West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
That photo is from one of several people who messaged to ask/tip us about a big police response near Delridge/Brandon this past hour. We headed out to find out, but the police had all cleared the scene by the time we arrived, so we stopped at the Southwest Precinct to ask at the front desk. The log notation: Very loud argument between a man and woman, in or along the street. No injuries, as there was no aid dispatch. (Thanks again for the tips – 206-293-6302, text or voice, is the fastest way to reach us, 24/7.)
Especially for the eagle-eyed residents along West Seattle’s north/northeast waterfront, here’s unusual activity you might notice at Seacrest (and vicinity) at midday Wednesday: The U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Police, Alki Kayak Tours, and other participants will be demonstrating rescues and safe paddling techniques as part of a media event promoting Paddle Safe Week (which starts Friday, July 20th, by proclamation of the governor). This is described in the announcement as “the first statewide public safety campaign focused solely on paddlesport safety … (it) aims to educate the public about laws that apply to paddlecraft users and raise awareness about precautions to take before heading out on Washington’s diverse waterways. The event is set for late morning Wednesday, so in case you notice an unusual presence of public-safety vessels and media crews that day, now you know!
(Video courtesy West Seattle Big Band)
Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center is the place to be – you can stay cool(er) in the shade while enjoying a free concert by the West Seattle Big Band! 7 pm Tuesday will be the start time for this year’s WSBB Concert in the Park. It’s co-sponsored by WSB and the West Seattle Grand Parade, with a special tie between the parade and the concert – again this year, the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community will be presented during the concert. As noted here last week, this year’s trophy recipient will be recently retired West Seattle High School baseball and golf coach Velko Vitalich – that means he’ll be riding toward the start of the parade (which begins at 11 am Saturday, southbound on California SW from SW Lander in The Admiral District to SW Edmunds in The Junction). But first, be on the Hiawatha lawn tomorrow night to enjoy great music – with special guest vocalist CC! – and community spirit; bring a chair/blanket to sit on, and look for the stage along Walnut south of Lander.
(WSB file photo, part of Fauntleroy Boulevard proposed project zone)
Almost half a year has passed since SDOT announced the Fauntleroy Boulevard project was on hold while waiting to see if it would conflict with Sound Transit‘s light-rail plans. The question has lingered since then: So what will happen to the Move Seattle levy money (up to $18 million) set aside for Fauntleroy Boulevard? This SDOT announcement today says some decisions are approaching:
We’ve continued to hear strong community support for the safety and mobility improvements at the heart of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project. In response, we’re exploring constructing near-term improvements to help improve predictability for people who walk, drive, and bike on Fauntleroy Way while Sound Transit continues to consider their preferred alignment. These near-term improvements will emphasize lower-cost methods in order to expedite construction and save costs, given the potential these improvements may have to be removed during Sound Transit light rail construction in the coming years.
Later this month, we’ll convene a roundtable of community representatives to discuss potential improvements, based on the original Fauntleroy Boulevard Project design. After that, we’ll share our near-term improvements proposal with the community. We anticipate constructing these near-term improvements as soon as spring 2019.
We remain committed to the goals of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project. If Sound Transit’s light rail design for West Seattle does not impact Fauntleroy Way, we will move forward with the project as designed. If Sound Transit’s design impacts Fauntleroy Way, we will work with Sound Transit to implement streetscape improvements on Fauntleroy Way that align with the goals of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project. In this case, we would also reallocate remaining Fauntleroy Boulevard Project funds to address other mobility needs in West Seattle.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at fauntleroyblvd@seattle.gov or call our project phone number at 206-727-3994.
Community reps who’ve been invited so far tell WSB that the “roundtable” is on July 25th at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor). If you’ve forgotten what the project detailed – you can see the design and other details here.
When we last checked in on Ryan Cox, the 40-year-old repeat offender arrested after a man was stabbed in Gatewood last August, he had been ordered sent to Western State Hospital for an attempt at restoring competency to stand trial. Today, a King County Superior Court judge formally found Cox competent, an assessment that doctors at the state hospital had reached while he was there. According to the evaluation document that’s in the public court files, they diagnosed Cox with unspecified psychosis, while finding him in full understanding of the charges he faces and capable of assisting in his own defense. For his part, the evaluation says, Cox told them he “played crazy to come here” because he prefers WSH to county jail. It’s not the first time he has said that; we covered a Municipal Court hearing eight years ago in which he said that to his lawyer and then basically asked the judge if she could send him there ASAP. This was the first time in five years he had been to that hospital, according to court records. Aside from his time there, he has been in the King County Jail since his arrest, bail set at $150,000, awaiting trial on second-degree assault. Now that the competency issue has been resolved, his next case-scheduling hearing is set for July 26th.
(WSB file photo)
We first reported one month ago on the new mixed-use proposal for the auto-shop site at 7617 35th SW. Now there’s a Southwest Design Review Board meeting date set – 6:30 pm Thursday, September 6th. The draft packet available via the city website offers three “massing” options for the proposed development, all four stories, ranging from 42 apartments, 16 offstreet-parking spaces, and 5,500 square feet of commercial space to 51 apartments, 27 spaces, and 5,000 sf of commercial space. Since this is the Early Design Guidance phase, the “packet” focuses on massing – size/shape/siting of the project – rather than final design touches. There’ll be a public-comment period at the meeting, which will be at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon); if you have comments sooner, the assigned city planner is Michael Gushard – reachable via e-mail, michael.gushard@seattle.gov.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
ABOUT THAT PURSUIT: We got several messages about a law-enforcement pursuit on NB 35th SW this morning; via scanner, we then heard that it was King County Sheriff’s Office and that it had been terminated. Before we could inquire further, we got a tip about a sizable presence at the park-and-ride on Roxbury across from Holy Family. Once we arrived there – with one officer left on scene (photo above, a Burien Police – who contract with KCSO – vehicle) – we found out the two situations were related. KCSO was pursuing someone who was both driving erratically and who had plates that didn’t match the vehicle. The driver seemed to be pulling over on Roxbury – then hit an unmarked KCSO car and took off again. At some point on NB 35th, KCSO stopped the pursuit. No arrest last we heard and no other details so far. Thanks again for the tips – best way to get us is always 206-293-6302, 24/7, text or voice.
From the inbox:
STOLEN DIRT BIKE: The photo is from Danyell:
She reports, “My husband’s dirt bike was stolen right outside our front door, in Admiral.” Plate 2F8098. Call 911 if you see it.
FOUND BICYCLE: From the “likely stolen and dumped” file – the photo is from Nancy:
She writes, “Anyone missing a Jr Viper Diamondback bike, green and white? Found between SW Dakota and SW Adams on 30th.”
(2 young Anna’s Hummingbirds, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Happy Monday! Here are highlights of what’s ahead today/tonight:
SOUND STEPS WEEKLY WALK: 10 am in Lincoln Park. If you can’t catch this one, see our calendar listing for how to participate in future walks! (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WADING POOLS: Open today in West Seattle – Lincoln Park (11 am-8 pm; 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW); Delridge (12 noon-6:30 pm; Delridge Way/Genesee)
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: 1 pm-7 pm blood drive at Our Lady of Guadalupe (closed 3-4 pm for a break), open to the public. (35th/Myrtle)
LIGHT RAIL STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY GROUP: The Sound Transit West Seattle/Ballard light-rail project’s Stakeholder Advisory Group meets 5-8 pm at ST’s board room downtown. Open to the public for observation, but there’s no comment period. (401 S. Jackson)
IF YOU SEE THE ALL-CITY BAND AT SEACREST … tonight is on the calendar as their annual photo night, not a formal performance or public event but always quite the spectacle so we’re mentioning it. And you of course can catch them in the West Seattle Grand Parade next Saturday! *Just got word this is postponed until NEXT Monday
MUSIC UNDER THE STARS, WEEK 3: Third of four Monday nights for the Seattle Chamber Music Society‘s free series at Delridge Community Center Park – at 7:30 pm, a student ensemble plays live, and then at 8 pm the sound system carries live audio from the SCMS Summer Festival concert at Benaroya Hall. (The live music returns during the concert’s intermission.) Bring your own blanket/chair! (Genesee/26th SW)
MONDAY QUIZ: Every Monday at 7:30 pm, all ages, prizes – longrunning quiz night at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
BIG WEEK AHEAD … preview our complete calendar (with more updates added every day) here!
(July 2017 WSB reader photo from Judy)
Last July, the nationally acclaimed Young Shakespeare Workshop performed twice at Roxhill Park – and they’ll be back this Sunday, so we wanted to provide an early alert in case you hadn’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. This year, the play is “Hamlet,” and the performance is at 2 pm Sunday (July 22nd) – free! It’s this year’s only West Seattle performance for YSW, which has local ties via its director, Darren Lay of Vashon Island, working with students at local schools including Chief Sealth International High School over the years. Free performance – just bring your own chair/blanket and get ready to be impressed by some hard-working young actors next Sunday.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:11 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
8:07 AM: The Vashon Water Taxi is out of service this morning. That’s led to busier buses from Morgan/Fauntleroy as riders switched to the state ferry to Fauntleroy – thanks for the tip on that.
11:50 AM: The Vashon Water Taxi will be back in service as of the 4:30 pm departure from downtown.
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