day : 16/01/2014 12 results

Hot stuff! Brand-new sauna open at Southwest Pool

| Comments Off on Hot stuff! Brand-new sauna open at Southwest Pool

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The new sauna at city-run Southwest Pool is open – so in case you hadn’t heard, we’re sharing the news, and photos, from assistant aquatics coordinator Matt Richardson:

Southwest Pool’s new sauna is open!

We invite all of our adult swimmers and water exercisers to try out the new sauna. Use of the sauna is included in your regular swim fee during adult and senior programs. Please read and follow the posted safety rules.

Come on in and smell the new cedar.

We are really excited and know that it was worth the wait.

The sauna measures 10 X 12 feet and is kept at 160 degrees. It was purchased with a loan from Rev-Eck and Meadowbrook Councils. It is part of our fitness-room-upgrade project. The remainder of the project is waiting on DPD construction permits. It should be completed over the next six months to a year. It includes leveling a concrete floor, HVAC, emergency egress, electrical and weight equipment for a total investment close to $120,000. It should not require shutting down the pool to complete the project.

Call the pool at 206-684-7440 for information about adult swimming and water aerobics.

Haven’t been to Southwest Pool? It’s at 2801 SW Thistle; you can see its schedule online.

Share This

3078 Avalon Way apartments get final Design Review Board approval recommendation

| Development | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

In the first of tonight’s two Southwest Design Review Board sessions, the 102-unit, 60-parking-space apartment building proposed at 3078 SW Avalon Way (map) has just been recommended for approval.

Architect Radim Blazej from Caron Architecture presented the revisions made to the project, which was going before the board for a third time; the previous meetings were in September 2012 (WSB coverage here) and November 2013 (WSB coverage here).

As city planner Garry Papers explained it toward the start of the meeting at the Senior Center of West Seattle – where the SWDRB has been having all its meetings in recent months – while the project still has a building-permit process to go through after this, public meetings are not part of that process, so this was the key opportunity for in-person citizen comment.

Blazej – going through parts of the revised design packet – recapped concerns voiced by the board and public at the previous meeting, including some aspects of the building’s Avalon-facing ground level, and reducing the 7-story building’s height as part of the transition from the single-family neighborhood behind it, to the north. He noted that the project is “pulling away from the alley” to provide more separation, even though other buildings on the block are almost all the way up against it.

“By compressing the building floor-to-floor” internally, they’ve reduced the height about three feet, Blazej said. It’s the top shaded area in the following graphic:

In response to concerns about whether the big windows envisioned for the ground-level units would bring privacy concerns, he said they’d raised the units and added some green-screening.

Share This

Video: Raucous meeting discusses ‘unintended consequences’ of lowrise-zoning changes

January 16, 2014 5:45 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

With so many important meetings in West Seattle on Tuesday night, including three neighborhood councils, at least one PTSA, and the WS Transportation Coalition forum, few West Seattleites made it off-peninsula for a citywide meeting that was also of great interest. What turned out to be a raucous meeting – presented by the city but sparked by a citizens’ petition – focused on whether so-called “lowrise” zoning should be changed. Yes, the changes a few years ago had some “unintended consequences,” as acknowledged by the city Department of Planning and Development reps leading the meeting – taller “lowrise” buildings, among them. Seattle Channel did record this meeting as well, and the video has just been made available, so we’re sharing it above. Some supporting materials and links – first, the slide deck used by the city at Tuesday night’s meeting:

City presentation from low-rise-zoning meeting

(If you can’t see it embedded there, go to the city website to see the PDF.) If you’d like to read a news story about the event, go here to see what our fellow neighborhood news service CapitolHillSeattle.com reported about Tuesday night’s meeting. And as for what happens next – the city is continuing to take comments as it develops potential revisions to bring to the City Council; see the right side of the project webpage for contact information.

P.S. We know of at least one West Seattleite who spoke – you’ll see Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker at the 66:30 mark of the meeting video.

P.P.S. And if you’re wondering what parts of West Seattle are zoned low-rise, see our original preview of this meeting, published last month.

Share This

Miss the West Seattle Transportation Coalition forum? Video, here

January 16, 2014 4:30 pm

| Comments Off on Miss the West Seattle Transportation Coalition forum? Video, here

| Transportation | West Seattle news

If you couldn’t make it to Tuesday night’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition forum with reps from city, county, and state government – now you can see it in its two-hour entirety, courtesy of Seattle Channel; their video is now available to watch, and we’ve embedded it above. (We chronicled it as it happened, here, where you can read how it unfolded, and/or join the conversation with more than three dozen comments. WSTC’s next meeting is February 11th – watch for details here.

Share This

Reopening Fairmount Park Elementary: Principal announcement ahead; ‘information nights’ set

January 16, 2014 2:59 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seven years after Seattle Public Schools closed Fairmount Park Elementary, it reopens this fall, after renovations and expansion work that’s still under way. We’ve learned that a principal has been hired and an announcement is expected soon – likely before the week is over. And there’s a schedule of events for families interested in and/or likely to attend, starting in just a few weeks. From the SPS website:

Parent Information Nights

These meetings will be held in Alki Elementary in the cafeteria: 3010 59th Ave SW

These informational meetings will be conducted by the principal and the later three dates will include teachers hired for the 2014-2015 school year

These events could be crowded so we ask that only adults attend unless you have child-care issues and need to bring your child(ren) along. Meetings will run from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on the following dates:

Thursday, Feb 6th (new date)
Wednesday, Feb 12th
Tuesday, Feb 25th
Wednesday, Feb 26th (new date)
Tuesday, March 4th

Here’s the attendance-area map with which Fairmount Park will start when it opens this fall.

Share This

West Seattle High School on a quest for missing music

January 16, 2014 1:33 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

You might call this a sort of lost-and-found notice – West Seattle High School‘s music program has lost some sheet music over the years, and hopes you have found it, and can return it! The announcement:

Did you ever play an instrument or sing in a school group at West Seattle High? Do you still have sheet music or music books that were taken home for practice, but never made it back? If so, the WSHS Music Department would LOVE to get these items back! (You will owe no fines and can remain anonymous if you wish.)

WSHS has an extensive music collection dating back to the school’s opening over 100 years ago, but many pieces are unusable because of missing parts. In many cases, replacement parts are either no longer in print or are expensive. Sometimes, it would take only a single returned part to make a piece playable again!

You may return your sheet music and books in one of the following ways:

— By mailing them to Mr. Ethan Thomas, Music Department, West Seattle High School, 3000 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116

— By taking them to the special box in the West Seattle High School library. (Please enter the building through the west courtyard.) Current students may take the music directly to the band room.

— By dropping them off with one of our volunteer music sorters, Toni Reineke. Email tonireineke@comcast.net to get info on location.

If you have questions, please email Mr. Thomas at etthomas1@seattleschools.org or leave a message for him at 206-252-8800.

P.S. If you or your friends or family have music that belongs to other West Seattle schools (e.g., Sealth, Madison, Denny) and want to deliver it to us, we’ll ensure that it is reunited with the appropriate school.

P.S.S. Do you have a used instrument gathering dust? WSHS also welcomes instrument donations!

Share This

West Seattle development notes/updates: Charlestown Café site project and more

January 16, 2014 11:11 am

| 35 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Five West Seattle development notes this morning:

FIRST LOOK AT EARLY DESIGN FOR EX-CHARLESTOWN CAFE SITE: After tonight’s unrelated doubleheader, the Southwest Design Review Board‘s next scheduled meeting is now set for January 30th (instead of the originally published 23rd), and 3824 California SW, proposing 30 townhouses and live-work units for the ex-café site, with 30 parking spaces, is one of the projects (here’s the official notice). We first told you about the plan last June, but there was no public hint of the design until now – its Early Design Guidance packet is available online for public perusal; see it here. Remember that this stage is just the “size and shape” (massing) stage; what you see above is the developer’s preferred massing – light blue represents live-works facing California, darker masses are townhouses behind them – pending discussion at the meeting two weeks from tonight, which also includes Early Design Guidance for 4505 42nd SW, 50 apartments and 16 parking spaces (here’s that official notice).

3005 HARBOR AVENUE: Today’s Land Use Information Bulletin announces the land-use application for 3005 Harbor Avenue SW (map), proposing a four-story, 8-residential-unit project replacing an 97-year-old house. Comments are being accepted through January 29th; you can use this form, linked from the application notice, if you’re interested in commenting.

6536 24th SW: This potential eight-house site (map) was first mentioned here last month. Today’s LUIB includes formal notice that comments are being accepted for the proposal to split its two parcels into eight.

TWO MORE FORMAL DESIGN-REVIEW NOTICES: Both mentioned here before, but in case you missed them, from today’s LUIB, the official notices for two projects that return to the SW Design Review Board on February 6th – 4400 SW Alaska and 3210 California SW.

2 HOUSES AFTER A LOT SPLIT: This has NOT hit the LUIB yet, but a new land-use application is in for two houses on the site of one at 4022 19th SW (map), where a lot-boundary adjustment was approved last year.

Share This

Invade Alki! Fire the cannon during parades! Be a Seafair Pirate!

January 16, 2014 9:58 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(2012 WSB photo by Nick Adams)
There’s a little bit of pirate in everyone, they say. Or, for some, a LOT of pirate. If that’s you – maybe you want to consider joining the notorious band known as the Seafair Pirates, who sent scurrilous word early today that they are recruiting:

Opportunity knocks, you swabs! The rare chance to join an organization hailed by the Seattle Times as “Seattle’s best respected cheesy thing,” awaits you! For sixty-five years the Seafair Pirates have been tickling the Emerald City’s funny bone. Are you cut out to help the Pirates continue to provide this vital community service?

The deal is the same as the pitch used by all navy recruiters; JOIN UP AND SEE THE WORLD! (Japan, Mexico, Canada, Ballard!) Of course like the navy you’ll work for your passage, but that’s all part of the life of adventure we’re offering you.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, find out more about the Seafair Pirates Candidate Program at www.seafairpirates.org/Candidate. If you don’t wish to apply electronically you can reach us at Seattle Seafair Pirates, PO Box 30674, Greenwood Station, Seattle, WA 98113, or by telephone, 206-521-3300. So get your note in that bottle now!

The Seafair Pirates originally banded together in 1949 in conjunction with the first Seafair to promote Seattle’s summer celebration while having fun and serving the community. Despite their bad-guy image, the Pirates make dozens of appearances annually at hospitals, nursing homes and charity fund raisers. During the height of Seattle’s SEAFAIR Celebration, they appear at several events and parades each day.

Share This

West Seattle Thursday: 2 design reviews; Alki, Genesee-Schmitz councils; FASTSIGNS grand opening; more

January 16, 2014 8:59 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Go, Hawk! OK, so it’s not a SEAhawk – it’s an immature Cooper’s Hawk, according to Mark Wangerin, who shared the photo – impressive just the same. Now, on to tonight’s calendar highlights:

CHARTER-SCHOOL PITCHES: Three prospective South Seattle/Highline-area charter-school operators make their pitches at a meeting tonight in White Center, part of the official process in which the state will decide whose application(s) to approve. The first presentation is at 5, then one at 6, and one at 7, all detailed in this preview on our partner site White Center Now. It’s happening at the Technology Access Foundation‘s Bethaday Learning Space in Lakewood Park. (605 SW 108th)

FASTSIGNS GRAND OPENING: One of West Seattle’s newest businesses, FASTSIGNS (WSB sponsor) in Upper Morgan, is hosting its official grand-opening party tonight, in conjunction with the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly After-Hours event, but all community members are invited to stop by, 5:30-7:30 pm. (6323 35th SW)

VOLUNTEER AT WESTSIDE BABY: Third Thursday of the month means an evening volunteering opportunity at WestSide Baby – 6-9 pm: “Come and help us sort donations and fill orders for local children! Snacks and drinks provided, Spaces are limited so please RSVP to Shana – shana@westsidebaby.org” P.S. Teens are welcome, including those meeting service requirements for graduation – parent permission is required; forms can be found on the WS Baby website. (10027 14th SW)

DESIGN REVIEW DOUBLEHEADER: First meeting of the year tonight for the Southwest Design Review Board, and it’s another doubleheader – at 6:30 pm, they review the 100-plus-apartment project 3078 SW Avalon Way (design packet here); at 8 pm, 4433 42nd SW, aka the 80-unit project “Junction Flats” (design packet here). Both meetings are upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle; both will have public-comment periods. (California/Oregon)

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, with topics including this week’s citywide meeting on lowrise development, and a look at the year ahead. (6115 SW Hinds)

GENESEE-SCHMITZ NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 7 pm at West Side Presbyterian Church – details in our calendar listing. (3601 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PRODUCTION: The West Seattle High School student-directed winter show ‘The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’ has its second performance in the WSHS Theater tonight, 7:30 pm. More info here. (3000 California SW)

MUCH, MUCH MORE … on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, for today, tonight, and far beyond.

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes; holiday preview

January 16, 2014 6:03 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes; holiday preview

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As Thursday begins, we look ahead to the holiday weekend, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day observed on Monday. King County has already sent reminders that there will be NO Water Taxi service on Monday, and that Metro buses will be on the “reduced weekday” schedule.

Share This

High-school basketball: West Seattle HS girls win 8th in a row

January 16, 2014 2:34 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The West Seattle High School varsity girls are on a roll, to say the least, with eight wins in a row. At home, they more than tripled the score of visiting Rainier Beach on Wednesday night, 63-18. As you’ll see in the stats, Lexi Ioane (top photo, #30) led the scoring with 20 points; Lydia Giomi was next up at 15 – she’s #12 in the next photo, with #10 Charli Elliott, third in scoring at 10 points:

#4 Maggie Cooper bringing the ball downcourt:

#21 Gabby Sarver:

Big challenge ahead for head coach Sonya Elliott‘s team on Friday, as they visit Holy Names, which has a 9-game winning streak going and beat Chief Sealth on Wednesday night, 72-29..

Share This

High-school basketball: Seattle Lutheran hosts Bear Creek

January 16, 2014 2:20 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Big night of basketball at the Seattle Lutheran High School gym:

Bear Creek visited to face the Saints. The girls played first; while the game was tied at the half, 13-all, Bear Creek pulled away and picked up the victory, 42-29. But the night included a special celebration for their coach, Bruce Carlson:

Earlier this month, he got his 500th win with the Saints, in their January 7th win over Shoreline Christian. And then he notched number 501, versus Concrete. His day job is at Menashe and Sons Jewelers (WSB sponsor) but he’s been on the coaching staff since the early ’80s – almost but not quite dating back to the school’s opening.

The night was wrapped up by the Lutheran boys’ varsity game

Bear Creek won that one too, 76-52. Top scorer for the Saints was Abijah Smith, with 23. Next up – Mt. Rainier Lutheran visits SLHS to play the boys at 1 pm Saturday, while the girls are on the road that day vs. Auburn Adventist.

Share This