West Seattle, Washington
27 Thursday
Toplines from tonight’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting:
HALA REZONING: The draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mandatory Housing Affordability component of the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda is expected to be published Thursday. That’s what WWRHAH heard tonight from Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker, who was on the original city-appointed HALA focus group and has been helping educate other community advocates about land-use issues including this one. With the draft EIS coming out this week, the comment period will continue into late June. She was asked if there’s talk of a District 1-wide response to HALA MHA, but so far individual groups are pursuing individual responses related to how it might affect their neighborhoods – MoCA for example is pursuing a comprehensive-plan amendment and is asking the city to engage in a full neighborhood-planning process, given the conflicts between MHA and the MJ neighborhood plan.
ROXHILL BOG: WWRHAH continues trying to get the city to address hydrology issues that have compromised the bog. Rory Denovan wrote to Seattle Parks but said the response so far wasn’t helpful. Meantime, a celebration of Roxhill Bog is planned 11 am-3 pm June 17th, with information and activities.
ROXBURY RECHANNELIZATION: As reported here earlier in the day, SDOT is floating further rechannelization options for SW Roxbury in connection with the 2019-or-so repaving between 16th SW and 35th SW. WWRHAH is concerned about the possibility that most of the center turn lane will be removed. They’re considering asking SDOT for data on the lane’s usage.
CRIME TRENDS: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith said car prowls in the WWRHAH-covered area are down by about 50 percent from this time last year. Residential burglaries are down too. Shoplifting is up, and that figures heavily into stats for the area, because of Westwood Village.
WHAT’S NEXT: While WWRHAH won’t have its regular first-Tuesday meeting in July, since that’s Independence Day this year, they’ll likely have a special meeting just before or after that to talk about a response to the forthcoming HALA draft EIS.
Thanks to the Smiths for sending photos of this new “temporary art installation” in the park outside Delridge Community Center. The sign says it’s the work of local artist Yeggy Michael, part of the city’s Arts in Parks program, and that you’re invited to contribute your story:
These maps are part of it:
We’ll be checking to find out how long it’ll be on display – the Smiths believe it just went up in the past day or so.
ADDED: We’re told it will be there until July 20th, and after that, your next chance to see it is at the Arts in Nature Festival August 26-27.
8:27 PM: Thanks for the texts and photos – we started the day with a humpback whale sighting report and 14 hours later, we’re getting more reports, with the whale reportedly in view right now off Alki, around 63rd SW. The photo above, with the whale’s fluke in view, was texted earlier this evening. With the night’s community meetings over, we’re off to see if we can finally get a firsthand glimpse ourselves!
Sunset whale-watching on Alki. pic.twitter.com/wjXCuxNCNL
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 7, 2017
9:13 PM No firsthand whale sightings but we did find Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail – she said two humpbacks had been swimming back and forth but just swam out of view.
10:43 PM: Adding the photos above and below, from Kersti Muul, who watched the two humpbacks through the day – the photos are from the Me-Kwa-Mooks area.
Kersti says it was a “great day for shore-based whale watching!”
ADDED 6:40 AM WEDNESDAY: Jim and Vanessa both report at least one humpback back in view this morning, off Alki and Beach Drive. More later!
If someone in your household is 18 or younger and rides transit – they’re eligible for a deal this summer – 50-cent Metro bus rides, $1 Sound Transit bus/train rides – by using ORCA Youth cards. The cards will be provided for free, too, instead of the usual $5 charge. The reduced fares will be available June 17th through Labor Day – here’s today’s announcement. Need a card? Order it online, go to Metro’s customer-service office downtown (address is here), or look for Orca To Go events (though we’re not seeing any West Seattle events listed right now).
In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
SEARCHING FOR HIT-RUN VEHICLE: Southwest Precinct police are asking for your help in finding a hit-run vehicle:
It hit a car on 46th near Lincoln Park and drove away north on 46th.
It will have significant damage to the right front and will be missing the rear bumper. We think it’s an older dark gray Toyota sedan. Possibly a Camry or Corolla.
The (victim)’s car, a new VW Passat, is probably totaled. Any leads would be appreciated.
Sgt. Joe Bauer says the crash happened around noon Sunday; if you have any information, e-mail him at Joseph.Bauer@seattle.gov or call the SPD non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.
CAR BREAK-IN: From Kerry:
Our car was prowled last night at 110th and 36th Ave SW in Arbor Heights. We foolishly left it unlocked, and the jerk sat in it to smoke a cigarette before stealing two bags full of sports stuff:
– An orange OR brand bag full of old sports stuff – mitts, frisbees, games
– A West Seattle Soccer Club bag full of my husband’s coaching gear (LAME)
They did not take the bag that was destined for Goodwill.
If anyone sees this stuff dumped anywhere, please post in comments!
PROWLING SUSPECT CHARGED: We reported last week on the arrest of a car-prowling suspect in Fauntlee Hills early Wednesday, and his release on Thursday. Turns out the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did file a charge against him on Friday. The suspect is 37-year-old William J. Kim, a West Seattle resident. He is charged with felony second-degree vehicle prowling, though the only thing missing from the victim’s car was about $5 in change; the felony charge is merited, court documents explain, by the fact he was convicted of the same crime at least two times previously. He remains out of jail; a summons for him to appear in court was issued with the charge, rather than an arrest warrant.
West Seattle Summer Fest 2017 (with sponsors including WSB) is just five and a half weeks away, July 14-15-16. Two notes today:
VOLUNTEERS: West Seattle’s biggest party of the year needs volunteer power! If you can help – an orientation event is planned tomorrow night, 6 pm at the West Seattle Junction Association offices (4210 SW Oregon, above Shadowland). What kind of volunteer help is needed? WSJA’s Lora Swift replies, “The Summer Fest opportunities range from pre-festival activities like the SF street team – placing posters around West Seattle. I’m also looking for people who would like to write some content about the festival and bands. Maybe do some interviews. Before the festival, we’ll need help setting up. During we’ll need volunteers in the kids zone, info booth, sponsorship stewards. All kind of soft serve jobs, I want to make this a fun experience for the people who are giving their time.” You can sign up by going here.
BAND-LINEUP POSTER: We brought you first word of the Summer Fest band lineup back on May 17th. Today, WSJA is out with the official poster:
Here’s a YouTube playlist so you can get into the mood!
If you’re headed southbound on California SW between The Junction and Morgan Junction, be aware that RapidRide C-Line bus is blocking the lane just south of Findlay – and might be for some time longer. Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) across the street sent the photo and tells us the bus was having audible engine trouble and is awaiting a tow. Getting around it requires center-turn-lane use.
2:08 PM: The bus is gone.
If you didn’t go to the SDOT open house about the as-soon-as-2019 SW Roxbury repaving project, you might not know the city’s also proposing more channelization changes (as they’re also doing with the SW Avalon project). This Friday (June 9th) is the deadline to take the newest survey and tell them what you think of the proposed options.
Here’s the overview of how the roadway is configured now in the repaving zone, between 35th SW and 16th SW:
Here’s the overview of the Option 1 proposal:
Here’s the overview of the Option 2 proposal:
The “boards” from the open house also break down the two options, and current configuration, into five detailed cross-sections you can scroll through below (or see here as PDF):
The survey asking you whether you prefer existing configuration, Option 1, or Option 2, is here. You’ll have to click through several pages to get to that point – and also note the question about a “family-friendly bike route” that would NOT be on Roxbury. SDOT is looking for survey responses by this Friday.
FIRST REPORT, 11:38 AM: Yesterday we reported on the big police response along southbound Highway 509 (shown in our clip above) as officers investigated the death of a 25-year-old man in the unsanctioned encampment on the slope between the highway and Myers Way. This morning, an update from Seattle Police:
As part of Monday’s investigation, SPD Homicide detectives determined an assault had occurred within the encampment. Police arrested a 43-year-old man for investigation of homicide and booked him into the King County Jail.
The suspect has a fairly lengthy criminal record, according to state online files; the felony cases are mostly drug-related. As it turns out that he was booked last night, he’s likely to have a bail hearing today, which means we may have more information later about what police believe happened.
5:08 PM UPDATE: Prosecutors say the suspect waived the right to appear at his bail hearing; he’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail. The document prepared for the judge says that when emergency responders to the site got there yesterday, the victim “appeared to have traumatic injuries to the head.” Tips from witnesses at the scene led police to the suspect, who was taken downtown to be interviewed. The probable-cause documents say he told police he and another man hit the victim with a baseball bat; witnesses gave differing stories of what they saw.
ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Dillon P. Graham, and the cause of death as “blunt force” head injury, ruled to be homicide. The suspect remains in jail.
(Anna’s Hummingbird, photographed by Mark Ahlness and shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s some of what’s ahead today/tonight:
ALL-METRO LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME: 3:30 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex – come cheer for local high-school-baseball standouts! (2801 SW Thistle)
TRIANGLE IMPROVEMENT TASK FORCE: 4:30-7 pm, the citizens’ committee working on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route challenges has its next meeting in the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church, with a report planned on the recent four-day experiment in changing tollbooth procedures at Fauntleroy. All welcome. (9140 California SW)
DREAM DINNERS OPEN HOUSE: As previewed here last night, two sessions tonight offer you the chance to make three dinners for a discount, plus sample some of what Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) has to offer. E-mail or phone (info’s in the preview) to see if slots are left at 5 or 6:30.
WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 6:15 pm at Southwest Library. The meeting is scheduled to include a chance to vote in-person on the Your Voice, Your Choice projects (more info in this WSB story). (35th SW/SW Henderson)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: Monthly meeting, 6:30 pm at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. (41st SW/SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB: 7 pm meeting at West Seattle High School, all welcome to come find out how this community group is working to help WSHS athletes. (3000 California SW)
JARED MITCHELL & THE WING TIPS: 8-11 pm, pop-py Americana music at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
That’s a scene that one local teacher hopes to see outside the classroom this summer. And she needs your help. Here’s the announcement:
Roxhill Elementary teacher Neysa Turner aims to keep kids reading this summer. Students need continuous exposure to high-quality books to accelerate growth and continue reaching for new adventures in life and literature. We are looking for book donations to build a mobile lending library for K-12 South Sound students.
Book donations can be dropped off at the following locations:
1. Roxhill Elementary: 9430 30th Ave SW, M-F 7:30 am-3 pm
2. Also at local business Flourish Beauty Salon and Spa, 5962 Fauntleroy Way SW, M-F 10 am- 7 pm; Sat-Sun 10 am- 4 pm
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:33 AM: Another routine morning, so far. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
STADIUM ZONE WATCH: Mariners open another homestand tonight, vs. Minnesota, 7:10 pm.
8:23 AM Headed to check out reports of a backup on Highland Park Way hill, reportedly lane closures on West Marginal but no SDOT alert.
8:52 AM: Our crew says it was an SDOT crew painting at the West Marginal/HP Way intersection. They looked to be wrapping up.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:53 AM: Andrew reports a humpback off Alki this morning – spotted near 57th SW [map], “and it looked like it was heading toward the Bay.” One was seen off Fauntleroy Monday morning and evening, as reported here (with video added last night).
6:26 PM: See comments for other later sightings – and right now we have e-mail of a sighting northbound off Beach Drive, Cormorant Cove most recently.
Making note again this early morning of multiple reports to 911 of suspected gunfire, and we heard directly from one of the people who reported it. She said she heard it a few minutes before midnight, south of 13th/14th/Henderson. Other areas that were mentioned as police were dispatched included 9th/Roxbury, 800 block of SW Trenton, 9200 block of 12th. We haven’t heard whether evidence of gunfire was found.
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