day : 01/07/2015 11 results

Sound Transit light rail for West Seattle? Next steps for ‘ST3’ – including one you can take right now

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Will West Seattle get light rail if Sound Transit‘s next ballot measure passes? That’s not certain yet but the ballot measure itself is closer to reality because of the transportation package that finally made its way through the Legislature. In an announcement today, ST leaders including board chair King County Executive Dow Constantine said they’re proceeding with the measure known as ST3 for short, because legislators gave them the full potential funding authority they were seeking. That’s described in the announcement as:

*Property tax of up to 25 cents for each $1,000 of assessed valuation ($75 annually for a $300,000 house). …

*Sales tax of up to an additional 0.5 percent ($.50 on a $100 purchase).

*Motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) of up to 0.8 percent of vehicle value ($80 annually on a $10,000 vehicle).

Again, that’s just the taxing authority that Sound Transit will be given. The Legislature’s decision itself does not guarantee you’ll be taxed that way – it’s up to ST to ask voters and get their approval. The ST announcement says “ST3” will take shape over the next year. If you want to speak up for West Seattle light rail or anything else in particular and have not yet taken the ST survey – go here to do it now – it’s only live for another week. Same survey we mentioned a month ago, so if you took it then, you’re covered.

(Back in Olympia, the transportation package itself still has a few more hurdles to clear, according to the Associated Press’s report from Olympia, and its own inherent costs – unrelated to the Sound Transit component – are calling for a gas-tax increase.)

Share This

West Seattle High School Class of 1970: Almost reunion time!

July 1, 2015 8:50 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle High School Class of 1970: Almost reunion time!

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Verne for sharing this in case you or somebody you know graduated from West Seattle High School in 1970:

We are looking forward to seeing you Saturday July 18th, 12-4 pm. Class of ’70 is having “Our 45th Reunion Potluck Picnic” at Alki Shelter #1 (the only shelter) on the grass by 61st and 62nd SW and Alki Ave. Come down and join your classmates for some casual fun in the sun. We had enough funds for the shelter and 4 tables, so this is free this time. Might want to bring a chair, something to share, and beverage; we’ll have some water and paper plates available. We don’t have everyone’s emails so please forward this to your classmate friends and invite them to join us. We hope to see you there. I bet we see some kids, grandkids, and dogs too.

Your reps, Cathy Westwood McLynne and Jami Hanning Vaux

P.S. You can use the “Share This” button below this story to do exactly what they suggest – options include e-mailing the link as well as sharing to your favorite social-media channel.

Share This

West Seattle weather: ‘Heat advisory’ through Thursday

July 1, 2015 7:03 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

That’s the late-afternoon scene at E.C. Hughes Wading Pool in West Seattle, which opened for the season today; from here on out, it’s the full wading-pool schedule for the rest of the summer. Just in time, too, as the warmer-than-normal weather continues; the National Weather Service has the city under a Heat Advisory until Thursday night, with temperatures potentially reaching into the 90s again tomorrow.

Share This

TRAFFIC ALERT: Admiral/44th, Fauntleroy/37th crashes

July 1, 2015 5:39 pm

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT: Admiral/44th, Fauntleroy/37th crashes

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:39 PM: Two crashes of note as the pm commute gets to its peak:

(44th/Admiral photo by Charlie G.)
One is at Admiral Way and 44th SW and is blocking at least part of Admiral. The other is on Fauntleroy at 37th and also is causing some backup on westbound Fauntleroy coming off the bridge.

(SDOT camera image)
No serious injuries reported in either, but if you haven’t headed out yet, you might consider avoiding both areas.

5:53 PM: Our crew just checked out the Admiral scene. Westbound Admiral is blocked, and backed up all the way down the hill coming off the bridge. Some good news – a tow truck has arrived at the scene, so it should clear before too long.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Armed street robbery on Puget Ridge

July 1, 2015 4:06 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

Two people were held up at gunpoint and assaulted late last night on Puget Ridge. We’ve just obtained the police report, which says they were walking to a residence when a group of people confronted them near 17th and Myrtle around 11 pm (map). The first robber “had some type of pistol and pointed it at both victims,” demanding, “Give me everything you’ve got.” The second one is quoted in the report as saying, “I’m gonna take your purse,” while reaching out to take one victim’s purse; that victim tried to resist by pushing the robber, who pushed her back and took the purse. All the while, the first robber had been “speaking with (the victim) and taking items from him (wallet, cell phone, day pack),” and then said, “Is that all you have?” When the victim said it was, the robber hit the victim in the right eye. The robbers then walked away, along with several other people who had accompanied them but did not participate in the robbery/assault. The victims called police from the house they had been headed to, a few blocks further north on 17th. According to the police report (and our followup question to SPD), the only descriptions provided were “black male” and “black female, 5-7.”

Share This

West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade 2015 countdown: 3 days!

July 1, 2015 2:13 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade 2015 countdown: 3 days!

| Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

As reminded by our photo from last year, the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade isn’t “just” a parade – it’s also a fun family post-parade celebration with games on the green at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, all wrapped up in plenty of time for you to get your barbecue going, stake out your north-facing fireworks-watching spot, etc. Today, the key points:

WHEN/WHERE IT STARTS: 10 am Saturday, July 4th, at 44th & Sunset (map)
WHO’S IN IT: Whoever shows up! On foot, on bike, on scooter, on skateboard, in wagon, in stroller, etc.
WHO’S EMCEE’ING: Josh Sutton from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor)
WHO’S SINGING THE ANTHEM: Leilani Nitkey
WHO ELSE YOU’LL SEE: Guests include West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty
WHAT TO WEAR: Red, white, and blue if you can, NOT mandatory
WHAT TO BRING: Diapers for WestSide Baby
WHERE IT GOES: 44th to Atlantic to Palm, and remember traffic stops down a while as the parade crosses California
WHAT NOT TO DO: Please don’t park along the parade route

Also from parade coordinator Jackie Clough of Alki Party Treasures (WSB sponsor): The crowdfunding campaign to cover parade costs (especially insurance, which was picked up by a sponsor in previous years) continues – if you can drop a few dollars in the virtual kitty, please do it here. And if you can spare a little time that morning but aren’t planning to be IN the parade – more volunteer help would be awesome (e-mail jackie@alkipartytreasures.com). See you Saturday at the parade!

Share This

2 weeks until ballots go out in historic City Council election. Are you registered?

July 1, 2015 12:54 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photo from May 18th Fauntleroy forum: L to R – Phillip Tavel, Shannon Braddock, Jody Rushmer, Brianna Thomas, Karl Wirsing, Chas Redmond, Arturo Robles, Pavel Goberman, Lisa Herbold)

If you’re looking forward to voting in the primary for the first-ever City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) election – you’ll be able to do that (as well as voting on at-large Positions 8 and 9, School Board Position 6, Port Commission Positions 2 and 5, and County Elections Director) starting in a little over two weeks: King County Elections says it’s sending out the August 4th ballots two weeks from today. But you can’t vote if you’re not registered, and the deadline for getting that done is a lot sooner – July 6th, if you want to do it the easy way, registering (or updating your info) online or by postal mail. If you need to register, start here. If you want to be sure your address is correct in county records, so you get that ballot they’ll be sending, go here – that’s also where you can go right now to create your customized sample ballot, to see the races and follow candidates’ infolinks.

P.S. If you miss this deadline, you can register in person up until July 27th, but don’t procrastinate and set yourself up for the hassle – get it done now.

Share This

UPDATE: Truck driver to hospital after rescue response at Vigor

July 1, 2015 12:08 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Truck driver to hospital after rescue response at Vigor

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo tweeted by Seattle Fire Department)
FIRST REPORT, 12:08 PM: In case you saw the large contingent of fire/rescue vehicles headed onto Harbor Island: The “automobile rescue” call is at 1801 16th SW, which checks to Vigor Industrial. Early word from scanner traffic is that it involves a semi-truck that somehow “cantilevered onto its back wheels” and is pointing vertically into the air, but no one is hurt and crews are focused on securing the truck until it can be dealt with. Some of the responding crews have been canceled.

1:35 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Vigor spokesperson Athena Maris for this update:

Vigor is in the process of decommissioning one of its dry-docks. A contractor assigned to the project was carrying scrap material in his truck up a ramp when the truck flipped upward onto its back wheels. The driver has been safely removed and is on his way to the hospital. While the extent of his injuries is unknown, at this point he does not appear to be seriously injured. Fire & Rescue is departing the scene which has been stabilized. Once the truck has been removed, we will begin a full investigation of the incident.

Share This

Design Review updates: City’s making a map; 3 West Seattle meetings rescheduled; what happened at last week’s doubleheader

July 1, 2015 10:21 am

| Comments Off on Design Review updates: City’s making a map; 3 West Seattle meetings rescheduled; what happened at last week’s doubleheader

| Development | West Seattle news

Updates today on Design Review, the only city program that regularly allows for public meetings on some development projects:

THE CITY’S MAKING A MAP: Linked from the newest monthly Department of Planning and Development newsletter, this announcement:

In July we will unveil a new online map that provides locations and detailed information of active Seattle Design Review projects. Our Shaping Seattle: Buildings map gives users the ability to click on a project to:

View design specifics
Find the building status
Comment on the project
Find related Design Review meetings

Users will also be able to see what the project will look like and download project documents to their computer. With this information, residents can be well informed on our projects and be involved in the design process.

No mention of whether this is linked to or inspired by the privately created, similarly missioned app Seattle In Progress.

UPCOMING DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS – ONE NEW, THREE RESCHEDULED: Another one has just been added to the running schedule – at 6:30 pm August 6th, the memory-care facility proposed for 4515 41st SW is scheduled to come back before the board.

While checking the city site, we also noticed three project reviews have been rescheduled, including two that were supposed to go before the board tomorrow (but now there’s NO July 2nd meeting on the schedule):

–4700 Admiral Way SW is now scheduled for its Early Design Guidance review at 8 pm July 23rd – this is the 3-story, 80-unit Aegis Living memory-care/assisted-living project. (The DPD website indicates the notice with the revised date will go out tomorrow.)

—4532 42nd SW is now rescheduled for 8 pm July 16th – this is the new 6-story, 89-apartment proposal for the site behind the Capco/Altamira/QFC building, and the revised notice about this should go out tomorrow, too.

—5414 Delridge Way SW – This is now set for July 16th at 6:30 pm (one week earlier than previously scheduled). It’s proposed as a 4-story building with 7 residential units and 1,100 square feet of commercial space.

All of the above reviews will be at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California).

LAST THURSDAY’S DOUBLEHEADER: While we weren’t able to have a reporter cover the doubleheader meeting last Thursday (June 25th), we do have some information. First, the CVS drugstore planned for 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW advanced out of the Early Design Guidance phase on its second try. If you’re interested in seeing how the discussion went but couldn’t get to the meeting either, we have it on video:

The second review that night (not on video) was the first Early Design Guidance look at 6058 35th SW, a 4-story building proposed for 89 residential units, 8,500 sf of office space, and 1,500 sf of commercial space at High Point’s most-prominent remaining piece of real estate. According to the city planner assigned to the project, Tami Garrett, the board decided this needs to come back for a second round of EDG. No date yet; we’re watching the calendar.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST … if you’ve read this far, you might be interested in the city’s ongoing review of the Design Review program. Go here for a chance to tell them what you think.

Share This

West Seattle Wednesday: Southwest District Council; coworking meetup; 2 more wading pools; Market Garden farm stand…

July 1, 2015 8:59 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(June photo @ Alki, by Colby Perry)

Another 90ish day predicted. So today’s highlights begin at the beach and in the pool(s):

LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Today’s low tide, just after 11 am, is out to -2.2 feet. And that’s why you’ll find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 9:45 am-1 pm.

OPENING DAY FOR HIAWATHA, EC HUGHES WADING POOLS: First chance this season for kids to play at the two West Seattle wading pools that hadn’t already opened: Noon-6:30 pm at Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander), noon-7 pm at EC Hughes (28th/Holden). Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is also open today (and every day), 11 am-8 pm, as is Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), same hours. Full citywide schedule here.

OFFICE JUNCTION MEETUP: Noon-1 pm, cool place to meet your fellow home-office, coffee-shop, laptop-at-the-park-or-beach workers for an hour and see West Seattle’s only coworking center. (6040 California SW)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN, WEEK 2: 4-7 pm, this summer’s second weekly session for the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, where you can buy fresh organic produce grown by local urban farmers, steps from where it’s grown. Here’s our coverage of opening day a week ago. (32nd/Juneau)

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, with agenda highlights including:

6:40 p.m. Waterfront Seattle Update – SDOT
7:00 p.m. Don Armeni Boat Launch Parking – Parks & SPD
7:30 p.m. West Seattle Parade Participation by Neighborhoods

Second-floor meeting room. (Oregon/California)

TRIVIA WITH D-1 CANDIDATES PRESENT & PAST: 8:30 pm at Talarico’s in The Junction, as previewed here earlier this week, come root for a team of candidates past and present from the District 1 City Council race. (4718 California SW)

YOU’LL FIND MORE if you look at our full calendar.

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates; holiday preview; 22nd/Trenton crash

July 1, 2015 7:02 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Welcome to July. All’s proceeding as usual in our area.

HOLIDAY PREVIEW: King County transit info for Metro and the Water Taxis on Friday and Saturday is here; Washington State Ferries info is here; Sound Transit info is here. (No changes today or Thursday.)

7:11 AM: Crash at 22nd and Trenton is blocking Trenton both ways just west of Delridge, per scanner.

7:28 AM: At the scene. Two vehicles involved, nobody hurt.

Tow truck on scene already to clear the one that’s badly damaged, so SW Trenton should reopen before too long.

7:51 AM: A couple reminders now that we’re moving along – as published here last night, road work at the Murray CSO Control Project steps up starting today, says the county. Also, a city update from the 47th/Admiral/Waite signal/crosswalks project:

… the installation of the span wires, wiring, signal heads, push buttons and signal controller is now complete. The new signal and pedestrian heads are currently bagged and crews are connecting the signal controller wiring this week. We will begin testing the signals after Seattle City Light connects power to the signal service cabinet and SDOT signal crews install the wireless sensor systems, at the end of this week at the earliest. Testing will not affect traffic.

Crews will begin deconstructing the existing pedestrian beacon once the new traffic and pedestrian signals are brought online. During the beacon removal, traffic will be temporarily detoured around the work area.

5:27 PM: Crash reported at 44th/Admiral. Don’t know yet how/whether it’s affecting traffic.

Share This