West Seattle, Washington
07 Tuesday
Thanks to Gary Jones for sharing photos from the P-51 Mustang flyover previewed here last night – scheduled to wrap up right about now at the Snohomish County home of the Historic Flight Foundation, which coordinated it in honor of the 70th anniversary of D-Day today. The warplanes flew over downtown around noontime:
Click the top photo to open a similar view at twice the size. (And thanks again to Bob, who gave us the heads-up about this!)
ADDED 5:48 PM: A view from Jim Clark:
Two quick notes looking ahead to this weekend:
BURGER BOSS ‘SOFT OPEN’ SATURDAY: When we first reported on Burger Boss (20th/Barton in South Delridge) back in April, they mentioned a plan to soft-open in early June. They’re achieving it, co-proprietor Brian Azzano tells WSB, tomorrow, starting at 4 pm, “for dinner and beyond.”
TAT’S TRUCK LAUNCHES SUNDAY: Last week we mentioned that West Seattleites are launching a truck spinning off from the popular Tat’s Deli in Pioneer Square, and that they expected to launch it in WS. Thanks to James for keeping an eye on the Tat’s Truck website and pointing out that they’ve announced they’ll debut at Hans VW (35th/Graham) 11 am-2 pm this Sunday. (Also thanks to SeattleFoodTruck.com for calling our attention to that too.)
SPEAKING OF TRUCKS … one of this area’s regulars is off the street until next week, and it’s for happy news: the proprietors of Thai-U-Up, a dinnertime fixture at the 30th/Roxbury gas station, announced via Facebook that they’re closed through June 10th (reopening next Wednesday) because they’re getting married. Congratulations!
For about a year, West Seattle’s bridgeside Fire Station 36 has been in temporary quarters off Harbor Avenue while seismic/safety upgrade work has been under way. SFD says the job’s almost done and they’re planning a community open house to celebrate, 11 am-1 pm on Saturday, July 12th – mark the calendar! Other fire-station upgrade projects are on the way in our area, the biggest being a brand-new Station 32 on the site of the existing one.
(Added – our photo from immediately after the unveiling)
10:25 AM: We’re testing live streaming today with the Log House Museum totem-pole unveiling – here’s the link to the page on Livestream.com where you’ll see live video/audio, if it’s working.
11:10 AM: Awesome event! Lots of coverage to come.
(Including County Executive Dow Constantine and Dietrich Schmitz leading Schmitz Park Elementary students on a walk down to the museum – where they joined Alki and Lafayette students as well as other attendees.)
(Crowd & media, with Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen at center, in hat)
11:25 AM: Adding a photo or two here pending full coverage later. And here’s the archive of the second half of our live stream, which includes the unveiling – our second report later will have our main clip, but check this out for starters:
Thanks to those who checked out the live stream – it was done via handheld iPhone, and there are steadier ways to do it, but you have to start somewhere. P.S. The Log House Museum is open until 4 pm today (noon-4 Thursdays-Sundays), and the totem-pole exhibit we mentioned yesterday is now open to visitors too.
4:49 PM: It’ll be mid-evening before our mega-roundup is done – we’re off to cover a few early-evening stories. Two photos we wanted to add here in the meantime – both from Alki photographer David Hutchinson. First, Mayor Murray walking from Alki Elementary:
And a splendid view of the totem pole:
(WSB photo: Marine traffic off Alki earlier this week)
Happy Friday! Busy day/night ahead – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CITY YEAR RALLY AT SANISLO: As announced by Sanislo Elementary:
Sanislo Elementary was fortunate enough to receive the Family and Education Levy Grant for the 2014-15 school year. As part of the grant, Sanislo will be partnering with City Year, an agency that will support the academic, social-emotional and attendance needs of students in collaboration with school staff. On Friday morning at 9:30 a.m., in anticipation of next school year, City Year will be at Sanislo to cheer on and greet students as they enter the building tomorrow morning. The Sanislo Community is extremely excited as we move into this fabulous partnership.
(1812 SW Myrtle)
TOTEM POLE UNVEILING: At 10:30 am (but get there early!), you’re invited to join West Seattle-rooted dignitaries, schoolchildren, longtime community leaders, and others at the Log House Museum for the unveiling of the renovated totem pole that overlooked the Admiral Way viewpoint 1966-2006. The intersection outside the LHM will be closed for the occasion. Here’s our newest preview. (61st/Stevens)
D-DAY ANNIVERSARY FLYOVER: As previewed here yesterday, three P-51 Mustangs are flying over the region to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, and you’ll likely see/hear them from here during the afternoon – starting with their downtown Seattle flyover at noon, after which they head to Boeing Field and points south, including Vashon just after 1:30. Our Thursday story includes the schedule. (Various locations)
WEST SEATTLE HS ALL-SCHOOL REUNION: The annual tradition starts with classic cars on SW Stevens outside the school at 4:30, and then events inside after the doors open at 5 pm, as detailed on the WSHS Alumni Association website. Whichever year/s you were at WSHS, you’re invited. (3000 California SW)
BENEFIT CARNIVAL: 5-7 pm, Mount View Elementary‘s carnival fundraiser not only benefits programs at the school but also has a goal of raising money to help with the education of kids in Honduras, where your schooling stops after elementary years if you don’t have tuition $. Read our preview here. (10811 12th SW)
BRENDA PETERSON @ WORDS, WRITERS, & WEST SEATTLE: New time for the monthly author-reading/signing series at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village – 5 to 7 pm, starting with this month’s featured West Seattle writer, Brenda Peterson, as previewed here. (2600 SW Barton)
CORNER BAR: The Highland Park Improvement Club‘s pop-up bar goes Jamaican tonight, starting at 6 pm – details in our calendar listing. All ages until 9 pm. (12th/Holden)
WINE TASTING: Summer sips and light appetizers plus a silent auction to benefit the scholarship fund at Center Studio (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (9611 16th SW)
THAT’S JUST THE START … lots more on our calendar.
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We start the morning with two alerts for today, both in the Alki area: 61st/Stevens will be closed for a while this morning because of the totem-pole ceremony outside the Log House Museum, with hundreds of people expected to fill the street. The event is planned for 10:30-11 am, but you’d want to avoid the area for at least a half-hour either side of that, maybe a bit more. … The other Alki alert is for paving work on Alki Avenue SW continuing today between Bonair and 53rd SW.
Then starting late tonight (around 10 pm), southbound Highway 99 will close for the weekend between the Battery Street Tunnel and us. PLUS – two lanes of northbound 5 will close all weekend right by the bridge for expansion-joint work, AND the 520 bridge is closing too – it’s all detailed here. And the traditional “what ELSE is going on around the area this weekend?” preview is here.
Finally – the June “service change” for Metro starts Saturday and is explained here (major West Seattle effect – some p.m. changes on Route 21).
If you want to close out the night on a hopeful note – and/or to hear about an easy way to do some good in the world – listen to this: 5-7 pm tomorrow, in White Center, you can help hundreds of schoolchildren reach out across the miles to help other kids. The helpers are not necessarily so well-off themselves, but one of their teachers explains that when they learned how much better they have it than some others, they had to do something. The event has been in our calendar a while but we didn’t have all the details Shoshanna Cohen shares:
I’m a 2nd grade teacher at Mount View Elementary, next to White Center, and I’m planning our school’s carnival this year. … It is not any regular carnival. Our school has a 87% free and reduced population, yet my 6th-grade carnival leadership team has learned about children in Honduras who are not as fortunate as us. For instance, education is only free until 6th grade in Honduras. From 7th grade on, you have to pay $500 tuition to attend school. The vast majority of the rural Honduran population does not have that kind of money. As part of our WE Day participation, we are raising $1000 to send to the non-profit Light of Esperanza, to help two deserving students in Vega Redonda, Honduras, attend 7th grade. The rest of the money raised will go to our PTA so that the school can afford field trips, special events, and sports for the 2014-2015 school year.
Again, this is happening 5-7 pm tomorrow (Friday, June 6th) at Mount View Elementary, 10811 12th Ave SW (map). The official invitation: “Come and celebrate the end of the school year with us with food, fun, bouncy houses, games, and GREAT prizes! Learn about our sister school in Vega Redonda, Honduras and how we are helping other children around the world! There will be free face painting and art projects too! This event is free to get in.”
At 10:30 tomorrow morning, the intersection of 61st and Stevens outside the Log House Museum – home of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – will be closed to vehicles and full of people: Hundreds of students from Alki and Schmitz Park Elementaries, dozens of VIPs including County Executive Dow Constantine, Mayor Ed Murray, Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and former Mayor Greg Nickels, and as many other spectators as care to show up. The occasion: A ceremony unveiling the former Admiral Way totem pole, fixed up and shined up and placed (as we showed you Tuesday) in its new home outside the museum. Inside the museum, a new “mini-exhibit” will open in honor of the occasion, and it’s being worked on right now. We stopped by earlier this afternoon to check in with museum manager/exhibit curator Sarah Baylinson (below) and SWSHS executive director Clay Eals.
In the exhibit, you will see a collection of items from three mini-totem poles on loan from Ye Olde Curiosity Shop (with Baylinson, above) to totem-themed memorabilia:
The Shoppe’s original owner JE “Daddy” Standley brought the totem pole’s predecessor to West Seattle in 1939, 38 years after it was carved by First Nations members in coastal British Columbia. That pole is featured in the 1952 Hi-Yu program cover, shared with us by the museum:
That’s Diane Qualls, Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu 1952. The pole that will be unveiled tomorrow morning was carved in 1966 and stood for 40 years at the northeast-facing viewpoint on Admiral Way, until a newer pole replaced it, at which time it was given to SWSHS with the expectation it would be renovated and displayed. It was taken away in 2012 for work at Artech in Renton, and brought back Tuesday.
(WSB photo from Tuesday)
This afternoon, Eals and volunteers put its interpretive sign into place as one of the finishing touches before tomorrow morning:
The pole’s history, and that of its predecessor, are shown in this slide deck put together by SWSHS. Again, all are welcome at tomorrow morning’s ceremony, which is to include a group photo – but don’t show up at the last minute, because the intersection will be closed and hundreds will be on hand!
The emergency response at 36th/Avalon is reported as a vehicle crash, but it’s a single-unit response so we don’t believe any serious injuries are involved. However, a tipster tells us that “one bridge-bound lane” is blocked, and shares the photo you see above (thank you!).
4:03 PM: A situation in lower north Queen Anne/west of Fremont is affecting emergency resources citywide, so we want to mention it here just to make sure you know – especially in case that’s an area of town you were planning to head to or from any time soon – Multiple people have been shot at Seattle Pacific University. Reports so far have put the number of victims as high as 7 (at least one with life-threatening injuries), and conflicting reports of one or two shooters – with at least one suspect in custody. The only thing clear is that, as just described on emergency radio, it’s a “chaotic” scene and you will want to stay far from that area for hours to come. Our partners at The Seattle Times are covering it here (and every other regional source is on it too).
4:10 PM: From SPD: “The suspect is in custody. There are no outstanding suspects being sought.”
4:30 PM: And one more police update: “1 man, 1 woman with life-threatening injuries; 1 man, 1 woman in stable condition.”
5:10 PM: One of the victims has died. SPU has canceled classes this evening.
11:30 PM: Since discussion is still going on in comments here, we’ll add a few links before the night’s out:
*Seattle Times on Jon Meis, the student hailed as a hero for stopping the gunman
*SPD confirms 26-year-old suspect’s identity (via Twitter)
Two days after Mayor Murray signed the City Council-passed minimum-wage increase into law, a business group is trying to get an alternative onto the ballot via city charter amendment. The group calling itself Forward Seattle says it’s a coalition of independent businesses, with a counterproposal laying out 40-cent incremental increases resulting in a $12.50 minimum wage by 2020. It briefed citywide media this morning but hasn’t yet released the text of its proposal, nor does it have a public list of members/supporters. In addition to that, Publicola reports that Tim Eyman is now pursuing an initiative that would make it illegal for any entity but the state to mandate wage levels.
(1944 photo of four P-51 Mustangs in flight – not the same ones you might see tomorrow, but similar)
Tomorrow is the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the beginning of the end of World War II. Two local notes: First, thanks to Bob for noticing and pointing out a special airborne tribute that you might see in the sky over West Seattle (and/or elsewhere) tomorrow. From the Historic Flight Foundation, which is based at Paine Field in Snohomish County:
To mark this important day, HFF has organized a very rare formation of P-51 Mustangs to visit cities and towns throughout Western Washington on June 6th, the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Led by HFF’s D-Day veteran (four sorties over the beaches of Normandy), P-51B “Impatient Virgin,” the formation will launch from HFF at 9 a.m. and conclude operations at approximately 3 p.m. with a noon-hour tour of downtown Seattle. Special visits include Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Gray Army Airfield. Operations will extend as far north as Bellingham, as far south as Olympia.
Our friends at Lynnwood Today have schedule details.
For more on D-Day – a West Seattle veteran tells some of the context, perspective, and backstory in a video published on the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s website.
ADDED 9:19 PM: From the HFF website, as pointed out in comments, the expected viewing times/places tomorrow – the afternoon route is the one closest to us, in spots:
Paine Field 11:50
Lake Forest Park 11:56
Seattle Waterfront 12:00
Seattle 12:05
Boeing Field 12:15
Newcastle 12:20
Bellevue 12:23
Woodinville 12:30
Issaquah 12:40
McChord 12:50
Gray AAF 13:00
DuPont 13:05
Lacey 13:10
Olympia 13:15
Tumwater 13:18
Tacoma Narrows 13:22
Tacoma 13:25
Gig Harbor 13:32
Vashon Island 13:37
Belfair 13:40
Bainbridge Island 13:44
Poulsbo 13:50
Kingston 13:55
Paine Field 14:10
Also in the comment section, there was word of a possible sighting today. The Times, in fact, has photos from a practice, including the one in this tweet:
"It's our way of paying respect" said pilot John Sessions (top r) as P-51s practice Thurs @ Paine Field for #DDay70. pic.twitter.com/I8hnLhXid2
— Ken Lambert (@SeaTimesFotoKen) June 6, 2014
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Today we welcome The Cask in The Admiral District as a new WSB sponsor.
New owner Marty Ogan took over just last month and says he’s working to bring The Cask back to its roots – under its original ownership, it began as “a bottle shop” with small plates, and that’s what he is emphasizing.
You can see The Cask’s food menu here – fresh seasonal items generally ranging from $8 to $12, with some changes every three months or so to stay in line with what’s new and fresh. The Cask also is featuring live music some nights (like tonight!) and other special events – for example, a special tapping tonight. Watch for “Wine Wednesdays,” as well as daily happy hour 4-7 pm.
Marty grew up in Edmonds and worked many years as a firefighter in Idaho, where he also operated a mobile wood-fired pizza enterprise. Looking at retirement from the fire department, he found Seattle appealing, and discovered The Cask was available. He invites you to come sip, taste, and enjoy, 4-10 pm Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 4-11 pm Thursdays, 4-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 2350 California SW. Online, you’ll find The Cask at thecaskwestseattle.com.
We thank The Cask for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; see our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
With days/weeks to go in the school year, most families have summer plans all settled. But in case you still have room/need for camp, three local school programs were still taking applications last we heard:
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL WILDCAT SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP: WSHS boys-basketball head coach Keffrey Fazio shares news of this camp, 9 am-2:30 pm Monday-Thursday, July 7th-10th, for boys and girls in 3rd-9th grades, all skill levels:
Our camp is a four day journey focusing on basketball fundamentals, teamwork, player confidence, and FUN! Bring your sack lunch and hoop game, and we will see you in the gym!
The cost for all four days is $250; you can register online here (or, Coach Fazio says, even at the door on the first day). More info here.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL CAMPS: Long list of weeklong camps at Westside School (WSB sponsor) in Sunrise Heights – here are the themes:
K‐6th Grade “Adventure Camps” Out in the World!
K‐8th Grade “Specialty Camps” @ Westside
Ages 6‐12 “Sing Out Seattle!” @ Westside
The first camp starts next week (since tomorrow is the final day of the year at Westside). Read about the camps, including registration info, at this page on the school website. Questions? summer@westsideschool.org
SUMMER MUSIC CAMP: All local students entering 5th-8th grades who are “actively participating in their school’s music program” are welcome to the two weeks of music camps led by Denny/Sealth music director Marcus Pimpleton, starting July 14th.
Daily activities will include:
• Full Group Music Rehearsal in their primary ensemble
• Sectionals and or individual coaching sessions with a mentor musician
• Games/Icebreakers—time to get to know one another; and an extended recess time in the gymWhile this is an educational program, the mood will be quite fun and laid back. Our aim is to have a good time making music together and to help elementary students feel comfortable in the middle school environment.
The program is broken into “marching band,” “cadet band,” and “strings” sections; tuition is $120 if you sign up before July 1st. Here’s the brochure, which includes the schedule and how to register/pay.
P.S. If you have a summer camp with space, you are welcome to post a comment below – but please include a link for families to find out more information/register. (Just include the link in your text – our system automatically hotlinks it if it begins with http or https.)
Thanks to Mark Wangerin for the photo of a Caspian tern with a meal/snack; he explains, “Caspian terns have been making their presence known in our area for about a month. Their raspy squawk eliminates the gulls from identification. They can be seen working the waters of the Duwamish by Kellogg Island or at the ferry terminal or even cruising over the golf course. They typically cruise head/bill down searching for fish near the surface. Once spotted, they dive completely underwater like an osprey does. Unlike the osprey, they capture fish using their beak.” And with that, we dive into a few calendar highlights for today/tonight:
SSCC PLANT SALE: 11 am-3 pm, the garden center on the north side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus is open and selling plants, benefiting the horticulture program. (6000 16th SW)
BIKE BRAKES: Do yours need help? Get free assistance at DIY Bikes tonight at the West Seattle Tool Library, 6-8 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
SPIRITS FOR SPORTS: As previewed here last weekend, the West Seattle Booster Club‘s benefit pub crawl in The Junction is tonight – 6-9 pm, info here, raising $ for WS High School sports. (Various locations)
DENNY-SEALTH CONCERT: Last night, the Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School orchestras performed their final concert of the school year (thanks to Denny principal Jeff Clark for the photo):
Tonight, it’s the bands’ turn – 7 pm, Sealth auditorium, free. (2600 SW Thistle)
POP-UP SHOP: From the Black Lodge presents a touring pop-up shop with independent artists and designers’ “dark, mystical handmade goods” tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 7 pm-11 pm, explained here. (6451 California SW)
FINAL WEEK FOR ‘HAIR’: Haven’t seen it yet at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor)? Don’t let your chance slip away – tonight is the third-to-last performance, 7:30 pm curtain time. (4711 California SW)
LOTS MORE! … on the calendar.
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Going into the heart of the commute, no major problems reported so far. On Alki Avenue, the paving work shifts westward today and tomorrow. And yet another reminder – southbound 99 closes between the bridge and Battery St. Tunnel late Friday night until early Monday for lane reconfiguration.
We often hear about happy endings from lost/found pets posted on the WSB Lost/Found Pets page – but we don’t often get to see them. Sampson “the big, friendly dog” is finally home tonight and one of his people, Steve, shared the reunion photo. Most lost dogs are reunited relatively quickly – but Sampson was away for four days, and it played out in an unusual way: A commenter on Sampson’s WSB post spotted a “found dog” flyer and mentioned it:
Sampson’s person Steve had difficulty getting his messages returned … but then:
We know from the viewing statistics on the Pets page that some people look at it regularly just so they can be of help if they see a stray pet – or a flyer! – so, thank you to everyone who has continued to help to reunite lost pets and their people.
P.S. Speaking of which, another pet came home this week after an extended absence, thanks to sharp-eyed WSB readers – a “found” pet posted here turned out to be a cat also posted as “lost” six weeks earlier, and now Babycat is where he belongs.
P.P.S. The top of the Pets page explains how to send info/photo if you have lost a pet or if you have found one that is in your custody.
6:42 PM: We’re live at American Legion Post 160’s headquarters in The Triangle as the community conversation with Councilmember Mike O’Brien gets under way.
On behalf of the hosting Southwest District Council, Cindi Barker (below left) has just announced that Saturday, June 28th, the Department of Planning and Development will come out for a conversation of its own – time (morning) and location TBA.
Councilmember O’Brien starts off by saying he’d like it to be a productive conversation for both sides. He says, “I never asked to be land use chair … I’m learning a lot. It’s a field that goes from the experience we all completely understand, living our lives, down to all sorts of laws I’m still trying to appreciate.” We’ll be updating as this goes. About 50 people are here and there’s room for more.
First question is from West Seattle developer John Nuler, who asked about the recent action to regulate smaller lots, in light of the city’s encouragement of backyard cottages and other accessory dwelling units. He says the original recommendation was 2,000 square feet, rather than the 2,500-sf lot size, and wonders why the change, which he says resulted in some lots being rendered unbuildable. O’Brien says he doesn’t have all the details on that, but his legislative assistant is keeping track of the questions, so that answers can be procured later.
Second question is from someone who says he considers zoning changes have resulted in “the rape of West Seattle” and wonders how many people can be crammed in here. “I’m not buying this urban-village rationale. … How far is it going to go in West Seattle?”
O’Brien: “I don’t have an answer to ‘how far it’s going to go’.”
Next question: “Is there a citywide movement for reforming land use?”
O’Brien: “There are all sorts of specific aspects of land-use code that specific individuals (&) neighborhoods have concerns about …” He lists the small-lot issue, the low-rise-code issue as examples. “DPD is addressing these issues as they come up, and there are a lot of them.” But, he said, they’re not going to “throw the (zoning) out and start from scratch.” He goes on to mention the Comprehensive Plan and its “major overhaul” that’s under way (aka Seattle 2035). “I think the hope of the city is to take a look at it and really rethink how growth happens, where it happens, how we manage that growth in the city …” more big picture than small details, he said.
At that point, Barker, who is moderating, mentions the next public meeting on Seattle 2035 – Seattle Center, June 24th, regarding its “key directions.” (We’ll have a link for that shortly.)
6:51 PM: Jim Guenther talks about what happens when the city rules change and projects suddenly are allowed such as buildings without offstreet parking, and how it affects “quality of life” for residents who were already there.
“There’s a balance we’re trying to strike between the common good and individual rights,” O’Brien begins. He says that things have evolved as “lots that weren’t interesting to developers became interesting,” in the case of the small lots, for example. “Something like 45 percent of the lots that are zoned single family 5000 are smaller than 5000 square feet.”
“Where do we get heard (when our quality of life is affected)?” Guenther pressed. O’Brien says, “I don’t have a good answer for that,” but mentions that even though, for example, one house was on a lot, the owner might have always known it was really two lots that might qualify for two lots someday. O’Brien tries to say that the city didn’t really change the rules.
**CLICK AHEAD TO CONTINUE READING AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE** Read More
FIRST REPORT, 3:35 PM: The King County Sheriff’s Office believes it’s finally solved the vicious attack and rape of a 58-year-old woman in the 24th/Roxbury area three months ago – a case that drew regional attention. The attack happened early March 7th, as first reported here; investigators circulated a sketch, a photo of the victim’s purse, and went door to door. Now, DNA evidence has made a match, according to this announcement:
Police in Oklahoma arrested a 25 year old male for the March rape of a female in the White Center area.
The case was solved when the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab developed a DNA profile from evidence collected at the scene which matched the male. He had apparently been visiting King County from Oklahoma when the crime was committed.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges of Rape in the 1st degree and Assault in the 1st degree. An arrest warrant was issued and law enforcement in Oklahoma arrested him yesterday.
The suspect will have to go through the extradition process before being returned to King County.
We’re working to find out more.
5 PM UPDATE: The charging documents we just obtained from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office identify the suspect as 25-year-old Christopher Anthony Brown. They say his record in Oklahoma goes back seven years and includes convictions for burglary and assault/battery on a justice/social-services system worker.
(Screengrab from @raincitycannabis Instagram feed)
While we await more information from Seattle Police on why they raided a North Delridge warehouse – as reported here Tuesday afternoon – we’ve spoken with the man who says the operation was his: Matthew Segal of Rain City, which has dispensaries in Rainier and Magnolia, says he is mystified as to why his operation at 28th/Yancy was raided. He has posted photos on Instagram showing the aftermath; we found him after a tip about the photos. [Editor’s note: They are now showing as “unavailable” from the embed mode; we’re substituting an earlier screengrab above.] He says more than 2,500 plants were growing, and that police told him he could keep 45 – the amount allowed in one “collective garden.” Segal says the raid happened without warning, and that there have been no arrests, and no explanation. He says he was working with the state Liquor Control Board on licensing this location as a legal growing site for the recreational-marijuana business, and that he is registered with the state Labor and Industries Department as a cannabis grower.
He says Rain City serves 4,500 patients/clients. But he acknowledged that the amount of allowed plants at a facility like this is a “gray area,” as much of the medical-marijuana industry has been for the past decade-plus. All he knows for now, he told us, is that he got a call yesterday “saying that police were at my warehouse … and then I came down,” and found the plants being removed. He says he had been growing there for three years and was buying the building (county records show him listed as its owner since a $1,050,000 purchase in March) . He hasn’t decided on his next steps, but hasn’t ruled out legal action, while saying he’ll “figure something out” about how to get a supply to stay in business. “I just don’t understand, it really … it’s going to haunt me.”
Meantime, we checked again with police this morning, seeking more information beyond what Narcotics Unit Captain James Dermody had told us at the scene yesterday; SPD spokesperson Det. Renée Witt said they were still gathering information to share with media. We’ll update this story whenever that information is available.
4:47 PM UPDATE: We stepped away from the desk for a few minutes, and that’s when the SPD Blotter post went up. New information includes police saying they searched two homes, one of them in West Seattle, as well as the 28th/Yancy warehouse:
After receiving complaints from neighbors about an overwhelming smell emanating from a large marijuana grow operation, the Seattle Police Narcotics Unit and Anti-Crime Team officers served a warrant — signed by a King County District Court judge — at a home and a warehouse in West Seattle and another house on Beacon Hill Tuesday evening, and recovered what detectives say is an unprecedented number of illegally-grown marijuana plants.
After police began an investigation into the two homes and warehouse — in the 2400 block of S. Morgan St, 6500 block of 44th Ave SW and 2600 block of SW Yancy St respectively — detectives learned the three illegal marijuana grows were operating under the guise of a medical marijuana collective and were growing far more plants than allowed under state law.
The West Seattle warehouse had more than 2200 plants alone, well over the 45 plant limit allowed for medical marijuana grows in Washington. Police seized 206 and 227 plants at the two homes.
All told 2663 plants and 86 pounds of processed marijuana were seized during the operation.
Detectives say this is the largest illegal marijuana grow operation they can recall investigating.
Police also believe the owner of the grow operation was harvesting marijuana from the grow operation and selling it through a dispensary — which he also owns — violating the state’s regulations on collective gardens.
Detectives left 45 marijuana plants at each location, along with 72 ounces of processed marijuana and growing equipment, and let the growers at each site select which plants they wanted to keep. Detectives were interested only in bringing the operation back under the limits of state law, and in addition to leaving plants and equipment at the scenes, also opted not to book anyone involved in the operation into jail.
(Historic photo from King County Assessor; 2008 photo by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
In 2007, facing demolition for site redevelopment, the Charlestown Court apartments at 3811 California SW were nominated for possible city-landmark status. In a process extensively covered here, the Landmarks Preservation Board ruled in 2008 that it didn’t qualify. A new development proposal preserving the building’s facade subsequently emerged – but the recession hit, and it was never built.
Five months ago, we discovered a new demolition-and-redevelopment proposal in the early stage of public review – this time, to tear down Charlestown Court and build eight townhouses. And now, another twist: Visiting the city Landmarks Preservation Board website for research on an unrelated story, we discovered that Charlestown Court, a Tudor-style brick fourplex built in the 1920s, first will be reviewed again for landmark status, and a hearing is coming up this month.
In a conversation with WSB this morning – before the official notice of the nomination came out – Erin Doherty from the Landmarks Board explained that the documentation was submitted pre-emptively by the owners/developers, as it was likely that as part of the review of their demolition/development proposal, they would have been required to do this anyway – the process is explained in this city document. A new review is required because the last one was more than five years ago.
The first hearing before the Landmarks Board is set for its meeting on Wednesday, June 18th, at 3:30 pm, on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown – here’s the official notice. The full nomination document can be seen here (though it’s dated April, Doherty tells us it had been under review for the past few weeks and actually just went online yesterday). The meeting notice has information on how to comment before the hearing.
(Photo by Long B. Nguyen)
Four days ago, showing that aerial of the almost-complete South Park Bridge, we mentioned it’s close to opening. And now, the date’s just been announced – June 30th, the four-year anniversary of the old bridge’s closure:
King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced that the newly constructed South Park Bridge will open June 30. The previous drawbridge, built in 1931, was closed and dismantled in mid-2010 due to safety concerns.
“I made a promise five years ago that we would build a new, safer bridge to connect our industrial heartland to the rest of King County — and we’re ready to deliver,” said Executive Constantine. “Not only will this help local manufacturers and family-owned businesses, it will reunite working communities in the Lower Duwamish area.”
The new bridge is expected to carry 20,000 vehicles and nearly 3,000 heavy-duty trucks each day. It will also carry an estimated 10 million tons of freight each year, including aerospace parts to local Boeing facilities.
ADDED 11:52 AM: The county has a gallery of images of the new bridge accompanying this announcement on its website, including this one:
(Photo by Ned Ahrens, King County DOT)
See the rest here.
3:20 PM UPDATE: While June 30th will be the official opening to traffic, information that’s come out in the past few hours clarifies that the big party will be on Sunday, June 29th, so mark your calendar for that.
(May aerial looking eastward over Spruce, the ex-“Hole”; photo by Long B. Nguyen)
One more reminder about tonight’s highlight event – City Councilmember Mike O’Brien, who chairs the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee, comes to West Seattle for what community advocates are billing as a conversation about development, land use, and zoning. This isn’t about one specific project – this is the “big picture”; O’Brien’s committee has been reviewing major issues/areas of concern – most recently, microhousing, with another discussion just yesterday resulting in a plan to create a new “stakeholders’ group” before new city rules are finalized. What is YOUR biggest concern? What do you think councilmembers could/should do regarding development and land use? Be there, to ask questions, speak out, even just to watch and listen. The event is led by the Southwest District Council, in lieu of its regular monthly meeting, along with the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, and is at a bigger venue than usual so there’s room for everyone: 6:30 pm, American Legion Post 160/Pershing Hall, 3618 SW Alaska in The Triangle – which by the way is shown in the photo above, top right.
WHAT ELSE IS ON TONIGHT’S CALENDAR, YOU ASK? See it all here.
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