May 7, 2025. The Magnolia Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce a new beautification project launching this week to create a more welcoming and visually appealing entrance to Magnolia Village at the junction of Clise Place Way and 32nd Avenue West. Thanks to generous private donors, a matching grant from the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods, and the inspiring vision and dedication of Magnolia resident Susan Reilly, this effort will transform the overgrown garden space into a vibrant and inviting community feature.
The redesigned garden will include:
A colorful meadow of pollinator-friendly, drought-tolerant flowers
A dry stream bed with decorative boulders
A bronze statue titled “The Adventure” depicting children at play
Welcoming signage and thoughtful landscaping to enhance the village experience
We expect the streetscape improvement project to be completed by July and we can’t wait to share the results with the community.
May 7, 2025. The next public hearing on the Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update has been set for Monday, May 19th. The city is currently adopting an interim zoning ordinance (CB 120969), which will legalize housing options like duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes in all residential areas of Seattle. The zoning ordinance is intended to bring Seattle into compliance with the state’s new middle housing law, HB 1110, while adoption of the full Comprehensive Plan has been delayed.
This time, there will be separate remote and in-person public comment periods, with the remote public hearing scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. (registration opens at 8:30 am) and the in-person public hearing set to begin at 4:00 p.m.. (It is recommended that those seeking to provide public comment show up at 2:00 p.m., based on the hearings held earlier this year),
There have been several lawsuits challenging the proposed Seattle Comprehensive Plan, the latest of which was filed in King County Superior Court on April 30th. To learn more, and thank you to neighborhood media, please click here.
March 12, 2025. There are many informative updates, announcements of new committees, and other news from our colleagues at the Magnolia Community Council.
To learn more and read the MCC’s March newsletter, clickhere.
March 12, 2025. The Economic Alliance of Snohomish County is providing a free webinar to provide insights into a rapidly changing marketplace due to global trade policies shifts emanating from Washington, D.C. and trade partners. Washington businesses of all sizes must prepare for potential tariff changes that could impact supply chains, costs and market strategies. This session, produced by the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County, brought together industry experts to discuss how businesses can proactively respond to evolving trade policies, mitigate risks and explore opportunities for growth.
March 3, 2025. The ‘Best of Magnolia’ celebration, held last Wednesday, February 26th, at Palisades Seattle, was a stunning showcase of Magnolia’s most innovative and impactful businesses, non-profits, volunteers, and inspiring leaders in our community. Approximately 130 guests gathered for an evening of praise, appreciation, inspiration, and delightful dining.
The annual Magnolia Chamber of Commerce event showcased the best that Magnolia has to offer and highlighted our neighborhood’s strengths. It celebrated community engagement through business savvy and active volunteerism, emphasizing giving back and paying it forward, which solidified the event as a true highlight for our community.
The award recipients included Kelda Fairleigh, named Chamber Ambassador of the Year, and Catherine Blaine K-8 PTA, honored as Non-Profit of the Year. Kruger Sons Propellor was recognized as Innovator of the Year. Dave Goodell received the title Person of the Year, while Cheryl McQuiston was presented with the Chamber Volunteer Excellence Award. Lastly, the Magnolia Garden Center was recognized as the Business of the Year award recipient.
We express our gratitude and recognize the hard work and talent of the Magnolia Chamber’s Membership Committee, led by Melanie Audette, for their dedication, creativity, and execution. It was a delightful evening filled with fun, celebration, and community. We genuinely appreciate all our sponsors, beginning with the Port of Seattle as our Premier Sponsor. The Gold Sponsor was CWD Group, while the Silver Sponsors included Harjo Construction and Cogir of Queen Anne. Our Bronze Sponsors were Cook & Bartlett, Dobson Stuffgart, SEC Properties, Washington Maritime Blue, Fischer Restoration, and Melanie Audette. Thank you for your support and leadership in our community.
Below is the list of 2024 Best of Magnolia winners and nominees:
Happy Best of Magnolia attendees – looking fineThe CWD Group, a Silver Level sponsor, is smiling and enjoying the Best of Magnolia eventGreat attendees make for a great event. Best of Magnolia was a grand evening of fun and camaraderie
February 10, 2025. Councilmember Bob Kettle, representing District 7 on the Seattle City Council, will attend the Magnolia Community Council meeting on Tuesday, February 18th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. He will answer constituent questions about the draft One Seattle Comprehensive Plan. The meeting will be held at the Episcopalian Church of the Ascension, and we will update this post if there is additional information.
February 7, 2025. Hundreds of Seattle homeowners, renters, special interest groups and community organizations shared their views concerning the proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan designed to guide growth in Seattle over the next 20 years. Lines of concerned Seattle residents stood in line for hours to share their views. Below are several articles, from an array of publications representing varying political and policy positions and slants, describing the February 5th public hearing and what residents shared:
February 4, 2025. The Seattle City Council is starting to take public comments in response to the proposed One Seattle Plan, the comprehensive city planning document that outlines Seattle’s vision for growth and development over the next 20 years. As proposed, the plan will be focusing on increasing housing affordability, promoting equity across neighborhoods, creating more walkable communities, and prioritizing climate-resilient infrastructure, all while guiding where new housing, jobs, transportation investments, and public amenities will be located within the city.
The Seattle City Council’s Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan, comprised of all nine council members, met today to discuss elements of the Comprehensive Plan and receive public comment. The committee is expected to vote on the proposed Comprehensive Plan package in May or June 2025, which the entire council will then vote on.
The full Seattle City Council is holding a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan this Wednesday, February 5, at 5 p.m. In-person commenters will be prioritized between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., followed by testimony from commenters calling in by phone. Online sign-up to provide phone testimony will open at 4 p.m. that day.
The Comprehensive Plan has drawn interest from various groups, special interests, and neighborhood residents. The hearings will likely be lively, and many commenters will weigh in during the public hearing.
You can stay informed on the work of the select Seattle City Council Committee currently overseeing the 2025 Comprehensive Plan (“One Seattle Plan”) Renewal Process here. A public hearing will be held on February 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers. To learn more, click here.
January 16, 2025. The Magnolia Chamber of Commerce reports that the Seattle City Light (SCL) pilot program to replace aging streetlighting in Magnolia is 95% complete. Magnolia Chamber board member Dave Goodell has worked tirelessly to assist SCL, providing collaborative opportunities for community members to decide on a new streetlight model that meets environmental standards and the preferred warmer color output levels appropriate for a residential area like Magnolia.
In 2023, many Magnolia residents participated in a survey to help select the attractive “post-top” design that met new energy-saving requirements. It is exciting to see the new beautiful streetlights featuring the Ancestra fixture in a light grey color chosen by the neighborhood!
Thank you to Dave Goodell for his leadership in working with Seattle City Light, helping to guide the survey, seeking public input, and supporting our community. The result is beautiful, functional, and sustainable community lighting that improves driving visibility, pedestrian safety, and crime deterrence.
Orange highlighted area show locations for new streetlights.Ancestral LED streetlight fixture selected by the community and installed by Seattle City Light.
