West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Notes tonight on two crashes:
Hear something loud in the Morgan Junction area about an hour and a half ago? Gary did, and his note led us to check out this crash. No apparent injuries, but the SUV hit a utility pole right on the Fauntleroy Way curve a bit west of California, and City Light trucks were on the scene for a while. A tow truck got there fast and we expect the vehicle’s been taken away for a while.
Also tonight, the Washington State Patrol is circulating this photo:
Its driver died after crashing on northbound I-5 near the West Seattle Bridge exit last Friday night. WSP is looking for witnesses:
On Friday, October 25, 2013 at approximately 7:00 pm, the Washington State Patrol investigated a motor vehicle collision, NB I-5 near Spokane St. in Seattle. A teal, 1997 Toyota Corolla four door, was traveling NB when the vehicle suddenly veered to the left and struck a cement barrier. The driver was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he later died of his injuries.
WSP detectives are asking for anyone that may have seen the collision or the teal Toyota in the HOV lane, to contact WSP detectives. The WSP is also inquiring whether debris located near the scene may have contributed to the collision. The collision occurred towards the end of rush hour and traffic was heavy.
If you have any information related to this case, please call Detective Russ Haake at 425-401-7717 or Detective Sergeant Stacy Moate at 425-401-7745.
As we’ve progressed through (almost) a month of building a “Go Bag“/emergency kit full of items you’ll want to have in case of disaster, the question has arisen along the way – where should you store all this stuff? West Seattle Be Prepared‘s advice this time around includes not only what to add, but also where to put the bag/kit itself:
This is the last time we are actually going to add anything specific – gather up some pens and paper and a permanent marking pen (should you have to mark things in a shelter). And depending on what you’ve already put in for your food supplies, maybe some plastic wrap, aluminum foil, empty ziplock bags, or assorted plastic containers with lids. More importantly: Now you should find the place where you are going to keep your bag and water.
The best place is wherever you can grab it on your way out the door you use the most. But near any door could work, since you are never sure if you will actually be able to get back into your home (after an earthquake). A hall closet is ideal, but most of us will have to wedge it in, especially if you have all your water in liter bottles. Garage is iffy; you may not be able to open the main door (power, off tracks) but if you have a separate door to the garage, that might be OK. Outside in a garden shed is an option, but I have a cautionary tale. I put my bag and water into a plastic bin and stored it outside. One of the water bottles froze, then burst. When I went to change out the food after a year, the kit was pretty moldy-nasty. So if you have to store outside, keep liquids separate and make sure the bag is waterproof (or put in a tub or trash bag if storing in a damp area like an unheated basement).
Need to catch up? Check back? All installments are archived, newest to oldest, here.
We know more tonight about the current plan for part of the highest-profile vacant site in High Point.
(Seen from the east side of 35th in today’s late-afternoon shadows/sun)
We mentioned it in yesterday’s roundup of development notes, after discovering a plan to build 9 houses and 18 duplexes on part of the site at the northeast corner of 35th/Graham. The documents in city files online raised some questions, and today we have some answers, thanks to Seattle Housing Authority spokesperson Laura Gentry.
To a point that is often raised, she says there IS a plan for some commercial development on the site:
As you know, and as was reported by WSB back in January 2011 following a community meeting, we’ve been unable to attract a mixed-use residential/retail developer for the entire parcel. The market just hasn’t supported that type of large-scale residential/retail development. However, we are still looking at options for bringing retail to 35th. SHA intends to continue to own and maintain the corner plot of that parcel (the 35th/Graham corner) and we are in the concept stages of developing a commercial building for that plot which would include retail space, office space and an open street-level plaza. Again, that building is in early concept stages, so there are no site or development plans I can share with you at this time.
Gentry says Lennar has not yet closed on the rest of the property, where the houses/duplexes – which she describes as “all market-rate for-sale housing” – are planned, but “we have a sale agreement with them and they are expected to close sometime in 2014.” And she adds:
We’re also still looking at the remainder of that land on 35th, the piece located between the corner plot I just mentioned and the neighborhood health clinic. SHA is investigating options along with Lennar for residential uses with the potential for small retail uses on the ground floor. Both portions of that strip of land (the plot we will continue to maintain and the remainder that we hope to sell), will go through the city’s Design Review process, so the public will have a say in any plans put forth for any residential or retail development done on 35th.
The 2011 reference involved a previous proposal for the site that fell through – backstory and links here.
Four days after a 34-year-old Highland Park man was arrested in his van near Chief Sealth International High School and cited for indecent exposure, the City Attorney’s Office says the charge was dropped today, announced when the man appeared in Municipal Court for what was supposed to be an arraignment. CAO spokesperson Kimberly Mills explained via e-mail that the city did not have the jurisdiction to charge him: “The City declined to file in this instance because it is not a crime that can be charged under the Seattle Municipal Code right now. It is a charge that is filed under the Revised Code of Washington (which is the county prosecutor’s purview). The case is being sent to SPD and the county, where it will be considered for a charge in King County District Court.” Mills explained that this type of charge and others WILL be part of the Seattle Municipal Code as of November 1st; here’s the September news release explaining that
(From left, Scott Goerig, Mike Bauer, Joshua Huckabay)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The new family-friendly sports bar/restaurant Redline WS is days away from opening.
While it’s just across 35th SW from the site that until three years ago housed the Redline, whose then-proprietor Scott Goerig is now a consultant for Redline WS, this is not a re-creation or relocation. This is something new.
Mike Bauer, retired from the telecom industry, is Redline WS’s owner; he and Goerig talked with us on Monday as finishing touches were well under way.
We found out they’re intending the establishment on the street level of The Residences at 3295 to be not “just” a sports bar and restaurant, but also a coffee shop geared toward the numerous commuters who catch and/or change buses steps away at the busy 35th/Avalon intersection.
“Our biggest hope is that people will understand we are trying to take this to the next level,” Goerig enthuses.
12:05 PM: After a few days of “heading this way” but not getting within view of West Seattle, we’re told orcas ARE now in view off our shores – Trileigh Tucker just called from Lincoln Park. (Thanks also to Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales for reporting earlier this morning that they had again been seen off North Seattle and were southbound again.)
12:41 PM UPDATE: Jeff just texted that the orcas have apparently turned and are now headed back NORTHBOUND, last seen off Colman Pool.
2:10 PM UPDATE: Didn’t have any luck seeing them ourselves this time, but others certainly did, including the KING 5 helicopter, whose video is embedded above (commercial that plays first is theirs, not ours). The Orca Network Facebook page‘s latest sighting report has them headed back past Bainbridge, so that’s likely it for our area for today. P.S. This is the season for orcas to venture south; last major day of sightings here was in late September.
2:31 PM UPDATE: OK, not a whale, but still wonderful – Mark Wangerin, who shares wildlife photos often, sent this harbor-seal photo, noting that it was taken “from Lincoln Park where we saw Orcas, Harbor Seals, Bald Eagle fishing, and a river otter, not to mention Loons, Grebes, etc. Amazing West Seattle Wildlife!” (P.S. The resident orcas, today’s visitors, do NOT eat seals. Transient orcas – who visit sometimes, but aren’t here now – do.)
Maybe while you were in The Junction for Sunday’s Harvest Festival – or some other visit to shop and/or dine – you noticed that newly planted mini-garden on the southwest corner of California/Alaska. You might remember when it was mostly just home to a tree stump:
Here’s the person you can thank for the transformation – Elois Gruenhagen:
The retired West Seattle teacher was featured here last June for her beautification work a bit further north, by Red Cup Espresso, whose co-proprietor Breanna Baillie sent along the photos and also this story of what Elois did and why; here’s our transcription:
‘Downtown West Seattle’ says the sign. Below was a stump used as a dump. Elois Gruenhagen has walked by that stump for 6 years hoping that someone would remove it. This spring, Elois vowed that stump would be gone by fall even if she had to sit on a little chair beside it so someone would notice.
She contacted Susan (Melrose, director of the West Seattle Junction Association). The process had begun. Elois says, “It may take many to accomplish a task, but only one to start it.”
A few weeks ago, a former first-grade student, now grown, told Elois that what he remembers about first grade was that he learned to love plants and gardening so he is teaching his daughter. One person can make a difference.
Take a walk by the corner of Alaska and California where the stump used to be and see the difference.
Thank you Elois, Susan, those who furnished plants, and Great Harvest for providing water when needed.
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS PLANTING OR ANY OTHER AS AN ASHTRAY OR DUMP. THANK YOU!
And thank YOU, Elois.
P.S. Thanks also to Kerry, who e-mailed us a few days ago wondering if a “guerrilla gardener” was at work and sharing this photo:
We had just begun to investigate when Elois stopped by during the Harvest Festival to mention the project and promised information would be on the way.
(Monday photo by Don Brubeck)
Another sunny day, as all that fog falls further behind. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER PUMPKINPALOOZA: 10 am at High Point Community Center, $5 activity fee, fun fall event for the little ones. (6920 34th SW)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: Prospective new members, youth and adults, are always welcome at the weekly rehearsals, which start at 5:30 pm tonight and just about every Tuesday at Chief Sealth International High School; check the WSCO website for specifics on who rehearses when. (2600 SW Thistle)
INFO NIGHT FOR NEW YOUTH SERVICE GROUP: As previously reported here, the Rotary Club of West Seattle is starting up an Interact club for teens and tweens, and tonight’s your chance to find out more about it. 6:30 pm at Southwest Youth and Family Services. (4555 Delridge Way SW)
‘TALES FROM THE HEARTH’: Two nights until Halloween – get into the spirit with Toastmasters 832‘s “Tales from the Hearth,” 6:30 pm at Emeritus Assisted Living (formerly Merrill Gardens; WSB sponsor), everyone 18+ welcome; details in our calendar listing. (4611 35th SW)
Lots more for today/tonight on our calendar! And check out the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide for what’s coming up between now and post-Hallo-weekend.
West Seattle Helpline sends word that your chance to help them help neighbors in need is just a few weeks away: The annual dinner event benefiting the Helpline is 6:30 pm Friday, November 15th, at the Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle. As explained on the invitation:
The West Seattle Helpline supports over 3,500 residents each year by providing one-time emergency financial assistance. This may be due to unemployment, health crisis, or time of transition. We also refer our neighbors to community resources that may help them get back on their feet. For more than 24 years, the West Seattle Helpline has assisted the working poor in West Seattle. Despite these efforts, we must turn away families every month and the need continues to rise.
The 4th Annual Fall Fundraiser Dinner will help families meet basic needs by providing for rent and utility assistance, clothing and bus tickets. By joining us, you will directly impact the lives of those less fortunate in our community. Your contribution will directly support local families in need.
Individual tickets are $80 and on sale online right now – just go here.
(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We start off this morning with two encore notes from Monday. First: One more reminder that the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s winter schedule is now in effect, until early April. Second: Sound Transit is officially asking you where its service might expand after “current voter-approved projects are complete in 2023.” This online survey includes questions about a possible light-rail extension to West Seattle and about your priorities in general – it’ll be open for a month, but why wait?
P.S. Looking way ahead to the weekend – early Sunday, it’s time-change time.
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