West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
(Added: Photos by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
10:54 PM: Don’t know yet what they’re looking for, but police are searching the Broadstone Sky construction site at 40th/Edmunds right now – thanks to the people who texted us that tip. And we’re mentioning it because you are likely to see/hear the Guardian One helicopter in the area shortly if you’re not already – they happened to be up and available, so they offered to help. If/when we find out more, we’ll update.
11:42 PM UPDATE: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli went over to see what more he could find out. Police told him they started searching the site after neighbors called to say they were hearing noises – they were still looking when he left. Guardian One didn’t spot anyone but the police officers at the site.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
ADMIRAL GUNFIRE: What sounded like gunshots just before midnight last night in the 2600 block of 45th SW (map) did turn out to be gunshots – but neighbors didn’t know for about 18 hours.
A neighbor who heard them texted us after calling police. Via scanner, we heard officers dispatched to check them out, but heard nothing more, until seeing an SPD auto-tweet this afternoon mentioning “property damage” in that same block. We texted our original tipster to ask if they’d ever found evidence of gunshots. She went out to check – and discovered shell casings had turned up in the street. We were in the area so we stopped by the neighborhood to photograph the shell casings in the street and planting strip as neighbors waited for police to return. Turned out, they told us, the “property damage” was a shot-out car window down the block (no photo, as we couldn’t find it), close to the far southwestern corner of the back playground at Lafayette Elementary. Silver lining to the non-silver bullets: Neighbors who hadn’t met before were out in the street getting acquainted.
UPDATE: We have since heard from the owner of the car window hit by a bullet, who sent this photo:
While the windshield wasn’t technically “shot out,” they pointed out, it still has to be replaced.
(back to original report) 18TH/BARTON ROBBERY: Also early this morning, an e-mail question came in about a SPD tweet logged as “armed street robbery” on Thursday evening in the same area that was the topic of a discussion by neighbors and police at a community-council meeting this week. We hadn’t heard anything about it at the time but have since procured the report from SPD. The robbery was reported to have happened around 4:15 pm; officers finally found the victim a few blocks from the scene around 5:30 pm and reported that he seemed intoxicated and did not want to file a report. Nonetheless, they wrote one from what few details he had given – that two people described only as “Hispanic males” had held him up at knifepoint and taken a gold ring and glasses from him. They asked the victim repeatedly if he felt safe staying in the area, and said he would not answer.
CAR PROWL IN NEW GARAGE: First Crime Watch reader report since the Spruce/LA Fitness underground garage at 39th/Alaska opened recently: Jim e-mailed to say, “My Subaru Outback was broken into on Thursday evening between 8 and 8:30 pm June 4. I was on the p1 level under the new LA Fitness club in West Seattle. Two windows were broken out and a backpack stolen.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
What’s happening on a lot in the 8400 block of 41st/42nd SW in Upper Fauntleroy isn’t your standard case of one house down, two bigger houses go up, neighbors get upset. Even a city spokesperson calls it “egregious” – a house going up without a permit, on a site first approved just for a larger garage.
We hadn’t heard anything about this site since mentioning it here one year ago, until neighbors contacted us earlier this week.
After the site and its old brick house were sold last year, a lot split was sought. The new owner built a house on the south side, at 8437 41st SW. For the north side, the owner filed an application in October for a permit granted in January to build a “2,258-square-foot, 35-foot-tall detached underground garage,” at 8454 42nd SW.
A neighbor wrote in e-mail, “In January 2015, the construction began. The 35-foot detached garage was striking in this neighborhood of single-family homes. However, once the garage was completed, the building continued first with one level of living space, followed by a second, and then a week ago, on May 27, 2015, yet a third level of living space was added to this structure. Now this structure, permitted as a detached garage, is a four-story, 10,000 square foot monstrosity. Additionally, the property has 42nd Ave on the westside and 41st Ave on the eastside. On both streets, the structure has clearly marked garages.” Atop this story is the 42nd SW side; here’s the 41st side:
Neighbors complained to the city Department of Planning and Development, which confirms it posted a “stop-work order” on Tuesday.
Whirlwind round of five quick West Seattle biznotes:
SOUND CREDIT UNION TO THE JUNCTION: Discovered via city online files that one of the retail spaces at 4730 California (WSB sponsor) is set for Sound Credit Union. No details from SCU yet but they acknowledged our request for info. The first retail space leased at 4730, you might recall, is going to house Chipotle Mexican Grill.
JUNCTION STARBUCKS UPDATE: Diane asked in a comment when the new shop set for Junction 47 at California/Alaska (first reported here in February) will open. “Later this summer,” a Starbucks spokesperson tells us. They’re going to start the build-out week after next – tentatively set for June 15th – so you might finally see some “coming soon” signs (in fact, they’ve just applied for sign-installation permits). She could not tell us anything more about the plan, yet. The store will cover more than 2,000 square feet.
SPEAKING OF COFFEE … that’s part of what’s new as West Seattle Brewing Company at 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW in The Triangle reopens today (3 pm) after more than 2 months. Owner Drew Locke had told us back in March that espresso was on the way as well as wine, cider, and food.
ALSO NEW – NIBBLES FOOD TRUCK: Thanks to Eddie for the photo of Nibbles, the new West Seattleite-owned trailer-style food truck that’s planning to be in the West Seattle Eagles parking lot a few days a week:
Here’s the Nibbles menu. They’ve already closed for the day in WS but they’re traveling around the South King County area – having opened in Burien yesterday and going to the Des Moines Farmers’ Market tomorrow.
BEEHIVE SALON: The second retail tenant in Oregon 42 at 42nd/Oregon, Beehive Salon, south of/next to Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor), is now open. We first reported back in March that this “Aveda-concept salon” had leased the space for its second location (first one is in Wallingford).
Thanks to Brice for pointing this out – the next step as Sound Transit works toward its next money-raising ballot measure, dubbed “Sound Transit 3,” includes a survey just made public. If you’re interested in seeing Sound Transit prioritize light rail for West Seattle – or if you’d rather see something else – tell them! The survey starts here.
BACKSTORY: While ST designated West Seattle as a “potential light-rail corridor” when updating its Long-Range Plan last December (WSB coverage here), that didn’t come with any guarantees – the agency would have to settle on a plan and on funding to make it happen, and this is far from the only area it’s considering including in the 2016 ballot measure.
(Substituted Friday night: Jean Sherrard‘s panorama, courtesy SWSHS – see WSB view at story’s end)
ORIGINAL 11:13 AM REPORT: We’re on the lawn at the Alki Homestead / Fir Lodge, where a short ceremony and photo op has just wrapped up, to mark the start of the Homestead’s restoration.
(WSB Instagram clip as students arrived at the Homestead; more visuals on IG)
Students from Alki and Schmitz Park Elementaries walked over here to be part of a “group hug for the Homestead” photo coordinated by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
Joining them were two West Seattleites serving in county and city government, County Executive Dow Constantine and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.
The Homestead’s new owner, Dennis Schilling, was here too, and SWSHS executive director Clay Eals (with Rasmussen and Constantine in the photo added above) emceed.
From the two schools’ leadership: SPES assistant principal Liora Minkin and Alki principal Shannon Stanton:
P.S. This was also an anniversary of sorts – one year ago tomorrow, these same two schools gathered a half-block away outside the Log House Museum – home to SWSHS and the Homestead/Fir Lodge’s former carriage house – to celebrate the unveiling of the restored Admiral Way totem pole that now stands on the east side of the LHM’s grounds.
ADDED 1:30 PM: Adding photos, and our video of the quick speeches will follow (about 15 minutes total – added 7:21 pm, below).
(Added Saturday – the SWSHS version, shot from above)
Councilmember Rasmussen led the crowd in a chant about bringing back the Homestead’s famous fried chicken (new owner Schilling has said he’s not sure yet what kind of business the restored lodge will be home to); Executive Constantine told the kids to be sure to smile, since the photo will be part of history, and noted that while he’s a Schmitz Park alum, he’s not sure where his daughter Sabrina will be going in four years, since his house is on the Alki/Lafayette line.
(Constellation Park photo by Lynn Hall)
Good morning! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for the rest of today/tonight:
MORNING FYI: Students from two local elementaries are walking to Alki this morning for a Southwest Seattle Historical Society photo-op at the Homestead. Watch for photos here later (and/or check out the WSB Instagram feed for sneak peeks)!
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.3 feet at 1:30 pm.
SARAH FOX @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble – as previewed in our early-morning roundup of local authors’ upcoming events – Sarah Fox will read from her book “Downwind: A People’s History of the Nuclear West.” Full details on the series-presenting Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s website. (2800 SW Barton)
CORNER BAR AT HPIC: The monthly pop-up bar at the Highland Park Improvement Club is tonight, featuring McTuff and DJ Rich – details on the HPIC website. (12th/Holden)
‘DUWAMISH REVEALED’ OPENING: Not in West Seattle, but the 4-month, multiple-location “Duwamish Revealed” art project – previewed here last weekend – has its grand opening tonight at 7 pm with a sound and sculpture show at the site dubbed The Estuary. (4651 Diagonal Ave. S.)
FLOTILLA & CONCERT: 6-10 pm tonight, this webpage says organizers of the ongoing anti-Shell demonstrations will present a concert on the “Solar Pioneer/People’s Platform” barge off Don Armeni Boat Ramp, and a demonstration flotilla with kayakers carrying lanterns. (1222 Harbor SW)
POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE’S VISIT: 7 pm at West Seattle Tool Library, Dr. Jill Stein, described as the Green Party‘s potential presidential candidate (she was its nominee in 2012), will visit for a meet-and-greet. If you can’t be there for the entire event, her presentation is scheduled at around 7:30 pm, with dessert potluck at 8:15, Q/A at 8:30. WSTL is on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
MORE … just check our calendar!
After almost six years, the verdict is in for the killer of Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton, a West Seattle High School graduate. KIRO TV reports (as do other regional news organizations) that a King County Superior Court jury has found Christopher Monfort guilty of murdering Officer Brenton, 39, in Leschi on Halloween night 2009. Monfort was also found guilty of attempted murder and arson; the latter charge is from a firebombing at a city facility downtown that damaged/destroyed vehicles including a mobile command unit that had been used in this area (and is just now finally being replaced). (added) Our partners at The Seattle Times report that a jury will next decide whether Monfort’s sentence will be life in prison, or death.
(SCROLL DOWN for updates on protest near T-5)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:39 AM: Good morning. We start the day with word that the entrance to the bridge on Delridge Way is or has been affected by anti-Shell protesters (thanks for the text). We had mentioned here earlier this week that “land blockades” were promised starting today; one subsequent update had said protesters would be gathering at Delridge Community Center Park this morning and heading toward Terminal 5 right about now. Per what we’re hearing on the scanner, police are with them. We’re on our way to find out more.
6:58 AM UPDATE: We’re on scene; about 30 protesters are blocking West Marginal on the north side of Spokane, the side that leads to Terminal 5, not in the eastbound direction.
This is NOT currently affecting travel unless you are T-5 bound. Note that you are likely to see/hear TV helicopters in the area as they get word of this.
(Also note, looking ahead, as we reported on Wednesday, a nighttime demonstration flotilla is planned off Don Armeni tonight.)
7:22 AM UPDATE: We’re continuing to monitor the rest of the commute, too, and it’s quiet so far. Meantime, the West Marginal protest on the north side of Spokane St. (east of Chelan Café) continues. Organizers had said this weekend is pivotal because the Shell vessels could leave for the Arctic as soon as next week. They also have protests scheduled Saturday and Monday.
7:47 AM: The five-way intersection there is important as a bicycle route to the low bridge.
Our crew confirms that bicycle riders are getting through just fine, too (photo added, above).
8:15 AM: The group is now heading BACK south onto Delridge; bicycle and motorcycle police are accompanying them to try to keep roads from being blocked. So if you’re heading toward the bridge via Delridge, you might consider waiting a bit.
8:43 AM: All clear now. Potential repeat this afternoon according to this Facebook event page.
4:01 PM: Protesters were planning to gather near the west end of the low bridge to strategize about possibly trying to blockade Terminal 5 before a shift that they say starts at 4:30 pm. Police on bicycles were spotted heading that way about an hour ago. We’ll have a separate story IF anything happens affecting general traffic. Otherwise, check back here.
Five notes about West Seattle writers – starting with an event tonight:
Words, Writers & West Seattle presents … from Avenue Collection on Vimeo.
SARAH FOX @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: First Friday of the month means it’s the night that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society presents WWWS at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble. 5-7 pm, meet and hear from Sarah Fox, who’ll read from her book “Downwind: A People’s History of the Nuclear West.” (The clip above is her video invitation.)
ARLEEN WILLIAMS AT BPP: 3-6 pm Saturday (June 6th), stop by Beveridge Place Pub to join in the celebration of Arleen Williams‘ completion of her Alki Trilogy, explained on the second page of the event flyer:
BPP is at 6413 California SW.
WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES – KIDS’ NIGHT! 6 pm Wednesday, June 17th, at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), the next WordsWest Literary Series event will help young readers put together their summer reading list. And it’ll feature authors whose work they’ll want to read if they haven’t already – Sundee T. Frazier and father/daughter team Dr. Charles Johnson and Elisheba Johnson.
MEET AUTHORS AT MORGAN JUNCTION FESTIVAL: 10:30 am-6 pm on Saturday, June 20th, one of the new features at this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival: Meet local authors! It’s a long list already, and you can see it in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLEITE’S COOKBOOK: Ron Merlin e-mailed to let us know he’s published a cookbook and has a signing event set for August 1st. Not in West Seattle, but this is enough lead time to plan! The signing will be at Victrola Coffee Roasters, 411 15th Avenue East. Merlin says, “I’m hoping folks will come and I would love to meet them, and provide them with a signed copy of my effort over the last six years.”
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