Eric, Author at Wallyhood

Wallingford Camp for Babies: PEPs

Eric March 27, 2015 3 Comments

There’s few life transitions more abrupt and potentially isolating than having a kid. For one thing, there’s remarkably few people out there that want to hear about the color and consistency of your baby’s 3 AM poop. Discussion boards aren’t enough to do the topic justice, there’s no playground or school for 2 month olds, and it’s not like you want to hang out with somebody that has a 6 month old. Your baby on their back will look defective next to that baby sitting up all on their own.

Well, that’s why there’s PEPs, based in our very own …

Wallingford Kid Summer Camps: The 2015 Edition

Eric March 26, 2015 6 Comments

If you have a dog then your summer plans consist of going on long, sunny walks. Aside from picking up the poo, it sounds nice. Kids are pricier and generally less grateful. My son has an awesome if dorky summer consisting of going to the DOTA championships at Key Arena, volunteering in Guatemala to build computer labs, then skipping ahead a grade in math by taking summer school.

The current plan for my 11 year old daughter is to see how bored we can make her before she drives us insane. We are looking for alternatives, and here’s what I …

Our 1998 Neighborhood Plan, Now Happening

Eric March 25, 2015 16 Comments

Did you know Wallingford has a neighborhood plan? It does! The Plan is 103 pages long and filled with flowery prose and pictures of bungalows. It was written a few months before I arrived in Wallingford, 17 years ago. If you’re having trouble going to sleep tonight, here it is.

The Plan used to really, really matter. It was put together when Jim Diers was in charge of the all powerful Department of Neighborhoods. The idea back then was to put neighborhoods in charge of their own development. Community meetings decided The Plan, then The Plan decided zoning codes for …

Apparently Everyone Stopped Drinking Alcohol

Eric March 24, 2015 17 Comments

Emerald City Spirits, which occupied the old state liquor store, has gone dark. They bought the rights to the space back in 2011 for $355,000.

Doug had a fun take:

Apparently their liquor license has been purchased by the Shell station next door, and Shell will begin to sell liquor soon. We have finally become California!

There’s a rumor that the building housing Emerald City Spirits will be torn down and condos will be built there. Frankly I was hoping for a pharmacy.

It looks like Puffin Glass went dark as well.

And Wine World is looking to reduce their …

Wallingford’s Park and Street Fund Projects: Vote!

Eric March 19, 2015 11 Comments

The comments on the projects were very helpful. The Tangletown cut through prevention project is being withdrawn since a majority of the commenters were negative about it. Hopefully the active discussion that resulted will end up producing a better proposal next year. Here are the locations of the remaining projects:

If you’re not familiar with a project just scroll down through the last 4 posts for more detail. The Wallyhood winner will be determined by the total number of check boxes a proposal receives, so if you want to kill a proposal then just vote for the other 3.

The …

Crossing Improvements at N 43rd St and Stone Way N

Eric March 18, 2015 19 Comments

Here is the last of 5 projects submitted for the Neighborhood Project and Street Fund. Your feedback is welcome and helpful as the Wallingford Community Council and other groups decide which projects to endorse. Tomorrow I plan to set up a vote to further help determine preferences.

This proposal is from Desiree. Desiree is writing as a parent and lifelong caretaker of a child who was seriously injured crossing Stone Way North:

Stone Way North is one of Seattle’s most difficult streets to cross if you are child walking to school or an elderly person walking to the bus. Despite …

Crosswalk at N Northlake Way and Eastern Ave N

Eric March 17, 2015 31 Comments

Here is the 4th of 5 projects submitted for the Neighborhood Project and Street Fund. Your feedback is welcome and helpful as the Wallingford Community Council and other groups decide which projects to endorse.

Mark contributed to this application on behalf of the Northlake Safety & Security Team, which is committed to finding solutions to improve the safety and security of the residents, workers, students, cyclists, joggers, customers and visitors that share this unique community.

The proposed location of our project would improve access to and from the Burke Gilman Trail through the only stair access along Northlake Way that …

Ben on Crime in the City, and in the ‘HoodGarry, you asked, “Is there another source that would be reliable?” I don’t know...
Gary Shigenaka on Crime in the City, and in the ‘HoodBen, is there another source that would be reliable? Or another way to examine t...
Ben on Crime in the City, and in the ‘Hood"The primary reason to be extraordinarily skeptical of a list like this is ...
Ben on SPS Updates Wallingford Playfield Public Meeting- Nov 20thBoth schools are here and not going anywhere. Past grievances with the school di...
Greg Flood on SPS Updates Wallingford Playfield Public Meeting- Nov 20thHmmm… let’s see… upgrade Hamilton, but stop maintaining Wallingford Playfield an...