The Wallingford Community Council (WCC) of Seattle is a neighborhood voice representing the greater Wallingford community through interactions with city government on land use, transportation, and parks. The WCC has monthly open meetings where all members of the community, including homeowners and renters, are encouraged to participate. Whether you are a novice or expert in city issues, we need your input and participation to make Wallingford a better place to live and work in. You already know what a special place the Wallingford…
One of my favorite Wallingford excursions is taking the kids on the bike and going to Montlake Playfield. My route is almost all dedicated trail from my house and so I'm not too worried about the combination of cars and kids and bikes. My five-year old is hitched up to my bike on a Follow Me, and my two-year old rides on a co-pilot child seat. Montlake Playfield is a hidden gem of a park. The climbing jungle gym is a step up…
St Benedict Catholic School is carrying on the tradition of over 30 years of holding its annual fundraiser, The Great Wallingford Wurst Festival, this Friday & Saturday, September 16 & 17, 2016 - rain or shine! The Wurst Festival is held on the school grounds (between 48th and 49th on Wallingford Ave.), and is a community, family-friendly street fair featuring live music, great food, bouncy houses, a “Game Zone” filled with games for kids with fun prizes, a variety of crafts…
Seattle Tilth's annual Harvest Fair can be described as a country fair in the city. It started as the only neighborhood farmers market back in the 1988, connecting city folks to the bounty of food from local farmers. Today it brings together some of Seattle's best qualities: tasty local food, live music, a bustling organic farmers market, urban farm activities and a chance to enjoy one of Seattle's great parks in our own neighborhood with lush gardens managed by Seattle Tilth.…
Lower Wallingford is going through quite a change. As we reported in April, the new transfer station is slated to open some time in 2016. In fact, Wallyhood has been reporting on this since 2009. You can trace the development of this project just by looking at those old posts.
Facing South toward N 34th St. This area used to be a business and parking lot.
Now that I can actually see the space in person rather than on a map or drawing, I’m really impressed. It’s far beyond what I expected.
I think this new transfer station is an example of how the neighborhood community can both advocate for its preservation while also being a proponent for the change that is inevitable in a growing city. My belief is that change is coming and along with that is greater density. What we can do as neighbors is to advocate for smart change. More density means the need for more open space, not less, as we try to serve the needs of all the additional people joining the neighborhood.
I would like to commend the Wallingford Community Council for a job well done on this project. If there is anyone else who deserves credit, please let me know in the comments and I will update the post. Given that Mayor Murray has officially cut ties with all Seattle Neighborhood Councils, it makes you wonder what these photos would look like without the neighborhood input.
Additional pictures below include the new Tableau World Headquarters at N 34th Street and Woodlawn, a picture of the kids playground and more.
On May 2, 2016, I posted an article on the proposed 2016 housing levy expressing my concerns about the rationale used to determine the amount of the levy, which was double the expiring levy passed in 2009. The mayor's proposal calls for $201 million vs. $104 million, which was the cost of the expiring 2009 levy. The proposed levy will only deliver 2,150 new units and 350 retrofitted units, which is less than the number of units delivered under the old levy (see…
This is a guest post submitted by Kit Lewis, Wallingford resident of 27 years. Hey, what’s with all these helicopters lately? Have you noticed? Annoyingly loud, alarmingly low, and astonishingly frequent. We Wallingford residents know that on the 4th of July, our skies will be abuzz with hovering helicopters jostling for position to get that perfect view of the Lake Union fireworks from above. One day a year was what we used to expect. But nowadays it’s very different. There are choppers roaring…
