West Seattle, Washington

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month : 12/2013 307 results

West Seattle Friday: OLG tree lighting; Tool Library’s ‘Festivus’; concerts; ‘Miracle on 34th’; more
December 6, 2013 10:39 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

The photo of a male Anna’s hummingbird is courtesy of Mark Wangerin, one of several bird fans who suggest we remind you to thaw your feeders and bird baths during this mega-cold snap, so the birds have a fighting chance too. Meantime: Holiday events ramp up big time tonight – so the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info Guide is the big source of our highlights:

WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: The monthly local-authors series at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village, co-sponsored by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, continues 4-6 pm today with Nicole Hardy, author of “Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin.” Details here. (2600 SW Barton)

FESTIVUS WITH THE TOOL LIBRARY: West Seattle Tool Library Festivus fundraising gala, 6 pm in the dance studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. No cover charge; any funds raised go toward maintenance and potentially enhancement of WSTL operations. Beer, wine, soft drinks, food, music, silent auction, kids’ activities, used tool sale, more; new details (and the “Seinfeld” clip to which Festivus traces its roots) are in our Thursday preview. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

ALOHA FRIDAY AT CORNER BAR: Highland Park Improvement Club‘s monthly Corner Bar has an “Aloha Friday” theme tonight, even featuring Hawaiian music – perfect way to beat the chill; just throw on a coat over your aloha shirt/muu muu/etc. on the way there. 6 pm; details on the HPIC website. (12th/Holden)

HUSKY’S OPEN HOUSE: Tonight brings the ever-popular Husky Deli Holiday Open House in The Junction, 6-9 pm. (4721 California SW)

OLG TREE LIGHTING/FOOD DRIVE: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish & School will hold its annual tree lighting at the highest point in the city. 7 pm: “Join us for holiday cheer – tree-lighting ceremony, caroling with OLG Parish Choir, hot cocoa and cookies, arts and crafts for the little ones. Help fill the sleigh! Bring your non-perishable food items for our neighbors in need.” (35th/Myrtle)

WSCO CONCERT: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ holiday season concert, “Winter’s Variations” – first time WSCO has performed on a Friday night, and it includes the debut of the new WSCO Woodwind Ensemble. 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium.
(2600 SW Thistle)

CHAMBER CONCERT: Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale‘s concert “The Mystery of Christmas,” Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 7:30 pm. Details and ticket info on the Musica Sacra website. (42nd/Genesee)

OPENING NIGHT FOR TWELFTH NIGHT: Twelfth Night Productions presents “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play,” based on the holiday-movie favorite of the same name. 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors, $15 for adults and can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com/event/509548 or an hour before showtimes at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)

Even more on our year-round calendar! And be sure to peruse the Holiday Guide to see the many, many, many ways in which you can get festive in the days and nights ahead …

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West Seattle history: Alki Homestead listed for sale, again
December 6, 2013 10:26 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, taken this morning)
Thanks to Richard Hesik for spotting the listing and sending the link: Almost five years after the electrical fire that damaged and closed the historic-landmark Alki Homestead, it’s listed for sale, again. It had been on the market before the fire; a year and a half afterward, owner Tom Lin said he would put it back on the market, but no listing ever appeared. He then engaged a team of local architects to pursue a restoration plan that went before the city Landmarks Board Architectural Review Committee four times (reports are in our archive of Homestead coverage) before the project went dormant. Now, the 110-year-old former Fir Lodge, a city landmark on a 14k-square-foot lot, is listed for $1,850,000, with Paragon Real Estate Advisors‘ flyer declaring that the Homestead is “now waiting for a new owner to bring it back to life and carry on the legacy,” while also noting, “The list price does not include the cost of rehabilitation of the structure.”

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West Seattle scene: King tides’ December peak
December 6, 2013 9:27 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scene: King tides’ December peak
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

This morning’s high tide, 12.9 feet at 7:48 am, was the peak of the “king tides” for this month, so we went to Alki (above) and Don Armeni (below) for a look. No extra factors pushing the water over the wall THIS time (unlike last December):

Next month, though, the January tides have a higher peak, 13.3 feet on the 4th and 5th. P.S. If you photograph the king tides, as explained here earlier this week, the state Ecology Department would like to see your photos.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Frozen Friday updates; 99 crash blocks lane for 2 1/2 hours
December 6, 2013 6:14 am
|      121 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:14 AM: We’ve already had one texted warning that the bridge is slick this morning. The usual eastbound camera does not appear to be working, so we’re using the westbound view instead.

ALERT – HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND: From midnight tonight until 5 am Monday, a section of 99 will be closed from the Battery Street Tunnel northward:

SR 99 will be fully closed to traffic between Valley Street and the southern end of the Battery Street Tunnel. Traffic traveling through Seattle via SR 99 will be directed to I-5 in northern Seattle at 85th Street or in southern Seattle at E Marginal Way and Spokane Street. More information about alternate routes during construction may be found (here).

6:24 AM: We have two reports of a problem on northbound 99 right now in the stadium zone. (added) A vehicle is visible pointed south in the northbound lanes right by the rise to the remaining Viaduct:

6:39 AM: The 99 crash is now on the 911 log; the camera view does not show the pointed-the-wrong-way vehicle so clearly, with responders at the scene. The right lane is getting by. (added) One texter says that it’s a total stop further down 99, though.

7:11 AM: Camera view indicates northbound 99 is still one lane at that spot. So delay your departure if you can!

7:45 AM: No change. No info on what’s taking so long, either. Bridge approaches, it almost goes without saying, are all backed up too.

8 AM: Metro has just now texted that C Line is rerouting and will have a different stop at 3rd/Seneca as a result.

8:24 AM: The camera view at the crash scene finally shows a tow truck.

8:46 AM: Finally clearing – at the scene; backups will take a while longer. We have asked SDOT what took so long, since this did not appear to be a major crash – one wrong-way car. Will update when the reply is in. We are also asking the county about the delay in reroute instructions for Metro drivers.

9:44 AM: Commenters say it’s still slow out there. Especially 4th Avenue South – here’s the “live” cam from there:

Meantime, on the southeast side of West Seattle, a crash is reported at West Marginal Way S/S. Holden. No details, just a heads-up in case you go that way.

12:44 PM: We have one reply in so far, from Jeff Switzer, speaking for Metro/King County Department of Transportation, to our question of why buses didn’t get a reroute order until an hour and a half after the crash:

RapidRide buses were initially getting by the accident scene, slowly, but still getting by. Once we heard the lane was completely blocked by emergency responders, about 7:47 am, our buses started rerouting. Notice went out to riders at 7:57 am.

Buses exited at Spokane Street and traveled via Fourth Avenue, which also can be congested. Which appears to be what happened today. A reported four-car collision on I-5 northbound at Mercer also appears to have added traffic to Fourth Avenue. Everything was slow coming into town from that direction, and the buses were only able to go as fast as the rest of traffic.

It wasn’t an easy commute for anyone in these corridors and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we shifted our routes to get people downtown as swiftly as possible.

Still awaiting SDOT word on what held up getting the scene cleared until 2 1/2 hours after the crash.

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Memorial planned December 14th for Bob Youngs, 1930-2013
December 6, 2013 4:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family and friends will gather at Holy Family Church one week from tomorrow to remember Bob Youngs. Here’s the remembrance sent to us to share with you:

Robert (Bob) M. Youngs, Sr. passed away suddenly at home on November 21, 2013, at age 83.

He was born in Longview, Washington, on March 23, 1930, the third of six children born to Curtis and Ruth Youngs. While growing up, Bob and his family moved up and down the West Coast, living in Washington, Oregon, and California. While living in Aumsville, Oregon, during his high-school years, he met the love of his life, Rosalie Mack, and they married in 1950.

Shortly after marrying, Bob was drafted into the Army and served in the Korean War. After returning to his family, he attended Oregon State University and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, while also working as a cabinet-maker. Bob and Rose moved to Seattle, where Bob spent the next 34 years at Seattle City Light, retiring as Chief Electrical Engineer. Together, Bob and Rose raised five children and recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. They could often be seen walking hand-in-hand; their love still had the spark of newlyweds.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman, loved to spend time with his family and friends, and was a jack-of-all trades…if it was broken or in need of repair, he found a way to fix it. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, skiing, hiking, gardening, as well as traveling near and far. His family and friends reaped the benefits of his woodworking skills, with built-in cabinetry, desks, staircases, fireplaces, and more. Bob helped guide years of youth serving as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 351. Bob was very involved with church activities and provided strong leadership to the Holy Family Knights of Columbus (PGK, FS). Bob also dedicated many hours to The Mountaineers Snoqualmie Lodge, helping create a wonderful family getaway. In all of his endeavors, Bob benefitted from many lasting friendships that have endured throughout the years.

Bob was a dedicated father, grandfather, and friend to many. He is survived by his wife Rose, their children, Rob (Brenda), Rich (Lisa), Rex, Ross (Suzanne), and Ruth (Dennis Lew), and their grandchildren, Derek Youngs (Brittnee), Ashley Youngs, Kelli Youngs, Tony, Devin, and Cameron Lew, and their great-grandsons, Carter Youngs, Tyler Lew, and Jordan Lew.

A Rosary will be held on Friday, December 13th, at 7:00 p.m. and a Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 14th at 10:00 a.m. with a reception following the service. Both events will be at Holy Family Church, 9622 20th Ave SW, Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to Holy Family School Randy Terlicker Scholarship Fund.

(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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Speaking of development: More West Seattle crane Christmas lights
December 6, 2013 1:35 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Two days after Christmas lights appeared on the crane for The Blake south of The Junction, the crew at The Former “Hole,” officially Spruce, decked theirs (which has been up for six months already!). Christopher Boffoli spotted the work in progress Thursday morning; after leaving the Design Review Board doubleheader chronicled in two stories here Thursday night, we checked out the resulting lights:

Will the crane at 4730 California be joining them? We’ll wait and see.

P.S. All season long, we’re happy to get your tips on more down-to-earth Christmas lights – editor@westseattleblog.com for photos and/or addresses.

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Design Review doubleheader, project #2: Board approves 4745 40th SW
December 5, 2013 10:23 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Concluding an four-hour doubleheader meeting much less contentious than their previous one last month, the Southwest Design Review Board has just given thumbs-up to 4745 40th SW, an eight-story, 150-unit, 116-parking-space building on the southwest corner of 40th and Edmunds, south of land the city has just purchased for a future park.

The previous session was for 4535 44th SW (here’s our report). Four regular board members were the panel for this review – chair Myer Harrell, Daniel Skaggs, Todd Bronk, and Laird Bennion; also at the table, Bruce Rips, the city planner for this project. Like the earlier project, this one drew about 15 members of the public.

Andy Hoyer from Encore Architects led the presentation; see the packet here. Hoyer said he was excited to be presenting one of the first projects developed under guidelines in the relatively new West Seattle Triangle Plan; though this site technically isn’t in The Triangle, the plan’s area extended a bit further west, including this site.

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Design Review doubleheader, project #1: Board OK’s 4535 44th SW
December 5, 2013 8:08 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

In the first of two reviews tonight, the Southwest Design Review Board has just recommended final approval for the design of 4535 SW Alaska, an apartment building to be known as Lofts at The Junction.

All five regular board members were on hand for this meeting – chair Myer Harrell and members Todd Bronk, Laird Bennion, T. Frick McNamara, and Daniel Skaggs – along with planner Tami Garrett from the city Department of Planning and Development.

Though this project has been a source of controversy, fewer than 20 members of the public were on hand – perhaps because its most controversial point, the lack of parking, is not in the scope of the Design Review Board’s authority. (Dozens more attended a special neighbor-requested meeting about non-design concerns last month – here’s our coverage.)

Tonight’s review began with NK Architects‘ Jin Lee presenting (see the packet here) the latest design for the project, Lofts at The Junction, which as he put it is on “a truncated triangle … one block from the heart of The Junction.” It is proposed for five stories with 36 apartments and two live-work units on a site with significant west-east slope between Glenn Way to the west and 44th SW to the east.

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Followup: City Light finishes LED streetlight installation on bridge
December 5, 2013 7:23 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

If you’ve driven the high-rise West Seattle Bridge this evening, you might have noticed the new LED lights – Seattle City Light announced via Twitter that the installation is complete:

The utility said last month that LED conversion was complete in its service area except for arterials and other major city roadways (including the bridge), where it’s under way now.

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West Seattle holidays: New details for Tool Library ‘Festivus’ party
December 5, 2013 3:53 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Just in from Sustainable West Seattle and the WS Tool Library – new details about tomorrow night’s all-ages Festivus party and fundraiser – the only public Festivus festivities announced in our area so far this season o’joy. In the spirit of the alternate holiday envisioned in the classic TV series “Seinfeld” (clip above), “airing of grievances and feats of strength will be included. Read on for the full lineup:

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West Seattle holidays: Three tree lightings in two nights
December 5, 2013 2:39 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle holidays: Three tree lightings in two nights
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

That’s the official West Seattle Junction Christmas tree, one of three in our area that will be officially lit by mid-weekend. Here’s the plan:

OLG, FRIDAY NIGHT: At 7 pm tomorrow (Friday, December 6th), you’re invited to gather beneath the highest-elevation Christmas tree in Seattle, the Our Lady of Guadalupe School and Parish tree at 35th/Myrtle. OLG calls it a “mingle and jingle” event – and it’s a food drive too – look for the sleigh created by Dave Fitton:

OLG hopes to fill the sleigh with canned-food donations. The event includes “caroling, cocoa, cookies, and Santa too,” continuing in the new gym north of the church right after the big tree’s lit.

JUNCTION, SATURDAY NIGHT: At 5 pm Saturday (December 7th), come to Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska for the gala West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) tree lighting. This year, local insurance agent/cowboy bandleader Brent Amacher will emcee, with performances by Endolyne Children’s Choir, the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band, and singers Jay Cates and Mark Pickerel.

DELRIDGE TRIANGLE, SATURDAY NIGHT: Also at 5 pm Saturday, a ceremony will illuminate the official White Center Christmas tree in the Delridge Triangle Veterans’ Park (right outside Mac’s Triangle Pub at Delridge/16th/Roxbury).

This weekend is brimming with other holiday happenings too – bazaars, open houses, two Christmas Ship visits, music, more – we’re continuing to add them all to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info Guide!

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Update: One person hurt in West Seattle Bridge crash
December 5, 2013 1:25 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

1:25 PM: This problem was first mentioned in our daily traffic watch, but since it hasn’t cleared yet, we’re escalating: There’s a multiple-vehicle crash just past the 99 ramp to the high-rise West Seattle Bridge, which is down to one lane at that spot – as currently shown on the “live” camera above – and WSB’ers tell us it’s backed up the Spokane Street Viaduct all the way to I-5. So if you have to get back to West Seattle sometime soon, consider taking 99 past the bridge, to enter via Highland Park. We’re checking to see if anyone was hurt in the crash.

2:04 PM: Bridge camera is showing a tow truck on scene.

4:03 PM: The scene is long cleared, but we have one other update: Only one person was taken to the hospital, according to Seattle Fire spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl – and that was just as a precaution, as his injuries were believed to be minor.

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Westwood/Roxhill Park transit-center concerns: Metro’s response to WWRHAH
December 5, 2013 12:11 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | Westwood

Four weeks ago, the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council sent Metro Transit general manager Kevin Desmond a letter detailing community concerns specific to the expansion of the Roxhill Park/Westwood Village area as a transit hub, some of which were discussed again at this week’s WWRHAH meeting, as reported here last night. (added) Here’s the November WWRHAH letter:

Today, Desmond has answered that letter; we were CC’d on its reply, which we are publishing here in its entirety:

Thank you for your email of November 7, 2013 about the Transit Center located at the
Westwood Village Shopping Center near Roxhill Park. I appreciate you bringing the concerns of the Westwood/Roxhill/Arbor Heights Community Council to my attention. Safety and security is a high priority for all of us involved in keeping transit riders and community members safe. I apologize for not getting back to you before your December 2nd meeting. We were working to make sure we had all the components to respond to your email as completely as possible.

In the fall of 2012, Metro implemented a series of route restructures in West Seattle that provided additional service to Westwood Village on the RapidRide C Line and Route 21, both of which end service on Southwest Barton Street adjacent to Roxhill Park. In addition, routes 22, 60, 125, and 560 were routed to the east side of Westwood Village along 25th Avenue Southwest. These changes have resulted in the creation of a new transit hub at Westwood Village that connects people to the many services offered there – shopping, dining, fitness, medical services, recreation, and other opportunities. Connections between transit services at Westwood Village also expand the number of places that people can travel and offer new mobility to many residents of West Seattle and beyond. As you have observed, these transit enhancements have generated new activity in and around the bus zone.

After receiving your email, we took some immediate actions to assess the situation in your community, including inspecting the stops involved and increasing Metro Transit Police patrols. Below you’ll find a summary of the steps we’ve taken:

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The WSBeat: Life saved; ‘stabbing’ explained; bus pickpocket…
December 5, 2013 11:23 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

This edition of The WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” Or on the bridge…

*On the 29th, around 10:30 a.m., a passing citizen’s phone call led officers to the high rise of the West Seattle Bridge, where a despondent man had his head in his hands. The man drove off but officers followed when they saw him raise his right hand and make the shape of a gun. Fellow drivers pulled aside because of the patrol car’s siren and officers were able to stop the driver on Highway 99 northbound. He cried and apologized saying that the gun in the center console was not loaded, but confirmed that he had, indeed, intended to jump from the bridge. Officers found many suicidal notes in the car. The man was taken to Harborview for treatment.

Four more summaries ahead, including more details on the “assault with weapons” call reported here as breaking news last weekend:Read More

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Brief power outage at Gatewood Elementary, but it’s over
December 5, 2013 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on Brief power outage at Gatewood Elementary, but it’s over
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just in case you have ties to Gatewood Elementary and heard something about a power outage – we went there to check as soon as people started texting us (206-293-6302, any time) about it. We confirmed at the school that while power WAS out for a few minutes, it’s back on now. Checking with Seattle City Light to see if they have information on what happened.

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West Seattle Thursday: 2 development meetings; Shop Late tonight…
December 5, 2013 9:23 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

That’s the crane at 5020 California SW, where The Blake is under construction; so far, it’s the only one of West Seattle’s three current construction cranes bearing Christmas lights. Speaking of development, it’s the subject of two meetings that are among highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 11 am at Southwest Library. (35th/Henderson)

FREE ‘ON STAGE’ DISCUSSION @ ARTSWEST: As “Little Women: The Musical” continues at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), tonight it’s preceded by a “Stories of the Civil War” discussion event you can attend for free, 6-6:45 pm, even if you’re not staying for the 7:30 pm performance. Details here. (4711 California SW)

SHOP LATE THURSDAY – WEST SEATTLE CYCLERY SALE: Every Thursday until Christmas, many of The Junction’s independent local businesses are staying open until 9 pm for your gift-shopping convenience. Among them: West Seattle Cyclery (WSB sponsor), which has a one-day sale – good all day/night, 10 am-9 pm – for the occasion, 20 percent off all kids’ bicycles and accessories. (4508 California SW)

SHOP LATE THURSDAY – HOBO HANDBAGS AT CLICK! Also during Shop Late Thursday, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) will host a rep from Hobo Handbags and Wallets; details here. (4540 California SW)

SHOP LATE THURSDAY – FLEURT OPEN HOUSE: While you’re in The Junction, stop by Fleurt (WSB sponsor) for the flower and gift shop’s Holiday Open House, featuring snacks and giveaways, 6-8 pm. (4536 California SW)

DESIGN REVIEW DOUBLEHEADER: Tonight’s meeting of the Southwest Design Review Board includes two Junction-area projects – 4535 44th SW (38 units, no parking spaces; see the packet here) at 6:30 pm, 4745 40th SW (150 units, 1,000 SF of commercial space, 116 parking spaces; see the packet here) at 8 pm, upstairs hall at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (California/Oregon)

FREE MOVIE TO HELP FREE ‘LOLITA’: At the Admiral Theater tonight, it’s the awareness-raising free movie mentioned here last month – local students have rented an auditorium to show “Lolita, Slave to Entertainment” as part of the campaign to free “Lolita,” originally known as Tokitae, the last surviving orca captured in Puget Sound, still captive at a Florida amusement park. Doors open 6:30 pm, movie at 7. (2343 California SW)

COMMUNITY MEETING ABOUT MORGAN JUNCTION DEVELOPMENT: 7 pm at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), community members including Morgan Community Association leaders have organized an unofficial meeting to talk about the 6917 California SW development (30 apartments, no parking spaces) and the development process in general, with city Department of Planning and Development managers on hand. All welcome. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes, sub-freezing edition
December 5, 2013 7:18 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:18 AM: Below freezing again this morning, with temps in the mid-20s right now. Two advisories: West Seattle Bridge lane closures again today, 10 am-4 pm, for LED streetlight installation. And the half-block construction-related closure of 42nd SW in The Junction, south of SW Alaska, continues each weekday 7 am-3:30 pm through the end of next week.

12:56 PM: Crash on the westbound bridge, high-rise vicinity.

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West Seattle tide watch: Big overnight swing, very low to very high
December 4, 2013 10:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

An e-mail question about people out on a West Seattle beach right now with lights reminds us that the next three mornings of “king tides” are worth another reminder – here’s what we published Tuesday – as well as the late-night low tides. Coming up at 11:44 pm, the tide will bottom out at -3.2 feet, very low as low tides go; then at 7 am, it’ll be up to 12.8 feet, very high as high tides go. The highest “king tide” this time around will be 12.9 feet at 7:48 am Friday, but in January, it’ll peak even higher, 13.3 feet both mornings on the first weekend of 2014, January 4-5. (Find tide status/chart on the WSB Weather page any time.)

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West Seattle holidays: Log House Museum decked out for busy season
December 4, 2013 9:55 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle holidays: Log House Museum decked out for busy season
 |   Holidays | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Southwest Seattle Historical Society)
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum is decked for the holidays – just in time for a wave of special events to roll into the Alki Beach landmark. Volunteers including Bonnie Gromlich, Debbie Neifert, and Kerry Korsgaard (above) spent the past few days decorating, with an eye toward Saturday, when the museum will offer cookies and hot apple cider on its spacious porch 4-6:30 pm in honor of the Christmas Ship’s Alki visit (scheduled for 5:10-5:30).

Earlier on Saturday, you are also welcome at the museum for its monthly volunteer orientation, 11 am-1 pm – details here.

P.S. SWSHS has two other events ahead, though they’re not at the museum itself – tomorrow (Thursday) night at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), the Historical Society co-presents a free “On Stage” discussion about “Stories of the Civil War“; as part of the program, past president Judy Bentley will talk about “Free Boy,” which she co-authored, telling the story of a 13-year-old slave who escapes. The discussion precedes tomorrow night’s performance of “Little Women: The Musical,” for which SWSHS members are eligible for discounted tickets good that night only. Full details on the SWSHS website. And 4-6 pm at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble, it’s the SWSHS-co-presented “Words, Writers, West Seattle” author appearance featuring Nicole Hardy – as previewed here earlier this week.

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Roxhill Park safety, Barton CSO update @ WWRHAH council meeting
December 4, 2013 8:48 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | Westwood

Following up on last month’s meeting (WSB coverage here), the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council last night continued its discussion of Roxhill Park safety improvements. The line-of-sight blockage caused by Metro buses on SW Barton remains a major concern, as does the lack of light in the park – note our photo above, taken early this evening by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, who was at last night’s WWRHAH meeting. One of the ideas that has picked up steam: Lights around part of the park’s perimeter. WWRHAH president Amanda Kay Helmick said she had talked with Chris Arkills, transportation adviser to County Executive Dow Constantine, about the possibility of at least illuminating Barton in the bus-stop areas. The park’s restroom/playground areas would be an area of focus, too. New Department of Neighborhoods district coordinator Jenny Frankl talked with the council about grants they might pursue for the park.

Another major item on the agenda: The latest on the Barton Combined Sewer Overflow control project. Mary Wohleb from the county Wastewater Treatment Division briefed WWRHAH, saying gas-line and tree-transplanting work is done. Work is still to come for the heart of the project, building raingardens/bioswales starting next year in planting strips along 15 blocks (see the map here). The county will maintain those raingardens, she explained, and has already worked on timetables of general and seasonal maintenance. Attendee Rory Denovan told Wohleb that the county should consider more native plants for the raingardens, saying that some of the plants mentioned on the project website are non-native and invasive. The county announced last week that it’s chosen a general contractor for the $5 million project, Goodfellow Brothers; the next round of public meetings is planned for January 23rd and 25th. Project planning and community discussion have been under way for more than four years; our earliest reports are from fall 2009.

For more notes from the WWRHAH meeting, check out secretary Joe Szilagyi‘s detailed summary on the WWRHAH website.

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Reminder: ‘Rosie the Riveter’ group meets Saturday in West Seattle
December 4, 2013 7:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

On Saturday, many Americans will stop to think about World War II, on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. In West Seattle, a group of women with a special interest in wartime remembrances will be gathering, as announced by local writer/performer/activist Georgie Bright Kunkel (right):

The reorganized Rosie the Riveter Group will meet at the home of Georgie Bright Kunkel on Saturday, December 7th, at 1:30 pm.

Call Georgie at 206-935-8663 if you worked during World War II in any job that released a man to serve in the military. We will share WWII stories.

If you were a Rosie – as was Georgie – or know one, don’t miss it. (Here’s our report by Christopher Boffoli from a gathering of Georgie and other local “Rosies” back in 2009.)

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West Seattle development: Preview 4745 40th SW before tomorrow’s Design Review meeting
December 4, 2013 4:05 pm
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

As noted in our previous story, tomorrow night is the next meeting of the Southwest Design Review Board, and it’s another doubleheader. Tonight, the graphics/info packet is out for the second of the two reviews, 4745 40th SW, on the east side of The Junction, west of the Masonic Center, southwest of the proposed 4755 Fauntleroy/Whole Foods site:

The project is described in the 80-page packet as “an eight-story, 169,455 SF building with 134 apartment units, 16 live/work units, 1,000 SF of commercial space, and parking for 116 cars.” Its south side is actually one story lower than its north side. It’ll be reviewed starting at 8 pm tomorrow (Thursday, December 5th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon), following the 6:30 pm session, in which the board will look again at 4535 44th SW, 36 apartments, 2 live-work units, no parking – we’ve already reported on its packet. (That’s the same project that was the subject of a special requested-by-petition community meeting two weeks ago.)

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Design Review details for 3078 SW Avalon Way: ‘What about the neighborhood?’
December 4, 2013 3:10 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Before the Southwest Design Review Board meets again tomorrow, we have one loose end from its last meeting, details of what led to the decision to send 3078 SW Avalon Way back for one more try.)

(Site aerial, from meeting packet)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The city Department of Planning and Development has tentatively scheduled January 16 for 3078 Avalon Way’s next appearance before the Southwest Design Review Board.

That would be two months following the 102-apartment, 60-parking-space project‘s second appearance before the board, which didn’t happen until fourteen months after its first review.

During that gap, the project changed, city codes changed, and the plan for an adjacent site changed.

One thing that did not change: The dedication of neighbors intent on raising big-picture questions while being an integral part of the process, a process that dates back to early word of the proposal 15 months ago, after which they met four times in the few ensuing weeks before the project’s September 2012 Design Review debut.

That process got emotional and contentious as this most recent meeting neared its end – four and a half hours after the board’s night began with another project that, like this one, involves a 100-plus-unit building to be built adjacent to a single-family neighborhood. As we reported right after the meeting, both were sent back for at least one more meeting.

The emotion and frustration, suggested the city planner assigned to 3078 Avalon Way, seemed to be about the zoning, something neither he nor board members could change – the zoning that potentially would allow a building rising seven stories from Avalon on this site.

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