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Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
JANUARY 4, 2023
@qamagnews VOL. 104, NO. 1
FEATURED STORIES
Construction and future plans dominate local headlines
By Jessica Keller | QA & Magnolia News editor
While 2022 was an eventful year for everyone, with much of the world continuing to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the fallout from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot continuing, Russia invading Ukraine and inflation dominating headlines nationally, The Queen Anne, Magnolia and Interbay neighborhoods each had their own excitement, however, with the top three stories coming from the 21Boston site construction beginning in Queen Anne, the fallout for Magnolia in the City Council redistricting process; and continuation of the Seattle Storm practice facility in Interbay.
THE POINT
21Boston/Queen Anne Safeway After fits and starts over many years, a significant construction project began on Queen Anne. The long-
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SEE YEAR, PAGE 2 Photo courtesy Mark Spitzer The 157-foot crane named Calvin does the heavy lifting at the 21Boston construction site in Upper Queen Anne. When complete the site will feature a new 50,000-square-foot Safeway store and more than 300 apartments and condos built above. The construction project beginning was one of the top stories for the local neighborhood in 2022.
FALLING AWAKE PAGE7
Contemporary dance studio opening in former Queen Anne church By Jessica Keller
QA & Magnolia News editor With 2023 less than a week in, things are already shaping up to be an exciting year for Whim W’Him, a contemporary dance studio in Seattle. After years of renting spaces for administrative offices and practices throughout Seattle, a generous $3.5 million donation from a longtime supporter has allowed Whim W’him Seattle Contemporary Dance to purchase its own building, at 1715 Second Ave. N., in Queen Anne. “It really provides a solid foundation for the future of the company,” Olivier Wevers, artistic director, said. The building, which was previously All Saints Church, is approximately 14,000 square feet and was sold to the dance company by the church’s pastor, who converted services to online during the pandemic and is moving to Arizona. Wevers said the sale closed Dec. 15 and he received the keys to the building Dec. 20. While staff have
begun moving boxes in, before Whim W’Him officially opens for business, the rest of the building will be renovated and converted into dance space thanks to financial support by the Jolene McCaw Family Foundation. “I’m hoping it’s going to be fast because we’re not a big corporation, so sitting on a property like this for a long time is expensive,” he said, adding if all goes well, the building will open in spring or summer of this year. When renovations are complete, Whim W’Him will have two dance studios, a larger one that is 50 by 40 feet, and a smaller one half that size upstairs. The rest of the space will be used for administrative offices, a conference room, a lounge and
workspace. Wevers said the building will be an asset and help sustain the company, currently in its 13th season. Opening its own dance space is not only good news after the last few years have been so difficult for arts organizations, especially smaller companies, it will also allow the company to introduce contemporary dance to the broader community. “What I’m really excited about is creating a sense of community by having our own space and sharing what we’ll do,” Wevers said. Wevers added that often when many people think of dance, they think of ballet, and contemporary dance companies get overshadowed
SEE DANCE, PAGE 3
Photo courtesy Olivier Wevers Whim W’Him Seattle Contemporary Dance executive manager Melody O’Neill, left, and artistic director Olivier Wevers help move boxes into the dance company’s new location. With a significant contribution from a longtime donor and a grant, the company purchased a former church in Queen Anne.
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