West Seattle Tuesday: SB Viaduct closure tonight; retirement-living Town Hall today; more

Those are the tables and chairs placed in Junction Plaza Park by the West Seattle Junction Association. They are this morning’s “photo of the day” in honor of their continued existence – when we reported their installation two-plus weeks ago, a few commenters predicted they’d vanish within a few weeks; we countered good-naturedly with faith in humanity (despite 30 years in news). The tables/chairs have been there almost three weeks, so three cheers for optimism … and for a place to enjoy lunch in the park. On with the calendar highlights:

TONIGHT’S TRAFFIC ALERT: From our custom-combined list of this week’s closures, day-by-day: Just one for today/tonight – the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed overnight, 9 pm-5 am. (P.S. Wherever you’re heading, and whenever, the WSB Traffic page has all the West Seattle-relevant cameras.)

TRYING TO DECIDE ABOUT RETIREMENT LIVING? West Seattle’s senior/retirement-living communities are joining forces for a Town Hall-style event to share information and answer questions, 2 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). Details here.

STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING: The lack of summer sun doesn’t stop this summer series of Tuesday night racing. 6 pm, Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW); details here.

OPEN HOUSE: Arbor Heights Cooperative Preschool (10404 34th SW) invites prospective families to visit; starts at 6 pm – more info here.

BLOCKWATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: This month’s meeting is all about getting ready for Night Out block parties on August 7th, as previewed here last night. Tonight’s meeting is at 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct meeting room, Delridge/Webster.

HI-YU WHITE ROSE RECEPTION: It’s a reunion and a celebration for Hi-Yu royalty past and present as the heart of the summer West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival season nears. 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9131 California SW), details here.

Jtk June 26, 2012 (11:06 am)

That’s because they are all tied together…. If they weren’t all tied together, Guaranteed they would NOT still be there…
Who can carry 4 chairs and a table at ONE time… no-one….

Diane June 26, 2012 (11:15 am)

table and chairs still there, one of the funniest/best posts ever

miws June 26, 2012 (11:27 am)

Now all that’s needed, is for a neighboring business to generously step up and set up a free WI-Fi connection, and Mother Nature to step up with some sunny days, and folks could sit there with their laptops, and surf WSB! ;-)

Mike

Trying! June 26, 2012 (1:15 pm)

OK, I don’t get it. Can someone explain? Why do people go to coffee shops and other public places and stare at their computer totally oblivious to anything around them? It’s like they are just a thing taking a seat. You can’t say Hi or interact with them in anyway, they won’t see you. I don’t understand why they don’t just stay home with their computer? What’s the point of going out? What am I missing?

chas redmond June 26, 2012 (2:28 pm)

maybe work is now a spectator sport!

chas redmond June 26, 2012 (2:29 pm)

and all these coffeeshop computer people are athletes.

WSB June 26, 2012 (2:38 pm)

Hey, once in a while I go sit in a coffee shop just because it mixes things up – if there’s a story I’m just stuck on, or something, it puts me in a different frame of mind (and if the weather ever gets summery, there’s also the “go sit on a park bench” alternative). I suspect a fair number of work-at-home people (and remember, we/they represent fewer cars on the bridge!) just like to get out of the home office, living room chair, wherever. And of course we hope they are supporting the space-providing coffee shop by buying a drink or two or three while there … TR

ad June 26, 2012 (9:47 pm)

Has anything been scrawled on them yet? I hope they last…

WSB June 26, 2012 (9:54 pm)

Well, we took the photo yesterday afternoon. Seems that scrawlers have bigger targets around here these days …

Ken June 26, 2012 (10:23 pm)

Very happy to see they’re still at the park. Nice I was proven wrong from my past comment that they’d ‘disappear’.

Not in agreement June 26, 2012 (11:17 pm)

I preferred this small open space the way it was designed and built: open.
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Apparently others prefer the (permanent?) addition of these tables and chairs. To me it just adds visual clutter to what was a very esthetically pleasing design.
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I am curious about the process for deciding what additions are allowed or appropriate. Originally there was an open process that led to the design and building of this darling little park.
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Can any association now decide to add features? Bike racks, say, placed by a group of transit users?
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As far as I am aware, the park is not owned or managed by the Junction Association. Am I wrong? Has the parks department transferred the park?

WSB June 26, 2012 (11:33 pm)

The park wouldn’t have ever been finished if not for a huge amount of fundraising led by the Junction Association and Junction Neighborhood Organization. (Scroll through our archive to see the coverage of the final push – a year before the dedication, leaders of both were collecting coins at Summer Fest, to help with a city matching-funds grant. https://westseattleblog.com/category/junction-plaza-park )I don’t know formally what rights/responsibilities were conferred with that – I know WSJA has a huge role in maintaining it (trying to keep its grass from being ruined by being the only dog bathroom in the area) and has the right to use it for events such as the Christmas Tree Lighting and Summer Fest – TR

Uncommon June 27, 2012 (8:30 am)

“Visual clutter”? This is a park meant for people to use, not a photo in a magazine.

cr June 27, 2012 (9:15 am)

Someone always has to complain, even when it is a positive addition.

datamuse June 27, 2012 (9:59 am)

I don’t know why other people go to coffee shops to work, but personally, I like working with other people around. It actually helps me concentrate better than when I’m working in a room by myself. Something about the outside stimulus of other people in the room even if we’re not interacting directly. I’m a pretty extroverted person–working in a setting like that would drive my introverted husband crazy.
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Plus, the coffee’s usually better than what I make at home.

Not in agreement June 27, 2012 (10:47 am)

No, I’m not necessarily complaining, just wondered who has the right and responsibility to decide whether or not something is a positive addition.
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I remember when they were fundraising and budgeting for the park. At the time, I didn’t get why it was going to be so expensive. I was picturing some grass, some pavers, some tables and benches, all pretty cheap stuff. Then when the park was built I was stunned at how wrong my mental picture was, because the park is so much more than that. It isn’t just something you sit in or have events in, it is also a beautiful work of art. The circles are art.
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I get that the the park is used for all sorts of special events, and added furniture needs to be brought in for those events. But most of the time, I think that open circle should stay the open space it was designed to be.

The Junction Association June 27, 2012 (11:26 am)

Hi There! Tables and chairs were part of the approved design concept. It’s nice to see that they are being used by our community. They were meant to be permanent, but the project couldn’t afford them at the time of construction. The park’s designer chose the furniture, The Junction Association received approval from the Parks Department, and the plan was implemented. The Junction Association applies for and pays for a permit each time we use the park – Tree Lighting Event and Summer Fest. These funds help the Parks Department with all their efforts to maintain the park. None of this should be done without receiving formal approval.

– Susan Melrose