day : 06/03/2018 10 results

(Photo courtesy Urban Homestead Foundation)

Go out to dinner on Wednesday night, and you can help a community group in its quest to save a scrap of greenspace for community use. Five restaurants – two in Admiral, three in The Junction – are donating part of their proceeds 5-10 pm Wednesday night to “Dine Out for Dakota,” benefiting the Urban Homestead Foundation‘s ongoing campaign to raise money to buy the former Seattle City Light substation site at 50th/Dakota. Participating are:

Mission Cantina (2325 California SW; WSB sponsor)
Arthur’s (2311 California SW)
Great American Diner & Bar (4752 California SW)
Falafel Salam (4746 California SW)
Talarico’s (4718 California SW)

If you haven’t heard about the project before, the backstory is here.

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VIDEO: Former fire-station-tent teardown at future West Seattle Junction park site

March 6, 2018 9:21 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Half a year after firefighters moved out of the temporary Station 32 set up on the future West Seattle Junction park site on 40th SW between SW Alaska and SW Edmunds, the tents that housed their apparatus are being taken down. Justin from Sound & Fog next door caught the unveiling-esque scene above as the canvas was taken off one of the wire frames today. Crews were based there for two years, having been moved out of the old Station 32 months before construction started on the new one, which opened last summer; the tents had gone up three years ago.

We’ll be checking with the city to see where they’ll be used next.

P.S. Design work continues for the future park, which is to be built next year. The city has posted results of last month’s online survey, and Option 2 was the most popular among the 275 respondents (see all 3 options here). One more public meeting is planned for the project; no date yet.

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FOLLOWUP: Where next week’s encampment cleanup east of Myers Way will, and won’t, go

March 6, 2018 7:00 pm

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| Myers Way | West Seattle news

(Photo added Wednesday)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

While it’s far from the only area with unauthorized campers, the area east of Myers Way has drawn some of the loudest complaints, at community meetings and elsewhere. And tonight we know more about the plan for a “partial cleanup” that was mentioned during Sunday’s meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for Camp Second Chance, the city-sanctioned encampment on the west side of Myers Way.

To get details, we talked today with William Lemke, the city’s spokesperson for encampment and cleanup-related issues. He says the city and WSDOT are partnering on the cleanup, which will involve state-owned right-of-way land on the slope over Highway 509, behind the Church of Latter-Day Saints site, *not* the area “up on the plateau” or “the grotto.” That’s because “slide risk is a primary concern,” Lemke explained – including slide risk to Highway 509 as well as to people living in the area. “There’s a drainage system back there that WSDOT” is especially concerned about.

The cleanup is currently set for Wednesday-Thursday, March 14th and 15th. The people who are currently camping in the target area will be notified this week by the city Navigation Team about the cleanup plan. City rules say that before an encampment is cleared, everyone living there has to be offered a place to go, as well as storage for their belongings; Lemke didn’t have an exact count, though he said he had toured the site recently, but believes it’s unlikely that more than a half-dozen or so people are living on the slope.

For the cleanup work, the heavy equipment and crews will enter the site via Highway 509; there’s a gated service road. Some tents and structures will be removed. The rest of the area east of Myers Way likely will be addressed sometime in the future, Lemke says, but there’s no deadline or estimate for that. Why not do it now? For one, he said, “every encampment we remove has to fit into our prioritization criteria” (see the city rules and procedures here) and for two, they might not have enough room in shelters or authorized encampments for everyone living in that area now. Might some from the area be referred to nearby Camp Second Chance, if it has space? Possibly, Lemke said, though the city’s primary referral for campers recently has been the sanctioned encampment at Licton Springs (which is not drug-and-alcohol-free; Camp Second Chance is).

Once the cleanup is completed, Lemke says, they’ll have a report with how many people were moved into shelter and what was put into storage, which the city offers to campers.

P.S. If the cleanup is carried out as scheduled, it will be just days before the March 20th community meeting that’s just been announced (as first reported here Sunday) on whether to renew Camp Second Chance‘s permit for a second year. The encampments on the east side of Myers Way have no official affiliation with the sanctioned camp, but some neighbors believe C2C’s presence makes the area a draw for unauthorized campers.

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WEDNESDAY: City rep to brief Southwest District Council on proposed parking changes

March 6, 2018 4:21 pm

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| Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, a landlord or a developer, a car user or a bicycle rider, The city’s “neighborhood parking” changes will probably affect you. They continue making their way through the City Council, after more than two months. Tomorrow night, the Southwest District Council will get a briefing from a city rep, and everyone is invited to bring questions, whatever your housing status or interest in the issue. The full bill is here. Wednesday night’s SWDC agenda also includes School Board president Leslie Harris, who represents our area on the board, and a Seattle Public Utilities rep talking about graffiti, illegal dumping, and needle disposal. SWDC looks forward to seeing everyone upstairs at the Senior Center/Sisson Building in The Junction starting at 6:30 pm Wednesday.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Yacht spends hours off Alki

March 6, 2018 3:45 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Stephen Bergenholtz for the photo. After a couple of people asked us about that yacht while it was hanging around off Alki for a couple hours at midday, we finally got a chance to go look – just in time to see it vanish into the mouth of the Duwamish River, headed back to the yacht-building yard Delta Marine, south of South Park. On MarineTraffic.com, the yacht was identified only as “Delta 45”; we inquired with Delta but haven’t heard back. (MarineTraffic gave its length as 63 meters and that would seem to match this listing.)

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FOLLOWUP: Opening day for Brass Knuckle Bistro – with a free sample

March 6, 2018 1:10 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

Elvis would love the opening-day samples at Brass Knuckle Bistro, the White Center restaurant just opened by a West Seattle family (we first introduced you to them back in August). As noted here a week and a half ago, today is indeed the first official day for the sandwiches/salads/sides eatery at 9602 16th SW, open until 8 pm. See more photos on our partner site White Center Now.

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FOLLOWUP: Rebuilding, renovating, repairing West Seattle stairways

March 6, 2018 11:59 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Five weeks ago, when we reported on SDOT rebuilding the stairway at Fauntleroy/Director, we included information about other stairway projects in the works for West Seattle. Today, we have updates from SDOT‘s Greg Funk, as peak walking season approaches:

-The Fauntleroy/Director stairway rebuild is finished

-California/Willow is done, except for permanent rail to be installed by month’s end

-Soil analysis is planned at a stairway that’s been closed since 1998 between Atlas Place SW and 50th SW; Funk says, “There has been some interest from the public in rebuilding the stairway.”

-Repairs have been done “to mitigate some drainage issues at SW Graham stairway that runs from 21st Ave SW & 18th Ave SW”

-SW Hill St between 42nd Ave SW & California Ave SW (SDOT photo at right) will be rebuilt, with work expected to start in late April

-SW Holly St & Beveridge Pl SW stairway renovations are planned to start in June

Stairway projects citywide are listed on this SDOT webpage. When we published our January update, Funk mentioned two other stairways for which “design options” are being considered this year, for future work – the long SW Thistle stairway east of Lincoln Park, and Bonair SW.

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Half-dozen options for your West Seattle Tuesday

March 6, 2018 10:39 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Red-flowered currant, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Here are a half-dozen ways to spend part of your Tuesday night – and you can find more for today AND tonight on our full calendar:

TALK ABOUT IT: 5:30-7:30 pm, the next community conversation about choosing a new Seattle Police Chief is set for South Park. There’s one in West Seattle tomorrow night. Both are listed here. (8201 10th Ave. S.)

WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COALITION: 6 pm at Southwest Library, regular monthly meeting. Live and/or work and/or go to school in any of these communities? Be there! Agenda includes a crime/safety update from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith and ongoing topics/issues including Roxhill Park, Roxhill Bog, and HALA. (9010 35th SW)

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor). This month’s agenda includes:

– Delridge corridor planning
– Fauntleroy Boulevard Project response to delay
– Planning for Bike Month and bike buddies

All welcome. (41st SW/SW Alaska)

THE WHALE TRAIL: As announced at its last gathering (WSB coverage here), The Whale Trail is now hosting monthly meetings for updates on orcas and discussion of how to help them. Everyone’s invited tonight at 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – free but please pre-register if you can! (5612 California SW)

FLY-TYING AND BEER: It’s “Tie One On Tuesday” at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 7 pm. Details here, including how to reserve your spot. (4502 42nd SW)

FAMILY STORY TIME: Bring the kid(s) to Delridge Library at 7 pm. Free and fun. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

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TALK ABOUT IT! Sub Pop’s August Alki party on the agenda at two West Seattle meetings

March 6, 2018 9:27 am

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Two months have gone by since we brought you first word of Sub Pop Records‘ plan for a huge 30th-birthday party at Alki Beach. The August 11th bash is still five months out, but it’s time to talk about it – if you have questions, Sub Pop wants to hear them, and will be at two community groups’ regular March meetings next week for exactly that purpose. The announcement:

Sub Pop Records is celebrating its 30th Anniversary of putting out somewhat well-regarded records, CDs, and tapes. In honor of that, we are hosting an entirely FREE music festival at Alki Beach on August 11th, 2018.

We are expecting a large, fun-loving, and respectable crowd of 30,000 music lovers. Our event will include: 4 stages of live music, beer gardens, merch booths and non-profit tables, and a family-friendly area complete with inflatables, food trucks, and live music for, and perhaps by, kids. This festival will take place from noon to 10 pm along Alki Avenue SW.

Sub Pop will be answering questions regarding all of this at two upcoming neighborhood-association meetings:

Admiral Neighborhood Association:
March 13th, 7 pm at the Sanctuary at Admiral – 2656 42nd Ave SW.

Alki Community Council:
March 15th, 7 pm at Alki UCC – 6115 SW Hinds St.

One question we can answer … no, the band lineup hasn’t been announced. Yet.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: March’s first Tuesday

March 6, 2018 6:58 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: March’s first Tuesday

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:58 AM: Good morning! Getting ever brighter at this hour … but remember that’ll change for a while after Daylight Saving Time arrives at 2 am next Sunday (when we “spring forward” an hour).

So far, no transit alerts or incidents reported.

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