WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mountain to Sound Outfitters burglarized, again
You would think this snowy weather would make it a memorable week for Mountain to Sound Outfitters, a West Seattle business that specializes in part in snow gear. But instead, for proprietor Greg Whittaker, it’s memorable in a bad way.
His shop at 3602 SW Alaska was broken into early today for the third time in a week. We heard about it from a reader who was passing by early this morning and saw SFD on the scene cleaning up broken glass. We then obtained the police report and followed up with Whittaker. The police-report narrative says officers arrived to find what the photo above shows, as well as a “large amount of ski equipment lying on the ground outside of the business along with several display hangers.” An audible alarm was sounding. The burglar(s) were gone; SFD was called for help “to secure the damaged door.”
When we contacted Whittaker by email, he said this was the third burglary this week at the shop, and added: “This is completely disheartening. We buy the gear to help West Seattle enjoy the winter and now key items are gone from our store. Keep an eye out for kids’ jackets, skateboards, sunglasses, gloves, goggles. I’d like to ask the community to keep watch in our block, as it seems like they are getting bolder.” If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 21-340896.
YOU CAN HELP: West Seattle’s only winter-weather shelter needs volunteers
Once again, American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle is opening a winter-weather overnight shelter – but we just learned this afternoon that volunteers are urgently needed. Post commander Keith Hughes says they are required to have two people on site at all times while open as a shelter, and they need help filling those slots. Ideally a volunteer could be there either 6 pm-midnight or midnight-6 am, but if you can only give a few hours, they’ll take the help they can get. If you have questions, or are ready to volunteer, call Post 160 any time between 8 am and 6 pm at 206-932-9696, or call Keith directly at 206-941-6654.
BIZNOTE: Alki Lumber sold, after a century
(Historic photo courtesy Lynn Sweeney)
Finally an answer to the question of where Alki Lumber will move when its West Seattle Triangle site is redeveloped: South Park. The Sweeney family, which has owned the lumberyard for a century, has sold the business to South Park-based Marine Lumber. We talked late today with Lynn Sweeney, after learning via a tip that Alki Lumber was notifying customers about the change. The Sweeneys have been looking for a new site for the lumberyard for two years, after deciding to redevelop its current site and some of their other properties; the two-building megaproject has just finished going through Design Review (as covered here and here). She says they were focusing on South Park as a likely new home when, independent of their search, Marine Lumber reached out to them. After discussions, Sweeney said, “we just decided to combine” – something, she said, has been happening a lot in their industry. The deal closed this week.
Here’s what it means in the near future: Alki Lumber will continue operating at its current West Seattle location, with the same staff, under the same name, until it’s time to clear out (which is not imminent, given the time required for permits and other preparations). We’ll be following up with Marine Lumber about their future plans – this news came too late in the day to do that immediately. Sweeney says all this is “exciting” but also, for her family, “bittersweet.” Alki Lumber was founded by her great-grandfather James A. Sweeney in 1921. The family maintains ownership of the land, so for now, they’ll remain the lumberyard’s “landlord,” as Sweeney put it. It’s been almost three years since the Sweeneys announced they were studying “alternatives” for their property’s future.)
DEVELOPMENT: New look at 2-building Triangle project as next design reviews approach
That’s a new rendering of the concept for 4406 36th SW and 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW, the properties that the Sweeney family is planning to redevelop on and near the site of their legacy business Alki Lumber. Family spokesperson Lynn Sweeney sent the rendering today, as architects Ankrom Moisan sent the city the full design “packet” for 4406 36th SW, which will go back to the Southwest Design Review Board on November 4th (as reported here previously) The building is proposed for 8 stories, 284 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and 162 offstreet-parking spaces. Here’s the packet:
You’ll also find it on the city website. ]Sweeney says regarding the 2-building plan, “Our design team has been hard at work responding to the Design Review Board guidance and collaborating with the city to develop an outstanding project for the West Seattle Triangle Neighborhood. The focus of this project is to create a unique and engaging streetscape experience for the community while providing housing for more than 500 new residents. The project is well positioned with proximity to the proposed Avalon light rail station. We are excited to go before the board on November 4th (East Block) and November 18th (West Block).” Both are 5 pm online meetings; viewing/listening/comment info for the November 4th meeting is here. The Sweeneys have said they’ll look for a new location for their lumberyard; Sweeney told us today there’s no update on that yet, nor do they have a target date for groundbreaking.
WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Boy Scouts’ big benefit sale, with last-hours deal
From skis to toys, camping gear to housewares, the Boy Scout Troop 284 megasale at West Seattle American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska) still has “lots of great stuff left,” reports Karen, with three hours to go. Even a cedar chest:
And for the final two hours, at 2 pm, you can “fill a grocery sack for $5!” As noted in our daily preview, the sale is to raise money for the troop’s activities. The Scouts are active in community service, too, as we’ve reported in the past (examples here and here).
Another West Seattle YMCA job fair Tuesday
A second round of job fairs is planned by the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) and 11 other regional Y’s. This time you’re invited to drop in between 4 and 7 pm Tuesday (August 24th). You’ll find, the Y tells us, “on-the-spot interviews, prizes, food, and fun” as well as the opportunity to “take advantage of our limited-time sign-on incentives of up to $600!” The Y says the work offers your chance to “be a changemaker.” Job openings at regional Y’s range from fitness instructors to managers; the West Seattle HQ is at 36th and Snoqualmie [map]. If you can’t go to the hiring fair, you can also browse the listings and apply right now at seattleymca.org/jobs.
JOB-SEEKING? West Seattle YMCA hiring fair Saturday
The West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) is one of six regional Y’s with hiring fairs this Saturday. You’ll find, the Y tells us, “on-the-spot interviews, prizes, food, and fun” as well as the opportunity to “take advantage of our limited-time sign-on incentives of up to $600!” The Y says working with them is your chance to “be a changemaker.” The local hiring fair is at the main West Seattle branch in The Triangle, 36th SW and SW Snoqualmie, 10 am-1 pm this Saturday (August 14th). Job openings in the region include Day Camp Counselors, Resident Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Swim Instructors, Early Education Teachers, more. If you can’t go to the hiring fair, you can also apply right now at seattleymca.org/jobs.
ROAD-WORK UPDATES: 36th/Oregon repairs end early; new detour map for SW Genesee closure
Two road-work updates:
36TH/OREGON: Repairing this heat-damaged stretch of street was expected to take up to two weeks, but instead, it was done in one. The closure continues tonight while the new concrete finishes drying, but SDOT plans to reopen the street “as soon as crews have verified that the concrete has finished hardening, which will likely be tomorrow morning.”
SW GENESEE CLOSURE: Reminder – this closure west of Delridge Way (previewed here) starts at 7 am tomorrow. SDOT sent a new detour map today:
The street is expected to remain closed until early Monday, the first of two consecutive weekend closures, for “street upgrades” related to the RapidRide H Line preparation project. SDOT says that during the closure, “For people wishing to travel between Delridge Way SW and SW Avalon Way, we encourage them to detour to SW Orchard St during this closure. The streets marked in black will be open to local traffic only.”
BIZNOTE: Big availability expansion for Rebellyous Foods
From the “eat local” department: A year and a half after we brought you first word that Rebellyous Foods had moved to the West Seattle Triangle, it’s just announced a big new deal that will make its plant-based nuggets, tenders, and patties available in hundreds more stores, including three more in West Seattle. Rebellyous says its products will be available starting this week in 200 Safeway stores in the Northwest. In West Seattle, you can already buy Rebellyous products at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction and Wildwood Market in Fauntleroy. Rebellyous also notes that its nuggets are now award-winning, honored last month with the New Product Award in the Plant-Based Protein category as part of the Specialty Food Association’s 2021 sofi™ Awards. The company – which also focuses on food-manufacturing technology development – notes that the plant-based food industry is now a $7 billion-per-year retail market, with 27 percent growth in just the past year.
SATURDAY: 4th annual West Seattle Boat Swap – sell and/or buy!
Thinking about getting out on the water? And/or – got gear to sell? Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle is presenting the 4th annual West Seattle Boat Swap this Saturday (May 1st). This is for “human-powered watercraft” such as kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and related gear. You are welcome to drop off your watercraft and gear 9 am-11 am that morning; shopping hours are 10 am-4 pm; pickup of unsold items is immediately afterward, 4 pm-5 pm. Along with whatever community members bring in, M2SO adds, “We will have used kayaks and SUPs from Alki Kayak Tours‘ rental operation, as well as scratched and dented SUPs and kayaks from Mountain to Sound for sale at amazing summer steal prices!” To register to sell, go here. It’s happening at Mountain to Sound, 3602 SW Alaska.
ROAD-WORK ALERT: SW Alaska repaving
(SDOT image from Community Task Force meeting slide decK)
In addition to the big news about low-bridge access changes (WSB coverage here), Thursday’s West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meeting also yielded a few other announcements we’re reporting today. First: Repaving is ahead for part of SW Alaska. You might recall that the SW Avalon project also included one block of SW Alaska, west of 35th. Now SDOT plans to repave the westbound curb lane between 36th SW and 38th SW. This will be done in three phases, starting with “asphalt-base repair” on the weekends of April 17th and 24th, continuing with some curb-ramp work and concrete repair in May/June, and grinding/resurfacing this summer.
SHELTER: West Seattle Veteran Center offers a warm place to sleep
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Veteran Center)
Tonight and every night for the rest of this week, temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s. If you know someone – or see someone – who needs a place to get in out of the cold, the West Seattle Veteran Center has opened its doors. From Keith Hughes:
The West Seattle Veteran Center Cold Weather Shelter opened this evening and will remain open at least through Friday night. The Center is open to all that need a warm place to sleep, veteran or not. It is beautiful with the newly painted walls and newly refinished maple hardwood floors.
The center is in The Triangle at 3618 SW Alaska (here’s a map).
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Triangle gunfire investigation
1:09 AM: Police are in The Triangle right now, investigating reports of gunfire involving vehicles near 37th/Alaska. The vehicles are reported to have left the area but one person at the scene is reported to be hurt, with an injury described as a “laceration,” not a gunshot wound, so far. Officers just told dispatch they’ve found shell casings at the scene.
1:14 AM: Alaska is closed between 36th and 37th while police continue investigating. They also are looking into a report that an injured man might have walked away from the scene.
DEVELOPMENT: Next step for two-building West Seattle Triangle project
From the latest city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin: Now that both halves of the Sweeney family’s West Seattle Triangle project have applied for land-use permits, a new comment period has opened.
(Renderings by Ankrom Moisan)
4406 36TH SW: The first Southwest Design Review Board meeting for this building was in early August (WSB coverage here). It’s planned as an 8-story, 273-unit apartment building with retail and 163 off-street parking spaces. The application notice is here.
4440 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: The first SWDRB meeting for this building was in mid-August (WSB coverage here). This is planned as a 7-story, 217-unit apartment building with retail and 153 offstreet parking spaces. The application notice is here.
Deadline for this round of commenting on both projects is November 25th; both notices linked above include information on how to comment. Each building also will have at least one more SWDRB meeting, at which more-complete designs will be presented (what you see above are just the “massing” concepts – size/shape), dates TBA.
West Seattle Ski Swap next weekend, just in time!
That’s what the summit at Stevens Pass looked like before nightfall – snow has arrived in the Cascades, and if the weather cooperates, ski season won’t be too far away. And that means the timing is perfect for this year’s West Seattle Ski Swap, which Mountain to Sound Outfitters is presenting next weekend. If you have gear to sell, Friday (October 16th) is your dropoff day; Saturday and Sunday (October 17-18) are the sale days, at VFW Post 2713 (3601 SW Alaska, right across the street from M2SO). It’s an annual event for community members to “buy and sell skis, snowboards, boots, clothing, winter accessories, and more!” Sale hours will be Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 10 am-4 pm, after sellers drop off their items 3-7 pm Friday. Sellers can register here.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Triangle response; stolen rollerblades; abandoned bicycle
Three notes this afternoon:
TRIANGLE POLICE RESPONSE: Thanks to the reader who sent a tip about that big police response in the alley between Link and Lien Animal Clinic a short time ago. We went over to find out what was going on; police at the scene told us they had detained a suspect they had been seeking in relation to an assault on an officer. No other details so far.
STOLEN ROLLERBLADES: Tracey emailed this report this morning:
Reporting a car prowl at 30th ave SW and Holden evening of 9/13. Hoping readers could keep an eye out for my stolen rollerblades. I imagine they will get dumped. Sunglasses and prescription glasses too.
ABANDONED BICYCLE: From Amy:
I found this ditched bike near my apartment (Alki area) this morning.
Yours? Let us know and we’ll connect you.
Second half of West Seattle Triangle megaproject passes first phase of Design Review
(Renderings by Ankrom Moisan)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Though Design Review is supposed to focus on buildings, the streetscape occupied much of the attention as the Southwest Design Review Board got its first look at the second half of the Sweeney family’s West Seattle Triangle proposal.
The first half, 4406 36th SW, got first-phase approval (Early Design Guidance) two weeks ago (WSB coverage here). Thursday’s meeting was about the building to its west, 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW. Four of the five SWDRB members were present – chair Crystal Loya, John Cheng, Alan Grainger, and Scott Rosenstock (all West Seattleites serving on the all-volunteer, city-appointed board) – along with the city planner assigned to the project, Sean Conrad. The meeting followed the long-standard format, in four segments:
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TODAY: Design Review Board looks at other half of West Seattle Triangle megaproject
(Rendering by Ankrom Moisan; 4440 Fauntleroy is the building at right)
Two weeks ago, the Southwest Design Review Board gave first-phase approval (WSB coverage here) to 4406 36th SW, half of the two-building Triangle megaproject planned by the Sweeney family, longtime owners of Alki Lumber. At 4 pm today, online, the board takes its first look at the other half of the project, 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW, described as “a 7-story, 209-unit apartment building with retail (with p)arking for 136 vehicles.” The meeting packet is here; information on watching the meeting, and/or commenting during/before/after it, is here.
REOPENING: West Seattle YMCA’s plan
The West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) has announced its reopening plan:
We’re excited to announce that we’ll be welcoming our members back starting the week of August 17th! We’ve adjusted available services, reduced capacity, and launched new policies and procedures to ensure the safety of you and our staff and adhere to the governor’s Safe Start guidelines. Here’s everything you need to know about coming back to the Y.
The Triangle facility (3622 SW Snoqualmie) reopens next Tuesday; the Fauntleroy facility’s reopening date is not yet set.
Design Review goes online, starting with West Seattle mixed-use building 4406 36th SW
(Renderings by Ankrom Moisan)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Five months into the pandemic, the city’s Design Review program has joined the online-meeting world, and a West Seattle project was first up.
The Thursday afternoon meeting for 4406 36th SW – one-half of a two-building megaproject planned by the Sweeney family, longtime Alki Lumber owners – went smoothly, and concluded with the Southwest Design Review Board voting unanimously to advance the proposal to Phase 2.
The online meeting followed the same four-segment format of in-person Design Review Board meetings, with just one alteration – signing up to comment was supposed to be done within the first half-hour.
All five board members (a volunteer position) were present – chair Crystal Loya introduced members John Cheng, Alan Grainger, Matt Hutchins, and Scott Rosenstock; all are West Seattle residents. Three city reps to – planner Sean Conrad, assigned to the project; Lisa Rutzick, the program manager; and Daniel Kopald, handling the tech.
Here’s how the meeting unfolded:
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TODAY: Southwest Design Review Board looks at 4406 36th SW, new time
(Rendering from Ankrom Moisan)
The Southwest Design Review Board‘s first online meeting happens at 4 pm today, earlier than previously announced, but the agenda is the same – the 7-story, 277-unit mixed-use project proposed for 4406 36th SW, one of two buildings comprising the Sweeney family’s first proposal for their West Seattle Triangle holdings, including the site of their legacy business, Alki Lumber. (The other building, 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW, will be reviewed at 4 pm August 20th.) Information on how to watch/listen to today’s meeting is here – registration required – along with information on how to comment on the project. The design packet for today’s meeting is here; our recent preview is here.
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