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, click here.
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.
Navigating Tariff Impacts on Washington Businesses Webinar
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:
Ambassador of the Year
Non-Profit of the Year
Innovator of the Year
Person the Year
Chamber Volunteer Excellence Award
Business of the Year
Enjoy photos below, courtesy of Remy Olivier Photography.
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:
Hundreds pack City Hall, fill overflow room for final public hearing on Seattle’s growth plan – KUOW
12+ things CHS heard at the Seattle comprehensive plan update public hearing – CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News
Housing Advocates Outnumber ‘One Seattle’ Opponents, Moore and Rivera Back Opponents – The Urbanist
The Comp Plan Committee Public Comment Hearing Was a Warzone – The Stranger
Councilmembers Claim City Didn’t Do “Broad Engagement” on Comprehensive Plan – Publicola
If interested in viewing the February 5th related to the Seattle City Council’s Select Committee on Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing, click here.
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.
UPDATED January 27, 2025. The Seattle City Council’s first meeting of 2025 previewed the debate over Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan, which will guide the city’s growth over the next twenty years. We are linking several articles on the topic, representing various publications and policy positions (see below)
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.
More concrete, less green: A cautionary tale about upzoning from South Park. Seattle Times, January 27, 2025. Alex Fryer, Seattle Times Opinion columnist
Contentious debate over the Comprehensive Plan comes to city council. KUOW, January 14, 2025. Libby Denkmann & Hans Anderson, authors
Upzoning Seattle May Trigger Political Freakouts, Post Alley, January 14, 2025. David Neiman, author.
Moore Leads Housing Backlash in Seattle Council’s First Comprehensive Plan Meeting. The Urbanist, January 7, 2025. Doug Trumm, author.
Fault lines emerge as Seattle Council takes up housing plan. Seattle Times, January 7, 2025. David Kroman, reporter.
Local Groups Push to Block Housing in Seattle’s Proposed Neighborhood Centers. The Urbanist, December 30, 2024. Ryan Packer, author.
Seattle city council member concerned over comprehensive plan update process. January 7, 2025. The Center Square, Spencer Pauley, author.
Councilmember Rivera calls on OPCD to provide more details, transparency as part of the draft Comprehensive Plan. January 6, 2025. City Council News Releases
Anti-Housing Activists Hope for Receptive Audience as Council Takes Up Comprehensive Plan Update. January 7, 2025. Erica Barnett, author.
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.
December 19, 2024. Public comments are due tomorrow, Friday, December 20th, concerning the proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan, which guides the city’s decisions on where to locate specific types of housing in neighborhoods such as Magnolia. In addition to the Comprehensive Plan, the Mayor proposes the Fort Lawton Redevelopment project, which began planning in 2019. The goal is to build as many as 500 new affordable housing units and add 22 acres of parkland. With several processes yet to go, the city is drafting a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement that will likely go out to the public for review and comment in early 2025.
The Magnolia Chamber offered comments on the proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan. We focused on better understanding and encouraging transparency in the city as the plan proposes upzoning and the doubling of available housing in Seattle. We want to learn more about how the city will invest in transportation, public utilities, public education, environmental protection, and other public assets to support the proposed plan’s goals and objectives.
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Queen Anne Hub
Located next to the Queen Anne Community Center at 1901 – 1st Avenue West
Magnolia Hub
Located near the Magnolia Community Center at 3301 West Smith Street
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November 18, 2024. Following a major disaster, city services in Seattle will be overwhelmed. A network of about 60 organized Hubs, including the Magnolia, Queen Anne, and Interbay or MIQA Hubs, will activate in predetermined locations.
The MIQA Hubs are activated near community centers, including the Magnolia Community Center, to exchange information and provide neighbors with a place and process for matching their skills and resources with other neighbors’ needs.
Our neighborhood Hubs use two-way radios to get news from adjacent hubs and to support mutual aid around the neighborhoods and from adjacent hubs. Seattle Emergency Hubs network is independent of the city of Seattle, but coordinates with local and regional emergency services where possible.
To help our neighborhood BEFORE a crisis, MIQA Hubs provide periodic drills, preparedness materials for renters, homeowners, buildings, businesses, and organizations, and free training. This includes stocking basic supplies like water and food, each person’s responsibility. We are linking a PowerPoint with information, volunteer requests, and other details we should all know about and engage in as a community: MIQA Hubs
MIQA Hubs is operated solely by neighborhood volunteers who plan for risk reduction and resilience. Everyone’s welcome to join us to learn and practice together. Click here to learn more.
