West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Tonight’s meeting of the Design Team for the Redevelopment of the Denny Middle School Site – whose efforts we’ve been chronicling since September – was a momentous one. What you see above is the “preferred plan” for the site, drawn after many meetings in which community members, school employees, district consultants debated what to do with the site, with just three main prerequisites: It needed to have a softball field and tennis courts, to replace the ones removed on the current Chief Sealth campus as it transforms into the joint campus of Sealth and the future Denny, plus it’s supposed to hold space open for a possible elementary school some years down the road – read on for more details on this plan, and what happens next:Read More
(from left, Chief Sealth students DJ, Holly, Sara)
Tonight’s Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting included an appearance by student reps of a project we’ve heard about at several meetings in the past few weeks: Chief Sealth High School students working with Cooper Elementary students to document and clean up the nearby section of the West Duwamish Greenbelt. This meeting, of course, had special significance, since Cooper is where the PP group meets. The students are looking for people who can help them compile neighborhood history, too. Another agenda item: Debbie Goetz from the city’s neighborhood-preparedness team led some post-mortem discussion of the December snow (even as some February flakes are falling). She asked attendees to rate the snowstorm on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being “extreme inconvenience” – most gave it a 7 or 8, and many voiced concerns about the bus troubles that happened throughout the storm; Debbie reiterated what’s been said at recent city meetings — Metro’s being brought into planning for future weather problems. She also passed out flyers for the next SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) session in West Seattle, 6:30 pm March 12 at the Admiral Library branch.
Two more items discussed: Pete Spalding voiced concern about maintenance and vandalism (including tagging) on Pigeon Point-area staircases. Neighbors agreed to assess the staircases and contact the city for repair materials; maintenance trouble spots include railings that are in bad shape. Plus, the future Delridge Produce Co-Op came up (as reported here last week), with lots of enthusiastic discussion, and questions about whether parking strips can be used for edible gardens and fruit trees. (The next meeting for everybody interested in the Co-Op, by the way, is this Thursday, 6:30 pm, Delridge Library.)
We’ve mentioned a few times that the popular Gathering of Neighbors – on hiatus since founding organization Megawatt shut down more than a year ago – is coming back this year — April 4th — coordinated by the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. And tonight, the official announcement of application availability has just landed in the inbox:
Gathering of Neighbors returns!
Joining neighbors and businesses in 2009.Come be a part of the Gathering of Neighbors: Businesses and Community organizations from across the West Seattle Peninsula , all together, one day, one place, as “one community”.
April 4th, 2009 marks the return of the Gathering of Neighbors, this year sponsored by the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association (DNDA) and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. The combination of both community and businesses participants promises to have Chief Sealth High School (at Boren) bursting at the seams with booths full of information.
More than 400 people attended the last Gathering of Neighbors, with more expected this year, Attendees will experience, in one place and time, the tremendous wealth of services and goods available to them in their own neighborhoods right here in West Seattle. Entertainment and refreshments will be part of the celebration.
Are you part of a group or business who would want to participate? Download applications and more info at www.dnda.org or contact Suzanne Nevan, suzannen@dnda.org , (206) 923-0917 x122
Gathering Of Neighbors:
Date: Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location Chief Sealth High School,
5959 Delridge Way SW
Just got a message from Karen via Facebook, saying hail and freezing rain just moved through her area (26th/Hudson; map). The weather experts say a “convergence zone” is happening again tonight, like last night, though that technically affects mainly the south Snohomish/north King County area. The next official forecast should be out within about two hours, and we’ll add an update then. 8:57 PM NOTE: Sleet here in Upper Fauntleroy – standing outside, you can hear it, more than see it. Cliff Mass posted another update within the past hour and says there’s a CHANCE we could see substantial snow tomorrow morning; temps are right on the edge.
New information about the suspected gunshots reported last night by residents northwest of The Junction: This afternoon, evidence was found that shots indeed were fired. First word came from Stacy, who posted this comment on the original report:
Contrary to popular belief, the noises heard on the 4100 block between Dakota and Genesee last night around 8:30 were actually gunshots. At approximately 3:30 today, eight shell casings were found on the ground along with three bullet holes – two in a parked car and one in a neighbors house. Police were called and just finished their investigation.
Officers who investigated last night didn’t find anything, but we just confirmed Stacy’s report with Lt. Ron Smith at the Southwest Precinct, who says an officer indeed went back out this afternoon to investigate bullet holes in a car and house. No one was hit. (Later note: We have a followup question out regarding the exact location, as well as whether there is any indication of random vs. target.)
As reported here last Friday, Sanislo Elementary principal Debbie Nelsen is leaving after this school year, with Ernie Seevers from AS #1 Pinehurst coming in. The district has now sent the official announcement of principal changes districtwide (including Concord Elementary, the South Park school that’s part of the West Seattle South cluster) – read on:Read More
On New Year’s Eve, while at City Hall for Mayor Nickels‘ post-snowstorm briefing, we reported to you that he promised a rebate for some who’d missed multiple trash pickups, though no details were given at the time. An e-mail question this past weekend from a WSBer reminded us that it’s long past time for a followup, so we asked Andy Ryan at Seattle Public Utilities if the rebate details had been announced. He just sent them to us, in this customer Q-city A format:
Q: Can I get an adjustment for my missed garbage pickups during the December 2008 snow storm?
A: Yes, if your collection was missed twice. The storm started late on Wednesday, 12/17/08 and lasted through 12/26/08.
Residential accounts missed twice will receive a one-time $5 adjustment for this weather-related event. Commercial accounts (dumpsters) missed twice will receive a $10 adjustment. However, customers whose pickup day was Wednesday were only missed once (on Dec. 24), so they are not eligible for an adjustment. Neither are COFN accounts.
Q: How were the $5 and $10 amounts derived?
A: These amounts align with an adjustment already applied to the accounts of customers whose garbage collection was missed twice in one year.Q: When will I see the adjustment, and how will it look on my bill?
A: This adjustment will be applied to eligible accounts with a bill date of 2/17/09 forward, until all accounts served during the storm period of 12/18/08 – 12/26/08 have billed. The adjustment will appear as a line item referring to the December 2008 snow event.
So keep an eye on your next bill.
COUNCIL SAYS “NO” TO ANNEXATION AGREEMENT: We’re working on continuing coverage for this at partner site White Center Now, but it’s worth a note here: The Seattle City Council has just voted 8 to 1 to *not* endorse the recent agreement reached with Burien and two fire districts, setting a framework for the potential annexation process over the next few years; the agreement basically gave Burien first rights of refusal on the southern half of the North Highline unincorporated area, and Seattle first rights on the north half (including most of White Center). We’re continuing to add details from the council discussion to the WCN report here. (5:14 pm note: Added a comment from Seattle mayoral spokesperson Alex Fryer, saying, “The MOU with Burien took some time, but we had an agreement that made sense for all the parties. With the City Council decision today, we’re done with the issue for this year.”)
HAPPENING TONIGHT: Last reminders about three events of note, all on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meets at Cooper Elementary, 7 pm; the Denny Site Redevelopment Design Team meets at the Denny Middle School Library, also 7 pm; and the ARK Park benefit concert (raising money for a privately funded new park on land owned by Arbor Heights Community Church) is happening at Roosevelt High School, also at 7.
“HAVE A HEART” FINAL TALLY: Heather at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) tells us yesterday’s event (WSB coverage here) brought in more than $1,700 for West Seattle Helpline and Pencil Me in for Kids.
HI-YU FLOAT HOME SEARCH: West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival president Tim Winston reports that the float has a reprieve (following this item over the weekend) but it’s not forever:
Harbor Properties has once more been gracious and extended our storage of the float through February. However, their project will need us to be out after that.
Regarding use of other currently empty buildings – they are looking for contacts, so even if you don’t know for sure whether something might be available, if you have a contact and can provide that info to Hi-Yu, please call Tim at 206-938-2088.
(July 2008 WSB photo of Psomizo Garden, west of new P-Patch location)
Just last week, reporting on the Southwest District Council‘s latest meeting, we mentioned that city Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao remarked on the popularity of the P-Patch community-garden program and its long waiting lists. Good news today – a site donated by West Seattle Christian Church in The Junction has won official approval to become a P-Patch (here are the current WS P-Patches), and Aaron Hernandez (shown above, tending the nearby donated-food Psomizo Garden last summer with his daughter) is looking for people to be on the Steering Committee. If you’re interested, contact Aaron at 206-280-5015 or wscc.grounds@hotmail.com – the garden plot is on the north side of church grounds, on Genesee between 41st and 42nd (map).
(December 2008 WSB photo)
After reporting a week ago that the future Morgan Junction location of Zeeks Pizza had applied for its beer/wine license, we checked with Zeeks vice president Greg McClure to see how they’re progressing toward that planned spring opening. (Greg’s the executive who first confirmed to us last September that Zeeks would be taking over the space where Corner Inn abruptly closed in June.) Heard back from him this morning:
We can’t wait until the West Seattle store opens and we think it is going to be a great fit for the neighborhood. That corner is going to be a really great place- you’ll have the Beveridge Place Pub, Feedback once it opens, and Zeeks Pizza to round it out. … To all those who are wondering when we’ll be open, we are estimating a May 1 opening date. If anybody is interested in being on our mailing list for a grand opening, you can go to our webpage and click on the feedback link and let us know to add your name and mailing address or e-mail address.
Here’s the page he mentioned; we just tested, and you can ignore all the lines that aren’t relevant to “add me to the mailing list” – enter your e-mail address and write in the comment box that you’d like to be on the list for news of the West Seattle restaurant, and you’re done.
The midmorning “forecast discussion” is out and includes snow possibilities tonight/tomorrow, along the lines of what happened this morning, but then again – THAT wasn’t forecast.
Re: the previous item about the start of pavement work on I-5 — WSDOT just announced it will NOT start tonight after all, because of the weather. Here’s the new announcement:
Grinding work scheduled to start tonight on northbound I-5 in Seattle has been postponed one day due to freezing temperatures expected overnight. The work will now begin Tuesday, Feb. 10. Long weekend closures begin Friday, Feb. 13.
This is the first week and weekend of our major I-5 pavement rehabilitation work.
Crews will close:
· Up to three lanes at night on northbound I-5 from Corson Avenue to the West Seattle Freeway Tuesday, Feb. 10 through Friday. Feb. 13.
· Lanes closures begin at 7 p.m.. Three of four lanes will be closed by 11 p.m. All lanes will reopen at 5 a.m.
· Up to three lanes at night on southbound I-5 from Stewart Street to I-90 Wednesday night, Feb. 11 through Friday morning, Feb. 13. Lane closures begin at 8 p.m. All lanes will reopen at 5 a.m.
· Up to three of four lanes on southbound I-5 between Stewart Street and just south of I-90 from Friday, Feb. 13 through Monday, Feb. 16. Lanes close at 8 p.m. on Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday. Feb 16.
· The Howell Street and Union Street ramps will be closed during all southbound closures. A signed truck and vehicle detour is in place.
**UPDATE: AFTER THIS WAS PUBLISHED, WSDOT ANNOUNCED THE FIRST NIGHT’S BEEN POSTPONED … LATEST INFO HERE**
In case your commute route will be affected by the I-5 pavement work that starts tonight just south of where The Bridge meets I-5, we’re putting up the official WSDOT map before you head out for the day. There are a few more specifics here.
The Seattle School District issued the following statement.
February 9, 2009: All Seattle Public Schools will start two hours late today and buses will operate on regular routes. Due to weather concerns, all schools will start two hours late today. Buses will operate on regular routes. There will be no door-to-door service, no Head Start and pre-school, and no half day a.m. kindergarten or half day p.m. kindergarten. Full day kindergarten classes will be in session with a two-hour start delay. There will no before school breakfast service available.
Within the past few days, the last of the sub-$2 gas prices have vanished. Ahead, for the first time in 2 months, we have surveyed all West Seattle gas stations (except for Exxon at 35th/Barton, where the pumps are cordoned off – we’ll check tomorrow on whether that’s temporary or permanent), and found most prices up more than 30 cents a gallon in that timespan, even though the price of oil is lower:Read More
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