West Seattle, Washington
05 Thursday
With the “microhousing” trend expanding to West Seattle, including a new Junction proposal for 31 units in 4 stories on a 3770-square-foot parcel, questions are coming up here that already have been raised in other parts of the city, and four councilmembers have announced a public meeting aimed at answers. Here’s the official announcement circulated today:
Seattle City Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen, Nick Licata, Sally J. Clark and Richard Conlin today announced a public meeting on micro-housing developments on April 18, in response to questions and concerns raised in several Seattle neighborhoods.
“Several Councilmembers and I are sponsoring a two hour meeting to review what is occurring due to the strong interest and concern we are hearing in the neighborhoods,” Councilmember Tom Rasmussen stated. “A portion of the meeting will include an opportunity for the public to provide comments and recommendations on what, if any, regulations should be enacted for this unique type of housing.”
Every spring, it’s one of the biggest benefit book sales we’ve seen – and tomorrow’s the day for Sanislo Elementary to welcome the community into the school to shop for something “new” to read! Organizers promise, “You’ll find great kids’ and adults’ books for wonderful prices! Bring extra change for the delicious bake sale. All proceeds will go toward the annual 4th-grade field trip to Camp Sealth on Vashon Island.” The sale runs 10 am-2 pm Saturday at Sanislo, 1812 SW Myrtle (map).
ROAD REPAIRS: When we reported last night that a city document showed repaving work scheduled for California SW between Holly and Myrtle (map), we promised a followup. We checked in with SDOT communications director Rick Sheridan, not just to verify that work, but to ask if anything else is coming up. The California SW paving work scheduled for 9 am-3 pm April 2nd and 3rd will be “spot repairs,” Sheridan verifies. As for the schedule ahead, he says “small-scale surface repair” is planned later in April for westbound SW 106th in Arbor Heights, between 35th and 37th SW. He says both of these projects are being paid for from the General Fund.
UTILITY PROJECT: As sometimes happens, when one note comes in with a question, another comes in simultaneously with an answer. Someone asked what’s happening with the road work in the 5000 block of California SW (near Rite-Aid); the reply is gas-line maintenance and it could close a lane, plus some of the parking, until the end of the month. It’s supposed to just happen between 9 am and 3 pm but our tipster reported seeing flaggers already set up with lane constriction at 7 am.
About this time yesterday, students from regional independent schools had arrived at West Seattle Stadium for a track meet – but were kept in their buses a while because of a situation that turned out to involve a (non-student) death. By the time we heard about it, the authorities were gone, and while there was NO indication of foul play, we have been working today to try to get more-conclusive information, to be certain. For starters, the person who originally tipped us yesterday has shared the note that an administrator sent to parents at one of the participating (non-West Seattle) schools:
Two ways to help fight hunger, through food drives this month:
WASHINGTON FEDERAL FOOD DRIVE: The photo shows Lisa Raymond setting up the food-collection spot at Washington Federal‘s Dakota/California branch north of The Junction. There and in Morgan Junction, they are part of the “Bankers Care” food drive through April 5th, collecting food for Northwest Harvest, which supplies local food banks. Just bring in non-perishable food to donate.
And tomorrow – watch for a notice on your door, about a different food drive:
SCOUTING FOR FOOD: West Seattle’s Troop 282 sends word that they and other Scouts “will be dropping off door tags to homes in the West Seattle area this Saturday, March 23rd, 8:30-10:30 am. They will come back the following Saturday, March 30th to collect food for the West Seattle Food Bank, 9 am-11 am. If you would like to donate and need a pick up, contact R Schulz, 206-890-2237.”
(added) Also collecting, West Seattle Boy Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs 284, 289, 793, and 799, according to a separate notice we received, which reminds us, “Remember (that food bank) donations made in March will go further because of the Feinstein Challenge. For the 16th consecutive year, Alan Shawn Feinstein will contribute $1 Million to help end hunger. So the more you contribute to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, the more he will match.” (That goes for April, too; here’s our original announcement.)
And see this comment about two area supermarkets where you can donate food tomorrow!
10:57 AM: We’re in the courtroom of federal bankruptcy judge Karen Overstreet downtown, where she has just announced she will approve the sale of West Seattle’s Allstar Fitness to Sam Adams – after a long and rambling hearing – in which she also said she will ask the US Attorney’s Office to investigate current club owner Bob Padgett for not notifying members of bankruptcy when filed last August, among other things. We’ve been tweeting live; details to come here.
11:19 AM: The hearing has ended. The judge expressed ongoing concern for members getting notice, from hereon out, about their rights, including those whose contracts don’t wind up being assumed by the new ownership, and their rights to file a claim in the Chapter 11 case. She asked the bankruptcy trustee to look into a way to point members to a court website where they could read documents and notices. Trustee Richard Hooper also promised the judge that he will be posting a notice at the club this afternoon to notify members of the sale. We will expand this coverage with play-by-play from the hearing as soon as we’re back at HQ.
ADDED 6:21 PM: The rest of today’s story – through the end of the court hearing, anyway (we’re interested in hearing from anyone who might have seen the new owner at the club today, and/or the promised notice to members – your comments and/or e-mail are appreciated):
Two reader reports in this West Seattle Crime Watch update. First, from Greg:
About 9:45 (last night), we heard a ‘bang’ outside our home at 39th & Othello and a very loud vehicle speeding off (sounded like a V8 to me). Our friend’s car was hit and badly damaged; the right front quarter panel destroyed among other things. When I ran outside I heard the vehicle speeding south … The damage would be on the right front side of that vehicle. Any tips can be relayed to SPD, I can give the case number as necessary.
David e-mailed to report somebody paintballing his car, and then had an addendum:
Awoke to find our car had been ‘paintballed’ (Wednesday) night – – bright globs of yellow gunk all over. Vicinity of Trenton & 32nd. … (Later) while cleaning the paint off my car, several neighbors came by and reported four car prowls this week in the same vicinity, one of which occurred while they were unloading plants from their little SUV. While their back was turned, someone dived in the cab and made off with CDs, work keys, and a McDonald’s container of soda pop. Didn’t have their back turned twenty seconds – – unbelievable!
Next crime-related meeting is Tuesday (March 26), 6:30 pm, West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network (Southwest Precinct, Delridge/Webster) – watch the WSBWCN website for an agenda announcement soon.
(Thursday’s sunrise, by Don Brubeck, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Bundle up! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – where you will find even MORE of what’s up today/tonight:
ONE MORE TRAFFIC-ALERT REMINDER: 10 pm tonight through 5 am Monday morning, the West Seattle Bridge ramps to northbound I-5 and Beacon Hill are closed for the Spokane Street Interchange Bridge Repair project. Info and detour suggestions here.
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: Monthly meeting 10 am-2 pm today at Daystar (2615 SW Barton) – including a 1 pm presentation on ephemerals. Details in the calendar listing.
RAINBOW BINGO: This time the theme is “Dress Like Your Favorite Celebrity.” Doors open at 6, bingo at 7 at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon in The Junction).
‘SILENCE IS LOUD’: At Dubsea Coffee in White Center’s Greenbridge neighborhood tonight, a student project shines a light on suicide prevention during a night of art and performance – 7-9 pm, details in our listing.
NIGHTLIFE TONIGHT: Our listings include (follow the links)
*Sid Law at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6
*Triangular Jazztet at Duos, 7:30
*Three bands at Skylark, 8
*The Slags and Apehead at Poggie Tavern, 8:30
*Midnight Factories, Skyline Divine at Benbow Room, 9
DEADLINE FOR SCULPTURE ARTISTS: Today’s the deadline to submit a Statement of Qualifications if you are interested in Seal Sitters‘ “Year of the Seal” project – here’s our previous story with details.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
If you head north to Snohomish County in your commute – they’ve been hit with snow, but nothing here. Here’s one example:
Again, that’s SNOHOMISH COUNTY – not us.
WEEKEND CLOSURES: Another reminder for tonight through Monday morning – the I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project will close ramps from the West Seattle Bridge to northbound I-5 and to Beacon Hill.
IF YOU NOTICE MORE POLICE DOWNTOWN – and in fact, Deborra already asked us about this, seeing a motorcade – SPD has tweeted “The Irish Prime Minister is in town, thus the reason for the increased police presence downtown.”
When demolition equipment dug into the century-old house at 4526 41st SW (map) on Thursday, it wasn’t the start, but more like the end to the process. To find out more about the forthcoming four-townhome project, previously mentioned here last September, WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli talked with owner/developer Zoran Brlecic (below left), who lives across the alley:
Christopher reports:
He said the house was built in 1907 and that they spent months dismantling and giving away whatever could be re-used, including the back deck, which was meticulously disassembled over the course of a week before being hauled away. Zoran says he thinks the house may have been one of the first on the block to convert from coal to burning gas. The house’s gas furnace from the 1950s was still in good working order before it was removed.
Zoran and his wife left their native Croatia just a couple of years before the war broke out in the ’90s. They immigrated to Canada, where they were able to get work visas and then later got refugee status. Ultimately they moved to Ohio and then to Seattle. Zoran says that if this goes well he plans to continue developing properties. He said this property is being built green with a number of features to control water run-off from the property. They hope to have the project completed in nine months.
It went through the “streamlined design review” process; the informational packet remains online. When it’s done, Brlecic told Christopher, he plans to move into one of the new units.
(Ben Wexler pitching)
Another win for West Seattle High School‘s baseball team, reports parent Greg Slader, sharing photos and this summary:
The varsity baseball team improves to 2-1 on the season. Seven pitchers combined to hold Lakeside to one run. Spencer Elder had two hits as the offense executed when they needed to, in order to score four runs. Next game is Saturday @ Safeco Field – 4 pm, come support your team!
(Kevin Cuddy pitching)
As noted in this comment earlier this week, the Saturday game is WSHS vs. Kentridge at the Safe, and admission is free.
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