Suggested use for Excess Property at 339 22nd Ave. E.

Many of us got notice in the mail from the City of Seattle asking our views on the City's disposal of 339 - 22nd Ave E.

The house at 339 22^nd Avenue East was previously operated as a home for teen mothers.   In 2012, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) terminated the relationship with the operator of the teen home.   

Here's the full City document giving all the property details. 
(that document was for internal City use: we have till end of the month)

21st Ave neighbor Judith Bader has started a conversation with the City, advocating that the property be used to serve developmentally disabled adults. Several people have written in support. Closing date for your comments is the end of March (Many thanks to Judith and to those who wrote in).

Here's the E-mail chain that gives all the details, should you care to write in support (or have another suggestion). If you do write in, you might post your letter as a comment on this post.

From: Judith Bader
Subject: Re: Excess Property Notice at 339 22nd Ave. E.

Hello Everyone--

I contacted Tom Rasmussen's office and had a very good talk with one of his staff members.  He said that at this point neighbors need to send their comments and recommendations to Sabrina Buchanan by the March 31st deadline.  Every comment sent by that date will be part of the official record and tallied formally before the information is sent to the City Council.  He predicts that this decision will take several months to make and that the City Council will be one of the last steps in the decision making process.  He supported the idea of a letter writing campaign to support our neighborhood's preferences for how this lot is used.  Myself along with several neighbors support the City keeping the house and lot and making it a group home for disabled adults (see letter below for details). 

Now it is up to everyone to write their own emails to Sabrina.Buchanan@seattle.gov supporting this idea or making other comments or recommendations by next Monday so that our input can be tallied and can become part of the official process for determining how this lot can continue being a community resource.  There are many more neighbors whose emails were not available to me, so would you all please send to anyone you think might be interested?  

Sincerely,

Judith Bader

On Mar 21, 2014, at 10:09 AM, Tamara  wrote:

Guillaume, thank you for sending this around. 

Judith contact City Councilman Tom Rasmussen <Tom.Rasmussen@seattle.gov> call him also. He's champions social services. Tell him about the situation and ask if he is interested in making it a group home for disabled adults, who else you should talk to. Let us know what he says.

Tamara

On Mar 21, 2014, at 5:51 AM, guillaume wrote:

FYI -- Here's what Judy sent to the city re: the 22nd Ave property.

-G

Dear Ms. Buchanan,

This is a update of a message I sent from my mobile phone.  It went out unedited and so here are my revised comments.  

My husband and I have lived behind the property at 339 22 Ave E. since 1981 and have watched numerous groups live together in the home there--including Jesuit Workers, Cambodian immigrants and most recently pregnant teens.  They have all be very responsible neighbors and we think City of Seattle has done a fine job helping those communities.  

At this point we are recommending that this house be considered for housing for developmentally disabled adults--We particularly need space for more skilled adults who still need group housing supports.  There are too few places for adults with disabilities to live in central Seattle with many more options on the East side.   As a special educator for Seattle Public Schools for many years, I know that people in this part of Seattle need more housing for this group.  This house and its double lot have perfect potential for this kind of group housing.  Having a second lot also could offer an opportunity for training gardening with an interface with local farmers markets.  This would allow productive work in the home environment that would be so valuable for our adults with disabilities in our community.

Another point we would liked to make about this property is that it is in a single family zoned area and that keeping the scale of our community at that level is important to the livability of this neighborhood.

Sincerely,

Judith Bader and Jack Baker

On Mar 3, 2014, at 11:44 AM, "Buchanan, Sabrina" <Sabrina.Buchanan@seattle.gov> wrote:

Good morning Ms. Bader,

Thank you for responding to our mailer.  I will add you to the mailing list to receive all updates.  As of today, our intent is to sell the property.  We have sent out the information sheet to the property owners within 1,000 feet of the excess property and to other City department and public agencies to inform them of the potential availability  in accordance with the Policies and Procedures for the Evaluation of City Real Property for Reuse and Disposition.

We will welcome all comments, suggestions or recommendation until the end of March and at that time, the City will conduct an evaluation and respond accordingly.

If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Have a great day.

Sabrina Buchanan
206 615-1713

-----Original Message-----
From: Judith Bader
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2014 10:38 PM
To: sabrina.buchanan@seattle.gov
Cc: Cally Fulton; Debrah Walker
Subject: Excess Property Notice at 339 22nd Ave. E.

Dear Ms. Buchanan,
I would like to receive additional update regarding this property.  We live behind the property on 21st Ave E. and would like to know what the initial intent is at this point.
Thanks,
Judith Bader