West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
You’ve been hearing that stormier weather is on the way: Tomorrow (Wednesday), the National Weather Service has a “wind advisory” in effect for our area, 11 am-11 pm. What that means:
*WIND…Southeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 mph. …
*TIMING…Winds will increase early Wednesday afternoon and peak during the evening commute.
Heavy rain is likely tomorrow night too, and power outages are possible, so keep everything charged!
6:15 PM: Two issues related to the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) are being presented for your comments at an open-house-style meeting under way until 7:30 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW). We’ve already counted more than 60 people in the main room, checking out the easels set up for proposed changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan – here’s our preview on that issue – and for potential rule changes regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (“backyard cottages” being the best-known type) – here’s our preview on that. We checked and they’re still planning on a presentation at 6:30 on a screen at the front of the room, although otherwise this is NOT a sit-and-listen type meeting.
6:25 PM: On the “comprehensive plan amendment” side, the Q&A/comment stations deal with specific urban villages where, as noted in our preview, the city is seeking to eliminate neighborhood-plan-related language that seeks to “protect” or “preserve” single-family zoning, which HALA’s Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning would be removing from urban villages. Three West Seattle urban villages are potentially affected here – Morgan Junction, West Seattle Junction, and Westwood-Highland Park.
You’ll have opportunities to comment online – we’ll add those when the meeting’s over – but while here, you are also offered the chance to write yours on paper; one attendee from Morgan Junction showed us his. He’s worried about ongoing displacement of low-income renters in the older housing stock that already is being torn down and replaced by new for-sale residences.
6:50 PM: The presentation is over – about 10 minutes on the comprehensive plan component, five on the accessory-dwelling-unit component. (We recorded it all on video and will add to this report when we have it uploaded and processed later at HQ. Full unedited video below:)
Both were basically primers; there was no Q&A, and the only bit of impromptu feedback came when, in the comp-plan section, city senior planner Geoff Wentlandt (opening by thanking people for turning out for “complex and wonky” topics) said amendments were needed because neighborhood plans shouldn’t be inconsistent with overarching city policy.
“Why not?” someone called out. No reply. Meantime, in one possible sign that the turnout exceeded expectations, the sparkling water bottles are all empty already. The sandwiches, however (chicken and tofu, described as “from a banh mi place on Delridge”), are still abundantly available.
7:08 PM: Still about 30 people talking in small groups, but the crowd definitely thinned after the presentation.
8:10 PM: Back at HQ. Had some signal trouble toward the end, so catching up on images now. First and most importantly, here’s how you can comment on both these issues, regardless of whether you were able to get to tonight’s meeting:
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS: Choose your urban village and comment via this site, by December 8th.
ADU/DADU ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SCOPING: This phase of comments closes on November 1st; there’s an online comment form linked on the right side of this page (scroll down the left side for the full timeline).
(WSB photos)
4:20 PM: Thanks for the texts – we’re on our way to check out a police response near Fauntleroy Park. Checking with Seattle Police media relations in the meantime, this apparently started as a report of a possible burglary at a home on the north side of the park, along Barton. More to come.
4:27 PM: Police are outside a house on the south side of Barton at Director.
They think a burglar might be inside, so they are using a bullhorn to tell anyone inside to come out before they send a K-9 in to search.
4:41 PM: The K-9 has gone in and come out.
4:47 PM: The house is empty but police found a hole in the fence. Now the Guardian One helicopter is flying around the area looking for any signs of a possible burglar at large.
5:40 PM: The helicopter has long since departed after doing what it could; no word of an arrest yet but last we heard, police in the Fauntleroy area were still on the lookout.
8:18 PM: We checked with SW Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting; no arrest. The K-9 tried tracking from the hole in the fence that might have been used for entry/exit but couldn’t pick up a trail.
After an Admiral woman was stabbed last week while walking with her baby on 41st SW, many people asked how the community could help with her recovery. Now, there’s a way. This afternoon, friends of the victim launched a crowdfunding page for Sarah Hanson and her family, and just shared the link with us so we could share it with you. While she is home from the hospital, as we reported in last week’s ongoing coverage of the attack and the ensuing arrest, her friends explain that she has a long road to recovery:
She is suffering from a number of knife wounds to her head and face that required many stitches and two damaged tendons in her left hand that will take 12 weeks of healing and physical therapy until she can use it again.
Besides trying to recover physically and emotionally from this terrifying and traumatic experience, her left arm and hand are completely bandaged and unusable, leaving her unable to pick up her wiggly baby and do independently many of the things for him that he needs during the course of each day (picking up, diapering, nursing, dressing, buckling into carseat, and getting to her physical therapy appointments with him in tow). In short, she needs someone with her all the time so she can care for him.
We are raising funds to help cover costs for professional helpers that will be with her every weekday for the 10 weeks after her husband and mom return to work, voice-activation software so she can continue her work at home without the use of her left hand, extra meal deliveries beyond what friends are bringing, and a little extra to cover unexpected costs.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Meantime, the woman charged with assault for attacking Sarah and threatening a man who tried to help remains in jail, her bail set at $400,000, awaiting arraignment next week.
Tomorrow, King County Elections will send out the general-election ballots. One day later, you have the only scheduled chance to see the six candidates for City Council and Mayor at one public West Seattle event: Thursday night’s forum co-presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and West Seattle Transportation Coalition.
Doors open at 6:30 at American Legion Post 160; at 7 pm, you’ll hear from City Council Position 8 candidates Teresa Mosqueda and Jon Grant; at 7:35 pm, you’ll hear from City Council Position 9 candidates Lorena González and Pat Murakami; at 8:10 pm, you’ll hear from the candidates for mayor, Cary Moon and Jenny Durkan. Here’s the planned format:
Each segment will begin with a two-minute opening statement by each candidate, followed by a series of questions centered on concerns of the West Seattle small-business and transportation community. We will conclude each segment with a one-minute closing statement.
Post 160 is at 3618 SW Alaska.
Emily sent the photo of another stop sign that was in place by Monday morning (we checked this morning – still there) facing westbound Admiral Way, about half a block east of 59th, “adding to the confusion,” as she put it, because: “It doesn’t say ‘stop ahead,’ just stop. Which watching a couple cars as we were walking by, (they) didn’t quite seem to know what to do about it.” This is the same intersection we first told you about a week ago, where parents from nearby Alki Elementary School say the conversion to an all-way stop has made things more dangerous rather than safer. As noted in our first followup, SDOT said it would make some changes while continuing to evaluate the intersection until March, but they didn’t mention adding a mid-block stop sign.
(Belted kingfisher, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
HOUSING FAIR: Seniors looking for information about housing options can find it Under way until 12:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT: Neighborhood House High Point has visitors from Seattle Children’s Theatre for today’s 10:30-11:30 am preschool-enrichment program – a story drama workshop: “If you’ve ever wished you could go inside a storybook, then Story Drama is perfect for you. Together, we will read a different book and explore elements of the story through acting, art, and interactive, multi-sensory props. Experience the excitement of drama and working as an ensemble while actively enjoying the best in children’s literature.” Geared toward ages 3-5 but all kids welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
HALA ‘OPEN HOUSE’ – COMPREHENSIVE PLAN & ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: 6 pm-7:30 pm, open house before and after a 6:30 presentation, at High Point Community Center. We’ve previewed both elements of this event:
–Comprehensive Plan Amendments – focused on the West Seattle Junction, Westwood-Highland Park, and Morgan Junction urban villages – here’s our preview
–Accessory Dwelling Units – your opinion is sought here no matter where you live, as it’s a citywide policy – here’s our preview
(6920 34th SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct. Tonight’s focus is on local crime trends and neighborhood concerns – Seattle Police will be there to listen to yours. (2300 SW Webster)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library – bring your kid(s) of all ages. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: 8-11 pm, South Sound Tug & Barge: “West Seattle’s favorite power folk/punk/blues/gospel/bluegrass trio.” 21+. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Added: WSB photo)
9:33 AM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a possible apartment fire in the 9000 block of 9th SW [map]. More to come.
9:44 AM: Still waiting to hear from our crew but the SFD log shows most units responding to this have been canceled.
9:47 AM: It was a small kitchen fire. No injuries reported.
Two and a half months after West Seattle Helpline announced its search for new leadership, the search is over. Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Helpline, a nonprofit social-service agency offering emergency assistance for our West Seattle and White Center neighbors, is pleased to welcome Erin Dury Moore as the new Executive Director. Erin comes to the Helpline with 10 years’ nonprofit experience in fundraising, strategic planning, community development, management, and working with underserved individuals and families from diverse backgrounds.
Most recently, she was the founder of Heartwood Solutions, a Seattle-based nonprofit consulting firm, and prior to moving to Seattle, served as Executive Director for Oregon’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs. Erin earned her Masters of Nonprofit Management at the University of Oregon in 2013, where she also completed her BA in Women and Gender Studies.
“The Board, staff, and I are so looking forward to Erin joining our organization! She brings great attitude and energy, experience and passion for our mission to the team. We believe she is going to have a great impact on West Seattle families in need,” said Nick Naubert, President of West Seattle Helpline’s Board of Directors.
Come meet Erin in person at West Seattle Helpline’s annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors dinner and live auction on November 3rd, from 6-9 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
You can get your ticket(s) by going here.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning. Northbound I-5 is today’s trouble spot so far – a crash near the Convention Center has led to a long backup.
7:17 AM: The I-5 scene has cleared but the backup will persist.
7:48 AM: Next commute challenge – serious rain. This is the first – but not worst – wave of storminess headed this way through Thursday.
8:02 AM: Commenters say it’s a slog out there so if you haven’t left yet – be ready for slow going.
8:29 AM: The backup is affecting pretty much all routes to the bridge, per commenters and all the sources we watch. The National Weather Service, meanwhile, says it’ll be rainy for at least the next three or four hours.
8:35 AM: Metro has just acknowledged the sluggishness by sending this via text and Twitter:
Transit Alert – Expect service delays on rts 21, 22, 37, 50, 55, 56, 57, 116, 118, 119, 120, 125 & C Line operating EB on the W Sea Bridge.
— King County Metro 🚌 (@kcmetrobus) October 17, 2017
9:41 AM: Trouble on the Fauntleroy end of the westbound bridge.
10:01 AM: Crash at 35th/Morgan – avoid that intersection for a while. (added) Metro has sent an alert that the crash might affect Routes 21 and 128.
| 4 COMMENTS