CityStream producer Roxeanne Vainuku takes a look at the limits and the possibilities of building backyard cottages. Meet one homeowner overjoyed to rent out her main house while downsizing to a 600 square foot cottage, while another owner has big plans for a dilapidated shed.

 Watch CityStream Back Yard Cottages now by following this link: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3071004

And don’t miss the rest of the show with host Lowell Deo at Neighborhood House in the High Point Neighborhood of West Seattle. Learn about the center’s mission of ending poverty while helping the environment at the same time. Plus, log on to learn about history. How high tech tools are allowing us a glance at the past. All of that and more are coming up on this episode of CityStream, Thursday night at 7 p.m., SEATTLE CHANNEL, Cable 21 or watch it online at www.seattlechannel.org.

Children’s is the largest pediatric care facility in the Northwest, serving kids from Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Montana. It is also one of the ten best pediatric hospitals in the U.S., according to a survey by U.S. News and World Report. Now Children’s has an ambitious plan that would add a million and a half square feet to its current facility in Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood, nearly tripling the hospital’s size from 250 beds to 600 beds. “We are a safety-net provider for the region. We take care of kids regardless of the ability to pay, and we are full and we urgently need additional beds,” says Children’s Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Brandenburg.

Some in the surrounding neighborhood say the expansion is too big, would be out of scale in a residential neighborhood and create too much traffic. Laurelhurst Community Club President Jeannie Hale says, “We looked at their projections of need and we thought, ‘Well, why not double the size instead of triple the size?’ Doubling the size would allow considerable expansion, but Children’s has been unwilling to compromise whatsoever.” Now the Seattle City Council is going to rule on the expansion.

It’s a complex fight, and since Children’s is in the business of saving kids’ lives, it’s full of strong feelings. Don’t miss your chance to learn about this important issue!

Doud versus Holland

Doud and Holland disagree over the Port’s proposed $300 million contribution to replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bore tunnel under downtown Seattle. “I like the tunnel,” says Holland. “I think that there are investments that should be made that continue to help move freight through the region.” Doud, by contrast, thinks that the tunnel decision is worth another look. “We need to evaluate other options,” he says. Moreover, he opposes the Port spending $300 million on the tunnel.  “I am not for the Port contributing to a state highway,” he says.

 Albro versus Vekich

City Inside/Out host C.R. Douglas asks Albro and Vekich about the backers of their campaigns. Albro’s critics, Douglas says, point out many of the candidate’s contributions come from big businesses that depend on Port contracts. Albro says, “I have many, many people who are supporting me from all walks of life—good government people, small business, friends—I am independent, absolutely, positively.” Douglas asks Vekich about the financial and volunteer support that he is receiving from labor unions. Vekich replies, “If you look at my record in the [state] Legislature, I’m nobody’s man—I’m my own man…I’ve even voted against my own union at times.”