news
February 22, 2008
NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORS CROCKETT IN FARMERS MARKET SURVEY
With 379 responses, following are the survey results:
What size market is best for Queen Anne?
About 30-40 stalls 22.2%
About 40-50 stalls 54.2%
About 50-60 stalls 23.6%
2. Which location do you believe best meets the needs of the community?
Coe 30.3%
Crockett 45.6%
Either 19.8%
Undecided 4.2%
3. At which location would you be most likely to shop?
Coe 29.2%
Crockett 42.2%
Either 26.8%
Undecided 1.9%
In addition, we received more than 100 comments regarding a wide variety of factors from time and day of market to product selection and prices. Thank you for your input, which we have shared with the market sponsors, QAFMA, who are currently in talks with the Mayor's Office of Economic Development to site a 2009 market at Crockett Street.
The Crockett location was also preferred by the QA Chamber of Commerce, Upper QA Merchants Association, and adjacent property owner Joe Geivett.
Recent articles about the market can be found in the Queen Anne News:
http://queenannenews.com
January 25, 2008
COE or CROCKETT? Take Our QA Farmers Market SurveyWe need your input to help site and support a market that best serves our neighborhood.
Click here to take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=qGTqdDiuzluicAt0zELlgw_3d_3d
Here's a little background (the following information is also included in the survey itself):
For the past two years, the market has been located at the McClure Middle School parking lot. This year, due to construction, another site must be found. Among the many factors considered when determining the best location are:
- size/scale
- accessibility (e.g., walkability, parking, proximity to public transit)
- proximity to other retail
- "neighborhood" market versus "destination" market
Two sites are being explored: West Crockett (between Queen Anne Avenue and First Avenue West) and the Coe Elementary playground (near 6th West and McGraw).
For the past two years, the market has ranged in size from about 30 to 40 stalls. A Crockett location would allow up to 48 stalls. A Coe location would allow 60 or more stalls.
The 2009 market is proposed for summer Saturdays from 10am-2pm (previously, the market was on Thursdays from 3pm-7pm). Whatever the location, the site must be available on market days 2 hours before and 2 hours after the market (8am-4pm) to allow for loading and unloading.
The QA Farmers Market Association and the city's Office of Economic Development have stated a preference for a market located in the central retail core. The market managers, Seattle Markets, would prefer a location that allows for growth.
Please consider the above factors as well as your personal preferences, and give us feedback! Check back for survey results and market updates.
October 13, 2008:
QANRG Co-founder Nancie Kosnoff is a finalist for Cox Conserves Local Heroes Program
(Sponsored by Cox Enterprises & KIRO-TV, and The Trust for Public Land)
Hi Neighbors,
For those of you who may not know me or recognize my name, I am one of the founders of Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth, the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association and this year's Queen Anne Good Neighbor Garden Project (perhaps you saw our inspiration garden at the Community Center?).
I have been nominated and am a finalist in the Cox Conserves Local Heroes program. I am writing to ask for your vote! My current passion project involves urban farming, both in public and private spaces, and as "common wealth". The idea is that our planting strips and other public lands are wealth we share, so when we grow food or flowers on these plots, the bounty belongs to all. We launched many "rip your strip" planting strip food gardens around the hill this summer, and my neighbors and I have been enjoying the bounty for the past several months.
In the coming year, if we (QANRG and the Good Neighbor Garden Project) are awarded the Cox Conserves prize of $5,000, we will invest in the technology to seamlessly connect folks who have land they are not using with those who want to grow food. Our inspiration/demonstration garden at the Community Center this summer was a tremendous success and many people have joined the urban farming/food from within 50 feet initiative.
All of the individuals nominated for this award are amazing - and amazingly regular folks. Every one deserves your and my votes. It is inspiring and humbling, and hopefully will spur everyone to action for a healthier planet.
All best to you and thank you for considering me.
Nancie Kosnoff
July 18, 2008: "Chocolopolis" opens on Queen Anne!
Owner Lauren Adler opened Chocolopolis at 1527 Queen Anne Ave N on July 15th, and offers customers the opportunity to taste and compare hundreds of different bars of chocolate created by master artisans who ferment, roast and conch heirloom cacao beans into flavorful chocolate. They'll tempt your sweet tooth with world-class confections and bonbons, and satisfy your tastebuds with rich drinking chocolate. Stop by and help support this local business.
June 13, 2008: Good Neighbor Garden Project is Launched
Last winter, QANRG members Nancie Kosnoff and Julie Whitehorn envisioned a local "commonwealth" garden that would demonstrate and inspire local organic food production. After gaining Parks & Recreation approval and a volunteer base, ground was broken this May on the east lawn of the QA Community Center, where seven raised beds were built, filled with soil and seeded with a wide variety of edible plants. In spite of the cool weather, the plants are growing, as is interest in the broader goals project. More info at www.goodneighborgarden.org
June 05, 2008: Queen Anne Farmers Market Opens Thursday, June 19!
Opening Day of the second year of the wildly popular Queen Anne Farmers Market will begin next Thursday at 3 pm in the McClure Middle School parking lot. Music and fun and lots of local organic produce! Don't miss it.
November 29, 2007: Met Market/Cox Property Sold to Responsible Developer
Developer Joe Geivett of Emerald Bay Equity has acquired the properties owned by the Cox family; including the Met Market, Elfrieda Apartments; and the two homes behind the Elfrieda. Geivett has an excellent track record thus far of working closely with the community to develop mutually beneficial projects, and his goal for this project is to keep the Met Market in place...if they want to stay.
After a two year battle to save our favorite local grocer and affordable housing from being displaced by a block-long mixed-use development, this is an extremely positive outcome.
Buy Locally. Build Responsibly. Build Community.
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October 4, 2007: Queen Anne Farmers Market Closes To Thousands..But Just For The Winter
The Queen Anne Farmers Market has enjoyed a spectacular summer season; exceeding expectations in every way. A huge THANK-YOU to all of the donors, volunteers and shoppers that helped make the first season so successful. We'll be back next year!!
Bon Appetit, Queen Anne!
Buy Locally. Build Responsibly. Build Community.
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June 29, 2007: Queen Anne Farmers Market Opens To Thousands!
Thousands of local and organic-hungry neighbors gathered and shopped, ate and visited yesterday at the opening day of the neighbor-created Farmer's Market on Queen Anne!
Neighbors strolled in the sun, in the rain, they shopped and basked in the bounty delivered by local farmers and artisans to the very heart of Queen Anne. Thousands of people gathered yesterday to celebrate opening day of the new Queen Anne Farmer's Market in the McClure Middle School parking lot at 1st Ave West and Crockett. This wonder will be repeated every Thursday from 3-7pm until October.
Created by a hard-working group of neighbors who participated in a visioning session for their neighborhood hosted by Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth in June 2006, yesterday's bounty and feeling of community was the result of hundreds of volunteer hours and over $20,000 in neighbor donations and Department of Neighborhoods matching grant.
From june peas and sweet peas to artisanal goat cheese and goat milk soap, both hungry neighbors, local growers and fine craftspeople appreciated the vision, hard work and generosity of those who made this new weekly gourmet community gathering place a reality.
The neighbor group that was created from QANRG's efforts, the Queen Anne Farmer's Market Association (www.qanrg.org/market.html), continues to raise money to keep the market going (there are ongoing rents, permits, entertainment and infrastructure needs to keep the effort alive). On opening day, the group unveiled beautiful cloth market bags (free with a $25 minimum donation) and in the near future they will offer t-shirts and launch other fundraising initiatives. Donations to the effort are tax deductible and the Association hopes all neighbors will feel ownership in the market and want to help in whatever way possible. There are still many opportunities for volunteers as well.
In the past year, efforts by Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth have spun off not only the great new Farmer's Market, but also the Queen Anne Movie Guild (www.queenannemovieguild.org), which shows films focused on issues of sustainability on the second Saturday of each month at the Queen Anne Manor retirement home (1st Ave North and Crockett), 7pm. In July, the film ties in with the new Farmer's Market. Titled "Eat at Bill's", the Guild plans on serving strawberry shortcake along with lively discussion on sustainability and locally grown food topics. All welcome, donations gladly accepted.
Bon Appetit, Queen Anne!
Buy Locally. Build Responsibly. Build Community.
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Stone Way QFC "Pit" Draws A Lot Of Criticism From Wallingford Neighbors
The Stone Way QFC project has been idle for months, leaving neighbors with a very unsightly pit. QFC Spokesperson Kristin Maas blames soaring construction costs for the suspension of the project, but Wallingford residents attending the June 6th community council meeting wondered how that can be with so many construction projects going strong in the city. Maas also revealed that a large natural spring is the major source of the water filling up the pit; and with the failure of the water pump going unnoticed by QFC for two weeks, adjoining neighbors are concerned about the stability of the retaining wall.
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The 7th Church of Christ Scientist sanctuary at 2555 8th Ave. W has been named to Washington Trust for Historic Preservation's Most Endangered Properties List for 2007. The church is not out of danger yet - this is not historical status designation - but it does shine a spotlight on the issue. QANRG recently learned that another church congregation has expressed interest in purchasing the church.
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We Have Moved Some Files
The current status of the QFC/Met Market Project is still on our QFC Project Status page, but we have now moved all development related files to a new All Project Files page. Here you will find most DPD-related files, organized by project. Our Files page now contains interesting general information not related to a specific development. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Queen Anne Metropolitan Market Voted 2nd Best in Seattle by Citysearch!
This validates what QANRG petition gatherers learned months ago: Many people come from nearby neighborhoods to shop at Metropolitan Market due to its unique offerings, and many of the local businesses on the hill benefit from that traffic. Buy Locally. Build Responsibly. Build Community!
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December 7th, 2006: Design Review Board sends QFC developers back to drawing board for the 4th time
The Dec. 6 Early Design Guidance meeting was another well-attended affair, and many people from the community spoke out against the project. The Design Review Board's scope is limited to design issues, including safety for pedestrians, truck access, project size, and how the project would fit in a residential neighborhood. The Board seemed to acknowledge size and scale considerations more last night than they have in previous meetings. One especially eloquent speaker was the pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church, who spoke about what is legally permissible under the zoning code as opposed to what is right for the community.
Some of the Design Review Board's requests from the August meeting--such as designs showing all parking underground, all truck maneuvering on site, all truck maneuvering underground and different scaling and massing options--have yet to be addressed by the developers in a meaningful and practical way. So far, they have tried to accommodate these requests while still maintaining the original square footage of the primary retail space. For example, they have refused to consider a second level of underground parking for the development. They have also failed to show or explain an underground truck loading design, and continue to put forth designs that have trucks encroaching on sidewalks. QANRG strongly encourages the Design Review Board to uphold their own recommendations by demanding to see such options fully explored before the project is allowed to continue.
Thanks to all who attended--your presence is important, regardless of whether you speak or not. Four Early Design Guidance meetings is practically unheard of---let's keep it up!
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December 6, 2006: Pete's Pizza site to be redeveloped...
Pete's Pizza was planning to close when their lease expired, and the property has been purchased by PacLand, the developers of the Union 76/Eden Hill project next door. A PacLand representative recently met with members of the Queen Anne Community Council Land Use Review Committee and QANRG to seek input on their plans to develop a mixed-use building on the site with ground floor retail and professional office space above.
As with any project, many details remain to be worked out. QANRG appreciates the opportunity to help ensure that new development projects benefit the property owners and developers as well as the community. We applaud the developer's initiative in seeking community input on the project.
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November 30th, 2006: Central Seattle Residents Want Delay of Target/Lowe's Proposal, Citing Concerns for Small Businesses and Traffic.
Today's Seattle PI has a fascinating article about the battle Central Area residents are waging to have a say in how their community is developed. Many of their concerns are identical to ours. They are attempting to hammer out a Community Benefits Agreement between the community and the developer, which is an excellent idea that has rarely been tried. The developer insists that "We want this project to fit into the community, if that takes 60 more meetings, then we will hold them," said Vange, adding that "without the change, there will be no affordable housing, open space or other amenities." But the Dearborn Street Coalition says that they are having a difficult time getting the developer to formalize the agreement.
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Yard Signs Are Available Now! The signs read " Buy Locally. Build Responsibly. Build Community.", and have the QANRG logo and web site URL. The signs are free for folks who have already made donations; otherwise we suggest a donation of $3 for a staked yard sign, or $2 for a window sign with no stakes., to help defray the costs. We have nearly 1500 petition signers, and would love to see a sign at each house!
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3/24/06: The Queen Anne Community Council recently asked the Seattle City Council to temporarily ban any development with second-floor retail and a net loss of housing until the city could determine whether more specific design review guidelines were needed. The letter also specifically stated "the concept may be appropriately applied to all Residential Urban Villages struggling to absorb growth without destroying their neighborhood." You can read the letter in its entirety here.
Apparently, the Seattle City Attorney either didn't read or couldn't understand the letter. They said it would not be appropriate for the city to draft legislation in opposition to a specific Queen Anne project. Clearly, the Seattle City Attorney was mistaken. QACC was saying that this issue is increasingly important for neighborhoods.
Does the Nickels administration really intend to ignore such pleas from community councils AND citizens?
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March 5, 2006: The Metropolitan Market has done a lot to support the Queen Anne community in past years, so let's not forget to support the Met as this issue unfolds in the critical next few months.
Spread the word to your friends and neighbors: This is not a done deal. The Met and every other locally owned business on the hill need the community's support in order to survive and thrive, especially when threatened by a much larger national chain.
Buy Locally. Build Responsibly. Build Community.
