day : 27/06/2016 11 results

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight – first, from Pam, who’s on 47th southwest of The Junction:

Sadly this beautiful summer night has turned ugly for our family! After a great, exhausting, first day off from school, our tired family spaced out on a million details which resulted in my purse getting stolen from my car in front of my house.

Obviously it was stupid of me to leave my purse in the car, and what’s worse is that two sets of my car keys were in my wallet. To top off all of that absentmindedness, one of my kids left the back window open, so the big jerk crawled in the back window and grabbed my bag.

Our dogs were going crazy (as were all the other dogs on the block, we thought it was the mailman walking by), we heard a car alarm sound and didn’t realize it was ours because it was instantly shut off. (The thief reached in my bag, got my keys and turned the alarm off himself!)

Just a reminder to keep your head together this summer and don’t get too relaxed! Also- if you happen to see this bag in black, it’s mine and I would LOVE TO HAVE IT BACK! I’m angry and also so sad!

From BW on 37th in the Genesee area:

I wanted to let readers know about our mail theft and garage break-in so that hopefully it won’t happen to them.

On Saturday, a kind neighbor tracked me down online to let me know he had our mail. It was in a locked mailbox and the thief pried it open to get the mail.

Then, on Sunday morning, we discovered our garage had been broken into. There’s construction work going on at our house and all the builder’s tools were stolen as well as our own power tools.

The garage was locked with a mammoth huge lock to prevent this but they cut through the U-shaped loop the lock was on so the lock just fell to the ground.

A policeman arrived within 10 minutes of me calling (YAY SPD) and said the incidents were likely not related. His suggestion was to create so many barriers that future thieves would move on from our house and if our neighbors did the same thing, thieves would eventually move on to other neighborhoods. He suggested security cameras, lights with motion sensors and a simple alarm on the door that would scare anyone off if the door was opened without the alarm being turned off first.

As for the mail, well, we’ve learned to be vigilant about removing our mail every day from the mailbox, even if it is locked.

And John near 34th and Andover reports a burglary attempt:

Wanted to report a possible attempted house break-in. Locked our door today leaving work and came home to find that the key wouldn’t even begin to go into the deadbolt. After trying several times, noticed a small bit of metal beginning to fall out, and I was able to pull out a cheap rake-style lock pick.

SIDE NOTE: Is your neighborhood having a safety-and-preparedness-enhancing block party for Night Out? It’s coming up fast – Tuesday, August 2nd. Here’s the official SPD info page.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle 8U All-Stars are regional champs

June 27, 2016 8:57 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Marc Christianson for sharing the photo and news that the West Seattle 8U All-Stars won the Pinto Northwest Regional Championship in Snohomish over the weekend.

Players in the photo, L to R: Nicholas Beardemphl, Quinn Bundy, Ford Rains, Will Martin, Harvey Lieberman, Dante Saladino (down front), Sasha Ninburg, Marek Hall, Oliver Heltzel, Nathan Boehmer, Owen Christianson. (Not pictured: Brady Murphy)

Coaches: Chad Bundy, Corey Martin, Brad Rains. (Not pictured: Peter Saladino)

Congratulations to all!

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West Seattle development: 112 apartments planned for PCC site at 2749 California SW

June 27, 2016 4:29 pm

| 68 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 6:12 PM with PCC statement)

(Preferred ‘massing’ rendering by Hewitt, from Early Design Guidance packet for 2749 California SW)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Three months after Madison Development Group signaled it was proceeding with a “possible project” on its recently purchased site at 2749 California SW, we have new information about what’s being planned.

The project’s first Southwest Design Review Board meeting has just been scheduled for Thursday, July 21st, and the Early Design Guidance “packet” is already in the city system – see it here.

That document still does not answer the question of whether the retail in the project will or won’t be the site’s current tenant – PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor). We have messages out to ask if that’s been determined yet. But in the meantime, if you’re interested in the project, here’s what the packet DOES reveal, for starters:

*4 story mixed-use structure

*2 stories of below grade parking for 40 commercial use stalls and 112 stalls for residential use; access to the parking via the alley.

*Approx 112 residential units over a podium comprised of an approximately 25,000 sf for general sales and services (retail), residential lobby and leasing functions at the ground level.

*Residential outdoor garden terraces and enclosed amenity spaces within the proposal’s three stories above the ground level.

*Existing 11,427 sf surface parking lot to the west of the alley with 31 parking stalls to
remain as an accessory use to the proposed general sales and services use (retail).

Remember that this is the “Early Design Guidance” phase and that means the renderings by the architecture firm, Hewitt, are NOT projecting how the project will look – what you see is *only* proposed size and shape (“massing”).

The Design Review meeting is set for 8 pm July 21st at the Sisson Building/Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon in The Junction).

BACKSTORY: It was March of last year when we first discovered an indication that Madison was involved with the site and working on a potential redevelopment project; PCC noted at the time that they have a lease “in place … through most of this decade.” Two months after that, in May 2015, Madison announced it had closed its purchase of the site; county records showed the purchase price as $5,750,000.

Three months ago, when Madison confirmed it was proceeding with a potential project, PCC’s CEO Cate Hardy told WSB, “PCC Natural Markets has every intention of serving West Seattle for many years to come. To that end, we have been in conversations regarding several location options, including with the new owners of our current store site.”

Madison’s previous projects in West Seattle are Element 42 (east of Admiral Safeway) and Spruce (39th/Alaska/Fauntleroy in The Junction – Madison finished the project after it stalled under the original developer BlueStar).

P.S. We found early word of this today in our routine daily check of the Design Review website; the formal notice of the hearing won’t likely emerge before this Thursday’s Land Use Information Bulletin. We’ll update with anything we hear back from PCC or Madison.

ADDED 6:12 PM: PCC CEO Hardy responded to our inquiry with this statement:

PCC has been in discussions with our new landlord who, as we have known since they purchased the property, plans to redevelop the site where our West Seattle store is located. Our goal in these conversations with our landlord is to secure PCC’s long term future in West Seattle. We were aware that Madison Development Group would be filing additional documents with the city as part of their ongoing assessment and development process. As soon as we have information to share about PCC’s future in West Seattle, we will do so, first with our staff and then with the community.

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Fauntleroy Expressway project update: Extra closure Thursday night

June 27, 2016 3:46 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

On Thursday night – what would be this week’s last night of work on the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion-re-replacement project – you might need to know about this extra early on-ramp closure just announced by SDOT:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers in West Seattle that the on-ramp from surface Spokane Street onto the eastbound direction of the Fauntleroy Expressway (adjacent to the Nucor plant) will be closed for a short time on Thursday evening, June 30, beginning at 7 p.m. in order for the contractor to replace its bearing pads. During the short closure, motorists seeking to use this on-ramp will instead be detoured to the nearby Delridge on-ramp.

It is expected that the surface street Spokane on-ramp will be reopened by 9 p.m. The mainline Expressway closure Thursday evening will NOT begin until the on-ramp has been reopened.

The Fauntleroy Expressway Bearing Pad Replacement Project began with its first weeknight closure of the Expressway in mid-May and is nearing its completion.

We have a question out to SDOT to ask just how “near” it is to being done.

10 PM NOTE: Very near, we’re told. The SDOT spokesperson to whom we spoke said they’re not ready to settle on a date for the end of the bridge closures, but it’s not far away, certainly sooner than the “end of July” date you’ve seen on the lighted signboards.

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CAPERS Home: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor

June 27, 2016 2:48 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

We’re welcoming CAPERS Home in The Junction as a new WSB sponsor, as the store celebrates its anniversary by giving YOU a gift – an anniversary sale! Here’s what CAPERS would like you to know about who they are and what they do:

(WSB photo, at CAPERS: From left, Mary, Peggy, Lisa, Claire, Joey)

Decorate. Entertain. Give. Since 1985.

Classics that last. We want to sell products that are classic, never dated. Quality products that won’t end up in the landfill. Our furniture has lifetime frames; our table linens hold their color for years. Even the baby gifts can be passed down to the next. We like products with a story: Fair-trade and women’s work groups produce the kind of products we like to sell and our customers like to discover. Because we are a small neighborhood store, we are ground floor for local makers with new products and fantastic books that reflect the unique Northwest lifestyle that we all enjoy.

Product Philosophy

Local, fair trade, timeless design, classic quality.

CAPERS loves local. What better way to get in on the ground floor of a new project than to find it in your own town. We often try out new products at the monthly Art Walk or at a pop-up event that, later, turn out to be regular favorites. Seattle has a large food community and a lot of great local cookbooks. Picture this adventure: Visit the Sunday Farmer’s Market for a bag full of goodies, swing into CAPERS for a large platter while you pick up a few new recipes, don’t forget the candles, have the gang over for a gorgeous, healthy dinner. Easy. Almost effortless.

We can’t find everything we need locally. The next best thing is to introduce you to the beautiful and handmade items, produced under good conditions, and traded fairly for fair prices. Many of these suppliers are born of women’s work projects providing female workers the financial means to support their families and their communities. From baby rattles to luxurious alpaca knits, to handbags, and dishes, our buyers are bringing you unique products with good stories.

Our home furnishings are beautifully classic with a dash of modern design. Make the decorating last, spend your time on the entertaining.

We have so many more products than we can show online. To see our products in person, visit us at CAPERS: 4525 California Avenue SW; 206-932-0371.

We thank CAPERS Home for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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WSB EXTRA: Sign up for our about-to-launch weekly e-mail

June 27, 2016 2:31 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Every week, WSB features hundreds of things you won’t find anywhere else – from news stories to photos to lost/found pets to event listings to forum posts, and beyond. But even with the 24/7 stream here on the website, we still don’t get to share everything we see/hear/observe/receive. So we’re launching a new weekly e-mail titled WSB EXTRA. You might have seen the signup box – we soft-launched that recently, but we haven’t yet mentioned it here in the news stream, until now. We’re planning to send the first one on Friday, so we’re announcing it more widely today.

While many news organizations send you e-mail newsletters that are basically lists of links to their stories, that’s NOT what we’ll be doing. The WSB website is and will remain THE only place you’ll find all the news we cover, and all the other regular 24/7 offerings. But we’ve been trying to find a way to share some of the observations, asides, links, tidbits that tend to build up without ever appearing in a story or comment. We also want to offer some overview features like “comment of the week,” top weekend pick, what’s going to be big NEXT week … So that’s the sort of thing you’ll find in WSB EXTRA, weekly. Please consider signing up (go here). If you decide it’s not for you, don’t worry, unsubscribing will be easy. Thank you!

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COUNTDOWN: Float Dodger 5K!

June 27, 2016 12:56 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB file photo, Float Dodger 5K)

This summer’s next 5K in West Seattle is now less than four weeks away – the Float Dodger 5K right before the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday, July 23rd. It’s presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), and while you can register right now online (price goes up after this Thursday!), here’s what else you should know:

*WSR will have a booth at West Seattle Summer Fest (July 8-9-10 in The Junction, full vendor list shortly) with Elite Sports and Spine, and you can sign up there in person

*Packet pickup and last-last-last-minute registration will be at WSR (2743 California SW) on Friday, July 22nd, race-day eve

*Finish-line festivities on July 23rd, WSR’s Lori McConnell tells WSB, will include an awards ceremony and root-beer floats. For 21+ runners, there’ll be a beer garden inside WSR on race day, hosted by The Beer Junction‘s Morgan Herzog, raising money for the charities that benefit from the Float Dodger 5K: West Seattle Food Bank and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society

As always, the Float Dodger 5K encourages costumes. The start/finish line this year will be on the Hiawatha track, and as always, the race goes down the parade route and back.

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FIREWORKS REMINDERS: The rules, the parks, the pets

June 27, 2016 11:09 am

| 47 COMMENTS

| Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news

(File photo, fireworks debris at Highland Park Playground)

One week until the 4th of July, which means it’s time to talk about fireworks. They’re illegal in Seattle city limits – but the law is so widely ignored that the 5th of July brings toxic, ugly messes like the one in our file photo from Highland Park Playground.

Some of the problem here stems from fireworks remaining legal right next door, in unincorporated North Highline (White Center and vicinity). Sales at legal stands in the unincorporated area start tomorrow, but use is only legal – again, only in the unincorporated area – 9 am to midnight on July 4th. (The full list of regulations statewide – county to county, city to city, specific dates and times – is here.)

Meantime, Seattle Parks hopes again this year to discourage illegal fireworks use at some of its facilities – particularly synthetic-turf playfields, where a fire would do extremely costly damage. It’s announced it will illuminate certain playfields on the 4th – here’s the full list of locations and times; in West Seattle, the locations are Delridge, Hiawatha, and Walt Hundley Playfields, along with West Seattle Stadium.

Still not dissuaded? Think of the pets. This alert is from King County.

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ROAD WORK ALERT: More paving this week, this time 8th SW in Highland Park S. in South Park

June 27, 2016 9:53 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: SDOT confirmed that this is 8th S. work, not 8th SW as first announced.

TUESDAY UPDATE: See comments – this appears to be on 8th S., not 8th SW as announced – we will be verifying Wednesday with SDOT.

ORIGINAL MONDAY REPORT: After SDOT paving workers finish on SW 106th in Arbor Heights later this week, they’re headed for 8th SW in Highland Park. Just announced:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers in West Seattle that crews will be paving 8th Avenue SW between SW Barton Street and SW Cambridge Street [map]. This work is weather dependent.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on (UPDATE) Thursday, June 30 and Friday, July 1, travelers can expect the following:

· Crews will grind and repave 8th Ave SW between SW Barton St and SW Cambridge St.

· The southbound lane of 8th Ave SW between SW Barton St and SW Cambridge St will be closed.

· North-south traffic will alternate in the northbound lane, assisted by flaggers.

· Parking on 8th Ave SW will be restricted – “No Parking” signs will be in place 72 hours before the work starts and parking restrictions begin.

· Access to and from driveways on 8th Ave SW between SW Barton St and SW Cambridge St may be delayed for up to 15 minutes for equipment to clear.

SDOT would like to thank the public for its patience while this work is completed. This project is part of SDOT’s 2016 Arterial Major Maintenance (AMM) program. The AMM program maintains our busiest streets by making strategic small scale investments at key locations on city streets.

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West Seattle wading pools: First week of the season!

June 27, 2016 8:59 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo, Lincoln Park Wading Pool)

Today’s forecast is for sunshine and a high around 80, so it’s perfect timing for the first full week of Seattle Parks‘ wading-pool season.

*Lincoln Park Wading Pool opened on Saturday and will be open 11 am-8 pm seven days a week (provided 70+-degree sunshine is in the forecast); it’s in the upper park, not far from the big parking lot.

*Delridge Wading Pool is scheduled to open today; it will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, noon-6:45 pm, same weather caveat, and you’ll find it in the park north of Delridge Community Center, south of the skatepark at Delridge/Genesee.

*Wednesday is the first day for the wading pools at EC Hughes Playground (28th/Holden) and Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander). Hours/days are in the citywide wading-pool brochure.

Other outdoor splashing opportunities:

*Highland Park Spraypark, which opened Memorial Day weekend, continues its 7-day-a-week, 11 am-8 pm schedule. It’s West Seattle’s only spraypark, and you’ll find it at 1100 SW Cloverdale.

*Colman Pool, midway along the shore path at Lincoln Park, is also now open 7 days a week – see its schedule here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday on the move; bridge closures continue

June 27, 2016 6:45 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:45 AM: Good morning. It’s the first weekday of summer break for Seattle Public Schools. Also, one week until the Fourth of July holiday. Traffic notes:

BRIDGE CLOSURES CONTINUE: Again tonight, 9 pm-5 am, the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed as the Fauntleroy Expressway earthquake-safety-cushion re-replacements continue.

MARINERS OFF TONIGHT: No stadium activity in SODO tonight, but the M’s play Pittsburgh at home tomorrow, 7:10 pm.

ARBOR HEIGHTS PAVING TOMORROW: As announced by SDOT last week, paving is planned on SW 106th between 35th and 39th, tomorrow and Wednesday.

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