day : 11/06/2008 12 results

The WSB inbox has been devoid of first-person crime reports lately, so when we dropped by the Southwest Precinct this afternoon to check the latest police reports, we asked Lt. Steve Paulsen if things are indeed as quiet as they seem. Not entirely crime-free, as you’ll see in this report, but yes (knock wood), it’s been relatively quiet. After more than a dozen burglary arrests, for example, they think the word’s starting to get out on the street that you’re not so likely to get away with it in West Seattle. That said, we’ve got some summaries to share, including burglaries and car break-ins as well as the search for a man who tried to lure a girl into his car, gang-affiliated squatters getting the boot, more cases of alert witnesses helping foil crimes, and more – all from a full week’s worth of reports:Read More

Tomorrow’s Design Review presentations are both online tonight

June 11, 2008 10:59 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Just checked the city’s Design Review website – if you want a sneak peek, you can now see the proposals, renderings and all, that will be made tomorrow night for both 3811 California SW (as previewed here this morning) and 4532 42nd SW. Click here for 3811 California (which is on tomorrow night’s Design Review Board agenda at 6:30 pm); click here for 4532 42nd (on the agenda at 8 pm); both meetings at Madison Middle School.

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Ferry-line idling reminders? FCA supports new proposal

June 11, 2008 8:32 pm

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| Environment | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Also from last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: The board agreed to support a proposal by members Sherry and Ron Richardson, to request signage along Fauntleroy Way asking drivers to turn off their engines while waiting, to reduce fuel use, noise, and pollution.

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More SDOT action in Westwood: Crosswalk work

June 11, 2008 6:43 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Transportation | West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks to Todd for the tip – more of the work promised by the city along Barton near Westwood Village is getting done – the tape and cones are protecting newly poured ramps at the crosswalk between the shopping center and Roxhill Park. This WSB report from April has more on what’s to be done in this area (which is just east of where parking restrictions were put into place to try to discourage “car ranching”).

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Jail-sites fight: 2 neighborhood groups’ discussions; city adds FAQ

June 11, 2008 4:05 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle jail sites | West Seattle news

Three quick updates in the fight over where the city might build a potential new jail for misdemeanor offenders (it’s announced 4 sites as finalists, and 2 of them are in southeast West Seattle): First, the city’s added another page to its informational web site — the new Frequently Asked Questions page features its answers to some of the questions it’s received. Second, two more neighborhood groups discussed their positions on the issue last night; the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s board “voiced its opposition to the siting of jails in residential areas on the basis of land-use planning policy and the unnecessary costs and logistics of inmate transfers and lack of access to services needed by inmates (legal, bail, and city services),” according to Lynn Olson; meantime, we were at the Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting as members considered whether to sign on to a letter officially opposing the sites, and it’s decided to abstain for now. Third, the 34th District Democrats will discuss the jail-sites fight at their regular monthly meeting tonight, 7 pm, The Hall @ Fauntleroy.

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If you missed yesterday’s update .. it’s training

June 11, 2008 2:05 pm

| Comments Off on If you missed yesterday’s update .. it’s training

| Seen around town | West Seattle police

Managed to grab and deploy the camera quickly when we happened onto those motorcycle officers late this morning on 35th by the Golf Course entrance. That, a phone call, and a new comment on yesterday’s post makes us think we should re-mention, if you encounter a similar scene again today — it’s not an escort for a visiting dignitary, it’s annual training.

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Saving Fauntleroy Schoolhouse: New deadline for deal

June 11, 2008 1:40 pm

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| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

With a few weeks to go to the original deadline for the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency to make a deal with Seattle Public Schools to buy the historic schoolhouse – now that the district’s selling it as “surplus” — we checked to see where things stand. According to an update issued this week by FCSA, “The district has extended the deadline to reach a purchase and sale agreement to August.” FCSA also says there’s still a possibility the back lot may be developed and says it “has been discussing what kind of development, who would own the property, who would receive payment for the development rights, and ensuring that any development would be compatible with the tenants and uses in the school.” They also are continuing to work on a formal application to have the schoolhouse designated as a city landmark (as we first reported last month), adding, “city staff has been very encouraging that the entire building could be eligible for designation.”

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West Seattle’s only 4th of July Parade: Wanna help?

June 11, 2008 11:52 am

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| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(2006 Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade photo courtesy of parade organizers)
Two parades are coming up in West Seattle next month – the big American Legion Grand Parade down California SW during Hi-Yu is July 19th, but before then, on a somewhat smaller scale – literally, in terms of participants’ size – there’s the 4th of July Kids’ Parade in Admiral. And its organizers say now’s the perfect time to jump in and help out. Here’s their announcement:

4th of JULY KIDS PARADEâ€¦sponsored by Admiral Junction Businesses and the Holy Rosary MOMs group!

Celebrate the 4th of July by bringing your family and friends to the 14th Annual 4th of JULY KIDS PARADE! Decorate wagons, bikes and trikes and join this old-fashioned parade. All are welcome â€“ both spectators and participants. It’s not a parade without spectators! Bring your lawn chairs and cheer for our kids, there’s no shortage of great viewing spots along the parade route (look for the flags).

The Seattle Police and Fire Departments will lead the parade starting at 10:30 am at the 1100 block of Sunset Ave. SW (44th Ave. SW and Sunset) on the morning of July 4th. Following the parade, enjoy the fun and games in Hamilton Viewpoint Park. Bring a blanket and some lunch (leaving some room for treats from the Holy Rosary MOM’s group concession stand) and join the fun!

We need volunteers to help out at the parade! If you can help with general organization, set-up, children’s games, water balloons, or clean-up, please let us know. Our critical areas are children’s games and water balloons. If you are a fun, enthusiastic person who would like to lead the kids’ games at Hamilton Park, we need you! We also need game helpers to hand out 3-legged race ties, organize kids into age groups for races, answer questions, help out with the little ones, etc. Last year we had a heat wave on the 4th of July, and we ran out of water balloons in 5 minutes. This year a heat wave seems like a distant after-thought, but I’m sure the water balloon fight will still be a hit. We need water balloons!! If you can deliver 25-50 water balloons before the parade, please let us know. If you have a service group that is willing to donate their time to blowing up water balloons for a worthy cause, please let us know. We can only blow up so many before our fingers turn numb!

We also have need of a game-day photographer. Someone with photographic skills who can document our parade all-stars for future publicity.

Contact: Sherri Chun sherri.chun@att.net or Jodi Bennett jodiandwayne26@msn.com

Organizers also just confirmed that one of the Admiral District’s most famous residents will be on hand too – Mayor Nickels is scheduled to help kick off the parade at 10:30 4th of July morning.

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Details: New design proposal partly preserves Charlestown Court

June 11, 2008 6:07 am

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| Development | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

That’s the dramatically different new design just unveiled by Junction-based Nicholson Kovalchick Architects for the mixed-use project at 3811 California SW (map), currently the site of the 80-year-old brick fourplex known as Charlestown Court:

It’s been 14 months since we first told you Charlestown Court was marked for teardown, and two months since we brought you the city Landmarks Board‘s decision that it didn’t merit landmark status, which seemed to open the door for demolition. But instead, a surprise twist last night, as we briefly mentioned earlier — full details ahead:Read More

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Seattle’s liveliest politician-produced blog

June 11, 2008 3:01 am

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| Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

Check the latest entry at City Councilmember Sally Clark‘s blog. (Where’s Hizzoner?) She’ll be back in West Seattle next week, by the way, at the Delridge District Council meeting, 7 pm June 18, Southwest Precinct. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: OK, now we know where Hizzoner is.

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Alki Statue of Liberty updates: Party plan; construction details

June 11, 2008 1:09 am

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| Alki Statue of Liberty | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(fall 2007 photo by Mark Bourne)
New information as the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza gets closer to construction: The group that raised money for the project has gone public with details of what it’s planning for a Sept. 6 event celebrating its expected dedication, and the Parks Department project manager has talked with us about the latest details — including a couple recent changes in the plan, and the one big concern that could cause construction snags — read on:Read More

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Something to consider if you travel on The (High) Bridge today

June 11, 2008 12:40 am

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| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

In about two hours, it’ll be exactly 30 years since the freighter crash that you can thank for the existence of The (high) Bridge. And as you probably know, the case took an even weirder twist years later, when the captain who hit the (old) bridge, Rolf Neslund, was murdered by his wife — a killing that area author Ann Rule turned into one of her recent best-sellers. Six years and one month after the freighter crash, the current (high) bridge opened. You can find great photos of the massive construction project here.

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