West Seattle, Washington

03 Saturday

59℉

month : 05/2017 330 results

First Design Review Board date set for next big West Seattle project: 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW
May 22, 2017 3:42 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

The first Southwest Design Review Board hearing has been set for the newest project proposed at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW, where a single-story CVS drugstore was planned for three years until it was unceremoniously scrapped last year. And we know more about the project now, too.

July 20th is the date that just appeared on the schedule for the two-building project we first told you about last December. At the time, details were few. Now, the meeting docket on the city website includes this:

Design Review Early Design Guidance application proposing … a 7-story building containing 233 residential units, 17 live-work units, and 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Parking to be provided for 250 vehicles within the structure. Existing structure to be demolished. (And) a four-story building containing one live-work unit and 49 residential units.

Though the meeting listing doesn’t mention offstreet parking for the smaller building, a document mentions “30 parking stalls” under three residential floors.

This is all set for what’s becoming West Seattle’s most-redeveloped block – across from The Whittaker (WSB sponsor), and north of 4754 Fauntleroy Way SW, which just finished going through Design Review. With the 4722 Fauntleroy hearing almost two months away, no design renderings are in city files yet, but we’re contacting developers Legacy Partners – who you might know for Youngstown Flats (WSB sponsor) in North Delridge – to find out if they have anything to share. (Documents show LP is now working with Encore Architects on this project.)

The July 20th meeting is set to start at 6:30 pm at the SWDRB’s usual meeting spot, the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon).

Share This

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: 2 months away. Be part of it!
May 22, 2017 2:07 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: 2 months away. Be part of it!
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

IMG_5061
(WSB photo, 2016 West Seattle Grand Parade)

The heart of summer really isn’t that far away! Exactly two months from today – on Saturday, July 22nd – hundreds of participants in the West Seattle Grand Parade will roll, stroll, march, dance, and ride down California Avenue SW from Admiral to The Junction. Once again this year, the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation will present the Seafair-sanctioned parade, a summer tradition for more than 80 years. Ever been in it? Ever wanted to be in it? Ever wondered how to be in it? For starters – request an application. Parade producers say applicants “will be judged on crowd appeal and community” to determine who gets in, and that the parade is a “family-friendly venue.” Ready to fill out the application? Here’s how to get one!

Share This

ELECTION 2017: November vote sought for retitled Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy
May 22, 2017 1:00 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

What is known right now as the Veterans and Human Services Levy will become the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy before voters around King County are asked to renew it this November. The announcement came today from County Executive Dow Constantine, noting that this is a one-of-a-kind program:

No other county in the United States has a voter-approved levy of the same scale or scope that is dedicated to serving veterans, active service members, and their families. For more than a decade, it has helped veterans succeed by connecting them with housing, employment and treatment.

So what exactly does/would the levy pay for? Here’s a three-page PDF fact sheet from the county. And here’s the summary of its cost:

The rate would be 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. For the owner of an average home in King County – currently about $450,000 – that would mean an increase of about $3 per month, going from $1.50 per month to $4.50 per month.

You can read the full announcement by going here.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Victim turns up at hospital after High Point shooting
May 22, 2017 11:51 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

New information just in from Seattle Police on the High Point gunfire mentioned here Sunday afternoon. Though no victim was found after police arrived at the scene at 35th/Morgan, SPD says that about half an hour after the gunfire was reported, “dispatch notified officers a 20-year-old male was dropped off at Harborview Medical Center with a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg. The victim reported he was putting gas in his car … when he heard multiple gunshots, one of which struck him.” Police found “multiple shell casings and other possible evidence” and say that witnesses described “two possible suspects, one a female in her 20’s with blonde hair and a male in his late 20’s with dreadlocks, possibly firing shots at a silver sedan that was last seen speeding away from the scene.”

Share This

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Where do you want it to go? WS Transportation Coalition invites you to ‘community-led design workshop’
May 22, 2017 9:45 am
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Voter-approved Sound Transit 3 promises light rail to West Seattle by 2030, with three stations envisioned. Inside that framework, many details remain to be decided … including exactly how it will get here, and where the stations will be, among other things. ST has not yet started its official outreach process to ask what you think about that – but the West Seattle Transportation Coalition isn’t going to wait – WSTC is inviting you to a community-led design workshop one month from tonight. Here’s the official announcement:

Where do you want the light rail to go?

Where do you want the light rail to go in West Seattle?

The West Seattle Transportation Coalition (WSTC) invites you to a community-led design workshop on Thursday, June 22, 2017, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave SW. Sound Transit (ST) plans to build the West Seattle light rail line by 2030. You can help decide where to put light rail stations, where the route will go, and what you think is best for West Seattle neighborhoods and commuters.

In a facilitated setting, we’ll look over Sound Transit’s ST3 proposed routing option and options proposed by WSTC and others. Our aims for this workshop include:

*Explore the costs and impacts of each option – underground, surface and elevated – on our overall community

*Determine where the community and neighborhoods want light rail routed to best serve West Seattle and improve ingress-egress for the Peninsula

*Discuss ways to get light rail delivered sooner than 2030.

Afterward, the WSTC will assemble the results into a formal document and present it to Sound Transit, the King County and Seattle City Councils, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and local stakeholders. Since Sound Transit has already conducted seven design reviews with Ballard, and this is West Seattle’s first, the WSTC will urge ST to combine West Seattle’s preferred options with ST3 overall plans.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car-prowl reports
May 22, 2017 9:18 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car-prowl reports
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports:

THE THIEVES WHO DIDN’T WANT THE CLUBS: From Randy at 39th SW/SW Andover:

Husband found both our unlocked cars rummaged through this morning around 5:30 am. Small amount of cash taken, Bushnell golf scope, men’s dress shirt, reusable shopping bags, CDs, car maintenance book, insurance cards, ball/hitch unit. Luckily he recovered his golf clubs near the water tower at 39th and 40th.

VISITORS VICTIMIZED: From Sara in the 4400 block of 52nd SW:

We had family visiting from Oregon and their car was prowled outside our home (Saturday) night. iPad and gift cards were stolen from inside the vehicle.

P.S. Another reminder that the next crime/safety-related discussion in our area is 7 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, May 23rd), when the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster); agenda details are here.

Share This

5 scenes from West Seattle Bee Festival 2017
May 22, 2017 8:59 am
|    Comments Off on 5 scenes from West Seattle Bee Festival 2017
 |   High Point | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

One more highlight from the big, bright weekend just past – 5 scenes from one of its biggest events, the fifth annual West Seattle Bee Festival! Co-organizer Karen Berge shared the photos. Above, that’s the hive demonstration with Lauren Englund, founder of the West Seattle Bee Garden, who first shared her dream here on WSB five years ago. The biggest bee at the festival was human-made:

The Big Bee led the kids-and-pets parade, a collaboration with High Point’s Vietnamese community, with coordination by Seattle Housing Authority‘s Thu Thai Duong.

The festival’s main organizer Deborah Vandermar, meantime, was instrumental in organizing a new activity – Pop-Up Sewing, inside Neighborhood House High Point:

Back outdoors, the Plant Swap “was amazing this year,” Karen reports. There are leftovers – if you are interested in free plants, they were left next to the bee enclosure in the Bee Garden and are yours for the taking, she says. And from the vendor and community-resource fair, West Seattle Be Prepared made preparedness education fun:

That’s Cindi Barker and the “Wheel of Misfortune.” So many more participants – you just had to be there! If you missed it, maybe next year … the sixth annual West Seattle Bee Festival is already taking shape. And you can visit the Bee Garden any time, on the north side of High Point Commons Park (here’s a map).

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Sunny Monday
May 22, 2017 6:43 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Sunny Monday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:43 AM: Good morning and welcome to the week before Memorial Day. Summery weather will greet you as you head out. No incidents reported so far on routes in/from West Seattle.

2-BOAT FERRY SCHEDULE: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run has been down to two boats since yesterday and that continues this morning. The boats are Issaquah and Cathlamet. Here’s the schedule.

7:30 AM: SDOT reports a crash on the eastbound low bridge (see the camera at lower left, above).

7:38 AM: There’s also an SFD medical response on the eastern half of the high bridge, but two of the three units already have been canceled and there’s no info on whether it’s affecting traffic.

7:47 AM: That call is now closed. But a new problem – crash at Roxbury and 8th, according to SDOT. No SFD dispatch for it, so far.

8:08 AM: The low-bridge crash has cleared, per SDOT.

8:19 AM: From the scanner, a dispatch for a stalled vehicle on the eastbound bridge. Waiting to hear exactly where.

Share This

West Seattle weekend scene: Fauntleroy Schoolhouse centennial ‘group hug’
May 21, 2017 10:57 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Thanks to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for sharing the “group hug” photo by Jean Sherrard from today’s centennial celebration at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse! The building housed Fauntleroy Elementary School until 1981 and is now home to Fauntleroy Children’s Center on the north end, The Hall at Fauntleroy on the south end, and other community organizations and small businesses inbetween. Watch for video from today’s celebration on the SWSHS website soon.

P.S. Next chance to be in a photo like this is another centennial – West Seattle High School is also celebrating its 100th anniversary, and this year’s All-School Reunion will include a “group hug” photo – 6:30 pm (gather at 6) Saturday, June 3rd – more info here.

Share This

About that smoke and smell: Boat fire in Ballard
May 21, 2017 8:37 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news


(Photo by Carolyn Newman – smoke visible from Seacrest area, looking north)

8:37 PM: Lots of calls and texts about smoke and/or a smoky smell in north West Seattle – it’s a Seattle Fire marine response all the way from the north side of Elliott Bay – 5100 block of Shilshole NW, in Ballard, according to the SFD log. Citywide news outlets are tweeting that it’s a boat fire.

9:32 PM: Via Twitter, KING says it was a 70-foot wooden boat and that it spread to some “smaller boats” too. SFD tweets that a structure also was involved.

11:16 PM: SFD update:

Share This

WARM WEATHER WARNING: Don’t leave your pet in your car!
May 21, 2017 6:49 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

With the temperature expected to go into the 80s tomorrow, we’ve received notes from several readers worried about people endangering their pets by leaving them in cars, and asking us to share this seasonal reminder. One sent along this link with the numbers, including: “On an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees.” Leaving the windows open an inch or two will NOT prevent the interior from getting dangerously hot.

Share This

PHOTOS: Sunny run/walk for 1,000 at West Seattle 5K
May 21, 2017 2:29 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Photos by Leda Costa for WSB

The West Seattle High School PTSA had much to cheer for during today’s West Seattle 5K. Great weather, great turnout – and the latter means fundraising success. This is the ninth year the PTSA has presented the run/walk along Alki to raise money to help students.

Organizers say about a thousand people participated today. Almost 800 of them were timed – you can see the results here – and the first two in were 16-year-old John Lehr (chip time 17:54.6) and 35-year-old Megan Heuer (18:04.6):

She was the first female to cross the finish line last year too. As always, it was a festive race – kids and pets are welcome every year:

Note the hands-up jubilation here:

Thanks to Leda Costa (who with husband Jeff Larson just opened The Studio West Seattle on Alki, right along the route) for photographing the race for WSB.

One bonus reader photo: Lynn Hall shared this view of the turnaround spot at Anchor Park:

P.S. WSB has been a West Seattle 5K sponsor every year since the start. Scroll down this page on the WS5K website to see the other local businesses and organizations also sponsoring the race this year.

P.P.S. The race runs on a ton of volunteer power as well as other community support. That includes the race director – this was Linda Rackner‘s first year in that role.

Share This

CRIME WATCH: Police investigating reported gunfire
May 21, 2017 1:20 pm
|    Comments Off on CRIME WATCH: Police investigating reported gunfire
 |   Crime | High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks for the tips. Multiple people reported hearing gunfire near 35th and Morgan in High Point, and now police have Morgan blocked off east of 35th as they investigate. No victims reported; we don’t know yet what if any evidence of gunfire they’ve found.

Share This

FERRY TROUBLE: 2 boats on Fauntleroy-Vashon-SW, 1 on Seattle-Bremerton
May 21, 2017 12:59 pm
|    Comments Off on FERRY TROUBLE: 2 boats on Fauntleroy-Vashon-SW, 1 on Seattle-Bremerton
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

Double trouble for Washington State Ferries on a sunny Sunday afternoon: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on an emergency 2-boat schedule, and the cross-Sound situation was already stressed with the Seattle-Bremerton run down to one boat. Fauntleroy traffic is currently reported to be backed up about two hours, Vashon one and a half.

Share This

CONGRATULATIONS! Scholarships for local students
May 21, 2017 12:10 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Congratulations to nine local high-school students honored recently with scholarships from two organizations:

LIONS CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Eight students from West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School received scholarships from the Lions Club this year. The club shared the photo, saying, “We wish them the very best and look forward to learning of their achievements.” The students are Vince Carbito, Quinn Gerberding, Wan Yu Guan, Madison Brodahl, Andrew Burggraff, Riley Fredericks, Lily Foucalt, Michelle Ly.

101 CLUB: Thanks to Nicole Sipila from the Chief Sealth IHS PTSA for sharing this photo and announcement:

The 101 Club awarded eight Seattle high-school student-athletes with college scholarships at the 84th Scholar Athlete Awards Luncheon on Thursday at the Washington Athletic Club. Every high school in the Metro League plus the high schools from Seattle that are in KingCo 4A were represented at the luncheon. Student athletes from each high school were nominated for the scholarships and received plaques. One student from Chief Sealth, Nathan Perrine, earned a $1,500 scholarship.

P.S. Both schools have graduation ceremonies on June 21st at Southwest Athletic Complex – 5 pm for Sealth, 8 pm for WSHS.

Share This

NEXT 5K: Two weeks until Loop the ‘Lupe
May 21, 2017 10:40 am
|    Comments Off on NEXT 5K: Two weeks until Loop the ‘Lupe
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

After today’s West Seattle 5K (coverage to come), it’s just two weeks until our area’s next 5K – part of the first-ever Loop the ‘Lupe, on Sunday, June 4th at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point, kitty corner from Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is presenting what’s basically four events in one – fun run, Youth Dash, Senior Saunter, and obstacle course! Here’s the course map:

It’ll be an all-afternoon extravaganza – as detailed here, the quarter-mile Senior Saunter starts at 1 pm, quarter-mile Youth Dash at 1:30 pm, 5K Family Fun Run/Walk at 1:45 pm, and the obstacle course loop – five times around for a full 5K – starting at 2:10 pm. Here’s how to register. Proceeds benefit OLG’s Walmesley Center, which, OLG explains, “hosts numerous athletic events and social outreach programs that benefit all of our West Seattle neighbors, whether they’re members of the parish or not,” hosting more than 20,000 participants in those programs since it opened.

Share This

West Seattle 5K, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse centennial, and more for your Sunday
May 21, 2017 6:49 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

We start today’s list with what’s both an event reminder and a traffic alert:

WEST SEATTLE 5K: At 8 this morning, Alki SW will close, between 63rd and Don Armeni, for the ninth annual West Seattle 5K run/walk. It’s a benefit for West Seattle High School, with sponsors including WSB. If you’re not signed up, you can still be part of it – last-minute registration starts at 8 near the start of the course. Race starts from 61st/Alki around 9:20 am. (61st/Alki)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street, in The Junction. The Master Gardeners are there too for free plant/gardening advice! (California between Oregon and Alaska)

SECOND GEAR SPORTS BENEFIT FOR GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY: Get geared up for summer at Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction today – open 11 am-5 pm – 10 percent of the day’s proceeds go to the Gatewood Elementary playground project! (6529 California SW)

FAUNTLEROY SCHOOLHOUSE CENTENNIAL: Today’s celebration starts with the “group hug” photo outside the schoolhouse at 11:30 am – all welcome to be part of it to show your appreciation for this historic building! – and continues with snacks, speakers, stories, performances – including Bubbleman! – and more. (9131 California SW)

JAMTIME, LIVE: Old-timey music and bluegrass with Jamtime, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm. (5612 California SW)

COSTUMED BIKE PARADE: Part of the community-organized Alki Daze celebration – starts at 2 pm. (63rd/Alki to Don Armeni and back)

STREETCAR HISTORY: 2 pm at Delridge Library, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Seattle Public Library present this month’s edition of Southwest Stories – as previewed here last night, streetcar/railway historian Mike Bergman takes a look back at the Highland Park/Lake Burien line that went through much of eastern West Seattle, and beyond. Free! (5423 Delridge Way SW)

MEDIEVAL WOMEN’S CHOIR PREVIEW: 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, join members of the choir for a preview of their upcoming concert – details in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)

RICHARD RUSSELL AND FRIENDS: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

RED SEA: 8 pm-11 pm, “Alternative Eastern European rock” at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

Share This

West Seattle High School musicians performing in Victoria, B.C., again this year
May 20, 2017 10:08 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle High School musicians performing in Victoria, B.C., again this year
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Jim Edwards for photos of West Seattle High School‘s band (above) and orchestra (below), performing in Victoria, B.C. today.

It’s Victoria Day Weekend and that means a showcase of visiting high-school groups. If you happen to be up there this weekend too, look for the WSHS musicians near the Parliament Buildings at 5 pm Sunday. Then on Monday, it’s the Victoria Day Parade.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car window smashed; package prowler
May 20, 2017 9:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

CAR WINDOW SMASHED: The photo above is from Deborah in the 4100 block of Beach Drive SW, who says, “My car, parked in the apartment parking lot, had its rear passenger window smashed in around 5:00-5:20 this afternoon. Nothing was removed from the car, and no signs of tampering to the ignition and steering column. Called it in to the police, but they’ve not had any similar reports in the area.”

PACKAGE PROWLER: The photo above is from a reader who says this person was prowling their neighborhood on Thursday afternoon, in the 5600 block of 40th SW, “looking under vehicles and pretending to check the garden of the area. He looked over our gate for packages or anything that could be grabbed; he has rain boots on that come just below the knee, green shorts, a black hoodie with an insignia, black hat, sunglasses, and it looked to be dark brown hair.” One neighbor reported a stolen item; the suspect was reported to be associated with a silver Ford Focus Coupe, tinted windows. Police were notified.

TUESDAY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THERE WAS AN INTRUDER IN YOUR HOME? That’s the focus of next Tuesday’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). The presentation will feature Community Police Team Officer Todd Wiebke. All welcome – in a Block Watch or not.

Share This

SUNDAY: All aboard for SouthWest Stories’ look at local streetcar line
May 20, 2017 7:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news


(Seattle Municipal Archives photo of what’s described as the Highland Park-Burien line’s Hillside Station – possibly in Riverview – 1915)

13 years before light rail’s scheduled return to West Seattle, you’re invited to learn about one of the streetcar lines that rolled through our area decades ago. At 2 pm tomorrow (Sunday, May 21st), streetcar historian Mike Bergman is the featured speaker in the Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Seattle Public Library-presented series SouthWest Stories, telling you about the “History of the Highland Park & Lake Burien Railroad.” Here’s his video invitation, courtesy of SWSHS:

SW Stories rotates between library branches, and this time you’ll find it at the Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).

Share This

COMMUNITY GIVING: Ramp-A-Thon day for local builders, including Potter Construction
May 20, 2017 4:42 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news


(Photos courtesy Potter Construction)

4:42 PM: Today was a special work day for crews from some members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties – the annual Ramp-A-Thon, donating time to build mobiity ramps for residents in need. Among this year’s participants, longtime WSB sponsor Potter Construction.

The Potter crew built a ramp for a resident in Burien.

Around the region, since Ramp-A-Thon began in 1993, the association says, participants have built more than 440 ramps, with $1.7 million in in-kind donations.

ADDED 8:17 PM: The Master Builders Association shared a photo, from the one Ramp-A-Thon site today that was in West Seattle:

The company that built this ramp is Bellevue-based JM Riley.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CUP: Battle of undefeateds – Denny and Madison
May 20, 2017 3:41 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CUP: Battle of undefeateds – Denny and Madison
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Congratulations to the Denny International Middle School Dolphins for winning this year’s West Seattle Cup – the report and photos are from Denny principal Jeff Clark:

There is some great middle-school boys’ soccer being played in West Seattle this year! Going into today’s West Seattle Cup match, which is sponsored by the West Seattle Soccer Club, Denny and Madison were the two top teams in the city — neither team had lost a game previously.

The trophy has been at Madison this past year, but now is going back to Denny after the Dolphins came out on top with a 6 to 1 victory today.

Both teams have a lot to be proud of this season and will probably meet again in the playoffs. Thank you to the West Seattle Soccer Club for your support. Great job to all of the players and coaches at both schools!

Share This

Also from the ‘in case you wondered’ file: Short-lived rescue response @ Alki
May 20, 2017 2:04 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

In case you wondered about the water-rescue response at Alki about an hour ago – Christopher Boffoli checked it out for WSB. The original call was a report that a small boat with one person in it was taking on water.

But the boat and its operator made it to the beach OK, unassisted, and Christopher reports it was headed back out as the call closed.

Share This