West Seattle, Washington
30 Tuesday
(From the design packet for 3062 Avalon Way)
The neighbors who came to a Southwest Design Review Board meeting in September to show concern about the 108-unit building planned for 3078 Avalon Way SW are planning a return trip tomorrow (Thursday) night to comment on its similar-sized prospective next-door neighbor. The project to be reviewed this time is at 3062 Avalon Way – first mentioned here 3 weeks ago – 107 apartments and 80 parking spaces on a site that now holds two older, small apartment buildings and a house:
The images are from the design “packet,” viewable online in advance of the meeting (6:30 pm Thursday, Senior Center of West Seattle at California/Oregon); the architect is Caron, same as the project reviewed in September. The concerned neighbors are along 32nd SW to the north, and according to e-mail discussions shared with WSB, their research has yielded a new point since their September show of force: When the West Seattle Junction urban-village plan was drawn up more than a decade ago, theirs was described as one of three pockets of single-family homes whose neighborhood character was to be protected. So that’s their rallying cry now.
You don’t have to live near a project to have a say at a Design Review meeting, so if you are interested in input – particularly on the size and shape, also known as “massing” – you should be there too; a public-comment period is part of every design-review meeting.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
8:29 PM: Seattle Fire units are rushing to a “fire in building” call in the 4800 block of SW Juneau (map). More shortly.
8:36 PM UPDATE: Per the scanner, it’s described as a wall fire and said to be under control. (2 minutes later) It’s now “tapped,” and SFD is calling off the units that hadn’t arrived yet. They’re keeping four units at the scene – two engines, a ladder truck, and battalion chief. No reports of any injuries.
8:42 PM UPDATE: Added a photo. Meantime, the fire marshal is en route to look into the cause.
9:02 PM UPDATE: Our crews at the scene have talked to the neighbor who called the fire in after seeing smoke and some flames. He confirms to WSB this house was unoccupied – it’s undergoing remodeling. So definitely no injuries; cause remains under investigation.
ADDED 9:04 AM MONDAY: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB their investigator “determined the fire was accidental, caused by electrical wiring in the wall which overheated and ignited the kitchen. Estimated loss is $40,000.”
The National Weather Service includes our area in an alert out tonight – a “coastal flood advisory,” for possible tidal overflow, especially during the high tides the next two mornings. At 6:08 tomorrow morning and 6:41 Friday morning, the high tide will be just under 12 feet – but a “tidal anomaly” may push the water a foot or two higher. So the NWS is alerting waterfront residents and anyone else who might be out on the shore.
5:38 PM: Thanks for the reports of police rushing with lights and sirens – they’re headed to an “assault with weapons” call in the 5600 block of 42nd SW. More shortly.
5:42 PM: The call has “closed” on the Seattle Fire online 911 log. But we’ll still check with whomever we find at the scene.
5:46 PM: We’re told at the scene that while this went out as “assault with weapons,” it’s now believed to be self-inflicted. As we always mention in such cases: Crisis Clinic is there for 24-hour help, including their hotline at 206-461-3222.
The photo is courtesy of West Seattle artist Lezlie Jane, along with an update on her newest work – homage to the Alki boardwalk’s past as a swimming hotspot:
Luna Girls on Alki have broken ground and begun the construction and installation phase of the project. The sculptures should be should be completely installed just after the start of the New Year. We’re still raising money to meet the construction costs via our Kickstarter campaign.
You can see the design and hear its story in Lezlie’s Kickstarter video:
The top photo, meantime, shows John Kroetch and his crew from Signature Landscaping, who are doing the construction. As explained in our earlier reports, Luna Girls on Alki joins the long list of artworks she has created for and installed at local parks.
Along the road to winning funding from the Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund, community-generated proposals from around the city have now been rated by Parks staffers. The levy’s Oversight Committee (which is chaired by West Seattleite Pete Spalding) heard the staff’s recommendations when its members met Monday night. In this region of the city, the two top-rated proposals were the South Park Plaza and Genesee Hill Park projects – the former recommended for its full funding request of $669,000, the latter recommended for $650,000 of its $750,000 request. The Genesee Hill project would develop a neighborhood park for the area, which currently doesn’t have one, and is blocked from using much of the currently vacant (but soon to be built on) Genesee Hill Elementary site; the South Park project involves creating a public park/plaza in the downtown area by the river and new bridge (scheduled to open in early 2014). This doesn’t mean other proposals are completely ruled out, nor does it mean these two are shoo-ins; as laid out in the timeline on the right side of this city webpage, presentations are planned in January, and the committee discusses prioritizations in February, with a public hearing in March and recommendations made to the City Council in April.
(UPDATED with letter sent to Sealth families)
FIRST REPORT, 10:22 AM: SFD says two teenage girls are being treated after a vehicle hit them near Sealth. We have just arrived in the area. More shortly.
10:34 AM: The fire and police activity is focused in the street just east of the SWAC field across from the school. Principal Chris Kinsey (photo below) is on the scene and tells WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand that both girls are students.
They are on their way to Harborview Medical Center. This was originally broadcast via scanner as a hit-and-run. We are hearing talk of a possible suspect being found at a different scene.
10:48 AM: The possible suspect is at an address in White Center. Meantime, no word yet on the victims’ conditions. They were both described as conscious and alert, however.
10:55 AM: For those who are worried about students there – we just talked again with principal Kinsey and he says e-mail is about to go out to the Sealth community; we will be checking with SPS communications about that. We have learned that scanner traffic described one girl as 17 years old – we don’t know the age of the other.
11:05 AM: At the scene where police pulled over a possible suspect vehicle in White Center – two young women came over and talked with us and the rest of the media and say it was a case of mistaken identity.
11:28 AM: Here’s what SPD Blotter says about the incident:
A 30-year-old woman struck two female students following an altercation this morning. Just shortly after 10 a.m., a female suspect intentionally struck two female students with her car, in the 2600 block of SW Thistle.
An altercation between the two victims and the suspect preceded the assault. The female victims 17 and 18-years-old sustained minor injuries. Both victims were treated on scene by Seattle Fire and subsequently transported to Harborview Medical Center.
The female suspect was driving a black (unknown model) Honda. During the time of this posting, officers were still searching for the suspect and vehicle.
Most of the responders have cleared the scene – except for TV trucks, and some police presence outside the school.
12:23 PM UPDATE: Sealth principal Chris Kinsey is sending this short note to Sealth parents:
Dear Chief Sealth International High School families:
I wanted to let you know about an incident that occurred today near our school. At approximately 10:15 A.M. two Chief Sealth students were struck by a car while walking in the 2600 block of Southwest Thistle Street, across from the school.
Both students were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and both were able to communicate with medical personnel. Seattle police are investigating the details surrounding the incident.
Please be assured that the safety and security of our students is our number-one priority. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me at (206) 252-8550.
Sincerely,
Chris Kinsey
Principal
Chief Sealth International High School
The district says both students’ parents have been notified. One girl is a 17-year-old junior; the other, an 18-year-old senior.
3:21 PM UPDATE: The district says Harborview reports that the older girl is in intensive care, and the younger one is in satisfactory condition. No word of an arrest, yet.
4:30 PM UPDATE: Seattle Police now say the suspect was expected to turn herself in this afternoon – but has not. This is from an update just posted to SPD Blotter:
Witnesses stated that the suspect got into a physical fight with one of the victims because the victim struck her (suspect’s) dog. The fist fight ended and the suspect left and returned to the area and located and chased the victim with a Taser. The victim ran away and was returning to school when the suspect reappeared with her vehicle facing the two victims. The suspect accelerated and hit both victims with her car. She then fled the area. …
The female suspect was driving a black (unknown model) Honda. After fleeing the scene the 37-year-old suspect called 9-1-1 and advised that she would surrender to police at 4:00 p.m. today. The suspect is still at large.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1.
11:18 PM NOTE: Checked with police a short time ago. No word of any arrest, still.
NOON THURSDAY UPDATE: The 17-year-old victim is out of the hospital, Harborview Medical Center confirms. They also say the 18-year-old victim’s family is keeping information on her condition private.
A spokesperson for Life Care Centers of America confirms to WSB that its West Seattle facility (4700 SW Admiral Way; WSB sponsor) is closing, after almost 17 years. After getting a tip about this overnight, we called corporate headquarters in Cleveland to check it out – and they provided this formal announcement:
Life Care Centers of America announced today its plans to close the Life Care Center of West Seattle location on Jan. 31, 2013.
“Life Care has been forced to face a difficult decision,” explained Todd Fletcher, a spokesperson for Life Care’s Northwest Division. “Due to the difficult economic environment and the age and maintenance requirements of the physical building, Life Care is unable to continue operating this facility.”
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has been notified, and Life Care associates are now focused on appropriately placing each of its approximately 70 residents.
Residents and family members received a list of local care facilities, and Life Care is providing clinical social workers to assist with every discharge to ensure residents are secure and comfortable with the changes.
All of the building’s eligible employees will be offered a severance package and the opportunity to possibly obtain work within other Life Care buildings.
“We are a close team, and this is a difficult situation for our tight-knit community,” said Fletcher. “Life Care Centers of America has more than 220 other locations, and if some of our associates have interest in staying with Life Care, we are happy to try and place them in other buildings.”
Life Care Center of West Seattle has been operating since May 5, 1996.
According to the corporate website, there are 17 other Life Care Centers in this state, and the company has home-care services listed too.
(Crow photographed along Harbor Avenue by Bill Bacon)
Made it to midweek! Some highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30 am at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library – details on the SPL site (other library events are on the system’s ongoing calendar).
DESC CONSTRUCTION-INFO MEETING: As noted here last night, residents in the vicinity of the DESC Delridge Supportive Housing program are invited to a Q/A meeting with the contractor at 3 pm today at Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge, across the street from the project).
SUPERSTORM SANDY SOUP-AND-SANDWICH FUNDRAISER: Visit the West Seattle Eagles‘ hall in The Junction to enjoy this week’s soup-and-sandwich offering starting at 4:30 pm, with proceeds benefiting storm survivors on the East Coast. Details here.
**Note – Salty’s has announced that this event is postponed until January 31st.** ‘BOOMERS AND BEYONDERS’ AT SALTY’S: 6-9 pm at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), Pat Cashman and researcher Mike Hearl lead boomers through a look at how to “finish strong” in the final third of their lives. More info here.
DNDC-HPAC JOINT MEETING: Bottom line, if you live in eastern West Seattle, this community meeting’s for you. 7 pm tonight at the Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden), the HP Action Committee and Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meet together. The agenda includes an update on the Delridge Paving project (for which a contractor has been chosen, as we reported last week).
POETRY AND STORYTELLING: The monthly event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. Eugenia Toledo and Carolyne Wright are the featured readers, according to the Poetrybridge website, which also has details on the open-mike portion of the program.
‘WINTER WONDERETTES’: ArtsWest begins the second week of its holiday production – 7:30 pm; tickets available at the playhouse’s website.
OTHER ONGOING HOLIDAY EVENTS – What you need to know about Santa photos, Christmas tree sales, giving opportunities, and more, continuing today/tonight – all in the WSB West Seattle Holidays Guide … and since the season is still semi-early, we’re continuing to add events, benefits, etc., as we get word of them – editor@westseattleblog.com if you haven’t sent yours yet!
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Another quiet start to the commute. However – if you can see the moon to the west – note that a “subtle” type of eclipse is under way right now; here’s an explanation.
7:10 AM: The moon’s finally going out of range. Still dry outside, but rain is expected to start before this afternoon.
At West Seattle High School last night, the girls-varsity basketball team tipped off the season with a win, 45-29 over Foster High School from Tukwila. Top photo, the Wildcats’ Charli Elliott with the ball; next, WSHS’s Lexi Ioane at right, holding off Foster’s Eunyque Patu on the drive:
The next WSHS girls-varsity game is at 7:30 tonight, Highline High School in Burien.
Both of Chief Sealth International High School‘s varsity basketball teams played season openers last night. The boys were at home:
That’s Bronte Corbray taking a shot for the Seahawks, who beat Lakes High School from Tacoma, 57-51.
That’s Sealth’s Abdirahman Diriye up against Lakes’ Terrell Toney. Next up, the boys play Tukwila’s Foster High School at home on Thursday night at 6:15 pm.
Foster will also play Sealth’s girls-varsity team at CSIHS the same night (8 pm); the girls opened their season on the road last night, losing to Auburn Riverside 64-29, per our partners at The Seattle Times.
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