West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Reader report with an alert from an Arbor Heights resident who encountered an exposer this afternoon:
In the alley behind 100th between 37th and 39th, a 20-30-year-old white male (was) masturbating, watching me mow my lawn. I contacted SPD. Be aware of your surroundings!
That’s the only description given.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In the first of two Southwest Design Review Board sessions tonight, the early-stage plan for the proposed West Seattle CVS drugstore at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW was sent back, with the project team told to try again.
Key concerns included the fact that the project team hadn’t brought three truly distinct shape/size/siting options for the board to review, as required, and the fact that the one siting option would appear from the Fauntleroy/Alaska gateway nearby as if it were floating in “a sea of parking.” The entirety of the discussion, from public comment to board discussion, was underscored by the awkwardness of this 1-story building being on the drawing board for an urban, rapidly densifying area and a site zoned for much more than this project would bring – even though the early design does include some “plaza” area and could accommodate a food truck as community members had hoped. Pedestrian safety all around the site was also a key concern. (See the design proposal in the “packet,” here.)
Here’s how the meeting unfolded on the way to the “try again” decision:
Thanks to Cindi for the photo – that tree along the west side of California SW toppled this afternoon, taking some of the surrounding pavement with it, so if you are walking along that part of the street south of The Junction this evening, be careful. Since her photo, a tree crew has been on the scene and, we confirmed with a quick trip that way, turned the branches and trunk into chunks, currently piled between the surviving trees. The pavement in this tree’s vicinity still looks a little precarious.
(From the Seattle Municipal Archives, 1900 photo of store in 1600 block 44th SW)
Last fall, we reported on Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s study of whether Neighborhood Conservation Districts might help some areas work to keep some of their character, even in a time of growth and change. Now, he’s taking the next step – public meetings to find out if neighborhoods are interested in the idea. One of those meetings will be in West Seattle next month. Here’s the announcement:
Does your neighborhood have strong character that should be preserved, but isn’t eligible or appropriate for historic district status?
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen is holding a series of Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) public meetings to gather resident input about establishing a program in Seattle. NCDs can be best described as a hybrid between Seattle’s Landmark Review Districts and our Design Review Program where unique neighborhoods can help dictate architectural style, square footage requirements, or other design elements.
Learn more & share your perspective:
· West Seattle, April 7, 6:00 p.m., High Point Center, 6920 34th Ave SW
Wondering how this relates to yesterday’s announcement about a “historical character survey” of The Junction? That *could* be a preface to a special district, although, as Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals replied when we asked a related question during yesterday’s briefing, creating a district would mean going through a “political” process – while the survey, for starters, has no strings attached.
West Seattle Crime Watch reader report from JW:
Our dark blue 2009 Toyota Sienna minivan was stolen last night from Fauntlee Hills at 3:15 am, car seats and all! WA plates 909YUE. Please call 911 if you see it.
We woke up to the alarm and watched the taillights disappearing up the street. At least one other neighbor’s car alarm had gone off at around 2.30am as well. Prowlers?
P.S. If you missed our report on this week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, published very early today – lots of quick updates on local police/crime.
After a bike-theft bust downtown, Seattle Police have photographed the dozens of bicycles they recovered, and posted photos on SPD Blotter. If you’re a bike-theft victim, check it out in case yours is among them.
Five years ago, Seattle Parks‘ then-Superintendent Tim Gallagher decided to ban smoking in all city parks. But instead, as recommended by the Parks Board, the system ended up with a rule banning tobacco use “within 25 feet of other park patrons and in play areas, beaches, or playgrounds.” Today, there’s a new proposal to ban smoking in parks – here’s the memo spelling it out. Mayor Murray has already issued a statement saying he’s for it. Next step: The Parks Board will have a public hearing at 6:30 pm April 16th at Parks HQ downtown. (WSB file photo: Container of cigarette butts found on beaches, shown at Alki last year)
If you couldn’t make it to Madison Middle School last night for the PTA-organized presentation by/discussion with Seattle Police and Parks personnel, no worries, we recorded it on video. (No slide decks, so you can just listen to it in the background by playing the video, too.)
Starting at about 4 minutes in (after an introduction by PTA president Carla Rogers), the first presenter was SPD’s local Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, who gave an overview of the situation – since the first of the year, in the Southwest Precinct‘s coverage area (West Seattle/South Park), police have investigated 17 incidents in which youth were targeted. Most of the robbers stole their victims’ cell phones; Solomon stressed the importance of not going around openly using your electronics. Most of them were, like their victims, youths, he said. He answered lots of questions about what advice to give kids, both about prevention and about what to do if something happens. Then at about 32 minutes in, Seattle Parks security supervisor Marlan Teeters spoke. His part of the discussion included community-center lockdown policies. And at about 49 minutes in, Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary spoke about school policies and procedures – including an explanation of “shelter in place” vs. “lockdown,” and also why parents will likely hear about one or the other before the school gets a robo-call or other notification out. Dr. Gary also talked about traffic/pedestrian safety outside the school and said they’re working with SDOT on ways to calm the morning traffic, in particular.
P.S. Find out more about the Madison PTA here.
Thanks to John Kieltyka for sharing the photo of that somewhat-soggy squirrel during last weekend’s deluge. Cloudy but dry so far today; here are highlights for the hours ahead:
TUNNEL-MACHINE WATCH: The first big piece of the machine will be lifted out of the repair pit sometime today (backstory in our project update from earlier this week). This WSDOT update includes a link to the camera you can check in on.
WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY ‘LADIES NIGHT’: 6-8 pm, a don’t-miss chance to get a swag bag (if you’re there early!) and check in not only with the folks at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) but also other great local businesses like Illusions Hair Design (also a WSB sponsor). As noted on the Thriftway website, “food, wine, fun, prizes!” And Thriftway’s anniversary sale is under way now too. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
DESIGN REVIEW X 2: Tonight at the Senior Center of West Seattle, the Southwest Design Review Board gets its first look at two projects – 6:30 pm, the CVS drugstore at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW (see the “packet” here), 8 pm, the 44th SW Studios microhousing building at 4528 44th SW (see the “packet” here). As always, the meeting will include public-comment periods for both projects. (Oregon/California)
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: Also at the Senior Center at 6:30 pm, the monthly West Seattle Timebank meeting, starting with a 6:30 pm potluck – details here. (Oregon/California)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Crime/safety is the top topic for tonight’s 7 pm ACC meeting at Alki UCC‘s parlor. (62nd/Hinds)
OPEN MICROPHONE … third Thursdays at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm – details in our listing. (5612 California SW)
THAT’S JUST PART OF WHAT’S HAPPENING … see lots more listings, for today/tonight and beyond, on our calendar.
So what’s the truth about parking in our area – how do you use it, if you do? Do we need more? Less? And why? The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is trying to shine a little light on many aspects of that hot topic by inviting you to take a quick survey – just launched; start here. It’ll be open for one week (until March 26th), and then WSTC expects to publish results within a few weeks.
One of the spring’s biggest benefits is just weeks away, and you can participate in one (or more!) of three ways. From the West Seattle Food Bank:
The Board and Staff of the West Seattle Food Bank would like to invite you to join us at our 8th Annual Instruments of Change Dinner/Auction, Friday evening, May 1st, at our new location at The Seattle Design Center beginning at the new time of 6:00 pm. This very fun event will feature a hosted Happy Hour with games, Liquor Tasting, Photo Booth and unique items in our Silent Auction. Guests will then enjoy dinner prepared by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, with our famous Dessert Dash, a special guest speaker, live auction, and Funds for Food.
The West Seattle Food Bank plays an important role in the future of our West Seattle community. Funds will be used to support the various programs we provide to our neighbors in need such as our:
· Food Distribution where we distribute 1.5 million pounds of food yearly through 38,000 visits from 9,200 individuals including 3,400 children and 1,200 seniors three times per week with the help of over 260 volunteers.
· Home Delivery Program where we deliver 170 grocery bags of food weekly to homebound elderly and disabled.
· Backpack Program where we provide nutritious & healthy food to school children at risk of hunger over the weekend.
· Baby & Child Corner where we help baby & toddler parents with diapers, formula, car seats, strollers toys & clothes through our partner WestSide Baby.
· Bookcase Program where we have distributed over 9000 books including children’s books, cookbooks, reference, fiction and non-fiction books.
This fundraising event will bring our neighbors together to support the Food Bank and ensure our continued role as a positive Instrument of Change in our community. If you are interested in being a sponsor, hosting a table at the event or donating an item to the auction, please contact Judi Yazzolino, Development Director at 206.932.9032 or judi@westseattlefoodbank.org. To purchase a ticket at $100/guest or $1000/table of 10, please go to westseattlefoodbank.org/News-Events.
The WSFB would like to thank our major sponsors: Jackson, Morgan & Hunt, PLLC; Seattle & Oregon Wine Awards; CHI Franciscan Health/Highline Medical Center, The CoHo Team of Windermere Agents, JPMorganChase, and First Lutheran Church of West Seattle.
(More cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! For starters:
NOVEMBER BALLOT LEVY FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS: Our report from Wednesday includes the specifics of what’s in it for West Seattle – and what’s not. Take the survey and tell the city what you think; if you can, come to the March 31st West Seattle meeting.
THROWBACK THURSDAY, TRAFFIC JAM EDITION: It’s an online custom to share retro photos on Thursdays. Wandering around the Seattle Municipal Archives last weekend, we happened onto some traffic images that seemed perfect to deploy here on TBTs … for starters, this is from almost exactly 58 years ago, March 1957, looking west from east of where the “low bridge” ends now, 11th/Spokane:
Click the pic to see a larger image on the city website (get a better look at the details including those buses on the left).
From the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s meeting at the Southwest Precinct on Tuesday night:
No new commander announced for the precinct yet, one week after the news of now-Assistant Chief Steve Wilske‘s promotion, which came one year after his SWP arrival. Operations Lt. Ron Smith, who’s in charge of the precinct in the meantime, said he isn’t seeking the position.
CRIME TRENDS: Lt. Smith led the customary briefing. Auto theft is up; burglaries are down. And as has been widely reported, including here, strong-arm robberies are up – if you don’t know the definition, “no weapons implied or used, but that doesn’t make much difference to the victim,” as Lt. Smith put it. He also discussed how incidents get classified as robberies if they aren’t the stereotypical case of a criminal coming up to a victim and demanding something; in particular, the shoplift-turned-robbery type of case was discussed.
Community Police Team Officers Jon Flores and Erin Nicholson got up at that point to get into more detail.
From Laura Martin with West Seattle HS‘s Music Boosters – if you weren’t there, her reader report and photos show you what happened at the Big Band Dinner Dance!
There was an impressive amount of talent on display at West Seattle High School last Friday night! Guests attending the annual Big Band Dinner Dance dined on a gourmet meal prepared by students in the Culinary Arts program, and danced to top-notch big band music performed by students in the Jazz Ensemble [below].
Dancers of all ages also had a lot of fun swing dancing to the fabulous music of the West Seattle Big Band [below], who performed at the event, and who very generously support the music program at West Seattle High School.
Led by WSHS teacher Danielle Warman [front/center below], students in the ProStart Culinary Arts program prepared a beautiful and delicious buffet of entrees, salads and side dishes for over 150 guests.
After dinner the Culinary Arts students followed up by serving delectable desserts. Guests raved about the dinner, as behind the scenes, 25 students prepped, cooked, plated, and served.
Under the direction of Music Teacher Ethan Thomas, the Jazz Ensemble performed a range of pieces that quickly brought the audience to the dance floor. Jazz Ensemble students rehearse daily for an hour before school for the entire school year, and nearly all of the students also are enrolled in a regular band or orchestra class period during the day.
The proceeds from this fundraising event will help fund travel expenses for orchestra, band and jazz band students to participate in music competitions and festivals. Thanks to everyone who attended and made this event such a success and so much fun!
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