West Seattle, Washington

04 Sunday

81℉

month : 02/2011 317 results

Next Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection-shutdown days March 19-20
February 26, 2011 10:30 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Ever check the city’s “Construction Lookahead“? It lists what’s in the works for road closures, as we continue steering through the maze of Spokane Street Viaduct work, Alaskan Way Viaduct work, and more. Checking it last night, we noticed the dates have quietly been set for the next Alaskan Way Viaduct semiannual inspections – since those are almost-all-weekend shutdowns, you might want to mark your calendar now: Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, 6 am-6 pm both days.

Share This

At West Seattle Rainbow Bingo, Senior Center wins the big ‘prize’
February 26, 2011 7:33 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Story and photos by Ellen Cedergreen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

As raucous as the West Seattle Senior Center‘s “Rainbow Bingo” was on Friday night – it had a sentimental moment too: A special dedication in memory of one of its most loyal patrons: Evelyn ‘Jean’ Roberts. Jean died last November after a brief illness (her obituary was published here), and her friends and family came out in full force last night to dedicate a new Bingomatic machine they purchased in her honor.

The new machine will help guarantee a fundraising-bingo future for the Senior Center, which lost $86,000 of its funding last year. The center relies on bingo fundraisers to cover a significant part of its budget.

The theme of Friday night’s fundraiser was “Mardi Gras,” and the vibe was jubilant.

Sylvia O’Stayformore (above) called numbers fast and furious, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (below) were on hand to verify “bingos,” sell raffle tickets, and give out spankings for any false “bingos” — which they did to much fanfare from the crowd.

Half of tonight’s raffle proceeds went to the raffle’s winner and the other half went to the Senior Center; bingo winners received a prize from the prize table for their win. Any ties were taken care of by a “bingo-off.”

(From left, Jean Roberts’ children Craig Roberts, Andrea Crisler, Patti Oquist)
Right before the bingo began, Jean Roberts’ son, Craig Roberts, gave a warm dedication. He commented on Jean’s dedication to the Senior Center and said she loved both bingo and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Other friends on hand remembered her wonderful singing voice and her overall love of life. She reportedly had a great sense of humor; one of her bands was called, “Three Satans and an Angel.”

In addition to the Senior Center’s big “win” scoring the Bingomatic, regular player (and SC volunteer) Carolyn took home a prize – a queen-size comforter kit:

The next Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 8th, but if you are looking to get your bingo on before then, the Senior Center also hosts bingo every Friday at 11 am for $6.

(Thanks to Dawn for the tip about the Bingomatic dedication!)

Share This

West Seattle Saturday: Gardening, cleanup, basketball, chili, beer, Youngstown’s 5th birthday
February 26, 2011 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Another West Seattle creation to check out if you go to the Northwest Flower and Garden Show (WSB sponsor) this weekend – Mari and Andrew Malcolm (whose home was on the West Seattle Garden Tour last year) have an award-winning display – their Seaside Succulents container display (above) won the award for Best Re-Characterization of Recycled Material. It includes “fantastic old crates and metal containers” from Admiralty House Antiques. Besides checking them out at the show, you can also check out their website. (Looking way ahead, they’re planning a sale on June 18 and succulent-container workshop June 25.)

Also happening today:

CLEANUP WITH FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH: Join the Admiral Neighborhood Association this morning for their quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup, and you get free breakfast AND lunch. Meet at 9 am, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) – coffee and treats before the cleanup, sack lunch to take with you afterward.

SEOLA PARK WORK PARTY: EarthCorps volunteer event, 10 am-2 pm, Marine View Drive SW/35th SW, help pull invasives and plant natives. Full details here.

CHIEF SEALTH’S SECOND STATE-TOURNAMENT GAME: Since they won Friday night, the boys’ basketball team plays again today, 3 pm vs. Lincoln High School at Auburn High School.

BEER TOUR: Washington breweries’ open house, including Elliott Bay in West Seattle and Big Al Brewing in White Center, noon-4 pm (Google map here)

YOUNGSTOWN ARTS CENTER TURNS 5: As first noted here a week and a half ago, Youngstown Arts Center‘s fifth birthday party is today! 4:30 pm-1 am – full details here

CHILI COOKOFF 6 pm, Brickyard BBQ, first-ever chili cookoff – $5 to eat and judge all chili. Live music, beer specials. 206-933-3109 for more info.

FINAL FAREWELL: Funeral for Jeremy Peck, 4 pm at Alki UCC, followed by a wake at the Masonic Hall, 6:30 pm

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

Share This

The WSBeat: Close call; towel-wearer runs; unlawful soccer kicks
February 26, 2011 2:46 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*Around 3 p.m. Saturday at 16th and Holden, an officer recognized a man driving by as a habitual offender who was wanted on a $5,000 warrant. When he spotted the officer, the man stopped his car and threw the keys between the seats (ostensibly giving reason that he should be rooting around near the floorboards). After hesitating, he finally complied with officers’ order to exit the vehicle and show his hands. After he was taken into custody, one of the officers found a .45-caliber Colt with a magazine holding six cartridges. Its location? On the driver’s side floorboard, in easy reach. The 21-year-old, a convicted felon, is forbidden by law from possessing a firearm. He was booked into King County Jail on the warrant and for investigation of weapons violations.

*The non-member was caught on video sneaking into a local fitness club Friday morning of last week around 7:30. While he was in the shower, employees locked up the locker where he had stashed his clothes. The man didn’t wait around for police (possibly because of the crack cocaine later found in his pocket): When he discovered he couldn’t access his duds, he ran out of the building and down a wooded trail wearing only a towel.

9 more summaries after the jump:Read More

Share This

West Seattle scene: Great blue heron in the great pink sunset
February 26, 2011 12:30 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Another way to appreciate Friday night’s colorful sunset – in the light glowing off a great blue heron that Alki photographer David Hutchinson encountered at Constellation Park, south of Alki Point.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 break-ins
February 25, 2011 11:56 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 break-ins
 |   Crime

A truck break-in that brought an unpleasant “welcome” to a new West Seattleite is one of two break-ins that are among the newest West Seattle Crime Watch reports we’ve received. Details after the jump:Read More

Share This

West Seattle food truck Beloved Mexico showcased on KUOW
February 25, 2011 11:29 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Seldom have we seen a West Seattle story in citywide/regional media generate this many notes suggesting we recommend it to everyone! But our mailbox has overflowed this afternoon/evening with notes about KUOW Radio‘s story on the Beloved Mexico food truck that has taken up residence on the West Seattle Produce lot along Fauntleroy Way south of SW Alaska. Listen for yourself here.

Share This

High-school basketball: Chief Sealth wins state-tournament game
February 25, 2011 7:40 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

From Auburn: The Chief Sealth International High School boys-basketball team beats Foss HS, 68-46, to advance in the state tournament. Next game tomorrow afternoon. Video and details when our crew returns to HQ.

11:38 PM UPDATE: Sealth plays Lincoln at 3 pm tomorrow (Saturday), again at Auburn HS. More on tonight’s game after the jump:Read More

Share This

Former Southgate skating rink to reopen, as a roller rink once more
February 25, 2011 3:33 pm
|      68 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

Story and photo by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog/White Center Now

The long-closed former Southgate Skate Center in White Center will be a roller-skating rink once more.

After more than three months of negotiations with the owners of what is currently the Southgate Event Center at 9646 17th SW, John Venables of Lakeview Properties and Josh Rhoads of Lynnwood Bowl and Skate confirmed today to WSB/WCN that they have put down deposits and are awaiting the receipt of the keys on Monday, when they plan to sign leasing papers with an option-to-purchase clause.

Rhoads is a 14-year U.S.A World Team competitive artistic skater who currently manages the Lynnwood Bowl and Skate rink. Venables is an apartment-properties owner and manager, as well as a former cargo-ship steward. They intend to return the building (originally called the Southgate Rollerdrome in 1937) back to full use as a competition and training rink and family-oriented entertainment/sports facility with full concessions. It will once again be called the Southgate Roller Rink.

Read More

Share This

Alki Homestead restoration review #2: View deck proposed
February 25, 2011 2:36 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At the Muni Tower downtown, the architects working on the proposed restoration of the closed-by-fire-damage Alki Homestead appeared today for the second time before the Architectural Review Committee of the city Landmarks Preservation Board.

No vote was taken – meetings of the Architectural Review Committee are informal gatherings for architects, property owners, and developers to get feedback before bringing complete proposals to the full board, which has to sign off on projects affecting official city landmarks like the Homestead (historically known as the Fir Lodge). But the discussion represented another step toward restoring and reopening the Homestead, a popular restaurant for decades before a January 2009 electrical fire put it (for now) out of business.

As was the case at the January review, the architects from Alloy Design Group (above) made the presentation, with Homestead owner Tom Lin in the audience. When they appeared last month, the focus was on the overall concept of what they intend to do – this time, the focus was on the “accessory structure” that is being proposed on the east side of the Homestead, to hold its kitchen as well as an elevator for accessing proposed banquet facilities on the second floor. As the architects explained, they need feedback on what will be OK with the “accessory structure” before they can figure out the plan for restoring the fire-damaged Homestead building itself. And that’s part of why projects come before the committee before going for an official vote – to get feedback on whether they’re going down the right road.

Much of the discussion centered on a proposed third-floor view deck, 598 square feet. Here’s a rough sketch from this morning’s informal presentation:

Alloy’s Mark Haizlip and Greg Squires suggested that a third-floor deck would bring back a historic aspect of the Homestead – the reason the Fir Lodge was located on that site in the first place – what was then a view of Elliott Bay.

Read More

Share This

West Seattle schools: Denny musicians win big at jazz festival
February 25, 2011 1:45 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle schools: Denny musicians win big at jazz festival
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just days after the raise-the-roof “Soul Jambalaya” musical celebration/benefit (WSB video coverage here) for Denny International Middle School, across the street at Chief Sealth International High School, both schools are represented at a big event out of state, the annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. Leading them is Marcus Pimpleton, music director for Denny and band director for Sealth, and last night he sent word that the Denny jazz musicians had been honored “as an outstanding young ensemble … This is our first time winning on this level. Very exciting.” (You can see the Denny Jazz Band in action here.) The Sealth musicians compete tomorrow. Congratulations to all – and thanks also to the half-dozen-plus WSB’ers who forwarded the news to be sure we’d seen it!

Share This

West Seattle schools: Lafayette Elementary’s new portable arrives
February 25, 2011 12:45 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

More heavy equipment in the Admiral District today, not far from the ongoing work at the Safeway redevelopment site. Thanks to the WSB’ers who sent tips on this: West Seattle’s most populous elementary school — 500+ students — is getting its new double portable today, before midwinter-break week ends. A crane is helping move the portable into position at Lafayette Elementary, as you can see in our photo. We first reported almost two months ago that Lafayette, Gatewood, and Schmitz Park Elementary Schools would each get a new portable sometime before the next school year, to help handle growing enrollment.

ADDED: As WSB’ers pointed out, the Gatewood and Schmitz Park portables have arrived too. Here’s our photo from Saturday showing the one on the Gatewood playground:

Share This

Remembering Andrew Fife: Wake planned March 5th
February 25, 2011 12:01 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Andy Fife was “a resident and dear friend to many in West Seattle,” as Art Cuellar explains, in asking us to share Andy’s obituary and word of a wake planned next weekend:

Andrew “Andy” Fife, aged 56, passed away in West Seattle on February 23, surrounded by a group of his close friends.

Andy, a proud Englishman, was well known in West Seattle for his great physical fitness and love of hiking in the mountains. What was probably not so well known was the fascinating life Andrew had led prior to this. He was born in Tripoli, Libya, in 1954, where his English father worked in the oil industry. His mother, Bozena, had escaped from Poland during WWII and met her future husband during this journey. Andrew attended boarding school in England and said that he loved to watch the Harry Potter films as they so reminded him of school.

In his 20’s Andy came to the States to attend commercial pilot training. He earned his wings and went on to fly commercial aircraft for a variety of different airlines. After the airline industry went through a rough spot in the 80’s he turned his mind to physical training and spent time in both the States and the UK working with athletes and rugby teams, to include the famed Leicester Tigers Rugby Team in England, a fact that he was exceedingly proud of. He also worked as an outdoor tour guide for a company called Trek America, taking groups of tourists to spectacular places all over America and Canada. This ultimately brought him to West Seattle, where he lived, worked and played for the next 15 years or so.

He was well known for spending vast amounts of his time at All Star Fitness, training the Seattle Rugby Club, hiking in the mountains and watching rugby at a variety of pubs around town. For the past several years he was busy working on developing a new piece of fitness equipment, the ThundrrBell, which he planned to have in every gym across the nation in the not too distant future. Andrew also had a special passion for the care of the wounded soldiers of the United States and Britain, and had visited the facilities in both countries where they were going through rehab. Andrew is survived by his mother, Bozena Fife, of Goring-on-Thames, England.

There will be a Wake held at the Beveridge Place Pub on Saturday, March 5 at 4:30 PM to celebrate Andrew’s life. Please come and share stories, have a beer and a laugh, because that is what Andy would want.

Share This

Spirited sendoff for Delridge’s Ron Angeles: ‘This is my community’
February 25, 2011 9:01 am
|    Comments Off on Spirited sendoff for Delridge’s Ron Angeles: ‘This is my community’
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That’s just part of the crowd that filled the theater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center last night for a community celebration in honor of Ron Angeles, who’s retiring from his job as Delridge district coordinator for the city’s Department of Neighborhoods, though that title barely cracks the surface of what he’s done as an area leader over the past few decades.

If you weren’t there – we rolled video on the main events: First, the half-hour of on-stage tributes, starting with a Seattle City Council acknowledgment, read by Brian Hawksford from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s team, and including a tribute by former Department of Neighborhoods leader Jim Diers. The tributes were emceed by Delridge community activist Pete Spalding and included a few words from Ron himself (about 18 minutes in):

It wasn’t all speeches and solemnity (in fact, if you watch that first clip, it wasn’t all that solemn, period). Check out the breakdancing! Ron took a turn onstage (along with his nephew Brysen Angeles, who’s with the acclaimed breakdancing crew Massive Monkees):

Ron’s words of wisdom included his observation that community organizing is “not rocket science.” Maybe not, but it’s certainly an art, and his talent for that art was amply celebrated last night. His last day on the job is scheduled to be in mid-March.

Share This

West Seattle Friday: Traffic alert; new game night; Rainbow Bingo…
February 25, 2011 8:12 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Clear weather has arrived as the weekend approaches – clear and very cold, 20s this morning and not much warmer later – bundle up! From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Tonight’s the first of three overnight closures ahead as part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project – the eastbound lanes (east of 1st Avenue South) will close 11 pm-5 am … Girl Scout Cookie sales begin around Western Washington (here’s our preview from last weekend, including a link to the list showing where and when) … The West Seattle Garden Club meets 10 am-2 pm today at its new location, Daystar (2615 SW Barton), including brown-bag lunch at noon followed by a program on irises … NEW GAME NIGHT! Kristy sends word that you’re invited to Uptown Espresso in The Junction (4301 SW Edmunds) 6-11 pm to play games – they’ll have board/card/dice games or bring your own. They’re hoping to do this every Friday; call her at 206-491-2769 with questions … Also in The Junction, it’s Mardi Gras Rainbow Bingo Night at the Senior Center of West Seattle – doors open 6 pm, bingo at 7, preregistration encouraged (call 206-932-4044, extension 4) … High-school basketball, boys’ state tournament: Chief Sealth vs. Foss at Auburn High School (map), 6 pm tonight … More on the calendar!

Share This

Four more West Seattle snow scenes to share
February 24, 2011 11:56 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

As we say “so long” to the snow, four more scenes to share: Josh found the hot-chocolate vendors above, and reports, “These enterprising locals turned my trek along Beach Drive from frosty to toasty!” Next, a scene from Lincoln Park:

Trileigh notes, “It’s not just us humans who are feeling the pinch of that Arctic air mass that’s come to visit! Here’s a photo from today of a juvenile eagle in Lincoln Park, getting snowed on like the rest of us – and holding up one foot close to his or her chest for warmth. You can see the orange toes tucked up under the feathers. Eagles remain highly active in the park, even in the snow, calling back and forth and “yodeling” together. What an exciting time of year.” Another snowy bird shot from a Lincoln Park-favoring photographer:

Machel Spence spotted that little bird in the snow. And a little person was frolicking in Lincoln Park too:

Krista took her kids to see about some sledding – not much snow at midday for that, but she says they had a great time anyway. Thanks to everyone for sharing photos!

Share This

Highland Park Action Committee: Zippy’s closure plans; HPAC’s name
February 24, 2011 11:09 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

Wintry weather didn’t keep the Highland Park Action Committee from going ahead with its scheduled meeting last night at Highland Park Improvement Club. Thanks to Deanie Schwarz and Dina Lydia Johnson, we have details on major items of interest, starting with:

ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS’ MOVE: Three weeks after Deanie broke the story here that Zippy’s is moving to White Center, owners Blaine and Rahel Cook were at HPAC last night. They told the group they have set the closing date in Highland Park: Saturday, April 16th – they’ll serve that day until they run out of food. They hope to open at the new location, 9614 14th SW, on April 25th. Rahel mentioned it was bittersweet for them to have recently made their last HP rent payment. (They started the business in the 16th/Holden location almost three years ago – here’s our opening-day story; they’re moving because the site’s future has been clouded by foreclosure.)

After the jump – Dina’s report on the name-change discussion:Read More

Share This

Be a wading-pool hero! City’s looking for sponsors this summer
February 24, 2011 10:12 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB photo of the Hiawatha wading pool)
Might be a stretch to think about wading pools on a wintry night, but the city announced today that it is looking for help long before summer gets here. Seattle Parks doesn’t have the money to add back any of the hours slashed last year, when only five pools around the city were open daily, 10 three days a week, and 7 never opened at all (3 more were closed last year but will reopen as spray parks this year, including the Highland Park wading-pool site). But if they can find sponsors/partners, they might be able to change that, and open more pools for more days. In West Seattle, only Lincoln Park was open 7 days a week last summer, so if the schedule remains the same, sponsorships could help Delridge, E.C. Hughes, and/or Hiawatha. Find details on Parks’ pool-sponsor proposals by going here.

Share This

Opening night for new West Seattle hangout The Bridge: Snow? So?
February 24, 2011 8:35 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   Triangle | West Seattle news | WS beverages

(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
You still have a few hours to be part of opening night at The Bridge, the new hangout/bar/eatery at 4439 35th SW (map), not far from the Fauntleroy entrance to its namesake. WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen visited shortly after The Bridge officially opened its doors and started to pour – 4 pm today. Of course proprietors Rita Dixson and Trevor Garand were greeting their first customers:

This day/night will be memorable for them for more than the obvious reason – for one, as mentioned in our preview last week, today is also Rita’s birthday. And then – there was the snow shower that moved through the area right around opening time – Trevor was a good sport about posing on The Bridge’s 1,800-square-foot patio:

Inside, the big brick fireplace was waiting to warm everyone up:

The Bridge is online here, and on Facebook here. P.S. They tell us they’re planning on Wednesday karaoke. Per their FB page, they’re opening at 4 pm weekdays, 1 pm weekends.

Share This

West Seattle snow: Thursday pm weather, traffic, transit…
February 24, 2011 3:25 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(This story will stay atop the home page through the evening commute – until then, other news, even newer stories, will appear beneath it)

3:25 PM: We photographed that plow-blade-equipped DOT truck across from Cactus on Alki about an hour ago, while we took a drive around many of the peninsula’s main roads, all of which were bare, and dry, with even the roadsides revealing little evidence we’d had notable snow overnight (in some areas). Since then, though, we’ve been in the midst of a semi-serious snow shower for about the past 15 minutes.

(Snow-shower video added)
So we’ll be keeping close watch on the roads, the forecast, etc., as you prepare to come home, just in case.

(Refresh for latest images: From left, ‘Walking on Logs’ area, WS Bridge east of 35th, west entrance ‘low bridge’)
3:35 PM: Adding traffic cameras. Metro just sent an update, saying its Southwest, Southeast, and East bus routes “will continue on snow routing. Buses in other areas are on regular routing at this time, but that could change. … Temperatures are forecast to be extremely low overnight throughout King County, so icy roads are expected again Friday morning. Snow routing will likely continue for many bus routes through the day and evening on Friday.” You can check the status of your bus route here. As for the forecast – the National Weather Service just issued a “short-term” alert saying this “isolated” snow shower might leave half an inch of new snow before it’s done.

4:34 PM: Though the snow hasn’t stopped yet, the roads are still in good shape, “bare and wet” even up here atop a hill.

5:44 PM: All’s still well. The snow has stopped, even a bit of a break in the clouds to the southwest, though to the west-northwest, still murky.

5:55 PM: … then came another shower, icy this time, in Morgan Junction/Fairmount Springs. Watch out for slick streets.

Share This

West Seattle wildlife: Coyote in the snow
February 24, 2011 3:20 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

As another snow shower moves through the area (weather/commute updates coming up) – we have the most detailed coyote photos we ever recall receiving for WSB. Karen photographed this coyote at West Seattle Golf Course this morning.

Share This

West Seattle snow scenes: Lowman Beach’s swinging snowman
February 24, 2011 1:46 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

A few memorable photos have come in on this snowy day – including two separate photos of a snowman in a swing at Lowman Beach Park. The top photo was shared by Eve; but the snowman originally had a cap, according to unsigned e-mail from the people who actually created it, sending the smaller photo below and explaining it was “a little something from our family to everyone. Enjoy. Go Sounders FC!!”

More snowy-day photos to come!

P.S. Wondering about the forecast? We are no longer under any advisories or alerts. Flurries/snow showers are still possible, but the most notable forecast feature now is an overnight low possibly into the teens tonight (and tomorrow).

Share This

No foreclosure sale for West Seattle’s ‘Hole’ tomorrow, after all
February 24, 2011 1:22 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of “The Hole,” taken last month)
We’re back at the King County Courthouse, where the foreclosure sale originally planned tomorrow for “The Hole” – the long-stalled West Seattle development site at 39th/Alaska (map) – is now off, or “stayed” in legal terms. That’s the result of multiple hearings over the past week, concluding with the decision this morning.

But the party that sought the stay, the site’s current note-holder 3922 SW Alaska, did not get the other big thing they wanted in seeking the stay. They were denied their request to be allowed to proceed with their own foreclosure sale so they could take possession and, they said, start working on the site, even while their appeal of Judge Susan Craighead‘s original ruling proceeded through the Court of Appeals. (Her original ruling, last November, was simply to determine whose lien against the stalled project came before whose – she ruled that the two construction companies and another contractor had precedence before 3922 SW Alaska.)

Today, Judge Craighead said no to the proposal for 3922 SW Alaska’s own foreclosure sale, even while making it clear she doesn’t want to keep the site idle. In fact, during this morning’s hearing, as she has done before, the judge repeatedly voiced concern about the West Seattle community’s desire to see something done with the property, which that was going to be a Whole Foods store, a Hancock Fabrics store, and apartments, over a big parking garage, till the project fell apart two and a half years ago and turned into a multi-party legal fight.

The judge instead declared that the way to bring about a resolution sooner was to push the Court of Appeals to speed up its consideration of the appeal (even as the fight over the collapsed project moves toward another trial this summer). In the meantime, 3922 SW Alaska – which is associated with Madison Development‘s owner – has put up $7,714,799, to protect the interests of the three lienholders in line ahead of it. (The money was in the form of a cashier’s check brought to court this morning.)

Bottom line: The Hole remains The Hole at least until the Court of Appeals decides on the challenge filed by 3922 SW Alaska LLC. We’ll be watching to see if it does indeed get sped up (the judge noted one case of hers once made it through the appeals court in a month).

Share This