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The University Bridge was closed for several hours Monday evening after a two-car crash that caused life-threatening injuries for one driver.

According to the SPD Blotter, a Volkswagen Passat was traveling south on the bridge at 6:45 p.m. when it was hit mid-span by a Toyota MR2 that was traveling north. The Toyota crossed the center line and collided with the Passat.

Both drivers were treated at... (more)

The Christina Choi Little Library is now installed on the south side of Louisa street just East of Lake Union Mail.  Christina was Eastlake-raised, Eastlake-schooled, an Eastlake restaurant owner (Nettletown), neighbor and friend.  Those responsible for building, painting and installing remain unidentified.  Thank them with your use of her library.

On Wednesday January 9th, the steering committee for the Districts Now campaign voted to unsplit Eastlake.  In its original October 2012 launch announcement, Eastlake was split down its middle between the Roosevelt and Capitol Hill districts at Lynn Street.  Thanks to the strong and positive campaigning of many Eastlakians, Districts Now agreed with our reasoning and shifted the boundary to unify Eastlake within the Roosevelt district.

         The Districts Now campaign, the proposal... (more)

See previous post in April 2012.

East Howe Street Park / Stairs and Pedestrian connection

We made significant progress on the establishment of this Park / Pedestrian connection when the Department of Planning made it a requirement of the developer at 1818 Fairview Avenue East to construct improvements including sidewalk, street trees, utilities as the standard required under state law.... (more)

The talk on "Trees in Eastlake and Seattle" set for Tuesday, Oct. 16, at TOPS@Seward School library will start a little later than previously announced.

The talk, sponsored by the Eastlake Community Council, will begin at 7:45 p.m. Before that, you're invited to join your neighbors at 6 p.m. in the TOPS library to watch the second presidential debate between President Barack Obama and GOP candidate Mitt Romney.

After the debate, Arthur Lee Jacobson, author of "Trees of Seattle" will speak and show photos of Eastlake trees. Bring a mystery tree leaf to get it identified and find out how to help inventory Eastlake trees. 

Neighbors:

Go to: http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/edms/

and put in the MUP # 3013612

This proposed MUP # 3013612 at 1949 Fairview Avenue E sports a White Board which cannot be seen from the street due to the fact it is behind a large parking lot which separates the White Board from... (more)

Police reports from Eastlake this week include a home burglary on Lakeview and more:

• Sept. 12: Threats, street, sidewalk or alley, 2200 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 11 a.m.
• Sept. 12: Car prowl, 2500 block of Fairview Ave. E., 7 p.m.
• Sept. 12: Car theft, Fairview E. and E. Lynn, 9 p.m.
• Sept. 13: Burglary, forced, residential, 1600 block of Lakeview Blvd. E., occurred between Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m., and Sept. 13, 6 p.m.: Someone entered a residence by forcing open a shower stall window and slipping through it to get inside. The suspect opened closets and drawers. Stolen items...

Police reports in Eastlake in the past week include a restaurant burglary, a bike theft and more:

• Sept. 5: Harassment, 2300 block of Boylston Ave. E., noon.
• Sept. 8: Bicycle theft, 3200 block of Fairview Ave. E., 12:45 a.m.
• Sept. 9: Attempted theft from a commercial or office building, 1100 block of Fairview Ave. N., 4:36 a.m.
• Sept. 9: Restaurant burglary, no forced entry, 2300 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 8:53 p.m.
• Sept. 9: Auto recovery, 1900 block of Fairview Ave. E., 2:06 p.m.
• Sept. 11: Auto recovery, 1500 block of Fairview E., 1:32 p.m.
• Sept. 11: Accident investigation,...

Police reports for Eastlake in the past week include two vehicle thefts, one attempted vehicle theft and more:

• Aug. 28: Car prowl, 2300 block of Fairview Ave. E., 9 p.m.
• Aug. 29: Vehicle theft, truck, 1100 block of Fairview Ave. N., 8 p.m.
• Aug. 29: Car prowl, 1800 block of Franklin Ave. E., 10:30 p.m.
• Aug. 31: Vehicle theft, 2700 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 6 p.m.
• Sept. 2: Attempted vehicle theft, Minor E. and E. Newton, 9 p.m.
• Sept. 3: Liquor law violation and property damage, 2300 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 6:45 p.m.
• Sept. 3: Disturbance, 2000 block of Eastlake E....

If you ride a Metro bus between Eastlake and downtown, you noticed a change starting a week ago: Buses now stay on Eastlake rather than going down Fairview after they pass the Eastlake and Fairview intersection.

The change is temporary and is related to the construction on Mercer Street in south Lake Union. Mercer is now a two-way street and Fairview is temporarily restricted to one lane northbound. This temporary reroute is expected to last for four to six months, according to Metro.... (more)

UPDATE: This event is now sold out.

ORIGINAL POST: If you've always wondered what it's like to live on a houseboat you'll be able to find out during the annual Seattle Floating Homes Tour from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The event will feature 12 floating homes on the Eastlake side of Lake Union. Tickets are $25 and are available at Brown Paper Tickets. The event usually sells out so early purchase is recommended. Tickets include electric shuttle boat service between each end of the tour. You can also walk to each home and do the tour in any order. ... (more)

It seems like a small thing, but in the context of busy urban lives the convenience of a neighborhood mailbox can be very important. An Eastlake mailbox that had been removed is back and neighbors are pleased.

The blue U.S. Postal Service mailbox at the corner of E. Lynn and Minor E. is one of the few left in the neighborhood. When it was removed earlier this summer to make way for a new curb cut, neighbor Phyllis Hatfield became concerned. She lives nearby and uses the box frequently. Other mailboxes in Eastlake, including one on the west side of Eastlake in the 2800 block, have been removed in recent years to save money.... (more)

Hard to believe the summer is almost over. Labor Day is this coming Monday so it must be true.

Will your Eastlake business be open on Monday? If so, what hours will you be open and are you planning anything special? Please post your details in the comments below or email me at curtmilton@comcast.net. I'll post the list later this week.

Have a great holiday!

Police reports in Eastlake in the past week include two stolen vehicles, an arrest for heroin possession and more:

• Aug. 23: Vehicle theft, 3300 block of Fuhrman Ave. E., 5 a.m.
• Aug. 24: Identity theft, 2600 block of Franklin Ave. E., 10:54 a.m.
• Aug. 24: Bicycle theft, 2000 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 5 p.m.
• Aug. 25: Property damage, graffiti, 2300 block of Eastlake Ave. E., midnight
• Aug. 25: Vehicle theft, 2200 block of Franklin Ave. E., 3:30 p.m.
• Aug. 27: Accident investigation, 1100 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 7:29 p.m.
• Aug. 28: Accident investigation, 2700 block of...

Seattle Police reports from Eastlake in the past week include a vehicle theft, two burglaries and more:

• Aug. 7: Burglary, forced, residential, 200 block of E. Howe St., 2:29 p.m.
• Aug. 8: Car prowl, 2300 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 2 a.m.
• Aug. 8: Vehicle theft, 100 block of E. Lynn St., 11 p.m.
• Aug. 9: Attempted grocery store shoplift, 1500 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 8:47 p.m.
• Aug. 12: Car prowl, 2700 block of Boylston E., 7:45 p.m.
• Aug. 14: Burglary, unoccupied structure on residential property, 2200 block of Yale E., 8:10 p.m.
• Aug. 15: Driving while intoxicated, SR...

Eastlake's Craig Etheridge, a 5-year resident in the 2600 Block of Boylston Avenue, won his 2nd Bicycle Messenger World Championship in Chicago this weekend.   His first was won in Guatemala in 2010.

      Craig has pedaled the streets of Seattle working for KNR Couriers since 2004. 

A 40-foot paddle boat docked at Fairview Avenue E. and Fairview Avenue N. took on water Thursday (Aug. 9) night and sank.

Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Moore says firefighters were called to the dock at 11:28 p.m. Thursday after receiving reports that the boat was taking on water. Engine 22, Engine 4, ladder 4, Engine 36 and Patrol 4 went to the scene.

When firefighters arrived they found the boat partly submerged and listing 45 degrees to the port side. After 40 minutes of effort by firefighters, the boat continued to list and control of it was turned over to the Coast Guard.

Moore says the estimated dollar loss on the boat was $100,000.

The world’s largest-diameter tunnel boring machine will arrive in Seattle next year, but you don’t have to wait until then to check it out. A 10-foot-long, motorized replica of the machine is on display now at Milepost 31, an award-winning information center that highlights the people and... (more)

Eastlake residents came out last evening (Tuesday, Aug. 7) to enjoy three Night Out block parties, two on Franklin and one on Minor. That's the most Night Out events I've seen in the three years I've been writing for Eastlake Ave.

Neighbors gathered in the 2600 block of Franklin (between Roanoke and Edgar), the 2300 block of Franklin (between Lynn and Louisa) and in a driveway just off the street in the 2200 block of Minor. There were barbecues going at all three locations and more food than you could ever hope to eat.... (more)

Seattle Police reports in Eastlake this week include a stolen vehicle, two accidents, a car prowl and more:

• July 31: Property damage, 2000 block of Fairview Ave. E., 10 p.m.
• Aug. 1: Auto theft, 2800 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 6:15 p.m.
• Aug. 1: Fraud, 3200 block of Franklin Ave. E., 10:34 a.m.
• Aug. 2: Accident investigation, 2600 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 12:45 p.m.
• Aug. 3: Threats to kill, 3100 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 9:40 p.m.
• Aug. 5: Trespass, E. Allison and Fairview E., 7:16 p.m.
• Aug. 5: Disturbance, 2500 block of Fairview E., 11:20 p.m.
• Aug. 6: Bicycle theft,...

Tuesday evening's incessant thump-a-thon carried on prevailing winds hard into Eastlake was just a little too much for me.    This morning's e-mailed noise complaint has the SPD North Precinct and Harbor Patrol communicating.  So next time the drum circles break out, please don't feel like your accoustical deportation to Boreo has to last until the Gas Works drummers wear out.  The cops (non-emergency line) should be helpful enforcing the repetitive noise provisions of the Noise Ordinance which are posted at the park. 

Police reports for Eastlake for the last two weeks include a restaurant burglary and thefts of a bicycle, a motorcycle and a car:

• July 19: Motorcycle theft, 2000 block of Boylston Ave. E., 12:01 a.m.
• July 19: Person with a gun, Eastlake E. and E. Roanoke, 5:19 p.m.
• July 19: Narcotics, 1900 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 8:38 p.m.
• July 20: Bicycle theft, 3300 block of Fuhrman Ave. E., 3:36 p.m.
• July 21: Disturbance, Fairview E. and E. Blaine, 2:26 a.m.
• July 21: Fire response, 2300 block of Franklin Ave. E., 5:29 p.m.
• July 22: Noise disturbance, 2800 block of Eastlake Ave....

In case you've been wondering, Eastlake won't be affected by the current garbage haulers' strike in Seattle.

That's because Eastlake, as well as the rest of central and northeast Seattle, are serviced by CleanScapes. The strike involves unionized workers for Waste Management, which serves other parts of the city. You can see the affected areas on this map from the city's website.

According to a... (more)

The signs are popping up all over Eastlake: Yellow, letter-sized notices about a new development on Franklin Avenue E.:

39 New Residents
NO NEW PARKING
No Neighborhood Review
No Neighborhood Input
No Land Use Action Sign

The notice ends by noting that: “These building are permanent and Eastlake will suffer for a long time.”

The development in question will replace a house at 2371 Franklin Ave. E. The official city permit for the project says it contains five units, but neighbors note that it will actually have 39 individual units grouped around common kitchens on each floor (a basement and four other floors, with one kitchen on each floor). ... (more)