White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(Photos by Deanie Schwarz for WCN, unless otherwise credited)
By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Saturday’s annual White Center Spring Clean brought in nearly 600 volunteers to spruce up the White Center area with over 21 projects on the hit list for the day.

Teams of 30-60 people spread out in well-coordinated projects to put the shine on White Center under cooperative blue skies. Organized by the White Center Community Development Association, the annual event brings together folks from near and far who pitch in, build community and meet new neighbors.

In thanks, they are fed breakfast and lunch and receive the traditional I Heart White Center t-shirt – green this year!

King County Sheriff’s Office‘s new CSO Peter Truong worked with his team to add new flowers to all of the planter boxes on 16th SW in the main business district. Peter said, “I love the chance to work with our kids.”

New Angkor Market on 98th Ave SW at 16th now sports a fresh new mural on its wall, thanks to that team of participants.

With the croaks of native tree frogs audible from the White Center Pond in the background, this team worked on the hillside pulling weeds and picking up litter.

Over on 9th Ave SW and 108th Ave SW, the White Center Food Bank’s Volunteer Coordinator Audrey Zemke pulled weeds in the berm with her team of hard workers.

Looking up at his team, Mark Ufkes, president of the White Center Chamber of Commerce, evaluates the landscaping, painting, pruning and weed-whacking around the newly installed
“Welcome to White Center” sign at 10th and Roxbury.

Active WC resident Gill Loring led the way at North Shorewood Park, a somewhat hidden gem of a park with a swing set and gently sloping hillside trail under a canopy of native trees. Working with a King County Parks employee, the group planted about 100 native trees and plants in an area of former blackberries.

(Gill shared this photo of some of the other helpers at that site:)

One of the larger projects for the day was the breaking ground for a new P-Patch. Removal of brush and trees from the lot at 15th Ave SW and 107th prepare was the first step.

That’s Blair Johnson, former Highland Park Action Committee president, working alongside a church group from Wenatchee to reveal the lovely landscaping and bushes at the Delridge/18th triangle.

Working on Hicks Lake at Lakewood Park was Friends of Hicks Lake leader Dick Thurnau, who paused to pose with some of his team from West Seattle.

Two huge events this weekend – starting with White Center Spring Clean tomorrow (Saturday). More than 600 people are signed up to volunteer 8:30 am-2:30 pm at sites all over WC. And the official T-shirt is on display at the White Center Community Development Association website.

Then on Sunday, it’s the memorial dedication at Deputy Steve Cox Memorial Park. This invite is from the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council (NHUAC) cordially invites you to the dedication ceremony for the Steve Cox Memorial at 3 PM on Sunday May 15th. The dedication will be at Steve Cox Memorial Park, 1321 SW 102nd St in White Center.

Deputy Steve Cox was killed in the line of duty on December 2, 2006. At the time of his death he was the White Center Storefront deputy and served the community as the President of the NHUAC.

The NHUAC led the community effort to rename the park for Deputy Cox and the fundraising to install a memorial. Artist Jay Haavik was selected to design and build a stone memorial to Deputy Cox.

May 15th is also National Peace Officers Memorial Day. In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

For Further information contact Ron Johnson, rjohnson@northhighlineuac.org, phone (206) 767-3053.

Story and photo by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Second Use delivered about 100 gallons of donated latex paint Thursday afternoon to the King County Sheriff’s Office White Center storefront.

KCSO’s Community Service Officer Peter Truong (photo, center) assisted Second Use Outreach Coordinator Elena Velkov and a co-worker with the supplies. Second Use held a weekend-long drive at their facility adjacent to the South Park transfer station.

Truong said the paint will be used on the upcoming White Center Spring Clean on May 14. WCCDA has a deadline to register projects for the annual event at the end of the month. Last year, 400 people participated – this year, registration isn’t quite . The CDA is encouraging community members to register their projects and sign up for what is usually a couple of hours of fun work, community building and free snacks. An online registration form can be found on the CDA’s website at wccda.org.

By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

The monthly Business Mixer, a White Center Community Development Association event for local businesses, was held tonight at 3.14 Bakery, hosted by owner Jessica Haury and the CDA.

People socialized and heard updates on upcoming projects in White Center, but also were introduced to two medical-marijuana businesses opening up within a half a block of each other on 16th SW in the next few weeks.

GAME Collective owner Brionne Corbray – whose existing businesses include one in West Seattle – and Herban Legends owner Chris Cody stood before the crowd of about 30 and were asked questions regarding security measures, business structures, licensing, hours of operation, current legislation and issues of legalities.

WCCDA Economic Development Director Nham Nguyen had invited the businesses’ owners hoping it would be an opportunity for a multifaceted discussion in the health and growth of the business district, but noted to WCN the disappointing absence of a representative from the King County Sheriff’s Office, which might have provided more authoritative answers to some of the group’s questions.

WCN has been invited to a tour of the GAME Collective “lounge” and will be following up with a look inside the newly remodeled building where the former Hang Around (preceded by The Wall) operated.

WCCDA Board members were present and read an official statement from the Board regarding the presence of the two new enterprises. We are awaiting a copy of the statement and will publish that in a subsequent report, along with the many other community updates shared at the event.

From the White Center Community Development Association: Tuesday, April 19, 6-7:30 pm is the next White Center Business District Mixer Meeting, and the agenda includes a discussion of the impending openings of medical-marijuana dispensaries in WC, including the one we’ve already reported on here. The announcement says WCCDA has “invited the owner of one of these businesses, the G.A.M.E Collective, to attend our mixer meeting and he has accepted. We have invited folks from the health organizations, law enforcements, and social service organizations to attend as well.” GAME Collective, whose other dispensaries include one in West Seattle, is believed to be moving into the former Hang Around Bar and Grill space (The Wall before that), whose onetime owner identified it as the setting for a TV interview done recently by GAME owner Brionne Corbray.

The agenda for the Business District Mixer also includes, from the announcement:

1. Annual White Center Spring Clean Event (May 14, 2011): drawing over 400 volunteers completing about 20 projects throughout the community. Registration is currently open; a fun event for the entire family. Volunteers received free “I heart White Center” t-shirt, breakfast, lunch and entertainment.

2. Social media marketing: assistance to businesses to set up business Facebook account

3. Business Resource Guide: a brochure to assist existing and new businesses finding relevant resources from governmental and private agencies

4. Shopper Incentive Card: guide to find discounts and good deals in White Center.

The location is TBA; we’ll add it here when it’s announced.

New businesses are opening in our business district:

1. Opening of the South Gate Roller Rink:
https://whitecenternow.com/2011/04/08/southgate-roller-rink-is-open-scene
s-from-opening-night/

2. Upcoming opening of Zippy’s Giant Burger:
http://zippysgiantburgers.com/

3. VN Market and Trading Company, LLC – a new food store on 16th
Avenue

At any rate, we are building on great momentum in the White Center
community; let’s keep it strong:

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/02/07/news/update-white-center-bus
iness-district-mixer-focus

Sincerely,

Nhan H. Nguyen

Neighborhood Revitalization Program Manager

White Center Community Development Association

1615 SW Cambridge Street

Seattle, WA 98106

206.694.1082 ext 166 phone

206.658.8344 fax

nhan@wccda.org

www.wccda.org

Connecting people and place to build community

From the White Center Community Development Association:

WC BUSINESS DISTRICT SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING SEMINAR!

Time: Next Monday March 7, 6-7:30PM
Place: Chase Bank – 1616 SW 100th Street Seattle 98146

Our presenters are: StartZone & Express Credit Union, Community Development Capital and Shorebank Cascadia Enterprise.

Our guests are: UW’s Business School, Chase Bank, Key Bank, BECU and Bank of America.

Are you:

* A start up business (0-6 months)?

* A business under 2 years in operation, not yet bankable?

* An established business, in operation greater than 2 years, but facing new challenges such as growth and restructuring debt?

Do you need money for:

* Equipment and Inventory?

* Working Capital?

* Commercial or Mixed-Use Real Estate? Funds can be used to purchase, renovate, refinance, or build commercial or mixed-use real estate projects.

* Franchises? Funds can be used for the start-up, or purchase of an existing franchise

* Contract Financing? Loans are available to businesses that contract to provide goods or services. Funds can be used for payroll or to purchase equipment or supplies needed to complete or partially complete a contract.

* Cash Flow Restructuring? These loans, available to existing businesses only, help restructure debt to manageable levels that will provide the business with internal capacity to expand

* Energy efficiency loan? Funds can be used toward energy-efficient construction to help save utility bills.

If your business or business idea has a need for any of the above, you need to save a date on your calendar to attend the White Center Business District Small Business Financing Seminar on March 7 from 6-7:30 pm. We have an All-Star line-up of non-profit lenders, business education centers and traditional lenders to present to you:

* Lending process: type of capitals that fit your needs, underwriting process, materials needed for application, turn-around time, etc.

* Education opportunity: classes on writing a business plan, marketing, financing available through local business assistance center and schools.

(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WCN)
With the issue of White Center (etc.) annexation before the Seattle City Council right now – a committee takes it up on Tuesday – Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn visited downtown WC this afternoon. With him in this photo, taken in front of Proletariat Pizza, are White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes and White Center Community Development Association executive director Aileen Balahadia; in the background, mayor’s office rep Kenny Pittman, who has long been a point person on the annexation issue. Most recently, as we have reported, McGinn’s stance has been “we can’t afford it”; WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz reports his main comment today was, “Seattle has some big decisions to make.”

Here’s the agenda for Tuesday afternoon’s Seattle Council committee meeting; here’s the briefing document (PDF) which lays out the potential timeline for a council decision on an annexation vote, as well as the potential range of financial effects if Seattle annexed the area.

From the White Center Community Development Association website – whose latest updates are always linked from the right sidebar here on WCN – the date is set for White Center Spring Clean 2011: May 14th. (That’s also the date for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, sponsored by our partner site West Seattle Blog, and if you want to add some extra “cleaning” oomph by having a yard sale, White Center participants are always welcome!)

The White Center Community Development Association published that video to YouTube today, accompanying its report on the Lunar New Year ceremony outside Café Tam Thanh in the Delridge Triangle – see photos here.

Thanks to Gill for the photo and the news that the new multilingual “Welcome to White Center” signs are up in at least two spots – this one’s along SW Roxbury by Holy Family Church/School, and another one’s up at 4th SW/SW 108th. This follows the similarly themed banners that have started to go up around the area (here’s our story from two weeks ago).

ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: The Chamber board plans a photo opportunity by one of the new signs this afternoon, and also included this information about the signs:

The White Center Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Seattle Foundation and the White Center Community Development Association (CDA), has installed two new multi-language “Welcome” signs in White Center. Of the five original signs installed in the early 1990s, all are damaged beyond repair. These two signs are coated with an anti-graffiti material and represent the first phase for replacing all White Center Welcome signs. The Chamber board will gather at the sign located at Holy Family School in Seattle (Roxbury and 19th SW) at 1:00 pm today. The second new sign is located at 4th SW and SW 108th in unincorporated King County. The Chamber will continue fund raising to replace the other three signs in 2011.

ADDED: Here’s the photo!

The WC Chamber reps in attendance included, according to president Mark Ufkes, Mac McElroy, Carlos Jimenez, Jimie Martin (Chamber mgr), Nhan Nguyen, Kathi Wheeler (Chamber board member next year and sign designer) Nancy Calos Nakano, Ray Zombro, Dr. Chris Hill.

We thought we noticed something different when we walked out of 88 Deli in South Delridge after lunch the other day. We’d heard about the new banners but this was the first time we’d seen them. And now this update from White Center Community Development Association confirms that they are newly installed – north of Roxbury for now, but WCCDA says they have money for putting up banners south of Roxbury, too.

A multitude of signs like that one heralded every step along the way at Saturday’s White Center Community Summit, presented by White Center Community Development Association on the grounds of White Center Heights Elementary and Educare Early Learning Center. Information was available in a variety of formats, in a variety of areas, regarding a variety of subjects – from housing to education to health to jobs, and more. WCCDA’s Sean Healy gave us a quick overview:

He explained that instead of a day full of dialogue this year, the summit was set up as a chance to help community members plug into resources – in a variety of ways. While we visited at midafternoon, that was happening in rooms big and small around the campus, both with informational tables and classroom workshops. And no matter who you stopped to talk to, you could find out something new:

Jenni from Habitat for Humanity, for example, told us about a new program – not building homes, for which Habitat is famous, but helping existing homeowners with renovations. A multitude of other groups had presence at the event too, including North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, whose Pat Price is in our photo below, with North Highline resident Gill Loring:

You can catch a few more scenes from the summit via photos tweeted by WCCDA while it was under way.

From tonight’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting (lots more news to come): White Center Community Development Association has announced the next White Center Community Summit for December 4th at White Center Heights Elementary School, 9:30 am-4 pm, according to NHUAC members and others here who received the announcement. More information when we get it!

The next mixer presented by the White Center Community Development Association is this Saturday, 1-3 pm, at Educare Early Learning Center in Greenbridge – meeting on the 2nd floor, child care provided on the 1st floor. All welcome, according to WCCDA’s Sean Healy, who says, In this mixer we will follow up with the concerns brought up by our members at the previous membership mixer on Aug 7th. We will discuss immigration reform, and immigrant barriers to education and housing. Also we will discuss the youth of White Center and positive youth alternatives.”

Big turnout in White Center this morning for the groundbreaking celebration kicking off the construction of Strength of Place Village – that’s Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen offering a blessing, in our top photo, which State Sen. Joe McDermott described as,
“I think it is terribly fitting that we started today with greetings from the Chairwoman of the Duwamish Tribe. Native Americans have been in this area for at least 10,000 years. And on November 13, 1851 the Denny party arrived in West Seattle, not far from here. Back on the 4th of July a bunch of people gathered near there, in front of an institution that is now closed, and talked about how much “this place” matters. And I think that lesson is exceptionally important to remember today. This place does indeed matter. The partnership that we’re celebrating today talks about the strength that can be harvested in this community at coming together to make this place as valuable as it can be to further enrich the value that is already here. I’m pleased the State had been able to play a role in housing this project. And I’m look forward to not only coming back to cut the ribbon, but to move boxes into the new homes next summer.”

It’s a 30-unit housing complex at 13th SW and SW 100th for low-income families (income no more than $55,000/year). It’s also a collaboration between agencies including the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, the White Center Community Development Association, and Capitol Hill Housing. From those three agencies, with County Executive Dow Constantine, in the next photo, are WCCDA’s Aileen Balahadia, DNDA’s Derek Birnie, and CHH’s Chris Persons:

Balahadia said at the ceremony, ““As you can see, the strength of place here really isn’t about place at all…of the bricks and mortar of a building…or the dirt and soil that we’re going to be breaking ground on today. White Center is truly special because our people make it so. And we choose to work the White Center way where community works side by side with partners, policymakers, institutions, to lead the kind of change residents want to see in their community. SOPI is part of a greater White Center neighborhood action plan designed by residents. This property was initially identified and brought to our attention by the King County Sheriff’s office due to some public safety concerns on the site. They asked if we could do something together on this? The CDA and DNDA worked closely with the original owners of the property on those safety issues. And the neighbors and local residents were all informed and were part of co-designing this project. So it has been a tremendous accomplishment.” Of course, there was the ceremonial shovel-turning – can’t have a groundbreaking without that:

(With the shovels, from left, were White Center resident Laushonda Barquet, Impact Capital director Heyward Watson, Dow Constantine, Aileen Balahadia, Derek Birnie, Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien, Chris Persons, King County Councilmember Jan Drago, State Sen. Joe McDermott.) Barquet, a 25-year White Center resident, said, “When I think about a neighborhood where I would want to raise my son I think of a place like this. Where my son and I have a place to grow and accel safely. Also have stable housing. I can catch the bus or even walk to work. You can walk to school. White Center is a place where you can get fresh produce and all different types of ethnic food. This is also a neighborhood that is a safe place for my child to play and a safe place to leave my doors open when I’m cooking or cleaning. That’s why I participated as a resident in the design of SOPI Village and in raising awareness for the project. It is important that my voice and our voices provide the heart and soul in the leadership of a place like this, in White Center.” Here’s a closer look at the “I (Heart) White Center” hardhats:

This is one of the renderings showing what Strength of Place will look like:

Demolition work continues at the site now.

… which is actually in West Seattle, as you likely know. 6 pm, it’s a gala fundraising dinner and live auction, at Brockey Center on the SSCC campus (6000 16th SW). The theme: “Celebrating Our Global Village.” Online registration is closed, but the WCCDA website has full details on who to call to see if there are still tickets available!

This Saturday’s the date for a big, free event to which you are invited: A barbecue at Hicks Lake! 11 am-2 pm Saturday, just be at Lakewood Park and join in to meet neighbors and find out more about cleanup efforts. The event is co-sponsored by White Center Community Development Association, North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, Technology Access Foundation, and Friends of Hicks Lake.

6:12 PM: More than 20 people at tonight’s White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting at the DSHS building in WC – including special guest Aileen Balahadia, executive director of the White Center Community Development Association, along with Vary Jackson from the King County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Precinct’s Lt. Norm James and Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn. Sean Healy, WCSDCSC chair, is leading the meeting. Updates as we go.

‘NIGHT OUT’ REMINDER: The night for crimefighting, neighborhood-building block parties is August 3rd.

BARBECUE AT HICKS LAKE: 11 am-2 pm on August 14th.

STREETLIGHT TRACKER: Seattle City Light customers can not only report streetlight outages but also track how they’re being handled, by going to a new website. (Added: Here’s the link)

SEATTLE POLICE REPORT: Lt. James is introducing Officer Kiehn as the CPT officer for the West Seattle area that this group covers (among other areas). Next, he mentions that residential burglaries are a focus for the precinct – in Highland Park, there were 15 burglaries last month, and former CPT officer, now Detective, Jill Vanskike started investigating them, got the word out to patrol officers about what appeared to be a trend, and that led to the identification of suspects. Lt. James also is talking about a crackdown on car prowls, after encouraging people to call 911 about them. “Report everything, because we can’t be everywhere,” he reminds those on hand. He’s also letting those on hand know about the online information that SPD has added recently, including the availability of some reports, and the new incident map tools, plus the new online-reporting system launched yesterday for “low-level” crimes. (Added: Here’s the link.)

And Lt. James notes that August 21st, 1-4 pm, is the date for Picnic at the Precinct for the SW Precinct. In response to a question, Lt. James confirms that every precinct is giving two officers to the downtown/Belltown nightlife emphasis on Friday and Saturday nights – but he says they also have access to the same special emphasis on, say, Alki if they need it. Other questions include, from Dick Thurnau of Friends of Hicks Lake, who’s responsible for cleaning up after a car crash? Officer Kiehn’s reply: The tow crew that takes the wrecked car(s) away.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT, INCLUDING CLUB EVO: Deputy Jackson briefed the group, saying that a special crackdown is being planned for some ongoing problems. Separately – Club Evo is still a priority for the Gang Unit, she says, and they’re working with code enforcement from North Highline Fire, the Liquor Control Board, and other agencies regarding violations – she says a “case is opening up” and the NHFD will do a site visit; if Evo is not in compliance, then action will be taken. One attendee says that he just learned Evo hasn’t had the proper, complete licensing for years – Deputy Jackson confirms that’s true, and is being addressed.

Legislative candidate and White Center/South Delridge business owner “Mac” McElroy is here and says that he’s been told the best thing to do might be to send a letter to King County Executive Dow Constantine. Deputy Jackson says that’s certainly his prerogative as a citizen. It’s also being suggested from the audience that the King County Council should be a target of letter-writing as well. Another concern voiced: “A lot of homeless people sleeping near the street” near the future Strength of Place Initiative development site at 100th/13th. Deputy Jackson says without anyone in the storefront deputy position formerly held by Jeff Hancock, there is no one to proactively address problems like that; she says the future of that position may be made public by next month.

WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION: Now executive director Balahadia is up.

(This was the intense part of the meeting – click ahead for the continuation of our as-it-happened coverage) Read the rest of this entry »

(Video and photos by Cliff DesPeaux)
For White Center Now and partner site West Seattle Blog, photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux covered today’s “Got Green?” “green jobs”-program media event at SW 100th and 13th SW, on the site of the future Strength of Place Initiative (SOPI) Village in WC. The video above is from the media briefing that kicked off the event, at one of the existing houses that will be demolished as part of the revving-up project:

SOPI is a project to create 30 future housing units, involving the White Center Community Development Association as well as both the West Seattle-based Delridge Neighborhood Development Association and Capitol Hill Housing. The workers who are training in weatherization techniques at the future demolition site are hoping to be providing as part of a City of Seattle project that organizers say will kick off this fall. As part of today’s event, Seattle Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith was on hand (he speaks about 5 minutes into our video clip). RIght now, 14 trainees are learning at this site. A walking tour followed the briefing, going inside the house to see what the trainees are working on – such as measuring for insulation:

In the next photo, Michael Siva is working in the crawl space:

Placards at the training site reminded onlookers what the project’s about:

You can find out more about Got Green? here. As for Strength of Place Initiative, groundbreaking is set to happen later this summer – here’s one of the renderings:

Its description, from project managers:

Located on the corner of SW 100th Street and 13th Avenue SW, the project will have 30 apartments ranging from one-bedrooms to three-bedrooms for low-income families making less than about $55,000/year. Strength of Place Village will also deliver living-wage construction jobs to White Center and will be green built to the Washington State Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard.

This Thursday night at 6, when the White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets at the DSHS building in WC, White Center Community Development Association executive director Aileen Balahadia is the special guest. It’s also a great chance to come share your concerns with, and hear about crime trends from, local law enforcement – King County Sheriff’s Office is usually represented, often the state Liquor Control Board too, and often Seattle Police (since South Delridge is part of the group’s coverage area too).