Front Porch » Belltown

Belltown activists learn the ABCD’s of Community Empowerment!

Wendy Watson — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:56:16 +0000

This article tells the story of how Belltown activists brought the neighborhood together to learn ways to engage the community, build a common vision, and develop partnerships to improve the neighborhood.

A group of neighborhood activists in Belltown felt that their community was full of resources and strengths, but that community groups, businesses, non-profits, and the government could be working more collaboratively. Through a series of discussions, the Belltown Community Council and other local organizations decided to form a steering committee and plan a 1-day training to encourage cross-sector cooperation. They selected Jim Diers, the first director of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and UW Professor, to facilitate the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) training. The steering committee had members from community groups, the non-profit sector, business, the faith community, the UW School of Social Work, and Christa Dumpys, a Neighborhood District Coordinator from DON. They combined their resources and worked together to solicit donations, organize the event, and do strategic community outreach to ensure that those in attendance represented a broad variety of neighborhood stakeholders. The group received a Small Sparks award from the Neighborhood Matching Fund to cover the cost of the training.

The ABCD training was held for 33 participants on March 9, 2013 in a donated space at the brand new City University campus in Belltown. Jim Diers spent the morning presenting the key tenets of the ABCD philosophy, discussing strengths and challenges of community work in Belltown, and highlighting examples of successful local partnerships. Participants had a midday break, which gave them a chance to network with one another and enjoy the tasty food that was donated by local restaurants and coffee shops. The afternoon portion of the training gave everyone a chance to present their vision for Belltown, share project ideas, and find others in the community who wished to team up. Small groups formed around their areas of interest and began to start work on projects which included: creating a neighborhood information sharing website and discussion group, working with local artists to develop public art in new and unused spaces, and finding ways to maximize use of the new Belltown Community Center. There is a lot of excitement around the community project ideas that came out of this training and we’re excited to see what they lead to in the coming months!

by Jake Hellenkamp, UW School of Social Work Intern

Neighborhood Matching Fund supported Bell’s Town Tour, Friday, August 10 at 4:30 p.m.

Wendy Watson — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:36:31 +0000

Jim Miller, President of the Belltown Business Association (BBA) will announce the launch of the new Bell’s Town Tour, a mobile app that takes users on a self-guided tour of the historical architecture of Belltown. The event will happen at Tilikum Place Park, a historically significant site at the intersection of Fifth, Cedar and Denny, which is also the juncture of the original land claims of city founders Denny, Boren, and Bell.

The app was made possible by a grant given by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. According to Jane Savard, the BBA board member who wrote the grant, Tilikum Place Park was chosen for several appropriate reasons: “The Chief of the Suguamish statue at the park was unveiled a hundred years ago on Founders Day by the great-great granddaughter of Chief Seattle. At the time, the city wanted to commemorate the original settlers of the area and acknowledge that Seattle was named after an important leader of those native residents. We continue that tradition. We also timed the launch to coincide with the Seattle Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration as well as the newly revamped Second Friday Belltown Artwalk and the 2012 Seattle Founders Day Festival that starts Saturday.”

According to Miller, the Bell’s Town Tour app is a “cutting edge cultural tool that preserves the rich history of Belltown. The BBA is committed to preserving and promoting that history. We’re focused on elevating the reasons people come to Belltown and creating more events that showcase the hidden gems we have down here.”

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who will speak at the launch party on the resurgence of community involvement in Belltown, agrees that Belltown “is more than what happens after midnight on the weekends. For those of us who live or work here, the atmosphere is much more neighborly. The tour app, the artwalk, the festival are all volunteer driven and without the corporate funding that other Seattle neighborhoods enjoy.”

Users can download the 1.0 version of the app at www.belltownba.org/tour and begin scanning QR codes that are placed in windows of 50 locations throughout Belltown. Once a QR code is scanned, users will see a historical description of the site along with historic and contemporary photos. The Chief Seattle statue, the 5 Point Café (the longest running business in Belltown), and Tilikum Place Café are all featured.

Music will be provided by Belltown musicians and drinks and appetizers can be had at the 5 Point Café and Tilikum Place Café. Speakers will provide information on the Bell’s Town Tour and the Belltown Artwalk. Actors playing William Bell and Doc Maynard will be on hand answering questions and answering media questions about the Seattle Founders Day Festival.* The two-day event runs Saturday and Sunday August 11 and 12 from 10am to 10pm on Second Avenue between Blanchard and Battery.

A guided mini-tour of some of the highlights of the Bell’s Town Tour will follow the party and Greener Cab pedicabs will be available. The mini-tour begins at 6pm, just in time for the start of the Second Friday Belltown Artwalk.

Info to help you stay safe in this winter weather

Lois Maag — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:26:39 +0000

Visit our homepage and to get tools and information about the winter storm: http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods

Two P-patch ‘fun’draisers this weekend!

Wendy Watson — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:59:30 +0000

The Belltown and Interbay P-patches are offering two fun, fundraising activities this weekend.

The Belltown P-patch offers “Another Bloomin’ Yard Sale” on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers promise lots of goods at bargain prices, most at $1, $2 and $5, including clothing, sports equipment, appliances, electronics, tools, home & garden. Some collectibles and vintage items will be available as well. Enjoy homemade rhubarb jam from the garden and other handmade items. Raffle tickets for special packages donated by Belltown businesses will also be available.

Location: Belltown P-Patch, corner of Vine Street & Elliott Ave. Street & lot parking. For info: call 206-849-4040

Interbay P-Patch’s U-Pick Lavender Sale also continues this weekend — Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Interbay P-Patch, 2451 15^th Avenue W (just south of the Ballard Bridge and Interbay Golf Course)

Plenty of lavender is still available for culinary, decorative or craft uses. Prices range from $3 for a small bunch, $5 for a large bunch. Lavender wands, wreaths, sachets and potpourri are also available for sale.

Questions? Contact Donna Kalka at kalkakoch@yahoo.com or Becky Blackstock at becky.blackstock@comcast.net

Today’s hours for Neighborhood Service Centers

Lois Maag — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:17:30 +0000

Here is a list of Neighborhood Service Centers that serve as Payment and Information Service sites and today’s hours of operation due to weather conditions:

Lake City: Open – 9:00-5:00
Closed for lunch 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Ballard: Open – 9:00-5:00
Open for lunch

University: Closed

Central: Open – 9:00-5:00
Closed for lunch 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Southeast: Open – 9:00 – 5:00
Closed for lunch 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Delridge: Open until 3:30 p.m.

West Seattle: Closed

Neighborhood Service Centers are open today

Lois Maag — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:20:29 +0000

Below are the Neighborhood Service Centers’ hours of operation for today, Monday, Nov. 22. All centers are open, however, most NSCs will be closing for lunch with the exception of two locations.
Lake City:
9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00

Ballard:
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00

University:
10:00 am-6:00 pm
Closed for lunch 2:00-3:00

Central:
9:30 am – 7:00 pm
Open for lunch

Southeast:
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Open for lunch

West Seattle:
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00 pm

Delridge:
10:00 am-6:00 pm
Closed for lunch 2:00-3:00 pm

Belltown Founders Day Festival August 14 and 15

Wendy Watson — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:48:58 +0000

This two-day festival was funded in part by a $17,000 award from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Neighborhood Matching Fund. The festival/street fair will celebrate Seattle and its history with music and vaudeville performers and local vendors. The festival will be a community event with live stage presentations from local groups and organizations and will be family friendly with children’s activities. Festivities take place from 10am – 10pm On Second Avenue between Battery Street and Blanchard Street andOn Bell Street from 1st Ave. to 3rd Ave.

Belltown Public Safety Forum August 10

Wendy Watson — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:31:17 +0000

Join Mayor McGinn and Police Chief Diaz at this event arranged by the Belltown Community Council. Learn more about the Nighttime Disturbance Ordinance and the Mayor’s Seattle Nightlife Initiative.

When: Tuesday, August 10
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
Place: Palace Ballroom, 2100 Fifth Avenue, (5th Avenue & Lenora)

Belltown Citizens on Patrol care for their neighborhood

Wendy Watson — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:33:35 +0000

Here is a great way for community members to care for their neighborhoods, take back the streets, and meet each other! Thursdays, Belltown Citizens on Patrol (BCOP) stewards the neighborhood to keep Belltown a great place to live. The volunteers take photos of graffiti and log the locations to report to the City. They reach out to passers-by and business owners to join them. They report public safety hazards and work in partnership with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Seattle Police Department to keep Belltown a destination place for all of us. Yay, BCOP – thanks for all you do!

Belltown public safety forum June 22 at 7 p.m.

Wendy Watson — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:18:33 +0000

Belltown Citizens on Patrol (BCOP) will hold its second annual public safety forum Tuesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. at the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave S.

Special guests include the Honorable Judge Bruce Hilyer (presiding judge King County Superior Court) and the Honorable Judge Sharon Armstrong (King County Superior Court). Also attending will be commanding officers from SPD’s West Precinct, anti-crime officers, and a representative from the King County prosecutor’s office. Click here for more information, and here for information on volunteering for BCOP.