That group walking through the West Seattle Junction/Triangle today was tasked with looking 12 years into the future.

The task: Help evaluate potential Junction and Avalon station locations for the future Sound Transit West Seattle light-rail line. The section of the tour for which we went along was looking at five possible Junction sites, three of which would be “cut and cover” underground, two elevated. This is from one of the brochures provided to the participants:

As reported here last night, the year-plus process of deciding on a “preferred alternative” for the West Seattle (2030) and Ballard (2035) extensions – so it can go through environmental study – is at the midpoint. The working groups that will decide this fall what goes to the next level were promised “evaluation” information about the options on the table in the current second level of the three-level review, and while much of that will come from Sound Transit, some will come from community members such as those who gathered for today’s walking tour, a prelude to a design charrette tomorrow. (There was one last Friday for the Delridge station area; we were unable to cover that.)

Along with Sound Transit staffers and consultants, the walking tour included representatives of neighborhood and transportation/mobility advocacy groups – the Junction Neighborhood Organization, West Seattle Bike Connections, Feet First, and the West Seattle Junction Association – plus Metro reps and a legislative assistant from City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s staff. The mission was to walk to each potential station location for The Junction and Avalon, and consider both challenges and opportunities. We went along for the first hour of the tour.

It began at Junction Plaza Park, near the possible elevated SW Alaska station site. If an elevated station were located there, ST reps said, the track would be about 50 feet above the street – other station features would be higher up – and would have to straddle SW Alaska, which would mean supports on both sides of the street. How would that affect the sidewalk, the park, buildings? These are all questions factoring into the evaluations.

Or – that area could have an underground station beneath the 42nd/Alaska intersection. If so, where would the entrances be?

Sloan Dawson, whose planning work with ST focuses on station areas, noted also that the same section of 42nd is planned as part of the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway – so how would that factor in?

The tour went north on 42nd to Oregon, a street that factors into two routing alternatives that are being considered – elevated and tunnel. If elevated, the tour leaders said, at that point the track would be about 45 feet above the roadway, and instead of a “straddling” support, it might be on columns down the middle of the road

After walking west on Oregon, the group turned down 44th and proceeded to the Junction parking lot behind KeyBank to consider the options there – possible elevated and tunnel options “east of 44th.” Among the points brought up there – less density on that side of the heart of The Junction, and the community’s concern about the parking provided in that lot.

We had to move on after that. The goal of the tour was to prime the pump for tomorrow’s charrette, rather than to reach conclusions, but it also shone some light into how ST is conducting evaluation. We’re told the information from the charrettes will be included in what’s presented not only to the next Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting September 5th, but also at the West Seattle neighborhood forum three days later (9 am September 8th, Seattle Lutheran High School gym, 4100 SW Genesee, open to all). All the resulting feedback will be available for the SAG and Elected Leadership Group to mull in recommending in late September/early October what moves to the last level of review before that “preferred alternative” is finalized for study.

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City Council approves new laws protecting domestic workers

July 23, 2018 7:45 pm

| 26 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle politics

(Seattle Channel video of this afternoon’s council meeting; domestic-workers item is at one hour in)

Passed today by the City Council: What’s described as the nation’s first city laws “that specifically protect nannies, caretakers, house cleaners, gardeners, and other domestic workers,” according to the announcement from the bill’s sponsor, citywide Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. Her announcement says the new protections for domestic workers include:

*Hiring entities must pay domestic workers the minimum hourly wage;

*Domestic workers must receive proper rest and meal breaks, including a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break if they work more than five consecutive hours for the same hiring entity, and a 10-minute rest break if they work more than four consecutive hours, or pay in lieu;

*A domestic worker who resides or sleeps at their place of employment will not be required to work more than six consecutive days without an unpaid 24-hour period of consecutive rest;

*Hiring entities will not be allowed to retain a domestic worker’s personal effects and documents; and,

*The legislation establishes a Domestic Workers Standards Board, which will be made up of workers, hiring entities, worker organizations and community members. The board will convene during the first quarter of 2019, and will be tasked with recommending how to implement new labor standards, such as retirement benefits, worker’s compensation and sick leave.

The new laws take effect July 1st of next year. You can read the full announcement here; the full text of the legislation is here.

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UPDATE: Box blocks lane on 16th SW

July 23, 2018 6:30 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:30 PM: Thanks for the texted photo and tip. The texter says the storage box in the SB lane of 16th SW came off a truck and efforts to get it back onto the truck have yet to succeed.

6:40 PM: We just arrived in the area (16th/Holden, east of the 7-11). The police car in the texted photo is gone; the box is still there, in the left turn lane, with a flyer on the back identifying it as a ZippyShell unit. Its owner, standing nearby, told us a flatbed is on the way to pick it up and should arrive within half an hour. A broken strap caused the fall, he said.

7:18 PM: Our original texter says the box has been removed and the intersection’s clear.

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FOLLOWUP: South Delridge stabbing victim identified

July 23, 2018 3:35 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from Friday night)

3:35 PM: The King County Medical Examiner has just identified the victim of last Friday night’s deadly stabbing in South Delridge as 34-year-old Michael Abay. His cause of death is listed as multiple stab wounds. We also asked Seattle Police for an update on the case, but they have no new information. Police told WSB on Friday night that they received a call about someone lying in the street in the 1600 block of SW Cambridge, and when they arrived, the victim was already dead.

As noted here on Friday night, this was the third homicide of the year in West Seattle, after the May shooting of Lorenzo Marr at West Seattle Stadium and the June stabbing of Jonathan Pecina near Luna/Anchor Park, and no arrests have been reported in those cases either. If you have any information in any of those cases, the SPD Homicide Unit tip line is 206-233-5000.

9:47 PM: In a comment, Marianne shared this crowdfunding link through which Mr. Abay’s family is seeking help with funeral expenses.

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West Seattle Booster Club invites you to play golf to raise $ for WSHS football

July 23, 2018 2:35 pm

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| West Seattle news

(WSB photos from June 23)

Though we’re in the middle of summer, football season is getting ever closer … just a month away! … and West Seattle High School‘s team has been practicing with new head coach Jeff Scott.

To help the program, the West Seattle Booster Club is planning a golf fundraiser next month – from the announcement e-mailed by the WSBC:

10 am August 5, 2018
Location: Foster Golf Links in Tukwila
Cost: $400 per team of 4, pay at the event
Mulligans for purchase: 2 for $25 or 4 for $40

Here’s the official flyer/entry form (PDF).

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Where to stay cool

July 23, 2018 12:45 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

As noted here early today, a heat advisory is in effect, and the National Weather Service also says this week overall might break a record:

Seattle's long term average of 85+ degree days in July is 4. We've had 8 so far this month. The record is 12 days (2015). Somehow, one gets the feeling that record could be toast before the week is over. #wawx pic.twitter.com/qlIgelBA6w

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) July 23, 2018

With that said, the city’s just sent its list of places to stay cool. In West Seattle, the list includes Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW) and High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), both open 1-8 pm today, as well as the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), open weekdays 8:30 am-5 pm. You can see the full city announcement – which also includes advice on staying cool, protecting pets and vulnerable people, etc. – by going here.

P.S. Got other air-conditioning recommendations – restaurants/bars, for example? We don’t keep a standard list because it’s ever-changing but we appreciate suggestions in the comments!

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Final ‘Music Under the Stars’ and more for your West Seattle Monday

July 23, 2018 11:02 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Phantom Orchid, photographed at Lincoln Park by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Here are 4 highlights for your Monday:

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK: Open today, of course! The Highland Park Spraypark (11 am-8 pm; 1100 SW Cloverdale) is open daily all season regardless of the weather, but given the expected high temp, we’re mentioning it again. Today’s wading pools are Lincoln Park (11 am-8 pm; 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and Delridge (12 noon-6:30 pm; Delridge Way/Genesee).

KIDS AND TEENS EAT FREE: Just a reminder that our calendar features ongoing listings for several West Seattle locations where kids and teens can find free summer meals, so they don’t go hungry before school starts back up in September. Today’s listings:

–Delridge Library, noon-1 pm (5423 Delridge Way SW)
–Neighborhood House High Point, noon-1 pm and 3-4 pm (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
–High Point Library, 3-4 pm (3411 SW Raymond)

FINAL ‘MUSIC UNDER THE STARS’: Have you been to the Seattle Chamber Music Society‘s free events at Delridge Commmunity Center Park? Tonight’s your last chance! 7:30 pm, a student ensemble performs for half an hour; at 8 pm, the speakers broadcast the KING-FM live stream from the SCMS-presented Summer Festival concert at Benaroya Hall, and the ensemble returns for an encore performance at intermission. Bring the kids, bring a picnic – it’ll be too hot to stay inside anyway! (26th SW/SW Genesee)

MONDAY QUIZ: Every Monday at 7:30 pm, all ages, prizes – longrunning quiz night at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … preview our complete calendar (with more updates added every day) here!

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Ticket sales start today for Southwest Seattle Historical Society tour @ Gatewood house where REI began

July 23, 2018 9:54 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(King County Assessor photo)

That’s the Gatewood house where REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) was founded in Gatewood, 80 years ago. On the afternoon of Sunday, August 5, it will be the site of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual “If These Walls Could Talk” home tour. Ticket sales will begin at noon today, the SWSHS says. You’ll have two options – the basic tour, or tour plus a VIP reception and talk – as explained on this page, which is also where ticket sales will be activated at noon. As SWSHS summarizes what happened in the house:

It all started with a $15 ice axe — In 1935 Mountaineers Club member Lloyd Anderson purchased an ice axe from an importer in the United States. The axe was at the same time very expensive for that time-period, and also was poorly made. When the axe broke it set Lloyd on a mission that would lead to the formation of a co-op for the Mountaineers that would eventually become REI.

Guest speaker for the VIP event, noon-2 pm, is Bobby Whittaker, son of Jim Whittaker; the SWSHS says he “will be talking about growing up in a climbing family, and his early memories of hanging out at Capitol Hill store location at the time when his father Jim was involved in the operations of REI” as well as showing clips from “Return to Mount Kennedy,” which we reported on in May.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch

July 23, 2018 7:06 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:06 AM: Good morning! So far, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

WATER TAXI REMINDER: The smaller Spirit of Kingston is handling the West Seattle run today through Wednesday while Doc Maynard undergoes maintenance.

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WEATHER ALERT: Heat advisory for today

July 23, 2018 12:35 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Today’s high is expected to be in the 90s, so the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory that’ll be in effect 10 am-9 pm. Lots of health/safety advice – you can read it in its entirety here.

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