First, the bad news. On this 10-year anniversary of the last major Seattle earthquake, a plan to overhaul hundreds of unreinforced masonry buildings in the city sits in limbo. Below, we’ve mapped the inventory of these buildings around Capitol Hill that the program produced. Now the good news: The natural course of neighborhood development has driven improvements at the Capitol Hill buildings with the lowest federal seismic ratings. Still, there’s plenty of unreinforced brick on Capitol Hill.

On February 28, 2001, a 6.8 earthquake injured more than 300 people in the Seattle area and caused an estimated $4 billion in damage. Some of the hardest hit buildings were the city’s oldest — unreinforced masonry structures in Pioneer Square. The Seattle Times is reporting on the area’s rebuilding a decade later, here. An effort to create a retrofit program to help building owners overhaul their buildings across the city faded in 2008 as economic conditions worsened. The Seattle Times also has a report on the risks the city faces because the lack of seismic upgrades to its historic buildings:

After the quake, Seattle formed committees to investigate whether owners of brick should be required to bring them up to current seismic standards, as many California cities have done.

The effort stalled.

Tax incentives were considered along with the possible use of police powers.

But committee participant Bob Freitag said, “We didn’t have the money to defer taxes and we felt we couldn’t put additional burdens on property owners when people can’t afford electricity for heat.”

While it never shaped a solution for the seismic risks, the city’s effort did produce an inventory of brick buildings in the city — including an extensive roster of Capitol Hill’s unreinforced masonry structures. Below, we have mapped that roster. Larger dots represent buildings with multiple stories. The color scale relates to a “FEMA Score” assigned to each property — the lower the score, the higher the measured seismic risk based on a set of factors determined to influence structural integrity in the course of an earthquake.

For as many buildings as the inventory identified as candidates for eventual seismic upgrades, one important takeaway is that the buildings recorded as having the lowest FEMA scores on Capitol Hill have mostly seen their risk significantly lowered by upgrades that were part of recent overhauls and redevelopments.

The lowest Capitol Hill FEMA score in the 2007 survey belonged to the old CHAC building on 12th Ave. But a 2010 overhaul to make the space the new home for Velocity Dance and others included much needed seismic upgrades. Similarly, the 907-919 Pine parcels include the Odd Fellows building which also underwent a major upgrade subsequent to the survey.

Meanwhile, another low scorer, the 1824-1828 Broadway properties, was torn down completely. That space is now under construction as the Capitol Hill light rail station.

One of the low scorers without an upgrade is another familiar icon of the Hill. It seems unlikely a development will replace the Volunteer Park Water Tower — listed on our map as 1400 East Galer — anytime soon. It’s stood on the Hill since 1906 and survived plenty of earthquakes. The question, of course, is can it survive the next one.

We’re still going through the results and will look for elements to follow up — especially properties that do not appear to have been upgraded that were listed with low FEMA scores in the 2007 survey. If you see anything worthy of follow-up, let us know.

Seattle Women’s is conducting a research study of an investigational interuterine delivery system (IUS) compared to a birth control pill. All study related exams and study treatments will be provided at no cost. Compensation for time and travel is available.

You may qualify if you: 
– Are a healthy female 18 to 29 
– Have regular menstrual cycles 
– Are available for 6 office visits over 18 months

For more information, please call Seattle Women’s at 206-522-3330 x2, email [email protected] or visit www.SeattleWomens.com.

Who’s hungry? If you have a bit to share, send us mail at [email protected]

• The legal storm clouds over the displaced Grey Gallery have finally cleared and Grey owner Erik Guttridge sounds relieved to be moving on. In September, CHS reported on a $80,000 lawsuit filed against Guttridge by Matt Basta, the owner of the 11th Ave building Grey used to call home. According to court documents, the lawsuit was settled in late January with Basta agreeing to drop the suit. Guttridge tells CHS he has no interest in taking any legal action against Basta and is ready to move on to finding a new home for Grey Gallery now that the legal wrangling is behind him. “I’m committed to making this a positive experience, for me and for Grey, in the long run,” he writes. In the meantime, Grim’s has settled in on 11th Ave.
• Congratulation, again, to Lobby Bar for their selection as the Greater Seattle Business Association’s new business of the year. Owners Curtis Bigelow and Paul Villa received their award from 2009 winner Poppy’s Jerry Traunfeld at Saturday night’s awards dinner.

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• One of the most important addresses in Seattle speakeasy and African American history is about to become an Irish pub. Seattle Met has the details on The Chieftain destined for 908 12th Ave across from Seattle University. In its prohibition era heyday, Doc Hamilton’s became a Seattle legend at that address. Last we heard, the space had been planned as a Middle Eastern restaurant.
• What else is brewing on 12th Ave? Ginger beer, says Seattle Times.
• Seattle Weekly says CHS advertiser Big Mario’s has the best restaurant mascot in the city. Take that, Kidd Valley girl.
• You ever hear the rumor of who the Kidd Valley girl model was? Or is, really.
• Puget Sound Business Journal finds city’s next food trends including the settling down of street food as embodied by Skillet’s diner under construction on 14th Ave.

• Want to be a head cook at a busy Capitol Hill gay bar? Craigslist is hiring.
• More Craigslist. Do you know this “Capitol Hill Turn-Key Restaurant and Bar?”
  

  Unique opportunity to purchase turn-key restaurant in Capitol Hill. Ideal for chef/owner, bring your own ideas! Approx 2,450 SF of restaurant space + 322 office. Seating capacity for 98 + additional patio seating. Full bar and kitchen with class I hood. Operable windows and high ceilings. Dinerware POS system with (2) terminals. Cutting edge 100% digital video distribution system includes (5) plasma displays fed by high definition 1080p digital matrix.

  Ignore the listing photo — pretty sure it’s a bogus prop shot. We’ve talked to a few potential candidates but nobody is owning up to the “for sale” post. $225,000 if you are interested. Give Laura Miller at Catalyst a call.

• Thundering Hooves isn’t really on the CHS beat but we might have to dig in find out what’s up. Here’s yet another Hill-related note about issues with the natural meat provider.
• Want Thai delivered on Hill? Here’s a tip.
• Capitol Hill inspires Los Angeles “coffee row.”
• Capitol Hill Preparedness People are holding their first ever Disaster Cocktails event Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM at Rosebud. Learn about emergency preparedness, have a drink.
• Speaking of Rosebud, CHS found a live jazz trio playing for their brunch crowd Saturday morning.
• Alarm scares off East Pine bar burglar.
• Pike Street Beer has a buyer.
• CHS advertiser High 5 Pie celebrates Pi Day on March 14, with $3.14 Flipsides.
• Join us for a CHS happy hour at Bimbos Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM (you can swing by the Disaster Cocktail event too).

CHS has learned details of the three people arrested following Saturday night’s 10-minute ‘anarchist’ riot on Broadway that left partially smashed windows, anti-cop graffiti and tried patience in its wake.

According to the Seattle Police Department, the three people arrested were two males ages 30 and 21 and a 24-year-old female. All appear to have mostly clear legal records as adults though the 21-year-old also spent a few hours in jail in September for a Seattle theft. Current residency is not clear though the 30-year-old is originally from Bellingham.

All three were booked for pedestrian interference, obstructing police and, yes, rioting and spent a few hours in jail early Sunday morning before being released on personal recognizance. We will follow up as the legal process related to the misdemeanor charges.

Capitol Hill’s neighbors are getting ready to build again, too. Wednesday night, the Capitol Hill Design Review Board will provide early guidance to a project to build a new three-story mixed-use development along 24th Ave E that will fill in a demolished block left behind when another project that started in 2006 was canceled.

Capitol Hill’s Roger Newell Architects is designing the new mix of commercial space, apartments and townhouses for Boston 2200, LLC, a corporation backed by the land’s owner Paul Joos. Plan calls for a three-story building with 21 apartments, three townhomes, and 4,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space. 30 underground parking spaces are included in the project.

The previous 2006 project was also designed as mixed-use but was focused on creating medical service space. The design included only five residential units, 11,000 square feet for medical services, space for a “institute for advanced studies” and a restaurant space.

Details on the design review board meeting are below.

Capitol Hill Design Review Board

Project: 2200 24th Ave E  map

Design Proposal available (11.94 MB)

Review Meeting:    March 2, 6:30 pm

     Seattle Vocational Institute

     2120 S Jackson St      Room 102/103

Review Phase:    EDG–Early Design Guidance

Project Number:    3011924 permit status

Planner:    Shelley Bolse

St. Mark’s will be bustling with even more spiritual energy next weekend as it hosts the Forward Together with Integrity symposium, “Three days of prayer and conference for empowerment, addressing LGBT concerns in the Church and the world.” Details on the three-day conference are below:

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral Hosts Symposium: Forward Together With Integrity: Moving Forward to Empower our Communities

SEATTLE, WA, February 21, 2011—LGBT support groups work together to promote education and heal broken relationships within families, the church, and local communities. Integrity at St Mark’s, the local chapter of the international group for gay Episcopalians, has joined with Forward Together, Saint Mark’s fellowship of LGBT folk, to hold a three day symposium entitled Forward Together With Integrity. The event takes place at Saint Mark’s Cathedral on March 4, 5, and 6.

The event is in honor of the historic 2009 General Convention, which sanctioned gay marriage blessing and affirmed the ordination of gay and lesbian bishops. It will include prayer services and fasting, discussion groups, guest speakers, and late night movies. We invite everyone to join us as you have time and interest to attend.

Registration beforehand is needed only for the Mennonite training on Sunday at 1:00 PM. Register with Jim Bachmann, [email protected]. Registration cost for Sunday is $10.00, and seating is limited to 25.

The complete itinerary follows.

Friday, March 4

8:30 AM – Thomsen Chapel – Morning Prayer

10:00 AM – Fasting Begins

Please join us in Thomsen Chapel for prayer throughout the day.

6:30 PM – Thomsen Chapel – Evening Prayer

10:00 PM – Thomsen Chapel – Late Night Movie – For the Bible Tells Me So – A film about the journey of Eugene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop

Saturday, March 5

8:30 AM – Thomsen Chapel – Morning Prayer

10:00 AM to 04:00 PM – Cathedral Nave – Saturday Symposium, Featuring:

Telling Our Stories, General Discussion

A Discussion With Parents and Friends of LGBT Folk, with Kathy Reim of PFlag

A Discussion of Gay High School Students, with Bill Keating of GLSEN, Gay & Lesbian Student Education Network

12:30 PM – Bring Your Own Brown Bag Lunch

A Place of Hope for Youth, with Ken Shulman of Lambert House

Turn The Light On, with Marc Fredson

Stories of LGBT Youth, with Mo Lewis of King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, KCSARC

Knowing We Are the Beloved Daughters and Sons of God, DVD Sermon by Henri Nouwen

4:00 PM – Liturgy of Love and Healing

10:00 PM – Thomsen Chapel – Late Night Movie – Forgiveness

Midnight – Thomsen Chapel – Taize – Monastic Song and Prayer

Sunday, March 6

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Leffler House – Learning the Art of Conflict Resolution and Peace Making, with Larry Dunn, Ph.D., (Mennonite Brethren) Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, Fresno Pacific University

7:00 PM – Cathedral Church – Worship Together, with Integrity and Forward Together

8:00 PM – Leffler House – Break the Fast at Integrity’s Weekly Potluck.

Contacts:

Jim Bachmann, Jennifer Tapley, or Tom Weaver

[email protected]

www.saintmarks.org

206-323-0300