08:00

Here is a recent post from the Uni on Bay Watch Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time local photographer and birder.

A Frugivore Test

The Fall provides an ephemeral beauty. One moment the leaves are bursting with color and the next they are on the ground, turning brown, replenishing the soil and providing food, shelter, and warmth for a variety of small creatures. Leaves tend to follow a fairly fast path around the circle of life.

Fruits and nuts also fall from trees but they have the potential for much longer lives. I find it mind-numbing to wonder how many times a seed molecule might become part of a new tree, and then be transferred again into a new seed and then into another tree, and so on. Surely, the odds are slim for this process to be repeated infinitely, but it seems technically possible.

However, the seeds in most fruit do not become trees. Often when the fruit is consumed by other species, the seeds do not land in a fortuitous location, and the fruit molecules involved take a much shorter ride along the swifter side of the circle of life.

This post focuses primarily on some of our local fruit-eating birds. Not only do they help enable the life cycles of fruit trees, but their own lives, and life cycles, are also enabled by the fruit they consume.

In this post, your challenge is to determine which of the six bird species shown are frugivores.

Note: For our purposes, any birds that eat fruit are frugivores. It does not matter if they are part-time fruit eaters - since fruit is seasonal this is the most likely situation.

All six species have been photographed near fruit in the last month.

Some are common birds.

Some are not seen so often.

Of the species shown above, three belong to the Thrush (Turdidae) family, two are Warblers (Dendroica) and one is a Waxwing (Bombycilla). All are winter residents in our area. (For the advanced birders a secondary challenge is, Which of these species does not breed locally?)

In the same order they were presented the six species are:

1. Varied Thrush

2. Townsend's Warbler

3. Cedar Waxwing

4. American Robin (also a Thrush)

5. Hermit Thrush and

6. Yellow-rumped Warbler

To be totally open and consistent it is the foods listed for each species in All About Birds that have been used to objectively determine whether we consider them frugivores.

Your primary challenge is to determine from memory which of these species are not known to eat fruit. You should make your mental list before proceeding.

*******************

Spoiler Alert!

The following photos will show many of these species eat fruit.

*******************

American Robins are the most commonly seen of these Fall frugivores.

In the Spring, you will often see them sporadically sprinting across lawns, sometimes stopping to listen, and then snagging, stretching, and securing worms, to take to their young.

Their similarly-sized cousins, the Varied Thrush, tend to raise their young in forested areas. In the Spring, while American Robins may be searching for worms in Western Washington cities, Varied Thrush are more likely to be found in the forests of the Olympic or Cascade Mountains, looking through the leaf litter for insects.

In the Fall, some of them come to the cities. However, they are bashful. When you find a fruit tree full of feeding Robins look closely at the birds on the far side of the tree, sometimes, you may see a Varied Thrush.

In the same Fall fruit trees, small flocks of Cedar Waxwings can occasionally be found.

It is obvious they are attracted to the fruit, but how they decide when and where to feed is a mystery to me. Unlike the Robins, they are not likely to feed until the fruit is gone. On the whole, they feed more briefly, return less frequently, and flock more tightly.

Of the three Thrush mentioned the Hermit Thrush, true to its name, is the least likely to be seen. It is also the smallest in size and roughly three times smaller in weight. Visually, they are closer in size to Song Sparrows than to the other two Thrush. However, their shape is clearly quite similar to their larger cousins.

Their size has a logical impact on where they can be seen. Since Thrush prefer to eat fruit whole they tend to be found feeding in trees with the smallest of fruit.

Curiously, Cedar Waxwings are similar in weight to the Hermit Thrush, but they appear to be able to eat larger fruit. Their bills seem longer and apparently able to open wider. They may be just better adapted as frugivores.

The last frugivore in our group may be the most surprising of all, the Yellow-rumped Warbler. By weight, they are about half the size of the average Hermit Thrush. (On the other hand, they can be as much as fifty percent larger than the Townsend's Warblers - which is the only other winter Warbler found in Western Washington.)

Hospital Helipad Moves To Permanent Location

2022-11-30T18:39:00.001-08:00

This week, the new new helipad on top of the Forest B building, also referred to as "Building Care" became active.

Last year, the helicopter landing pad moved to the roof of Forest A (176’), known as Friends of Costco Building, during Phase 1 of the expansion. The landing pad was active until this week when Building Care was fully completed. With the last location, noise was louder than the former ground-based helipad used for decades.

The Laurelhurst Community Club,said in a newsletter at the time:

Children’s Helistop

Seattle Children’s Helistop has been located on the ground level since the early 1990s. It accommodates the transport of sick children by helicopter directly to the hospital or to landings at a UW sports field on east campus. Twice a year, the number and type of landings are reviewed by an independent committee of professionals and LCC. In the six months from January to June 2018, there were 73 landings, 61 at SCH and 12 at the UW field, compared to 54 in 2017 and 53 in 2016 for the same period.

As part of the latest expansion by SCH, the helistop location will change to the top of the Friends of Costco Building (Forest A) on October 17. EIS predictions suggest noise will be more intense for some Laurelhurst residents, since the prior ground-level location sheltered the noise.

Lighting will be as low as permissible; however, each patient transport takes a minimum of 20 to 45 minutes. Noise likely will be louder than the ground-based helipad. When Forest B is complete, the helistop moves to its permanent location on top of Forest B (same height). Noise levels will remain increased at nearby residential sites in Laurelhurst. LCC will continue to monitor and work with SCH on any issues that may arise with the new location.

In 2013, the Hospital's helistop was located in the southwest corner of the parking area while construction was underway.

For any questions or concerns about the helipad, contact construction@seattlechildrens.org.

Jean Amick, Neighborhood Advocate Has Passed

2022-11-29T14:08:00.004-08:00

Jean Amick, long time resident, recipient of several City Good Neighbor Awards and one of the co-chairs of SUN Park passed on Novemer 18th. She lived on the Boulevard with her husband, Russ. And her daughter, Christi Nagle, lived a few houses away, with her family.

In March 2007, Jean became involved in saving a piece of land from development on the corner lot at NE 47th Street and 47th Avenue NE. She and a group of Laurelhurst neighbors and friends, through donations to the Cascade Land Conservancy, purchased the corner. She and Dixie Park were co-chairs for the Sun Park Committee.

Originally there was a large 1920's Bungalow style house on this corner property. A developer divided the lot in three parcels and 2 houses were built on 2 of the lots. The Sun Park folks, along with many in the community, attended a meeting along with City representatives, to save the third parcel from being developed. And it was turned it into a beautiful pocket park called Saving Urban Nature (SUN).

The "Mulch Bunch" of neighborhood volunteers (as Jean Amick called them) still regularly have Saturday morning work parties sprucing up Sun Park.

Jean was involved in numerous neighborhood projects over many decades. She worked on the installation of cameras at "Five Points" - the busy intersection of Mary Gates Memorial Drive NE, NE 45th Street, NE 45th Place and Union Bay Place NE. In August of 2008, three cameras were installed at "Five Points" after the Laurelhurst Community Club voted unanimously to support neighbors requests as well as more than 400 petition signatures, In 2011, the lights were removed. In 2013 the law was changed to two arterials only.

In 2017, a small working group of concerned North Seattle neighbors, including Jean, worked worked with the 520 Bridge Project Team on the issue of the overly bright SR520 bridge lights and solutions on dimming them. In 2019, LCC trustee McAleer and former trustee Jean Amick attended the results presentation in February.

In 2021, Laurelhurst Community Club recognized Jean, and several other neighbors at its Annual meeting. LCC wrote in a newsletter:

Jean exemplifies a great neighbor as she cruises the streets on her bike spreading cheer by sharing a smile, dropping off a bouquet of flowers, sharing an archived newspaper article, or snaring you into joining her to “Weed and Sweep” at SUN Park. Jean championed the park’s vision by bringing neighbors together to purchase the land and transform it into a beautiful green space for all ages to experience. Jean is also an avid birder and provides colorful habitat for local and rare bird species that frequent her sidewalk garden.

Jean was also recognized as a Good Neighbor in 2009.

Here is what one neighbor said about Jean:

Jean Amick was our passionate neighborhood leader. Jean and her husband, Russ, raised their family here.

She was a big supporter of our public schools and responsible for SUN Park along with her pal Dixie Porter.

She was still riding her bike around the neighborhood months ago as she usually did. Jean was a member of the Laurelhurst Beach Club Fattie Flee, an avid group of lake swimmer.

We looked forward to the Amick’s Ice Cream Social on Webster Pt. every summer. “You bring the toppings!"

Jean had a renown sense of humor with twinkling blue eyes, and was not shy to ask neighbors to do the duty!

Jean had attended a neighborhood meeting just a short time before she headed to the Poconos, her favorite place to spend time all her life, even to the end, surrounded by family.
She will be terribly missed!

Another neighbor wrote:

Our dearest Jean Amick died on Thursday surrounded by family. She was such an amazing woman! I am so saddened by this news. May she Rest In Peace.

Here is information posted on the Laurelhurst Community Club website about Sun Park:

History of SUN (Saving Urban Nature) Park

SUN stands for Saving Urban Nature. In 2007 SUN was the vision created by Jean Amick and Dixie Jo Porter through the purchase of a small city corner lot from a developer who planned to replace one old original farmhouse and its remaining orchard with three large new homes.

Funded in part by a $15,000 neighborhood grant, neighbors and community members participated in a design process –as well as tireless fundraising – from which a unique native plant garden was designed and built. In need of an “official” overseer, the property was deeded through an agreement with the Cascade Land Conservancy, then renamed Forterra, with the hope that SUN Park would become acquired by Seattle Parks and Recreation at some point in the future.

In August 2019, Friends of SUN Park gifted this beautiful green space to Seattle Parks and Recreation. In addition, a significant maintenance fund raised by SUN volunteers over the years was turned over to Parks for the purpose of future acquisitions. Friends of SUN Park works closely with Parks to ensure its continued care and enjoyment for all.

Condelences can be sent to:

donamick@gmail.com

scott.amick@gmail.com

betsy@floytag.com

christynagle@yahoo.com

(photo courtesy of Twitter)

Fleeing Car Crashes In Neighborhood

2022-11-28T06:31:00.001-08:00

(photo courtesy of Kiro 7)

Information from Seattle Police Department Blotter:

Detectives Investigating Friday Afternoon Shooting and Car Crash in Laurelhurst Neighborhood
Police arrested two people after a woman called 911 and reported they had just pointed a gun at her in the 4700 block of Ravenna Avenue North around 2 pm Friday.
Police arrived in the area within moments and spotted a grey Toyota sedan fleeing the area. Officers briefly followed the vehicle before it crashed at Northeast 41st Street and Mary Gates Memorial Drive. Three occupants bailed out of the car and fled the crash on foot leaving behind a rifle in the car.
Officers searched the surrounding neighborhood and arrested two of the suspects and continue to search for a third person.
The victim told officers that this all began as a fight disturbance a few days ago and has continued to escalate resulting in a shot being fired today.
Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are taking over the investigation and will work with prosecutors as the case moves forward.