Pagliacci comes to town

Pizza parlor to open ThursdayFirst the news for our short-attention-span readers:  we're told there will be free pizza slices (from 11 am until 4 pm) once Pagliacci gets the doors open tomorrow at its new Madison Valley location (3015 E. Madison St.). After over three months of construction (and eleven years of planning), Pagliacci Pizza is returning to the very site where it once operated a commissary kitchen.  But there's...

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KIRO TV reports early morning Lake rescue

Man takes underwater driveKIRO TV reported earlier today that an man was rescued from a submerged car in Lake Washington early this morning. According to KIRO, the car entered the water near the 2200 block of 43rd Avenue E. The story is available here, and there's a more detailed report on the SPD blog here.A Twitter posting by the Seattle Police Department records the following incident: "DRIVING WHILE UNDER INFLUENCE (DUI) at 23XX BLOCK OF 43RD...

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Third Quarter Real Estate Report

From “Active” to “Sold” in Three MonthsIt appears that Madison Park’s very low level of real estate inventory is having a collateral benefit for at least some home sellers.  Those who price their houses in line with the market can now realistically hope for multiple bids, a “sale for list” price or even higher, and a quick “turn.”  During the third quarter no fewer than six home sellers were paid their original list price or higher at sale....

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Will it never end?

Stormwater project takes on a life of its ownThe Madison Valley Stormwater Project was supposed to have been completed in the autumn of 2011. Yet to the consternation of both Madison Valley merchants and drivers inconvenienced by delays along Madison Street, it's obvious that as autumn 2012 begins to wind down, the Stormwater Project has yet to make it over the finish line. What's the story?According to Grace Manzano, the Seattle Public Utilities...

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What next for the Tully’s space?

Madison Park Blogger descends into rumormongeringSomeone started the rumor last week that the now-vacant Tully’s space is soon to be taken over by a bank—specifically, US Bank, the Madison Park Blogger’s former employer.  This perverse idea began making the rounds within a day or two of the announcement that Tully’s was abandoning its Madison Park location.  As the week progressed, it became clear that many people had heard the story, including...

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This and that

Trick or treat at Madison Park merchants Wednesday, October 31:  For those who may have missed the flyers in the windows of many neighborhood shops this week, we note that the annual business district tricking and treating event will occur on Halloween this year, from 3 until 6 pm at participating businesses. As usual, there will be a photo booth set up at McNae Park (aka "Triangle Park") in front of Bing's so that those so inclined can...

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The deli to get a makeover

Madison Kitchen will arrive near yearendBecause our readers like to be in the know, we barged our way into what had been Park Place Deli today to demand an interview with the new tenant, Jim Goodall, who we discovered on site and working with a restaurant designer on a new concept for the space. Happily for us, Goodall was gracious enough to divulge a bit about himself and to give us a sneak preview of his plans, though he declined to be ambush-photographed...

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September Police Blotter

Pretty quiet in the neighborhood last monthSeptember was a relatively calm period crime-wise, with "only" three reported home break-ins and a just single car prowl in Madison Park proper during the month.The car break-in occurred on the 2200 block of 40th Avenue E. on September 11. There was also a car theft on the 3100 block of E. Madison St. on September 16.The first house break-in occurred on around 5:30 am on September 12 at a residence...

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New to the neighborhood

Aegis Living, a developer and manager of "senior living" housing, has opened a sales office in Madison Park in the space vacated this summer by Ropa Bella (1928 43rd Avenue E.).  The office doesn't officially open until December, but there was a "soft opening" a couple weeks ago and we took advantage by dropping in and touring the space. Aegis is using the office to market its newest property, Aegis on Madison, a planned six-story building currently...

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From cupcakes to salads

Madison Valley gets a healthier alternativeWe categorically state that there is nothing like it on the local scene:  a custom-made-salad shop. New York Cupcakes, which called it quits in August, was replaced in its former Madison Valley location yesterday by Seattle Salads, which has a much different vibe from its predecessor. Out is the red-velvet cupcake and in is the quinoa/walnut/goat cheese salad.Founder and salad developer Desirae...

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Tully's to close Monday

In bankruptcy, Tully's will shut "unprofitable" location hereAs we reported on our Facebook page this afternoon, Tully's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, announced earlier today, has implications for coffee drinkers in Madison Park.  Sunday will be the last operating day for our neighborhood Tully's.  It is one of eight Seattle-area stores that the company will be closing, according a story in the online edition the Puget Sound Business Journal....

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Thinking about buying local

Commentary by Bryan TagasFor literally years after the demise of our local bookstore, Madison Park Books, hardly a month went by without someone bemoaning the loss of this neighborhood treasure. "How could it be allowed happen?" people asked.  "Can't something be done?"  Even now, there is a group dedicated to finding a way to bring back a bookstore to Madison Park, though even those involved recognize that the economics just don't work....

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Martha Harris loses long struggle with cancer

Columnist Patti Payne reported in the Puget Sound Business Journal online this evening that Martha E. Harris, owner of Madison Park's Martha E. Harris Flowers and Gifts, has died.  Harris, who founded her eponymous business in her garage 30 years ago, later opened a shop in the University Village, moving it to Madison Park in the following decade.  She has been an important business leader, advocate for animal rights and pet adoption, and--for...

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City’s new small-lot rules not relevant here

Acting in response to citizen complaints about out-sized houses being built on tiny residential lots, the City Council recently passed “emergency” legislation that puts a moratorium on certain kinds of property development until the Council studies the problem and comes up with a new set of permanent regulations.  It doesn’t appear, however, that the either the temporary rules now in place for small lots or the new ordinance, when it’s eventually...

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