West Seattle Blog…

Followup: Fire Station 29 now set up in interim North Admiral site

As of today, interim Fire Station 29 is officially up and running in those temporary structures on the city-owned right-of-way triangle at Ferry/44th/Hill, across from Admiral Congregational Church and down the street from permanent Station 29.

As first reported here in January, this wasn’t in the original plan for where Station 29 would go while its permanent quarters get earthquake-safety upgrades and a bit of other remodeling; for many months, the city had said it would instead be located at the Harbor Avenue site that had been used for interim Station 36, and the neighbors of this site weren’t notified until eight weeks ago, days before site prep began. They voiced safety concerns but ultimately the plan proceeded, and Engine 29 is now operating out of the temporary station; SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore confirmed to WSB that today was moving day. Also: Battalion 7, which had been based at 29, is now at interim Station 32 on 40th SW in The Junction, home to Engine 32 and Ladder 11 while permanent station 32 is rebuilt, and Medic 32, as noted here last month, has moved temporarily to Station 37. Bottom line – for the next year-plus, you’ll see emergency vehicles emerging from places you’re not necessarily used to seeing them.

P.S. The future of the North Admiral site, post-interim Station 29, is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander).

What constitutes ‘frequent transit,’ when it’s time to decide how much parking a development needs or doesn’t need?

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Back in December, we reported that the city was planning to rewrite its rule about what kind of transit availability is required before development projects to be built without parking. That was part of the fallout from a ruling by the city Hearing Examiner on a West Seattle group’s challenge to issues including a project’s use of multiple bus routes/stops to contend “frequent transit service” was available nearby.

That group, Seattle NERD, says the proposed “director’s rule” runs counter to the ruling in their appeal (we covered the appeal hearing – here, here, and here – and the ruling, last fall). This is all unfolding as the deadline for comment on the rule rushes up – it’s tomorrow (March 5th).

If you blinked, you might have missed the notice that the rewrite was ready for review and comment (we did, until Seattle NERD pointed it out) – it was linked from this notice in a recent edition of the city’s Land Use Information Bulletin, and lumped in with an unrelated proposed rule change, as per the screengrab below:

The overview of the proposed rule:

Purpose

The purpose of this rule is to define the Department’s requirements for demonstrating that a development site is eligible to be developed without parking (pursuant to 23.54.015 Table A, Row J or Table B, Row M) or qualifies for a 50% reduction in amount of required parking (pursuant to 23.54.020.F) due to the site’s location within walking distance of frequent transit service (FTS).

Background

To promote environmental and transportation policies of the Comprehensive Plan and support alternatives to driving, either no parking is required, or a reduction in the required amount is allowed for residential uses in multifamily and commercial zones in areas of the city where transit service is adequate to serve commute and non-work related trips.

The full text of the proposed rule is here. (Note that its example involves 35th/Avalon.)

It would, as Seattle NERD alleges, allow combination of bus routes and stops to arrive at a determination of “frequent transit” availability. The group points this out, including color-coded comparisons, in detail on the home page of its website. It’s pointed this out to City Councilmembers, and at least one, West Seattle-residing Tom Rasmussen, has promised to check it out.

This isn’t just an abstract process; the future of at least a few development projects awaits the decision – for example, the microhousing project planned at 3050 SW Avalon Way (with no offstreet parking) has been corresponding with the city on the issue.

If you have any comment on the proposed rule, e-mail Mike Podowski, whose address is on the notice – and again, tomorrow is the deadline.

Crime Watch: Safety alert after student approached; car prowl

Two Crime Watch notes this afternoon:

STUDENT APPROACHED: This happened in South Park, but the student attends Pathfinder K-8 in West Seattle, and the alert is being circulated among parents in both communities, so we were asked to share it:

My 14 year old daughter was approached by a man on Trenton Street while she walked to her school bus stop this morning. This guy obviously had no good intentions! My daughter describes him as Hispanic, thin with dark hair. His car was a gray 4-door sedan of an older (1990s) model. She believes that he was using or on some sort of substance.

His intent was to get her into his car!!! She avoided his questions, got to her bus stop and called the police. She has since given a statement to police (at her school) and her school has been made aware of what happened this morning.

I want to be clear: My daughter felt threatened by this man and that he was very intent on getting her alone. Please help keep an eye out for this person and help keep our kids safe!!!

Via Twitter, the police log indicates this was near 10th Avenue S./S. Trenton (here’s a map).

CAR PROWL: Two car prowls are on the police log so far this morning. One was reported in the 7300 block of Delridge Way, and we learned of the other one in this reader report from David:

My car was broken into in the Gatewood area just west of 35th sometime between 1100 PM and 0700 AM. A window was broken and some items removed. It has been reported to the police.

SPD shared car-prowl-prevention/deterrence advice a month ago; we published it then but it bears sharing again:

Heads up if you walk, run, and/or ride to/from Alki Beach: Repair work ahead at 53rd Avenue Pump Station

Sidewalk detours and a bus-stop move are ahead next week with repair work at the 53rd Avenue Pump Station on Alki Beach. We just received the official notice from the county Wastewater Treatment Division – you can scroll through it above (or read it here, as a PDF). The county expects work to start next week and last up to a week.

Five ways to spend part of your West Seattle Wednesday night

From the WSB Flickr pool (thanks!), Patrick O’Brien‘s sunset photo captures not just the colors and the water, but also a neighborhood … one of the million reasons to love living here. So now we look ahead to what’s happening (besides, maybe, another beautiful sunset) tonight – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BECOME A MASTER COMPOSTER! INFO SESSION: 6 pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle, join Seattle Tilth for an informational session about its upcoming “master composter” training – details in our calendar listing. (38th/Alaska)

Y UPDATE, COUNCILMEMBER @ SW DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm, it’s the monthly meeting of reps from community councils and other organizations/groups in western West Seattle, comprising the Southwest District Council. On the agenda: An update on the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) expansion project and Q/A with City Councilmember Sally Clark (one of three, so far, who have announced they’re not running for re-election). Upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (Oregon/California)

KIWANIS CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Thinking about joining a local service club? The Kiwanis Club meets in the evening now, 6:30 pm Wednesdays, and you’re welcome to join them tonight at their regular meeting spot, Senior Center of West Seattle. (Oregon/California)

HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL PLAY: 7 pm, first of two performances of ‘Fairy Tale Network‘ – read about it in our calendar listing, then go cheer the young performers tonight. Free but “donations warmly accepted at the door.” (42nd/Genesee)

OPEN MICROPHONE @ SKYLARK: Signups at 7:30, performances start at 8:30 pm, free and fully backlined, open to 21+, every Wednesday night at Skylark Café and Club – details in our listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Help celebrate Youngstown Cultural Arts Center’s ninth birthday!

It’s been 9 years since Youngstown Cultural Arts Center opened in Delridge’s historic Frank B. Cooper School building, and you’re invited to celebrate on March 28th:

It’s back! Youngstown’s annual birthday party, the Thrive, returns this March for an evening of family-friendly arts activities, games, and entertainment at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle. This year, the celebrated, dynamic arts hub is ringing in its 9th year of fostering arts and cultural activities for West Seattle and the city at large. Thrive 9 is a community-fueled night of fun and frivolity that encourages neighbors and friends of the center to come dance, play

The party features the energetic musical stylings of Eduardo Mendonça, award-winning Brazilian singer, composer, and Show Brazil band leader; and Eli Rosenblatt, bringing kid-friendly, multilingual songs in swing, reggae, salsa and samba styles. Also performing is the Dogg Pound Dance Crew, a youthful breakdance group who found their beginnings at Youngstown. Seattle Balloon Arts is back again this year, twisting custom balloons to amaze and astound.

Thrive 9 welcomes families and adults alike, and will feature a lounge area for the 21+ crowd who want a beverage and snack while the kids enjoy making art with Youngstown staff and volunteers as they bounce to the beat of the musical offerings. Guests will enjoy refreshments provided by community partners including Chaco Canyon, Spiro’s Pizza & Pasta, Metropolitan Market, Hilliard’s beer,

Proceeds from the event will benefit critical youth arts programming and facility needs at Youngstown. Tickets can be purchased by visiting brownpapertickets.com/event/1238982.

The building itself is coming up on its centennial – read more about its history here.

(WSB photo, 2012)
Its grand opening as an arts center was in February 2006.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday on the move; tunnel machine goes as far as it’s going, for now

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: Good morning – clear and cold to start the day; no surprises on the outbound roads so far.

7:15 AM: Since it’s quiet, we took a look at the camera showing the Highway 99 tunnel-machine continuing to advance into its rescue pit:

You can see the newest view any time here. No formal update from WSDOT yet this week.

ADDED 10:25 AM: Didn’t realize when we grabbed that image that the machine has now reached the point where it’s stopping for repairs. WSDOT has since published this update, saying the “disassembly process will likely take weeks.”

Wheelchair basketball championships this weekend in West Seattle: Spectators and volunteers invited!

More championship basketball in West Seattle! This weekend, Seattle Adaptive Sports is hosting the West Coast Conference Championships of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association at the WSHS gym, with players in the junior/preps classification, high-school age and older. Organizers are inviting spectators – no admission fee – and also seeking volunteers to help with scorekeeping, time-clock, possession-arrow duties, and preparing/serving lunch. You can sign up via this link on VolunteerSpot (which, we’re told, does not require you to set up an account). The games run 9 am-4 pm Saturday and 9 am-2 pm Sunday, as noted on the official flyer, which you can see here if the embedded version above isn’t showing up for you.

West Seattle biznotes: Art Nest, Rudy’s opening dates

Two West Seattle biznotes:

RUDY’S BARBERSHOP: 2 1/2 years after first word that Rudy’s Barbershop planned a West Seattle location, it’s opening this Friday. Rudy’s confirmed last summer that it would move into the ex-Diva/Maestro/Ace 1 space at 4480 Fauntleroy and has now announced the opening date. No word on the co-housed Caffé Vita, though.

WEST SEATTLE ART NEST: It’s been just a few weeks since word that this new kids-art studio was moving into 4138 California SW north of The Junction, and now its grand-opening party is days away: Saturday (March 7th), 3-6 pm.

Followup: Southwest Precinct bicycle patrol gets official approval

(WSB file photo)
For more than a few months, two Southwest Precinct officers have been riding bicycles whenever possible, to patrol areas including Roxhill Park, Lincoln Park, and The Junction, as well as the Westwood area after the wave of robberies targeting students. It’s an experiment by precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske, who has said repeatedly – as noted in our community-group coverage dating back to last spring – that it’s worked out so well, he was trying to get more officers on bicycles throughout the area. And he’s finally received official approval to do just that, he told community activists who posted to the South Park community mailing list, and we subsequently confirmed it with him.

Capt. Wilske says he expects to have the bicycle patrol set up within a month or so, as a few details remain to be worked out. He says, “We will have a total of 6 officers, with a maximum staffing of 4 per day (2 in Frank sector, 2 in William sector and 2 off duty). I have to admit I am pretty excited about this, I think it is going to be good for the officers and great for the neighborhoods.” He told the South Park advocates something we’ve heard him tell local groups: “My experience from being a bicycle officer myself is that this style of patrolling is one of the most effective ways to deal with street-level crime, and makes the officer approachable to those folks who may not want to call 9-1-1 but will walk up to an officer and talk to them.

P.S. If you aren’t familiar with the West Seattle/South Park sectors, here’s the newest map.

Baby (or toddler, or preschooler) on board? Free safety checks at Swedish Automotive later this week

That’s Victor Gonzalez-Arredondo, child-safety expert at Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor). This Thursday and Friday, 11 am-2 pm, he’ll be front and center offering free safety checks of baby/child car seats – all you have to do is drop by Swedish, 35th/Kenyon. (All makes of vehicles welcome for the safety checks, by the way!)

West Seattle development: New plan for 4532 42nd SW, six years post-demolition

(WSB photo from November 17, 2008)
At 4532 42nd SW in The Junction, that house with history – a long-ago hospital, WSB’ers told us – came down in fall of 2008. At the time, a 35-residential-unit, 54-parking-space development was in the works. As happened to some other projects right around that time, it got shelved. Now a brand-new proposal has emerged, a mixed-use building with 84 apartments and 70 underground parking spaces. The project would also include the site of the small brick house-turned-office at 4536 42nd SW, placing the building immediately north of Capco Plaza (QFC/Altamira).

(WSB photo, taken this morning)
According to the early-stage site plan that just turned up in city files, the building’s parking garage would have an entry on the same alley used for the Capco Plaza garage, and the residential entry on 42nd would be just north of the alley. This will require Design Review – no date yet. It’s an NK Architects project, as are the two noted below:

SIDE NOTE: This proposal’s emergence means three projects are now in the works for the two-block stretch of 42nd between Genesee and Alaska in the heart of The Junction. Construction equipment has been parked for a while outside two of the three houses scheduled to come down for 80-apartment Junction Flats on the west side of 42nd just north of Oregon; just south of Oregon, 4505 42nd SW, with 41 apartments and 9 “lodging” units, won Design Review approval earlier this year.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Teen attacked in Westwood

(WSB photo)
1:39 PM: Thanks for the tip about the police search in Westwood. Officers were out with a K-9, looking for suspects in an attack that left someone hurt. Very few details so far, according to our check with SPD public affairs – they’re not sure if it was also a robbery, and it’s not clear exactly where the man was assaulted; the Seattle Fire medical response was to 30th/Cloverdale (map). The only description available so far is “five or six males, Hispanic and black, last seen headed southbound on 30th SW.” We’re checking with SFD to see if we can find out whether the victim had to be hospitalized.

4:40 PM UPDATE: SFD tells us that the victim was a 16-year-old boy, treated for “multiple scratches and abrasions over his body, after (saying) he was assaulted and forced to jump into blackberry bushes,” and taken to Highline Hospital in stable condition.

Meet West Seattleite Erden Eruç, whose trip around the globe made history, Thursday at Emerald Water Anglers

(Photos courtesy Around-N-Over: Above, Erden’s arrival in Louisiana during circumnavigation)
Did you know that Erden Eruç is one of your neighbors here in West Seattle?

He’s in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to complete a solo human-powered circumnavigation of the planet. He did it without much fanfare, but fanfare wasn’t the point – read about it here.

That would be the achievement of a lifetime, to say the least, for just about anyone. But it’s one of many for Erden: Among other things, he’s also the first person to have rowed the three major oceans (including 5,465 nautical miles across the Atlantic).

If you haven’t met him yet – or even if you have! – you’ll want to be at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) in The Junction this Thursday night, 7-9, to see and hear from him and find out what he’s planning next. He’s not just resting on his achievements; he leads the nonprofit Around-N-Over, which supports his goal of educating and inspiring people, especially students, who he often tells: “When we dream big and choose to embark on a larger-than-life journey, success depends on taking a few big steps which are noteworthy in their own right or many small steps at a rapid pace.”

Erden has been a West Seattleite for a year and a half, but has resided in Seattle “since 1999 except for a 1 year stint in Sydney, Australia,” he tells us. He’s getting ready for a new adventure you can read about here, but at EWA this Thursday night, he’ll focus on the human-powered circumnavigation tale, plus “footage of fish that I caught given the focus of Emerald Water Anglers’ store.” If you haven’t been to EWA yet (where the merchandise includes outdoor apparel, too, for more than fishing), it’s on the ground floor of Oregon 42, southeast corner of 42nd and Oregon.

West Seattle Crime Watch: 15th/Roxbury search explained

(UPDATED 4:09 PM with information from suspect’s bail hearing)

10:31 AM: Just published to SPD Blotter by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee:

A 26-year-old felon tried to stash a stolen gun in the diaper aisle of a drug store Monday evening after opening fire on a West Seattle street.

Police received reports of gunfire just before 5pm near 12th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street, where witnesses said a man — accompanied by two young women, one of whom was pushing an infant in a stroller — had fired a shot into the air and fled into a Walgreens several blocks away.

A team of officers entered the store and followed the suspect down the aisles until they cornered him and took him into custody.

When police searched the man, they found he wasn’t carrying a gun. Officers began scouring aisles of the store, and found a handgun stashed behind a shelf full of diapers.

Officers seized the weapon—which was reported stolen—and booked the man into the King County Jail for a weapons violation, possession of stolen property, and a warrant for auto theft.

Police interviewed the man’s companions — his girlfriend, their child, and his girlfriend’s sister — and released them from the scene.

P.S. We were asked about the 15th/Roxbury search hours later via Facebook but didn’t get the details until this appeared. Best way to reach us instantly 24/7 is 206-293-6302, text or voice, if you have a breaking-news tip or question (consider adding WSB to your phone list – thanks!).

4:09 PM: The suspect’s bail was set this afternoon at $30,000, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. We’ve looked up his record; the auto-theft-related warrant dates back to a case last October, in which he is accused of breaking into a house in the 9400 block of 9th SW, finding car keys in the house, and stealing the car. He was spotted a few hours later in South Seattle, where he allegedly fled from police, crashed the car, and took off running. Police found him hiding in the bushes near I-5. Police reports from that case and the new one list him as living in the North SeaTac area. His next court appearance is set for Thursday.

West Seattle Tuesday highlights, with 3 ways to jump into community action

From our calendar, where you’ll find lots more beyond these five quick notes:

COFFEE GATHERING FOR VETERANS: First Tuesdays at 11 am at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (Oregon/California)

ENCAMPMENT PROPOSAL: Not just about West Seattle, but of interest in our ongoing coverage: The City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee might vote at its 2 pm meeting today at City Hall downtown. Agenda here; live on Seattle Channel. (5th/Cherry)

WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 6:15 pm at Southwest Branch Library, with the Westwood/Roxhill Park transit center at the heart of the agenda, as previewed here Monday. Come hear from and talk with Metro and Westwood Village reps, and find out what else is going on in the communities WWRHAH represents. (35th/Henderson)

HIGHLAND PARK PLAY AREA: Third and final design meeting for the community-powered improvements at the 11th/Cloverdale park in Highland Park – last chance to speak up before the design moves on to become reality! 6:30 pm at Highland Park Elementary. (1012 SW Trenton)

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: Lots to talk about! See the agenda highlights here. 6:30 pm at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. (41st/Alaska)

Congratulations! Chief Sealth, Denny musicians’ success at Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival

If you can stop down for just a moment and hit the “play” button on that clip – even to listen in the background! – you’ll hear why student musicians from Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School left such an impression at a big festival they’re just back from. Their leader Marcus Pimpleton shares the news:

The Denny and Sealth Jazz Bands have returned home from a very successful week at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. The group went over on Tuesday and returned Sunday evening. The week of jazz featured student performances as well as clinics and concert performances by a host of nationally acclaimed jazz artists including Grammy Award winners Diane Reeves and John Clayton. The Chief Sealth Jazz Band was selected as an “outstanding young performer” and had the honor of closing out the Saturday Night Young Artists Concert (see the video above).

Three students were awarded Noteworthy Performance commendations for their individual musicianship:

Alex Guthery, alto saxophone, Denny International
Chris Laranang, trumpet, Chief Sealth International
Emmett Medaris, alto saxophone, Chief Sealth International

We also want to invite the public out to hear these groups live and to support the Denny and Sealth Music Program by joining us for our Music Night Out Event, which will be a March 27th fundraiser at The Hall at Fauntleroy. For more information on that, please visit: chiefsealthptsa.schoolauction.net/musicnightout

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates & road-work reminders

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. No reports of trouble in this area so far. One more reminder of the road projects now ongoing:

*Delridge/Andover/23rd – safety improvements
*Delridge/Orchard – ongoing utility work
*15th/Roxbury – underground fiber
*Fauntleroy ferry terminal – north lane closed for work at adjacent pump station

7:42 AM: Via Twitter, Sue reports what seems to be a sunshine slowdown on the high bridge; still quiet otherwise. If you know someone who lost their keys, by the way, there’s a “found” notice in the WSB Forums – keys found near 35th/Thistle.

9:15 AM: Jana reports a crash on the shoulder on the eastbound incline of the high bridge, and also that ramp traffic in general is still backed up.

You can help! West Seattle High School girls’ basketball players are making history – but need an assist

We spotted that poster at West Seattle High School tonight, as the school cheers for the athletes who are making history by being one of the eight girls-basketball teams in the state 3A championship tournament. It’s a big accomplishment, but it also comes with a price tag, so the West Seattle Booster Club is hoping that proud community members can help out a bit. They asked us to share this letter:

Dear Local Business Owners, Friends, and Fans of WSHS:

West Seattle High School Girls’ Basketball team is going to the 3A State Tournament for the first time in school history!

After winning the Metro League Championship and making it through both Districts and Regionals, the team plays their first State Tournament game on Thursday, March 5th at 2:00 pm at the Tacoma Dome. They would love your support!

More specifically, the girls would love to hear the West Seattle fans loud and proud in the crowd. Additionally, since the team will be in Tacoma from March 5-7th for the tournament, they are seeking donations of any amount to assist with meals and lodging.

Donations are being accepted by us, the West Seattle Booster Club (WSBC). We are a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting ALL athletic programs at WSHS. Our goal is to further athletic programs and activities at the high school that the school budget cannot cover, and we would love to have you join us in this particular case to help our girls with their record-setting season.

Your tax-deductible donation, no matter the size, would be of great benefit to ease the financial burden on the school and on the girls and their families. You may donate by mailing a check to the address below, or going online to the WSBC website. For either donation type, please be sure to note “Girls Basketball” as the “Purpose” so we ensure the donation supports the girls.

westseattleboosterclub.org/donate/

WSHS and WSBC thank you in advance for your support in helping our girls reach their goal!

Respectfully,

Donna Veenhuizen and Karin Beck
West Seattle Booster Club Representatives

West Seattle Booster Club
5318 SW Orleans St.
Seattle, WA 98116-3130
Tax ID # 91-1250127
www.westseattleboosterclub.org

The Wildcats’ opponent at 2 pm Thursday is Lynnwood, from Snohomish County. The WSHS girls earned their ticket to state with a huge win over Sumner in regional competition Saturday night at Renton (WSB coverage here).

UPDATE: Fire response in 7000 block Delridge Way

8:33 PM: Seattle Fire has a full response out on a reported house fire in the 7000 block of Delridge Way SW, and one person is being checked out for a possible injury. More to come.

8:47 PM: Delridge remains open at the scene, which is just north of Myrtle, but SFD vehicles are on the west side of the street and other traffic is going around them, so it’s a little precarious – avoid the area for a while if you can.

8:55 PM: Turns out this was a kitchen fire. Two people were home. The one who was being checked out did not need to go to the hospital. They’ll both be allowed back in shortly, and fire crews will be leaving.

10:50 PM: One person, a 65-year-old man, did get taken to the hospital after all and was described as in stable condition.

Tomorrow night: Talk about the Westwood transit hub with WWRHAH

The Westwood transit hub is a perennial hot topic, for a variety of reasons, particularly safety at the bus stops as well as in Roxhill Park and at Westwood Village. If it interests you, consider making time to be at tomorrow night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting. We just received the agenda and it includes a discussion of the hub, with reps confirmed from both Metro and Westwood Village. The meeting is at Southwest Branch Library (35th/Henderson), starting at 6:15 pm Tuesday and wrapping up by 7:45 at the latest, when the library clears everyone out in advance of closing time – all welcome.

Rapist Michael Stanley, once in trouble in Admiral, accused of rape again; sixth time in jail since end of sentence in WS crime

4:37 PM: Almost a year after our last mention of convicted rapist Michael S. Stanley – who first gained fame for fleeing monitoring in Canada and eventually turned up in here – he’s in jail again. And it’s not the first time he’s been arrested since the end of his sentence in relation to his West Seattle crime.

This new arrest wasn’t in West Seattle, but as pointed out by several readers, it’s of note since he turned up here before. Stanley, who’s 49, is jailed right now for investigation of rape and burglary in the Bryn Mawr area northwest of Renton. The King County Sheriff’s Office announced today that Stanley was arrested Friday. We reported last March on the end of his jail time for a harassment conviction that followed his arrest in an Admiral alley in October 2013. When he left jail a year ago, his sex-offender registration listed a Queen Anne address, but today’s KCSO announcement says he was listed as homeless, and had continued to check in as required. The jail register, however, shows this is the sixth time he’s been there in the past year – three times for failing to appear in connection with the harassment case; then a four-month stay related to alleged vehicle theft and possession of stolen property; then two more months, ending just a week ago, in a burglary case involving a nursing home in Des Moines; he was caught there last December with two knives and a stolen employee-ID badge. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in late January and got out of jail on February 21st, according to the register.

The original conviction that made Stanley a sex offender was for sexually assaulting an 81-year-old woman. He was due for a bail hearing this afternoon in connection with the new case; we’re checking with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for an update on that.

4:55 PM: Our partners at The Seattle Times report that charges were “rush-filed” against Stanley today – rape and burglary – and that he’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

6:25 PM: We’ve obtained today’s documents from the PAO. Stanley is set for arraignment on March 16th and could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of the new charges filed against him.

Another transportation note: You can apply now for city’s new Transit Advisory Board

If you’re interested in being on the city’s new Transit Advisory Board, it’s time to make your move, since the City Council officially approved its creation with a vote this afternoon. Ahead, the announcement, including how to apply:

Click to read the rest of Another transportation note: You can apply now for city’s new Transit Advisory Board…

UPDATE: What’s proposed for West Seattle in just-announced ‘Move Seattle’ plan

(WSB photo: SDOT director Scott Kubly at podium, next to Mayor Murray)
12:30 PM: At a media event in Ballard, Mayor Murray is officially unveiling “Move Seattle,” the city’s transportation focus for the next decade. It includes 24 major projects citywide; those listed as priorities for the next decade in West Seattle include:

FAUNTLEROY WAY/CALIFORNIA TRANSIT CORRIDOR – projected to cost at least $70 million
*Transit improvements including a “full transit station on Fauntleroy Way near the West Seattle Bridge
*Also described as “add(ing) real-time arrival information at all bus stops and transit centers” and “link(ing) discontinuous bus-only lanes along the corridor to complete the transit-priority system
(added) *Page 62 in the PDF

FAUNTLEROY WAY SW BOULEVARD – projected to cost at least $13 million (separate from the cost of undergrounding, as has been discussed recently)
*This project is now at 60 percent design, but funding hasn’t yet been discussed/identified
(added) *Page 63 in the PDF

DELRIDGE COMPLETE STREET – projected to cost at least $38 million
*This is described as adding “transit lanes and improv(ing) transit speed and reliability”
*”Includes protected bike lanes, sidewalk improvements, and amenities for walkers and transit riders along the corridor”
*”Streamlines traffic operations and improves multimodal connections between transit, freight, people who walk, and general-purpose vehicles”
(added) *Page 47 in the PDF

All three of those projects are described as likely requiring “Bridging the Gap replacement funding” to happen. Also of major interest to our area:

LANDER GRADE SEPARATION/RAILROAD CROSSING – projected to cost at least $100 million
*This is a long-shelved project that West Seattle leaders have targeted as vital to mobility between West Seattle and SODO/downtown

1ST AVENUE/1ST AVE. S. CORRIDOR - projected to cost at least $10 million

EAST MARGINAL WAY CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS – projected to cost at least $40 million

In a briefing before the mayor’s announcement, SDOT director Scott Kubly discussed the plan with reporters – his topline, “It’s not about doing a new plan, it’s about integrating the plans we have.” He started with trends, including the decline in driving, particularly among millennials, quoting a study as saying that up to a third of that generation doesn’t want to own a car. He segued from there into principles starting with safety.

With a nod to the city’s recently unveiled “Vision Zero” strategy, Kubly reminded, “Speed kills.” While the number of crash-related deaths has dropped – 40 deaths a year a decade ago, down to 15 a year now – more needs to be done, he said. Another principle: The city is working to “re-orient to a multi-modal system … one that works for everybody.” That includes bringing transit service within walking distance of as many Seattle residents as possible, and making city streets safer for bicycle riders of all ages and abilities – Kubly used City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw (who rode in Delridge as the greenway project was getting under way) as an example of the atypical bicycle rider. Freight mobility is a key value for SDOT too, he said, as is affordability – including “lower out-of-pocket transportation costs” for people. The average household spends 17 percent of its budget on transportation, he said. Affordability also relates to the city budget, he noted, so the city will do more repair/maintenance work, including microsurfacing, which has been done extensively in Arbor Heights.

Kubly also said the city intends to “innovate in how we reach people,” saying the traditional public meetings held regarding proposals and projects only reaches a narrow slice of the population. And he discussed an intricate prioritization process, starting with overlays of the city’s various transportation-related plans, to see where priorities intersect. That’ll be the role of a new Project Development Division, he noted, as part of an intradepartment reorganization.

We’re now listening in on the mayor’s part of the briefing, and will add details here afterward, including weblinks with more details.

1:13 PM UPDATE: The mayor’s briefing, outside Swedish Hospital in Ballard and alongside busy Market Street (used as a backdrop to emphasize the city’s continued growth), is over. No additional details on the specific projects as mentioned above, but he did say that details of the proposed funding – ostensibly a ballot measure – will be made public within a few weeks. Full video of his briefing should be on Seattle Channel‘s website a bit later, and we’ll add the video here when we find it. The official webpage for Move Seattle is here; the full document with details on the projects mentioned above (and others around the city) is here, as a PDF.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Car prowls, recent robberies, more

In West Seattle Crime Watch, an incident early today and several from reports we’ve recently obtained:

CAR BREAK-IN THIS MORNING: Early today, a car was broken into in the 3800 block of Beach Drive SW, its side and rear windows smashed, and, writes Mary, “a very important work suitcase was stolen. The alarm went off & we saw a white car take off driving.”

That’s not the only recent car prowl in the Beach Drive area. While we didn’t get reader reports on these, we found two more in recently obtained police reports, which are followed by summaries of reports related to other West Seattle incidents of note:

Click to read the rest of West Seattle Crime Watch: Car prowls, recent robberies, more…

Followup: Port to be sued over leasing West Seattle’s Terminal 5 to Foss/Shell

(T-5, empty since last summer, in center of photo tweeted in September by Peter West Carey)
9:16 AM: A coalition of environmental groups says it’s making good on its threat to sue the Port of Seattle for leasing part of West Seattle’s Terminal 5 to Foss as a homeport for Shell’s Arctic-oil-drilling fleet. Members of the coalition spoke at last week’s Port Commission meeting – as previewed here – asking the port to cancel the lease. They’re briefing reporters later this morning; the pre-briefing announcement says:

Represented by the national public interest environmental law firm, Earthjustice, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Sierra Club, Washington Environmental Council, and Seattle Audubon Society will announce the filing of a lawsuit against the Port of Seattle. The lawsuit alleges the Port of Seattle violated the State Environmental Policy Act and Shoreline Management Act by leasing Terminal 5 to serve as a homeport for Shell’s Arctic drilling fleet because there was no basis for the Port’s conclusion that a homeport is the same as Terminal 5′s previous use as a container terminal and because use of the terminal as a homeport could impair water quality from damaged vessels and vessel repairs.

Earthjustice attorney Patti Goldman and representatives of the groups bringing the suit will also explain why the lawsuit was a necessary response to the Port of Seattle’s attempt to sign a lease for Terminal 5 with Foss Maritime for home-porting Shell’s Arctic drilling fleet with virtually no public process.

The lawsuit seeks to vacate the lease, freeing the elected Port Commissioners to work with the community to find better options for creating jobs, providing revenue to the Port, and achieving the Port’s goal of being “where a sustainable world is headed,” as the Port’s website asserts.

The lease was signed February 9th and announced by Port CEO Ted Fick in a letter to this coalition two days later; the negotiations were kept secret until news of the potential lease emerged via the agenda published a few days before the January meeting at which commissioners were briefed. More to come.

ADDED 11:11 AM: Here’s the full announcement, as released minutes ago (also, ADDED 1:43 PM, Foss’s reaction and a statement from the port):

Click to read the rest of Followup: Port to be sued over leasing West Seattle’s Terminal 5 to Foss/Shell…

West Seattle Monday: School-tech ‘town hall’; Hi-Yu help; more…

(Varied thrush, photographed recently in Fauntleroy Park by Mark Wangerin)

Welcome to the first full week of March! Notes for today/tonight:

LUNA PARK CAFE CLOSED: It’s closed all day today for spring cleaning and equipment updates, expected to reopen tomorrow.

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ ‘TECH TOWN HALL’: As a followup to the school district’s Tech Summit, SPS is holding “Tech Town Halls” around the city, and tonight in the West Seattle High School cafeteria, it’s the one for our area. Doors at 5:30 pm to preview info from the summit, “town hall” starts at 6. (3000 California SW)

FREE ESL CLASSES: All levels of English-language learners are welcome to come work on their skills at the weekly free classes, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU MEETING: 7 pm at Admiral Congregational Church. Float help needed, and all volunteer help appreciated. Plus, the application deadline is nearing for the Hi-Yu Senior Court – details on the Hi-Yu website – scholarship money for the winners. (California/Hill)

MEDITATION CLASSES: Start your week with an extra helping of serenity! 7:30 pm, all welcome for a nonprofit-presented Buddhist meditation class at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (5639 California SW)

NIGHTLIFE: Trivia, pub quiz, karaoke … see the listings/venues on our calendar.