Modular houses coming to the hill?

I got this invitation through a Capitol Hill mailing list:

Invitation for the Capitol Hill Neighborhood
Come visit Inhabit prefab modular housing units
May 14th, 4-6PM

Hello All:

This is a special invitation to see a new architectural  concept for multi-family buildings that might be used on Capitol Hill in the fairly near future, and to give feedback while it is still in the conceptual phase.

I am working with Unico Properties to introduce neighborhoods to the concept of  assembling multi-family residential buildings out of factory-built, prefab modules.  It promises to be less disruptive, to provide higher quality at a lower cost, and to to take far less time to complete - all advantages  to neighborhoods.

To  showcase the concept, Unico had two units made and installed them on top of the Rainier Center, one on top of the other.  These are fully furnished living units, designed by Mithun and Hybrid-Seattle architecture firms.

I am inviting you to come downtown next week, Wednesday May 14, 4 PM TO 6 PM to tour the assembled modules and be introduced to the concept.  The attached invitation has interior and exterior photos as well as additional background information.

Unico plans to utilize this concept in multiple neighborhoods.  Although the company has not yet obtained a site in Capitol Hill, it may happen in the future, and their goal is to work with the neighborhood in advance, to build understanding and relationships and to find out what individuals might care about in particular. ( The first actual project is in design review right now and will be built at 1701 Dexter Avenue, near the Dexter Hayes Pub.

Full invite [PDF]

Cigarette butts

There sure are a lot of them on the hill. Judging by my Saturday morning, tobacco companies aren't going out of business anytime soon.

I spent Saturday morning with about 75 motivated neighbors cleaning up 14th and 15th Avenues. The day kicked off with words from the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce (no, not that CHCC), a local SPD officer, and Ed Murray, one of our state senators and neighbor on the hill. The SPD east precinct captain even picked up a broom and mixed it up.

Pizza by Piecora's and a jazz band afterwards wrapped up a morning of do-goodedness. So next time you flick your butt, your karma loss is my gain!

Swear I didn't steal it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't steal this shot. Snapped it myself yesterday on the 8 headed home.

Everyone sitting on the inside seat on a nearly empty bus.

Why you Seattlites so polite?

OK, I stole that one.

Bonus shot: the same bus in NYC:

Yougo to Tougo

A buddy just took my wife and me to Tougo Coffee at 18th and Union. How many great coffee places are in this damn city? Super nice folks behind the bar and a play area for kids in the back -- we're looking at you, CHS.

Learning what we don't know

We had the first meeting of the steering committee for the revived Capitol Hill Community Council [outdated page].

The 10 folks gathered actually got more done than I expected. You may want to chalk that up to low expectations...

In my mind we discussed two phases of work: developing/updating the framework for the Council (i.e. charter, positions, relationship to city and peer organizations), and creating a good system that will allow the Council to build on that framework (i.e. meetings, online/offline communications, funding).

At this stage I believe we don't really know what we don't know. And that's fair -- we are a new organization and I'd bet most of us have not been involved on Day-1 in a committee with a mandate to steer a larger organization. I know I haven't!

Each step of the way I believe we will uncover the right questions to ask. Tonight they swirled around the status of the existing charter and Council positions. Next meeting, armed with the charter and more information about the existing structure, I believe we will uncover more of the right questions to ask. So on and so forth until we can't help but have some answers!