Crown Hill Business Association

The Seattle Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a survey of Seattle area economic activity. SMBC has been asked to circulate the survey. Responses from the survey will support a broader public discussion about local business conditions.

As you may have read on either CrownHillBusiness.org, MyBallard.com, or in the Ballard News Tributne, the Crown Hill Business Association received a grant from the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development to paint five signal boxes in our business district. These boxes are the large silver metal boxes located at intersections with traffic signals. In our case, the five boxes we’re permitted to paint, and their themes are:

Signal Box Location Theme
Bogart, Bremmer and Bradley Crown Hill History
Walgreens Flowers and plants
Grocery Outlet & Petco Dogs and Cats
Soundview Building Animals and plants
Carkeek Park Vet Clinic Birds and plants

The designs and style will be in keeping with the Crown Hill Visioning document created with another OED grant in consultation with a team from the University of Washington. This document was developed as a guide to help build a local identity to the Crown Hill business district, helping us gain visibility with consumers and our city government.

The boxes, once painted, will be covered in an anti-graffiti coating, as is the pipe-wrench mural at Crown Hill Hardware. This coating greatly facilitates the removal of tagging.

We plan to paint in late July and August. We are inviting you to participate as much or as little as you would like in this project. Our Project Manager for this is Catherine Weatbrook who can be reached at Catherine.Weatbrook@gmail.com 206 372-2033 if you would like to help.

July 21, 12 noon, Restaurant Michoacan: Lunch, update on ongoing projects, signal boxes and mural painting, share ideas!

August 18, 12 noon, Swanson’s Nursery Cafe: Lunch, update, visit Swanson’s-major employer in Crown Hill,

August 31, 5:30pm, Outdoor End-of-Summer Social, between new Pizza Time, A Perfect Fit, and Edward Jones on 15th Ave NW for CHBA members/perspective members

September 11, Saturday, time TBA, Mayor visits Crown Hill

September 15, 12 noon; Lunch, details TBA

September 25, Saturday, 1:30pm; Grand Opening of new Fire Station # 35!!

October 20, 12 noon; Fire Station # 35 Tour for CHBA members – more details TBA

A June 2010 Smart Business article interviews Patrick Byrne, CEO of Overstock.com, in their Web Feature article. Mr. Byrne weaves through the topics of Capital Markets, Corporate Culture, the Army’s BE-KNOW-DO teachings, Human Resources Management, and education in two pages.
Read the full article here.

DPD (Department of Planning and Development) is drafting legislation now that could create a culture of restaurants on wheels in Seattle. They are looking to start a pilot launch program on Broadway. Using the successful Portland model as guide, the City believes that allowing street vendors to act as restaurants on wheels will attract increased foot traffic and add more vibrancy to the area. They also argue that it is a good entry point for entrepreneurs and first time business owners, with the potential to positively affect a diverse number of people and increase the economic vitality of the neighborhood. Read more about this here. Think about the impacts this may have on an urban village like Crown Hill, and meet us at our next CHBA luncheon June 16th and we can talk more about it.

Perhaps you noticed all the construction going on in the former covered play courts behind the Crown Hill Center? The newest center tenants completely transformed the space most recently used for storage into a palatial rehearsal space. Now we’re all being invited to celebrate their arrival with tours of the new facility and previews of selections from their upcoming productions.

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 7PM
Crown Hill Center
9250 14th Ave NW
FREE!