West Seattle, Washington

26 Monday

53℉

year : 2018 3707 results

UPDATE: Fire response at 59th/Admiral
January 29, 2018 10:06 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

10:06 AM: In case you’re wondering about the SFD response at 5900 SW Admiral Way – they’re checking out a report of smoke in the building’s laundry room. First units on scene weren’t seeing anything from outside the building and now they’re going in.

10:09 AM: No fire. They’ve found an “overheated” spot that caused the problem, and all but one unit will be dismissed.

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit’s first official ‘open house’ set for February 13th
January 29, 2018 9:40 am
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 |   Sound Transit | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Sound Transit’s West Seattle-to-Ballard ‘representative’ map – draft ‘alignment’)

The date is finalized for the next step in planning for the West Seattle (to Ballard) Sound Transit light-rail line: The first West Seattle in-person meeting, “open house” format, is set for 6:30-8:30 pm Tuesday, February 13th, at the Masonic Hall (4736 40th SW). ST also will launch an “online open house” the day before the meeting. If you’re still catching up on why you need to get involved now for a service not scheduled to start until 2030 – here’s our most-recent coverage, from the first meeting of one of two advisory groups, the Elected Leadership Group. We also just got time/location details on the first meeting of the other group, the Stakeholder Advisory Group – 5-8 pm February 8th at the Union Station boardroom (401 S. Jackson).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
January 29, 2018 6:56 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)

6:56 AM: Good morning! The rain’s back. No incidents currently reported in/from West Seattle, but we do have one transit alert so far – the 7:55 am Route 116 from Fauntleroy will not operate, according to Metro.

POSTSCRIPT: Another incident-free day … we report major incidents around the clock so if you hear of/see something and we haven’t reported it yet, let us know (if/when you can do so safely/legally) – 206-293-6302 text or voice, 24/7 – thank you!

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The case of the missing bridge signs
January 28, 2018 8:42 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Been wondering whether the city will replace the signs on southbound Highway 99 that marked the neighboring exits for the westbound high bridge and Harbor Island? You’re not alone. Several people asked us about it earlier this month, including DJ, who provided the image you see above. He got an answer from SDOT before we did, and shared it with us. Elliot Helmbrecht, Levy Outreach & Accountability Manager in the SDOT director’s office, told DJ that this has been in the works for months:

After work order #551160 was created for a new sign in October and SDOT previously corresponded with you, we realized that this was an irregular sign that would have to be ordered and produced by an outside company, rather than in-house. Because this raises the cost significantly, SDOT staff made the prudent decision to package it with a larger sign order, somewhat delaying the procurement of this particular sign. In the meantime, a windstorm further damaged the sign and the additional sign next to it. Due to the damage from the windstorm, SDOT crews removed both signs. These events have led to some confusion, and for that we do apologize.

Going forward, SDOT has placed the order for the two new signs you mentioned on the West Seattle Bridge and they will be installed as soon as they arrive. Based on information we received from the sign company, we believe we can have the signs installed in the next few weeks.

A few outstanding issues that may delay installation from happening on the timeline mentioned above include a delay with the sign manufacturer or work that the crews will have to do to rebuild the cross-beams to match the new types of signs (the original were wood and the new ones will be metal). Also, we may not know about additional damage until the crews are in the air.

Want to report a broken sign (etc.) to SDOT? Here’s how. (And if you HAVE reported it and nothing’s happened – as DJ said was the case here, until now – let us know!)

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CRIME WATCH: Stolen car found; trailer full of tools taken; another package-theft alert
January 28, 2018 7:40 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

We start tonight’s Crime Watch with a followup:

STOLEN SUBARU LEGACY FOUND: An update from Liz, more than two weeks after we included her car-with-bike-inside theft on Crime Watch:

Our Subaru was found! It was parked in the neighborhood right next to the Taco Bell in White Center. Sadly, the bike was not in there. They also stole some tools, a first-aid kit, and two CD books with about 300 CDs in them. It was parked there for over a week, so somebody that lived in that neighborhood called it in.

Two new reader reports:

TRAILER FULL OF TOOLS STOLEN: From Peyton:

On Sunday, January 21st 2018, at about 6 PM, an unknown individual or individuals were caught on surveillance footage pulling into the back fenced off parking lot of La Mexicana/WestSide Baby in White Center. They then hooked up to my father Sean Sullivan’s 2004 Pace-American Cargo Trailer (Single Axel) with an orange, green, and white Ireland sticker on the back and proceeded to steal it:

Kept in this trailer, an extensive amount of Work tools and equipment that he has collected over the last 10 years as he worked to create his own company, SULLIVAN ELECTRIC LLC. The trailer was uninsured since it was used mainly for storing the larger tools and hardly ever moved …
-Trailer: Pace-american white 12ft cargo trailer single axel
-2 Bosch mac bit roto-hammer
-1 Dewalt roto-hammer
-1 Air compresser single tank
-1 brad nailer
-1 finish nailer
-1 Dewalt chop saw
-1 skill 77 worm drive circular saw
-brand new rigid vacuum
-Loose electrical wire
-1 Sawzall
-1 Milwaukee portaband band saw
-Misc hand tools & drills
-Bosch laser leveler
-misc electrical equip(boxes, fittings, conduit, etc)

If you have any information, you can reach Peyton at 425-312-4461 or Sean at 206-419-8884, or call 911.

PACKAGE TAKEN: Martyn shares this security video and reports:

Our Amazon package was stolen an hour after delivery in the Fairmount Springs Neighbourhood. Sharing to raise awareness for neighbors and highlighting the ineptitude of delivery drivers leaving packages in the middle of a doorstep when it could have easily been left to the side and out of view.

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DINE OUT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: 2 schools, 3 venues, 1 location @ Tuesday benefit
January 28, 2018 5:40 pm
|    Comments Off on DINE OUT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: 2 schools, 3 venues, 1 location @ Tuesday benefit
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Several local schools have dine-out benefits coming up in the next few weeks, starting on Tuesday, when West Seattle’s Sanislo Elementary and Louisa Boren STEM K-8 get part of the proceeds at the three co-housed White Center venues Beer Star, Lil’ Woody’s, and CTO (9801 16th SW). Just be there 5-8 pm Tuesday (January 30th).

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WEST SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT: What’s going up and coming down
January 28, 2018 1:35 pm
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Variety of West Seattle development/construction notes:

4807 41ST SW MICROHOUSING: Almost a year after we first reported on this plan to replace a house with more than 20 microapartments and no offstreet parking, it has appeared on next month’s Streamlined Design Review schedule. As noted last year, that means no meetings, but public comment will be accepted. The design packet isn’t on the city website yet but should appear here soon.

Other sites set for denser redevelopment:

6506 42ND SW: That single-family house on a 4,000-square-foot lot was sold recently and someone asked us at a community meeting if we knew what was planned for the site, which is zoned for multifamily development. Nothing was on file then, but it is now – an early-stage plan for six townhouses, no offstreet parking. Most of the rest of 42nd SW on that block, across the street from the back side of West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), already has been redeveloped into multi-family housing.

7329 BAINBRIDGE PLACE SW: The vacant land above, near the north end of Lincoln Park, also recently sold; the most recent development plan on file is for 10 townhouses with 10 offstreet parking spaces, to be accessed from SW Fontanelle on the south side of the site.

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

TOWNHOUSES AT 4518 40TH SW: Another one of the remaining 1930s-era stucco houses on this block of 40th SW is to be demolished, with five townhouses replacing it.

TOWNHOUSES AT 5447 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: A house here will be replaced with 3 rowhouse-style townhouse structures.

TOWNHOUSES AT 4842 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: Duplex to be replaced with rowhouse-style townhouses.

TOWNHOUSES AT 4534 DELRIDGE WAY SW: A house is proposed for demolition, to be replaced with a three-unit townhouse structure.

Also on Delridge:

NEXT SW DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING: We first told you 2+ weeks ago that the self-storage project proposed for 9201 Delridge Way SW would go to the Southwest Design Review Board for Early Design Guidance on February 15th; this week, the formal notice of that meeting was published.

Also available online, the draft version of Caron Architecture‘s “design packet” for the meeting, with early feedback. Remember that the EDG meeting is about size, shape, and placement of the building on its site, not the fine points of exterior appearance, so that’s why the preliminary rendering above is so sparse.

OTHER DEMOLITIONS: Every so often we go through the permit list to see what’s been proposed and/or permitted in the past few weeks, mostly teardown projects smaller than what’s mentioned above:
–7925 18th SW (house to be replaced with a house)
–10434 39th SW (house)
–5447 21st SW (house and garage to be replaced with a house)
–3844 Belvidere (house to be replaced with a house)
–1928 Sunset SW (house, with lot split and two houses to follow)
–9002 Fauntleroy Way SW (house to be replaced with a house)

And a final note:

CRANE COUNT: West Seattle is down to two tower cranes. We went by the Upton Flats site today, and discovered that it had been taken down sometime since our last look at it, which was last week, on the day the 1307 Harbor SW crane was installed.

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REUNION! West Seattle High School Class of 1963
January 28, 2018 10:38 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

First reunion announcement of the year – the West Seattle High School Class of 1963 is planning to celebrate 55 years since graduation (and five years since their golden-anniversary spotlight at the All-School Reunion):

West Seattle High School Class of 1963 Reunion!

Our 55th reunion is May 17, 2018, at the Bahama Breeze. Please contact Jane at 206-938-4439 before March 31 if you wish to attend.

Got a reunion announcement? E-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – the sooner, the better!

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West Seattle Sunday: School open houses, nighttime low-tide walk, more!
January 28, 2018 7:29 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Horned Grebe, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Sunday dawns with much calmer weather than Saturday. Good thing, since we have outdoor activities on the list today/tonight as well as indoor events. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 9 am-1 pm, everyone is invited to visit Our Lady of Guadalupe School (WSB sponsor), which is showcasing student projects as well as the school itself, as previewed here. (3401 SW Myrtle)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round, in the street, in The Junction, see what local farmers and makers are selling this week! 10 am-2 pm. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 11:30 am-1:30 pm, prospective families and community members are invited to visit Holy Rosary School. (4142 42nd SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

FINAL DAY … for Tap Station, which invites you to stock up and say farewell. (7900 35th SW)

ALL-AGES OPEN MICROPHONE: Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) presents its Get Onstage/Get Involved all-ages open-mic event, signups at 3, performances at 4, at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

FOLK AND JAZZ … are what Home Cookin’ will play at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

NIGHTTIME LOW-TIDE WALK: Tonight’s low tide is -1.7 feet at 8:21 pm, and Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be at Constellation Park south of Alki Point to help you explore. (63rd SW/Beach Drive SW)

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Highland Park Action Committee: Needle cleanup, natural drainage, neighborhood help…
January 27, 2018 10:30 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

From the Highland Park Action Committee‘s January meeting:

‘I FOUND A NEEDLE, NOW WHAT?’ The Sharps Collection Pilot Program from Seattle Public Utilities gave a presentation. It was basically Needle 101 – where do discarded needles come from? Not just IV drug users – could be people with medical conditions that require injections, even pets that need shots, or allergy sufferers. In Seattle, it’s illegal to just throw needles in the trash, “for the safety of sanitation workers,” said the SPU presenters.

If you find a needle on public property:

Read More

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Purse taken at gas station; packages stolen from porch; more…
January 27, 2018 8:21 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

We start with two reader reports:

GAS-STATION PURSE THEFT: Mary Lou reports that someone stole her purse from her car while she was getting fuel at the (corrected location) 41st SW/Admiral Way service station. It happened in broad daylight – around 1:30 this afternoon. No surveillance video available (she asked).

PACKAGES TAKEN: Also in the Admiral area, Nate shares this security-camera video of packages being taken from his porch around quarter till 6 last night near 47th/Admiral. He says others in his neighborhood have reported thefts, too.

And from the SPD files:

ANOTHER HOLDUP: Here’s a street robbery we didn’t hear about until now – just found it while checking SPD online reports for the handful of days-later narratives posted each week. It happened around 1:20 am last Saturday (January 20th) in a parking lot near California SW/SW Edmunds. A man told police he was walking to his apartment after leaving a party when a masked man jumped out of a car, showed a gun, and demanded his phone and wallet. He threw them on the ground and the robber took them, along with his wristwatch, and got away in a white Honda Accord. After getting back to his apartment, the victim used a “find my iPhone” app to track his phone to a nightclub in SODO. Police found the white Honda Accord – which turned out to be stolen – there, but no suspect, and the phone was no longer trackable. The victim’s cards showed a purchase made at a 7-11 in the Rainier Valley area; police looked there too, and impounded the stolen car, while planning to pursue video evidence. No indication of arrests so far.

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Water-break repair work on 35th SW north of Fauntleroy
January 27, 2018 6:03 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

6:03 PM: Thanks for the tip about a water break on 35th SW north of Fauntleroy. Just went to check; the crew is working on the NB side of the road, directing traffic 1 lane at a time, and expects to be there a few hours.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Checked back to be sure the road was fully open again. It is.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Myers/Olson stoplight still malfunctioning
January 27, 2018 4:54 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:54 PM: The traffic signal at Myers/Olson/1st, at the east end of the SW Roxbury corridor, is still malfunctioning. We got a report this morning, but when we went to check, SDOT was there, so we figured it would be fixed soon. Nope – as of minutes ago, still flashing. Remember, that means all-way stop.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Went back to look – still flashing as of quarter past 9.

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Wild waves today, ‘king tides’ and lunar eclipse next week
January 27, 2018 3:11 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Separate from the Coast Guard response mentioned earlier – it’s an afternoon of wild waves on West Seattle’s western shores:

(WSB photo)

That’s the view looking north from Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, across from Me-Kwa-Mooks. Just after high tide (12:12 pm, 11.6 feet), the water was high enough to go over the stairs and walkway below:

(WSB photo)

At Constellation Park, in-car wave-watching was popular:

(WSB photo)

A texted view:

We can’t guarantee the wind will be up too, but the high tides will be much higher next week – “king tide” level – with the Wednesday (January 31st) full moon: 12.6 feet at 5:25 am that day, 12.9 feet at 6:03 am Thursday, 13.0 feet at 6:40 am Friday – that’s the peak.

Depending on the cloud cover, early risers also have the chance to see the lunar eclipse on Wednesday – starting at 3:48 am, according to Space.com. Totality will be from 4:51 am until 6:05 am; moonset is at 7:44 am.

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UPDATE: US Coast Guard says response off Beach Drive was ‘false alarm’
January 27, 2018 12:54 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo courtesy Doug B)

We are at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, after numerous reports of a US Coast Guard vessel and helicopter off Beach Drive. Big wind and waves, but the USCG was gone when we arrived, and there has been no SFD rescue dispatch of any kind.

(Texted photo)

We reached the USCG after-hours media number and they tell us they got a report of a paddleboarder in distress and sent crews to check it out but it “was a false alarm.”

(Photo courtesy Doug B)

ADDED 1:16 PM: Multiple readers tell us they tracked the paddleboarder in question and that he made it safely around the point to Alki (photo above), where the water is decidedly calmer.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Red CR-V stolen, again
January 27, 2018 11:31 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

That’s Joe‘s red 2001 Honda CR-V. He just got it back from the shop last night after repairs following the theft earlier this month – reported here on January 3rd, with an update when a reader spotted it. Early today, it was stolen again, likely around 3:30 am. Same area as last time, 16th SW/SW Thistle [map]. Plate: AYU3617. Call 911 if you see it.

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10 highlights for your West Seattle Saturday
January 27, 2018 6:34 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Anna’s Hummingbird, photographed by Jamie Kinney)

Your weekend is here! Some ways to spend part of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

TUKWILA TO ALKI HALF-MARATHON: Informal half-marathon, second half of the Green River Marathon route – Tukwila to Alki, starting at 8/9 am – info here. Mostly mentioning in case you see runners and wonder what’s up! (Course map here)

WEST SEATTLE MOMENTIA MIX: Family member/friend with memory loss? This fun 10:30 am-noon Camp Long event is for you:

A free monthly event for community members with memory loss and their family and friends at Camp Long. Enjoy community, tasty treats, and a different creative activity each month, including music, movement, improv, art, bingo, and more!

More info here. (5200 35th SW)

GIỜ ĐỌC TRUYỆN TIẾNG VIỆT! Vietnamese Story Time for young children, at Delridge Library, 11:30-noon. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

TIPS FOR OFFICERS: Serving as an officer for an organization, or thinking about it? 12:30 pm-2:30 pm at High Point Library, Point of Order Parliamentary Law Unit has a presentation that will help you. Details here. (3411 SW Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI OPEN HOUSE & CELEBRATION: 1-3 pm annual winter open house at West Seattle Montessori School & Academy (WSB sponsor), plus a 75th-birthday celebration for longtime staffer Dolores Atwood. Details in our preview – all welcome. (11215 15th SW)

WANT TO HELP LAUNCH A DINNER CLUB IN WEST SEATTLE? As previewed here, an organizational meeting is planned 4-5:30 pm at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – if you’re interested in cooking with, and eating with, neighbors, you’re invited! (3622 SW Snoqualmie)

SEAFOOD FEST AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER: Check to see if tickets are still available for this tasty event at Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction, 5-8 pm. (4736 40th SW)

MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Dennis & Farida & Honeyville Rascals at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

BAREFOOT WONDER, WITH DOUG DEEMS: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

PROLETARIYACHT CLUB CLOSING PARTY: At The Building in Gatewood, PYC is moving on from its residency and hosting a “closing party” tonight “to once more get together and celebrate our ‘incubator for the arts’.” 7:30 pm. (4316 SW Othello)

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West Seattle Transportation Coalition: Student elected to board; Washington State Ferries looks into the future
January 26, 2018 9:18 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: L-R, WSTC board members Sam Cleary and Larry Wymer)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At the same meeting where the West Seattle Transportation Coalition heard about Washington State Ferries‘ work on a plan looking ahead to 2040, the WSTC board added a member who won’t even be middle-aged when that year arrives.

West Seattle High School senior Sam Cleary ran for and won a spot on the WSTC board, with plans to serve at least through the end of the school year. He said that seniors are expected to get involved in something about which they are passionate, and transportation is his chosen topic.

Board chair Michael Taylor-Judd disclosed that board elections are running behind the schedule laid out in the group’s bylaws, but due to some members’ absences, they won’t be able to hold more voting until next month’s meeting. Deb Barker noted that while she intends to remain on the board, she will be stepping out of the secretary role.

LOOKING INTO WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES’ FUTURE: WSF planning manager Ray Deardorf was the guest – arriving an hour late because of the post-Viaduct-crash downtown traffic snarl.

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BE A BEACH NATURALIST: Here’s how to help others enjoy our shores at low tide
January 26, 2018 7:59 pm
|    Comments Off on BE A BEACH NATURALIST: Here’s how to help others enjoy our shores at low tide
 |   How to help | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Love going out on the beach at low tide to explore? Consider doing it this summer as a volunteer beach naturalist helping others learn about our shore and its wildlife. Here’s the announcement from the Seattle Aquarium:

Why do barnacles stand on their heads? What do sea stars like to eat? How do moon snails lay their eggs? Learn to answer these and other fun questions by volunteering as a Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist this summer. Naturalists receive training in the spring, and then spend three low-tide days educating beach visitors about inter-tidal life and beach etiquette at one of twelve Puget Sound beaches. Orientation for new naturalists will be held on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:30 PM. If interested, please register here or contact the Seattle Aquarium by email at beachnaturalist@seattleaquarium.org or by phone at 206-693-6214.

The beaches visited by the volunteers usually include two in West Seattle, at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.

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VIDEO: One more step to go in Hamm Building landmark process
January 26, 2018 4:11 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: One more step to go in Hamm Building landmark process
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

1937photo

Next Monday, the full City Council has the final vote on what’s known as the “controls and incentives” agreement that’s the final step of the city-landmark process for the Hamm Building on the NW corner of California/Alaska in the West Seattle Junction. That follows a committee discussion and vote this past Wednesday that had one twist of note.

At 16:15 into that Seattle Channel video of the Finance and Neighborhoods Committee meeting, the committee gets briefed on the agreements for a new landmark downtown and for the Hamm Building (known officially as the Crescent-Hamm Building for two of its original tenants). The agreement finalizes what part of the property is protected – “the exterior of the building.” (You can read it here.) At the table with Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw and Bruce Harrell, and Erin Doherty from the city Landmark Preservation staff, was Tracey Hsia, a member of the family that owns the Hamm Building. Before the vote, Harrell said he’s always interested in feedback on the landmarking process. Hsia replied by saying that her family, which has owned the 92-year-old building for more than 35 years, “kind of felt like we were attacked” – the landmark designation was proposed by community organizations, and had so much support that they felt there was “no way we could fight it.” She stressed, however, that the family had, and has, no plans to make changes (aside from having a new tenant moving into the ex-Corner Pocket space next month, as noted here).

Also speaking at Wednesday’s meeting (at 5:42 in the video, during the public-comment period) was Jeff McCord, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which played a key role in the process of pursuing landmark designations for the Hamm Building and for the Campbell Building across the street. Monday’s final vote is expected during the 2 pm full council meeting at City Hall.

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SATURDAY: Want to help cook up a ‘dinner club’ for West Seattle?
January 26, 2018 3:01 pm
|    Comments Off on SATURDAY: Want to help cook up a ‘dinner club’ for West Seattle?
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Interested in helping launch a neighborhood dinner club in West Seattle? Lee Kellett is leading a kickoff meeting tomorrow and you’re invited. Don’t bring food – this is just about talking through the idea, and signing up if you’re interested after hearing about the proposed format. 4-5:30 pm Saturday (January 27th) in the Rotary Room next to the entrance of the West Seattle YMCA (3622 SW Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor). You’re also welcome to bring ideas for the club’s name as well as “a copy of a favorite recipe that we might include in a future menu” – optional, not mandatory.

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HALA UPZONING: City Council consideration starts new phase Monday
January 26, 2018 1:40 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Still trying to grasp what the Housing Affordability and Livability Act (HALA)-related upzoning proposal is about? The slide deck above (also viewable here) might help – it is from the agenda for Monday morning’s meeting of the City Council “select committee” that is starting its official work on the citywide upzoning proposal for HALA’s Mandatory Housing Affordability. The proposal includes upzoning in “urban villages” (West Seattle has four – Junction, Admiral, Morgan, and Westwood-Highland Park) as well as all commercial/multifamily property. The document’s title dubs it the “megabriefing.” All councilmembers are on the “select committee,” which meets at 10:30 am Monday at City Hall, with a public-comment period scheduled as part of the meeting. They’re expected to work on the plan at least into late summer before a vote.

P.S. If you’re a big fan of the small print, the full ordinance, as first proposed, is among the links you’ll find here.

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UPDATE: 1 arrested in incident that led to ‘shelter in place’ at Chief Sealth International High School
January 26, 2018 11:53 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

FIRST REPORT, 11:53 AM: According to a PA announcement our crew just heard at Chief Sealth International High School, “shelter in place” has just ended. This comes as police were called to the campus again today, one day after what was described as a “disturbance” brought them there and led to “shelter in place” throughout Thursday afternoon. We don’t know yet if today’s incident – in which a juvenile was taken into custody – is related to what happened yesterday, an incident for which a letter was sent home to parents last night. While it was not sent directly to WSB, several parents sent it to us late last night and early this morning, and we were working on a followup as we got word of today’s incident. The letter from principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:

Dear Chief Sealth International School families:

Teenagers have a complex social life, and sometimes situations that occur in the evening impact the climate of a school community in following days. Today, several students continued a dispute about an incident that happened several days previously. As the dispute escalated, a fight ensued and a larger disturbance was created that required additional Security Office and Seattle Police Department (SPD) support. The school partnered with SPD as we responded together to the dispute. SPD continued their presence through the end of school to ensure that students were safely dismissed.

Please know that we take safety for our students very seriously. District procedures were followed and the situation was resolved quickly and safely.

We are committed to doing everything we can to keep our students safe. We will continue to work with our students on skills to resolve conflict peacefully. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to speak with families and guardians directly.

District spokesperson Kim Schmanke confirmed to WSB that “procedures” yesterday included being in “shelter in place” throughout the afternoon as a “precaution.” While SFD was called to the campus at 11:30 am during yesterday’s incident, they tell us today that no one needed to be transported. We had a request out for the police report on the Thursday incident and also are seeking more information on what happened today, and will add anything more we find out.

ADDED 3:45 PM: SPD has just told us that the report from Thursday’s incident is not yet available but, according to police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson, “It was a fight disturbance between several students … This appeared to have started over an unreported incident off campus a week prior. There were no arrests made and officers were around campus at the end of school to ensure no further incidents occurred. ” Regarding today’s incident, Det. Jamieson adds: “Today there was a second disturbance involving several students at Chief Sealth. This appeared to be a continuation of yesterday’s disturbance. One 17-year-old male was arrested. The fight broke up and school resumed.”

P.S. The Chief Sealth PTSA’s annual safety meeting – at which topics include the difference between shelter-in-place and lockdown – is coming up on February 7th, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW).

ADDED 6:34 PM: Just received from principal Fraser-Hammer, the letter that has gone to families tonight:

Dear Chief Sealth International School families:

I want to notify you of another unfortunate event that occurred at school today. This incident involved a confrontation between four students during lunch. Given the situation that occurred yesterday, and in a spirit of precaution and prevention of further escalation, we immediately called the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and decided to go into a shelter-in-place mode. When Sealth goes into a shelter-in-place, Denny does as well.

Both district security and SPD responded and after we assessed the situation, the shelter-in-place was ended at both schools, returning our campus to a normal school day.

SPD and the district are continuing the investigations, including determining if yesterday’s and today’s incidents are related.

Given these recent occurrences, it is important for us as staff and community members to get together to talk about next steps and ways to prevent situations like this. Please join the Chief Sealth PTSA at their next meeting on 2/7/2018 in High Point at Neighborhood House at 6:30 PM where the topics will include safety within the community and at school. Please also talk with your students about how to solve problems proactively and reporting potential situations that might cause student conflicts. As you are aware, our schools have support for students including counselors, conflict resolution programs and administrative support.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact either of us. We will be happy to speak with families and guardians directly.

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