Tree trouble: Park project panned at Alki Community Council
At tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting: Carol Baker from the Parks Department was there mostly to talk about spring planting plans for Statue of Liberty Plaza, but wound up spending time defending the new landscaping along sections of Alki Avenue. Part of the newly landscaped area was planted with trees, on the water side, and residents are worried about blocked views. Those upset about the trees wanted to know why they had no say; 
Baker explained it was a small project, not subject to public review, and that the trees will help them deal with “irrigation problems” along that stretch of the waterfront. There had to have been a better solution that wouldn’t have affected the view, residents retorted. Baker stressed that the trees won’t grow to be very tall – how tall, though, she couldn’t say. That was no consolation to the concerned residents, who insisted they want the trees removed. Finally she suggested they directly contact the Parks landscape-architecture point person on the project, Joe Neiford. Meantime, back on the topic of Liberty Plaza, Baker said she had met with ACC reps to look at areas where plants didn’t make it through the winter; the dead plants have been removed, but she says the Parks budget has no money to replace them right now – maybe in fall, and in the meantime, the area’s been mulched. One other Statue of Liberty note; David Hutchinson reported that 237 bricks and 1 plaque have been sold by September, for more than $32,000 in revenue, with 7 percent going to the ACC. The new bricks went off to engraving this week and will be ready around start of May for installation. The group also heard tonight from School Board rep Steve Sundquist. (If you have education issues to discuss with him, by the way, his next community meeting is Saturday morning, 11 am, High Point Library.)
The Alki Community Council usually meets on the third Thursday, 7 pm, Alki UCC; next meeting, April 15th.
Talking townhouse design (and more), two years later
It’s just a couple months shy of two years since Councilmember Sally Clark convened a forum to talk about townhouse design. Zoning/code changes have been in the pipeline ever since, but the process isn’t over yet, and for those still interested in the topic, we wanted to make sure you’d heard about a special City Council committee meeting this weekend. 
Like that famous forum in 2008, this one is a Saturday morning meeting, not in West Seattle, but not that far. Clark now chairs the Committee on the Built Environment (before, it was Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods – that last part has split to a different committee), and its special meeting on low-rise multi-family housing, including townhouses, is set for 10 am-noon this Saturday at Taproot Theatre in Greenwood (map). Lots more info here, with meeting documents/agenda here.
Fire under investigation at house on 35th – after the fact
Christopher Boffoli checked out an unusual fire call tonight in the 7900 block of 35th SW (map). Three crews appeared on the 911 log as active on a call described as “investigate – out of service,” including Ladder 11, which you see in Christopher’s photo. Firefighters told him there was a fire at a rental house there, but it was out long before they arrived – the neighbors called when they noticed melted and burned window blinds. Investigators were called to find out what might have caused the fire. We’ll follow up later to see what they discover.
Weekly traffic-alerts update: News about the other 1st Ave S ramp
We’re now sharing the long weekly citywide list of road-work updates when it comes out, since this list is often the first word of traffic alerts that might affect you. That was the case two weeks ago, when this list was the first to reveal May 17 as the exact date (tentatively) set for longterm closure of the 1st Avenue So. onramp to the West Seattle Bridge (here’s this morning’s update with detour maps) … and tonight, the list has news about the 1st Avenue offramp from the eastbound bridge:
Waterline work is starting soon on 1st Ave S near S Spokane St. Lane restrictions will be in place for approximately five months, including reducing the EB off-ramp from the Spokane St Viaduct to one lane.
The entire list of alerts has just been updated on its accompanying webpage – note the stadium-area 4th Avenue closure coming up this entire weekend.
Another new West Seattle business: The Beer Junction
Thanks to Alison for spotting the liquor-license notice at 4707 42nd SW, across from the north end of Jefferson Square, between Limber Yoga/Seattle Integrated Martial Arts (WSB sponsor) and AAA Travel. We subsequently tracked down and spoke with Morgan Herzog, who plans to turn the space into The Beer Junction: “This will be a specialty beer store. We’ll be focusing on beers all around the world, with an extra focus on beers of the Northwest, local beers … we’ll also probably have a small selection of wine and cigars, but that’s not really our big focus.” Read on for more of what’s planned at The Beer Junction, and a request for your suggestions:Read More
Another 34th District State House candidate: Mike Heavey
If you attend the public meetings we cover, you’ve seen a lot lately of West Seattleite Mike Heavey, who recently joined the staff of County Councilmember Jan Drago. Looks like you’ll see even more of him, since the son of longtime legislator and Judge Michael J. Heavey has just announced he’s running for State Legislature – read on:Read More
4 special cleanups: Delridge, Highland Park, Fauntleroy Way, 35th
This weekend and next, you have 4 special chances to help beautify and/or green up West Seattle neighborhoods. More details on the WSB Events calendar – but here’s the quick roundup – ALL could use extra hands, just show up!
SATURDAY, MARCH 20: It’s the Delridge Playfield playground sprucing-up event (maybe beyond if there’s a good turnout). 10 am-noon.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21: Highland Park Improvement Club plants trees, builds a new kiosk/sign, cleans tables/chairs/walls inside, and picks up neighborhood trash. 10 am-5 pm.
SATURDAY, MARCH 27: The city Clean ‘n’ Green event we mentioned previously is also a huge tree-planting event along Fauntleroy Way, with the West Seattle Rotary, local Scouts, and other neighbors/friends/community members. Starts at Fairmount Playground, 9 am-1 pm.
SUNDAY, MARCH 28: Sidewalks and planting strips along 35th SW between SW Holden and SW Roxbury get helping hands from the Westwood Neighborhood Council and Friends of the Southwest Library. Check in at the library. 10 am-1 pm.
Seattle City Light plans door-to-door light-bulb installation
Seattle City Light just announced a new program to get compact fluorescent light bulbs into more homes: They’re going door-to-door in parts of West and South Seattle — and after initial notification, they will offer installation on the spot. According to City Light’s news release, this will include city residents in the 98126 and 98106 zip codes (and a few other non-West Seattle zips) – read on to see what the program’s about:Read More
West Seattle Thursday: Fauntleroy protection; Alki landscaping
FAUNTLEROY PROTECTION: During the power outage two days ago, that truck was a reminder of what lies between millions of gallons of wastewater coursing beneath the peninsula, and the countless gallons of seawater out in Puget Sound: Not much. The truck took a generator to stop an overflow from the Murray pump station at Lowman Beach, one of two that are part of King County Wastewater Treatment‘s Combined Sewer Overflow projects. The other one is the Barton pump station area, by the ferry dock, and that’s the subject of a meeting TONIGHT, 6 pm, Southwest Community Center. The county still has to decide how to prevent overflows, and needs your thoughts on the 3 alternatives – which are detailed here (including a potential underground tank at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse site).
ALKI AVENUE LANDSCAPING: We’ve received a few recent questions about the new landscaping along part of Alki Avenue SW. If you’re curious about it, come hear about it firsthand from Seattle Parks’ Carol Baker, during tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting, 7 pm at Alki UCC Church at 6115 SW Hinds. Also scheduled: Seattle School Board rep Steve Sundquist (coming off an intense board meeting Wednesday night).
LATE ADDITION (11:23 am) – got word from C & P Coffee that student poets from Denny Middle School will read their work at the coffeehouse tonight at 6.
What else is up? The WSB Events calendar is here.
Got glasses? 2 more weeks to get them recycled
If you have an old pair of glasses you don’t need any more, here’s a way to make sure they don’t go to waste: Keller Williams Realty in The Junction is continuing to collect used prescription and non-prescription eyewear through the end of the month, to help Vista Missions. Hominee at KW explains, “They deliver them to people in need in foreign countries to provide free vision clinics and eye exams. Our goal is to collect enough eyeglasses by March 31st to supply an entire 5-day clinic for the team leaving for Mexico in April.” You can help by dropping off used eyewear at KW’s Junction office, 4452 California SW (map). They’re open weekdays 8:30 am-5:30 pm.
Your weekly West Seattle Bookshelf, 2nd edition
Lists courtesy of Square One Books
Once again this Thursday, courtesy of Gretchen Montgomery @ Square One Books (WSB sponsor), we bring you her store’s five best-sellers in four key categories. (We’re testing the title suggested by Mark Matassa in comments following edition #1 – what do you think?)
Hardcover:
1. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
3. Anthill by E.O. Wilson
4. Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
5. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
Paperback:
1. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
2. Old Filth by Jane Gardam
3. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
4. The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
5. Ex-Cop by Warren Hammond
Children:
1. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid #1 by Jeff Kinney
3. The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
4. In My Meadow by Sara Gillingham
5. The Witches by Roald Dahl
Teen:
1. Dealing with Dragons #1 by Patricia Wrede
2. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
3. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Speaking of young readers, Square One has a special bookselling event tonight at Madison Middle School — offering books that are popular with middle-schoolers, and Square One pays the tax, which means you get the equivalent of a 9.5% discount.
South Park Bridge: Councilmember Bagshaw’s life-extending idea
(Photo courtesy Dale Brayden, from the “Captain Dave river tour” last weekend)
Wednesday night of last week, City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw was at the second of two consecutive-night meetings in South Park (WSB coverage here), talking with – and listening to – community members regarding the county’s scheduled shutdown of the deteriorating South Park Bridge. She promised them, “I’ll be here with you.” One week later, after she wrapped up an appearance last night at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, we caught up with her to ask what’s happened since then. She mentioned meetings with other key elected officials – but most notably, a new idea she’s exploring: Since the bridge’s biggest safety issues come from the wear and tear of repeated openings and closures for marine traffic, she’s trying to find out if there are vessels based south of the SP Bridge that could be moved upstream (north) for a year or so – till a new bridge could be built. If the bridge didn’t have to open for marine traffic, Bagshaw says, it could have an extended life of availability for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. She emphasizes that a lot of research has to be done to see if this would be feasible, including conversations with the Port of Seattle and the Coast Guard.
| 20 COMMENTS