West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
Another grab-and-run theft tops West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight:
PURSE STOLEN AT SALON: From Sue:
Tonight at approximately 6:30 pm, a male ran into this salon @ 35th Avenue [6500 block] and stole my purse. He ran out and got away in a black car. I am hoping to … have neighbors be on the lookout for a brown over-the=shoulder purse. I am sure they tossed it somewhere in West Seattle. It had everything card, gift card, credit card, library card, ID I have. I know the $$ is gone and they have tried to use my cards. I am hoping the rest was nothing to them and some good Samaritan finds some of my stuff.
Police incident # is 2018-038121.
BURGLARY: A resident in the 4500 block of Delridge Way SW called us this afternoon because her dog was missing after a break-in. We quickly published a notice on the Lost/Found Pets page, and her dog was found relatively quickly, but we thought you’d want to know about the break-in too. No details.
PROWLER: This one’s short on details too but FYI for Junction-area residents, Stephanie sent the brief clip from her boyfriend’s security system:
She says the prowler was recorded around 9:30 pm last night.
PACKAGE TAKEN: From Luke in Shorewood, who says this happened at 3:22 pm Tuesday:
Luke is in the 2600 block of SW 112th, so this is a King County Sheriff’s Office case. He adds, “He actually drove by 5 minutes before the theft while he was casing the neighborhood. Luckily FedEx is smart enough to leave packages out of sight in the carport, so the thief didn’t see those packages. USPS not so smart.”
That sign is on the corner of Fauntleroy and Trenton, which is now confirmed as part of the reroute for buses once SDOT starts its two weeks of work – announced Monday – closing the intersection of Fauntleroy/Wildwood, just south of the ferry terminal. Metro has now finalized the reroute plan for the C Line and Route 116 buses, and has published it here (PDF). The project replacing some of the road panels and adding a curb ramp is scheduled to start next Monday, lasting up to two weeks.
(WSB file photo – 38th/Fauntleroy, in the zone set for the now-on-hold project)
FIRST REPORT, 3:53 PM: Tonight, as we’ve been reporting, the Junction Neighborhood Organization has a Fauntleroy Boulevard project update on the agenda. This afternoon, we’ve learned it will be a MAJOR update: The project is on hold, because of concerns that have long been raised by some community members – including that it might conflict with Sound Transit‘s light-rail plan, leading to the same stretch of busy roadway being torn up twice. Just posted to the project webpage:
We’re putting construction of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project on hold.
… Based on community input and continued coordination with Sound Transit, we are putting construction of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project on hold. This decision responds to community concerns about prolonged construction and effective use of taxpayer dollars.
Sound Transit’s current proposed route for the voter-approved West Seattle Light Rail Extension includes an elevated rail line on Fauntleroy Way. If built after the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project, there is the possibility that Fauntleroy improvements would need to be removed and potentially rebuilt.
During our recent design outreach, we heard community concerns about dealing with major construction twice in such a short amount of time. The community also asked whether constructing the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project now, and potentially having elements of the project removed later, would be an effective use of public dollars. Our decision to put construction on hold will help to ensure that SDOT’s and Sound Transit’s plans for this stretch of Fauntleroy Way don’t conflict. We recognize West Seattle has multiple paving and transit priorities, and we will reallocate Fauntleroy Boulevard Project funds to address the community’s needs.
Sound Transit is still in the early stages of their design for light rail to West Seattle, and they anticipate choosing a preferred alignment by mid-2019. Last month, the City announced plans to work closely with Sound Transit over the next 18 months to identify a preferred route for the light rail tracks and stations to the West Seattle Junction.
The Fauntleroy Boulevard plan stemmed from a community-generated proposal dating back to the turn of the millennium. It proposed a rechannelization of Fauntleroy Way SW between SW Alaska and 35th SW, adding safety and multi-modal features, and stretches of landscaped median. It was idle for some years (concepts were explored in 2010) and then “re-activated” in 2016, with the final design announced last year. But as the Sound Transit West Seattle to Ballard planning phase ramped up recently, so did the questions and concerns about why millions would be spent on this stretch only to potentially see it torn up again a few years later (it’s in the draft alignment, and ST hopes to start construction as soon as 2025).
ADDED 6:09 PM: We asked City Councilmember Lisa Herbold for comment. Her reply:
We’re working to insure that if Sound Transit builds the representative alignment then Sound Transit will be responsible for rebuilding to project-level standards if they dig up the same portion of the street. If Sound Transit, on the other hand, chooses a different alignment and we move forward with the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project and SDOT determines that there are increased costs as a result of cost escalation due to the delay, then we’ll work to see that Sound Transit picks up those extra costs. Sound Transit won’t make final alignment decisions until late 2019, so in the meantime, we need to be working to prepare for a possible reallocation of levy dollars, based on what we have heard and will hear from the community about West Seattle’s transportation priorities. We don’t want to wait on Sound Transit to keep delivering levy improvements in West Seattle.
3:28 PM: Thanks for the tips – there’s a multiple-vehicle crash on the eastbound high bridge, where traffic from the Admiral (etc.) ramp merges. SFD is arriving on scene.
4:30 PM: SDOT says the scene is clear.
12:40 PM: Big police search under way in an industrial area in the south end of South Park right now after two people were shot in the 9200 block of 10th Avenue S. [map] According to radio communications, a suspect is believed to have fled in what’s described as a dark-colored Toyota Camry. Traffic is being blocked on some roads around the scene. Updates when we get them.
12:47 PM: According to radio communications, both victims are men, one in his 40s, one in his 20s, and both are being rushed to Harborview Medical Center by SFD medic units.
2:01 PM: We just talked with police at the scene. They believe one person shot both men, whose injuries are described as non-life-threatening. They don’t yet have a good description of the shooter but do hope to at least have more of a description of the getaway vehicle soon. No word on a motive, either; this is an industrial area in southwest South Park.
ADDED: Above is video of the briefing we covered at the scene, with SPD spokesperson Det. Patrick Michaud.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
What you see on the barge in our photo above are hundreds of creosote-treated pilings removed from the north end of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 in West Seattle. We reported back in October that the removal was about to begin, as explained in this document. This morning, the port invited news media to T-5 for an update.
So far, the port says, 2,300 pilings have been removed; back in 2000, the port had an estimated 18,000 of them, and with this and other removal operations, they are down to 8,000. As the port news release explains:
Creosote-treated pilings and timbers were used for more than 100 years throughout Puget Sound, as fundamental structural elements in marine cargo and transportation infrastructure. Present-day marine facility piers and docks have replaced creosote construction with inert steel and concrete pilings, and in many cases fender systems requiring no piling have been installed.
The show-and-tell today also included an underwater camera nicknamed Ringo, used in the removal operation:
This part of the cleanup operation also involves restoration of more than four acres of habitat. The importance of the continuing restoration and cleanup was underscored by James Rasmussen of the nonprofit Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition:
Port commissioner Fred Felleman, who has a decades-long background in marine conservation, spoke as well:
And state Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz was there.
The $6.8 million pilings-removal project has a state angle, as noted in our October report – this part of the cleanup was related to the termination of a state lease more than a decade ago.
Our October report also included details on exactly how the pilings were to be removed. They are to be barged up the Duwamish River to the Waste Management facility, from which they will be sent to the Columbia Ridge landfill in Oregon for permanent disposal.
(Another long-lens look at Uno the harbor seal, from David Hutchinson, who explains that the dark eye rings mean Uno is well-hydrated)
Highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TINKERLAB STEM CHALLENGE: Fun for all ages, free, at Southwest Library, 2:30-4 pm. (9010 35th SW)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. The agenda, from JuNO director Amanda Sawyer:
SDOT – Fauntleroy Way Boulevard – Presentation of the 100% design and project update.
Avalon Substation – Brandon Herman will present renderings of the Avalon Substation SF Zoned Lots leased to Pecos Pit to gain feedback from the community.
JuNO Land Use Committee – Christy Tobin-Presser will give an update regarding SCALE and JuNO’s legal challenge to the HALA/MHA Final Environmental Impact Statement.
HALA/MHA Discussion – Outside of legal challenge, what ideas are other Urban Villages evaluating to add density and affordable housing to their neighborhoods?
ST3 WS Light Rail – Next steps for community input. Introduction of Kevin Freitas, JuNO’s liaison between the community and Sound Transit. Presentation of Tomasz Biernacki’s renderings of elevated Light Rail and discussion of the future vision for the West Seattle Junction.
JuNO Volunteers Needed – Have great ideas for the WS Junction? Want to plan an event or be involved in applying for a neighborhood grant from Department of Neighborhoods? JuNO is looking for volunteer committee members and officers to create a more effective and inclusive neighborhood organization.
JuNO meetings are open to the public and all are welcome. Working together to make our West Seattle Junction and Triangle Neighborhoods a better place to work, live and play!
(4217 SW Oregon)
BASKETBALL: One home game tonight – the West Seattle High School girls, undefeated in conference play, host Cleveland, 7:30 pm. (3000 California SW)
THE BILLY JOE SHOW: This is a fifth Wednesday, and that means it’s The Billy Joe Show at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
TALARICO’S TRIVIA: Wednesday means the legendary trivia game with Phil Tavel at Talarico’s Pizzeria in The Junction, 8:30 pm. (4718 California SW)
AND THERE’S MORE … on our complete-calendar page!
(Photo courtesy Olympia Coffee)
We reported back on Monday that the long-awaited Olympia Coffee shop in West Seattle was close to opening and expecting to make an announcement soon. That arrived this morning, saying this is opening day:
Olympia Coffee Roasting Co announces today the opening of their new cafe at 3840 California Ave SW. Hours are Monday to Friday 6 am to 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday 7 am to 6 pm.
The neighborhood cafe is Olympia Coffee Roasting Co’s fourth location. However, it’s their first retail store in the city of Seattle.
Olympia Coffee Roasting Co’s award-winning Fair for All coffees will be brewed with La Marzocco Strada AV customized by legendary craftsman Jacob Elul-Blake with Pantechnicon Designs, Fetco Batch Brewed coffee, and pour-over options with Kalita Wave brewers.
Pastries are from The Bakehouse 55. Olympia Coffee will be The Bakehouse 55’s first customer in the city of Seattle. Their namesake 55 layers of butter and dough are born from a sourdough starter, adding a more complex delicious pairing with coffee.
Design and Construction by The Artisans Group with respect to Olympia Coffee’s brand and aesthetic. This is the third retail store that Olympia Coffee has constructed using all sustainably sourced materials working with Windfall Lumber.
Olympia Coffee’s location is in one of the live-work units at Rally, the townhouse complex at the site of the former Charlestown Café, also home to other businesses including Welcome Road Winery (WSB sponsor).
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:14 AM: Good morning! Too cloudy to see this morning’s eclipse – we looked. But right now, the brake lights and headlights are shining bright as usual on the roads, which do not have any incidents reported in/from West Seattle right now. Notes:
NO SCHOOL: Today is the “day between semesters” for Seattle Public Schools.
SCHOOL BUS STRIKE TOMORROW: As announced last night, First Student bus drivers (the company that provides yellow-bus service for Seattle Public Schools) will be on strike starting Thursday.
FAUNTLEROY/DIRECTOR STAIRWAY CLOSED: As reported yesterday (with info on other stairway projects ahead this year in West Seattle). And nearby …
FAUNTLEROY/WILDWOOD INTERSECTION CLOSING STARTING MONDAY: As announced two days ago. We are still waiting for reroute details for Metro, which may have them following a meeting today – we’ll publish an update when they’re out.
(WSB photos)
Right from the tipoff, it was a fast-moving faceoff Tuesday night for the boys-varsity teams of West Seattle High School and visiting Cleveland High School. The first minute alone contained two fouls and a jump ball. But the Eagles’ swarming defense and more-robust rebounding led them to the win, 66-53.
Cleveland forced WSHS into more outside shooting – the first Wildcat basket was a three-pointer, two minutes into the game, part of a short stretch in which the lead see-sawed before Cleveland started pulling further ahead toward the end of the first quarter. During the lead-swapping stretch, #2 Elijah Nnanabu had a memorable shot – a backhanded layup midway through the first quarter. He had nine points on the night:
9 was also the tally for #10 Roman Barnet, but the Wildcats’ top scorer was #5 Abdullahi Mohamed, with 13.
#23 Anthony Giomi had 8 for West Seattle, including two back-to-back baskets toward the game’s end, as the Wildcats worked on a comeback.
But throughout most of the game, the Eagles let little go unanswered, and kept up intense pressure, forcing turnovers they mostly managed to convert. The Wildcats’ fans, however, kept cheering them on – at one point as Cleveland built on their lead mid-second quarter, West Seattle battled for a basket and foul shot that led to big cheers as the Eagles’ lead was trimmed to 10. But Cleveland fought on and built to a 43-22 halftime lead.
Opening the second half, West Seattle kept pace, but wasn’t able to chip away at Cleveland’s edge, with the third quarter ending 57-38. The Wildcats’ fourth-quarter comeback started a few minutes too late.
Head coach Keffrey Fazio and his team are home again on Friday night for the final game of the regular season, vs. cross-town competitors Chief Sealth IHS (4 pm girls’ JV, 5:30 pm boys’ JV, 7 pm girls’ varsity, 8:30 pm boys’ varsity).
It’s the final week of the regular season for high-school basketball. The Chief Sealth International High School boys were on the road at Ballard HS tonight and left with the win, 65-41. Per the box score, Sadique Calloway led all scoring with 13 points, followed by Javaun Jones and Tyrell Moore with 10 each. Friday night, the Seahawks are at West Seattle High School to face the Wildcats (who played at home tonight – our coverage of that game is up next).
Announced tonight by Seattle Public Schools – bus drivers for First Student, with which the district contracts for yellow-bus service, are going on strike starting Thursday. SPS has no classes tomorrow because of the “day between semesters,” but school will be back in session Thursday regardless of transportation status. The drivers’ union, Teamsters Local 174, calls it an “unfair labor practice strike” and adds:
The drivers have been in ongoing negotiations with First Student over healthcare and retirement benefits since last summer. They participated in a one-day Unfair Labor Practice strike on November 29 after their employer unilaterally implemented an inferior healthcare plan that had not been negotiated with the Teamsters. This strike received a great deal of support from the Seattle community. Since then, First Student has not resolved any of the Unfair Labor Practices they had previously committed, including the unilateral implementation of the substandard healthcare plan.
The district has posted answers to frequently asked questions on this page. The union, meantime, says it will have “active picket lines” outside First Student bus yards in South Park and Lake City.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
ANOTHER COFFEE-SHOP THEFT: Al e-mailed today to say that “a young couple” grabbed his Nook device at 4 pm Saturday in the Junction Starbucks and “ran off.” He tried to chase them but couldn’t catch up. He filed a police report – if you have any information, it’s 2018-033043. (We just checked – the two 19-year-olds charged in a purse theft at the same Starbucks two weeks earlier are still in the King County Jail.)
ADMIRAL CAR PROWL: From Emily:
Someone broke into our car last night @ Hinds SW and 41st Ave SW. They were unsuccessful stealing the car but they did grab a bag that we had left on the back seat. I’d be grateful if you could ask the WSB readers to look out for the bag (gray duffel) or its contents (Garmont ski boots, SPL book “The Midnight Line,” and random clothes).
CAR PROWL: From Kari:
Just wanted to report that early Friday morning someone rummaged through and took the contents out of my glove box and placed them on the passenger seat. They stole a coin purse. I usually lock my car and must have forgotten that night. Make sure to lock your cars because after talking to other people in West Seattle, this seems to happen often. Near Charlestown and 50th.
From the agenda for tomorrow night’s Seattle School Board meeting: District staffers are expecting to need to add 26 portables at campuses around the city next year. The list shows some locations are yet to be determined – but one West Seattle school is on the list already, Madison Middle School.
As shown in that table from the agenda document, the district says it expects to need four portables for new classrooms next year at Madison, which is projected to add more than 100 additional students for 2018-2019. While that would bring the student population to just under Madison’s “right-size” capacity of 995, the district explains, “For secondary schools, classrooms are not utilized with the maximum number of students due to the class offerings and schedules. This could result in the need for additional classroom space although the enrollment is close to the right size capacity number.” The district document notes that at least some of the portables to be placed around the city will be repurposed from the former Schmitz Park Elementary School campus, which is just a few blocks west of Madison.
P.S. While the board is meeting at its usual time tomorrow (4:15 pm), SPS schools have no classes, because it’s the “day between semesters.”
As January comes to an end, tax-return season is about to start, and once again this year, you can get free help. Here’s the announcement:
Beginning February 1 and continuing through April 17, AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, celebrating its 50th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service. Since its inception, the program has served more than 50 million taxpayers.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide started in 1968 with just four volunteers working at one site. Today, nearly 35,000 volunteers serve low- to moderate-income taxpayers at 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers nationwide. There’s no fee, and AARP membership is not required. …
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure they know about and understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code. In 2017, the program’s volunteers helped 2.5 million people navigate complicated tax codes, ensure proper credits and deductions, and file their federal and state tax returns. Taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.37 billion in income tax refunds and more than $222 million in Earned Income Tax Credits. They also avoided any tax preparation fees and pitches for high-interest tax credit or refund loans.
Last year, 1,063 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 82,000 people file their federal and state tax returns. The program is offered at approximately 140 sites in Washington including senior centers, libraries, and other convenient locations.
To find an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site or more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp or call 888-AARPNOW (888-227-7669). AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS.
Three locations will be offering this program in West Seattle (we’re adding these to our calendar, too):
SOUTHWEST LIBRARY
9010 35TH AVE SW
Dates Open: 2/1/2018 – 4/17/2018
Site Schedule: Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 03:30 PM
Comments: Walk-ins welcome on a space available basis
Appointment: Appointment Required
Handicap Accessible: YesDELRIDGE LIBRARY
5423 DELRIDGE WAY SW
Dates Open: 2/1/2018 – 4/17/2018
Site Schedule: Mondays from 02:00 PM – 06:30 PM
Comments: Closed President’s Day 2/20
Appointment: Walk-ins Welcome
Handicap Accessible: YesWEST SEATTLE SENIOR CENTER
4217 SW OREGON ST
Dates Open: 2/1/2018 – 4/17/2018
Site Schedule: Thursdays from 9:00 AM – 03:30 PM; Fridays from 9:00 AM – 03:30 PM
Comments: Appointments Only. Call (206) 932-4044 for appointment
Appointment: Appointment Required
Handicap Accessible: Yes
12:24 PM: Discovered this morning that the stairway at SW Director Street/upper Fauntleroy Way, between the Fauntleroy fish-ladder viewpoint and northbound RapidRide C Line stop, is closed for SDOT work. Further research turned up this map, which reveals it’s one of four city-owned stairways on the list scheduled for work this year, along with:
-SW Hill St between 42nd Ave SW & California Ave SW
-SW Holly St & Beveridge Pl SW to 46th Ave SW
-California Ave SW & SW Willow St
We’re checking with SDOT to see how long the work is expected to last, and which West Seattle stairway project will be next up.
3:33 PM: SDOT’s Greg Funk has replied with the info:
-SW Director “just started” and could reopen February 19th if all goes well
-California/Willow is expected to start February 26th, “substantial completion” March 16th
-Hill/42nd is expected to start April 30th, “substantial completion” June 8th
-Holly/46th is expected to start June 11th, “substantial completion August 17th
“Substantial completion” means “stairway will have temporary handrail and (will be) opened to the public until our rail fabricators finish the install of new rail.”
Two other stairway projects will be in “design options” mode this year – SW Thistle (east of Lincoln Park) and Bonair SW.
Since the Alaskan Way Viaduct might close forever before this year is out, this might be one of your last chances for an up-close-and-personal look: Cascade Bicycle Club is including The Viaduct on its Emerald City Ride route this spring, and even if you’re not up for the full route, you can sign up for the 3-Mile SR 99 Viaduct Experience, “designed for families with children and beginning riders.” It’s not a race, so, the club explains, “You’ll be able to stop, look around, take a photo, and enjoy the view.” This is happening the morning of April 8th on the northbound Viaduct (so even if you’re not interested in the ride, note that it’ll be closed to motorized vehicles for a few hours). Registration just opened today, and you can find out more here.
(House finches, photographed in Gatewood by Jeremiah Holt)
This edition of what’s ahead (mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar) stretches into the early-morning hours, but first …
LOUISA BOREN STEM K-8 MIDDLE SCHOOL TOUR: 10:15 am-11:45 am, families of prospective middle-schoolers are invited to visit. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
SEATTLE AQUARIUM VISITS HIGH POINT: 10:30 am at Neighborhood House High Point, this week’s free enrichment program for preschool-age kids features the Seattle Aquarium on “Ocean Animals.” (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
DINE OUT TO HELP TWO SCHOOLS: 5-8 pm, a portion of the proceeds at Lil’ Woody’s, CTO, and Beer Star in White Center go to Sanislo Elementary and Louisa Boren STEM K-8. (9801 16th SW)
MUSIC WITH A VIEW: Justin Kausal-Hayes performs at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 5-8 pm. (1936 Harbor SW)
PATHFINDER SCHOOL ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: Interested in K-5 at Pathfinder? Tonight’s the open house for your family, 6:30 pm. (1901 SW Genesee)
FAMILY STORY TIME: Tonight you can bring the kids to Delridge Library at 7 pm. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
CALM DOWN: Meditation at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at 7 pm, followed by tea and discussion. Details in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
And because this will be happening long before our Wednesday list is published –
LUNAR ECLIPSE VERY EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING: If there’s a break in the clouds early Wednesday morning, we could get to see the total lunar eclipse. NASA.gov has details, with “best viewing” between 5 and 6 am – again, weather permitting!
Live and/or work in Fauntleroy? It’s survey time, as just announced by the Fauntleroy Community Association:
Every two years, the Fauntleroy Community Association (FCA) conducts a community survey to help us determine what topics, issues, and concerns are important to the residents of Fauntleroy. It helps the FCA prioritize and strategize, and gives us direct feedback about what matters to the community.
We want to hear what Fauntleroy residents currently think are the most important issues for the area. If you live in the Fauntleroy area, please take the survey (by going here).
It will only take a few minutes, and will help guide FCA’s efforts in the coming years.
If you don’t have time now – you can use our Share This link below to e-mail it to yourself for later (that’s also how you can share any WSB story, forum post, etc., in a variety of ways)!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this Tuesday morning.
WATER TAXI CHANGE: Spirit of Kingston is on the West Seattle Water Taxi run this morning because Doc Maynard was moved to the Vashon run – Sally Fox is out with technical trouble.
ROAD WORK ADVANCE ALERT: Announced Monday by SDOT – starting February 5th, Fauntleroy/Wildwood just south of the ferry dock will be closed for an estimated two weeks for work including pavement repair.
8:18 AM: SW Alaska is blocked just west of California, per SDOT.
8:21 AM: And it’s clear – a bus was being towed, per a commenter.
If you still don’t quite get what the proposed HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning plan is all about and what it would do – take some time to watch the video above, in which the City Council met for the first time as the Select Committee that will decide the plan’s fate. Monday morning’s meeting was largely devoted to a briefing presented by city staff, introduced by committee chair Councilmember Rob Johnson as “where we are and how we got here.” But it also included the toplines of what it’s hoped the upzoning would do – lead to the construction of hundreds more units of lower-priced housing in the city each year, by requiring developers to either include some in their projects or pay a certain fee to the city to fund them elsewhere.
As noted during the briefing, the council’s vote is at least six months away. And several councilmembers made it clear they are looking for lots more information: Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda asked for an overlay of publicly owned land that might be eligible for affordable housing. Councilmember Lorena González wanted to know more about affordable-housing projects already in the pipeline. Our area’s Councilmember Lisa Herbold voiced frustration that she doesn’t believe potential displacement has been adequately analyzed – there is lots of info about how many people are moving to Seattle, but not so much about how many are moving out, she noted.
During the staffers’ recap of the “engagement” efforts over the past year-plus, Herbold also brought up concerns she had heard about “missteps along the way.” She mentioned “several” events at which people walked away with concerns from changes to neighborhood plans, a lack of clarity about the MHA plan including zoning changes, and/or confusion over what upzoning would allow. And she pointed out that “Some of the promotional materials … did not give the impression” that big changes were being contemplated. She also said she’s being asked about councilmembers potentially developing “companion resolutions” that might address the plan district by district and said if that was happening, it needed to be discussed sooner rather than later. And she pointed out that while urban village rezoning in HALA MHA is presented as enabling more people to live closer to “good transit,” two urban villages without robust transit are in her district – Admiral and South Park.
After Monday’s briefing (which was followed by public comment you also can watch in the video), here’s what’s next:
OPEN HOUSES: The first district open house looking at the HALA MHA maps is tonight (Tuesday, January 30th) in District 4. The District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) open house isn’t until May 9th.
NEXT COUNCIL ‘SELECT COMMITTEE’ MEETING: February 12th.
APPEALS OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT: As reported previously, the process for the appeals of the HALA MHA Final Environmental Impact Statement, filed by neighborhood advocates from around the city, is proceeding in parallel. Next step is a pre-hearing conference on February 14th.
WILL YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BE AFFECTED? IF SO, HOW? Here’s the web map you can use to find out.
Four reports in Crime Watch:
SUSPECTED CAR-THEFT ATTEMPT THWARTED: SPD Blotter featured a post today about a West Seattle case from the weekend:
Officers arrested two people Saturday morning after a man saw someone trying to steal his truck from his West Seattle home.
A witness in the 7500 block of 12th Avenue SW called 911 early Saturday morning to report that a man was inside of the caller’s vehicle. The caller went on to say it appeared the suspect was attempting to steal the truck. Officer Marc Sagmoen quickly arrived and found the suspect just 75 feet from the victim’s vehicle. Officer Sagmoen stopped the 28-year-old suspect and found he was carrying a pistol in his back pocket, 2.5 grams of heroin, and shaved keys used for stealing vehicles.
Additional officers contacted a second man who was waiting for the suspect to return in a nearby car. Officers took the 29-year-old into custody for various misdemeanor warrants.
STOLEN BICYCLE: The photo and report are from Annalisa:
My husband’s bike was stolen Thursday (1/25) when our shed was broken into at our house in Highland Park. Can you please post the picture in case anyone on the blog has seen it? We reported the break-in to the police, and they suspect that the bike was used as a getaway and will probably be dumped. A number of power tools were also taken, but those are probably gone for good. The bike has sentimental value, and we would love to get it back.
FOUND BICYCLE: This photo was sent anonymously:
The bicycle was described only as having been found in Westwood and reported to police – so if it’s yours, contact them and see if you can make a match with the report you filed when it was stolen.
CAR WINDOW BROKEN: From Jeremy:
My vehicle’s rear window got smashed up in an attempted smash and grab. This happened (Sunday) morning at my townhouse, which is near Delridge and Kenyon. I had some personal property in it, but miraculously nothing got stolen.
Just wanted to put it out there so others can be on the lookout for any suspicious people or activities. If you park your vehicle outside, especially if close to or on major arterials, be sure to remove your belongings. If you see any suspicious activity in progress, be sure to call the police!
Saturday night, you’re invited to have a good time for a good cause – a big party with food, drink, and one of the coolest “photo booth” settings ever, all for the Highland Park Elementary PTA, which shares this announcement:
The Highland Park Elementary PTA is putting on our first-ever auction, and we need your help! Our event is less than a week away, February 3rd, and we’ve sold only 61 out of 150 tickets.
An energetic and resourceful group of parents got together to organize our ‘Fund the Future’ auction – featuring delicious food from Joanie’s Catering, tasty cocktails, a ton of items up for bid, games, and a DeLorean. Yes, a DeLorean! Dressing up in costume from your favorite era is encouraged (bonus points for working in the ‘Back to the Future’ theme). Need childcare? Lil’ Bug Studio is showing their support by offering a Parents’ Night Out during the event so your school-aged children can have a fun night out too.
Fundraising is an essential job of any PTA, but a significant challenge at a school where over three quarters of our students come from low-income families. While the Highland Park PTA’s budgetary needs are just a fraction of more affluent schools, we still need to raise funds so we can provide enrichment opportunities for our amazing students, support our hardworking staff, and bring all of our families into the school through events.
We just brought the Science On Wheels program to our school and every student spent a memorable day exploring astronomy. We are beginning construction on a 4-year-old project to build a playground and in two months students will have play structures for the first time. We are trying to make sure our 5th graders have the opportunity for a transformational outdoor experience at IslandWood.
Help us continue this impactful work by going to our party! You can find out more about ‘Fund the Future’ at our blog, and tickets are available for purchase at Brown Paper Tickets. If you can’t make the event, please consider helping our 5th graders get to IslandWood.
Be the lightning that powers our school family into the future!
Get your ticket(s) here.
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