West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
(Also published on partner site White Center Now)
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog/White Center Now co-publishers
Just because White Center (and vicinity) voters said no to Burien doesn’t mean they’re ready to say yes to Seattle.
That was abundantly clear during tonight’s standing-room-only annexation “conversation” at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge, barely a block south of the city-county line.
Some in attendance loudly voiced skepticism and outright distrust of the city’s motives and even suitability.
Others asked simple questions about what changes annexation would bring.
The city’s longtime point person on annexation, Kenny Pittman, led the discussion, saying he wanted to offer “basic information” and answer questions, and promising more meetings and “outreach.”
He’s been working on the annexation issue for 12 1/2 years, he told the crowd of 50+, which included White Center community advocates and entrepreneurs.
He recapped why it’s on the front burner now – as first reported on our partner site White Center Now, Governor Inslee has signed a Legislature-passed bill that will divert millions of sales-tax dollars to Seattle to cover the costs of taking on the added residents and acreage.
Early on, he said annexation isn’t going to happen overnight:
(2015 WSB photo)
If you’re looking for egg hunts, Holy Week/Easter Sunday church services, and/or other special events, our annual all-in-one place is now up – find it here (and in our navigation bar toward the top of the page, under the heading EASTER, ETC.). If you have something to add, it’s not too late – please e-mail it ASAP – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
The next door-to-door food drive is days away – here’s what’s ahead for “Scouting for Food” this Saturday:
If you live on SW 30th through SW 34th St. between SW Myrtle St. & SW Thistle St., Boy Scout Troop #284 (based at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church) would like you to know that for our Scouting for Food effort this year, we will be picking up donations for the West Seattle Food Bank this Saturday morning (the 19th).
If you would like to contribute, please leave your donations outside your front door by 8:00 AM. You may have received a door flyer from us last Sunday — or maybe not, since Sunday’s well-publicized wind storm started up shortly after our flyer distribution began, most likely removing a good number of said flyers from the attention of their intended recipients.
The most needed items are:
Canned meat
Canned beans
Peanut butter
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables
Spaghetti sauce
Pasta/rice
Breakfast cereal
Oatmeal
Baby food/formula
Shampoo/soap
Feminine productsThank you in advance for helping those in need in our community!
Dwight Gilmore
Boy Scout Troop #284 parent
You might recall our story one week ago about Chief Sealth International High School students circulating petitions to get support for keeping CSIHS’s wood-shop class. The spokesperson for the group, Jennifer [at right in our photo], sent an update today, saying the program has a reprieve for now: “Yesterday the teachers voted not to approve the budget that eliminated wood shop. If the district says that the school has to take the budget, then they could still eliminate wood shop.” We’re following up further to try to find out more about what happens next, and when.
@westseattleblog looks like a fresh coat of green paint at 41st SW #admiraldistrict Happy #StPatricksDay ! pic.twitter.com/27cKlQbXYW
— brentamaker (@brentamaker) March 17, 2016
Thanks to everyone who pointed out that the mysterious stripe down 41st SW, east of Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and stretching north a ways, has been refreshed this year. We photographed it this morning but the photo Brent tweeted, above, is better! And Patricia caught it in the pre-dawn darkness, so the leprechaun(s) must have been busy with the brush(es) before sunrise:
This of course revives the question, who does this? It’s come up here over the years and no one has ever ‘fessed up, though there’ve been a few hints. We tend to be with the “well, it’s good to have SOME mysteries” camp …
(WSB photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One year after our first report on an early-stage plan for the Admiral site that’s been home to PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) for 27 years, the plan is moving ahead.
That’s according to Madison Development Group, which subsequently bought the site for $5,750,000, as we reported two months after our first story about its future. When we contacted Madison for comment back then, a spokesperson said the company – whose completed West Seattle projects include Spruce and Element 42 – would “begin exploring possible ideas for the site.”
The reason we’re publishing a followup now:
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
The Olympics are beautiful this morning – above, our shot from Alki (by WSB’s Patrick Sand); below, a panorama from James Bratsanos:
Now, a look at what’s up for the rest of today/tonight:
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Stop by the home of West Seattle’s history and check out the featured exhibit about Ivar Haglund, whose 111th birthday is being celebrated this month. Noon-4 pm, Thursdays-Sundays. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
WHAT IF WHITE CENTER WERE PART OF SEATTLE? Informal discussion about potential annexation, with city and county reps, 5:30-6:30 pm at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge. (9910 8th SW)
INJURY PREVENTION: Free seminar at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) with Dr. Nate Moore from Elite Sports and Spine, 6:30 pm, details here. (2743 California SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC. (6115 SW Hinds)
OPEN MICROPHONE: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – all ages, many talents, details here. (5612 California SW)
BELLY-DANCING SHOWCASE: The monthly Alauda showcase shakes things up tonight at The Skylark, 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
ART & POP CULTURE TRIVIA NIGHT: At Treehouse Lounge in The Admiral District, hosted by Geeks Who Drink. 8 pm. (2206 California SW)
SOUTH SOUND TUG AND BARGE … performs at 9 pm at Parliament Tavern: “Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with bluegrass, punk, Irish, and union songs.” (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP TODAY/TONIGHT/TOMORROW/BEYOND … via our complete calendar.
Firefighters Pipes & Drums arrive at Alki Elementary for #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/ce0cJDnLbV
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 17, 2016
9:07 AM: In the brisk sunshine of this St. Patrick’s Day morning, Alki Elementary students, staff, and parents welcomed a parade and playground mini-concert before school, with members of the King County Firefighters Pipes and Drums. We’ll add more when back at HQ.
ADDED 10:34 AM: Some of the parents who got into the spirit – from left, Tammy, Cheryl, and Anne:
In the schoolyard, everyone gathered in a circle around the musicians:
Longer video clip still to come.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:46 AM: No incidents reported so far in or from West Seattle.
7:34 AM: Still quiet on the outbound routes.
9:05 AM: Thanks to Mark for sending word of a crash in northbound lanes on 35th just north of Morgan. Apparently no injuries, as there’s nothing on the SFD 911 log.
(Added: Drawing of east [front] side of Alki Homestead’s rehab plan – see full PDF here. See west side here, south side here)
The rehabilitation plan for the historic Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge has cleared a huge hurdle: Wednesday afternoon at City Hall, the Landmarks Preservation Board gave its unanimous approval.
This came five days after the plan went to the board’s Architectural Review Committee (WSB coverage here), one year after Dennis Schilling bought the landmark, seven years after its beloved restaurant was closed by a fire.
Architect Jeff Hamlett walked the board through the plan, with the same points made on Friday, plus a little more elaboration: “We’re going to try to restore the old Homestead to a period when (it was a residence). … We’re going to totally remove the bar, use (the space) to put in some new parking and an accessible entrance to the ground floor, tear down the existing kitchen to the foundation and rebuild a new kitchen on the foundation.”
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