West Seattle, Washington
06 Friday
(WSB photo, looking west across the intersection at midday today)
As you know if you (a) went through the area today and/or (b) read our morning traffic coverage, the 59th/Admiral all-way stop is now in place: The signs are installed, and what was a pedestrian-activated signal is now flashing red. SDOT had told us that the work would be done “Monday or Tuesday” of this week. We had been checking morning and afternoon both days – no sign of crews. Then, we learned from two neighbors, SDOT showed up to do the work late last night, and was still on the scene, with loud equipment, past midnight. So we asked SDOT spokesperson Dawn Schellenberg why the work was done at that hour. “Because of the large volume of transportation projects being installed and the importance of meeting Levy to Move Seattle commitments, SDOT crews are currently working day and night shifts,” she replied.
Did night work mean overtime? “Overtime was not used for this project.”
Schellenberg acknowledged that advance notice to neighbors of nighttime work would have been a good thing. Since more work is coming up on other intersections along Admiral Way west of California (as announced two months ago), we asked about the plans for that work:
We’re finalizing designs at the other intersections and will issue work orders in the next few weeks. I don’t yet have information on schedule, or time of day. Agreed, public notice of night-time work would be good. I’ll try and keep apprised of our plans and update adjacent residents as appropriate.
This is all followup to the Admiral Way Safety Project that rechannelized the western stretch last year. Other work in the area included a few blocks of repaving two weeks ago, following continued complaints about the road’s condition.
Put the “labor” in your Labor Day weekend – before you get down to relaxing – and join the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup this Saturday. 9 am-noon (and if you can’t devote all that time, give what you can), with coffee and treats before, sack lunch after, meeting at Metropolitan Market (41st/42nd/Admiral; WSB sponsor). Just show up – tools and bags provided – all ages welcome.
6:15 PM: Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
DUMPED TOOLS: Know anyone who’s had carpet-laying tools stolen? Dan sent the photo:
They were found “on the median strip of SW Alaska St. between 46th and 45th Ave SW.”
RYAN COX CASE UPDATE: For the second time in three days, we went to the King County Courthouse this morning, where Gatewood stabbing suspect Ryan Cox was scheduled to be arraigned – to enter a plea to the charge of second-degree assault filed days after the August 8th attack. And again, the morning calendar ended after two and a half hours without his appearance – he again “declined to appear,” according to the document filed at midday saying the hearing is now rescheduled to 8:30 am tomorrow. We asked King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe what happens if this continues. “We always argue that a defendant needs to be present in court for arraignment. Arraignment will eventually be completed. The Court can also issue an order allowing the jail to use reasonable efforts to bring a defendant to court.” (For the record, at least one other defendant on the morning calendar was described in court as declining to appear.)
CAR PROWL – ADDED 6:40 PM: One more reader report, just received from Ayla:
My car just got broken into last night that is parked right in my driveway on 17TH AVE SW! :( It was completely rummaged through — everything in the console and glove compartment pulled out onto the seat. They took my Apple desktop that I just bought from Employee sale. It was covered on the back seat and since it was heavy, I was waiting for my son to come home to carry it inside the house. They also took my makeup bag, sunglasses, and some groceries.
Such a low life and horrible heart! They must have needed it so bad for their drug money!I have to work overtime to purchase this computer! If they could go out and steal, why not use that energy to work for a guaranteed money? Why waste time and make other people’s life miserable! These thieves are heartless! They do not have values, morals, and discipline. I hope they catch these prowlers soon!
(Map from Sound Transit’s “system expansion” website)
West Seattle’s branch of Sound Transit light rail is still an estimated 13 years away, and major planning is a ways off too. But the West Seattle Transportation Coalition saw no wisdom in waiting, and organized a June workshop to collect early community ideas and feedback (here’s our as-it-happened coverage).
Today, WSTC sent Sound Transit its wrapup of what participants said, as well as documents with community comments collected in connection with the event.
Here’s the summary they sent, followed by the community-comment collections:
Dear Sound Transit Board Members:
The West Seattle Transportation Coalition (WSTC) sponsored and conducted a peninsula-wide, public workshop on June 22, 2017, to inform the community and gather their input on the ST3 light rail proposal for service to West Seattle.
Following an introduction on light rail by Tom Linde, P.E., and supported by traffic engineers Larry Wymer and Mark Jacobs, the WSTC shared the representational ST3 alignment for West Seattle, as shown in Sound Transit’s documents dated July 19, 2016 (C-03a2, Downtown to West Seattle Elevated, Rev. 1, Sheets 1-5), including station areas at Delridge, Avalon, and the West Seattle Junction. Workshop attendees were asked to complete a comment card and answer survey questions. The comments are attached.
In general, attendees expressed the following preferences:
*Run the rail line underground through the West Seattle Golf Course, and into The Junction—the central, historic West Seattle business district,
*Include a Park & Ride and a bicycle garage at each station
*Conduct more community meetings to gather public input,
*Regular Sound Transit must provide timely reports on options, decisions, and progress toward implementation
*Sound Transit and other transportation agencies are strongly encouraged to examine less expensive options that are not slope-challenged, and can be delivered faster, such as aerial tramway, app-centered van pools, and driverless vehicle systems.
To arrive at their results, WSTC workshop organizers and attendees identified several factors that they want taken into account, including: Read More
Story by Tracy Record
Photos and video by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
Anger flared at times as a standing-room-only crowd filled the South Park Neighborhood Center last night to hear from, and talk with, city reps who declared themselves committed to community safety.
The meeting was requested by community members weary of dealing with issues from gunfire to garbage to squatters, and suggesting a “disconnect” between city words and community reality.
We recorded it all on video, which you can watch, unedited, below:
“I understand your issues well,” said Kathy Nyland, Department of Neighborhoods director – and Georgetown resident – opening and facilitating the meeting.
She thanked the crowd for its patience while the city got the meeting organized.
City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, whose district includes South Park, said its issues have been at the forefront since she took office but it’s clear “I need to do more. … It takes a lot of vigilance to address issues in this community and other communities that are difficult and complex.”
Trouble with the Washington State Ferries vessel M/V Hyak on the Bremerton run is leading to changes that will, in a domino effect, put the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route on a 2-boat schedule starting tomorrow. WSF published this announcement with full details. WSF says this could last up to two weeks.
(UPDATED THURSDAY NIGHT with garage-sale dates/times, Saturday and Sunday 10-4)
By Linda Ball
Reporting for West Seattle Blog & White Center Now
Case Justham says he doesn’t sleep very well, so he stays up and reads cookbooks all night. His mom Linda Justham says her son looks at the science of food, down to the molecular properties of a dish. Case is quick to point out that he’s not a scientist, but he likes to try non-traditional cooking methods.
Case (photo at right), a self-taught chef, is presently the sous chef and butcher at The Swinery in West Seattle. With mom Linda, sister Piper Carscadden, brother Drew Justham, and wife Amy Justham, they are partnering to open the family’s first restaurant, Brass Knuckle Bistro in White Center. Case will be the chef, Carscadden will work the front end and social media and Linda will do the books, eventually turning them over to Carscadden. The others will be mostly silent partners, although Drew has extensive front-end experience and will probably be present in the first few weeks.
The entire family lives in West Seattle but they chose what was until three months ago the location of 3.14 Bakery at 9602 16th SW, just south of Roxbury, for the bistro (and are having a “garage sale” there later this week Saturday and Sunday – more on that below).
(Bewick’s Wren, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Midweek highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WADING POOL AND SPRAYPARK: The only West Seattle wading pool still open for the season is Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way); it’s open 11 am-8 pm today, as is Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), both open daily through Labor Day.
TINKERLAB GIZMOS & GADGETS: One last Wednesday-afternoon session before summer break is over, drop-in fun with STEM-based crafts at Delridge Library, 1-3 pm. All welcome. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
SAFETY WORKSHOP: Seattle Neighborhood Group presents this free workshop at Delridge Library, 3:30 pm: “Keeping Your Property Safe and Crime Free.” Organizers say, “This is a FREE workshop designed for property managers, landlords, and anyone else that is interested in building safer communities. We’ll discuss how to identify and prevent illegal activities at your property, tips for effective Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), how to create excellent rental agreements, and how to work with residents to make your property a great place to live!” (5423 Delridge Way SW)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN: Summer growing season is still going strong. Today’s your next chance to buy produce steps away from where it was grown, 4-7 pm at the weekly High Point Market Garden Farm Stand. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
GROUP RUN: 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), tonight’s group run is sponsored by the upcoming Snohomish River Run – details in our calendar listing. All runners welcome! (2743 California SW)
DELRIDGE GROCERY CO-OP TOWN HALL: 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, as previewed in our latest progress report on the volunteer group that has long worked to bring a co-op grocery store to Delridge – hear what the market study showed, how you can help, and what’s next. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: SUP (Sonic Unity Project), 8-11 pm. Jam improv featuring RL Heyer (guitar), Brad Gibson (drums), and special guests. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP … by checking our complete calendar!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:35 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
59TH/ADMIRAL ALL-WAY STOP: Last week, we reported that SDOT planned to make the 59th/Admiral change “Monday or Tuesday” of this week. We’ve been checking, and hadn’t seen any work by late Tuesday afternoon. Now we’ve learned crews were working at the intersection late last night. We plan to follow up with a firsthand look in the next hour or so, but in the meantime, if you travel through there, heads-up.
6:54 AM: Still no incidents in the area. One more heads-up – you might see school buses out in force today and tomorrow; a local driver tells us they’ll be practicing their routes, one week in advance of the start of classes at Seattle Public Schools.
7:11 AM: Still incident-free – and cloudy. Meantime, in case you missed it Tuesday evening – the new crosswalk that’s been years in the planning on the west side of Alaska/Fauntleroy/39th is now open.
7:56 AM: Just crossed the bridge, headed toward downtown to cover a court hearing. Aside from a little slowing toward the crest (we enter the bridge from Fauntleroy Way), fairly fast-moving, and 15 minutes after leaving HQ, we’re already on 4th Avenue. One right-lane closure on 4th for the paving project, a bit north of the bridge, and more lane-narrowing near Walker, but no backup.
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