West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
After hearing about possible gunfire and a car stopped in The Junction early today, we asked SPD for the report. Turns out they were in the process of publishing this summary via SPD Blotter:
Two teens were arrested early Friday after a patrol officer heard gunshots coming from a car on a West Seattle street.
Officer Carl Woodward was driving near Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Edmunds Street when he heard shots being fired from a black Dodge Avenger down the block.
The driver of the Dodge sped off, but the officer was able to follow and stop the car a block away.
Police detained the female driver and male passenger, both 17, who claimed not to have any weapons.
However, officers quickly spotted a gun on the floor of the car and arrested both teens for discharging a firearm. Officers also discovered the male suspect is a convicted felon, and unable to legally possess firearms.
Police weren’t able to find any victims or damage from the shooting, but recovered shell casings from where the teens had been parked at the time of the incident.
Both teens were booked into the King County Youth Service Center. The Dodge, which belongs to the female driver’s dad, was seized for gang detectives.
According to the reports we received, the stop was around 40th/Edmunds.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One huge question about the taking-shape plans for the Delridge RapidRide line was answered during this week’s briefing for the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council: Which stops are proposed for removal when Route 120 is turned into the H Line in 2020?
The list was in the slide deck brought to the DNDC meeting Wednesday night at Highland Park Improvement Club by SDOT’s Thérèse Casper and Dawn Schellenberg, two days after the project “online open house” went live (as reported here), asking for opinions about two potential concepts.
Their slide deck began with background including the plan to “upgrade” Route 120 to RapidRide, between downtown Seattle, Delridge, and Burien. It’ll be under construction in 2019 and in service in 2020, according to the current plan. Casper said the way had been paved by discussions in recent years regarding various transportation-related plans – the Delridge multi-modal corridor discussion, Freight Master Plan, Bicycle Master Plan, etc.
Along the Delridge section of the route, Casper said, conditions are as follows:
Another auto-theft report this morning. From Rachel:
My 1998 Honda CR-V was stolen from the street in front of my home on the 4500 block of 48th Ave SW. It’s silver with the license plate #921-ZVK. Here’s the police incident # 2017-83889. Additionally, earlier this week and on the same block, our neighbor’s car was rummaged through.
Please call 911 if you see it.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:42 AM: SDOT reports a stall on the Delridge onramp to the eastbound West Seattle Bridge.
WEEKEND NOTE: The Sounders FC home opener is 4 pm Sunday at The CLink (if you’re going, consider the special matchday shuttle offered by The Westy [WSB sponsor]).
HARBOR/SPOKANE/AVALON PROJECT FEEDBACK: If you missed this story on WSB Thursday – planning is officially under way for this Neighborhood Street Fund project, and SDOT is asking for feedback on the “early concept.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With an architect’s promise that it’s not going to be another bland box, 2715 California SW made it out of the first round of Design Review after just one meeting.
The Early Design Guidance review came two weeks after the board’s final look at another project on the same block (2749 California SW, apartments plus a new PCC Natural Markets [WSB sponsor] store on the site of the current one), and that project was evoked a time or two.
Three members of the five-person, all-volunteer Southwest Design Review Board were present, chair Todd Bronk, Matt Zinski, and Don Caffrey.
So was the project’s assigned city planner, Brandon Cummings from the city Department of Construction and Inspections, who explained, to the ~15 in attendance that this phase of Design Review doesn’t include a lot of detail – it’s mostly about the site, and the massing (size/shape).
Here’s how it went: Read More
In Crime Watch tonight:
ANOTHER STOLEN CAR FOUND: Pat e-mailed tonight to say that “we recovered our Subaru Forester today. We are very grateful that it was only a mile or so from home and completely unharmed.” It was taken last Saturday night in The Junction. Pat didn’t mention where it was found, but SPD’s Twitter log includes a stolen-car recovery in the 4000 block of 40th SW today, and that would fit. (UPDATE: Different recovered car. Pat says theirs was found “in an alley near 35th/Alaska.”)
E-MAIL SCAM WARNING: Thanks to Susan for sharing this e-mail warning from the Seattle Public Library:
We wanted to let you know about an email scam that began yesterday afternoon and disguises itself as an official communication from The Seattle Public Library.
Several people in the area have reported receiving scam emails from “Joann” at the address “joan@seattlepubliclibrary(dot)com” that include subject lines about overdue and lost Library books. These emails are used to spread “malware,” or malicious software, to recipient computers.
Please note: any official communication from The Seattle Public Library will always come from our official domain: spl.org. The Library does not own or use the domain seattlepubliclibrary(dot)com.
If you receive an email claiming to be from The Seattle Public Library and it is NOT from an spl.org address:
Please DO NOT click on any links or attachments.
Please DO mark it as spam or junk and delete it immediately.
If you receive it at your work account, please also notify your I.T. department.Your data privacy and security are very important to us and we want to assure you that the Library’s database of users has NOT been compromised. At this time, it is unclear where scammers collected their recipient email addresses and how many email addresses they have sent to, but there has been no security breach of our Library systems. Many recipients of this scam are not Library patrons. This is simply a malware scam disguising itself as Library business.
DAYTIME CAR PROWL: Most of the time, car prowlers work at night. Not the one Pete e-mailed to tell us about: “I live on 44th Ave SW between Brandon & Dawson. Between 3:30 & 4:45 this afternoon, someone came up our fairly long, steep driveway and broke into our SUV which was backed in up against the garage door while my kids and I were inside just 20′ from where the car was parked. The perp took various items including a box of valuables from the trunk. Brazen! Watch out, neighbors!
BOOKS STOLEN: The person who prowled Keri‘s car went away with unusual loot: “Sometime last night between 12 am-7 am, someone smashed my driver’s-side window and stole the box of books from my publisher that I had in there to re-sell. So, if anyone finds a bunch of copies of ‘Rain Gardens for the Pacific Northwest,’ please post, or take one home and build a rain garden!”
CITYWIDE STATS: SPD had another SeaStat briefing today; you can see the slide deck here. The categories of crime tracked in SeaStat are down, year to date, from the same time last year, except for two: domestic-violence aggravated-assault and arson.
You’ve heard a lot about school funding lately. The school-by-school discussions and decisions are where the toplines become real … and potentially painful. Thanks to Bill Schrier for the photo and report from tonight’s Lafayette Elementary PTA meeting, where attendees heard from first-year principal Cindy Chaput:
Principal Chaput reported to the Lafayette PTA tonight about budget cuts and other news.
On the good news front, the building is a historic landmark. It is slated for a remodel in three years, as long as levies continue to pass. The remodel will not change the interior, but significantly upgrade the interior and systems. In the meantime, she has arranged for repainting of the common areas, which badly need it.
The District has a $74 million shortfall, although $24 million of that is likely to be funded from levy proceeds. At this point, Lafayette is projected to have 415 students next year compared to 460 students this year. Chaput expects the actual number will be 460, and she encourages anyone with a potential kindergarten student to register immediately.
Between the budget shortfall and the District’s lower projection of student population, Lafayette would lose four certificated teachers, dropping from 20 to 16 teachers. It would also lose its half-time music specialist, who works primarily in grades K-3. The music specialist position would be restored if the District authorizes one more teacher. In addition, Lafayette would lose paid playground and cafeteria supervision, requiring teachers and instructional aides to perform such work.
Chaput also reported on how the school spends its $71,000 in discretionary funds for professional development, teacher leadership development, and to help fund the school’s interventionist. The PTA could help by raising and spending $100,000 to fund a half-time counselor, 1 day a week instrumental music teacher for the upper grades, the Writers in Schools program, and library supervision so the library could stay open 5 days a week during the school day.
Chaput concluded by saying she loves the staff and community at Lafayette, which makes her commute from Federal Way worthwhile. She loves her job.
The Lafayette PTA is presenting its annual auction on April 1st: lafayettepta.com
Bill also forwarded the e-mail that Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland sent to families tonight. It’s not yet on the district’s special webpage for budget-related messages and information, so we’re republishing it below:
Dear Seattle Public Schools families:
Seattle Public Schools faced a $74M budget shortfall for next school year. Recent bipartisan action in the Legislature reduced that shortfall by $24M. Thank you to the Legislature and Governor Inslee for delaying the Levy Cliff and for restoring dollars, already approved by our local voters, to our 2017-18 budget.
We are extremely grateful for the timely action. I also want to thank the Seattle Legislative delegation for conveying the seriousness of the Levy Cliff and the potential impact in Seattle. Finally, thank you to the Principal Association of Seattle Schools (PASS), Seattle Education Association (SEA), Seattle Council PTSA (SCPTSA), WA Paramount Duty, and so many others for carrying our needs and message forward.
Delay of the Levy Cliff resolves one-third of the budget shortfall we are facing next year. We can now prepare, with greater certainty, school and central budgets for the 2017-18 school year. It also allows us to reduce far fewer staff and provide our students and families some stability in the short term as the Legislature continues to work on long-term budget solutions.
We find ourselves in a unique position, of being extremely thankful and relieved, but still facing a $50M budget shortfall. Without full funding from the state, the district will still need to make painful cuts. We are working with our partners to identify restoration priorities. We will take those recommendations to the School Board on March 29. We expect the restoration plan will restore most, but not all, of the proposed staffing reductions. Updated staffing allocations will be sent to schools after spring break.
As a result of the McCleary lawsuit, promises to fully fund education were made. Years later, they remain unfulfilled. Extension of our levy authority, while much appreciated, does not address our long-term financial needs, including adequate and ample educator compensation, nor does it address the state’s constitutional obligation.
I continue to remain hopeful. The Washington Supreme Court has set a firm deadline. By the end of the 2017 legislative session, the state must have a plan to fully fund education. I am encouraged by our community’s united efforts to get the Levy Cliff addressed. It is evidence that when we are aligned, focused, and persistent, we can get great things accomplished on behalf of our children.
Thank you for your patience, commitment, and continued support of our students. As more information becomes available, I will continue to share updates. Attached is a document that provides additional details. If you have any questions during the next phase of the budget process, please contact budget@seattleschools.org or publicaffairs@seattleschools.org.
At Highland Park Elementary back on Monday, Gov. Inslee told us and the TV crews covering his visit that he expects the Legislature to fully solve the education-funding crisis this session.
Story and photos by Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
Football season is months away, but West Seattle High School‘s new head coach Marcis Fennell isn’t wasting a minute.
Wednesday, he found out he got the job. Today, he was on campus after school to meet with his players.
And that wasn’t a trip across town – that was a trip from out of state. Fennell is finishing up his Ph.D. studies (in sports leadership) at the University of Idaho, where he played football in the mid-’00s.
We got the chance to talk with Coach Fennell this afternoon in the WSHS Gym, after his introductory meeting with players.
He’s no stranger to Seattle, having been on the coaching staff at Garfield High School, and says it was always in his plan to head back west, so he applied for the WSHS job, which opened after Tom Burggraff announced his retirement from a long coaching career following the 2016 season. His wife has family and friends in the area, and they are looking forward to having their two young kids have same-age playmates around, so he’s excited about the move.
“I really see that West Seattle can be successful,” he told us. “The Metro League is a pretty flat ground – aside from Eastside Catholic and O’Dea. … I know (WSHS) is a good school and a good community.’
Since he just accepted the job, he hasn’t put together his staff yet, but hopes to do so within the next few weeks. He’s looking at a “college approach” and planning to focus himself on what he’s getting a doctorate in – leadership. “My goal is to cultivate young men,” he explained, while he’ll have his staff focus on the technical points of the sport itself.
Fennell is originally from Southern California, where he went to high school at Long Beach Polytechnic. After he played for the Idaho Vandals, an injury got in the way when he tried out for the NFL, he says. So he took his leadership aspirations, and his football skill, into coaching. And now, he’ll use all of that and then some as the Wildcats’ head coach: “We want to bring a sense of pride back to West Seattle.”
The school has a long, proud history as it celebrates its centennial year, and it’s had recent success in other sports – including this year’s boys and girls basketball teams both making it to state – so the tradition, and the will, are there. New WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson is excited too.
“Full go,” said Coach Fennell. “That’s what I’m planning.”
But in the short run, he has to head back to Idaho to finish the work of becoming Dr. Fennell.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Even outside peak commute times, motorized-vehicle traffic roars and rumbles through The Triangle on Fauntleroy Way, along the route of the now-in-final-planning-stages Fauntleroy Boulevard project. This afternoon, that posed challenges for the “talk” part of the first of two SDOT-led Walk-and-Talk Tours through the project zone.
More than 40 people turned out in the semi-surprise sunshine to walk along most of the route, eastbound from 39th/Alaska to Fauntleroy/Avalon, with two crossings along the way. Introductory speakers included longtime resident and community advocate Sharonn Meeks (below, with project manager Norene Pen):
Meeks reiterated that the project “has been in play” for many years and said, “We’re here as a community … not as ‘I want it, I don’t want it’.”
Two groups formed; we went along with the one led by project spokesperson Rachel McCaffrey, who recapped key points of the plan, including two travel lanes in each direction, and “consolidation of utilities” since the undergrounding requested by the community wasn’t part of the budget. Stops started with an explanation outside Trader Joe’s of how, since their current loading area will no longer exist, they’re going to load off 39th SW west of the store, with some in-lane loading in the middle of the night on Fauntleroy.
McCaffrey said TJ’s is “pretty happy” with what they worked out. Currently, they get two truck deliveries each night, one around 7 pm, one around 3 am. Next stop was the Parks-owned triangle by SW Oregon, where pedestrian improvements were the focus.
Discussion included the plan to change the overhead “fire signal” flashing lights to a full pedestrian-activated signal. Some questions included how that would be timed with the rest of the motorized-vehicle traffic flow on the road. Also noted at this stop, the plan to have “consistent, defined sidewalks” on both sides of Fauntleroy. Then came a chance – for those who haven’t experienced it – to see what it’s like crossing Fauntleroy in The Triangle. The amount of time allotted definitely wasn’t enough for ~20 people.
At the end of that crossing, outside Wardrobe Cleaners, tour participants got a look at the area that SDOT says will be turned into “green stormwater infrastructure.”
Someone pointed out a utility pole that seemed to be infringing on the pedestrian area. “We’re going to be moving a lot of utility poles,” McCaffrey acknowledged. Another question: How will the landscaped median areas be maintained? SDOT is accountable for right-of-way maintenance, but community group help would be great too, McCaffrey said. (Community groups actually have helped over the years – we’ve covered numerous cleanups in the Triangle/Gateway area – but their numbers have dwindled, among other challenges.) Project designer Mike Hendrix said they’re looking at “low maintenance” trees, too.
Outside the 4480 Fauntleroy Way building (Rudy’s Barbershop/Realfine Coffee), questions included just how much of the parking lot was really city right-of-way.
With questions about how businesses would be helped to survive the year-long construction period – a major topic at the recent launch meeting of the Fauntleroy Way Association – the SDOT reps pointed to city Office of Economic Development reps who were present, and suggested talking with them at the end of the tour.
After that, we missed the final scheduled stop because of unrelated breaking news. But we caught back up with the end of the tour inside West Seattle Brewing (4515 Fauntleroy Way SW), where participants were invited to check out more informational boards, talk one-on-one with SDOT reps, and chow down on pizza that WS Brewing baked at its Alki location and brought up to the Triangle for the occasion.
Also there, Jill Anholt, just announced this week as winner of the public-art contract for the project zone:
Anholt said she doesn’t have a preconceived plan for the work – she’s waiting to see the stories that community members tell. (Here’s how to share yours.) We asked what she’s done in the area most recently; turns out she has work at the newly opened Sound Transit Angle Lake station.
The second and final walking tour – at least for this phase of the feedback process – is on Saturday morning (March 18th), 10:30 am-noon. Same route – meet outside LA Fitness at 39th/Alaska.
12:54 PM: A “full response” is on the way to a possible house fire in the 5600 block of Delridge Way SW [map]. More to come.
12:59 PM: Police are being called for traffic control – avoid this area of Delridge TFN. Via scanner, fire crews report “water on the fire,” and then seconds later, it’s reported to be under control/”knocked down.”
1:09 PM: The fire is now reported to be “tapped.” No word yet on injuries; we’re waiting to hear from our crew at the scene. County records confirm the address on the fire log – 5618 Delridge Way SW, a single-family house built in 1943. And if you’re hearing a helicopter in the area, that’s TV.
1:24 PM: Our crew reports that the three people who were in the house got out OK, no injuries, but they lost one cat (possibly two) in the fire. There’s more damage in the back of the house than the front.
Some units have been dismissed but there’s still a major SFD presence in the area – Delridge is likely to be closed in the vicinity for at least another hour, we’re told – and we’re expecting to hear soon from SFD’s public-information officer at the scene.
2:10 PM: Metro says that Route 120 is back to its regular route southbound, but still rerouted NB between Brandon and Juneau.
3:43 PM: Metro says Route 120 is fully back to normal.
(SDOT map showing “early concept” for project)
Ready to provide feedback as another West Seattle transportation project gets going? Here comes your chance for semi-early comments on the project officially known as Harbor Ave SW and SW Spokane St Intersection Improvements – covering the often-snarled area beneath and on both sides of the bridge. It affects SW Avalon Way, too, though that’s not mentioned in the title.
This is a community-proposed project that made it through the Neighborhood Street Fund process. We reported back in October that it was voted to receive funding; the cost is estimated at $352,000. It’s being designed this year and will be built/installed next year. Here’s the description from the project “fact sheet,” followed by the questions the project team is asking you to answer now:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will improve safety for people walking, biking and driving at the intersection of Harbor Ave SW and SW Spokane Street in West Seattle. In 2016, the Harbor Ave SW and SW Spokane Street Intersection project was one of 12 selected by the Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee to be funded through the SDOT’s Neighborhood Street Fund (NSF) program. The NSF program funds projects requested by the community.
PROJECT ELEMENTS
■ Adding a signal to give people biking a protected crossing from the northeast to the southwest corner of the intersection
■ Adding a curb bulb to increase space to stand and visibility at the corner
■ Removing segments of a jersey barrier along the Alki Trail approaching Harbor Ave SW
■ Restriping the crosswalk
■ Trimming overgrown landscaping on the northeast corner
■ Adding bike ramps on SW Avalon Way
■ Painting a bike turn lane on SW Manning StMaintaining transit and freight access to Harbor Ave SW and SW Avalon Way is a key element of the project.
Adding the protected bike signal will increase wait times at this intersection during some peak times of the day.
PROJECT BENEFITS
■ Increase visibility of and safety for people walking and biking across Harbor Ave SW and SW Spokane St
■ Clarify a bike-only turning movement at SW Manning St and SW Avalon Way
The project team is asking for your comments on the early concept – via e-mail, at NSFHarborandSpokane@seattle.gov. Their questions are:
*What do you like about the design concept presented on our website? Do you have any concerns?
*Do the project elements address any problems you have at this intersection?
*What is your experience at this intersection when you are walking? Biking? Driving?
*Do you have recommendations for how to keep people up to date about the project?
If you’re interested in the original concept for the project – here’s the SDOT document summarizing it (in far more detail), prepared for last fall’s review/decisionmaking process.
Thanks to Fleurt in The Junction for the tip on this: A nationwide outage is affecting businesses who use Square for payments. The company is updating its customers on this webpage, and saying it’s not sure how long it will take to fix. While some apparently can use “offline mode” to keep accepting card-swipe payments, that may not cover everyone, so if you were heading soon to a business that you know uses Square, you might consider carrying cash.
(Photo by Leda Costa)
The promise of that rainbow last night really came true today – it’s sunny! Here’s what’s ahead for the rest of your Thursday:
FIRST FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD WALK-AND-TALK: Noon-1:30 pm, join the SDOT project team for Fauntleroy Boulevard on the first of two walking tours, starting outside LA Fitness. (3900 SW Alaska)
AFTERNOON DANCE TIME: At the Senior Center of West Seattle with Lauren Petrie, 2-4 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)
LAUNCH PARTY AT ORIGINS: 3-8 pm at Origins Cannabis (WSB sponsor), launch party for House of Cultivar Product. Food from Jones Barbecue, music, and swag merchandise for the first 200 customers. 21+ (4800 40th SW)
BUSINESS RESOURCES OPEN HOUSE: Starting or growing your business? 4-6 pm at Delridge Library, come find out about resources available to help. Details here. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: New location for tonight’s WS Timebank meeting – Neighborhood House’s High Point Center! The evening begins with orientation for new members at 6 pm, potluck at 6:30 pm, and then at 7 pm, guest speaker Chris Langeler from the West Seattle Helpline. Full details in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
DESIGN REVIEW FOR 2715 CALIFORNIA SW: As previewed here, 6:30 tonight is when the Southwest Design Review Board gets its first look at this 4-story mixed-use building proposed for the Admiral District, with 48 apartments over ~46 parking spaces. The meeting’s upstairs at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, with the agenda including discussion of a noise survey, SDOT’s 2016-2024 paving plan, a grant application for safe crossing at 57th/Admiral, more. (6115 SW Hinds)
BELLYDANCING SHOWCASE: The monthly Alauda showcase is tonight at The Skylark, 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MORE, AS ALWAYS … on our complete-calendar page.
Before we get to the highlights for today/tonight, we’re shining a spotlight on a free concert coming up Saturday night in West Seattle:
Girls Jazz Band
Hosted by Seattle Women’s Jazz OrchestraJoin SWOJO in concert with our first-ever Girls Jazz Band featuring middle-school girls from West Seattle!
Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 pm
Madison Middle School Auditorium
3429 45th Avenue SW
Free, all ages. Donations accepted at the door.Support the next generation of women in jazz!
As explained on the SWOJO website, this concert is the culmination of a two-month program.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:57 AM: Will this morning’s commute be any better than the past two days? The next few hours will tell. No current incidents in, or on the major routes from, West Seattle. No view of the high bridge right now, though, as neither of SDOT’s cameras are working.
FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD WALKING TOUR: If you’re on the peninsula at midday today and interested in the Fauntleroy Boulevard project, the first of two walking tours is set for noon-1:30 pm today, starting outside LA Fitness at 39th/Alaska/Fauntleroy.
Though the scheduled guest from the Southwest Precinct was a last-minute scratch, Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting featured a lively discussion of questions for the group to consider, and observations about the city’s new open-to-all process for spending more than $2 million on community-proposed park/street projects. About 20 people were at The Sanctuary at Admiral to talk, listen, and consider: Read More
(WSHS #1 Nate Pryor at center of WSB February 2017 photo)
The season’s not quite over yet for West Seattle High School senior Nate Pryor, who led the team to their third-place finish in the state 3A basketball championships: As we reported last month, he’s on the All-State 3A team as 3A Player of the Year, and WSHS head coach Keffrey Fazio says Pryor will receive his award while playing in the All-State Senior All-Star Games this Saturday (March 18th). The games are presented by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association at Mountlake Terrace High School, where Pryor and the 3A All-Stars will play the 4A All-Stars at 6 pm Saturday.
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
CAR FOUND: Amanda‘s Mitsubishi Diamante, stolen in Highland Park last Friday, was recovered in South Park. “So glad it’s been found and in ONE piece!” she e-mailed to say.
CAR BROKEN INTO: Dan says this happened Monday night near 37th and Thistle in Gatewood:
The center console was rifled, though there was nothing of value. The only thing missing was a set of keys to my mom’s old place.
POLICE RESPONSE ON 36TH SW: We checked out what was reported as a sizable police response in the 6000 block of 36th SW just before 7 pm tonight. Police were getting ready to leave when we arrived, but did tell us that they rousted a trespasser who was sleeping on/in an outdoor hot tub at a currently vacant property. This type of situation is often the subject of questions at community meetings, and police have said they are continuing to work with the owners of vacant properties to get authorization to order obvious trespassers to leave – without pre-authorization, it’s more complicated than you might guess.
P.S. Next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – your chance to bring concerns and questions to local police, and hear their updates firsthand – is next Tuesday (March 21st), 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Depending on where you are in West Seattle, you can donate to a food drive this Saturday without leaving your residence. Boy Scout Troop 284 is “Scouting for Food” again on Saturday, and you might have received one of their door-hangers. Here’s an update from troop parent Dwight Gilmore:
If you live on 30th SW through 34th SW, 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 (March 18th).
If you live within the above-mentioned grid and would like to contribute, please leave your donations outside your front door by 8:00 am. In the unlikely event that we miss your donation (if it hasn’t been picked up by about 2 PM this Saturday), you can email me at scouting4food284@gmail.com, and I’ll see that it gets picked up by Sunday evening.
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!
Last year, participants donated about half a ton of food – see if you can top that again this year!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
All-day, all-night breakfast and lunch … plus shuffleboard. (And dinner.)
That’s part of what you’ll find at Arthur’s, which has just announced it’ll open March 30th at 2311 California SW.
We first told you last November that Rebecca Rice and Sara Levin were bringing Arthur’s to the former location of Angelina’s, which had been closed six months by then. After hearing at last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting (full report to come) that they had set the date, we arranged to talk with them this morning.
They’ve been spending months revamping the interior, which for one has been brightened dramatically – a boon during this very long, dark, rainy winter.
Though some things are different – new wood table and bar tops, new concrete floor – the layout is much the same as you might remember, with the addition of the shuffleboard table.
The 14-foot, fifth-of-a-ton shuffleboard table on the dining-room side, not the bar side – intended as what Rice calls an “interactive space – shuffleboard, to me, is easiest for everyone to play.”
Back to what you’ll be able to eat and drink at Arthur’s. The concept, Rice says, was inspired by her dad, the namesake of Arthur’s – a diner-type situation with lunch available at breakfast and vice versa, but not greasy diner food. The food will be “hearty and nourishing … not biscuits and gravy all day every day,” Levin smiles. “Though we reserve the right to do that sometimes,” Rice quickly adds. Their chef is Ian Welch, who you might know from venues elsewhere in Seattle such as The Great Nabob and Leary Traveler.
Beverages will include a “full coffee program” – espresso as well as drip – with coffee roasted by QED (which, you might recall, opened a shop in north Morgan Junction last year). A full bar, too, and since their concept comes from Australia, and the name is in honor of Rice’s Australian dad, they’ll offer some Australian wines and beer. As well as Rainier Beer in a can, which she says was her dad’s favorite.
Hours will be 8 am-10 pm Sundays through Thursdays, 8 am-11 pm Fridays and Saturdays. As mentioned earlier, breakfast and lunch items will be available at all times; the dinner menu will be available starting at 4 pm. All prepared for, and served to, you by “an awesome staff,” Rice promises.
For her and Levin, it’s been “an adventure and a learning experience” – they have both been in the industry for so long, working for others, that they decided, “why can’t we do it?”
Yes, they’ll have a website up soon, menu and all, at arthursseattle.com. And soon the hand-painted sign in our top photo atop will be out front as they prepare to open on March 30th.
The newest redevelopment proposal for Harbor Avenue SW includes a 5-story self-storage facility. And, we’ve confirmed, that makes it the second self-storage proposal on the table for a half-mile stretch of Harbor SW.
The new proposal is for the former Sea-Way Marine (etc.) site at 2501-2625 Harbor SW, including the building currently being leased by Seattle Consignment.
(File photo)
The site was put up for sale three years ago, but property records do not show a transaction so far. Two years ago, this site had an early-stage proposal for a mixed-use apartment/retail building. But that apparently did not proceed, and now it has a new proposal, with a different team, describing the plan as to “construct 51,445 sq. ft. commercial buildings with 5-story storage facility and 29 parking stalls.”
After spotting that, we wondered what ever happened to the West Coast Self-Storage proposal for 3310 Harbor Avenue SW, half a mile south [map]. Recap: We first saw it in city files almost exactly two years ago; then, in January of last year, we reported on a company rep briefing the Alki Community Council about the plan, which he said would include a street-vacation request for part of 29th SW as well as a new building replacing an old industrial building at the site as well as the towing yard to its north.
Looking into online city files regarding this project, the status wasn’t obvious, so we contacted West Coast Self-Storage, and heard back from vice president Steve Tangney, the executive who had briefed the ACC last year. He described the project as “very much alive and in process with the city,” including the street-vacation process, which, he noted, is “lengthy … We are progressing through meetings with the Seattle Design Commission on the vacation issue. My next meeting with them is in April. Our public benefit related to our street vacation will focus on improvements to the Alki Trail along our site frontage. We will be widening and reconstructing this section of the trail and adding landscape trees, art, lighting and relocating existing power poles out of the trail.” A document in the online files, dated last November, shows that the Department of Construction and Inspections suggests SDOT approval of the street vacation (on which the City Council has the final say). Tangney also told WSB that they expect much of the process to be “complete by July or August. We are excited to come to West Seattle and committed to developing a first-class facility.”
For the other site, no storage-company name is listed, but the prospective development firm is identified on documents as Lake Union Partners.
Today we’re welcoming Sea-Town Real Estate, which has just opened in West Seattle, as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they would like you to know about what they do:
Christian Harris is proud to announce the grand opening of Sea-Town Real Estate, West Seattle’s newest Indy Real Estate Brokerage.
Sea-Town Real Estate provides an alternative to the traditional methods and mentality of the conventional brokerage. They are redefining the “full-service” real estate experience by offering a suite of complimentary listing services, attention to every detail of what the client wants and the process, freeing their clients from the stress and upfront home-selling preparation expenses that are common. They have also integrated community involvement and service into their core foundational values.
Christian combines his skills and knowledge acquired from his background of 15 years as a finish carpenter and high-end home remodeling with his 14 years of service (so far) in the Army National Guard as a Military Intelligence Officer. The intimate knowledge and problem-solving required in home remodels and linear analysis, and technology background developed in the military, have allowed Christian to develop a system and utilize technology to support his agents and clients alike, in their professional and personal goals, and ensure a uniformly high client experience at every stage of the home purchase or sale process.
Christian’s journey to start his own real estate brokerage began nearly 2 years ago while working at a large local real estate franchise. The industry’s knee-jerk rejection and fear of new technology, lack of consistency, systems, processes, quality training, and support were big points of frustration for him. He was confident that he could provide better support for agents and thereby a better client experience for those agent’s clients … everyone wins!
The real estate industry also doesn’t have the best reputation, and part of Christian’s desire to start his new brokerage is to change this reputation in the Seattle market. In addition to Christian’s conviction that he could help other agents flourish and avoid the frustration he went through, he is passionate about his community and making an impact with everyone he comes in contact with. This passion led him to create the Sea-Town Podcast, where Christian invites on and interviews Seattle-area small-business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to help tell their stories and share them with the rest of our community. He has met some great people through this journey, including some amazing Executive Directors of local nonprofits.
Christian has also incorporated this passion and ethos into Sea-Town Real Estate’s business model. Our agents share in these same values to make a larger impact in the surrounding community. Each of our agents have committed to donating a portion of their commission on each home sale or purchase, to a local non-profit of their client’s choice … and Sea-Town Real Estate matches each of these charitable donations.
Feel free to stop by our office at 2701 California Ave SW and say “hi” to Christian if you’re walking around the Admiral District. He’d love to get to know you and treat you to a cup of coffee at Freshy’s or The Admiral Bird. You can also call 206-276-9744 or email ChristianHarris@Sea-Town.com
We thank Sea-Town Real Estate for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
From the “in case you were wondering too” file: Noticing that the new Fire Station 32 in The Triangle looks to be fairly far along in construction, we requested a progress report. It’s been 11 months since construction began in earnest with demolition of the old FS 32 at the same site. SFD spokesperson Kellie Randall tells WSB, “Construction is currently scheduled to end in late May. SFD is scheduled to take ownership and reoccupy the station in July. The project is currently under budget.”
As we reported in 2015, the new station will open 10 years later than originally promised in the levy approved by voters in 2003. Because of the last major component of the delay – caused by the re-bidding of the project – most of the Station 32 crew has been in a temporary setup at the future park site on 40th SW since 2015, long before construction began, except for Medic 32, which moved temporarily to Station 37 in Sunrise Heights.
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