day : 01/01/2008 6 results

West Seattle past and present: 4808 Alaska

Just west of The Junction, and a couple houses west of Ercolini Park, you’ll find this deteriorating old home whose current appearance doesn’t hint much at its vital past as a neighborhood market — unless you look at the “past” photo sent by neighbor Bill Leaming (who also sent the “present” one below):

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If you had trouble reading the inscription on the “past” photo of Fraker’s Grocery, it’s from 1956. County property records show the building dates back to 1926. City records don’t show anything new currently proposed for the site. Thanks to Bill for sharing the past/present photos; we love history tidbits here, so they’re always welcome. (Speaking of neighborhood markets, our Alki Urban Market update will be published first thing tomorrow morning.)

Neighbor organizing opposition to 5020 California project

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The first Southwest Design Review Board meeting of the new year, one week from Thursday, is scheduled to look at the Spring Hill apartment/retail mixed-use building proposed for 5020 California and 2 parcels south of that address (area photo above; developers BlueStar told WSB last week there’s no project rendering yet). As mentioned in our December 11 update, it’s now outlined as a 6-story building with 90 apartments, 100 parking spaces, and 4,000 square feet of retail. Area resident Mary wanted other neighbors to know that she’s drafted a letter opposing it and that they can contact her if they want a copy of it or are interested otherwise in joining forces:Read More

Harleys on Alki: HOGging the road, in a New Year’s tradition

What a New Year’s Day along the West Seattle shore. First the Polar Bear Swim (see below), then the Seattle HOG (Harley Owners’ Group) taking off from Don Armeni on their annual “Chilly Buns Run” to Federal Way:

The cheering section outside the Alki Tavern was a nice touch.

Alki Polar Bear Swim: Cool way to start the year

Pix of this morning’s swim, courtesy of Dan E (thanks!):

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Water temperature, by the way, was 48 degrees (warmer than the air, though!).

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Also happening on Alki this morning – Harleys gathering for their annual New Year’s ride, south through Burien and on to Federal Way. Video of that in our next post; meantime, a few more Alki Polar Bear pix from Dan E:Read More

Start the New Year with a good deed

January 1, 2008 10:24 am
|    Comments Off on Start the New Year with a good deed
 |   West Seattle people

Nominate somebody for the West Seattle Community Recognition Awards. Quick, easy, free. If you missed our announcement just before Christmas, read it here.

2008 – your West Seattle hopes ‘n’ dreams

Ours: Sanity, reason, compassion … and we want to see orcas up close and personal for the first time in a decade-plus. Yours? Discuss here.