West Seattle, Washington
11 Wednesday
(DESC project site on Delridge, from “packet” for Thursday night meeting)
9:19 PM: We’re at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting looking at the proposed DESC homeless-housing project at 5444 Delridge Way has just ended. About 20 members of the public were there; about half a dozen spoke. Board members had many suggestions for the architects, but none were enough to stop the project from moving forward in the design-review process, so it has officially cleared “early design guidance,” which means DESC can apply for its master use permit. Next step: They will have to develop a fully fleshed-out design to bring to a second SWDRB meeting, date not yet set. We have video of the meeting and full details to come.
FIRST ADDITION: Interim update – The six-minute clip above is the very end of the meeting, with SWDRB chair Brandon Nicholson summarizing the recommendations the board is making to the architects and the city Department of Planning and Development. The letters/numbers he mentions right at the beginning refer to the codes on this page (scroll down).
SECOND ADDITION: Here’s the entire meeting on videotape, with two small gaps – between clips 1 and 2, our first camera ran out of power during a public comment; clip 2 picks up during that same commenter, and ends when the room shifted for the board to begin its deliberations, which are done in the open; clip 3 picks up at the start of those deliberations. Click the lower-right area of any clip to watch it either bigger-screen on the YouTube site (the logo will take you there) or fullscreen:
Thanks to the person who called us with a tip about this display – it’s not far from the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular, we were told. Indeed, that entire neighborhood features several fine light displays, and we’ll be back to scout. This one is in the 3700 block of 40th SW [map]. In case you’re just catching up … we’re showcasing at least one brightly lit home every night, and adding to the list on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page; if you have a suggestion, please let us know!
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports this afternoon:
Thanks to everybody who shared tips about police activity in Sunrise Heights in the past hour or so, near 35th/Webster. Police were chasing suspects in at least one burglary – and that general area, as reported here previously, has been a target lately; we don’t know if it was this same suspect, but there was a scanner report a while ago about a break-in attempt at 36th/Myrtle, not far away. At least one person has been arrested/detained. We’ll add details as soon as we get them.
And from Pigeon Point – pilfered packages and mail were found at noontime today, some with addresses from some distance away:Read More
Thanks to Josh Sutton from the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) – he took the photo as demolition began on the site kitty-corner from the Y that will become Harbor Properties‘ next West Seattle apartment building, Nova. Harbor opened Link a few blocks away earlier this year and also owns Mural in The Junction (both are WSB sponsors). Nova’s at 4600 36th SW (just north of The Grove) and is designed for five stories, 62 apartments, 36 parking spaces (it’s close to the forthcoming RapidRide, and the city now does not require parking for developments close to major transit).
Harbor’s contractor is Compass Construction; its major financing is from Bank of the West. Construction is expected to take a year.
Four months after Alan Harrison announced his departure as ArtsWest‘s executive director, its board has just announced they have promoted Christopher Zinovitch to Artistic Director. He will share leadership with a to-be-hired Managing Director. ArtsWest also has hired Lauren Domino as Development Director. P.S. AW is part of tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, with the reception for “Quotidian Dreams” 6-7:30 pm.
(September photo by Kevin McClintic)
Six months after its return to a city-owned site at West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way, the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville is in a sort of limbo – legal, and otherwise.
After the Highland Park Action Committee‘s meeting last night, following up on a discussion that began at its October meeting (as reported here), it seemed clear that the city does not currently intend to either:
*Evict the encampment
or
*Provide services (water/sewer/power hookups) that would make the site more habitable
You can watch the meeting yourself, if you’d like to see how it all played out:
Context for the meeting was a letter sent to the city by HPAC, as co-chairs Carolyn Stauffer and Billy Stauffer explained at the start of last night’s meeting. As the letter began, “In the past, our organization has been supportive of Nickelsville as a temporary situation. With news of this potentially becoming a permanent settlement, we have begun to hear a lot from our friends and neighbors.” HPAC says that the “burden of homelessness” should be shared with the rest of the city and suggests that this encampment, like others in the city, could switch sites every six months or so.
The issue drew a crowd to the meeting, including City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith, and Lisa Herbold from Councilmember Nick Licata‘s office.Read More
For the first time since Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Seattle began, related protests are planned for this area. John sent a note to point out that the protest website says the Seattle action for next Monday’s “West Coast Port Shutdown” protests announces:
… there will be two rallies near the port at 3 pm and 6 pm at the Spokane Street fishing area, just to the east of the Spokane St. bridge, near the intersection of SW Spokane St & SW Manning St. under the West Seattle bridge.
It’s not actually a protest against the port itself, the website says (and as commenters point out, it is not union-endorsed); organizers say it’s meant to show opposition to unionbusting, Governor Gregoire‘s planned budget cuts, and evictions at “Occupy” protests across the country. Preceding the rallies in this area, supporters plan to march from Westlake downtown, starting at 1 pm Monday.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, at 5410 California SW. Here’s what Andrea would like you to know about her practice:
Andrea says, “What keeps patients coming back to me is, ultimately, my success in treating them and improving their health. For each patient I see, my first question is, ‘What is your goal in seeking acupuncture?’ The answers are always inspiring, and sometimes surprising. Some people want to improve athletic performance. Some want to be pain-free. Some just want to sleep through the night. I think a lot of my patients appreciate that I take time to understand them as a whole person, not just, for example, a headache. I even treat entire families — one partner will come in for something, maybe a cold or flu, and will feel so much better that the other partner comes to see me, and pretty soon I’m even treating the kids! The majority of my patients at some point stop coming in regularly, because their health improves. At the same time, that’s why they come back. In the broad sense, my patients see me because they want to improve their lives, and they keep coming back because acupuncture and Chinese herbs help them to do that.”
Andrea’s background is wide-ranging. We asked what has drawn patients to her, and she explained that some come “because I have a western medical background, and that makes people more comfortable. I see quite a few cancer patients, as well, thanks to my integrative oncology training. Some people are curious about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and I create an environment that is very supportive of patients who want to understand TCM in a western medical context. I also see patients who come in the door and say, ‘I have these symptoms. Am I crazy?’ and it’s always rewarding to be able to say, ‘No, you’re not crazy!’ Chinese Medicine has such a different way of looking at the body and its systems — very holistically — that some health issues that don’t make sense to us in a western context are easily explained and treated using TCM.
Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs is located in the West Seattle Whole Health Center, and like others there, is an independent practice: “I run my own business, and I work closely with other practitioners in different disciplines — physical therapists, MDs, naturopaths, massage therapists, and other acupuncturists.” She’s working to set up a group “specifically for West Seattle alternative medical practitioners, where we can all network, share ideas, and support the community more effectively. It’s a great, self-contained community and a wonderful place to live, and I’m very excited to be part of it!” You can schedule an appointment online, or call 206-200-3595.
We thank Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Just in from SDOT – three more blocks of California SW in the treacherous stretch between Alaska and Morgan Junctions are about to get some help:
Next Monday through Thursday, December 12 through 15, Seattle Department of Transportation crews will be resurfacing California Avenue SW from SW Findlay Street to SW Graham Street [map]. The resurfacing work, which will take place from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, will involve grinding down the surface, making repairs to the street base and repaving the roadway. Traffic in both directions will be pushed to the opposite side of where the crews are working. All crosswalks and sidewalks will remain open. A Police Officer will provide traffic control at the intersection of California Avenue SW and SW Graham Street.
We’ll check with Metro for their rerouting plans.
ADDED 11:25 AM: Since SDOT has said it would love to repave more of California SW south of The Junction but didn’t have the money, we asked what was paying for this sudden project. SDOT’s Peg Nielsen tells WSB it’s from the “Rubble Yard sale,” city property sold for use as a staging area in the Highway 99 tunnel project. City Council President Richard Conlin wrote about it earlier this year.
ADDED 1:43 PM: Nielsen also provides an explanation of a question asked in comments – why just three blocks? – and what’s ahead:Read More
(August 27 photo by Tony Bradley)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
New water mains, yes. Added sidewalks, no.
That’s one of the points we got clarified, following up on Wednesday morning’s Arbor Heights fire briefing before the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety and Education Committee.
You can watch the entire briefing in our Wednesday-morning story; we summarized the briefing documents’ key points in this story from the night before.
But we had a few followup questions, so, adding the answers to the additional information that emerged at the briefing – primarily regarding the plan to upgrade water mains in the area where they were too small to provide adequate “fire flow”:Read More
Multiple opportunities, as just announced by the college – including wine-tasting today!
Holiday Lunches
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 13 & 14
12:00 pm, Brockey Center
Cost: $18.95 per person
Reservations required: (206) 934-7952The three-course meal, prepared by students in South’s Culinary Arts program, includes a salad course, followed by Roasted New York Strip Loin Béarnaise with a Yam Potato Puree and seasonal vegetables. Desserts include an assortment including Macaroons, Madeleine’s and Chocolate Buttercream Cake. Coffee and tea are included.
The holiday feast is prepared by students as part of their training in Restaurant and Food Service Production, Catering and Banquet Operations, and Pastry & Specialty Baking. Many of them are also pursuing the college’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Hospitality Management.
Holiday Wine Tasting & Sales
Thursday & Friday, December 8, 9, 15, & 16
1 – 4 pm, Northwest Wine Academy, (206) 934-5344Need wine for gifts or to bring to your holiday or New Year’s party? The NWWA is open Monday thru Friday from 11 am-5 pm throughout the month of December (closed December 23 and 26). On sale are award-winning wines produced on campus by students in the winemaking program, as well as wines made by program alumni and wines from around the world. Don’t know which wine to buy? Come to one a tasting where NWWA wines and traditional holiday favorites are featured.
The Northwest Wine Academy is located on the South Seattle Community College campus across from Bernie’s Bakery. Parking is available in the North entry parking lot.
The West Seattle Art Walk is one of tonight’s biggest events – and if you stop by Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW), you can see that work (thanks to gallery owner Diane Venti for sharing) and others by Bryce Robertson, paying tribute to the Space Needle on its 50th anniversary. We’ll have more Art Walk previews here later (thanks to everyone who has sent theirs) – and you can dive into the sneak peeks published on the official Art Walk website. 6-9 pm, all over West Seattle. (Many venues are in The Junction, where it’s also the pre-Christmas Shop Late Thursday till 9 pm, participating merchants listed here!)
Meantime, it’s also a night for music:
SCHOOL CONCERTS: We recorded those members of the Chief Sealth International High School Orchestra at the school’s PTSA meeting a week ago. They and the Sealth choir, along with their counterparts from Denny International Middle School next door, have been rehearsing for tonight’s big concert, 7 pm, Sealth auditorium (2600 SW Thistle). Madison Middle School’s Senior Band, Senior Orchestra, and Jazz Band will perform their winter concert tonight as well, 7 pm in the Madison gym (45th/Spokane). (Update: Commenter says ALL Madison bands will play!)
And yet more from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Road closures at spots along Spokane Street just east of West Seattle tonight – check the advisory for details.
TOY DONATIONS: KIRO’s Jenni Hogan is out on “Mobile Tweetup” patrol 10 am-1 pm picking up Toys for Tots donations – WSB sponsor Nurturing Expressions is a dropoff location; take over a toy!
BOOK SIGNING AT METROPOLITAN MARKET: Admiral Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) hosts Alexandra Hedin signing her book, Entertaining at Home: Inspiration, Recipes and Crafts for Creations for a Lovely Life, 4-6 pm.
BOOK SIGNINGS AT BEER JUNCTION: Arcadia Books signing at the Beer Junction, 5-8pm 4707 42nd Avenue Southwest. Come meet the collaborators of the latest Arcadia books- “West Seattle” and “Luna Park” – and taste a featured beer too! Your chance to buy signed copies and thrill your friends and family with these history books!
DELRIDGE DESC PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW: Southwest Design Review Board meeting for DESC proposal to build 75-unit apartment complex at 5444 Delridge to house chronically homeless people, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6:30 pm. (Archive of WSB project coverage is here; community volunteers’ information clearinghouse about tonight’s meeting and other project aspects is here.)
GO CONGRATULATE THE WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Last night, it won an award; tonight, it plays host to Ask An Expert for Do It Yourselfers, also at Youngstown, 6-8 pm.
OPEN HOUSE: Suite Arrangements open house in The Junction, treats, drinks, in-store specials, 4-9 pm
HOLIDAY TASTING: West Seattle Thriftway holiday tasting, 4-7 pm
GOT A PLACE FOR A NEW FRIEND? Friends of the Animals Foundation will be at Next to Nature with adoptable cats and kittens in formal wear (tuxedo cat, anyone?) and in need of new homes this Thursday from 6-9 pm. Browse the art, shop the winter farmers market, and adopt a new family member.
SWEETIE’S HOLIDAY PARTY: Sweetie Boutique in The Junction invites you to its holiday party: “Lots of great things in store, treats, eats & libations!” 7-10 pm. (And see Sweetie’s coupon on the WSB Holiday Shopping Guide coupons page.)
SHOPPING FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE? GOING OUT TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS? Info/updates on those – and more – are featured on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
Just announced:
The Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale will present its inaugural Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 17, 2011 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. The concert. titled “Peace & Joy,” features two significant sacred works: a suite entitled “Carols of the nativity” by Canadian composer and conductor Stephen Chatman; and the world premiere of Spanish Cradle Carol: An homage to Maurice Ravel by Bob Ingalls scored for Chamber Chorale, cello and piano featuring Seattle Symphony cellist Roberta Downey. This concert series also includes numerous carols of the season written or arranged by distinguished American choral composers and will be a wonderful way to highlight your holiday season.
The concert is sponsored by the West Seattle HelpLine and West Seattle Food Bank. Bring a hat/scarf/glove set or 5 non-perishable food items and receive your ticket for half price. For more information please consult our website: www.musicasacrachamberchorale.com
Two West Seattle elementary schools have achievements to share. First, from Roxhill:
Young adults in service to help kids – that’s the fundamental mission of City Year, which operates in several West Seattle schools (among many other places). And a recent event involving Roxhill’s City Year team stretched beyond those involved, raising global awareness. Team leader Hollis Hernandez shares the photos and this report:
On December 1st, the City Year team at Roxhill Elementary School celebrated the end of a school-wide Hunger Awareness Month Campaign with the school’s first Empty Bowls Banquet. All students and families were invited to share a humble meal of soup and bread out of student-decorated bowls and to hear students’ amazing essays on how to combat hunger around the world. It was a powerful and inspiring evening that could only have been possible with the generous donations from Endolyne Joe’s, Ivar’s, Target, and Great Harvest Bread.
Students were excited to get up onstage to read their essays – short and sweet, like this one from a girl named Faith:
Get food for the kids! Parents feed their kids but, some parents want to get more food for their kids because they don’t have enough food. If this happens all the kids will grow. The village will grow stronger with the help a community. The community will grow stronger if all the nations unite. Together we can help change the world to change ourselves.
Now, from Lafayette Elementary , an update on students getting involved with technology – not just to use it, but to strategize and compete: We have an update on a big day for the school’s new LaSER (Lafayette Science, Engineering, Robotics) club!
From Matt Jensen:
Robotics teams from Lafayette’s LaSER club had a great showing at the 26-team South Seattle FLL robot tournament on Saturday. The Mystic Mindstormers and Lego Minds, mixed teams of 2nd and 3rd graders, were the youngest teams there and outscored a number of older teams. The girls’ team, the Go-Go Bots, scored well and won a Core Values Award for Gracious Professionalism.
Several West Seattle Crime Watch notes from the past day or so. First, Brian noted an unusual car-part theft:
Someone stole the Honda logo off the rear of my wife’s 2005 Civic. She noticed it missing Tuesday. She said that ones from nearby cars were missing too. We live in the 8600 block of 25th, 1 block north of Westwood Village. I don’t know if this was a prank or if those logos have some kind of value. Not a huge occurrence but kind of odd.
Ahead, a burglary, some protection tips, a suspicious-behavior report, and a possibly stolen bikeRead More
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