West Seattle, Washington
15 Sunday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“Frustrating” was the word City Councilmember Lisa Herbold used tonight to describe an SDOT-led meeting in which she participated last night.
Last night’s meeting was a “roundtable” during which SDOT unveiled proposed “near-term improvements” in the area of the on-hold Fauntleroy Boulevard project, to be funded by a fraction of the Move Seattle levy money earmarked for the full project. Herbold’s comment was made at tonight’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting (separate story on that later).
One of the aspects with which others also indicated frustration is a lack of clarity about what will happen with the possible improvements when Sound Transit finalizes which West Seattle light-rail route will be the “preferred alternative.”
Since that decision is still more than half a year away, roundtable invitees “were not being asked to make any choices,” facilitator Susan Hayman clarified at the start of the discussion.
Here’s who was invited:
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:36 PM: Just in case you’re here wondering about the big SFD water-rescue response sent to Seacrest – there was a report of a paddleboarder possibly in trouble near Lowman Beach, but it’s been determined they’re OK, and everyone’s being dismissed. (Seacrest would have been the point at which a patient, if necessary, would have been delivered to a medic unit.)
ADDED 10:38 PM: Thanks to Paul Weatherman for that photo of a fireboat doing some testing, after the aforementioned incident, and before this new one: SFD marine crews are headed to the Duwamish River where a boat has gotten “stuck in the mud” near Kellogg Island. No injuries reported.
7:54 PM: As guessed by WSB commenters last month when we published word of a somewhat mysterious private event set for Don Armeni Boat Ramp tonight, it’s indeed Diner en Blanc – Seattle, the latest local event in which hundreds of people pay for the privilege of dressing in white and bringing a picnic to a location that’s kept secret until they’re bused there.
Thanks for the texted video and photo! We expect to add more later. The event is scheduled to continue until about 11 pm.
ADDED 8:24 PM: Another photo we’ve received:
(Thanks to Craig Baerwaldt for that photo and this next one:)
Participants had to bring their own tables and chairs as well as providing their own picnic!
9:52 PM: Another photo from Craig, after sunset:
Side note: We checked yesterday and this morning and noticed there were no “No Parking” signs for this event at or near Don Armeni, just the NP signage for a film shoot tomorrow. Then a reader e-mailed us this afternoon to say they encountered someone amending the signs to kick in at 4 pm today instead, with just hours’ advance. Let us know if you got a ticket as a result.
ADDED EARLY FRIDAY: Thanks to West Seattle videographer Mark Jaroslaw for putting together and sharing this look at the evening’s festivities – including music, dancing, and candlelight:
Mark says 1,200 people were there.
As reported here last week, Ryan Cox has been found competent to stand trial for assault in the Gatewood stabbing case from almost a year ago. After that ruling, he was due back in court today for a case-scheduling hearing, but it was postponed a week. The document in the online file says the postponement is because “parties are finalizing a resolution.” Does that mean a plea bargain? We’ll be checking the file daily. That’s how the last assault case against him ended more than four years ago.
1:47 PM: If you’ve seen the Tribal Journeys canoe arrivals at Alki Beach in years past … this year is bigger than ever. As we’ve been previewing, the arrivals started early this afternoon and are continuing as canoe families arrive from last night’s stop across Puget Sound in Suquamish.
More than 100 canoes were registered to participate this year, and they have supporters here too. There’s even an announcer with a PA system, something we don’t recall seeing/hearing in recent years. And we lost count at more than a dozen charter buses parked along Alki Avenue; the paddlers and their support crews will be transported to Auburn, where the Muckleshoot Tribe will host them tonight. (Muckleshoot security remains at Alki to watch over the canoes.)
We’ll be checking later on the expected morning departure time, for those who would like to come observe then.
Singing as canoes await assistance to be brought ashore (PA announcer just put out a call for help) pic.twitter.com/7cdrWkG681
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 26, 2018
More photos/updates to come!
2:47 PM: We just walked to the east end of where the canoes are lined up on the sand – they stretch almost to 58th SW – and counted more than 50. None on the horizon so we don’t know how many are yet to arrive. With each arrival so far, an announcement has been read over the loudspeakers, in Native language as well as English, with the declaration of the tribe’s name, where they’ve come from – some have been journeying for two weeks! – and greetings to the Muckleshoot, as well as a request for permission to come ashore.
Also, a military cargo jet seen flying over West Seattle earlier – low enough to startle people – has just done a flyby over the beach here.
5:13 PM: Went back to Alki to check; the arrivals have concluded.
Security says departures are expected between 7 and 9 tomorrow morning.
ADDED EARLY FRIDAY: Alki photographer David Hutchinson asked about that too and he was told they would depart after a ceremony at 7. He shared this evening photo:
Tomorrow’s stop is Dash Point State Park.
FRIDAY MORNING NOTE: The departures are not happening en masse.
Our photographer was there from 8 am until about 9:30 and reports that two canoes had left by then. We’re going back shortly for an update.
When we reported on the Sub Pop Records SPF30 event (August 11th, Alki Beach) update at last week’s Alki Community Council meeting, we noted that the label was planning to go public today with additions to the lineup. And they have! Plus, the day’s set times are all out too. From Sub Pop’s announcement (which you can see here in its entirety):
Father John Misty, Hot Snakes, and Bully have just been added to the lineup for SPF30 on Saturday, August 11th. The newly announced groups will join Beach House, Clipping, Kyle Craft, Fastbacks, Jo Passed, Loma, LVL UP, METZ, Moaning, Mudhoney, Shabazz Palaces, Wolf Parade, Caspar Babypants, The Not-Its!, and The School of Rock West Seattle House Band over four stages along incredibly scenic Alki Ave. in the Alki Beach neighborhood of West Seattle.
The stage names and set times are:
LOSER STAGE (@ Bathhouse West)
1:30 – Moaning
3:15 – Bully
5:15 – Fastbacks
7:00 – Wolf Parade
9:00 – Father John MistyTHE FLIPPITY-FLOP STAGE (@ Bathhouse East)
12:45 – LVL UP
2:30 – Loma
4:15 – Clipping
6:00 – Shabazz Palaces
8:00 – Beach HouseHARSH REALM STAGE (@ 57th Street)
12:00 – Jo Passed
1:45 – Kyle Craft
3:30 – METZ
5:15 – Hot Snakes
7:00 – MudhoneyPUNKY STAGE (@ Whale Tail Park)
1:00 – Caspar Babypants
2:00 – The Not-Its!
4:00 – The School of Rock West Seattle House Band
Also at the event, Sub Pop is selling four limited-edition singles – details on those are in the full announcement too.
Two development-related notes:
(4508 California SW “preferred option” rendering by Caron Architecture)
4508 CALIFORNIA SW DOWNSIZED: One week from tonight, 4508 California SW goes to its first Southwest Design Review Board meeting. The packet is now available online, and we noticed a big change from when we originally reported on this project back in March: It’s proposed for a smaller footprint. The original early-stage filing described the site as stretching from the former West Seattle Cyclery storefront all the way to West Seattle Windermere; now it’s covering three current storefronts – ex-Cyclery, plus two restaurants, Lee’s and Kamei. As is standard in the Early Design Guidance stage of Design Review, the project packet proposes three possible “massing” configurations – they would each include more than 70 apartments plus 19 offstreet-parking spaces (city rules do not require any parking in this area) as well as ~11,000 square feet of retail (ground floor) and lodging. The SWDRB meeting next Thursday (6:30 pm August 2nd, Senior Center/Sisson Building, 4217 SW Oregon) will as usual include a public-comment period; if you can’t be there, you can send comments via e-mail to holly.godard@seattle.gov to get them to assigned city planner Holly Godard.
5011 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Comments open today and continue through August 8th on the streamlined design review for this six-townhouse, six-offstreet-parking-space project replacing a triplex. You can see the design packet here. The notice explains how to comment – this type of design review does NOT include a public meeting.
(Osprey, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Before we get too much further into the day, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you will find even more for today/tonight):
WADING POOLS IN WEST SEATTLE: The ones open today are Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) 11 am-8 pm, EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) noon-7 pm, and Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander) noon-6:30 pm.
TRIBAL CANOES AT ALKI: Any time after noon, the Muckleshoot Tribe will welcome 2018 Tribal Canoe Journeys participants to Alki Beach, for an overnight stop on the Power Paddle to Puyallup. More than 100 canoe families are registered this year. Here’s our most-recent preview. The canoes usually are brought up onto the beach just east of Alki Bathhouse. (59th SW/Alki SW)
DROP-IN ART STUDIO: For ages 2-10 at Delridge Library, 1 pm-3 pm. Free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
OPEN DRAW WITH SPECIAL GUEST: This one’s for adults – must be at least 21. 5-7 pm at the Log House Museum, come draw, and enjoy a special guest:
The Log House Museum is excited to host Jose Rodriguez III at Open Draw on July 26th. This local West Seattle artist will be creating a one-of-a-kind piece for our upcoming exhibit Sound Spots live at Open Draw! Come see Jose work while he paints the significant history of music in West Seattle.
In the courtyard. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT AT ALAIR: Special visiting vendors, specials, raffle prizes, and more at Alair! Details in our calendar listing. 5-9 pm. (3280 California SW)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm quarterly meeting at Senior Center/Sisson Building. SDOT presentation on Avalon repaving/rechannelization and Sound Transit update on West Seattle light rail are among the topics. All welcome. (4217 SW Oregon)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point, with two City Councilmembers as guest speakers: Lisa Herbold and Teresa Mosqueda. All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Great reason to be outside instead of in your (likely) hot home/apartment – free show at 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, this week featuring Good Quiver. Presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB. (Walnut south of Lander)
MYSTERY EVENT? OR NOT? A month ago we published this mysterious notice about a private event planned for tonight at Don Armeni Boat Ramp. Not sure if it’s still happening – no “no parking” signs (except for the ones for the film crew tomorrow) and no load-in when we checked earlier this morning; we pinged the people from whom we’d received the notice, and they didn’t reply. But we’ll check back later in the day. If you do see signs of something big there tonight, please text/call us – 206-293-6302 is our 24/7 breaking-news hotline – thanks! (Early afternoon update: Yes, there IS now a crew setting up for tonight’s event. And we got a note from a reader saying the no-parking signs were changed earlier today to kick in at 4 pm.)
We’ve received several questions about a police response on Puget Ridge, west of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). There was briefly a report of a missing child. The child is reported to have been found and is safe. There was a report that the child had possibly been seen walking with someone he didn’t know and so police have been looking for that person. That’s all we know at this point but will check back with police later.
(WSB photo, 2017)
While we await today’s Power Paddle to Puyallup arrivals, we’re sharing a reminder of a different canoe event that you’re invited to watch from Alki on Saturday – the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club‘s annual Da Grind. Thanks to Kelly for sending the announcement:
Canoes and crews from all over the Pacific Northwest will converge on the sands of Alki Beach for the race. The course is from Alki Beach, crossing Puget Sound, around Blake Island and back. 12 miles of grinding paddling, hence the name. Clubs will start loading out and rigging canoes as early as 6:30 AM with racing beginning at 10:00 AM. Come on down to watch the paddlers in action!
Note that Saturday is also the first day of the Alki Art Fair, so it’ll be a big day at the beach.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: We start with trouble on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge – a crash blocking two lanes.
7:10 AM: Per scanner, one of those lanes has reopened, so just the right lane is blocked. SFD closed out of the crash within 10 minutes of dispatch, so no serious injuries.
7:17 AM: We should add a reminder of the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct closure for Saturday night’s Torchlight Run – scheduled for 4:30-7:30 pm.
7:28 AM: The crash on the eastbound high bridge has now cleared.
Today, they are in the semifinals of the state tournament. On Wednesday, when they had an offday, the West Seattle Little League 12 All-Stars did volunteer work! Ben Palmer sent the photo and report:
Taking a break from state baseball tournament and helping at the local food bank. These kids are awesome!
Today at 4 in Sedro-Woolley, the team plays Pacific.
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