WEST SEATTLE ART: HPIC’s final pre-bridge-reopening A-boards
SW Holden, between 16th SW and Highland Park Way SW, just might be the West Seattle street most burdened by bridge-detour traffic these past 2 1/2 years. But a group of artists affiliated with the Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden) chose to try to lighten the spirits of pass-through drivers and riders rather than resenting them, by installing roadside A-board art. Now – exactly two weeks before the bridge’s scheduled September 18th reopening – they’ve done it one more time. Here’s the announcement and photos:
we did a low key install this morning of our final set of A-frame reader signs before the High Bridge detour ends.
We have been consciously staying away from any bridge mentions during the hard times of the detour, but now we want to have a celebratory note on bridges and connections restored.
Highland Park poet Judith Camann penned our “Burma Shave” style message:
Life is a bridge
a Connection
Without taking sides.
The “B-sides” are drawings of some fantastical bridges, hiding the HPIC initials.
We have had a great time expressing for our neighbors hosting the detour traffic, and writing and painting together – and look forward to seeing you all down the road.
Kay Kirkpatrick
Monica Cavagnaro
Kelly Lyles
Judith Camann
If you missed the previous displays, here are some of the stories from our archives:
March 2022
April 2021
October 2020
August 2020
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: ‘Store robbery’ report turns out to have been not a robbery after all
11:44 AM: If you saw the big police response in Highland Park a short time ago, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the 16th/Holden 7-11. A suspect was stopped quickly nearby and was reported to be in possession of “a blowtorch shaped like a handgun.” No other incident details so far; we hope to add an update later.
2:45 PM: We followed up with police. They say that after further investigation, this turned out to be a misunderstanding – “the ‘suspect’ pulled out a gun-shaped lighter while retrieving items from their pockets. They then made an approximately $40 purchase. They did not appear to point the lighter at anyone or make any demands.”
Season extended for Highland Park Spraypark
(WSB file photo)
As noted here last weekend, this is the final week of operations this year for three of our area’s city-run wading pools – South Park closes after tomorrow, Delridge after Friday, E.C. Hughes after Sunday. Lincoln Park will be open through Labor Day. That was supposed to be the last day for Highland Park Spraypark – but in an aquatics update today, Seattle Parks announced two extra weeks for West Seattle’s only spraypark, which will now be open through Sunday, September 18th. (Never been? It’s at 1100 SW Cloverdale.) The announcement also says, “Next summer, Seattle Parks and Recreation hopes to resume summer aquatics at our pre-pandemic schedules” and says they’re hiring for indoor-pool jobs – go here to find out more.
VIDEO: Highland Park Improvement Club celebrates ‘restart, rebirth’ at Reset Fest
(WSB photos/video)
4:08 PM: “We’re going to rebuild this club!” That’s the promise Highland Park Improvement Club president Rhonda Smith made, exuberantly, to neighbors gathered for what could have been a sad anniversary but instead is a joyful look ahead.
(HPIC president Rhonda Smith and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold speaking at Reset Fest)
One year after the fire that gutted HPIC’s building, you’re invited to a party in the park raising rebuild money as HPIC’s Reset Fest continues at Riverview Playfield (7226 12th SW) until 7 pm. Lots of live music, which started with a hard-rocking set by The Black Tones:
(They had to play early because guitarist Eva Walker has a show on KEXP tonight, we’re told, 6-9 pm.) The party’s on the south side of the Riverview field – you can’t miss the canopies. Look for the merch table, too!
The cost of an all-new HPIC (here’s our most recent coverage) is likely to be about $2 million, club leaders say; they’re planning to pursue grants but still need considerable community support for the 103-year-old club to continue and even expand its role as a community hub. Reset Fest – with food and games, too – is on until 7 pm.
7:35 PM: Added/substituted some photos and video. If you want to support HPIC, by the way, you can do it here.
COUNTDOWN: Highland Park Improvement Club ‘Reset Fest’ on fire anniversary next Saturday
Rather than grieving on the first anniversary of the fire that ravaged its community-owned building, Highland Park Improvement Club is throwing a party.
Next Saturday is June 25th, one year since the early-morning HPIC fire. That afternoon and evening, at nearby Riverview Playfield (7226 12th SW), HPIC is presenting Reset Fest, with live music, food, and fun for all ages. (So far the forecast looks promising – sunny and 70s.) It’s also a chance for you to see and hear about the plans for HPIC’s rebuild (here’s our most-recent report) – architect Matt Wittman will be there to present the design and answer questions. Plus, the celebration is a fundraiser as HPIC, a volunteer-run nonprofit organization, starts seeking what it’ll take to rebuild beyond the basic insurance coverage. Be at Riverview for the party between 2 pm and 7 pm next Saturday.
REOPENING DAY: Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area ready for use, city says
(Seattle Parks photo)
After seven month of work, West Seattle’s only off-leash area is reopening today. Seattle Parks announced early this afternoon that the Westcrest Park OLA would reopen by the end of the day – if it’s not open already (we won’t get to go look for a few hours). The drainage work that has had the area closed since November is detailed here. Today’s announcement says some work remains, however:
There are a few work items that will be completed after reopening due to shipment delays and construction sequence:
-Installation of (1) new accessible picnic table. The contractor will close off individual areas to install the benches once they arrive.
-Restoration of the temporary off-leash area near p-patch. Fencing around this area will stay up for the contractor to restore this area with soil amendment, hydroseed and allow for lawn establishment.
We have also kept temporary fencing around two newly seeded lawn areas in the main off-leash area for lawn establishment. Fencing will be taken down once the lawn has established vigorous growth.
As noted here earlier this week, another Westcrest project – play-structure replacement – isn’t expected until fall.
Brown water in Highland Park
If you’re noticing discolored water in Highland Park, it’s not just you. Caitlin (near 9th and Cloverdale) reports it’s happening, apparently attributed to fire-hydrant work in the area. (That can often stir up sediment – aka rust – in the system.) Any time it happens to you, Seattle Public Utilities wants to hear about it – 206-386-1800.
New traffic cameras for West Marginal/Highland Park Way area
As discussed in comments following this morning’s traffic watch, the traffic camera that’s long shown West Marginal and Highland Park Way suddenly moved to another part of the city. Responding to our inquiry, SDOT explained that the move is part of an upgrade – that was a long-in-place portable camera, but now the permanent ones are activated, explains spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:
We have installed four new permanent traffic cameras in this general area (two intersections, each with two camera viewing angles). All of these cameras will now have the option for live video streams. We’re in the process of updating the Traveler’s Map (at this moment the view from the University District is still appearing in addition to the correct camera feeds, and you can use the “prev” and “next” buttons to switch to the correct cameras.).
Here are the locations:
W Marginal Way SW & Highland Pk Way SW (two camera angles):
2nd Ave SW & Highland Pk Way SW (two camera angles):
(To get the video feeds, you have to access the cameras via the SDOT map; the cameras and where they point are controlled by SDOT’s traffic center.) We’ll be adding these cameras to the WSB Traffic Cameras page too.
UPDATE: Crash on Highland Park Way
11:52 AM: Thanks for the tip – a two-car crash is blocking the uphill (southbound) lanes on Highland Park Way. No word of injuries so far.
1:01 PM: Information on this one has been hard to come by; a commenter says downhill is blocked, uphill is getting through. Snippets of radio exchanges suggest that tow trucks are now on scene.
1:12 PM: Lanes have reopened, officers just told dispatch.
WEST SEATTLE ART: Here’s who will create ‘art interruptions’ along greenway
(2017 WSB photo)
Remember those goats and other art under the bridge in 2017? Those were “art interruptions,” temporary installations as part of a city program. Next round is in the works, as this week the city announced the artists chosen to create some along one of West Seattle’s greenways:
The Office of Arts & Culture in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation has commissioned four emerging public artists to create temporary art installations along the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway for Art Interruptions 2022. The artworks will be installed on city-owned infrastructure and offer passers-by a brief interruption in their day through moments of surprise, beauty, contemplation, or humor.
The artists selected are:
Va’eomatoka “Toka” Valu
Clare Johnson
Malayka Gormally
Tommy Segundo
Look for the latest artworks in Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway summer of 2022! Artists were selected by a panel of artists, community members, and city staff. Art Interruptions is an ongoing program funded by the SDOT 1% for Arts Fund.
You can find a map of the greenway here.
HELPING: Cleanup today, rummage sale and playground build ahead for Highland Park Elementary PTA
Volunteers of all ages started the weekend with Earth Day cleanups at various West Seattle sites. We stopped by one of them, Highland Park Elementary, where the HPE PTA has a lot going on. Volunteers are also working on a new Little Free Library at 11th/Cloverdale:
And they’re getting ready for a community playground-building day at HPE in July:
But first – a “give what you can, take what you need” rummage sale is planned next Saturday (April 30th), 10 am-2 pm. Not only are you invited to come shop at the sale, you’re also invited to donate if you have good-condition items you don’t need. Dropoffs will be accepted 9-10 am that day; here’s what they’re looking for. At the sale, everything will be offered free – monetary donations accepted.
Highland Park Improvement Club gets closer to rebuilding, with reveal of design options
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The roughed-out redesign of the Highland Park Improvement Club building would have the same footprint, but a different look and feel inside.
Sketches for the redesign were unveiled during HPIC’s fourth Town Hall about rebuilding, a project made necessary because of the major damage done by last June’s fire. HPIC’s Kay Kirkpatrick opened the online event Wednesday night by saying they’re working on a fundraising plan and hoping they can keep the cost lower by staying within the existing footprint and reusing the foundation.
Architect Matt Wittman of Wittman Estes presented the schematic design options. His presentation summarized nine key themes they’d heard from the community in previous discussions, and how they had responded to those themes.
Read More
READER REPORT: 2 kids’ bikes, apparently abandoned
The photo and report are from Carl:
Our family discovered two child-sized mountain bikes left behind in the alleyway [in Highland Park]. The larger one is a red Dynacraft with a wipe out shield in front. The smaller one is blue and has a license plate that says “2cool4u.”
If one or both are yours, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.
Highland Park Improvement Club ready to take you along on next step toward rebuilding
(WSB file photo)
Nine months after fire ravaged the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s building at 12th/Holden, it’s time for the next step toward rebuilding. You’re invited to the fourth Town Hall, online this Wednesday, as announced:
A schematic design for HPIC
At our fourth Virtual Town Hall, Architect Matt Wittman and his team will present schematic drawings for the rebuilding of HPIC. We thank all who have participated in helping us and the architectural team to envision the reborn HPIC, and we ask for your input again on this important step towards creating the HPIC that will rise from the ashes!
Wednesday, April 6
6 pm
Please note the Town Hall begins at 6 pm – the Architect will be present from 6 to 7:30 pm and the call will continue beyond, if needed, to accommodate further questions and comments.
Scroll to the bottom of HPIC’s home page for the attendance link.
BIZNOTE: Party time for Highland Park Corner Store’s first anniversary
One year ago, Meaghan Haas had just opened Highland Park Corner Store in the renovated ex-mini-mart at 7789 Highland Park Way SW. With all the challenges that businesses faced during the pandemic, she nonetheless plunged ahead and started something new, and now it’s time to mark the milestone of making it through year one. The store’s already become a place for community celebrations, and this time it’s about HPCS itself – you’re invited to “just show up” Saturday afternoon (April 2nd), 1-4 pm, for festivities including cake, games, a piñata (around 3 pm), and more.
Highland Park ex-substation’s potential discussed again, plus SDOT projects and more @ HPAC
(WSB file photo)
Nine years after the city declared the old substation site at 16th/Holden as surplus, its fate remains unsettled.
Last night, it was a major topic at the March meeting of HPAC, the community council for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge.
City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and representatives from two affordable-homeownership nonprofits, Homestead Community Land Trust and Habitat for Humanity, were there to talk about the site’s possibilities – almost half a year after a similar discussion at HPAC involving Herbold and a different nonprofit (WSB coverage here).
Seattle City Light is still willing to basically give away the property, Herbold said, but, as was explained in October, it has to be for a “public benefit.” Affordable homeownership would qualify. Both organizations at the meeting said their clients are people earning no more than 80 percent of the “area mean income.” Homestead said it’s working with a similar ex-substation site on a 5-story building in North Seattle with five stories of affordable condos over ground-floor commercial, something like this:
Read More
FOLLOWUP: SDOT cancels 16th/Austin reconfiguration plan
One mini-bulletin from tonight’s HPAC meeting, just wrapping up – SDOT has canceled the plan to reconfigure the 16th/Austin intersection. We reported on it three weeks ago after a reader tip. SDOT’s Sara Zora indicated at tonight’s meeting that they got a lot of feedback, and after their traffic-operations team re-examined the plan, they decided to shelve it. They’ll “continue to monitor” the intersection for collisions or other problems. (Our report on the rest of the HPAC meeting will be published tomorrow.)
WEDNESDAY: SDOT, city councilmember @ HPAC
If you live/work/study in Highland Park, South Delridge, or Riverview, your community council, HPAC, meets at 7 pm Wednesday, online. Two major agenda items:
This month HPAC welcomes back SDOT staff with updates on Home Zone and Greenways work that has been progressing throughout the neighborhood. If you have followup questions regarding projects, or ideas for new protections needed to buffer any changes you have noted in the West Seattle Bridge Detour Route traffic, agency representatives will be on hand to speak with.
We also welcome back City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and team for further updates on planning for the proposed low-income housing at 16th SW and SW Holden, site of a former Seattle City Light substation. They have been working on clarifying concerns expressed by the community at their last visit.
All are welcome – go here to get information for watching/listening/participating.
WEST SEATTLE ART: Hope along Holden
(WSB photos)
The coterie of artists and poets who have been creating signboard art installations along SW Holden by Highland Park Improvement Club [map] have done it again. They welcomed spring this morning by placing newly painted boards voicing hope – with the flip sides spelling HPIC via bird portraits:
The bird portraits were inspired by David Allen Sibley‘s book “What It’s Like to Be a Bird.” The creators are, from left below, Monica Cavagnaro (lead painter), Judith Camann (poet), Kay Kirkpatrick (themes), and Kelly Lyles (fonts):
Kirkpatrick says, “We just want people to have a good time while sitting in traffic.” The “hope” expressed by the boards this time has multiple meanings – including hope that the West Seattle Bridge will indeed reopen this year, removing some of the detour traffic that’s filled Holden, and hope of a rebirth for the fire-gutted HPIC building. (Next meeting about the rebuilding project is April 6th – watch HPIC’s website for details on that, as well as for word of a community cleanup on the citywide Day of Service April 23rd.)
P.S. It’s been more than a year and a half since the first HPIC streetside-art boards!
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