After being empty for several years, the North Seattle Alano Club is renting the “Checkers” building on the corner on NW 85th Street and 3rd Avenue NW as a place for 12-step groups such as AA and al-Anon to hold meetings.
Thanks to Noah for the photo.
Jim, who didn’t want his last name used, is the manager of the Alano (pronounced “uh-LAWN-oh”) Club. Jim said he is currently cleaning up and repairing the building, including fixing the floor that was warped from water damage, and clogged drains.
“It’s been pretty much empty for the last five years,” Jim said.
Jim said the building used to house a clean-and-sober club in the early 1990s, and he was the manager of that club for a short time. Years before that, it was the G-Note tavern. Most recently it was an all-ages dance club. The building is about 4,300 square feet.
The Alano Club will hold regular weekend dances as fundraisers. The cost will be $5, and anyone who supports a clean and sober lifestyle is welcome to attend. While those events would technically be all ages since no alcohol will be served, Jim said they wouldn’t be appropriate for children. Soda pop, energy drinks and snacks will be sold inside.
Jim said he’s not sure yet when the Alano Club will open, since he’s still making repairs.
7 responses so far ↓
1 W. F. // May 13, 2011 at 5:28 pm
How about painting the outside? Better yet, see if you can find some artists to paint a mural on it to 1) deter taggers and 2) create more art in the neighborhood.
2 Tahomajim // May 13, 2011 at 7:38 pm
The entire building is in terrible condition. It’s not only warped floors, the foundation is crumbling as evident from the outside. The plumbing and wiring are dubious too. I hope they have $200K plus….. then add a new paint job and roof.
I think this story is an publicity stunt as the building is a borderline teardown.
3 SPG // May 14, 2011 at 11:41 am
No murals please. Let’s just keep it clean. Thank you.
4 Al Dente // May 14, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Nice to see somebody using that dump for something. That bldg must have a clause in that it can’t have anything done to it until somebody croaks. Why else would anybody in their right mind keep that structure standing? Talk about eyesores. As another sober guy I wish ‘em all the best!
5 Lexi // May 16, 2011 at 2:15 pm
This is completely funny and ironic. Clean and sober club? Really? Immediately next door to a dealer’s house? Do the owners know? Or was it on purpose? Hm….
6 Jim // May 20, 2011 at 12:18 pm
We take what we can get. after the cost of 2 years of treatment centers, attorneys, probation, sr22 insurance or loss of driving privilages, there is not much left for a voluntary contribution in the basket. Most 12 step groups have to rely on churches for low rental rates for thier meetings. Even if the property isn’t as luxurious as some would like, it is self supporting.
7 meadow // Sep 12, 2011 at 10:40 am
I just had a really cool thought for a way to repaint it. Keep the checker theme, but better colors. Like make the white areas the night sky, and make the red areas a dense forest. I would love to help make that happen, and I have lots of artist friends who would also love to help. I bet if the design was really beautiful we could get the paint donated as a beautifying the city thing. But this article was posted last May, is this renovation still happening?
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