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Delridge 1988 results

VIDEO: Grand opening and homecomings celebrated at Salish Landing in Delridge
August 2, 2023 10:45 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Past and present 6955 Delridge Way SW residents were exuberant at the grand opening for the Seattle Housing Authority‘s newest property. Above is Fatuma, one of the new residents. Some of her new neighbors also lived there when it was the Lam Bow Apartments before a three-alarm 2016 fire – and have moved back now that it’s an all-new complex called Salish Landing.

Speeches, a ribbon-cutting, and Native songs highlighted the grand opening event on Tuesday afternoon.

As you can see in that photo, dignitaries were part of it – Mayor Bruce Harrell, SHA executive director Rod Brandon, City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, 34th District State Rep. Emily Alvarado. But the stars of the show were past and present residents – all who lost their homes in the 2016 fire were offered apartments at Salish Landing, SHA says – and two spoke, Briana and Theresa. This affordable housing is what saved her from living unsheltered, Theresa said.

Salish Landing has 31 more units than Lam Bow did – 82 in all, a mix of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments. They’re all spoken for, the SHA tells us – and speakers at Tuesday’s event underscored the need for much more housing like this. We recorded them all:

Some of the funding for construction came from the Seattle Housing Levy, which is expiring, with a renewal/expansion set for the November ballot.

(Thursday note: Story corrected to reflect that Fatuma was not among those who lived at the Lam Bow pre-fire.)

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FOLLOWUP: Rebuilt and expanded, former Lam Bow apartment complex opens with new name
July 26, 2023 5:04 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Two months ago, we reported that the (now former) Lam Bow Apartments at 6955 Delridge Way SW, rebuilt and expanded after a fire in 2016, were almost complete. This afternoon, the Seattle Housing Authority announced that some people have moved in, and a ribbon-cutting is planned next week. Plus, the complex has a new name: Salish Landing. SHA spokesperson Kerry Coughlin tells WSB that 52 of the units are leased and the remaining 30 are in the process of being leased. That’s 31 more units than the site held before one of the original two Lam Bow buildings was heavily damaged in a three-alarm fire. Though that September 2016 fire only affected one building, SHA decided in 2019 to demolish the remaining building and redevelop the entire site. It’s a five-story apartment building with 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments for income-qualified residents; SHA says pre-fire Lam Bow residents were offered the chance to move back into the new building. Its amenities include a large courtyard and playground, community room, and small library. SHA says Salish Landing apartments include sustainability features including renewable-energy panels and stormwater-detention vaults. It also has an 80-space offstreet-parking lot as well as bicycle storage. The ribboncutting next Tuesday afternoon will include Mayor Bruce Harrell.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2nd consecutive night of gunfire in 5400 block Delridge Way; hour-plus later, shots on 31st SW
July 24, 2023 11:29 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

11:29 PM: Police are blocking off the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW after discovering shell casings following 911 calls about gunfire. This is the same area in which a deadly shooting happened last night. Early descriptions of two vehicles possibly involved tonight include one – a white Charger or Chrysler 300 – that police told dispatch sounded similar to one involved last night.

11:53 PM: Officers told dispatch they’re reopening southbound Delridge. No reports of anyone injured, so far.

12:50 AM: Now police are investigating gunfire reported in the 6400 block of 31st SW, where they’ve found casings in an alley – from a handgun, they told dispatch, plus “rifle rounds.”

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: More gunfire, this time on Delridge Way and on SW Myrtle
July 23, 2023 10:52 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

10:52 PM: Second gunfire incident in six hours – this time, after numerous reports to 911, police have found shell casings at a gas station near Delridge/Findlay, as well as a car “with blood around it,” though no word of victims so far. There’s also a report of bullets hitting a nearby residence and car. This is still developing.

11:04 PM: Police are investigating whether the Delridge shooting is linked to a driver found with a gunshot wound after a crash at the eastbound West Seattle Bridge’s 4th Avenue exit.

11:11 PM: Back to the West Seattle scene, an officer just told dispatch they’ve recovered “about 50 casings” so far. Whether that’s all at the gas station or elsewhere, they didn’t say.

11:30 PM: After being flagged down by someone, police have found more shell casings – “at least five so far” – in the 3100 block of SW Myrtle.

11:47 PM: As shown on the traffic-camera frame grab above, part of Delridge is still blocked off near the original gunfire scene.

12:14 AM: Northbound Delridge has reopened, officers just told dispatch.

1:33 AM: Many unanswered questions in all this – we hope to be able to add followup information later this morning.

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Two video views
July 23, 2023 2:02 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Two reader-provided videos of West Seattle wildlife to share this afternoon. First, Manuel and daughter were out along Longfellow Creek when they got this view of three of its beavers:

Two years ago we wrote about a city plan to keep beaver dams from blocking creek flow; checking back on the city website, it looks like a related project remains in the planning phase.

On to the shores of Puget Sound – Stewart L. shared this video of a river otter, dining:

If you’re new around here – yes, river otters are the ones you’ll commonly see in the saltwater around here, not sea otters.

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‘Scenes of violence’ response in Delridge
July 17, 2023 9:53 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

Seattle Fire is sending a “scenes of violence” response to an apartment complex in the 7900 block of Delridge Way SW, and police are responding too. So far, this is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing thoughts about self-harm, call 988 – the hotline that launched one year ago today.

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LIBRARIES: Three branches in West Seattle closed through weekend after bedbug sightings
July 7, 2023 3:58 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | High Point | West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news | Westwood

3:58 PM: Thanks to Christy for the tip and photo. The High Point and Southwest libraries closed at 2 pm and will be closed all weekend because of what the door sign describes as “a pest issue requiring chemical treatment.” Book drops are closed too. We have an inquiry out to Seattle Public Library headquarters in hopes of finding out more. Back in May, another reader tip led to this report about a similar situation stemming from a bedbug problem at the HP branch.

5:04 PM: As a reader comments below, Delridge is now closed too, and that’s reflected in the reply we just received from SPL spokesperson Laura Gentry:

We have temporarily closed the Delridge, High Point and Southwest branches due to bedbug sightings by staff at these three locations in the last 24 hours.

We are taking aggressive steps to remediate the issue; and unfortunately, that means keeping the branches closed throughout the weekend. These branches are scheduled to receive treatment early Monday morning, so we are keeping them and their book drops closed until that has occurred and they are cleared for re-entry (about two hours following application).

We are very sorry for the inconvenience this causes our patrons in the Southwest Region of the city, but it is important we act quickly to limit the impacts of this issue by immediately closing these locations, applying treatment, and discarding impacted materials.

We thank our eagle-eyed staff who quickly alert us to anything that might negatively impact patrons, staff, or Library spaces!

They’re not sure yet what time the branches will reopen Monday – likely by early afternoon – we’ll update when we have word.

ADDED SUNDAY: SPL says all three will reopen Monday at noon.

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FOLLOWUP: Delridge Playfield turf project about to begin
June 26, 2023 2:38 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Seattle Parks photo)

When Seattle Parks told us last month that the Hiawatha and Delridge Playfields turf-replacement projects would overlap for about six weeks, that apparently was an underestimate. Hiawatha just started two weeks ago, with a three-month estimate, and Delridge is about to start, with a four-month estimate, so the overlap with both fields closed is likely to be more like two and a half months. Parks announced today that Delridge will close starting July 1st – this Saturday. In addition to the turf replacement, Parks says, “Accessibility issues to the exterior of the restrooms will also be addressed during the closure.” According to the city website, the winning bid – $2.8 million – was by South Seattle-based Ohno-Touchdown JV.

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ROAD-WORK ALERT: ‘Deteriorated’ Delridge Way bus lane to be repaired soon
June 22, 2023 5:18 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Max sent that photo after spotting city workers today along Delridge between Dakota and Genesee, where multiple readers have noticed a section of southbound bus lane long blocked off. Will it finally be fixed? Yes, says SDOT, whose spokesperson Ethan Bergerson explained that what Max saw “was an SDOT crew meeting on location in preparation for upcoming repairs.” He added these details:

We expect to begin construction to repair the southbound bus lane of Delridge Way SW between SW Dakota St and SW Genesee within the next three weeks and complete the repairs by the end of August.

Vehicles will be rerouted to the eastern side of the street with at least one lane of travel in each direction when work is occurring. This detour will typically be in effect 24 hours a day from Thursdays through Sundays on the weeks when construction is occurring (there may be weeks when construction does not occur if crews are responding to other projects throughout the city). The sidewalks will remain open at all times.

This project will replace about 460 feet of concrete in the southbound bus lane and also repair a small number of damaged areas in the southbound general purpose lanes. Crews will demolish and remove the existing concrete panels, and repave them with full-depth concrete thick enough to withstand the anticipated bus traffic. This solution will last much longer than temporary asphalt patchwork, but also takes several weeks to complete.

We are also considering a small number of additional repairs in the northbound lanes. Any repairs in the northbound lanes would be completed sometime after the southbound repairs are completed (this has not been scheduled yet).

SDOT is partnering with King County Metro to fund this project. This block was not repaved as part of the recent RapidRide H project because at the time that project was being designed it was anticipated that Sound Transit would most likely rebuild this block as a part of their West Seattle light rail extension. However, we are performing these repairs now due to the deteriorated pavement conditions and because it now appears most likely that Sound Transit’s West Seattle light rail alignment would shift to another location.

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Brown water after hydrant testing in North Delridge
June 19, 2023 3:45 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Utilities | West Seattle news

First, we received this photo via text:

The caption texted with the photo: “Cloudy with a chance of brown water in North Delridge.” A short time later, Manuel emailed this photo:

He wrote, “It had been a while but getting brown water in North Delridge.” If it’s happening to you, even with the likely explanation (brown water is generally caused by unusual activity – hydrant testing, a line break, etc. – stirring up sediment/rust), please report to Seattle Public Utilities so they can keep tracking – 206-386-1800.

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UPDATE: Man arrested for attempted kidnapping after SPD/SWAT response at Delridge/Juneau
June 16, 2023 4:04 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

4:04 PM: Thanks for the tips. Juneau is blocked between Delridge and 25th SW because of a standoff with someone in a unit at the Longfellow Creek Apartments. Police would only tell us that they’ve been trying to serve a warrant on someone who does not want to cooperate.

We don’t yet know what the warrant is for.

4:45 PM: If you’re in the area, note that officers have warned dispatch (in case of phone calls) that SWAT plans to use a device you might hear from a distance.

5:44 PM: The suspect is reported to be in custody.

6:07 PM: And here’s what SPD tells us about what led to this: “Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance in the 5900 block of Delridge WY SW around 11:15 a.m. It was reported a man attempted to take a child from a nearby business without authorization. Staff were able to intervene and the child was safely returned to his legal guardians. Afterwards, the 39-year-old male suspect barricaded himself within his residence. SWAT served a search warrant and took the man into custody. He will be booked into King County Jail for attempted kidnapping.”

SATURDAY UPDATE: Though we aren’t likely to be able to get the paperwork from prosecutors until Tuesday, the jail register shows the suspect had a bail hearing today and that his bail was set at $200,000.

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BIZNOTE: Delridge Grocery Co-op produce-box price rising a bit, for first time ever, with a deal to ease into it
June 11, 2023 1:39 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

For all the price increases you’ve probably noticed on goods and services for which you pay, some businesses have held back – even small ones hit a lot harder than big ones.. One of those small businesses is finally increasing one key price a bit, for the first time ever, and the Delridge Grocery Co-op is announcing this so there’s no surprises:

In June, 2020, the volunteer-operated Delridge Grocery Co-op started offering its weekly DGC Essentials produce box (similar to a CSA farm box). It was meant to be just a Covid-era stopgap, but it’s become a signature product of our grocery co-operative.

For three years, we’ve kept the price as affordable as possible. But with the rising cost of everything, we now need to raise our prices by $2 — pickup boxes will be $22 and delivery boxes will be $27 starting June 25 (for our July 1 distribution). But we do have a deal to help with the transition — see more below.

The Delridge Grocery Co-op is currently open for market hours five days a week with a store full of organic produce, locally sourced dairy, organic and sustainably raised meats, healthy pantry staples, and a bevy of local delights. Located at 5444 Delridge Way SW, the DGC is open Friday 3–7, Saturday 9:30–3, Sunday 11–3, Monday 3–7, and Tuesday 3–7.

What Is an Essentials Box?

The DGC Essentials Box features a rotating selection of organic fruits and vegetables that averages 10 pounds and always includes a leafy green, a potato, an onion, three fruits, and three vegetables. We distribute the produce boxes on Saturday mornings, and boxes must be pre-ordered the week before between Sunday and Wednesday via our website.

Summer is a great time to receive an Essentials Box as we work with more area farms to source local, organic produce. We’re looking forward to working with Sound Sustainable Farm in Renton, Ralph’s Greenhouse in Mount Vernon, and more.

Our Essentials 4-Pack Deal

From June 11 to June 24, you can purchase a 4-Pack of Essentials Boxes at the current prices of $20 for pickup ($80 total) or $25 for delivery ($100 total) in weekly or bi-weekly packages. It’s a great way to try our Essentials Box at current pricing for just a little longer. Check our website for details.

Other Ways to Get Involved

If an Essentials Box doesn’t fit for your household, you can still help other Delridge households in need by donating a gifted produce box. We currently distribute 15-20 boxes each week, and we are grateful to so many in our community who help make this happen — including long-time donors Melinda T., Ann-Louise O., Lynn A, Sarah T., Elaine N., and many others.

We also need volunteers to help in the store — from packing and delivering produce boxes on Saturday mornings to helping run our retail desk on days that we’re open. You can visit our Signup Genius page to sign up for volunteer slots or contact delridgegroceryvolunteer@gmail.com with any questions.

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BIZNOTE: Boss Drive-In celebrating 9th anniversary Wednesday with gifts for you
June 6, 2023 3:51 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

It’s been a big year for Boss Drive-In in South Delridge – and Wednesday they’re offering you freebies to celebrate.

Eikam Singh is managing the restaurant while home from college for the summer. His family bought it a year and a half ago. They also own the nearby South Delridge 7-11 and the one at 35th/Barton, but Boss is their first restaurant.

The biggest recent change: They’re now open 24 hours a day. Singh says they’re usually busy until 3 or 4 am, and then the staff focuses on getting ready for the next day. They’re still working on their breakfast menu, he says – it’s not quite perfected yet. They’ve installed one self-checkout line and are planning another.

They’re also working with delivery services now, and Singh says that has revealed they have fans beyond the immediate neighborhood – the average order, he says, travels 8 to 10 miles, and they’ve had some customers from as far away as Tacoma.

Boss also has been beefing up community sponsorships, like backing a West Seattle Baseball team, and are looking to do more of that, Singh says. They’re aware that the burger biz is about to get another local entrant, with Five Guys moving into Westwood Village a short distance west; they’re serving a different market, pricing-wise among other things, Singh believes. And right now, it’s time for Boss Drive-In to celebrate: Free fries and ice cream on Wednesday (June 7th): “We wanted to do something big.”

(Boss Drive-In is at 9061 Delridge Way SW.)

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Trailside tribute to ‘patron saint of the broken bridge’ topples. How to restore it?
June 3, 2023 10:12 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

The photos are from Bill, one of several people who have emailed us in the past few days to report that tragedy has befallen a rogue West Seattle art installation – the trailside tribute to Rolf Neslund, “patron saint of the broken bridge,” placed and announced in September 2020, half a year into the West Seattle Bridge’s closure. The sculpture and its pedestal have gone sideways.

(Tipsters’ assessment is that it fell because its wooden pedestal rotted, not because of vandalism.) If you’re new around here, Neslund was blamed for the 1978 ship collision that forced the old West Seattle Bridge to be replaced. He subsequently retired and was murdered by his wife in 1980. HistoryLink summarizes the strange story. Anyway, the sculpture was nothing official – it was announced by a mysterious person claiming to be ‘Lars Fujikawa of the Delridge Maritime Historical Society.” The first installation was stolen barely a week after its placement; the replacement was installed by “Lars” (and friends?) about a month later. So the question arises now, in pixels rather than a Bat-signal in the sky – “Lars,” where are you? Can you make Rolf an upstanding sculpture again? (We emailed the account from which the sculpture news arrived in 2020, but no acknowledgment so far.) Or – anyone else able to ride, sail, etc., to the rescue?

SUNDAY UPDATE: Rose, the first person who sounded the alarm about this, has taken Rolf and plaque into protective custody. If “Lars” – or anyone else interested in helping – sees this, email us and we’ll connect you.

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FOLLOWUP: Rebuilt, expanded Lam Bow Apartments close to completion, 7 years post-fire
May 31, 2023 4:57 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Driving along Delridge recently, we noticed that the largest current affordable-housing construction project in West Seattle, the rebuilt and expanded Lam Bow Apartments complex, appeared almost complete. We subsequently confirmed that with the Seattle Housing Authority. Almost seven years have passed since one of the Lam Bow’s original two buildings was heavily damaged in a three-alarm fire. While that September 2016 fire only affected one building, SHA decided in 2019 to demolish the remaining building and redevelop the entire Lam Bow site into an 82-unit complex, 31 more apartments than the two original buildings held. As SHA prepares for the building at 6935 Delridge Way SW to be occupied, spokesperson Kerry Coughlin tells WSB, “We are contacting former residents at this time about whether they want to move back.” The new Lam Bow, with a construction cost estimated at $26 million, has a mix of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units, and a mix of rents as well, including some for those making up to 60 percent of the average mean income. Funding announced in 2019 was from a mix of sources including the Seattle Housing Levy, which expires this year and is – as we reported in March, and as a council committee affirmed just today – moving toward a $970 million expansion/renewal for this November’s ballot.

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South Delridge Action Plan updates from HPAC’s May meeting
May 28, 2023 9:27 pm
|    Comments Off on South Delridge Action Plan updates from HPAC’s May meeting
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, South Delridge, and Riverview – met in-person this month for the first time in a while. New venue, too – Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery in South Delridge. The centerpiece of Thursday night’s agenda was the South Delridge Action Plan, which kicked off back in January with a survey to which about 300 people responded. The city’s point person for the plan is David Goldberg, who shepherded the North Delridge Action Plan almost a decade ago, and he was at the HPAC meeting to talk about this plan, listen to suggestions, and answer questions, following up on his appearance in March.

The goal of the SDAP is to “create a shared community-city [government] vision and an action plan that builds community assets an capacity and aligns city investments to achieve this vision.”

Goldberg said the city was working on the foundation of the plan by gathering data on how people are connected to their neighborhood – where they gather, where they shop, other places they visit. When that information is all gathered, it’ll be presented, and the city will ask about how people get around. That’ll include transit – including Metro‘s RapidRide H Line and Route 128.

Goldberg said the overarching goal is to connect government with the people in the neighborhoods to create a narrative of what a given neighborhood is all about. Part of that is building relationships between city agencies and the people in studied areas – in this case, South Delridge.

That relationship-building needs to happen sooner rather than later, suggested HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick. She noted as an example that the new Highland Park Improvement Club has multiple city hurdles to clear before it can be built, even though it’s a building intended to strengthen the neighborhood. In general, attendees said they want more in-depth relationships with the departments/agencies that are supposed to be planning action for the community’s future.

NEXT STEPS: Goldberg’s department – the Office of Planning and Community Development – is working with the Department of Neighborhoods and Seattle Public Utilities to “draft a shared Racial Equity statement for community review over the summer,” intended to “establish a shared framework for equity across the [South Delridge Action Plan] work.” OPCD also is convening seven local nonprofit community organizations to have a say in Station Area Planning and Equitable Transit Oriented Development for the future North Delridge light-rail station to which buses from South Delridge will connect. Watch for reps at community events this summer, such as the Low Rider Block Party (which will be presented for a third year by Nepantla).

HPAC’S NEXT MEETING: Usually the fourth Wednesday, 7 pm, but some months (like this one) may vary, so check hpacws.org for updates.

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DEVELOPMENT: Land-use approval for long-planned SW Orchard development
May 26, 2023 10:55 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

It’s been four years since we last mentioned the 18-townhouse plan for 2000-2050 SW Orchard, along the north side of the street, east of Delridge Way. They resurfaced in the latest twice-weekly city-circulated bulletin with the latest land-use notices. Land-use approvals have been given for both parcels, each of which would hold nine 3-story townhouses and nine offstreet-parking spaces. The approvals open a two-week appeal period, until June 8th; that process is explained on the public notices – here’s the 2000 SW Orchard decision and notice; here’s the 2050 SW Orchard decision and notice.

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COUNTDOWN: One week until Destination Delridge 2023
May 26, 2023 8:59 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

One week from tonight, the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association throws a party at its headquarters building, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the historic Cooper School. This year’s theme is “Connect the Dots” – those dots being art, nature, and neighborhood. DNDA’s reminder explains, “The event will generate proceeds to sustain DNDA’s low-income housing facilities, youth arts and educational programs, and environmental restoration efforts in Southwest Seattle.” It’s happening 6-9 pm Friday, June 2nd, with food and drink by Chef Mulu of Phresh Eats, and entertainment including live music by Blue Wave Band and Benjamin Hunter, live painting by Carolyn Hitt, poetry from Seattle Civic Poet Shin Yu Pai, circus performance from Acrobatic Conundrum, and a dance party with DJ Topspin. You’ll also be able to enjoy games and interactive art. Ready to get your ticket(s)? Go here!

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Changeup for HPAC: Different date, location this month
May 22, 2023 2:53 pm
|    Comments Off on Changeup for HPAC: Different date, location this month
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Another chance for community involvement before the holiday weekend. HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – is meeting on the fourth Thursday this month instead of Wednesday, so that’s 7 pm this Thursday, May 25th. Also different: This meeting is happening in person, and at a first-time location, Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery in South Delridge. That’s especially appropriate because this meeting will focus on the South Delridge Action Plan, as HPAC leadership explains:

The meeting is open to all residents and business folks in the area. Learn what progress has been made on the City planning so far, and give thoughts on their efforts to work with the South Delridge Community.

What unique issues does this southernmost area of West Seattle face? What can we learn from successes and failures of growth plans elsewhere? How can we keep our homegrown spirit vibrant and healthy, providing food, housing, and community for all – while dealing with the wave of development speeding our way? What City services are lacking? How can the City work more closely with unincorporated White Center/ King County to better integrate community services currently provided?

Head to 9414 Delridge Way SW on Thursday night to discuss all that and more.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: South Delridge Farmers’ Market opens 2023 season
May 20, 2023 11:20 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

The South Delridge Farmers’ Market is back for a third season, and now it’s weekly! Thirteen vendors are there for the first week – Amanda and family make and sell Ma&Pops, frozen treats with three flavors today, Hibiscus Tea, Strawberry, or Spicy Watermelon:

Ma&Pops’ philosophy is “inspired by our Caribbean and Southern roots to make flavors that provoke a nostalgia and connection to the African diaspora.” Also at the market today, another family-run small business – Wayde and Joey are from Ube Overload, which she founded from “my love of ube and Filipino flavors that I bring from my childhood”:

Their ube-centered treats include mochi bites, cookies, and crinkles. The market, presented by African Community Housing & Development, is happening 10 am-2 pm every Saturday through October in the courtyard at Hope Academy (9421 18th SW).

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Dick’s Drive-In burger truck visiting West Seattle twice in next 2 weeks
May 5, 2023 9:21 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photo – Dick’s Drive-In truck during February visit to Highland Park Corner Store)

If you’re a fan of Dick’s Drive-In burgers and/or shakes, you have two upcoming opportunities to get them without leaving West Seattle. Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) is hosting the Dick’s truck on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – Saturday, May 13th – for hungry shoppers in HP. Hours that day will be 11 am-2 p. Then on Friday, May 19th, the Dick’s truck makes a dinnertime visit to Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) as part of the Seattle Beer Week kickoff – 5 to 8 pm. Live music too!

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Delridge Playfield turf replacement closer to construction
May 1, 2023 8:19 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

Another major West Seattle playfield is set to get new artificial turf soon, and the Delridge Playfield project has moved a step closer to construction: It’s open for bids right now. The project includes more than just turf replacement – here’s the overview in the call for bids:

Replace outdated Synthetic Turf including: remove all infilled turf field carpet and infill materials, install new pad system across the playing field surface, replace collector line along the West side with solid collector line and root, replace non-compliant concrete pathways with accessible concrete pathways, replace all dugout gates with accessible gates, replace access staircase with concrete staircase, replace existing drinking fountain with accessible drinking fountain, install new chain-link fence and swing gate.

Additive #1: Improve the Delridge Community Center hardscape entrance and ramp to Delridge Way SW. Additive #2: Improvements at the Northwest corner of the playfield to provide improved access between Delridge Playfield and 26th Ave SW. Additive #3: Improve the ramp at the Southeast corner of the playfield and park lot improvements.

Deadline for bids is May 17th. The playfield website says the project cost is projected to be more than $4 million and that construction is likely to start in July. Also set for new artificial turf this summer, Hiawatha Playfield, which went out for re-bidding earlier this spring, as we reported.

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Good news for HPIC rebuilding, updates on overflow-reduction project, more @ HPAC’s April meeting
April 27, 2023 9:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The biggest news at last night’s meeting of HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – was from another organization, HPIC.

While there’s been a fair amount of post-session grousing about what the State Legislature did and didn’t do this season, for the Highland Park Improvement Club, there’s pure delight in news that almost a million dollars in state grant money is on the way. HPIC is raising about $3 million to rebuild after its historic building at 12th/Holden was gutted by fire in 2021, and HPIC’s Rhonda Smith told HPAC last night that legislators gave final approval for a previously mentioned $400,000 grant plus another for $500,000.

We’re expecting to hear more from HPIC about this soon, but in the meantime, Smith exulted, “Not only can we break ground, but we can also do some construction,” even as they continue raising the rest of what’s needed. “When you keep pushing and pushing, your voice gets heard.”

The main guests at the HPAC meeting, held online, were there to talk about a different construction project – the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility, centered on a 1.25 million-gallon underground storage tank meant to keep combined wastewater and stormwater from polluting the Duwamish River during heavy rains. Demmelash Adera from the project team led the briefing. They’re well into design, he said, adding that they incorporated community concerns and suggestions voiced in a survey last year. Greenspace around the facility near the 1st Avenue South bridge, at 2nd/Michigan, is important, Adera said.

They plan a solar installation to supply some of the power to run the facility, he added. Much of the rest of the briefing focused on what they’re doing to be sure people in West Seattle and South Park neighborhoods know about the project. Visiting meetings like HPAC is just part of the plan – they’ll also be out at summer events like the Duwamish River Festival, and they’ll be sending mailers to 6,000 addresses. They’re also working with community connectors like a group of South Park women known as Mujeres Conectoras.

Next milestone for the project – they’ll announce two artists next month. Construction is still expected to start in 2025. And yes, the planning and design is taking climate change into consideration, KCWTD’s Maud de Bel assured the attendee who asked about it: “This size should be good enough for a long, long time.”

Another meeting guest was the Southwest Precinct‘s night-shift commander Lt. Nathan Shopay. Asked about last weekend’s home-invasion robbery near 14th/Henderson (WSB coverage here), Lt. Shopay said he didn’t have anything to divulge, but detectives have it “under full investigation” and are very interested in community tips and information. That goes for all crimes or suspected crimes, he said. They’re particularly interested right now in anything that can help stop the escalating trend of auto thefts; Lt. Shopay said they’re beginning to suspect it might be the work of an organized theft ring rather than a large number of one-offs.

He was followed by Michelle McClendon of LEAD, who said the work to clean up the situation at South Delridge’s Rozella Building was continuing to progress. She said its owner is looking at seeking historic-landmark status for the building. She added that outreach workers are continuing to meet with tent and RV campers along sections of SW Holden.

HPAC meets fourth Wednesdays of most months, 7 pm, online for now – watch hpacws.org for updates.

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