West Seattle, Washington
12 Sunday
Four West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share:
This time last year, the latest wave of West Seattle development hadn’t yet resumed its rise; one measure – just one project went before the Southwest Design Review Board in the first two months of 2013. So far in 2014, a different story; between now and February 20th, seven reviews are scheduled – including one just added to the schedule, 2626 Alki Avenue SW, at the corner of 59th and Alki (map).
That’s the project first reported here in Alki Community Council coverage last June, after architect Roger Newell came to the ACC for an early public presentation. Its Early Design Guidance meeting before the SWDRB is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 20th. It’s now described in the city Department of Planning and Development files as “3-story structure containing 14 residential units, 5 live-work units, and 3,250 sq. ft. of commercial space,” with 28 ground-level parking spaces, accessed off 59th (Newell explained in June that they can’t have an underground garage because of peat issues at the site). Documents submitted to the city by the architecture firm further explain that, fronting Alki, the building will have 4 apartments over 5 live-work units which in turn are over commercial space, and behind that, 10 apartments will be on two floors over the parking area. Three buildings are to be torn down at the corner of 59th and Alki and to the northeast, currently holding an office, pet-services shop, medical-marijuana dispensary, and restaurant, plus second-floor apartments in two of those three buildings.
The February 20th meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, where the SWDRB usually meets these days; formal notice should appear within a few weeks in the twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin.
Thanks to Russ Walker for the photo from Alki this morning, a 13.3-foot high tide, tied with 8:04 am tomorrow for highest predicted Seattle tide of the year. While the lack of stormy weather meant it was a rather placid scene, it’s still important for those – like the state Ecology Department – who are tracking these tides, called “king tides,” to document “how very high tides affect the natural environment and our coastal infrastructure (to) help us visualize what sea-level rise might look like in the future.” If you took (or take) photos, share them with the Ecology Department’s Flickr group (as Russ and other West Seattle photographers did).
With the second truckload of trees dropped off during their Christmas-tree-recycling fundraiser at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction today are West Seattle Rainbow Girls (from left) Zoë, Kyla, Esther, Destiny, and Laurel. This is the sixth year of tree-cycling for the group, and we haven’t heard from any other West Seattle organizations doing it, so if you missed it, here’s how to work with the city to recycle yours, and some ideas on how to handle it in a home garden.
Thanks to two photographers for sharing beautiful views of bald eagles in West Seattle this past week. Top photo is by Leroy Lewis, from the 3000 block of 50th SW; next three, by Gary Jones at Alki Point:
Think you know everything about bald eagles? Check the Audubon Society‘s info page!
(WSB photo: The Westy’s bar takes shape)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It’s become almost routine for new enterprises to do some crowdfunding – asking friends, family, online supporters to chip in to help cover startup costs. The Westy Sports and Spirits, under construction at 7908 35th SW in Westwood, is joining that crowd – but not via the usual donation drive.
The Westy has just become the 15th area enterprise to launch a drive via Community Sourced Capital – which you might call crowd-loaning instead of crowdfunding. And unlike the major donation-type crowdfunding sites, CSC is based in Seattle (see who else it’s worked with).
After hearing about The Westy’s campaign on Thursday, we returned to the under-construction space Friday afternoon to check in with its proprietors.
NYEve From Alki from Craig Howard on Vimeo.
That time-lapse video is the work of Craig Howard, who recorded the Seacrest-vicinity scene as New Year’s Eve unfolded and then made way for New Year’s Day. Now, here we are already on the first weekend of the New Year, and many are watching the water again …
HIGHEST TIDE OF THE YEAR: This morning and Sunday morning, high tide hits 13.3 feet – highest of the year. No storm surge, so no trouble’s expected, but if you’re by the water, you’ll notice it’s way up there, as explained here. 7:22 am today, to be precise. (P.S. Remember that you can find a tide chart any time on the WSB Weather page.)
CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING: Get the tree out of the living room before it’s a fire hazard – between 10 am and 2 pm, you can drop it off at the West Seattle Rainbow Girls‘ annual tree-recycling fundraiser in the lot at the Masonic Center in The Junction, $5 suggested donation. More info here. (40th/Edmunds)
TEEN RUNNERS’ GROUP: Today is the kickoff meeting for the new group that West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is hosting for teen runners, 11 am. Details here. (California/Charlestown)
VOLUNTEER WITH SWSHS: Today’s the monthly info session for prospective volunteers at the home of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, the Log House Museum at Alki, 11 am. Here’s our preview. (61st/Stevens)
FREE E-CYCLING: Have the holidays left you with old electronics to recycle? In nearby South Park, there’s a free dropoff event today, 1-4 pm – info in our calendar listing. (8201 10th Ave. S.)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: As previewed here last week, “Dirt: The Movie” is the first West Seattle Meaningful Movies presentation of 2014. 6:30 pm, dessert and mingling; 7 pm (free!) movie, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
VERY OZZY NEW YEAR: 9:30 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), it’s an Ozzy Osbourne tribute! (6451 California SW)
FIRST ‘ROCKY’ OF 2014: The monthly first-Saturday midnight screening of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is tonight at Admiral Theater. Not too late to toast the New Year! (2343 California SW)
From Pigeon Point and Puget Ridge in particular, you might have heard or seen a big Seattle Fire response this past hour. They were called out to a spot on the Duwamish River right under the West Seattle Bridge, described by SFD via Twitter as “27-foot sailboat drifted into bridge abutment on the Duwamish. No injuries.” The SFD fireboat Chief Seattle was called in to help get the sailboat to shore.
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