Madison Middle School portables: Zoning ‘departure’ gets thumbs-up
Four months after we first reported that four portables were planned for Madison Middle School, a meeting was convened tonight to consider the zoning “departure” the district is requesting. We published the calls for volunteers to be part of a committee; we went to its meeting tonight to see how the process shook out.
Short version: A majority of committee members voted to recommend approving the departure, so at this point it appears the committee won’t need to meet again.
Longer version: The four portables are needed to accommodate an extra 110 students projected to enroll at Madison next year. Two of them will take up six current parking spaces in the school’s north lot, and that’s why the departure is required. The other two are set for placement on a landscaped area adjacent to that lot. Discussion centered on increased traffic expected with the enrollment increase. The committee supported approval of the departure, with two conditions – that the portables removed and the parking spaces restored if enrollment drops, and that Seattle Public Schools work with SDOT on potential added features on nearby streets such as added no-parking signage or painted curbs. Their recommendation goes to the Department of Construction and Inspections.
NEW THIS YEAR! Be part of the West Seattle Dog PAWrade before the Grand Parade
Get ready to march with your pooch(es) through The Junction before this summer’s West Seattle Grand Parade! It’s the start of a new tradition. In place of the Kiddie Parade, which hasn’t drawn much interest in recent years, the West Seattle Junction Association is launching the West Seattle Dog PAWrade. The whole family’s welcome to participate on Saturday, July 21st, 11 am, on California SW from Genesee to Edmunds. It’s free, but donations are appreciated – you can register starting now, and a donation gets you a collapsible dog dish or bandanna in honor of your PAWrade support. There’ll be trophies and medals – the categories are explained on The Junction’s official PAWrade page, which is also where you can go to sign up!
P.S. Want to volunteer instead of march? Here’s how to help! (Other summer events presented by WSJA, which is a nonprofit, could use a hand too.)
TALK ABOUT IT: Longfellow Creek connection project for Delridge neighborhood, with flood control, gets closer to reality
Back in 2014, we noted a flood-control plan in the works for the neighborhood along 24th SW in mid-Delridge. Now, it is getting closer to reality – and a community conversation is the next step.
Here’s what they’ll be talking about:
Project Area: Longfellow Creek Corridor between SW Willow St and SW Graham St, including 24th Ave SW and Longfellow Legacy Creek Trail
The Issues:
• 24th Ave SW often floods during rainstorms, affecting access to homes
• Water from rainstorms does not drain well from the street and forms large puddles, creating unsafe conditions in the winter
• 24th Ave SW is a confusing area for users of the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail because it’s difficult to see where the trail ends are and there’s nowhere to walk except the middle of the street
The Solutions – What we want to hear from you:
Based on community input, ideas will be developed on how to change 24th Ave SW to reduce flooding, improve trail connections, and make other improvements the community is interested in.
For more information on the project, go here.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash at 8th/Cloverdale
Thanks to Dennis for the photo and report: “This is the second at least that I know of, in a year. This time there is an injury. How do I go about getting the city to sign this uncontrolled intersection???” We’ve been asked that question before, regarding other intersections. This page offers some advice. Anyone reading this who’s been through the process is also invited to offer theirs!
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car-prowl victim gets stuff back
E-mailed by George:
I just wanted to pass along that my car was prowled at the top of SW Myrtle St, somewhere between 1AM and 4AM and the only reason I found out so early was that the SPD officer called me at 4:45 to ask if I was missing an ID.
Sure enough, I just installed a Console Vault yesterday afternoon and had not put everything back in. It was all conviniently in a reusable TJs bag on my front seat. They took that along with some headrest DVD players and my skateboard and grease gun from the back of my truck. All of that is irrelevant since it was all recovered minus some extra keys for all the locks.
The SPD officer said they were pulled over for license plate expiration and given tickets for that but could not be detained. So they departed the scene and were not able to be found subsequently. It was not until he started to process the vehicle he was impounding that he discovered the items. It was 2 males in a green mid-’90s Jeep Grand Cherokee, with a University of Margaritaville sticker in the back windshield originally seen just before 4 AM at 15th and Barton Ave SW.
The report is 18-194460 for the traffic infraction and he said there will be another one once he is finished processing all of my belongings.
We asked George if there were any further details about the impound: “The reason for impound as reported by the SPD officer was that the license plate had tags that expired 2014 and anything over 45 days expired can be impounded.”
This might be the most unusual place you’ll find head-tax-repeal petitions in West Seattle
Signature-gathering continues for the push to repeal the city “head tax” – we photographed petition circulators at the West Seattle Farmers Market on Sunday and have seen others at various locations. Tonight, perhaps the most unusual spot you’ll find signature-gathering: The weekly trivia game at Talarico’s in The Junction. From host Phil Tavel:
Tonight at Talarico’s trivia, due to popular demand, we will have the “Repeal the Head Tax” petition available for people to sign; even if you aren’t playing trivia … but really, why wouldn’t you come and play? Starts at 8:30, goes until 10. Prizes for top and bottom teams.
The repeal campaign has just over two weeks to gather enough signatures to send the referendum to voters, to ask if they want to keep or toss what the council and mayor approved two weeks ago. Its supporters, meantime, have a “decline to sign” campaign going.
‘The Roxhill school building will not close’: District finally ready to discuss what happens after EC Hughes move
It’s been a lingering question in the three years since Seattle Public Schools first publicly acknowledged it might (subsequently, will) move Roxhill Elementary to EC Hughes Elementary: What will become of the Roxhill building? Today, in this announcement, the district confirms it won’t be closing:
The Roxhill Elementary School program is moving into the newly renovated E.C. Hughes building in time for the 2018-19 school year. The Roxhill school building will not close but instead become the home to other Seattle Public Schools programs and services. To learn more about these programs and services, please join us for a community meeting on Thursday, June 7, from 6-7 p.m. in the Roxhill Library, 9430 30th Ave. SW. Seattle Public Schools staff will share information and answer your questions.
We’re following up with the district to see what advance information is available regarding the aforementioned “programs and services.” The building, in poor shape, was at one point under consideration for a possible rebuild/rehab in the BEX V levy (still being developed for next year’s ballot), but we noted at the time of the West Seattle levy-planning meeting last month that it had vanished from the list.
From low tide to light rail, what’s up on your West Seattle Wednesday
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
LOW TIDE WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Again today, you’re invited to Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and/or Constellation Park (63rd SW/Beach Drive SW) beaches to get help from volunteer Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists, 10:30 am-1 pm. (Today’s low tide is out to -1.6 feet at 12:10 pm.)
LIGHT RAIL: Next meeting in the process of determining route and stations for Sound Transit light rail in West Seattle is 5-8 pm today at the ST board room downtown, as the Stakeholder Advisory Group meets. We’ll add/link the agenda when available. (401 S. Jackson)
FUTURE CHIEF SEALTH FRESHMAN IN THE HOUSE? You’ll want to be at Future Seahawks Freshman Night tonight, then! 6 pm dinner, 6:30 pm open house, with important info from activities/clubs to graduation requirements. (2600 SW Thistle)
MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL PORTABLES: The community committee formed to consider whether to grant a zoning-rule “departure” for Madison Middle School‘s impending portables will meet tonight at 6 pm at the school. All welcome to be there to find out about and comment on the plan. (3429 45th SW)
SAVE THE GENESEE-SCHMITZ NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 7 pm May 30th, you’re invited to a conversation at Uptown Espresso in The Junction – the longtime volunteers leading this group say there’s lots to be involved with but it’s time for new people to jump in. If you can’t be there, e-mail them! All the info is here. (California/Edmunds)
TRIANGULAR JAZZTET: Jazz at Whisky West (WSB sponsor), starting at 7 pm. No cover. 21+. Details here! (6451 California SW)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP … via our complete calendar!
Seen off West Seattle: New mega-cruise ship Norwegian Bliss
Thanks to Huck for the photo (and thanks to Diane for sending one too) – that’s the new mega-ship Norwegian Bliss, docked at Pier 66 downtown after arriving early this morning. It’s so new, it’ll be christened while here today. As we mentioned just before cruise season began last month, the Bliss becomes the largest cruise ship homeported on the West Coast, at 1,082 feet long, carrying up to 4,000 passengers and 1,716 crew members. Its regular schedule this summer will be Saturday arrivals/departures for weeklong Alaska cruises.
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