Old Craniums building to become Verizon Wireless store

We have heard rumors for years about what would become of the old Cranium's Coffee & Collectables building at 12301 30th Avenue NE. 

The building that used to house the popular business has been vacant since Cranium's closed shop. Many have speculated what kind of business would move into the building with its unique sculpture in front and high visibility from Lake City Way. 

Recently the 'For Lease' sign came down and an permit was approved by the City of Seattle for new signage at the building.

The permit reveals that Verizon Wireless Cellular Sales has applied to install 2 illuminated wall signs and reface the existing pole sign, the last remaining piece of the funky purple business that used to be there. You can see the permit here.

They have also applied and been approved to change use from automotive retail to general retail. You can see that permit here.

Thursday Lake City Community Council meeting to focus on Pierre Properties redevelopment

The Lake City Community Council will be meeting Thursday, April 12th from 6:30 p.m. to 8 at the Seattle Mennonite Church, 3120 NE 125th Street, in the Community Meeting Room.

During the meeting Marty Curry of the University of Washington will lead a "Mental Mapping of Lake City" in preparation for the May 19th public workshop on design planning for the Pierre properties. The event will look for input from meeting attendees on the redevelopment and future of our community.

The agenda is:

• 6:30 - Reports & Updates

• 7:00 - "Mental Mapping of Lake City" - lead by Marty Curry, University of Washington Preparation for May 19 Public Workshop, Design Planning for Pierre Properties

• 7:30 - Break

• 7:40 - 8:00 - Opportunity to chat with the UW Interns, and Business Meeting

Stray grocery carts in our neighborhood

We have all seen them. The many stray grocery carts that seem to find their way into our neighborhood.

Often they become trash receptacles or sidewalk obstacles after people use them to transport groceries to their homes.

Well last weekend we saw a rather unique method that someone used to return a cart to Safeway on 15th Ave NE and NE 125th Street. See the photo below:

The scooter rider was traveling in the bike lane of NE 125th Street and wasn't going faster than 15 miles per hour. But his delivery method and dedication made for an interesting photo.

If you find an abandoned cart you can notify the appropriate store, or as the person above did, you can just return it yourself. Just be careful.

• Bartell Drugs   206-362-7571
• Fred Meyer     206-440-2433
• Grocery Outlet  206-971-0192
• Safeway 206-306-0504

City of Seattle, Kaffeeklatsch reach agreement to keep unique bike rack

The Kaffeeklatsch bike rack

A City of Seattle traffic engineer visited Kaffeeklatsch coffee shop and bakery on Friday with an offer that business owner Annette Heide-Jessen couldn't refuse. The deal allowed the neighborhood bakery to keep their unique bike rack in front of their business.

The city "presented me with an option I could not turn down," said Heide-Jessen.

Under the proposal Kaffeeklatsch will donate their custom-made bike rack to the city of Seattle and the city will permanently bolt it down on the sidewalk in front of Kaffeeklatsch.

In addition the fire hydrant in front of the business will get appropriate red markings. The hydrant is difficult to see and cars regularly park in front of it.

"This is more than I had hoped for," Heide-Jessen said of the news.

The City of Seattle's request that the business remove the unique rack caused a recent uproar in the neighborhood. The issue became a topic on talk radio, online and on television news after it was reported that the city wanted to replace the custom rack with a $618 rack funded by taxpayers. The rack was originally built because the City of Seattle said they lacked funding for a rack. Heide-Jessen said she asked if she could put her own removable rack and at the time the City approved the rack.

A Facebook page was even set up to fight for the funky bike rack.

The story was originally reported here by Douglas Park Cooperative.

Once they install the bike rack Heide-Jessen plans a big celebration.

"Lake City up and coming and no one can stop us now," she said.