West Seattle, Washington
02 Monday
(WSB photo: Camp Second Chance’s front gate, July)
First Sunday afternoon of the month usually brings the monthly online meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance, on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels [map]. Here’s what happened today:
CAMP UPDATE: CSC director Scott Harris wasn’t in attendance, so updated camp stats weren’t available, but Hattie Rhodes from camp operator LIHI was there with other updates. She said a city inspection is happening Tuesday afternoon to ensure that all’s well. She also said LIHI had a recent hiring fair and hopes to fill positions at encampments including CSC, which will be getting a “village organizer …. to help out at the camp.” They’re also still looking for a case manager, while serving campers with visiting CMs. Also – LIHI is opening new camps in other parts of the city and looking for more sites because “the need is still there.” She didn’t have exact numbers but said it was “exciting” to see some CSC residents move to housing at The Clay – a microapartment building owned by LIHI – to ‘take the next step in their journeys.” CAC chair Willow Fulton asked about the intake process for CSC. That’s primarily through the city’s HOPE Team, Rhodes said, but LIHI also has a waitlist in case an opening comes up at one of its camps and the HOPE Team can’t quickly fill it. What about referring someone currently living unsheltered? Refer them to the outreach workers at REACH, Rhodes suggested – she didn’t have a contact number but noted REACH has offices at 3rd/Blanchard. Rhodes was asked about CSC expansion, which Harris mentioned at the last meeting. She said “that’s not the hugest priority for us right now” though they might “see if there’s room here or there to add a few more (tiny) houses” at CSC.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ UPDATES: These updates often range beyond camp-related matters, and this time was no different. Aaron Garcia of the White Center Community Development Association wanted everyone to know that the county eviction-prevention/rent-assistance program is still open and WCCDA is assisting White Center families with getting into the process. He also said there’ll be a vaccination clinic at Steve Cox Memorial Park on August 18th; it’s meant to be second dose for those vaccinated at the recent clinic, but first doses will be available too, noon-6 pm … Cinda Stenger from the Westside Interfaith Network said the group is continuing to assist more than a dozen Central American refugee families who have settled in the area so if CSC hss extra clothing, they would appreciate being able to re-donate to the refugees (they’re also looking for kids’ clothing and other housewares) … Grace Stiller of Weed Warriors recapped the recent wrap party for the latest phase of her organization’s Myers Way Parcels wetland-restoration program (WSB coverage here); she’s looking ahead to Phase 3 of the restoration project, working closer to Hamm Creek, dependent on funding. … Chair Fulton, who’s been keeping watch on illegal dumping along Myers Way, says the most-recent ones have been cleaned up. Concerns remain about the safety of people walking along Myers Way, especially considering pedestrians are pushed farther into the road by the fencing set up to prevent access to the roadside greenbelt. Once again this month, though, no city rep was present to hear those concerns.
NEXT MEETING: September’s date is to be determined, since the first Sunday will be during Labor Day weekend.
Every Sunday night, we’re publishing weekly pandemic updates. Tonight, the fourth one. First, the newest local numbers.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:
116,837 people have tested positive – 1,358 more than a week ago (4,072 in West Seattle, up 53)
6,686 people have been hospitalized – 46 more than a week ago (202 in West Seattle, up 1)
1,682 people have died – 2 fewer than a week ago* (67 in West Seattle, unchanged) *data adjustment
VACCINATION RATE:
75.1% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .6% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 77.6%
98116 – 84%
98126 – 73.2%
98136 – 85.2%
98146 – 71.7%
(More COVID-related King County stats here)
THE WEEK’S HEADLINES
Briefing: On Friday, King County Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin gave another pandemic briefing. Watch it here:
While the increase in cases and hospitalizations is concerning, he said, it was good news that (as the stats show above) King County had no COVID-19 deaths in the preceding week.
Masks: Earlier in the week, Dr. Duchin and other health officers from around Puget Sound issued a joint statement strongly recommending that everyone wear them in indoor public spaces. Some West Seattle coffee shops, restaurants, and supermarkets have reinstated mask requirements, as we reported Thursday.
Testing availability: Though the city announced this week that it’s getting out of the testing business, the UW Medicine testing service at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate.
When to get tested: Here’s a refresher.
NOT VACCINATED YET?
Go here to see where you can change that.
(WSB photo)
From the yellowish hazy sunlight this afternoon to the reddish-orange color of the soon-to-set sun right now, we’re seeing wildfire smoke – but our air quality remains good. The Washington Smoke Information website explains that the smoke is overhead – back on Friday, the site said, “While two waves of smoke are expected to reach our skies, they’ll be at 2 km or higher, and the situation at surface should be very different.” The smoke that is up there is reported to be from Northern California and Oregon, not our state – so far.
ADDED: First “red sun” photo in is from Jerry Simmons:
ADDED: Second one is by Dan Ciske:
If you check our calendar and/or almost-daily highlights lists, you know live music is back at multiple West Seattle venues. Today, advance word of a regular event that’s returning even though its previous venue is gone. First Thursdays used to be “funk night” at the Parliament Tavern, now closed (with a new venue on the way to that space, as we reported Saturday). But promoter B Dahlia sends word that the funk returns this week, with its new home at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW). B explains, “The band has had a few changes and we’re moving the show to Skylark, so West Seattle Soul featuring The Pulsations is on hiatus and the new band’s name is ‘Battlestar Kalakala‘! Still big band funk and soul, with a few new members and a new home.” 9 pm Thursday, August 4th, is the launch date, $10 at the door.
Only two days left to vote in the primary election, but very few ballots are in. As of this afternoon, only 13.4 percent of Seattle ballots had been returned to King County Elections; that’s just a hair below the countywide percentage, 13.5 percent. Just six decisions to make on your ballot – two city races without incumbents (mayor and City Council Position 9), two city races with incumbents (city attorney and Council Position 8), one county race (Executive), and one county ballot measure (“Best Starts for Kids” renewal/expansion). Still not sure about the mayor’s race, in which a field of 15 will be narrowed to two? Watch the one and only in-person West Seattle forum (presented by us and the Junction Association three weeks ago) here with 9 of the candidates, and/or check out the Seattle Channel’s Video Voters Guide (for mayor and the other city races) here. If you’re going to mail your ballot (no stamp needed), do that by tomorrow so you can be sure it’ll be postmarked in time; if you’re going to use a dropbox (three in West Seattle!), get it in by 8 pm Tuesday. First round of results is expected by 8:15 that night.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
CAR, GARAGE BREAK-INS: From Mary:
We live on the 6700 block of Beach Drive and had our truck window broken out on Tuesday night. Miscellaneous items taken. Another neighbor on Beach Drive had their garage broken into.
ABANDONED CAR: From Matt:
This car was ransacked and abandoned on 21st Ave at Myrtle, next to Sanislo Elementary School. Maybe it belongs to someone?
The plate on it starts with BWL.
11:33 AM: Seattle Fire has just dispatched another water-rescue response to Seacrest. This time the dispatch was “possible diver having a problem, could be related to (the situation) from last night.” We are headed there to find out more.
(Added: WSB photo)
11:39 AM: The dispatcher has told rescuers that divers reported seeing a person in 35′ of water, 100′ offshore. (We hadn’t received word of recovery of last night’s victim since SPD took over late last night.)
11:53 AM: So far it does appear to be a recovery – the person found by divers is described as showing “no signs of life” and they’re calling for the Medical Examiner.
Also a traffic note: If you’re driving down California Way, you can’t turn right onto Harbor because of the response vehicles on Harbor on the east side of Seacrest. (Our crew has just confirmed this.)
12:08 PM: After bringing the person’s body out of the water, SFD is downsizing the response. They’ve dispatched a public-information officer so we hope to have official word before too long on whether this is indeed believed to be the person who went missing last night – there’ve been no additional reports today of anyone missing or in trouble.
12:29 PM: We’ve talked with SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley at Seacrest. She says it’s up to the Medical Examiner to say for sure whether it’s the same person who went missing last night, the description is the same – a woman in her 30s. And we’ve confirmed with an SPD sergeant at the scene that SPD did not recover a body last night after taking over last night’s recovery operation. (Added: Here’s video of Tinsley explaining the responses last night and today:)
NOTE: Our archives show this was the first diver death in the area since August 2016, when another student diver died.
Thanks for the photos. As shown above, there’s tree trouble at Delridge/Orchard – beware if you’re planning to head through that area.
(Lowman Beach Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
August has arrived. Happening today/tonight:
ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: The Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection work is scheduled until 1 pm again today, and southbound Delridge Way is closed between SW Thistle and SW Trenton.
CHURCHES: Many are still streaming, in place of – or in addition to – in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services. (We’ll continue updating that list each Sunday for as long as a significant number of streaming services continue.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm on California between Oregon and Alaska. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. Food and drink, open-on-all-sides entry/exit, and busking are all back. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
SOUL BRUNCH: 10 am-2 pm at Easy Street Café (California/Alaska), with DJ Brownstone.
TODAY’S AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Open today – Highland Park spraypark (11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale); Delridge (noon-5:30 pm, 4501 Delridge Way SW) and Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) wading pools. Colman Pool is open noon-7 pm, not weather-dependent.
(added) FISHER SCONES: The famous fair scones have gone mobile, and we’ve learned belatedly that the truck is at Metropolitan Market in Admiral (41st/42nd/Admiral Way) 11 am-4 pm today.
FUNDRAISING LEMONADE-AND-TREATS STAND: 11 am-2 pm, last chance for now to support Harper and Akemi as they sell lemonade and treats at 42nd/Charlestown to raise money for an Outward Bound trip to Costa Rica.
SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing.
(added) CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The CAC is meeting today, we’ve confirmed, 2 pm online – attendance information is in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC @ C & P: Jazz Standards with Jeff Johnson and Bill Anschell, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
THE ALLEY’S ANNIVERSARY: The Triangular Jazztet‘s regular Sunday night performance at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm, wraps up the venue’s four-night third-anniversary celebration.
Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Photo sent by Carolyn Newman)
10:05 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a water-rescue response by land and sea to the Seacrest vicinity. The dispatcher has told responders it’s a report of two diving students missing, reported by their instructor. Updates to come.
10:09 PM: This has been updated to one diver missing, in the Honey Bear (Cove 2) vicinity.
10:19 PM: Search continues. As shown in the photo above, crews on land are using a fire-truck ladder to help search.
10:29 PM: Rescue divers are searching, as well as crews in boats and on land; SPD is part of the response as well as SFD. The missing diver was described in an early dispatch as a woman in her 30s.
10:55 PM: The search continues.
11:04 PM: The medic units have been dismissed from the response (thanks to Aaron for that tip from the scene), which indicates this has switched into more of a recovery mode.
11:18 PM: SFD says this is now an SPD-led search.
1:30 AM: No further updates. We’ll check with SPD later this morning.
Once the primary-election ballots are counted after next Tuesday night’s voting deadline, the spotlight turns to November, and one city ballot measure will likely dominate the discussion: Seattle Charter Amendment 29. It attempts to codify particular policies for dealing with homelessness, Just announced by the 34th District Democrats – their August meeting will be preceded by an informational forum with reps from both sides. Supporters call their compaign Compassion Seattle, opponents call theirs House Our Neighbors, and participants from both will be part of the online event, open to all, 6-6:45 pm Wednesday, August 11th. You can register here to get the viewing link. The 34th DDs’ regular August meeting will start afterward, at 7 pm (same link if you plan to stay), and they may take an endorsement vote during the meeting,
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The man shot and killed at 28th/Roxbury Thursday night is reported to have been 45-year-old Ronald Moore, best known as the veteran rapper Gonzoe,
There is still no official confirmation of this – the King County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the victim’s ID yet – but we have confirmed that Gonzoe lived in West Seattle.
Word of his death started circulating last night, starting with a report on the entertainment-news site VladTV (which cited WSB for details on Thursday night’s crime scene/investigation). There’s no question that Gonzoe, who came to fame in the mid-’90s as a member of the group Kausion – has died; family, friends, and fans are mourning him. But what we’ve spent hours trying to find is an open citation of who actually linked his death to the Thursday night shooting. Because so many people have called this to our attention, we’re publishing this story with what we do know, as well as what we don’t.
Though his online ID cites Los Angeles as his base, we have confirmed that Gonzoe lived in West Seattle, at least part of the time. First word came from a person who contacted us, identifying themselves as a longtime friend, saying that the rapper moved here a few years ago and has family here; this person said they’d confirmed the death circumstances by talking to a relative. Checking various types of online databases in which names and addresses can potentially be matched, we found confirmation in 2020 and 2021 records from a traffic case that he had a Morgan Junction address. Looking through Gonzoe’s Instagram posts – in which he often gave short pep talks to his followers – we found one video dated July 13th that was clearly made here in West Seattle (the beachfront scenery shows Vashon and Blake Islands).
Back to online information, his friend Boskoe 100, with whom Gonzoe founded a boxing league called Glovez Up Gunz Down, talked about the shooting in a video. He said he was told that Gonzoe was getting ready for a “late-night studio session” when he went to the Roxbury Lanes restaurant to pick up some food, got into an argument with someone, and that person followed him out and shot him.
The King County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the Thursday night shooting but hasn’t released a report on the circumstances; what we cited in our coverage comes from what we learned at the scene and via emergency-radio communication that night, as well as KCSO confirming the victim’s death Friday morning.
(Photo: @TheRealGonzoe)
When we reported Friday on the plan to revive the Admiral Benbow, we noted we’d happened onto that news while at 4210 SW Admiral Way researching something else. Now we have those details too. A liquor-license application was filed this week for the former Parliament Tavern space. The name on the application is one we recognized from past correspondence – Tanner Jitmongkonkul, whose business Sticky Treats & Sweets we’d spotlighted a few times when it had pop-ups at Itto’s Tapas.
He’s an Itto’s bartender and West Seattle resident who, with partner Erin, is working to convert the Admiral Way space into a cocktail bar called Otter on the Rocks. In our email exchange, here’s how he explains it:
We are so excited to bring a cocktail bar with a new concept to West Seattle. The focus will be properly prepared classics as well as signature cocktails. We will be doing a lot of house infusions and house syrups. As opposed to cocktail bars with a romantic setting, we are trying to introduce a much-more casual and approachable vibe, especially for those who are not familiar with cocktails. We like date nights, but we want Otter on the Rocks to be become a friends-gathering sort of space. We will be looking at some open mics, lots of themed nights, and some live music that fits the space. As far as food, we will be serving a rotating selection of “flatbreads” – a much lighter version of pizza with a lot more room for interesting ingredients. We are working with some local chefs to get this dialed in.
No timeline yet – Jitmongkonkul explains, “The permitting process through the City of Seattle has been extremely slow but we are trying to be very patient. We do have a long list of tasks to complete in order to bring this space up to city code so please be patient with us.” The Parliament opened in the space in 2015; occupants before that included Vidiot and Shipwreck Tavern.
We can finally say conclusively that the turkey recently seen in West Seattle is NOT the turkey that spent a year wandering the peninsula. That’s been confirmed by both this turkey’s adoptive family and the person who built an enclosure for her in their yard. They sent photos, including the one above, and this report:
Hedda Gobbler is no longer wandering the street. She has found a safe home away from cars and dogs. For all those who wanted to believe she was a wild turkey, you were wrong. Hedda is a domestic bird not able to keep herself safe because she is a bit of a bird brain. She is very content and enjoying the good life in a forever home where Thanksgiving dinner will never be turkey again.
Hedda’s favorite food is cantaloupe.
– Hedda’s Forever Family
Thanks to Janine for the tip. Almost 100 homes in the Fairmount Park area were without power for more than an hour this morning; the outage has been resolved but we’re noting it here just for the record, as the Seattle City Light website doesn’t archive outages. Janine said the outage was preceded by a flash and “boom” around 8 am; the outage was resolved sometime after 9.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Welcome to the weekend! We start July’s final day with a dozen notes for you:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Work is set to continue into the early afternoon at Highland Park Way/West Marginal, as previewed here.
ROCK & GEM SHOW: On Pigeon Point:
The World’s Fossils & Minerals is showing from 10 am to 4 pm, 2009 SW Dakota
Come see the new material.
BASEBALL TRYOUTS: Starting at 10 am at the Pee-Wee Fields (7226 12th SW):
The Seattle Tigers are holding a final round of tryouts for their year-round 9U and 10U teams for the coming baseball season. Players born after 5/1/2011 are eligible to participate in these teams for fall and winter training in preparation for tournament season in the spring of 2022. Parents can register their child for a tryout spot at: seattletigersbaseball.com/tryouts-for-the-2021-22-season
LEMONADE FUNDRAISER: Girl Scouts are selling lemonade, iced tea, iced coffee, and homemade baked goods 10 am-4 pm to raise money to go to Costa Rica to volunteer at a sea-turtle reserve with Outward Bound in 2022. Find them at 42nd Ave SW and Charlestown. Cash, Venmo, and PayPal are accepted.
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), Marco de Carvalho and friends perform.
TODAY’S AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Open today, Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale, 11 am-8 pm), Delridge Playfield (4501 Delridge Way SW, noon-5:30 pm) and Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, noon-7 pm), and Colman Pool (at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm).
(added – thanks for the text!) DIVING COMPETITION: All-City Diving Championships, until 4 pm at Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club (11003 31st SW).
FOOD DRIVE: 11 am-3 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), you can drop off food-drive donations – details are in our preview.
REMEMBERING VICTOR HENLEY: 2-5 pm outside the 7-11 at 3801 California SW, all are invited to celebrate the life of Victor Henley, who meant so much to its customers and staff.
ALUMNI FLAG-FOOTBALL GAME: 3 pm at Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW), first annual West Seattle High School alumni flag-football game, raising money for the Wildcats’ football program.
PEACE PELOTON RIDE: 3-5 pm, bicyclists gather at The Patio in Columbia City, 5:15 pm ride to Beer Star in White Center, as previewed here.
THE ALLEY’S ANNIVERSARY: 8-10 pm, third night of live music to celebrate three years of The Alley (behind 4509 California SW)
Anything else? Text us – 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Saturday’s the final day for WestSide Baby‘s annual “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive. You can get them to their goal in multiple ways – best way is a monthly monetary donation, because WS Baby can make your dollars go further by buying diapers at a discount rate. Other ways to help are listed here. WestSide Baby works with thousands of families every year – so whatever you can give makes a big difference for little kids. P.S. A reminder of another way to support WS Baby:
Dream Dinners – Supporting WestSide Baby this August!
Order dinner for your family through Dream Dinners West Seattle – pick up August 19, 20, or 21, benefitting WestSide Baby!
Order online using the links below, choose a pick-up time and select three medium size meals for your family to enjoy for just $50 (each meal serves three people). We will donate $10 from each order back to WESTSIDE BABY.
Enjoy your meals at home with your family! Place a full-size order within two weeks of your pickup & we will DONATE an EXTRA $20!! to Westside Baby !!
Thursday, August 19th, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm https://dreamdinners.com/session/892144
Friday, August 20th, 12 pm-1 pm dreamdinners.com/session/892154
Saturday, August 21st, 10:30-11:30 am – dreamdinners.com/session/892145
About Dream Dinners: “We are a local meal prep business that takes care of the menu planning, grocery shopping, prep, and clean up, so you can enjoy stress-free dinners with your family. Stock your freezer from a menu of 20 chef-crafted meals each month and you’ll spend less time worrying about what to make for dinner and more time doing what you love.”
(Dream Dinners is also a longtime WSB sponsor.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Much of what was presented during the second meeting of the Community Advisory Group for the Fauntleroy ferry terminal replacement project was procedural – more about how information would/should be presented to them, than about the information itself.
One big exception: Group members got their first look at the Preliminary Purpose and Need Statement for the project – Washington State Ferries‘ rationale for why it believes this project is necessary. Here are the six slides laying that out:
5:21 PM: Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
PICKUP TRUCK STOLEN: From Emma:
My gray 2000 GMC Sierra was stolen while parked on 41st SW and SW Alaska, presumably two nights ago. Plates – C62009W. Passenger side has numerous dents, and it did have a hitch when it was stolen.
Call 911 if you see it.
TOOLS TAKEN: From Max:
July 28th at 11:10 AM, I was working on a house remodel at SW Dawson & 42nd Ave SW. My pickup was parked on this quiet residential street with my tool boxes in the bed that I was accessing back and forth. At one point, I heard a diesel truck idling out front and by the time I ran outside, they were gone with three Milwaukee Packout storage boxes full of Milwaukee battery power tools. I believe the vehicle headed north on 42nd SW. I was only seconds behind them and tried to follow in my truck, but never saw the vehicle. I’m hoping someone in the neighborhood saw something or has a camera that might have caught a view of their truck at the noted time. Attached is a photo example of the boxes.
REPEAT CAR VANDALISM: Three weeks ago, we published a report of five cars with windows broken, along Beach Drive by Constellation Park. Khody says one of those cars was hit again Wednesday night in the same spot.
ADDED 6:54 PM – PARKING LOT CAR PROWLS: One more incident to add – we got a tip (after publishing this roundup) of multiple smash-and-grab car prowls at the West Seattle Golf Course/Stadium parking lot. We went over and indeed found people inspecting the damage.
We didn’t get a full count but one person guessed more than a dozen.
Another road-work alert for the week ahead. This is part of the preparations for converting Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line next year, but it’s not part of the project on Delridge Way itself – that one is being done by a city-hired contractor, and this involves a county-hired contractor. After a reader tip that 26th SW work was beginning, we asked Metro for info, and here it is – repaving 26th SW south of Westwood Village, where buses are blamed for myriad paving woes:
Metro’s contractors, Walsh Construction, have already begun upgrades for RapidRide H Line at 25th Avenue SW and SW Barton Street (bus stop improvements) and at the intersection of 15th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street (road and pedestrian improvements) in the Westwood Village area. Starting as early as Wednesday, Aug. 4, Walsh will begin demolishing road panels in the northbound lanes of 26th Avenue SW between SW Barton Street and SW Roxbury Street.
This will start several months of work on 26th Avenue SW. The work will occur in phases moving from northbound to southbound over the remainder of the year. Paving of 26th Avenue SW has long been a request from community and Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation are excited to bring this improvement as part of RapidRide H Line. Improving the condition of the road will benefit all users and strengthen the roadway for future frequent future RapidRide H Line service.
As early as Aug. 4, northbound drivers will be detoured off of 26th Avenue SW between SW Roxbury Street and SW Barton Street. The turn from SW Cambridge Street to 26th Avenue SW also will be closed during work. The northbound closure is expected to last two to three months. Once the northbound demolition and repaving are complete, crews will move to work on the southbound lanes, reopening northbound traffic on the improved northbound lanes and detouring southbound drivers. Transit will also be rerouted off of 26th Avenue SW to 35th Avenue SW and the northbound bus stop located at the intersection of 26th Avenue SW and SW Barton Street will also be temporarily relocated to SW Barton Street.
Metro notes, “Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with some nighttime and weekend work.”
When we published this morning’s traffic (etc.) watch, we were awaiting SDOT‘s update on this weekend’s plan for the West Marginal/Highland Park Way intersection. We’ve since heard back, and here’s both the plan and a few toplines of what crews have done so far:
We recognize the traffic impacts caused by construction and lane closures on the detour route for the West Seattle Bridge closure. Thus, we are only performing construction work on Saturday and Sunday between 3 am and 1 pm. We also have four Uniformed Police Officers onsite to help alleviate traffic congestion by “flushing” congestion peaks while we work.
Here is the progress that we have made:
July 17 – July 18: saw-cutting the concrete/asphalt, removing the north curb islands, excavation for new curb ramps at the northwest corner
July 24 – July 25: excavating, pouring three new concrete panels, pouring new curb ramp on the northwest corner, removing and reinstalling new Pedestrian Signal Pole / vehicle detection system(Next two weekends’ plan)
July 31 – August 1: forming new concrete island on the northwest corner, removing the west and east curb islands
August 7 – August 8: tentatively planning to excavate, form and pour new curb ramps on the northeast corner
Avoid the area during the work hours if you can. Until 8 am both days, for example, the low bridge is unrestricted. Otherwise, the Roxbury corridor is a good way to get to/from the 1st Avenue South Bridge (or the South Park Bridge) without using West Marginal.
As they say, what was old is new again. Above is a photo we took this morning of the nautically themed Benbow Room, in the back of the west side of the building at 4210 SW Admiral Way, once upon a time the legendary Admiral Benbow Inn, more recently the Heartland Café, then the Admiral Benbow again, followed by Vidiot (which closed in late 2019). Now, it appears the Benbow name will be back. We went to the building to research a new plan for the ex-Parliament Tavern next door (more on that to come) and discovered something else – we found West Seattle restaurant/bar entrepreneur Mark Fuller, who told us he’s taking over the Benbow space and bringing it back under that name. It needs lots of work, he told us, so this will likely take months – not just the work, but getting the permits. Fuller’s other enterprises include Ma’ono, Supreme, and (reopening soon) New Luck Toy.
It’s the number one business-reopening question we’ve been getting for months – when will – or, will – New Luck Toy reopen? The bar/restaurant at 5905 California SW closed last November, announcing it planned to be closed for about six months “so we can make it out of this” (pandemic). Eight months have now passed and no word. We’ve made periodic inquiries. No reply. Then today while researching something unrelated, we encountered NLT co-proprietor Mark Fuller, so of course we asked. He told us yes, they intend to reopen, but need to rehire their staff, so that’s what’s taking a while – no projected date yet. (He’s working on a new West Seattle enterprise, too – separate story on that, next.)
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