There has been concern in the MyBallard forum about the condition of the old Ballard Library on 24th Ave NW. bamm314 started the conversation by saying, “Since the Abraxus has moved out the Old Ballard Library has become a bit of an eye sore… Yesterday I counted 7 homeless carts in front of the front doors in clear view of the street with at least one around the side of the parking lot.”
Apparently the owners of the building agree. Most of the graffiti has been removed and a fence is now up surrounding the building. Sammy posted in the forum that the fence went up sometime today, “From what I could tell, all the shopping carts and garbage were removed also. Bravo to whoever owns that building and took care of this!”
Fence goes up around old Ballard Library
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I spotted a “shopping cart recovery” truck today in the Whittier area. I noticed a couple of Safeway carts in the bed but the company name on the side didn't seem to be affiliated with any particular store. Interesting.
That's great that the owner took care of that. It was getting pretty run-down before Abraxus even moved. I hope the next tenant takes better care of it.
My sources tell me that the owner of this old Ballard Library building is also the owner of the Hjarta condo complex. I CAN'T WAIT until this building is demoed and gone. Abraxus was just a short-term tenant. When the market begins to show life again, this building will be gonzo. This building is dark, dreary and totally an eye sore. 24th will be a better place w/o it.
Such a sad turn of events for that building. It's a beautiful structure. I had such high hopes after the library moved out.
This is one of the things that always surprises me. Shopping carts are not cheap. The cheapest ones are about $150, and the good ones are upwards of $300. You'd think that the supermarkets would want to keep their carts, and that someone who steals one would be recognized as being a thief, yet the stores rarely go out and round them up and the police ignore the bums carting around their crap in obviously stolen carts.
Agreed, Boardbrown. I think it's a beautiful little building, and hope the owners see it as such. 24th doesn't really need another condo building.
I remember when they built it; it really IS (or was) lovely, with that pretty rock facade and the fountain in back. When it was a working library, it had beaufiful plants in the 'greenhouse” area between the two doors, and a salmon sculpture on the fountain. I would hope that someone might turn it into something cool…like a Spa .
It's a great space. The roof is a clear span w/ no columns. It'd be a great space for an indoor pool. Just tear up the slab, dig a huge hole, pour new concrete, and fill it with water.
ahem…I believe the term is 'borrowed'…
I've been curious as to why the city has not taken the Seattle Public Library sign down….guessing in might be because its imbedded in rock but thats just a guess
well, the committee has to get together, they have to agree that it's not useful, they have to agree to remove it, and some time after the environmental impact statement…on to new business…
What was the reason for the meeting???
Ahem…. I believe the term “borrow” implies permission and an intent to return, unless, of course, we are talking power tools and a neighbor. :-)
Speaking of shopping carts… I saw myballards favorite couple working market street this evening with two shopping carts overflowing with their belongings. Did they lose their camper? Also, the female looked really agitated again. I couldn't tell but body language would indicate she was yelling at someone. I think its only a matter of time before she is involved in some sort assault.
I always thought the space would make a great event rental. I wonder if it's viable . . . .
Stupid, Flanders. ;-)
They had been sleeping behind the vacant building Archie McPhee building. When it rained last week, they moved into the doorway. I told the property manager about the situation and two days later the place was cleared out (and free of graffiti, too).
i had problems w/neighbors that borrowed carts and when i called the stores, they have a certain allotment they have factored in. no wonder groceries are getting more expensive. the manager didn't consider it theft. wow!
remind me, what was the intent of the building after the library?
they are quite the pair aren't they.
Intent? I'm not sure I understand the question. But after the library moved out, the building was sold. That new owner leased it to the book store. That's about all I know.
I'd always hoped someone would save the building, but the wrecking ball seems inevitable.
are you talking about the couple with the dog and cat that say. “can I ask you a question?”
That's how I'd planned to get around that darn bag tax. “No thanks, I'll just be taking this here cart” ;-)
affirmative.
A fence is a good start. Throw the bums on the inside of the fence for “real change”. What IS the exit strategy for these schlubs anyway? They're not cute any longer. The thrill is gone. I see one guy all the time, with the same old story of tomorrow, that just never comes. So much for hope/change.
That library was my favorite as a kid!
A spa **might** work.
A Starbucks or Tully's would really clean up their once the condos across the street start to fill.
really? another spa? is this one of Peter Zumthor's hidden gems?
or yet another coffee place?
maybe you could combine these ideas for one of those 'bikini espresso stands'
The building is owned by Pryde Johnson LLC, the same group who owns Hjarta. They most likely will demo it and build a mixed use building when the economy turns around?!
They have also been trying to buy the property that the 7-11 is on. I think it would be fantastic if they were successful!
It should be converted into a homeless shelter so those people don't have to live out of stolen shopping carts; they are chilling out there for a reason, and usually sad reasons. It'd be better for them and the community.
It should be converted into a homeless shelter so those people don't have to live out of stolen shopping carts; they are chilling out there for a reason, and usually sad reasons. It'd be better for them and the community.
It should be converted into a homeless shelter so those people don't have to live out of stolen shopping carts; they are chilling out there for a reason, and usually sad reasons. It'd be better for them and the community.
I walked by on my way to work this morning and the building had more grafitti than ever. a 6 ft high fence didn't seem to deter them, in fact i think it provoked them the grafitti is HUGE! i'm assuming it went up overnight based on the pic from yesterday. I walk by there daily and get “can i ask you a question?” i think my dirty stare did the trick. that girl gets on my nerves. anyway…
Man, talk about wasteful.
Are those reasons spending all their money on drugs? Too many arrests to get a good job? Not wanting to be part of the system? Mental illness? Convicted sex offender status making it difficult to get a job and housing? Too many warrants to want to be noticed?
Some of the reasons are sad, some of them are choices.
Call the owner and report it. If it doesn't come down ASAP there will be more.
Well, I'm not saying they should be put in satin sheets and commended for the deeds or anything, but they are still humans with a soul and despite any bad things they do or have done in the past doesn't mean they are no less deserving of life than I am. I could have been born a crack baby and been addicted my whole life but for some reason I wasn't born into that kind of life. I have my own addictions and things that I do wrong and I can't judge someone just because their's is more apparent.
We don't like having the homeless on the streets and they don't like it either, but hardly anybody is willing to lift a finger to get them off the streets. Why complain if we aren't willing to help give a solution?
It's also a lot of work to fit them in the recycling bins.
I actually really like the amount of tree's on the lot. Those will all go too when the building get's demo'd.
As long as they do it after the qfc opens up. Although, it is nice having that gas-station there.
At the moment, that 7-11 is the only place on 24th for gas and groceries. At least until you get to, what, 85th?
As a single female that lives near that building, and has to walk by that late at night after I go out to dinner, movie, etc I hope it is not turned into a homeless shelter. Although I sympathize with homeless people and wish there was a good solution for them, I am concerned about my safety. I am already harassed often by homeless around ballard late at night and just don't trust that a shelter won't draw the wrong crowd. I am fairly new to Ballard and have been reading about women being followed, etc and problems at new shelters/foodbanks they have created here.
I'm talking about the 7-11 next to Hjarta on Market closer to 15th. There are gas stations and grocery stores nearby (Safeway, for example).
Do you really consider 7-11 to be a place for groceries? Yuck!
What's so yuck? I don't eat the hot dogs or anything. But if I'm wandering home and remember I need cat food, or a yogurt for breakfast the next morning, the 7-11 on Market is more on my way home than Safeway is.
It's yuck to me.
They put up a 6 foot fence, they have done their due diligence. We are left with the mess until they have the financing to re-develop the property or unless they decide to lease it out to a business with deep pockets. The building/land is valued at 2.3 million. That is a big monthly nut, which the bookstore couldn't crack.
Doesn't mean it should be bulldozed. A lot of people (normal folk, not just the freaks) frequent that 7-11 (and the one on 24th).
That is a great spot for an apartment complex; apartments, not condos.
But the fence, and the graffiti, are here for awhile; hence the fence.
The last thing you want is a homeless shelter in a residential area.
The bums really have to be herded out of Ballard.
I also do appreciate the 7-11.
Apartments would be great, with rents low enough that our local service workers could live in the hood. The gal who cuts my hair just got priced out of the hood and I feel terrible about it. Where do the twenty somethings live these days?
Stll don't appreciate the 7-11:)
Fence or not, it's still their responsibility to keep it free of graffiti.
ok, as far as the 7-11 on 17th and Market…
I have to say that I'm impressed with what they have done to quell the ridiculous level of panhandling, loitering, drug and alcohol use on their property.
They have cleaned up the trees and shrubs on the west side of the building, which was a haven for loitering, increasing the visibility.
They have lit up the back side of the building like a Christmas tree.
They have the dumpster area locked up, which was a latrine at best, a frequent drug usage cubbyhole at worst.
So, seriously, thanks to the input from the community, they have stood up and done their very best to address the major issues.
Thanks for that, and continue to apply pressure upon the property owners who have yet to address these kinds of issues.
A fence means they have done their due diligence? Hardly. All property owners have a responsibility to keep their property clean and presentable. A fence does nothing of the sort. The community isn't responsible for the owner's mess simply because it's not being used!