West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
We’ve been watching for the “mid-September” start of the road closure for resumption of a drainage project along Sylvan Way just west of Delridge Way [map], and just found crews setting out cones, barricades, and signs a short time ago. Seattle Public Utilities announced three weeks ago that the project would resume after three years on hold. Here’s the official construction notice for the work, expected to continue through the end of the year.
11:14 PM: Avoid Delridge/Trenton – a crash is reported to be blocking the intersection and police have just told dispatch that “one of the parties involved” is getting CPR, but at this early stage they’re “not sure if he was a pedestrian or in a vehicle.”
11:30 PM: Thanks to Corey for the photos. Toward the center of the photo above you can see that one driver went through a fence. We haven’t heard anything further about the status of the person initially reported to be getting CPR.
12:28 AM: Police have just described this over the radio as a suspected case of DUI. Meantime, they’re waiting for an SDOT cleanup crew. whose work will enable the intersection to reopen. And we have an inquiry out to SFD regarding injuries.
1:01 AM: Officers have just told dispatch that the intersection has reopened.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: SFD says two people were treated, neither with life-threatening injuries:
-40-year-old male who was in stable condition. He was transported to Harborview via AMR.
-50-year-old female in stable condition. She was transported to a hospital via AMR.
(Rendering of what the finished project is supposed to look like, from 2021 SPU document)
Along with announcing the upcoming emergency culvert repairs in Fauntleroy, Seattle Public Utilities has announced another project in West Seattle. SPU says work will resume – after almost three years – on a section of its “natural drainage” project near Delridge businesses including The Home Depot and Arco/AM-PM.
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is constructing natural drainage systems (NDS) in the Longfellow Creek Basin to address recurring drainage and flooding issues and provide water quality treatment for street runoff that drains to Longfellow Creek. During construction in 2022, crews encountered unexpected underground conditions and the project at this location was postponed. Construction will resume in mid-September 2025.
LOCATION
Sylvan Way SW between SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW (near the Home Depot Store)SCHEDULE & HOURS
• Mid-September to end of 2025
• Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pmANTICIPATED IMPACTS
• Noise, dust, and vibrations typical of a construction site
• Full lane closure of Sylvan Way SW between SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW, and parking restrictions near the work area
• Materials and equipment staged near construction activities
• Access to private property and businesses may be temporarily impacted
• Eastbound King County Metro bus stop may be temporarily impacted or relocated
• Pedestrian detours will be in place
Here’s the full construction-notice one-sheet (PDF).
With less than a week and a half until most students will be back in school, summer activities are wrapping up – including Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s Summer Youth Program:
The program’s participants included one dozen paid teenage interns who worked ten hours a week for the past six weeks, taking on a variety of tasks. With them in our photo is DNDA art program specialist Claire DeBenon, who says their last task of the summer was litter pickup in the area near Neighborhood House High Point on Friday afternoon, shortly before we took the picture. Claire also showed us another beautification project carried out over the summer – this mural on the Neighborhood House basketball court:
The interns got to free-style some touches:
Other work spanning DNDA’s art and environment focus included stenciling storm drains to remind people that fish are She explained, “The youth has done a lot for their community by working with kids and families to facilitate an educational, fun, and safe summer for West Seattle residents.” The interns are ages 13-17 and got a stipend for their work – for most if not all, their first experience drawing a paycheck, added DNDA’s Yeggy Michael, with whom we also spoke while there for the photo op. “This is a starting point for them,” he declared. He and Claire explained that getting into this program is “very competitive” – they had 40 applicants before narrowing it down to the dozen participants.
This week has brought multiple crimes of note, so there’s a lot to talk about when city leaders bring their traveling public-safety forum to West Seattle on Thursday. As announced last month, it’ll be at 6 pm Thursday (August 14) at Delridge Community Center (Delridge Way SW/SW Genesee), with speakers expected to include Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, CARE Department Chief Amy Barden, and Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, as well as representatives of other key city departments. The goal of the forums held around the city – this forum is specifically for City Council District 1 – was explained in the city’s original June announcement. They’ve requested RSVPs but we’re told that’s not mandatory, more a matter of ensuring there’s enough room at the venue, so if you don’t RSVP, do get there early.
Thanks to Manuel for the photo. If you’re planning a visit to the north stretch of Longfellow Creek any time soon, remember that the Salmon Bone Bridge is closed for work, as announced by Seattle Public Utilities almost two weeks ago. The work is to “finish the restoration of the bridge,” SPU explains, with major tasks including “replacing the bridge’s safety cables (and) stripping and repainting the bridge’s metal, tubular ‘bones’.” The closure could last through late October.
On the South Delridge site where an auto shop once stood, and where a self-storage building was once proposed, The Keystone is about to open, with 74 apartments and ground-floor commercial space. Development partners STS Construction Services (WSB sponsor) and Housing Diversity Corporation held a small rooftop grand-opening party Thursday afternoon.
Even on a partly cloudy afternoon, the roof offered a peek view of Puget Sound and The Olympics to the west:
STS’s Craig Haveson expressed pride that The Keystone is finishing ahead of schedule and under budget, among other achievements, including transformation of its corner:
The building at 9201 Delridge Way SW is across the street from The Livingstone, which holds STS’s headquarters, and The Bluestone, also built by STS. Its partnership with Housing Diversity, meantime, is also constructing The Junction’s biggest current project, at 4448 California SW. But right now, the spotlight is on The Keystone, and HDC’s Brad Padden had a few words too:
Financing was key in these challenging times to getting the project going, and part of it – as explained when we covered The Keystone’s groundbreaking – was provided by Citizen Mint, whose Josh Hile was there to celebrate too.
(The food mentioned at the end of the clip was catered by West Seattle’s own Falafel Salam.) Several units were open for self-guided tours. 65 of The Keystone’s 74 units are one-bedrooms:
If you’re looking for a different apartment experience, check out the loft units:
(The Keystone was designed by architects Atelier Drome.) In addition to the one-bedrooms, The Keystone has six 2-bedroom units and three small-efficiency dwelling units (aka microstudios). 15 of its units are rent-restricted via the city Multifamily Tax Exemption program (there are income requirements to qualify for those). According to the print brochure circulated at the building, one-bedroom apartment rents start at $1,369.
The building’s ground-floor commercial spaces, totaling about 4,000 sf, are still in search of tenants; here’s the flyer.
Last week we published District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka‘s brief announcement of the date for this area’s version of the community-safety forums being held around the city. Today, SPD’s Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite has sent the full announcement, including a registration link if you’re interested in attending:
On behalf of the Seattle Mayor’s Office and the City of Seattle, we are excited to invite you to attend the “Creating a Safer Seattle Public Safety Community Forum” on Thursday, August 14 at Delridge Community Center, from 6 – 7:30 PM. …
The forums will feature our new Police Chief Shon Barnes sharing his vision for Seattle-Centric policing, provide updates on the City’s progress on our One Seattle Restoration Framework, and engage community in discussions about public safety and public health solutions for our city. They will include representatives from the Seattle Police Department, Fire Department, CARE Department, Parks, Seattle Public Utilities, Human Service Department, and Department of Transportation to discuss progress and hear your feedback.
Please RSVP by using this registration link to reserve your spot. Seating is limited due to venue capacity. After registering, please complete this public safety survey to help us measure progress and feedback.
We look forward to seeing you at the forum and hearing your ideas to make Seattle safer for everyone.
(WSB file photo)
That’s the beloved Salmon Bone Bridge on Longfellow Creek, subject of this notice that Seattle Public Utilities sent us to share with you about another closure to follow up last year’s work:
Salmon Bone Bridge Temporary Closure
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Salmon Bone Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over Longfellow Creek near the Dragonfly Garden. The bridge was designed by renowned Seattle-based artist Lorna Jordan to invoke the skeletal structure of a fish. SPU replaced the deteriorated decking in the summer of 2024 with a CorDeck Dots decking material meant for slip resistance and to withstand wet weather over a long service life. The new material honors the artist’s original vision and herringbone design, but it will be safer, more durable, and more accessible.SPU plans to finish the restoration of the bridge this year from August to October. Restoration will include:
• Replacing the bridge’s safety cables
• Stripping and repainting the bridge’s metal, tubular “bones”
SCHEDULE
The bridge will be closed for up to 3 months from August to October. This work must take place in the summer months to reduce risk to the fish. Timing, duration, and working hours are subject to change due to permitting, weather, crew availability, and other factors. Thank you for your patience during this work.LOCATION
The Salmon Bone Bridge spans Longfellow Creek where it passes through the greenspace between SW Nevada St/SW Yancy St and 28th Ave SW/26th Ave SW. No other areas of the greenspace will be impacted by this temporary bridge closure.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Lucky Sushi is rolling toward North Delridge.
We discovered this thanks to a reader who texted about seeing that window sign somewhere on the east side of a mile-plus stretch. We’ve always loved a good mystery, so we set out to narrow it down. Within 24 hours we were talking by phone with proprietor Mikko Yamaguchi about the plan for the south space at 5216 Delridge Way SW [map].
He already runs Lucky Sushi at 5020 Rainier Avenue S., opened a half-year ago, and says he’s had many orders from West Seattle, so he says the expansion seems natural, observing that the sushi market here doesn’t seem maxed out. This is a relatively small space in a new live/work building, so he’ll offer takeout and delivery (no dine-in), focused on sushi and boba tea.
Yamaguchi expects to keep prices reasonable with relatively low operating costs (for example, he’ll be most of the labor), plus the pickup option will save you what he observes are ever-rising delivery fees. But, capitalizing on another recent trend, he plans to be open late, looking to start with hours noon to 11 pm, seven days a week. (He says all his previous restaurants have been open late, and that’s contributed to their success.)
This is sushi with another twist. He says the inspiration for the name “Lucky Sushi” comes from his background setting up sushi bars in small casinos/card rooms. He plans to have a wheel for customers to spin after orders of a certain level, and they’ll have a chance to “win” something – a discount on their current or future order, for example.
Also in keeping with the theme, the classic paw-up “lucky cat” will be part of the decor (see the photo above), which he says will overall be the “cutest” sushi shop you’ve ever seen.
Back to the food – he promises vegetarian and vegan options, which he says are popular at the Rainier Avenue location. But the most popular menu item at all his previous restaurants has been the “Chef’s Roll,” which he says includes shrimp tempura, crab, seared salmon, spicy mayo, green onion, and more.
Now, the big question – how soon will Lucky Sushi open? As with all new businesses, that depends in large part on inspections and permits. Yamaguchi is hoping for mid-September.
Perhaps the timeline will work out; he says he’s long been “lucky in life.”
SIDE NOTE: The space next door to the future Lucky Sushi is still available for lease; contact broker Susi Musi if you’re in the market (she’s also representing office and café spaces in the new Keystone development in South Delridge).
More confirmed gunfire on SW Brandon. Police headed that way after multiple 911 callers said they thought they’d heard gunfire, and officers confirmed it – they’ve just told dispatch they found casings on SW Brandon, in the 2800 block. No report of any injuries so far.
Seattle Fire sent a mid-size response, and Seattle Police sent street-closing assistance, but a gas leak in the 4500 block of 26th SW has been handled quickly; SFD reported being able to shut it down within moments of their arrival. They’re checking now for gas levels or other impacts inside at least one nearby house.
If you – or a student in your household – can spare some time, this volunteer project is looking to sign up a hundred volunteers! Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
We’re looking for 100 volunteers to work together (kids more than welcome!) to help with safety and aesthetic improvements to the exterior and playground at Louisa Boren STEM K-8.
Need volunteer hours for middle or high school? We’re happy to sign any forms to confirm your volunteer hours.
Sign up below to join us on Friday, July 18 and/or Saturday, July 19, 9 am – 5 pm.
Volunteer sign-up: signupgenius.com/go/10C0549A9A823A0FEC43-57389089-louisa
Looks like we’ll have sunny days before, during and after – making it perfect painting weather. We have lots of approved projects to knock out, so bring friends – let’s get it DONE!!
Questions? Email cheandrie@stemk8pta.org
The school is at 5950 Delridge Way SW.
That’s the Trujillo family in their Rivian R1S electric vehicle. You probably know Laurel and Andrew as proprietors of Ounces in North Delridge. They’re hosting a Rivian owners meetup next Saturday (July 12) and it’s not just your average meetup – Laurel explains, “For this meetup, we’re trying to break the world record of most Rivians in a caravan and we want to make sure all the Rivian Owners of West Seattle get the invite to come down on July 12th and take part in this super cool, fun and hopefully momentous event! The record to beat is 70 Rivians and it will take all of our fellow West Seattle Rivian Community (and beyond) to do it!” They’ve been Rivian owners for more than a year and say it’s a “fun and unique community to be a part of, which is why we thought it would be a cool idea to gather and meet other local Rivian Owners in West Seattle –– and to uplevel the gathering even more, might as well try to break the record!” They’ll start from Ounces at noon next Saturday in the back parking lot, then, “We’ll take a Caravan Cruise around Alki, then return to Ounces for a social meetup with Rivian swag giveaways! All Rivian R1 Models welcome! Just arrive by 12 pm to join.” More event details here. (If you haven’t been to Ounces, it’s at 3809 Delridge Way SW.)
(WSB photo)
While STS Construction Services (WSB sponsor) and Housing Diversity Corporation continue construction on their project in The Junction, another of their West Seattle projects is approaching completion. This is Keystone at 9201 Delridge Way SW, and the development team tells WSB that it’s scheduled to celebrate its grand opening next month. Keystone is a mixed-use building and still seeking commercial tenants for its nearly 4,000 square feet of space – broker Susi Musi tells us, “Our ideal commercial tenants are an office tenant and a cafe, such as therapy, dental/orthodontist, professional services office. Key features are 12-foot ceilings, frontage on Delridge, abundant natural light, location, and demographics.” Here’s the leasing flyer she provided. As for the apartments, the building contains 74 units, also with high ceilings; more info here. (The site previously held an auto shop, and had other project proposals under different ownership before this one “stuck,” including a self-storage facility.)
(WSB file photo)
Last year, you might recall, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka got $2 million included in the city budget for what was described as his “highest priority” – a plan to remove a median curb blocking left turns into the Refugee and Immigrant Family Center Preschool on Delridge Way, where he had been a parent. The plan stirred a continuing uproar; supporters of the curb nicknamed it “Curby” and mounted a “Save Curby” campaign. SDOT hadn’t set a timeline for the work to be done, last we checked. Then moments ago, a news release arrived in the inbox, declaring that Councilmember Saka and Mayor Bruce Harrell have come up with an alternative plan:
Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1) today announced a community-driven solution to address longstanding roadway safety concerns on Delridge Way SW. In response to concerns from the Refugee and Immigrant Family Center (RIFC) families, staff, and neighbors, three low-cost improvements will enhance safe access to RIFC while maintaining roadway safety for all users.
Last Fall, Councilmember Saka proposed and the Council adopted $2 million in City funding to prioritize safe, equitable access along this critical arterial — including the installation of a Metro bus stop in front of the RIFC building.
Thanks to a collaborative effort with the Mayor’s Office and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the adopted solutions will achieve these goals at a fraction of the original budget. The solutions are estimated to cost approximately $500,000…. The three quick-build, cost-effective improvements include:
Designated Pick-Up/Drop-Off Zones: Install signage for designated pickup/drop off within a short walk of RIFC for families, including areas on Delridge Way SW and SW Willow Street. Passenger load zones can provide a safe, designated space less than 300 feet from RIFC’s entrance (to be completed this summer).
Non-Peak Parking in Bus Lane: Install signage for parking (which is already allowed) in the southbound bus lane during non-PM peak hours (except between 3-7PM) to facilitate RIFC pick-up and drop-off (to be completed this summer).
Southbound Turn-Around (Jug-Handle): A safer proposed turn-around at or near 22nd Ave SW allowing vehicles arriving from the south to head north and loop back south without obstructing traffic (to be completed by end of the year).
Councilmember Saka has an extensive explanation in this newsletter that arrived concurrently with the news release.
In a comment during our power-outage coverage, someone wondered if the Louisa Boren STEM K-8 graduation ceremony would be affected. Turns out it was – but everybody adapted adeptly, says Amy, who sent the photo and report:
Just wanted to give a shout out to Boren STEM K-8 8th graders who had their 8th grade graduation this evening at the school with no power. They had to pivot with only an hour before the ceremony when the lights went out. They moved the event to the lunch room since it has windows and natural light, moved as many decorations as they could, and they had no mics or amplified music or slideshows as planned. The grads rolled with it all, gave their speeches, celebrated each other, and still had a great evening together. Congratulations to all the graduates!
11:35 AM: Police are converging on 25th/Dakota [vicinity map] for a gunfire investigation. Dispatch says two people were reported to be shooting at each other, one on foot, one in a vehicle. No injuries reported so far.
11:37 AM: The vehicle is described as a gray Kia Sorento; the shooter on foot is described only as Black, male, black shirt, red pants, seen running south on Dakota.
11:40 AM: Police report that they’ve detained one possible suspect. They’re also closing off Dakota at Delridge.
11:53 AM: If you see/hear a helicopter, Guardian One was just getting its day started and was going to head this way to help with the search. Police meantime are checking out leads that other possible suspects might be linked to residence(s) nearby. Still no report of any injuries.
1:01 PM: Police are still on the scene, between Delridge and 25th. They slso have a report of bullet damage at a nearby apartment building.
5:31 PM: We obtained a little more information from police at day’s end. The person they detained was arrested and was to be booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault; they believe he was the person involved in the shootout who was “on foot” while the other got away in a car.
(WSB photos)
Pride month begins tomorrow, but Louisa Boren STEM K-8 in Delridge got an early start with a Pride Kickoff Party on the playground last night. Rainbows were everywhere, from chalk creations to costumes:
Sponsors and participants included the PTA, GGLOW, and area organizations like White Center Pride:
WC Pride’s street festival is one week from today, June 7 on 16th SW between Roxbury and SW 100th.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered at the Delridge Library on Wednesday night for the May meeting of HPAC, the community coalition that includes Highland Park, South Delridge, and Riverview.
The meeting was facilitated by HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick, and featured discussion about crime statistics and prevention, an update on the Holden Natural Drainage System (NDS) project, and a presentation on RV waste outreach efforts. Meeting notes are below:
POLICE UPDATE: First on the agenda was an update from SPD’s Jennifer Satterwhite regarding crime stats in the area.
Although the numbers look good, Satterwhite said the summer months typically bring increases in criminal activity, so continued vigilance by the public is advised. She mentioned the increased summer emphasis on Alki and other hotspots, with overtime patrols and public education on burglary prevention. Regarding illegal vending on Alki: There is only one permitted vendor there; most are unpermitted, raising health and safety concerns as well as pushback from local restaurants. Enforcement is complex due to overlapping agency jurisdictions, and fines are often ineffective as vendors just pay the fine and quickly return.
Regarding the recent uptick in car crashes possibly linked to a social media challenge, Satterwhite said she’s been engaged with the community and SPD is investigating and facilitating prevention meetings. There were 4 crashes on the SW Alaska hill west of the Junction, and another in Sunrise Heights, just in the past couple of weeks.
DRAINAGE AND STORMWATER: Next up was a Seattle Public Utilities presentation from the team behind the Holden Natural Drainage System (NDS) Project, which is described on their website as follows:
More than 12 million pounds of pollution are carried into our water bodies through stormwater runoff each year. Stormwater that falls on the roofs, streets, and parking lots in your neighborhood can pick up harmful pollutants before entering Longfellow Creek, which flows into Puget Sound. The pollutants can harm fish, wildlife, and our ecosystems. The Holden Natural Drainage Systems (NDS) Project plans to build natural drainage systems, also known as roadside rain gardens or bioretention, on SW Holden St between 16th Ave SW and 17th Ave SW. The NDS will capture and treat stormwater runoff before it reaches Longfellow Creek and Puget Sound.
The NDS will be built in the space between the existing sidewalks and the edge of the road. The project will include roadway and pedestrian safety improvements such as curb bulbs and ADA ramps, in addition to new landscape plantings.
Project manager Wan-Yee Kuo led the presentation of the latest project plans and designs. Here is a PDF of the slides, provided by team member Val Bak, and you can also visit the “Project Documents” section of the project website which contains the “Final Design Concept” visuals as well as a narrated version of the presentation (“Final Design Narrated Presentation.”)
The NDS will be on the south side of Holden, using the parking lane for plantings. Some driveway and sidewalk reconstruction will be required. Underground water quality infrastructure (“tree cells”) will be installed on the north side to address flooding (which has been an issue in the area), using special filtering soil and structural elements.
Two small crabapple trees will be removed, and one new tree (hornbeam) will be planted. SPU will pay SDOT to plant five additional trees nearby. The NDS will be maintained by SPU, and the trees maintained by SDOT with annual inspections. Contractors will be responsible for plant establishment in the first year, which prompted some questions from meeting attendees about concerns with tree maintenance (or a lack thereof) on for past projects in the area — Kuo said that the contractors for this project will be carefully vetted.
Construction timeline: The final design is complete, advertising will begin in July, and construction is expected to start winter 2025 and last about a year. Planting will occur in appropriate seasonal windows. Construction will involve noise, dust, parking restrictions, and temporary bus stop relocation; clear communication and on-site engineer presence will be part of the project, according to the team.
Want to learn more? SPU will be hosting a project design drop-in Q&A session at BedHead Coffee at 1513 SW Holden St. (SE corner of SW Holden/ 16th Ave SW) tomorrow – Saturday, May 31st – between 11 AM and 1 PM (WSB event listing here). Free drip coffee for attendees! The team will also be providing the public with ongoing updates via flyers, mailers, and their website.
RV WASTE OUTREACH PROGRAM: As part of HPAC’s continuing conversations about challenges with RV camping in the area, special guest Mary Sweeney from St Vincent de Paul (SVdP) gave a presentation (see the slides here) about her group’s RV outreach & support program in partnership with SPU:
HPAC leaders reiterated that this has been an area of concern, which was brought up in last week’s walking tour of Highland Park, and is a “complex problem has no simple solutions – we need many voices and hands to make change happen.”
Sweeney said that the vehicle outreach program, powered by SVdP volunteers (which she affectionately refers to as “Vincentians”), provides direct outreach to RV residents, addressing public health and sanitation by coordinating with SPU to pump out wastewater and offer basic supplies to those in need. She said she has 20 volunteers, and sends out 2-3 people every day.
Sweeney said that many RV residents are local workers displaced by the housing crisis and pandemic. Most RVs are old and nonfunctional, leading to illegal dumping of waste. Residents of the RVs tend to face hostility, frequent displacement, and lack of safe parking options. St. Vincent de Paul initiated the program after discovering the extent of waste dumping in some areas of Seattle. Years of advocacy led to a pilot with SPU, which was later expanded due to demonstrated cost savings and a significant reduction in sewage spills, which in turn saves the city on costly hazmat cleanups and improves public health.
Volunteers accompany SPU staff and provide food (often provided by local churches and schools such as Holy Rosary with their Lunches of Love program) and connect residents to services, with an emphasis on treating residents with dignity and compassion. Sweeney said the program is unique in the U.S., and (as far as she knows) no other utility offers similar services. She said volunteers are always needed, and the program aspires to be a temporary solution until broader systemic changes occur.
OTHER NOTES: After the meeting adjourned, Satterwhite noted that registration for Seattle Night Out opens this week (Tuesday August 5th). Register your block, and hang out with your neighbors! Also, HPAC leaders said that public feedback is still welcome regarding the city’s Sidewalk Development Program, which was a driving force behind last week’s neighborhood walking tour (WSB coverage here).
NEXT MEETING: HPAC meets on the fourth Wednesdays of most months. Be sure to check the group’s website, hpaction.org, for updates and meeting confirmation.
The second week of the Delridge Farmers’ Market (9421 18th SW) is on, after a celebratory ribboncutting with leaders of the market-presenting African Community Housing and Development, as well as two local elected officials expressing their support – District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka:
And 34th District State Senator Emily Alvarado (like Saka, a West Seattleite), who noted the contrast between the local and state support for this market, and the food-security-program cuts on which the federal government has embarked:
ACHD president/CEO Hamdi Abdulle thanked them for their support:
And ACHD vice president Bilan Aden (at right below, as Abdulle presented Alvarado with flowers) talked about future plans for a permanent International Market – like a year-round, daily version of the Delridge market.
We’ll have more on that in a separate report. Meantime, you have until 2 pm to go shop today’s market on the grounds of Hope Academy – you’ll find prepared food like Anh’s stir-fry:
Other fresh-cooked food includes Salvadorean, Afghan, and Thai, among others. You’ll also find produce like Aash‘s greens-laden table including allium blossoms:
The market has a rotating list of vendors, so even if you came last week, you’ll find some who are making their 2025 debut this week. The market is set to continue every Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, until the end of October.
The Delridge Farmers’ Market is back! As previewed here, the Saturday market presented by African Community Housing and Development has returned to the courtyard of Hope Academy (9421 18th SW). More than two dozen vendors are there today, about a fourth of them farmers like Masra from Coyote Run in the Sammamish Valley:
If you like salad, check out his tables:
He’ll be back in two weeks with more, including pea vines and lettuce. Rotation is part of Delridge Farmers’ Market’s secret sauce – more than 60 vendors are on the list for this season. Today, they also include Jeanne from Bahati Farm in Kent:
Her greens include deep-purple lettuce:
Despite the drippy weather, this BIPOC-vendor-focused market was bustling. The layout includes covered table areas where you can sit and enjoy the fresh-cooked food you’ll find at some stands – beverages too, with coffee and tea providers. Some vendors are along the sidewalk bordering 18th SW (like Akio’s Bakery, with offerings including miso chocolate chip cookies). And if you can’t get there before closing time today, make plans for next Saturday (May 24), when the market will officially celebrate the new season with a ribboncutting ceremony at 10 am.
P.S. Besides the merits of what the growers and vendors are selling, DFM suggests reasons to support the market include its buyback program for any merchandise that hasn’t been purchased by closing time, and the fact ACHD does not take a percentage – the sellers keep all their proceeds.
2:32 AM: Police are heading to an apartment building in the 7700 block of Delridge Way SW, after what was called in as “accidental” gunfire. According to the dispatch, the caller – who was described as having a concealed-pistol license – reported they dropped their gun and it fired. A resident in the apartment below theirs, meantime, reported hearing gunfire and then finding “a bullet in their ceiling.” No injuries reported, so far.
ADDED 2:25 PM: We just obtained the report narrative and are pasting it verbatim (names redacted by SPD). Note that it says the gun “fell” rather than “was dropped”:
The following call is recorded on the MDT:
1 MIN AGO, RP SAYS THEIR WPN ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED WHEN IT FELL, NO INJ IN UNIT, RP UNSURE IF ANYONE OUTSIDE OF UNIT WAS INJ
I arrived at 7XXX Delridge Way SW, Apt XXX, where I spoke with the reporting party and owner of the discharged firearm, identified as XXXX. According to XXXX, he had just returned home from work and placed his firearm, a XXXX (XXXX), on the side of the bed while retrieving a case for it from the closet. XXXX stated that the firearm fell off the bed and discharged into the ground.
I observed where the bullet penetrated the rug and the floor. Pictures were taken and uploaded as evidence. Responding officers spoke with the downstairs neighbors, identified as XXXX, who live directly below XXXX.
XXXX heard the firearm discharge and reported that the bullet came through her roof into one of her unoccupied rooms. The bullet struck a dresser and came to rest at floor level. XXXX lives with XXXX and XXXX, all of whom were home during this incident. No one was injured.
I seized XXXX firearm and entered it into evidence at the Southwest Precinct, along with the spent cartridge.
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