West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
Four biznotes tonight:
CARMILIA’S TURNS 14: The Junction boutique Carmilia’s is celebrating the shop’s 14th anniversary, with one more day of specials. 11 am-6 pm tomorrow, discounts will range from 14 percent to 56 percent, and proprietor Linda Sabee promises “Bubbly and snacks served all day.” (4528 California SW)
ITTO’S TURNS 1: On the north end of The Junction, Itto’s Tapas (WSB sponsor) celebrates its one-year anniversary on Monday (November 21st). Here’s the plan for this weekend and Monday:
To honor their beginnings, they will have brunch specials this weekend, as well as reverting to their first menu on Monday the 21st; Basque eggs, Charmoula Prawns with Candied Sage, as well as others will be highlighted. If you had any old favorites that you’ve been missing, Nov. 21st through Dec. 1st will be the time to dive into them. Thank you, West Seattle, for being such an amazing community! We can’t wait to celebrate together.
Brunch is 9 am-2 pm Saturday and Sunday at Itto’s, which is on the northeast corner of California and Genesee.
JUNCTION TRUE VALUE OPEN HOUSE: From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which is full of open houses and bazaars for this weekend and beyond, one of the biggest is tomorrow at Junction True Value (WSB sponsor). Christmas carolers, homemade cookies, hot apple cider, free popcorn, free gifts, spin-to-win prizes, drawings for a Weber gas grill and kids’ bikes. Plus – an ugly-sweater contest. Bring nonperishable food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. And shop the huge selection of Christmas lights/decorations, among everything else JTV offers. (4747 44th SW)
WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER KICKS OFF THE HOLIDAYS: One big event down, one to go for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:
We photographed Melanie, Stephanie, and Curt from Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) during the Chamber’s After-Hours event last night at Westwood Village, which started at Wyatt’s.
Next up for the Chamber is the holiday party Mix, Mingle, and Jingle, 5:30-8 pm on December 8th at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd SW/SW Lander) – plenty to eat, drink, and bid on. Tickets are available now via this page on the Chamber’s website.
If you’re planning to go to the Admiral Theater tonight, you might be among the first to see a film on a brand-new screen. Via reader tips/questions, and then confirmation with theater management, we learned that the Admiral is debuting the first of its new auditoriums tonight – one of the two it’s been working on for the past few months, as the landmark moviehouse is transformed into a four-screen theater, with stadium seating and other state-of-the-art touches.
We stopped in for photos after confirming with the Admiral that they plan to launch the first new auditorium tonight, with the 6:30 pm showing of “Fantastic Beasts.” This is the one where old “applique murals” were uncovered during renovation work:
With the new auditorium coming online, The Admiral is back to showing two movies at a time (“Doctor Strange” is continuing right now – see the schedule here). We’re told the other new auditorium should be ready sometime next week. Once the two new ones are both in operation, then work can begin on dividing the remaining older one.
3:24 PM: Late last night, we reported on a medical emergency that left a RapidRide C Line bus stalled on the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct and sent its driver to the hospital. As promised, we followed up with Metro this morning. The driver, they just told us, did not make it. Here’s the full news release that resulted from our inquiry:
A Metro Transit operator suffered a fatal heart attack late Thursday while driving a RapidRide C Line on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, just south of Columbia Street. Passengers on board were able to help bring the bus to a safe stop and call 9-1-1. No passengers were injured.
The incident was reported about 11:17 p.m. The driver, Sam Williams, 63, was traveling south when he said he was experiencing a heart attack and became semiconscious. Passengers noticed the bus swerving at slow speeds and quickly rushed to Williams’ aid. One passenger was able to help bring the bus to a stop in the outside lane – about six inches from the viaduct’s guardrail. Other passengers helped unbuckle the driver and remove him from his seat, and began performing CPR. A retired Auburn police officer who was driving behind the bus stopped his vehicle and helped provide aid until first responders arrived.
Williams was pronounced deceased after being transported to Harborview Medical Center.
“Those who ride Metro Transit know there is a sense of community on the bus, between passengers and drivers,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “When an incident occurs, people step up to help one another. The passengers on Sam Williams’ route exemplify the best of who we are as a region.”
“Our drivers care deeply about their passengers’ safety and comfort. We are grateful to the passengers who rushed to help Sam as soon as it was clear that he needed medical help. Sam will be missed by his friends, family, coworkers, and those who rode on his bus each day.”
“Many of us are grieving today over the loss of Sam Williams, a dedicated Metro operator for the last six years,” said Metro General Manager Rob Gannon. “I thank the passengers whose quick action to safely stop the bus prevented this from becoming an even greater tragedy.”
Williams started as a part-time operator in 2010. He achieved full-time status in 2014.
4:32 PM: We’ve learned more about Mr. Williams thanks to commenter Kelly, who informs us he was a juggler with the famous Flying Karamazov Brothers troupe. We’ve been researching his background and among other things found this podcast interview published earlier this month.
9:50 PM: Photo of Mr. Williams added above (courtesy John Cornicello). There are more tributes to him in the comments below, as well as a link to this video of a memorable TV appearance one commenter mentioned – Mr. Williams and the other Flying Karamazov Brothers teaching “Mister Rogers” how to juggle. On the group’s Facebook page, this tribute:
We are heartbroken to tell you that Sam Williams, aka Smerdyakov Karamazov, has gone on and joined the choir invisible. It was never publicly admitted, but we can all admit that he’s always been the funniest K, and his passing leaves a major hole in the world. Today is a very sad day. RIP.
Give someone a hug and tell them you love them.
Earlier this week, we noted the West Seattle/South Park-specific items that City Councilmember Lisa Herbold still had in play as the council approached its close-to-final budget votes.
The council’s votes on more than 150 changes to the mayor’s budget played out over a long day, with some items debated separately, most considered in groups. We lost track along the way. But in her newest online update, Councilmember Herbold provides this recap, in this order, of what made it through. (For the items that were voted on this week, we’ve linked the titles below to the download links from the budget meeting.)
Fauntleroy Boulevard Project – City Light has revised the description of the project to allocate $1.5 million for the street light improvements and utility pole relocations recommended by community members as integral to the revised design.
West Seattle Bridge studies – This will continue work the work begun by former Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, by adding $100,000 to complete the two studies called for in a budget action last year to carry out the evaluations called for in the West Seattle Bridge/Duwamish Corridor Whitepaper to improve safety, incident management, and traffic flow.
Age-Friendly Community Innovation Fund – This funding will support a grant program for groups in each of the seven City Council districts to apply for up to $25,000 for programs and services based on improving the lives of an aging population.
South Park Family Service Center – This funding will support health and human services, a leadership program, and an education program in South Park.
T-5 Quiet Zone – Statement of Legislative Intent for SDOT that requests that they work with the Port of Seattle, the Federal Railway Administration, and the railway companies doing business at Terminal 5, to extend the quiet zone from Terminal 5 to the Delridge Way/W Marginal Way intersection.
A task force on South Park Public Safety – To formulate and report to Council recommendations regarding the public safety and vitality of that neighborhood. Including strategies that reflect the unique situations or dynamics of the neighborhood and are culturally and linguistically responsive data-driven approach to improving the City’s relations to and effectiveness with the South Park neighborhood. The report will go to Councilmember González’s Gender Equity, Safe Communities and New Americans Committee.
Herbold’s full online update includes her other budget proposals that made it through – including the $29 million housing proposal (here’s her statement after its passage) – and some that didn’t, including this one:
Community Planning Process for Myers Way Properties, Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) – a community planning process to determine the future uses of the Myers Way Properties. In the budget process I learned that there are 5 other District 1 land-banked properties that have pending requests for planning resources. Moving this one forward would have resulted in the Myers Way property “jumping the line.”
At least three of the sites awaiting planning are in West Seattle – the landbanked park sites north of Morgan Junction Park, on SW Charlestown, and on 40th SW (where the temporary Fire Station 32 is now).
Meantime, the amended budget is due to be finalized next week.
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:
CAR THEFT: Sarah reports her 2010 graphite Subaru Outback was stolen early this morning in the 3700 block of SW Cloverdale [map]. Plate 872ZGT. Call 911 if you see it.
CAR PROWLS: We’re about four blocks west of Sarah and found that both of our cars had been prowled early this morning. The only evidence: The glove boxes were open and what few bits of trash were in them were strewn around. Apparently we left them unlocked last night because we changed our plans at the last minute regarding heading out to community meetings. Two connector/charger cords stolen; we keep them in one car because sometimes breaking-news coverage requires recharging the phones. We’ve filed a police report online – if it happens to you, here’s where to start.
ITEMS FOUND NEAR CHURCH: Stolen? Lost?
The finder, who asked to be anonymous, reports, “I found a pile of items in the alley parking lot (near Tibbetts United Methodist Church at 3940 41st SW). It looks as though maybe someone’s car was stolen or broken into and these items were thrown aside. It includes some Rick climbing gear like shoes, a harness, a clamp, etc., some clothing and several books. No names that I could see. If someone is missing these things I have given them to the office staff at the church.” You can call Tibbetts UMC (a WSB sponsor) to ask about the items, 206-932-7777.
(This morning’s sunrise, photographed by Marc Milrod)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
FALL WINE RELEASE: Again today (and tomorrow), 1-7 pm, the Northwest Wine Academy on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus is open for you to taste and buy its fall releases. Free tasting and free parking. More info in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)
WINE TASTING: Try and buy wine at the Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tasting room, 5-9 pm. (5910 California SW)
DUWAMISH RIVER CHOCOLATE FEST: 5:30-8 pm, drink beer, wine, and/or cider and eat chocolate to benefit the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse – details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
(Another view of this morning’s sunrise, photographed by Bradetta Vines)
BINGO NIGHT: Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School invites you to Charlie Brown Bingo Night, 6-9 pm in the school gym: “This is a great opportunity to help our school to buy resources while you are enjoying delicious food and winning great prizes.” (20th SW/SW Roxbury)
HPIC MOVIE NIGHT: At Highland Park Improvement Club:
Doors open at 6:00 pm with a children’s short at 6:15 and the main movie at 7. Free admission. Volunteers will be selling popcorn, candy, and other movie fare. Bring blankets and pillows or sit in our chairs. This is an all ages event. Bring your friends, family and neighbors.
Double Feature!
Short movie hint: Squeal! Fun times with some animated animals!
Feature movie hint: This 2005 PG (1 hr 37 minutes) movie features a governess who uses magic to rein in the behavior of seven ne’er-do-well children in her charge.
(12th SW/SW Holden)
SPAGHETTI DINNER: Join the local high schools’ Key Clubs for their fundraising spaghetti dinner, 6:45-8:45 pm at West Seattle High School:
At this event, there will be raffle prizes, cake walks, a photo booth, and so much more!
Tickets to enter are $10, and everyone is welcomed! There will be a dessert potluck, so please feel free to bring your favorite sweet dish! Thank you for supporting your local Key Clubs!
(3000 California SW)
‘SWEET, SWEET MUSIC’: Trillium Soul headlines the Fauntleroy Church concert-series return, featuring Irene Stewart on violin, 7 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)
‘PETER AND THE STARCATCHER’: Night two of ArtsWest‘s winter production; curtain time, 7:30 pm. Find ticket info in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)
MUMFORD & SONS CONCERT FILM: 11 pm at Admiral Theater – details here. (2343 California SW)
MORE! for today/tonight/this weekend and beyond. Browse our complete calendar!
Thanks to Jake for the report: “I spotted a coyote this morning at 35th and Hinds [map] around 7:30 am. It jumped into a bush before I could get a pic. It appeared to be in good health and didn’t seem to be in a big hurry or especially skittish. It looked to weigh about 45 lbs.”
For more than eight years now, we’ve published coyote-sighting reports when we get them as a reminder that they live among us – (especially with new people arriving, not everyone knows that!). This one-sheet from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has info on what to do if you see one (in short: scare it away) and how else to foster coexistence.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.
Alerts and updates:
BRIDGE WORK STARTING AT 8 AM: Announced Thursday by SDOT, the left eastbound lane will be closed on the bridge, between the 1st and 4th Ave. S. exits, 8 am-4 pm.
FERRY SPILLOVER OVER: Washington State Ferries announced last night that the Point Defiance-Tahlequah (south Vashon) run would be back in operation today, so you don’t have to worry about spillover on the Fauntleroy-(north) Vashon run.
7:20 AM: Texter sends this photo from East Marginal Way:
“Situation right now on Marginal Way S. for a half-mile to T-46. That’s three rows of vehicles all headed northbound,” they write.
7:25 PM: Also visible on this traffic cam:
11:48 PM: The emergency response that is backing up southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct traffic right now involves a C Line bus driver, according to Jon, who e-mailed us right after someone else texted about the traffic situation. He says his wife was on the bus and reported that the driver had a medical emergency, possibly a heart attack, right after the bus got onto the Viaduct from Columbia. The call is on the SFD log as a “med 7 response” (major medical situation) but there’s been no official information yet. If you are headed this way, avoid SB 99 for now.
12:06 AM: Still nothing official on this, not even a traffic alert, and nothing on the scanner, so we are not likely to be able to get followup information until tomorrow. The closest traffic cam shows traffic moving, slowly, southbound just north of the scene, with police-car lights visible.
12:38 AM: That traffic cam shows the emergency response has cleared, as has traffic.
FRIDAY, 3:30 PM: Metro reports that the driver died, and that passengers took heroic action both to try to save him, and to get the bus under control. Here’s their news release.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Even as the City Council gets closer to finalizing the city budget containing the resolution formalizing the mayor’s slashing of ties with neighborhood district councils, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council is charging forward, and even growing.
Here’s what happened at its meeting last night:
DISTRICT COUNCIL’S FUTURE: Chair Mat McBride says that so far, discussions have focused on having the group work more as a cooperative as it goes forward, centered on how the groups at the table can “assist each other” in meeting their goals for the Delridge community. Certainly the group might still seek the occasional city presentation, but those likely won’t be as common, as the focus will remain more intra-Delridge.
One member asked what engagement with the city will look like from now on. “What do you think it should look like?” asked Pete Spalding. “I think it’s up to us now.”
Other topics of discussion included where to meet – an issue now that the city will no longer be providing the ~$500 annual funding that covered costs of renting meeting venues. It was decided that at least for the first quarter of next year, the group will meet at Highland Park Improvement Club. The meetings will still be 7 pm on third Wednesdays. As per longstanding tradition, DNDC won’t meet in December, so its next meeting will be January 18th.
What about the area covered by the council? asked one member – should it be smaller? larger? Could be bigger, McBride acknowledged. Some wondered if South Park might be a good addition. In the meantime, the list of member groups/organizations/institutions grew by one last night: Read More
In our photo above is Malika Siddiq, proprietor of Lika Love Boutique (6031 California SW), northernmost stop on tonight’s “Ladies Night” shopping event in Morgan Junction. As previewed here, all four participating shops are offering specials and treats – at Lika Love, you’ll find cupcakes:
Heading south from Lika Love, next stop is Nurture by Nature Spa (6307 California SW). Then continue on to Second Gear Sports (6529 California SW; WSB sponsor):
Proprietor Mark Bremen says they’re geared up for ski season. And you’ll find something for Seahawks/Sounders fans too:
Don’t miss tonight’s southernmost stop, My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor), where you’ll find proprietor Jennifer Young, at left in our photo below with Brynne:
Need fall footwear for YOUR little bird(s)? That’s just some of what you’ll find:
If you haven’t gone yet – get a “passport” to be stamped at all four businesses, and that’ll get you entered in a gift certificate drawing.
4:34 PM: Judi Yazzolino from the West Seattle Food Bank shared that photo of the first donor at this afternoon’s turkey dropoff drive in The Junction. Go get a frozen turkey and just look for the van and the Food Bank folks before 7 pm outside Easy Street!
They also will welcome $15 (cash or check) to buy a turkey – the WS Food Bank is hoping to provide 300 turkeys before Thanksgiving.
5:22 PM: More young donors:
They brought nonperishable food donations, which are also being accepted though the donation drive is focused on turkeys.
3:40 PM: Two more traffic alerts:
FERRY ALERT: Washington State Ferries sends an alert that traffic headed for the Fauntleroy terminal is expected to be heavier than usual because boat trouble has suspended the south Vashon Island run (Tahlequah-Point Defiance). So far, WSF tweets, it’s already a one-hour wait. The south Vashon run isn’t expected to resume before tomorrow.
BRIDGE ALERT: SDOT has just sent word that one lane will be closed on the Spokane Street Viaduct side of the West Seattle Bridge all day tomorrow: “From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 18, travelers can expect the eastbound left lane of the Spokane St Viaduct to be closed between 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S while crews conduct roadwork repairs. This work is to implement a permanent repair on a temporary patch crews did earlier this week.”
9:36 PM UPDATE: WSF says the Tahlequah-Point Defiance run will be back in service (with M/V Tillikum) on Friday, so the Fauntleroy terminal will be back to its usual volume.
The awning-replacement project is finally finished at Illusions Hair Design (5619 California SW; WSB sponsor). The old blue-and-white awnings were more than 30 years old, and while Illusions had been thinking about changes “for the better part of ten years,” the issue was finally forced this spring by “major leaks in the brick” of their 67-year-old building … a problem that even interfered with their Christmas-tree display last year because of leaks in the far south corner of the salon. Here’s their montage of the facade’s evolution since Illusions opened in 1978:
Along with the new awnings, the new illuminated-logo signage changes colors at night.
(WSB photos/video)
1:29 PM: Faculty members at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and other schools in the Seattle Colleges District are rallying today on the eve of mediation in their contract talks. Main sticking point is money – the faculty have received only what their union calls “sporadic and small” cost-of-living increases in recent years.
We asked faculty member Tish Lopez to summarize what faculty members are seeking:
Lopez also says, “Currently, our salary is so low that most faculty cannot afford to pay rent for a typical one bedroom apartment in West Seattle,” adding that administrative salaries have grown while faculty salaries have not, and that they hope this walkout as well as similar actions at Seattle Central and North Seattle Colleges “will help to move administration to reconsider the asks from the union and that continued denial to do so” will be seen “as an attack on the quality of education provided and insulting to those who provide it.”
In a prepared statement, a district spokesperson acknowledges that the pay isn’t what it should be, and says the problem is that:
Community colleges in Seattle, Olympia, and the Tri-Cities all receive the same base funding per student. The funding formula does not account for our region’s high operating costs or the differences in cost of living. This is having a direct effect on the student experience and limits our ability to adjust wages. Our employees are doing similar work as other state employees across the state, yet they are denied an opportunity to have the same quality of life. A regional pay structure, like those instituted for the highway patrol and Washington State Department of Transportation, could provide the necessary relief. In essence, we believe that a state system that funds colleges at the same amount is inadequate for high-cost urban areas, such as Seattle.
The two sides have been talking for more than half a year; Seattle Colleges says its most recent offer includes “increases of at least 11.1 percent for full-time faculty and 7.8 percent for part-time faculty over the three years of the contract (July 2016 through June 2019).”
8:01 PM: Commenters describing themselves as faculty members take issue with the district statement about what it’s offering, as quoted above. Here’s the district statement, along with a statement we received from a faculty/union rep who e-mailed us about today’s rally, from which we also quoted:
District statement
Faculty/union statement
(SDOT traffic cam – refresh this story page for newest image)
SDOT has just confirmed that the much-delayed paving of surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge ****IS ON**** for tonight. That means lane closures starting at 2 pm, and a complete closure of SW Spokane starting at 6 pm, along with ramp closures from/on the high bridge. Here’s what SDOT says will be happening between 6 pm and midnight:
Westbound SW Spokane Street will be closed between 11th Ave SW and E Marginal Way.
Eastbound SW Spokane Street will be closed between 11th Ave SW and SW Manning Street.
The ramps from southbound SR-99 and westbound Spokane St Viaduct to Harbor Island will be closed.
Detours will be in place:
o Westbound through traffic on SW Spokane St will be detoured down E Marginal Way to the 1st Ave S Bridge and back up W Marginal Way.
o Westbound traffic on the Spokane St Viaduct and southbound traffic on SR-99 destined for Harbor Island will be detoured across the West Seattle Bridge to Delridge Way SW to access Harbor Island from the west.
o Eastbound through traffic on SW Spokane St will be detoured locally on Harbor Island to continue eastbound via SW Manning St.
(WSB photo)
Another new restaurant is on the way to The Admiral District. The space at 2311 California SW where Angelina’s closed in May is going to become Arthur’s. We reached Rebecca Rice, who is opening Arthur’s in partnership with Sara Levin, and here’s what she told us:
We at Arthur’s are really excited to get things underway here in West Seattle — my business partner and I have spent many years as West Seattle residents and we’re looking forward to realizing a dream that serves our beloved neighborhood.
We are currently working with a village of friends and family to bring a comfortable, inviting, and beautiful place to enjoy food, drink, and relaxation from morning until evening. With breakfast served all day seven days a week, a menu that reflects the rise in interest in clean eating alongside early morning, afternoon, and nighttime café staples, and an approachable and beautiful bar (and dining!) space, Arthur’s is looking forward to contributing to an already vibrant and cozy part of West Seattle.
Arthur’s is “aiming for a mid-January open.”
(Photo by Keri Watson, who says the eagle subsequently dropped the seagull when harassed by an osprey)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
FALL WINE RELEASE: 1-7 pm today and each of the next two days, the Northwest Wine Academy on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus is open for its fall-release tastings. Free to taste; free parking; wine is available for purchase. More info in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)
DROP-OFF TURKEY DONATION DRIVE: 4-7 pm outside Easy Street Records in The Junction, the West Seattle Food Bank will be there so you can drive up, ride up, walk up and donate a turkey and/or $15 to cover the cost of one. (California SW/SW Alaska)
MORGAN JUNCTION LADIES NIGHT: 6-9 pm at Second Gear Sports and My Three Little Birds (both WSB sponsors) as well as Lika Love and Nurture by Nature, it’s the Ladies Night/Shopping Extravaganza, with treats and specials at the participating shops, as well as a gift-certificate drawing you can enter with a flyer stamped at all four stores, and more, as previewed here.
FAIRMOUNT PARK ELEMENTARY PTA: 6:30 pm general-membership meeting, with free child care provided by the YMCA. (3800 SW Findlay)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at The Kenney – this month’s meeting has been moved up a week because of next week’s holiday. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
TALK ABOUT CUBA TRAVEL & FISHING: 7 pm at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor), presentation and Q&A about traveling to and fishing in Cuba, as previewed here last night. (42nd SW/SW Oregon)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC. (6115 SW Hinds)
AFRICAN ALL-STARS: 7:30 pm performance at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – dance and rhythm: “The artists are professionals from the best dance companies of both Guinea and Congo, West Africa.” Ticket information is in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
‘PETER AND THE STARCATCHER’: Opening night for ArtsWest‘s winter production; curtain time, 7:30 pm. Ticket info is part of our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)
BELLY-DANCE SHOWCASE: Monthly free Alauda showcase at The Skylark, 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
EVEN MORE … happening today/tonight/beyond. Check our complete calendar!
9:46 AM: We’re on the way to check out a Seattle Fire response at Fauntleroy/Alaska that’s closed some traffic lanes, according to what we’ve heard on the scanner (real-time 911 is down, so the nature of the call isn’t visible). Avoid the area for now; updates to come.
9:52 AM: The traffic camera we’ve added above shows Fauntleroy fully closed right now south of Alaska. Scanner discussion indicates this is a gas-leak situation and Puget Sound Energy is on the way.
10:03 AM: Our crew has arrived and talked with SFD; they confirm it’s a gas leak at The Whittaker construction site. PSE has arrived. SW Alaska remains open; (added) SW Edmunds is, too.
10:38 AM: The camera view above shows that traffic is being allowed on Fauntleroy again.
Four development notes this morning:
DATE SET FOR ARBOR HEIGHTS PROJECT @ DESIGN REVIEW: We first told you back in April about a plan for nine live-work units replacing a former church building at 4220 SW 100th in Arbor Heights. The first Southwest Design Review Board meeting on the project is now penciled into the city schedule – 6:30 pm January 5th; details including the design proposal should appear on this page soon.
And from today’s edition of the city’s twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin:
KEY APPROVALS FOR ALKI TOWNHOUSES: A 7-unit townhouse project replacing houses at 1706 and 1708 Alki Avenue SW has received key approvals, and that opens an appeal period. Details are in the notice.
APPROVALS FOR 41ST SW PROJECTS: One year after we reported on a new 7-unit proposal for what once was the site of a community-challenged 40-apartment proposal at 4439 41st SW, it’s received key approvals, opening an appeals period. The notices are for two addresses – a four-unit townhouse building at 4437 41st SW, two townhouses and a single-family house at 4439 41st SW.
STREAMLINED DESIGN REVIEW FOR 4534 40TH SW: A four-townhouse proposal at 4534 40th SW is now open for comments as part of the Streamlined Design Review process – no meeting, but if you have something to say, you have two weeks to say it. The notice explains how.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:03 AM: Good morning! No incidents right now in/from West Seattle and vicinity. Road-work reminders:
FAUNTLEROY/HUDSON: We noticed lane reductions here while driving through the area last night, and Hudson itself was blocked. Looked like something ongoing.
PAVING ALERT: It’s not raining, which means the lower Spokane St. paving plan for today might be on, scheduled to start after 9 am. We’ll be checking. Here again are the details.
4TH AVENUE REMINDER: For the next few months, 4th Avenue has lane closures on the south side of downtown because of the Yesler Way bridge replacement. This came up in comments yesterday. The long-term alert is here.
One more note:
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: WSTC has changed its night/location for this month’s meeting – 6:30 pm tonight at The Kenney. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
7:54 AM: Big response for a possible fire at Highland Park Way and Kenyon, but it’s just been canceled, except for two units, as they haven’t found the reported fire yet.
Diver Laura‘s been out again testing apparel and equipment off our shore, and this video is of note not only as a reminder that the stormwater from our streets and roofs ends up in Puget Sound … but also for the fish that were hanging out with her by the outfall. “Hordes of shiner perch,” she explains. “They’ve been like that for a couple weeks, hanging out in droves.”
Three West Seattle biznotes tonight:
MORGAN JUNCTION LADIES’ NIGHT/SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA: Big shopping event tomorrow (Thursday) night in Morgan Junction. What started as the Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) Ladies’ Night is expanded again this year into a one-night shopping extravaganza, 6-9 pm at SGS (6529 California SW), My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor), Lika Love Boutique (6031 California SW), and Nurture by Nature (6307 California SW). Get a flyer to have stamped at each shop, and you’ll be entered in a gift-certificate drawing. Jennifer Young from M3LB explains, “The idea is to eat, drink and be merry at each location, while previewing new holiday merchandise. Everyone has special guests planned (local vendors and local designers). All stores are offering special promotions and discounts.” What you’ll see at SGS includes “a cool new sock line by Sock It To Me, and fresh fanwear for your Seahawks/Sounders lover!” More info in our calendar listing.
CURIOUS ABOUT CUBA? Also tomorrow night – now that the travel rules have changed, are you curious about Cuba? Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) sends word that well-traveled Cuba expert Jon Covich, from Normandy Park, will be in their Junction store for a presentation at 7 pm tomorrow.
EWA proprietor Dave McCoy promises “some great photography” (like the image above) and a chance to get questions answered “on many subjects of that country.” EWA is on the southeast corner of 42nd SW and SW Oregon.
QED COFFEE’S OPENING DAY: As mentioned here last week, QED Coffee has taken over the coffee space next to Harry’s Chicken Joint. And today was opening day:
In our photo above are QED’s Jeremy and Matt. The coffee shop is open 6 am-2 pm Mondays-Fridays, 7 am-3 pm Saturdays-Sundays, at 6032 California SW.
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