day : 30/01/2015 12 results

‘How do I get to ‘yes’?’ prospective Alki Homestead purchaser asks Landmarks Board committee at first review

| Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(2012 WSB photo of Alki Homestead, with part of parking lot visible at left)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you own a city landmark, what you do with it is subject to a set of rules that can delve into details as minute as window trim.

And you usually have to go before the city Landmarks Preservation Board to get approval before renovations/changes. If they’re significant enough, before you ever get to the full board, you’ll need to deal first with a subset of the board, its Architectural Review Committee.

This morning on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower downtown, that committee met with someone who isn’t even a landmark owner yet: Prospective Alki Homestead (Fir Lodge) purchaser Dennis Schilling, who, as reported here earlier this week, has to decide soon whether to go ahead with a deal to buy the 111-year-old log structure, vacant since an electrical fire six years ago. He made it clear he is seeking reassurance that he won’t be buying himself a long-drawn-out process; toward the end of the discussion, he asked flat out, “How do I get to ‘yes’?”

He didn’t get a specific answer on that, but he did get positive feedback on the part of the proposal that had to be evaluated first:

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West Seattle sunset scenes: Foggy Friday’s finale

January 30, 2015 6:54 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Sunset splendor tonight, with the fog. Thanks for sharing photos! This one’s from Jeff:

From Cam:

From Mike, looking toward West Seattle from downtown:

And from Clay:

More fog in the forecast for tomorrow – but it’s expected to accompany clouds, no sun sightings, with rain to follow on Super Bowl Sunday.

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Highway 99 tunnel: Repair-pit digging’s done, says WSDOT

January 30, 2015 4:49 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

(At 3:39, WSDOT’s video shows excavation on its final day, today)
Just in from WSDOT, the latest Highway 99 tunnel news: The pit being dug to lift out the tunneling machine’s damaged cutterhead has reached the desired depth, 120 feet.

… Approximately 20,000 cubic yards of material was removed from the ground over the course of excavation, which began in mid-October. With excavation complete, crews can begin construction of the concrete cradle at the bottom of the pit. The cradle will support the machine after it moves through the pit’s southern wall, which is about 20 feet thick.

STP plans to tunnel through the concrete wall. The length of time it takes Bertha to reach the pit will depend largely on her ability to mine through and digest the concrete. If she’s unable to mine through the wall, STP will create an opening from within the pit to give her an unobstructed path forward. Once inside the pit, crews will use the massive red gantry crane … to hoist the front end of the machine to the surface for repairs.

Today’s update also says, “Settlement levels near the pit remain stable.”

(WSDOT photo)
Meantime, for more info on that giant crane – which you’ve likely noticed right next to the Viaduct downtown – check out Seattle Times (WSB partner) transportation reporter Mike Lindblom‘s story from two weeks ago.

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About the police/fire response at California/Admiral

January 30, 2015 4:27 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(WSB photo)
Lot of questions came in about a police/fire response at California/Admiral a little while ago. We got there as it was breaking up, and here’s what police told us: They were called about a man who was yelling unintelligibly. But he didn’t commit a crime, and wasn’t in need of medical attention, so they all wound up leaving, as did he.

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See where encampments might be allowed in West Seattle under mayor’s new proposal

January 30, 2015 3:50 pm

| 66 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The recent “One Night Count” showed 2,800 people sleeping on the streets of Seattle. City leaders agree there has to be someplace for them to go, and Mayor Murray is pursuing a proposal to allow more encampments. Under the zoning-related rules in his proposed ordinance, they could be allowed in The Junction, at Westwood Village, even, ironically, on the site long home to the encampment calling itself “Nickelsville” until the city evicted its residents more than a year ago. The agenda made public today for a City Council committee meeting next week includes the map you see above, showing the areas of the city where Mayor Murray’s new proposed policy would allow up to 3 “transitional encampments” at any one time. Click the image to see the full PDF version, which you can use to zoom all the way in to specific streets and blocks. It’s in essence a zoning map, as the gist of his proposal is to allow them in “Industrial, NC2, NC3, Commercial (C),Downtown (except DMR, PSM and IDR), and Seattle Mixed Zones.” But this wouldn’t just mean someone can show up, set up a tent and start an encampment – there are a variety of other rules in the proposal, about how they would be managed, how close encampments could be to each other, and more – see documents here and here. While those documents are for a briefing at 2 pm next Tuesday during a meeting of the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee, the committee’s public hearing isn’t scheduled until 5:30 pm February 26th – here’s the official notice. P.S. Here’s the list of currently authorized encampments in Seattle.

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Rallying ’round: 2nd annual pre-Super Bowl Delridge/Andover flag-raising

January 30, 2015 3:15 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

The actual raising of the 1,500-square-foot “12” flag at Delridge/Andover was only one of the attractions during today’s midday rally, second year in a row, co-presented by two companies with their corporate headquarters in West Seattle’s biggest office building, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and Bartell Drugs. The crowd yielded sights such as the 12th Dude:

The 12th Buzzcut:

And of course, many variations of Skittles:

The flag made its debut last year, just before the Seahawks’ first Super Bowl win. Here’s hoping it’s a 1,500-square-foot good-luck charm helping them “Re-Pete.”

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West Seattle Blue Friday: South Seattle College says ‘Go, Hawks!’

January 30, 2015 12:59 pm

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| Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Here’s the photo op we mentioned earlier – South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) students and staff gathered this morning to show their Seahawk-fan spirit! That’s our photo above; the college says its own “official” version will be on the SSC Facebook page later this afternoon. While there, our photographer put 2-year-old Mia on the WSB Instagram feed:

A photo posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on Jan 30, 2015 at 11:08am PST

ADDED 2:26 PM: More photos:

We’re continuing to collect West Seattle Seahawk-spirit notes – including where to watch on Sunday – here.

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West Seattle Super Bowl spirit: State ferries’ Seahawk names

January 30, 2015 12:06 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle Super Bowl spirit: State ferries’ Seahawk names

| Seen at sea | Transportation | West Seattle news

(M/V Tillikum with Seahawks-fan flags in September 2013; photo by Paul Brannan)
Just like last year, Washington State Ferries is giving its vessels honorary temporary names on Sunday, as a show of support for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Here are the three that sail out of Fauntleroy:

M/V Issaquah: “M/V Russell Okung”
M/V Tillikum: “M/V Kevin Williams”
M/V Evergreen State: “M/V Byron Maxwell”

Same names as last year except for the Tillikum; see this year’s full system-wide list here.

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West Seattle Chamber of Commerce: 2014 review, 2015 vision

January 30, 2015 11:47 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Chamber of Commerce: 2014 review, 2015 vision

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

It was time for the changing of the guard at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s annual meeting Thursday at The Sanctuary at Admiral – in our top photo, with Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis (center) are outgoing board chair Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby and incoming board chair Hamilton Gardiner of Holmquist & Gardiner, PLLC. 2014 achievements reviewed at the meeting include a 10 percent increase in membership, to 165; more than 20 events presented, including lunch meetings featuring topics from business strategy to transportation issues (with guests from Metro, Sound Transit, and the Port of Seattle) to networking; and even a community cleanup, in the Walking on Logs area alongside the southwest side of the West Seattle Bridge. After lunch, attendees brainstormed for the year ahead:

Chamber leaders say members have made it clear that business networking and mutual support is the major reason they join and participate, so that’ll be an increasing focus for 2015. If you’re a local business owner/supporter and interested in membership, find info – and the schedule for upcoming Chamber events, including the monthly “After Hours” mixers at local businesses – at wschamber.com.

P.S. Other Chamber board officers for 2015 are vice chair Elizabeth Pluhta from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor); treasurer Ryan Letson from Jackson, Morgan & Hunt, PLLC (WSB sponsor); and recording secretary Paul Prentice from Prentice Design.

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West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas headed this way

January 30, 2015 11:07 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

11:07 AM: Thanks to Trileigh for sounding the alert that Orca Network tipsters are reporting orcas headed north in Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon – which means they might be visible from here at some point soon. The fog is of course complicating things, and even without fog, the whales might stay along the western shore of the sound, but we wanted to make sure you knew.

2:11 PM: The whales have gone into Rich Passage, which leads to Bremerton, as of the newest comments on the same Orca Network post we’ve linked above.

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West Seattle Friday: Seahawks spirit; theater; music; sports; more!

January 30, 2015 9:04 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Seahawks spirit; theater; music; sports; more!

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Foggy view from Alki Beach this morning – photo by Don Brubeck)
It’s not ALL about the Super Bowl countdown today/tonight – but close! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FULL SEAHAWK-SPIRIT LINEUP: See our full list of West Seattle events/notes, covering today through Sunday, published last night.

SPEAKING OF SPORTS – WSLL DEADLINE: West Seattle Little League reminds you to sign up by today to avoid a late-registration fee – details are in our previous report.

GIVE A LIFE-SAVING GIFT: If you can donate blood, consider stopping by the Bloodmobile at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), 10 am-noon and 1 pm-4 pm today. (California/Stevens)

‘THE BEATLES AND ME ON TOUR’: 7 pm at Easy Street Records in The Junction, meet author Ivor Davis as he signs his new book about covering The Beatles during their first US tour. (California/Alaska)

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE 12TH FAN PIC: 11:15 am, students/faculty/staff/etc. at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) are invited to be part of a big “Go, Hawks!” photo outside the library. (6000 16th SW)

12TH FLAG RALLY: Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and Bartell Drugs present the second annual pre-Super Bowl rally at their corporate HQ in West Seattle, 11 am- 1 pm, with the 1,500-square-foot “12th flag” scheduled to go up at 12:12 pm. (Delridge/Andover)

DAVE HOLO TRIO: 5 pm, live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). (1936 Harbor SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Big slate of home games again tonight – girls’ and boys’ varsity, for both West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School. WSHS hosts Garfield; CSIHS hosts Roosevelt. Identical schedules at both gyms – girls’ junior varsity at 3:30, boys’ JV at 5, girls’ varsity at 6:30, boys’ varsity at 8.

BOBCAT BOB: C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) features a fave tonight, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

‘4000 MILES’: 7:30 pm, the Pulitzer-nominated dramatic comedy directed by Mathew Wright is onstage at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – tickets available here. (4711 California SW)

BLUES AT KENYON HALL: Johnson, Miller, and Dermody, 7:30 pm at historic Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)

CHRISTINA SHINKLE AND FRIENDS: 7:30 pm, live music at Admiral Bird. (California/Admiral)

WEST COAST BUMP BAND: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) presents this danceable band and its Motown-and-more grooves, kicking off a BIG party weekend. (6451 California SW)

THE SLAGS: Local favorites, rocking the Poggie Tavern tonight, 9 pm. (4717 California SW)

AS USUAL, THERE’S MORE … so we invite you to browse the full calendar, for today/tonight and beyond.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Updates for a foggy Friday

January 30, 2015 7:03 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:03 AM: Traffic’s OK so far, according to every place we’ve been watching, but fog is a factor, as you can see on the cameras right now. One more reminder – no classes at Seattle Public Schools today for the “day between semesters.”

7:46 AM: We’re heading for the bridge because of a story downtown. On Fauntleroy Way, the fog shows up just north of Morgan Junction. (minutes later) Fog’s still thick, heading onto the bridge, where the daily backup isn’t starting until just past the Admiral/Avalon onramp.

7:54 AM: Even the 4th Avenue offramp is all but empty.

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