West Seattle, Washington
16 Tuesday
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:15 AM: Launching Monday’s traffic watch: So far, the routes through and from West Seattle are incident-free.
7:38 AM: Crash reported at 35th/Willow. No word yet how it’s affecting traffic. Engine 37 is on the scene.
7:44 AM: Reminder that TONIGHT is your chance to come talk about the West Seattle Bridge-Duwamish Waterway Corridor Action Plan, 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building (California/Oregon, best known as the home of the Senior Center of West Seattle). The plan, first reported here one month ago, includes 27 possibilities, big and small, for attempting to ease traffic in the area. Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who announced the meeting three weeks ago, is hosting and says SDOT will review the plan’s recommendations. What do YOU think the bridge and “corridor” need? Come talk about it tonight.
8:34 AM: Now a crash is reported at Delridge and Andover. And three SFD units are responding to a reported natural-gas leak at the Arbor Heights Elementary construction site at 3701 SW 104th.
8:49 AM: The SFD call for Delridge/Andover has closed.
9:53 AM: Just drove back from downtown after covering court hearings. Northbound 99/Viaduct still sluggish.
(SCROLL DOWN for midday updates – SEPARATE COVERAGE OF AFTERNOON FLAREUP IS HERE)
6:12 AM: Another arson in the High Point area this morning – second morning in a row. As you can see in our photo, “arson” is the declaration on the sign that’s up at the Seattle Housing Authority-operated office on the northeast corner of 35th and Holly [map] after someone set a fire outside its basement entrance on the Holly side just after 3 am. No one was hurt. Seattle Police and Fire investigators are looking into this; it happened less than 24 hours after two cars were set ablaze in the Sylvan Ridge area on the southeast edge of High Point, about half a mile away, though there’s no word on whether this is related – we’ll be following up on that later this morning, and also re-inquiring about the 35th/Austin (ex-Red Star Pizza) fire early Thursday. Back to this morning’s fire – staffers are already at the office cleaning up after water damage and boarding a window; they say it will be open for business today.
11:16 AM: The building is also where the High Point Masjid As Sunnah mosque meets. We stopped again at the scene to check on the cleanup, and staff told us the SHA office side is what was damaged, not the mosque’s area.
SPD tells us they’ll have information to release later this hour, so we’ll have another update coming up.
11:39 AM: Here’s what SPD has just released via its “blotter,” saying they’re not seeing a connection so far between what happened this morning and what happened early Sunday:
Seattle police responded with Seattle fire to three intentionally set fires over the weekend in the High Point Neighborhood in West Seattle.
Police and firefighters responded to the 2700 block of SW Sylvan Heights on Sunday around 4:45 AM after receiving a report of two cars on fire.
Both vehicles were parked on the street and suffered significant damage before the flames were extinguished.
In a separate incident about 24 hours later, officers and firefighters responded to a fire in an entryway of a commercial building in the 6500 block of 35 Ave SW around 3:30 AM Monday. The fire caused exterior damage to the lower level of the building as well interior damage as the flames passed through a broken window.
SPD arson detectives are investigating the two incidents, but say they have not found anything connecting the cases. Police do not currently believe Monday’s fire on 35th Ave SW was set with the intent of targeting any of the tenants of three offices on the property.
Detectives are working with the Seattle Fire Department and our federal partners at ATF on these cases. If you have any information about these incidents, please call 911.
11:52 AM: We just called to doublecheck with SPD to be sure that by “three intentionally set fires” they meant the two cars plus this morning’s fire, not something additional, and Officer Lauren Lovanhill says yes, that’s what it means. She also confirms that the ex-Red Star Pizza fire from last week is NOT considered arson nor related in any way. (Later, SFD told us SPD is investigating that fire, though, because of its proximity.)
3:01 PM: If you haven’t seen our later story yet – fire broke out at this building again an hour ago, bringing a huge callout. We are covering this separately – go here.
A decision is in, and the hearing is off.
Checking the city files, we discovered that Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner has dismissed the most-recent 3050 Avalon Way project appeal filed by neighborhood group NERD (Neighbors Encouraging Reasonable Development):
As we reported three weeks ago, this all started when the group requested an interpretation of whether the city was properly treating the microhousing project as 14 “dwelling units” instead of 104 apartments. The latter number is how many “sleeping rooms” the project calls for, but they are clustered with 14 shared kitchens, and under the city rules that were in effect at the time of the application, each cluster with a kitchen constituted one “dwelling unit.” (The rules have since changed.) The number of units makes a big difference in how a development is reviewed – whether it will require Design Review, and what kind of environmental review. One year ago, the project had been under orders to either go through Design Review or make changes, as explained here; the developer opted for the latter.
After the interpretation arrived in August, affirming the “it’s 14 dwelling units, not 104 apartments” decision, NERD filed an appeal (read it here), contending among other things that the project shouldn’t have been considered as “vested” under the old rules. The case was to be argued in the Hearing Examiner’s chambers on November 5th.
Then after a pre-hearing conference in mid-September, both the city and the developer moved to dismiss the appeal. This past Wednesday, Tanner granted those motions (as detailed in the document embedded atop this report), ending the case and cancelling the November hearing. The ruling largely dwells on a technicality – saying that an appeal wasn’t filed against the Determination of (Environmental) Non-Significance for the project, and that because it wasn’t, the examiner did not have jurisdiction to consider an appeal of the interpretation.
A Hearing Examiner ruling is the city’s last word in a case like this, meaning that for a decision to be challenged any further, it would have to be taken to court. We have a message out asking NERD if they’re considering that. Otherwise, the project has its land-use permit, but appears to still be awaiting its construction permit.
Right about now, about a month into fall, for more than 20 years, this happens at Fauntleroy Creek: A ceremony to welcome the coho salmon spawners home – and then the watching and waiting. This afternoon, about 25 people gathered at the creek’s fish-ladder overlook to drum, dance, sing, and chant. Watershed steward Judy Pickens emceed:
Jamie Schilling led the music:
And the children led the way in joyfully participating, as you can see in our video:
Some had been there before, we saw when Judy asked for a show of hands. But no two autumns are alike, even if it is the “circle of life,” as noted on the sign Phil Sweetland hoisted for a call-and-response:
A bit of video:
Three years ago, 274 coho spawners showed up – the most ever. The following year, none. Then last year – 19, a few of which had shown up even before the welcoming ceremony. It’s impossible to predict, so the volunteer watch starts tomorrow; Judy said the tides are looking most promising starting next weekend. The mouth of the creek is near the ferry dock, across Fauntleroy Way from the overlook where the salmon-welcomers gathered late today.
When there are fish to see, by the way, the creek overlook will have a better view than years past, because of some recent trimming.
Maybe you’ll find this stolen bicycle dumped in the bushes somewhere – that’s what happens to so many stolen bikes. From Kathleen:
Unfortunately today my 14 year old brother rode his bike to the Delridge Library and left it unlocked when he went inside and it was gone when he came out. It’s a red and white Trek bicycle in an older youth size. Sadly it was the last gift our mom gave him before she passed away of cancer so it also has great sentimental value. I’ve reported it to the police but we don’t have a picture or serial number so it’s a long shot to get it back. Hopefully someone will see it somewhere.
As first reported here September 30th, Seattle Public Schools is planning to renovate, expand, and reopen EC Hughes Elementary as the new home of what’s currently Roxhill Elementary. Since our original report, the district has proposed a boundary change to get ready for that, with a meeting tomorrow (Monday) night to discuss it. These changes were NOT in the amended West Seattle boundaries that were circulating before a West Seattle meeting earlier this month, but the district says the new boundaries will go before the School Board for action in November, to take effect next fall, so now is the time to speak up. As you can see on the map above – click it to go to a full-size version on the SPS website – the changes for fall 2016 (though Hughes is not expected to reopen until 2018) now include moving two areas from West Seattle Elementary to Roxhill. Tomorrow’s meeting is set for 6:30 pm-7:15 pm at the Hughes building (7740 34th SW), with Spanish, Vietnamese, and Somali interpretation available.
(WSB photos)
9:28 AM: Two cars are seriously damaged after someone set them on fire in Sylvan Ridge, east of High Point, early this morning.
It happened around 4:40 am; the cars were parked in front of townhouses in the 2700 block of Sylvan Heights Drive [map]. Residents tell WSB the fire was set in some kind of container placed under the cars:
He also showed us damage inside his car, in the back seat, which held a car seat, not seen in our photo because the fire even triggered an airbag:
No one was hurt; another resident tells us the other burned car belongs to friends who were visiting from out of town, and she says fast action by neighbors kept the flames from spreading to nearby townhomes, which don’t have much setback from the street. This happened four days after an early-morning car fire at 30th and Graham, half a mile away; we never got final word on the cause of that one, but we’re checking with police about this morning’s fires and will be asking again about that one too.
12:50 PM UPDATE: Just talked with SPD spokesperson Officer Lauren Lovanhill. The 30th/Graham fire last week was NOT related – she says that report is in the system now and says the car owner was at the scene and told officers it seemed to be a mechanical problem that sparked when he was trying to start his car. She says that while the SPD Arson/Bomb Squad was notified about this morning’s incident, they didn’t go to the scene, so the investigation is in the hands of local officers, as well as the SFD investigator (Marshal 5), who did respond; no witnesses, so they have no suspect description(s) so far.
9:04 AM: The biggest boat on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run, M/V Issaquah, is currently idled for “necessary repairs,” according to Washington State Ferries, so only the Tillikum and the un-mothballed Evergreen State are making the run right now, and that’s led to some cancellations. Best way to see which boat is where is by checking the Vessel Watch page.
11:53 AM: Not fixed yet, and WSF’s newest update says, “Drivers will encounter an estimated 1 hour wait departing the Vashon and Southworth terminals due to heavy vehicle traffic and necessary vessel repairs.”
12:17 PM: WSF has now officially put the two-boat schedule into action.
1:27 PM: Repairs are complete, says WSF, and the route is back to the three-boat schedule.
(Photo by Kevin Freitas: Mt. Baker, seen from West Seattle, at sunrise last Thursday)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: Monthly breakfast at Young’s Restaurant, 9:30 am, “open to members as well as non-members interested in Amateur Radio and emergency communication.” (9413 16th SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm today and every Sunday, in the street. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
MEET THE GREYHOUNDS: 11 am-1 pm at Mud Bay in The Admiral District, meet hounds from Greyhound Pets Inc. (2611 California SW)
JAMTIME, LIVE: 1-4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), come enjoy live music on your Sunday afternoon. (5612 California SW)
SALMON DRUMMING: BYO drum(s) to Fauntleroy Creek’s fish-ladder overlook at 5 pm for the annual gathering to drum, sing, and dance to call the coho spawners home. (Fauntleroy Way SW [upper] & SW Director)
THAT’S JUST A SAMPLE … other listings for today, tomorrow, and beyond are on our complete calendar.
(WSB photo from 2014 West Seattle Monster Dash)
BOO! One of your earliest pre-Halloween chances to get spooked is just one week away – the West Seattle Monster Dash in Lincoln Park next Saturday (October 24), benefiting the South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools. Costumes encouraged, and yes, there are prizes! The Monster Dash starts with the main 5K at 9 am, then the kids’ dash at 10 am, and the costume contest/race-awards ceremony at 10:30 am. Pumpkin-painting and coloring activities, too. You have until Wednesday to get a discount rate for adult registration; you can still sign up after that, but the price goes up. If you don’t want to sign up online, West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) has a packet-pickup/signup event 3-7 pm on Friday (October 23rd), day before race day.
Thanks for the tips – one uphill lane is blocked by a crash on Highland Park Way hill. No injuries so far as we have heard, and Seattle Fire cleared the scene quickly; police are reported to be still onscene.
Sunday evening, wrap up your weekend with a West Seattle tradition: Gathering at the Fauntleroy Creek fish-ladder overlook for drumming, singing, and dancing to call the coho home. Just show up at 5 pm, atop the embankment that’s across Fauntleroy Way from the ferry terminal. All ages welcome, and if someone in the family made a “salmon hat” at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival last Sunday – that’s what the little person in our 2014 photo is wearing – bring it along! New? Not sure what to expect? Check out our past coverage – 2013, with video, for example.
P.S. Whether or not you’ll be there Sunday evening, you are also welcome to volunteer for the Salmon Watch that starts Monday.
(WSB file photo)
When will the mountains get snow? Don’t know. When will West Seattleites gather for the annual Community Ski and Snowboard Swap, presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters? That, we DO know: Next weekend. To be specific, gear dropoff 10 am-6 pm Friday (October 23rd), swap 10 am-6 pm Saturday (October 24th) and 10 am-4 pm Sunday (October 25th):
This community ski swap is a great way to buy or sell your used equipment and get amazing deals on new gear. There will be a great selection of skis, snowboards, boots, clothing, camping gear, accessories, and more!
As usual, it’s happening at the VFW Hall across the street from M2SO, 3601 SW Alaska in The Triangle.
4:42 PM: Seattle Fire has a big callout for a possible house fire at 11th SW and SW Henderson. We’re en route to check.
4:55 PM: Last truck was driving away, no sign of a fire or of water use, as we arrived, so looks like this was another didn’t-pan-out call.
The photo and report are from Sid:
I was having coffee this morning and saw a coyote stroll across my backyard. We live close to Seola Park. It walked around the side of the house and when I opened the door, it ran away into Marine View Drive.
We have long published coyote-sighting reports to help with education and awareness. The most important thing you can do if you see one is actively scare it away – “hazing” is how experts describe it – wave your arms, throw rocks, etc. They live among us but coexistence depends on them keeping their distance. See the state’s “Living With Wildlife” page on coyotes for more info. (Archived WSB coverage is here.)
Two notes about Seattle Lutheran High School (WSB sponsor) – its Oktoberfest Auction benefit is tonight, starting at 5:30 pm at the school gym (4100 SW Genesee). And the Saints’ football team won on the road last night – 34-20 at Rainier Christian HS (thanks to Mike Jensen for the score report) – they’re 4-2 for the season so far. Next up, a home game against Quilcene next Saturday (October 24th) at West Seattle Stadium, 1:30 pm.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle YMCA)
Young swimmer in the house? S/he might consider trying out for the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) Dolphins. The Y shares this update with news of tryouts as well as the team’s new coach:
The West Seattle YMCA Dolphins Swim Team is excited to introduce new Head Coach Craig Mallery. Craig was the Head Coach of the UPAC Sharks through 2014. He was also the head coach of Seattle University’s men’s and women’s teams from 1999-2012. While at Seattle U, he developed and led the team to reach NCAA Division 1 level status. He has also been a head age group coach for club teams and has experience as a Masters level coach. Coach Craig has twice been named National Coach of the Year, as well as Conference Coach of the Year in 2011. He was a collegiate level swimmer at Boston University. Coach Craig’s full profile can be read here.
This year’s season is just getting underway, and the West Seattle Dolphins would like to invite all interested youth to come to the YMCA for a swim team tryout. Tryouts assess readiness and allow swimmers to be placed in the appropriate group/level. Swim team members, both boys and girls, range in age from 6 to 18. Coach Craig puts the kids to a challenging workout several times a week, but there is rarely a complaint because they enjoy the work out, exercise and camaraderie. The swim meets are fun, exciting, and competitive. They take place in Seattle and around Puget Sound, giving the kids a great opportunity to experience swim clubs of all types and sizes.
Swimming is a healthy activity that can be enjoyed all through life. Many of our current and former team members have formed strong friendships and gone on to swim competitively at college. If you would like to register your child or get more information about the West Seattle YMCA Dolphins, please go to this link.
Last week, as reported here, SDOT was circulating word that a grant-funded sidewalk-repair project in Morgan Junction could start as soon as next Tuesday. It won’t be that soon after all, we’ve since learned via another update from SDOT: “Crews will start the sidewalk repair project in Morgan Junction after Oct. 20. Crews are currently completing other projects. SDOT will provide a schedule update by the end of next week and SDOT will provide notice to adjacent businesses at least three days before construction starts.” The work will be along the west side of California south of Fauntleroy, paid for by a Neighborhood Park and Street Fund grant.
Thanks to Don Brubeck for the photo of the Duwamish River – which is at centerstage for one of today’s biggest events, part of the following list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE AT SEALTH: 8 am-4:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School hosts the annual Northwest Conference on Teaching for Social Justice. (2600 SW Thistle)
CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION: 9 am-3 pm at Louisa Boren K-5 STEM, all welcome to help – details here. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, open house for families interested in all grades taught at Westside School (WSB sponsor), PreK through 8th. Details in our calendar listing. (10404 34th SW)
DUWAMISH ALIVE! 10 am-2 pm (after 9:30 am registration), the twice-yearly mega-work party along the river and in its watershed is happening today. If you haven’t already signed up – see the list of locations here, pick one, and go! Can’t decide? Here are the West Seattle sites that were most in need of more volunteers when we checked earlier this week.
REPTILE MAN! 10:30 am in the Fabulous Family Fun series at High Point Community Center – info’s in our calendar listing. (6920 34th SW)
SEE ART, MAKE ART: 1 pm at the Southwest Library, in conjunction with the ongoing Community Art Showcase, a “drop-in felt monster project led by Seattle artist and educator Lene Sangster.” (35th SW & SW Henderson)
FREE2LUV PRESENTS ‘ROCK KINDNESS’: 1-5 pm at the South Park Community Center, West Seattle-based Free2Luv has a big event:
October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has proclaimed October 17th Free2LUV ROCK KINDNESS Day, inviting the community to become advocates for kindness. To mobilize the community around bullying prevention, Free2Luv®, Taco Time NW and Clear Channel Outdoor have teamed up to host a ROCK KINDNESS empowerment day for underserved youth at South Park Community Center October 17th from 1 – 5 p.m. The ROCK KINDNESS event will engage, enlighten and inspire youth to be their best selves and use their voices for good. Festivities will kick off with the Mayor welcoming participants and leading them in taking Free2Luv’s Kindness pledge. “Most kids witness bullying every day,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “We can change this by speaking out, respecting and embracing one another, and building each other up. Together we can work to end bullying in our schools and communities.” ROCK KINDNESS Day will feature an interactive Free2BeME art project, “Make Your Own Taco” bar hosted by Taco Time Northwest, a billboard photo op presented by Clear Channel Outdoor, inspirational video messages from the Seahawks, the Storm and Free Celebrity Ambassadors and culminates with an inspirational concert by teen musician Maddy Vance. Vance has penned a powerful anti-bullying anthem titled ‘Crashing Down’ for Free2Luv that will be performed to inspire youth to stay strong and remind them they are not alone.
(8319 8th Ave. S.)
‘LISTEN TO SEATTLE’: 2 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, an encore of this “75-minute original program of narration and music is inspired by the life and words of Chief Seattle, weaving indigenous customs and local history with jazz composition and improvisation” with the Steve Griggs Ensemble. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
WCFB HARVEST DINNER & AUCTION: The White Center Food Bank’s big benefit dinner and auction is sold out, so this is mostly a reminder if you’re a ticketholder – it’s at the Brockey Center at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), starting with a champagne reception and silent auction at 5:30 pm. (6000 16th SW)
‘DEAR ARMEN’: 8 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. From our calendar listing: “An interactive-theatre experience blending traditional Armenian dance, erotic performance, monologue and live music, Dear Armen weaves together the voices and struggles of three generations of gender nonconforming Armenians.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SIDE GLORY: “West Seattle’s quarterly somewhat queer variety show” returns to The Skylark, 9 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
THAT’S NOT ALL … lots more listings for today and beyond on our complete calendar.
(Added: WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
10:05 PM FRIDAY: For the first time since 2011 – the West Seattle High School Wildcats take the trophy at the annual Huling Bowl game vs. Chief Sealth International High School. The final score at Southwest Athletic Complex in Westwood: WSHS 29, CSIHS 6. This was also homecoming and Senior Night for the Wildcats.
ADDED 6:25 AM SATURDAY: Top staff from both schools, including principals Ruth Medsker of WSHS (below left) and Aida Fraser-Hammer of CSIHS (below right), were at the grill for the pre-game barbecue:
Great turnout in the stands:
The WSHS fans included a group with members of the West Seattle Class of 1996, getting ready for their 20th reunion next year (with a Facebook page set up already):
Now, as for the football:
The first quarter was a long one. The Wildcats got on the scoreboard with just under five minutes left, with #3 Nate Pryor scoring the TD less than a minute after an interception. A WSHS field goal with 2:30 left in the first quarter brought the score to 9-0.
The Seahawks made an impressive defensive stand with just under seven minutes left in the second quarter, when a pass brought the Wildcats to first and goal, but the TD was denied, with plays including a sack by Sealth’s Sam Tino. Finally, WSHS kicked a field goal, and it was 12-0 at 5:04 left in the half. The next few minutes saw multiple turnovers, and the score remained WSHS 12, Sealth 0 at halftime.
First TD of the second half, at 9:42 left in the third quarter, was WSHS #18 Carter Golgart to Pryor. 19-0 is where the third quarter ended, and the game was already more than two hours old.
Golgart himself scored the Wildcats’ last TD at 10:25 left in the game.
#33 Joe Merlino kicked the point after, taking it to 26-0. Then a field goal for WSHS, and the score was 29-0 until Sealth started threatening in the final two minutes or so.
The Seahawks’ #11 Daron Camacho had a big run, then a TD with :15 on the clock, and that was the final score – 29-6. The Tom Burggraff-coached Wildcats’ trophy celebration followed, with #85 Andrew Burggraff and #17 Gabe Gangon hoisting it as our video begins:
That was the last regular-season game for WSHS and CSIHS. What happens next, we’re told, depends on the outcome of tonight’s Garfield-Rainier Beach game – there’s a chance Sealth and WSHS could face off again at the postseason’s start.
P.S. Lots of pink last night for breast-cancer awareness – socks for players, pom-poms and bows for cheerleaders:
For new arrivals … here’s our 2012 report with the backstory on why the annual crosstown-rivalry game is called the Huling Bowl.
In the second part of Thursday night’s Southwest Design Review Board doubleheader, a 31-apartment, 31-offstreet-parking-space building proposed for 9021 17th SW was told to give Early Design Guidance a second try – though board members agreed the design had promise from the start, they were most concerned about how the building would relate to its setting.
Four SWDRB members were on hand – chair Todd Bronk and Matt Zinski, who are West Seattleites; Donald Caffrey from Beacon Hill; Alexandra Moravec from the Central District.
With them, Tami Garrett (at right in photo above), the DPD planner assigned to the project.
ARCHITECT’S PRESENTATION:
Bob Guyt with Bremerton-based Blue Architecture and Design said it’s a 4-story building over underground parking “optimiz(ing) the zoning for the site,” which is LR3, and noted that all three of their massing (height and shape) alternatives are “code-compliant” – no zoning exceptions. “The scale of the neighborhood per zoning is beginning to change and become more dense.” The single-family house that used to be on this site has been torn down, he said. The architects pointed out the transitions in the area – some single-family housing, some apartments, some commercial zoning. “This is kind of a middle ground.” They tried to respond to a couple of large trees on the south side of the site, regarding solar shading.
Option #1, the project team’s “preferred option,” has some pitched-roof elements, and a larger residential-amenity area “on the sunny side of the area.” 20 spaces would be under the building, 11 on the north side of the building, all accessed off the alley (and later noted, on the lower point of the site). A raingarden is planned on the site to divert rainwater.
Option #2 “would take advantage of the entire zoning envelope,” including 4 feet of additional height and a flat roof. No overhangs at the top, so the building would be closer to the south property line, with less shading of the properties on the north side.
Option #3 “brought back the shed roof elements,” with a raingarden space, but the parking “flipped over to the south side,” with the building pulling back a bit from those two big trees on a neighboring property.
BOARD QUESTIONS: Bronk said he wasn’t really seeing much difference in the massing – at the Early Design Guidance stage, there are supposed to be distinct options. He also wondered why they hadn’t gone for entirely underground parking. It had to do with circulation, the architects said, while promising the surface-parked cars would be in carport-type enclosures to “minimize the impact.” The cars wouldn’t be parked directly at units’ window level, they said.
Zinski asked for elaboration on the amenity area. Guyt said it would be a place for residents to “barbecue, hang out,” and noted that they are required to have a certain amount of square footage devoted to that. Moravec asked about the private patios and whether they’d be basically equal to the shared spaces. The architects are still working that out.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Three people spoke. The first did not identify himself. He said the building looks a lot like many other buildings in West Seattle. “What distinguishes this building from a lot of the other buildings” in the area? “Is this a building they can be proud of, want to go and spend their life there?” He also wondered if the roof for the outdoor parking could be a green roof. And he wondered about the need for outdoor barbecuing space. Finally, he said rectangles and squares seem to be the “operative word in architecture,” but maybe there’s some other way to go about it. “I don’t see this as being that welcoming to passers-by.” He wondered “what’s the personality of this building? If I seem rather critical … that’s the general environment we’re facing in the community now … I would like to see more character, quite frankly. This building’s going to be here for quite a while, and people are going to be living with it in their neighborhood.”
The second was Deb Barker, former Design Review Board member, who pointed out that the architects had erred in declaring that this was White Center. She pointed out it was the Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village. She voiced concern that too much would be crammed into the site – that drew applause from the dozen or so attendees 0 and also noted that the three options didn’t have much differentiation in massing. She also felt the applicant had jumped to far ahead by setting up the unit counts before seeing what the site could accommodate. She also pointed out that the “underground” parking is NOT underground, that the site’s not being dug into, that it’s really “at grade,” and if it was being dug into, the building’s units would’t be separated from the street. “To set your whole facade in a seating wall, you’re really separating your pedestrians from the residents.” She also said she’s a fan of roof overhangs as seen in Option 1. She urged the project to come back with other massing options, maybe a U shape with internal courtyard.
The third person to speak didn’t identify himself. He said he likes the U shaped idea and he expects at least half the units to have kids so there should be a courtyard for them to play in. He said he was nervous about fencing because graffiti vandalism is a problem in the areae and landlords usually aren’t very responsive about painting it over. He also said he “really really really appreciate you guys putting parking spaces in.”
BOARD DELIBERATIONS:
Starting with concerns: Moravec said she didn’t think it was a bad design but would have liked to see more options. She also voiced concern about at least three units in the shade and looking at parked cars. Caffrey’s concerns included the interaction with the site – retaining walls, fences, etc. Bronk said he doesn’t see the project doing anything to be of value to the neighborhood. He doesn’t “feel great about approving a project that gets a bonus for having only half of its parking underground.” Taking a single family lot and putting 15 cars on there just feels “not in concert with being a good neighbor.” He also is “not in love withthe big ramp that’s going to be necessary at the entrance.” He also voiced concern about the “self-constrained program of 31 units.”
Issues of concern for the board include topography. They gave props to the project team for trying to save plants/habitat, and expressed appreciation for the raingarden that’s proposed; some “significant” but not “exceptional” trees are proposed for removal, and that requires replacement, Garrett noted. One of the architects pointed out that this building is not required to have parking but “street parking there is a mess” and so they have opted to provide some.
Adding 31 people to the block without a real “meet your neighbor” aspect to it is a problem, said Bronk, looking at the public life/open space guidelines for the area. They asked to see a “window study” to see how nearby residents will be affected. They asked the team to consider where people would park bikes and how bikes would be brought into the building, as that wasn’t shown in the presentation. Zinski said he didn’t think the building had to be a “jumble” of facade treatments. Bronk voiced concern about the size of the outdoor amenity space, and whether it would be accessible to more than the people next to it.
Ultimately they wanted to see another Early Design Guidance round because they weren’t seeing three distinct options. Though this isn’t a bad design, a majority of board members said, they would like to see a U-shaped option among others. Bronk said he doesn’t think the building’s design is in the best interest of the neighborhood. He’d like to see another massing option “with the building on the ground.” Moravec agreed that she’d “love to see another option.” Zinski said he saw a “lot of unresolved (issues) … all of the unresolved pieces of this are really going to drive the massing.” Bronk said that when issues are left unaddressed in Early Design Guidance, the building might wind up having the next phase of the Design Review process stretched out. “It feels like a mini-fortress,” is how Bronk summarized the concerns about the current massing. But while saying the changes might just be “little tweaks overall,” cumulatively they are “big enough that we need to see it again.” That means at least two more meetings; in the meantime, if you have comments on the project, contact planner Garrett, tami.garrett@seattle.gov.
As reported here last night, both projects brought to the Southwest Design Review Board for Early Design Guidance in a doubleheader meeting were told to try again. Here are the toplines from the first meeting, about SolTerra‘s proposed Perch 100-unit apartment building at 1250 Alki SW, first reported here in May.
This meeting was attended by dozens of the almost 400 neighbors who have organized as the Action Alki Alliance. They’re not objecting to the idea of apartments on Alki, they say, but to a proposal they say is out of scale for the neighborhood. Here are their talking points:
And a longer document of concerns sent to the city, provided to us by spokesperson Sandee Spears:
Factors such as traffic and noise are not in Design Review’s purview; they’re in the environmental review that the assigned SDOT planner – BreAnne McConkie for this project – will lead.
SWDRB chair Todd Bronk observed that the proposal as shown last night doesn’t seem to “connect the dots.” Overall questions include how the massing – which is a major concern at the EDG stage – would work in relation to the street, allow enough sunlight for the planned courtyard, and how the front facade would work with the neighborhood.
In addition to options that had been in the design “packet” for weeks (as shown here back in xx), SolTerra also brought a version with a few changes responding to concerns voiced by neighbors – including the reduction to 100 units, from the original 125, as described post-meeting by SolTerra spokesperson Melissa Milburn:
We angled out the break between the masses by a small amount; otherwise it’s identical in every way. The project is now 100 units (not 125), 20% less, specifically to address community concerns. No option impedes the steep slope buffer. We are not seeking extra height, any setback relief, bonus square footage, uses not permitted in the zoning, or anything else = other than the two departures we’re asking for on the building overall width and depth to help with sightline for neighbors. Everything we propose is allowed in the zone and we are not getting any concessions from the city.
Other public-comment concerns included the building’s placement on the property and the plan for the hillside behind it, which has seen slides over the years. Neighbors want to make sure some views of the greenbelt remain. Some concerns also were voiced about how the building would be accessed by services such as solid-waste pickup; the access will be addressed next time around.
The board liked aspects of Option 2 best, not the development team’s preferred Option 3, but overall, the instruction to the project team is to take the feedback back again and return. (The official city version of the meeting notes should be on the DPD website within a few weeks.) Because of the requirement for at least one more Early Design Guidance meeting, that means this project will have at least two more meetings – dates TBA. You can send comments about the project, in the meantime, to planner McConkie at breanne.mcconkie@seattle.gov.
Just nine days until the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival – four fun-filled hours, 10 am-2 pm on Sunday, October 25th, including activity booths (all four hours), a costume parade (11:30 am), business trick-or-treating (noon), and the chili competition benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank – you buy a flight of samples and vote for your favorite! The West Seattle Junction Association has just announced the competitor lineup:
Easy Street Café
Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub
Freshy’s
Husky Deli
Shadowland
The Westy Sports and Spirits
West 5
West Seattle Brewing Company
Each competitor is bringing and donating 2 1/2 gallons of chili, and it goes fast, so don’t miss it at 11 am during the festival – one week from Sunday! – on the southwest corner of California/Alaska. (WSB is among the festival co-sponsors again this year, and we’ll be among the activity providers again too – see you there!)
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