West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
After big concrete-pour days on Friday and Monday, the King County Wastewater Treatment Division has just announced another one is coming up tomorrow at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project site across from Lowman Beach. Spokesperson Doug Marsano says it’ll work the same way as those two recent days – starting around 7 am, with up to 10 trucks an hour throughout the day bringing concrete to finish the base of the under-construction million-gallon tank.
(UPDATED 9:54 PM with chronicle of how the discussion unfolded)
(October 2014 photo by Peter West Carey, shared via Twitter)
The issue of whether to pursue a lease with Foss Maritime, temporarily taking part of closed-for-modernization Terminal 5 to support Shell‘s Arctic drilling operations (here’s our previous report), wasn’t supposed to be up for a vote; on this afternoon’s Seattle Port Commission agenda, it was just a briefing.
But after more than 20 public commenters at the meeting, held at Sea-Tac Airport, and intense discussion between commissioners, Commissioner Courtney Gregoire said she believed they had to give staff direction – and so they did, not via an actual vote, but via opinions: Three commissioners (Stephanie Bowman, John Creighton, and Bill Bryant) said basically, they’re not in favor of Arctic drilling, but not allowing this lease to go forward wouldn’t make a difference, so they feel they have to support it, given the hundreds of jobs and ~$28 million revenue it would bring. Two (Gregoire and Tom Albro) said they felt the port, with its “green gateway” mission, should not become the “homeport of Shell Arctic drilling support.”
But beyond a decision on this matter, commissioners did voice support for coming up with a port “energy policy” that could set guidelines for any future decisions along these lines, and possibly other actions that the port could take to support a clean-energy future, beyond policies and procedures it’s already implemented.
We’ve been monitoring the entire discussion, held at Sea-Tac Airport, via live video, and live tweeting at @westseattleblog. If you don’t use Twitter, you can see our three hours of tweets (interspersed with a few other stories) in the box below – reverse-chronological order, just scroll through:
And we’re writing up notes in a more-conventional manner to add here as soon as we can.
ADDED 9:54 PM: Scroll or click ahead for our narrative:
2:28 PM: Big police and fire response headed for the north end of Delridge Way on a “heavy rescue” call. Per scanner, a car went over an embankment. No serious injuries reported so most units are being canceled.
(Added: This photo and next two, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
2:36 PM: The car involved is a Ford Explorer – it’s actually gone behind the brick business building on the northeast corner of Delridge/Andover.
2:46 PM UPDATE: The vehicle’s driver is going to the hospital via private ambulance. Our crew at the scene has spoken with the building’s owner Christopher Price, who owns the businesses (Allstate and HR Block) based there; he says so far the main damage includes a broken window. Traffic-wise, Delridge isn’t affected much – most of the effects are on Andover east of Delridge.
3:14 PM UPDATE: As discussed in comments, CenturyLink Internet service is out because the driver took out a box at the crash scene:
5:02 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Dan Jaramillo for the photo below, showing two tow trucks working to get the SUV out of the crash spot along that steep section of SW Andover:
Once that’s done, the road should be clear – we won’t be able to check back for a while, so please comment if you do see it back to normal condition.
9:21 PM: As commenters are noting, the CL service is still out.
12:36 AM: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli went back to the scene late tonight and found a crew still working on those repairs:
They had already poured a new footing for the most-uphill box, Christopher reports, but they acknowledged getting everything back will take days, not hours.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports today:
STABBING SUSPECT CHARGED: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed a charge of second-degree assault against Beverlee Darden, the 52-year-old High Point woman arrested after last Wednesday night’s stabbing outside South Seattle Market at 35th/Morgan. In the charging documents, prosecutors say the suspect thought the 17-year-old victim, described as a volunteer at West Seattle Food Bank who lives near Darden, was interested in Darden’s husband, and had been calling her insulting names based on that. On Wednesday night, the victim confronted her about it, and, prosecutors say, while they were arguing, Darden stabbed her. The charging documents say the knife appears to be the same one used when Darden was accused of stabbing her husband last November, a case in which no charges appear to have been filed, but she does have a record – 12 bookings into the King County Jail since 1986, and 10 arrest warrants. She remains in jail with bail set at $50,000.
SUSPECTED TOOL THEFT: From a resident near 21st/Roxbury:
About 10 am this morning I noticed a man in the middle of my planted parking strip. He was messing with some tool boxes. I’m assuming he just stole the two boxes, and a white Home Depot bucket full of stuff. He couldn’t carry it all, so threw what he could in the bucket and took off. My dog was barking at him, and possibly he saw me, so that is why he took off so fast. He only took a drill out, and the rest of the two boxes had stuff in them. So, if your tools were stolen this am, the police have most of them.
Our photo below stars an overwintering Black Turnstone, photographed on Alki by Bill Bacon. Now, six notes for tonight:
HIGHLAND PARK PLAYGROUND/PARK PROJECT: Second community meeting about the project, 6:30 pm at Highland Park Elementary. More info on the project, and notes from the first meeting, are here. (1012 SW Trenton)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle, wide-ranging agenda from Emergency Communication Hubs to Junction project updates and more. (Oregon/California)
CHIEF SEALTH PTSA: 7 pm at the Confucius Center on campus, with the agenda including concerns about the blended honors and International Baccalaureate programs, as detailed in the meeting preview on the PTSA’s website. (2600 SW Thistle)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: First meeting of the new year for ANA, 7 pm, The Sanctuary at Admiral. (42nd/Lander)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse‘s board room. Tonight’s FCA agenda “includes discussion of a Fauntleroy School building handrail, a neighborhood survey, a walk-around with City of Seattle officials, an update on business memberships, discuss with City Light representative about the neighborhood substation, a Cove Park update, a Fauntleroy Center makeover, new neighbor bags, board recruitment, committee reports, and more.” (9131 California SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS both have boys-varsity home games tonight, both at 7:30 pm: Sealth vs. Franklin (2600 SW Thistle); WSHS vs. Cleveland (3000 California SW)
AND THERE’S MORE ON OUR CALENDAR … browse it here!
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand, substituted for tweeted version shown here earlier)
9:43 AM: Thanks to the texter (206-293-6302) who called our attention to the Kitsap Sun‘s report that the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is en route from Everett to Bremerton right now, for 16 months of maintenance. Naval Base Kitsap says via Facebook that it’s expected to arrive around 11:30, so if you can’t see it from West Seattle shores yet, it can’t be far. It’ll be the second consecutive day of aircraft-carrier sightings – the USS John C. Stennis headed northbound yesterday, leaving Bremerton for more training.
10:29 AM: Looking north from the Alki promenade, we’re seeing it in the distance now, passing West Point.
11:08 AM: Back from watching until it turned into Rich Passage.
(Update: Photos added, including Greg Snyder‘s view of the turn, above.)
(Thanks to Christine for the photo)
9:22 AM: For everybody wondering about this (thanks for the texts): A fire alarm is what brought a Seattle Fire response to DESC’s Cottage Grove Commons building in the 5400 block of Delridge. No fire, but sprinklers went off, so there’s some water cleanup under way.
9:36 AM UPDATE: More units are being dismissed at the scene; sounds like two will remain.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Little League)
Another major youth-sports organization in West Seattle is in signup mode. In case you need the nudge:
Registration for the West Seattle Little League is open! WSLL is currently registering players for its Spring Baseball season. Divisions include T-Ball, Coach-Pitch, Rookies, Minors, Majors, 50/70 and Juniors. Please visit westseattlelittleleague.com and click on the “Register Now” button to register your player.
You will find additional information regarding WSLL area boundaries, division ages and descriptions on the website. Register before January 30th to avoid a late registration fee. Documentation night will be held on January 27. Tryouts for Minor and Major divisions will be held on March 1st. Rookie League assessment — new this season — will be held on March 8th.
Please contact us with any questions: wsllgeneral@hotmail.com. See you this season!
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
And we’re off! Welcome to Tuesday. Transportation-news notes for starters:
THE BUS SERVICE YOU’RE BUYING: On Monday afternoon, a news release went out saying that Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine are formally sealing the deal for three years and $120 million of bus service that’ll be funded by what you voted for last year. It didn’t get into specific routes/times, so we asked for documentation detailing those and hope to get it today. (Added Wednesday: Find it here.)
9:10 AM: Just in case you ran into this problem – Metro has responded to Maggie’s tweet and says they’ll check it out:
@kcmetrobus @westseattleblog ORCA card reader broken at stop 19790 (Morgan Junction, West Seattle). pic.twitter.com/KsxYXof5nR
— SudsyMaggie (@SudsyMaggie) January 13, 2015
4:56 PM: Water Taxi’s 4:45 and 5 pm runs have been canceled for mechanical trouble (thanks to Jana for the tip via Twitter, before the official alert!) – the county says it’ll resume at 5:15 pm from downtown.
(WSB photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Eight days after discovering West Seattle’s first charter school is planned for the north edge of Arbor Heights, we’ve found out much more about the plan.
When we first reported on it January 4th, we knew only that Washington Charter School Development, an arm of Los Angeles-based Pacific Charter School Development, was proposing to remodel and add on to the Freedom Church/Jesus Center property at 9601 35th SW (SW corner of 35th/Roxbury) for an unspecified charter school. Our state’s voters authorized creation of charters two years ago; 10 are approved so far, but only one is open.
We’ve been working for the past week-plus to find out more about the West Seattle plan and have finally connected with WCSD to get answers to some of the many questions raised by the early information we found in city planning files:
Check on your chickens, urban farmers. Both of today’s coyote reports mention backyard birds. Dan at 37th/Holden [map] says a coyote came into his yard today and got two of his four chickens, normally kept in a chain-link-surrounded enclosure, but let out to “free range” in the daytime, and it happened while he turned his attention away from a bit. We also heard from Janis, who says she saw a coyote at 2 pm at California/Southern [map]: “Was alerted by the chickens making noise.” Both of those locations are in Gatewood, as is a sighting on New Year’s Day that we still had in queue – Belinda saw one that day, going “down the sidewalk looking in yards in the 6500 block of 40th Ave SW.” [map]
P.S. Our usual “coexisting with coyotes” advice link includes, toward the bottom, advice on protecting poultry.
(Design Packet for 4106 Delridge, as found on city website in December)
The Southwest Design Review Board‘s first meeting of 2015 is now postponed to February 5th, with the review for 4106 Delridge Way SW (5 stories, mixed use, last reviewed in 2008) moved to 8 pm that night, instead of its original date this Thursday. According to the city website, February 5th also will feature the board’s fourth look at 4505 42nd SW (seven stories, mixed use, last reviewed in December), with that review starting at 6:30 pm.
(4:09 PM UPDATE: Archived video of the meeting now added above. The Viaduct discussion starts at 1 hour, 37 minutes in – you can drag the playback bar there)
1:02 PM: The City Council is already an hour and a half past the time it expected to conclude this morning’s “briefing” meeting. WSDOT has been on the hot seat since 11:15 am on the state of the tunnel-repair project and issues including a letter from SDOT in response to a report from WSDOT engineers around the time the repair pit’s status became an issue a month ago. Much discussion focused on the phrase “catastrophic failure” relating to the repair pit work – though it’s been reiterated over and over again that the Viaduct is safe, councilmembers want more assurance. Two more agencies are coming up now – SDOT and Seattle Public Utilities – so we’re putting the live window above, and will be adding the highlights of notes we’ve been taking (plus other coverage links) along the way.
1:29 PM: The meeting just adjourned. Here’s what’s transpired so far:
–Much discussion about the letter sent by SDOT to WSDOT and the engineering report that led to it. As far as we can tell, this was first reported by Sydney Brownstone of The Stranger. WSDOT opened its part of this morning’s meeting by sternly declaring that the city letter took the phrase “risk of catastrophic failure” out of context. This was repeated over and over again; the City Council, however, got stern right back – Councilmember Kshama Sawant, for example, noted that she formerly worked as an engineer, and engineers don’t use that phrase for no reason. Council President Tim Burgess asked WSDOT if it had the December 11th report handy, and when told, “yes,” stopped the meeting briefly so it could be given to a clerk who immediately made copies for the council. We’ve asked WSDOT for the document as well, and will add it here as soon as it comes in. (ADDED: Here it is; the “catastrophic failure” mention comes in the final paragraph. Note that WSDOT says this was a “draft” and has also sent a 12/19 “final” version [added]- here’s that one.)
Later in the meeting, WSDOT suggested that because of this “out of context” quoting, it might restrict city access to a system in which it keeps these reports, and several councilmembers voiced disbelief at that.
MORE AFTER THE JUMP…
Thanks to “Diver Laura” James for today’s featured photos – taken at Cove 1 by Seacrest on Sunday. The first and third, she explains, are a young female Common Goldeneye, and the middle photo shows squid eggs. Before we’re too much further into Monday, four p.m. highlights from our calendar:
ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: 1:30-3 pm at Providence Mount St. Vincent, “a free support group for unpaid care partners, family members and friends of individuals with memory loss” is open to any and all interested. (4831 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL FAIR: 5:30-7:30 pm, the West Seattle Preschool Association‘s annual event for families seeking preschools – details in our calendar listing. In the hall at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. (California/Hanford)
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY PTA: 5:30-7:30 pm in the cafeteria, all welcome to the Highland Park Elementary PTA‘s meeting tonight. (1112 SW Trenton)
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, all welcome to the NDNC‘s January meeting. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
We received this from Pizzeria 22 proprietor Cary Kemp:
It is with great sadness that I inform you that my business partner at Pizzeria 22, Mike McConnell, has lost his son to a drug overdose. In memory of Andrew McConnell, Pizzeria 22, all Caffe Vita’s, and Via Tribunali’s will be closed on Tuesday, January 13th. Andrew was a gifted young man with extraordinary talents and will be greatly missed.
You can read about Andrew McConnell in his obituary on Legacy.com.
The view from the deck of the Stennis, by photog Meegan M. Reid. Carrier is headed out for training. pic.twitter.com/RCTrmxt5ks
— KitsapSun (@KitsapSun) January 12, 2015
Aaron texted us about an aircraft carrier passing Alki Point right now and at first we thought it had to be the USS Nimitz, expected to be Bremerton-bound sometime this week, postponed from last week. But no, it’s the USS John C. Stennis, headed out for training again, per the Kitsap Sun (whose photo tweet you see above).
ADDED: Thanks to Lynn Shimamoto for catching a good look at the Stennis and sharing the photo:
No exact date yet for the Nimitz’s trip from Everett to Bremerton, by the way.
(Map courtesy Seattle Public Utilities)
Busy week for utility-related projects in West Seattle – along with the advisories recapped in our daily traffic watch, here’s the explanation of drilling activity you might notice later this week:
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will conduct soil testing as part of the SW Orleans St Sewer Replacement Project which will repair the sewer mainline in the SW Orleans St right-of-way, west of the intersection with 30th Ave SW. We will use the results of these soil tests to help us replace the sewer line next year.
Soil tests allow us to determine current underground conditions around the existing sewer line. A crew will drill 15 to 20 foot deep holes to take soil samples. After taking samples they will fill the holes and restore the surface. At one location they will install a groundwater monitoring well. The map on the back of this page shows the two drilling locations.
Work is expected to begin on January 14th and will take one to two days. Normal work hours will be between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. After the drilling, we will be onsite periodically to measure groundwater levels in the monitoring well.
There will be two drilling locations in the public right-of-way as shown on the (above) map. The crew will work in one work area at a time.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7 AM: As we head for the heart of the commute, there’s an emergency response at a crash on West Marginal Way SW just north of Highland Park Way SW – no word, though, on how it’s affecting traffic. And on the northbound I-5 “collector-distributor” downtown, there’s a stall blocking a lane by Marion St.
ADVISORIES TODAY: If you use Water Taxi Pier 50 or state-ferry Colman Dock downtown, today is the day access changes – details in our previous report … near the Fauntleroy ferry dock, county crews are scheduled to repair concrete panels by the Barton Pump Station project this week … and the south end of Beach Drive will be busy today with the continued concrete pour at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project tank site.
7:17 AM: SFD has already cleared the W. Marginal Way scene. According to e-mail from Kimberley, it involved an overturned pickup, and “people were out of their cars helping” even before fire/police arrived. Also, a texter mentioned a crash on the bridge, but there’s no emergency dispatch so far. As the cameras show, though, it’s definitely a full-on eastbound backup.
7:29 AM: Crash just reported at Admiral Way/Avalon – no injuries reported but some blocking, according to the scanner.
7:56 AM: No indication of anything out of the ordinary on the bridge. Meantime, our crew just checked the W. Marginal Way scene – the right southbound lane before Highland Park Way is still blocked but a tow truck is there to take care of the wrecked pickup truck, so this should be clear before too long, no indication of anything mandating a major investigation. Traffic is getting by in both directions.
9:00 AM: One more transportation-news note – the next Seattle City Council briefing on the Highway 99 tunnel project and related issues is coming up around 10:45 am – you can watch live at seattlechannel.org. Preview the slide deck – which mentions more about “what if the Viaduct had to be shut down?” plans as well as settlement affecting downtown water mains – by going here.
9:49 AM: Just back from a quick check on several things: Sharonn had mentioned in comments that 37th is closed in The Triangle north of Alaska because of work involving a big crane. We went by (photo to come) and were told this involves removing something from the roof at the SK Food Group building (4600 37th SW). We also checked on the mentioned-above Murray CSO concrete pour and Barton Pump Station road-panel replacement – both of those projects are under way, with minimal traffic impact (except for Beach Drive south of Lincoln Park Way – unless you’re a resident and have to get through, avoid that today).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Fire Station 29 in Admiral has been slated for remodeling and seismic-safety upgrades since voters passed a citywide levy 11 years ago.
For at least a year, the city has been saying that while the work is under way at Station 29, its engine and personnel would be based from the same Harbor Avenue industrial site that was interim home to North Delridge’s Station 36 during its now-complete upgrades. The $1.8 million contract has now been awarded, and Station 29 work is soon to start.
Then suddenly last Wednesday, the city was sending reps door-to-door around a triangle of SDOT right-of-way a block northeast of the current station – between 44th SW, Ferry SW, and SW Hill, across the street from Admiral Congregational Church and A Child Becomes Preschool – telling neighbors the plan had changed at the last minute, and that the triangle would house the interim fire station instead, for about a year, a tight fit at best.
Since our first report that afternoon, we have pursued follow-up questions, and neighbors have been mobilizing. Their point, in a Saturday-morning gathering attended by City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, is that they’re not against having firefighters nearby (they’re already on the block) – they’re concerned about the size and safety of the newly designated site, and the lack of transparency in keeping the change under wraps until the last moment.
5:41 PM: The hilly stretch of SW Andover east of Delridge is closed right now because of a crash – for a while only half the road was blocked, but fluid from the crash has apparently caused vehicles to slide on the other side, so police have closed the entire hill. No word yet on how long cleanup will take; no major injuries reported from the crash.
8:07 PM UPDATE: Just went by – the hill is clear and open.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
5:09 PM: Sizable Seattle Fire response right now for a car fire reported in the underground garage by the Admiral Bartell Drugs. Per scanner, the sprinkler system has it under control and ventilation is the big concern now. More to come.
(Photo courtesy Ted Johnson)
5:36 PM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene says one car was involved and the fire didn’t spread to others. Lots of water on the floor inside the garage because of the sprinklers. Nobody hurt.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“In general, when I look back at where I was and where I wanted to be, if I knew I would be doing the things I’m doing now, I’d be so ecstatic.”
That’s how comic Adam Cozens, a West Seattle native, sums up what’s transpired in the four years since last we checked in with him. He had already been pursuing his dreams in New York for a few years when we interviewed him during holiday-season visits home in 2009 and 2010.
Then in December, he e-mailed WSB to let us know he’ll be back in the area this month, starting with a headliner show at Comedy Underground on January 21st. So we talked with him by phone to find out what’s changed in the four-plus years since he was last here doing a Seattle stand-up show while visiting family (his parents are still here in West Seattle, where, as we first noted in 2009, he attended Schmitz Park Elementary, Madison Middle School, West Seattle High School, and Seattle Lutheran High School).
One big change: He lives in Los Angeles now. (Pasadena, to be specific.) But that might not be the biggest.
The concrete pour that started Friday will continue tomorrow at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project site – a million-gallon tank under construction across from Lowman Beach. That’s according to an update from project spokesperson Doug Marsano from King County Wastewater Treatment. Like Friday, that means up to 10 trucks an hour, starting at 7 am, and it might continue beyond 6 pm.
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