It seems that after less than a year under the leadership of Tate Loftin, Coe Elementary may have a new principal, though mums the word from the Seattle School District on the change.

According to Mary Cropp over at the SeattlePI, an  interim principal, Terry Acena, is already in place at Coe, and both Acena and SPS Executive Director of Schools for the Central region Nancy Coogan will be attending a meeting at the school for parents and incoming families on Thursday, March May 12 in which they will “briefly discuss the recent changes in leadership and outline a course for the future of Coe.” The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Coe Library.

For more information, contact the Coe PTA directly through the organization’s website.

The Uptown Alliance‘s monthly meeting is happening this Thursday, April 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lower Queen Anne Metropolitan Market.

There are a number of interesting topics on the agenda for this month’s meeting, including ongoing developments in the West Mercer Place debate, the redevelopment plan for the Uptown Triangle area, and possible locations for a low-cost housing development in Uptown. Check out the agenda here:

1. Greetings and introductions – Approve minutes
2. What are your potential Uptown Alliance topics, concerns, issues? We’re listening to you!
3. West Mercer Place and Mercer West Project: SDOT presentation (Eric O’Brien) – Should Uptown Alliance give further input to Mercer West?
4. Community Day School Assn. (Matt Adkins) (5 min.)
5. Uptown Triangle EIS: Next Steps (Hooper, Kenny, Coney) – Should Uptown Alliance apply for a small & simple grant to begin funding of the EIS process, leading to a larger DON grant in ’12?
6. Low-cost housing in Uptown: (Hooper) – Possible locations.
7. Minor rezone considerations for Uptown (Hooper, Coney, Kenny)
8. Privately Funded Mobility Plan report (Coney)
9. Urban Decay symptoms: (Coney, Kenny) – New Center City leadership group is forming.
10. New Business: bring your own topics and comments.

The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 at Met Market. As always the meeting will take place in the Met Market restaurant space on the far west side of the building. Meeting attendees should enter the market under the escalator at the southwest corner of the building and turn left past the cash registers at the lunch counter into the restaurant space.

For more information on the Uptown Alliance group, its activities, and meetings, contact Rick Hooper at Nsilberg@silberg.net or John Coney at  djohnconey@aol.com.

Up to 7,000 people are expected to attend the “Amazon.com All Hands” meeting at the KeyArena today, Thursday, March 31. Attendees will be arriving and departing via shuttle buses between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Drivers should expect added congestion around the KeyArena and Lower Queen Anne due to the event.

The Port of Seattle and the City of Seattle are discussing a possible land exchange and creation of a new waterfront park in the Smith Cove area, directly across from Queen Anne at Pier 91. Those discussions could result in a relocated city park and playfield with expanded shoreline access.

This is needed due to King County’s efforts to find a home for a 1.8 million-gallon combined sewer overflow tank.

The county is currently looking to identify potential locations for the tank and one potential location is in Smith Cove, just south of the Magnolia Bridge. The Port of Seattle owns the parcel of land across from the cruise ship terminals currently being used for tenant storage. To the west of that parcel is land owned by the city that is used for the Smith Cove play field.

King County proposes to design and build an underground diversion structure and tank to store peak flows during large storm events. A diversion structure at 32nd Avenue West will transfer flows through a gravity sewer line in the right-of-way to an underground storage tank located in the Smith Cove Park/Port of Seattle West Yard area. After storms have passed, in-tank pumps and force main will send flows back to West Point Treatment Plant in Discovery Park. No treatment facilities will be built at the project site.

The public is invited to provide input in a meeting on March 3 from  6:30-8:30 pm at the Magnolia Community Center at the Catherine Blaine Cafeteria (2550 34th Ave West).

It’s that time again, the Queen Anne Community Council is having its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, February 2 at the Queen Anne Community Center.

Here’s a look at what’s on the agenda for tonight:

Update 9 a.m.: The QACC released last month’s agenda by accident, which was subsequently republished here. Below you’ll find the corrected, February meeting agenda.

• 7 p.m.: Adoption of Agenda; Approval of Minutes; Treasurer’s Report
• 7:10 p.m.: Open Forum—Comments
• 7:20 p.m.: FOLKpark—Don Harper
• 7:30 p.m.: Solarize Seattle—Update Don Harper
• 7:35 p.m.: West Mercer Place—Glenn Avery
• 7:55 p.m.: Smith Cove Land Trade—Don Harper
• 8:00 p.m.: Committee Reports

1. LURC/Planning—Craig Hanway
2. Transportation—Glenn Avery
3. Parks—Don Harper
4. Communication—Michael Lapin
5. District Council—Mike Warren
6. NAC—Kirk Robbins, Jim Smith, Glenn Avery, Don Harper
7. Social Issues—Kirk Robbins
8. Police & Crime—Allen Panich

• 8:45 p.m.: New Business
• 8:55 p.m.: Adjournment

Upcoming QACC meetings, sub-committee meetings, and events:

• QACC: March 2, TBA
• Parks Committee: February 15, Queen Anne Community Center, 7:30 p.m.
• LURC/Planning: February 28, Queen Anne Community Center, 7:00 p.m.
• Transportation: February 23, Queen Anne Community Center, 7:30 p.m.
• NAC: February 16, Port Headquarters, 4:30 p.m.
• District Council: February 14, Magnolia Community Center 7 p.m.
• Queen Anne Clean and Green February, 12 9 p.m.
• SNAP: Queen Anne Library February 8 6:30 p.m.

The Queen Anne Community Council‘s monthly meeting is happening at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, June 2 at the McClure Middle School cafeteria. On the agenda for tonight’s meeting:

7:30 p.m. – Adoption of Agenda, Approval of Minutes, Treasurer’s Report
7:35 p.m. – Open Forum, Comments
7:45 p.m. – McClure Middle School update- John Loacker, Greg Bjarko
8:00 p.m. – Denny Triangle Report-Craig Hanway
8:30 p.m. – Committee Reports:

• Parks Don Harper
• LURC/Planning Craig Hanway
• Communication Michael Lapin
• NAC Kirk Robbins, Jim Smith, Ron Mason, Don Harper
• District Council Mike Warren
• Transportation
• Social Issues Kirk Robbins
• Police & Crime Allen Panich

9:15 p.m. – New Business
9:25 p.m. – Adjournment

And just so you can plan ahead, here are upcoming meeting notices for the QACC and its committees over the next month.

• QACC: July 7, 7:00 p.m., Queen Anne Community Center
• Parks Committee: June 8, QACC, 7:30 p.m.
• LURC/Planning: June 21, QACC, 7:00 p.m.
• Transportation: TBA
• NAC: June 16, Port Headquarters
• District Council: June 14, QA/Mag Neighborhood Service Center, 7 p.m.

Keep up to date on QA Community Council happenings on the QACC blog.

The Queen Anne Community Council‘s monthly meeting is tonight, Wednesday, April 7 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the McClure Middle School cafeteria. Items on the agenda include a presentation on the SR 520 bridge replacement and HOV program by Montlake Community Council chair Ted Lane, a Smarter Highways presentation by WSDOT Project Engineer Jennifer Charlebois, a North Portal (the north end of SR 99 bored tunnel project) presentation by Glen Avery, and a presentation on the 15th Ave W Coalition by CC chair Ellen Monrad. Check out the full agenda here (.pdf).

FOLKpark has been working to redesign and revitalize Queen Anne’s Lower Kinnear Park with the support of a $15,000 Department of Neighborhoods grant and many community volunteers who have dedicated weekends to cleaning up the park.

Over the past few months the organization has enlisted the help of HBB Landscape Architecture to develop four concept designs for the enhancement of the park, built from community feedback at a series of public meetings. In order to finance Phase II of the project–design development and construction drawings–the group is applying for Department of Neighborhoods Large Project Fund, and is asking for community support in winning it. In an email sent out last week FOLKpark Volunteer Coordinator Phil Prahst wrote,

FOLKpark is applying for funding through the City’s Department of Neighborhoods Large and Simple Fund to take the conceptual design for Lower Kinnear Park into the next phase of design development and construction drawings.

Part of the application asks that we list individuals by name, address, phone and email that are willing to volunteer time or donate money to the project during the time frame of this grant, which is August, 2010 through January, 2011. I know we have asked you before, but we need your permission to use your name, etc.

FOLKpark is asking those planning on volunteering time or making a donation in the next year to fill out this short survey, which will be provided to the Department of Neighborhoods for grant consideration. For more information visit folkpark.org.

On Thursday, April 8, FOLKpark will be presenting the final conceptual plan for Lower Kinnear Park to the community at a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bayview Retirement Community, located at 11 W. Aloha St.

And on Sunday, April 24 FOLKpark will be leading a clean up in Lower Kinnear Park in honor of Earth Day. Volunteers are invited to come celebrate nature and clean up the park by clearing out invasive (ivy, holly and blackberries) from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Department of Park and Recreation will be providing tools.

Last month Camille parked on the street outside her Lower Queen Anne apartment, near W Roy St. and 3rd Ave W., and began to walk towards her building when she was suddenly attacked, kicked to the ground and mugged. Although she was not seriously injured and later recovered her belongings, Camille was shaken up and worried for the safety of herself and other women living in the neighborhood.

Though she didn’t know it at the time, but several neighbors heard her screams and run outside to assist her. By that time Camille had already made her way into her building, but her story has lead several community members to urge the creation of new Block Watch group in Lower Queen Anne.

J.P. Flores, who is spearheading the effort, says that many in the community have responded and he expects a large attendance at the first meeting, set for Thursday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Courtyard at Queen Anne Square, located at 275 W. Roy.

SPD Crime Prevention Officer Terrie Johnston will be attending the meeting to help Queen Anne residents learn about working together to tackle public safety issues. The event will be a great opportunity to meet your neighbors face-to-face, one of the first steps in creating an effective Block Watch.

For more information see the event flier (.pdf), and feel free to pass the information along to other neighbors who may be interested.

Charlie Hoselton has a vision for an urban garden on the west side of Queen Anne hill where neighbors can share organic growing space. He’s been working with the city on getting the permits necessary to begin work on 20 garden plots on two large medians along Gilman Drive W. and 13th Ave. W. and is looking for community members interested in helping to build and use this community garden. He wrote,

How would you like your own little plot of dirt to organically grow vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers.

I am looking for cohorts in creating a living, functional, beautiful oasis…Want to get your hands in some dirt?

He’s holding a Friends of Gilman Urban Gardens planning meeting tomorrow, Saturday, March 6 at 9 a.m. at the medians and encourages interested parties to drop by and discuss the future of the organic urban oasis he envisions. For more information, contact Charlie at friendsofgilman.urbangardens@hotmail.com.

The Queen Anne Community Council is having its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, January 6, in the McClure Middle school cafeteria. Stop by to catch up on what’s going on in the neighborhood.

There will be a meeting at the Queen Anne Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20 to present design information for a proposed seven-story apartment building at 717 Dexter Ave N and hear public comment. The 99-unit structure will have 1,325 sq. ft. of retail space and two live/work units at ground level that will be 1,367 sq. ft. each. The project also includes 18,000 cu. yards of sloped grading. The existing structure will be demolished. At the Design Review Board meeting the public may offer comments regarding the proposed design and the Design Review Board members will, in turn, offer to the Director of the Department of Planning and Development their recommendations.

Over fifty Magnolia residents met with representatives from Alaska Airlines, Boeing Field and SeaTac airport in a community meeting last night regarding the increased airplane noise that has affected their neighborhood, as well as Queen Anne and Ballard.

Attendees were able to voice opinions and speak with Airport Director Robert Burke, officials from the airlines and an FAA representative, who all said they were committed to investigating various ways – through new technologies or varying flight paths – to decrease noise.

Get the full story at our sister site, Magnolia Voice.

Seattle School Board President Michael DeBell will be holding an informal meeting this Saturday, October 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Caffè Appassionato, located at 4001 21st Avenue West (next to Fisherman’s Terminal) in Magnolia.

The meet-up will give parents an opportunity to discuss their concerns and questions about the new student assignment plan and boundary map, and the plans to re-open Old Hay in Queen Anne as K-5 Montessori “option school.”

The 36th legislative delegation (hey, that’s us!) has announced today that Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Reps. Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle will be hosting a town hall at the end of the month with the chair of the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, Sen. Karen Keiser, and the chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, Rep. Eileen Cody.

The meeting will address current issues surrounding the health care debate, and Keiser and Cody will discuss the potential impact of federal health reform efforts on Washington residents.

For more information, contact Anne Burkland at (360) 786-7078 or Burkland.Anne@leg.wa.gov.

Remember that neighborhood plan survey we’ve been mercilessly reporting on? Well, good news! Results are in, and thanks to you all, the city has had a huge surge in responses since the Seattle Planning Commission increased the deadline until last Friday, August 21.

The tallies are in and Queen Anne residents can be proud. We went from 22 participants to 159! Kudos to everyone who took the survey! The next step: the Planning Commission will take into account the neighborhoods’ responses, and decide where to go from there.

For neighborhood plan updates, check the city’s status reports. For those of you looking to take more direct action, the next Planning Commission meeting is Thursday, September 10 at City Hall,  Room L280, from 3-5:30 p.m. (There was one at 7:30 this morning, but we were running a little late. Click here to read the meeting agenda from today’s session).