West Seattle, Washington
09 Friday
It’s a springtime tradition – the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce celebrates local businesses and community advocates by presenting the annual Westside Awards at a breakfast event. 
This year, that’ll happen on April 30th – and today, the nominating process is open! Go to this page on the Chamber website to suggest nominees for Westside Business of the Year, Westside Emerging Business of the Year, Westside Not-For-Profit of the Year, Westsider of the Year. Criteria include:
*Nominees will have made a major or visible contribution in the past year that reflects commercial growth and achievement, innovation, creativity or community involvement.
*Contributes and promotes the economic growth, stability and improvement of West Seattle.
*Gives generously of themselves and/or staff in time and resources in community activities.
*Consistently excels in customer service and business conduct.
Past winners are listed here; nominations are open until March 15th.
P.S. Tickets for the April 30th breakfast are on sale, too – go here.
(Another “snowbird”! Yellow-rumped Warbler, photographed by Greg Harrington)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
‘NEVER AGAIN IS NOW’: Day of Remembrance events at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 10:30 am panel discussion, noon keynote speech by Mark Mitsui, president of Portland CC. All welcome. At Brockey Center on the south side of campus. (6000 16th SW)
ENVISIONING SEATTLE’S SMALL-LOT ZONING FUTURE: 5:30 pm at Southwest Library, with local architect Matt Hutchins:
Seattle is going to change thousands of residential lots from “Single Family” to “Residential Small Lot” (RSL) as part of the MHA zoning reform. The rules covering RSL designations have been rewritten, and there are many questions about how it will affect our neighborhoods such as South Park, Highland Park, and the Junctions.
All welcome for a discussion of those questions and more. (9010 35th SW)
NAVIGATION TEAM @ CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: As previewed here on Sunday, city Navigation Team members including Sgt. Eric Zerr are the scheduled guests at tonight’s 7 pm meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council. At the Southwest Precinct, whose leadership will be there as always with local crime/safety updates. All welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
ADVOCACY FOR BIRDS AND CLIMATE – WHAT YOU CAN DO: 7 pm lecture at Senior Center of West Seattle. Registration required – details here. (4217 SW Oregon)
UNPLUGGED – A MUSICAL GATHERING: Acoustic musicians welcome at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
PARLIAMENTALITY PRESENTS: “A night of groove-driven adventures,” 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MUCH MORE … see all the listings on our complete calendar!
That’s Sascha‘s teal-color 1993 Honda Accord wagon, stolen sometime Sunday night/Monday morning near Alki Avenue SW/60th Avenue SW. Plate number BDJ4620, bumper stickers for The Beer Junction and Lake Chelan Mountain View. If you see it, call 911.
5:59 AM: Good morning! As announced late Monday, the new exit ramp from NB 99 to the south end of downtown – taking you to Alaskan Way or Dearborn to 1st Ave. – opened overnight. It’s on the right side of the “live” WSDOT camera above. Its opening means Metro buses are moving to their “interim” routes too. Meantime, here are other cameras we usually feature:
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
One incident to report so far: A crash blocking one lane of NB 5 on the south side of downtown, parallel with 4th/Dearborn.
6:09 AM: That’s clear. Back to the new ramp; one Route 56 rider says her bus did NOT shift over this morning.
6:50 AM: That may have been a “one-off,” as Metro suggests, as it’s even sent an advisory that the former Alaskan Way Viaduct routes will switch over. Meantime, the availability of the new NB 99 ramp has not yet led to the old pre-Viaduct-closure backup on the EB West Seattle Bridge exit, but traffic flow isn’t quite at the “new normal” level yet since this is a break week for Seattle Public Schools.
6:55 AM: Via scanner, we’re hearing that traffic police are assigned to the newly busy 1st/Dearborn intersection.
7:30 AM: The bridge ramp to NB 99 is still flowing well, on this first morning of increased 99 usability; the new exit ramp downtown remains wide open too.
8:59 AM: We noted on Twitter that bridge backups were visible around 8 am. By 8:30, that seemed to have eased. Also of note, this Metro update with more details on the bus changes facilitated by the opening of the new NB 99 exit ramp to Alaskan Way/Dearborn/1st. One commenter asked about the earlier mention that this still isn’t permanent – if you’ve missed previous reports on that, this “pathways” map explains the long-term plan.
9:31 AM: One more transportation note – the new carshares we mentioned after a West Seattle sighting back in December, LimePods, are available to all in Seattle as of today, per email we just received from the company’s PR firm.
(West Seattle section of map featured on City Council’s MHA committee page)
Out of the snowstorm, into the fire. Just as we emerge from the all-consuming wintry weather, major projects and policies are approaching big decisionmaking points. Here’s another one: The city’s proposal for HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning. Thursday night at City Hall, it’s the final big public hearing before the City Council votes on the proposal, which has been more than three years in the making. Before the vote, councilmembers will consider possible amendments to the plan. Among them are amendments proposed by West Seattle/South Park (District 1) Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who explained them in her most-recent weekly update:
… I have been working with community members in each of the Urban Villages in District 1, specifically South Park, Admiral, West Seattle Junction, Westwood-Highland Park, and the Morgan Junction. They have helped me to develop a number of amendments that will, if passed, make changes to the current proposal to reflect the goals held by the community organizations representing those communities, while still implementing MHA in all areas proposed from MHA implementation.
Specifically, I am proposing five amendments with the Junction urban village that would upzone those five areas currently zoned as Single Family to Residential Small Lot (RSL), as opposed to the Executive’s proposal for Low Rise 1, 2, and 3 zoning. The reasoning for this is that the Junction has been identified as the location of a future light rail station; however, the specific alignment and location of the station have not yet been determined. Once that is determined, it will become more clear which properties Sound Transit will need to acquire. This is important because increasing development capacity in these locations may increase the value of the land, and Sound Transit is required to pay for the highest and best use of the land. Sound Transit is already needing third party funding for the development of these lines, and I do not want to see that problem exacerbated. The Community has expressed a desire for additional zoning capacity, but in accordance with the light rail station. To that end, the Office of Planning and Community has committed to beginning a neighborhood planning process in 2019 and 2020.
Additionally, three other amendments I have proposed, one in the Morgan Junction and two in the Westwood-Highland Park urban village, would provide better stair-stepping and avoid harsh transitions from one zone to the next.
At the last meeting of the Council’s Select Committee on Mandatory Housing Affordability, I presented these amendments and some of my colleagues expressed concern. I am proud of District 1, for the most part, embracing the conversion of Single Family Zoning in Urban Villages to RSL. This is significant progress from a year ago when there was fierce opposition in some corners to any changes to Single Family Zoning in Urban Villages. I believe it’s my responsibility, in governing to collaborate with my constituents, and in that spirit, I will continue to champion these amendments. I encourage you to come to the public hearing on Thursday the 21, to share your thoughts about these amendments, because I could use your help. …
Herbold also talked about HALA MHA and her proposed amendments at last Thursday’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting:
If you can’t make it to Thursday’s hearing (5:30 pm in Council chambers, 600 4th Ave.) you can also voice your opinion to councilmembers by emailing council@seattle.gov.
TIMELINE: After Thursday’s hearing, the council expects to vote on amendments and other related bills next Monday afternoon (February 25th), after their regular weekly afternoon meeting, around 2:30 pm. The final vote on HALA MHA, amended or not, is expected during the 2 pm council meeting on March 18th.
NOT SURE WHAT HALA IS? Herbold’s aforementioned weekly update includes a short primer/recap. The city’s interactive maps will show you how any particular property will or won’t be affected by the upzoning proposals, as they stand now.
The next major piece of the puzzle in the viaduct-to-tunnel transition will be in place by tomorrow morning – the new exit ramp from northbound Highway 99 into the south end of downtown will be open by tomorrow morning, as just announced by WSDOT:
The end of the holiday weekend brings the start of a new way for drivers and bus riders to get to downtown Seattle from northbound State Route 99.
The new off-ramp near the sports stadiums will open for drivers in time for the morning commute Tuesday, Feb, 19.
This new exit ramp leads to a new intersection at South Dearborn Street where drivers can choose to head straight to Alaskan Way and the waterfront, or turn right to access First Avenue and downtown or SODO. This video shows what the choices look like:
In addition to being an important link for travelers, engineers and researchers hope this new ramp will provide a link to something else – earthquake-resistant bridges.
This ramp is the first in the world built with flexible metals and bendable concrete designed to sway with a strong earthquake and return to its original shape. Its innovative design has won regional and national recognition.
After the opening of the new off-ramp, some bus routes will be adjusted. Please see King County Metro’s website for additional information.
(We’ll be following up separately with Metro and SDOT about the timeline for that and for other changes such as the end of the temporary 4th Avenue bus ramp/lane from the West Seattle Bridge. *6:56 PM UPDATE* Metro says yes, buses will shift to the new ramp starting Tuesday.)
WSDOT had warned for months that the exit ramp would take another one to two weeks to finish, after the opening of the Highway 99 tunnel; the recent snow added a few days to that timeline. Without this ramp, everyone using NB 99 in the past two weeks from West Seattle or points south has had to do so without being able to exit until north of the tunnel.
(WSB file photo)
The snow is mostly melted and even if a few more flakes fall, spring is just a month away and it’s time to think about gardening – from planters to P-Patch plots. One good way to get going with plans for your growing: The annual West Seattle Seed Swap is set for Sunday (February 24th), 2 pm-3:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2306 42nd SW. This year, the free seed swap is hosted by Terraganics Living, which manages the King County Seed Library‘s location there. Terraganics says, “This is a FREE event. Everyone is welcome, including new gardeners looking for inspiration and some seed varieties to get started. … If you’re bringing seeds to share, please bring as much information as you have about your seeds, such as variety, growth habit, and days to maturity.” The event will include a table of gardening resources, gardening books available for checkout from the Seattle Public Library, and a coloring activity for kids. Any leftover seeds will go toward replenishing the Seed Library.
1:39 PM: Also winning third place at the district tournament in Bellevue today, the West Seattle HS boys, who just wrapped up their win over O’Dea, 58-54. Photos and details to come.
ADDED 7:06 PM: Between a short-lived early lead for O’Dea and their late-in-the-game challenge, it was all West Seattle. And a large part of that was #22, senior Nuh’Kosi Roberson:
He led West Seattle with 25 points. Roberson and teammates kept the Fighting Irish on the run all game, no sign of the slowdown offense they tried in Saturday’s loss. By early in the second quarter, they were already up by 14 points. Second leading WSHS scorer of the game was #3, (corrected) junior Sage Nelson:
#24, senior Abdullahi Mohamed, shone more on the boards than on the scoreboard, totaling 8 points.
They were in charge throughout the second quarter and went into the locker room ahead 33-22 at the half.
Not much changed in the third, but O’Dea made a run for it in the fourth, cutting the Wildcats’ lead to six points with five minutes to go and staying within that range for a while, whittling their deficit to five points before West Seattle #15, junior Xavier Giomi (above), netted a crucial three-pointer. O’Dea still wasn’t giving up, and was just three points back in the final half-minute, but head coach Keffrey Fazio‘s Wildcats held on for the win.
WHAT’S NEXT: On to regionals/state starting next weekend – the matchups haven’t been announced yet, but watch here.
12:22 PM: The West Seattle HS girls took third place in districts with a 57-54 win over Lake Washington this morning. Full details to come!
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
ADDED 3:42 PM: Neither team pulled away at any point during this game, but the Wildcats found their surest footing when it counted most, in the late going.
Something new to look forward to in West Seattle this summer! From the WSB inbox, this announcement:
RRoxhill Community Events in partnership with Seattle Arts in Parks and the Seattle Parks Foundation is proud to announce this Summer 2019, Roxhill Park World Music Day!
Roxhill Park World Music Day: Connecting Cultures Through Community, will be a one-day live music festival featuring performances from artists representative of the people of the surrounding neighborhood.
Roxhill Park Community Events is seeking volunteers to help plan and promote the event. If you’re interested in learning more about the help needed please get in touch at: info@roxhillpark.org
(Another Mark Wangerin “snowbird” photo – Dark-Eyed Junco)
LIBRARIES: All Seattle and King County library-system locations are closed.
CITY PARKS: Here’s what’s closed and what’s open.
TRASH/RECYCLING/ETC. PICKUP: Seattle Public Utilities says it’s expecting pickups to be back on regular schedule this week.
FREE-PARKING DAY: If you’re going to a neighborhood that has street parking with city pay stations, there’s no charge today.
Also today/tonight:
BASKETBALL: Both West Seattle High School teams play for third place at the district tournament – girls vs. Lake Washington at 10 am, boys vs. O’Dea at 11:45 am, both games at Sammamish High School. (100 140th Ave. SE, Bellevue)
QUIZFIX TRIVIA: 7:30 pm at The Skylark, all ages, free, prizes! (3803 Delridge Way SW)
6:26 AM: Good morning. No incidents to report. Transit notes on this holiday:
METRO: Reduced-weekday service
WATER TAXI: Full two-boat service
8:42 AM: Still no incidents or alerts.
10:48 PM: Big police response in, and headed toward, South Delridge, after a reported armed robbery. We haven’t heard who was robbed or exactly where but the 9000 block of Delridge Way SW was mentioned. An officer who at one point had a suspect in sight described him via radio communication as a black male teenager, 5’11”, 180, hoodie, bright-orange beanie, handgun. A K9 team is joining the search.
10:59 PM: The description has changed the suspect’s estimated weight from 180 to 130 and honed the age to around 17 years old.
11:21 PM: Still searching.
12:11 AM: Still an active search, and it’s ranged quite a distance from the original scene. By the way, if you wondered about the bursts of sirens, here’s an explanation from an incident a few months ago.
1:01 AM: The search has wound down, no one reported in custody. We’ll follow up on incident details when the written report is available, which probably won’t be before Tuesday.
(WSB photo, March 2017)
We first met Sgt. Eric Zerr shortly after the city’s Navigation Team was launched two years ago. Since then, its work with homeless people has continued to gain attention. If you have a question about that work, you have a chance to hear from, and talk with, Sgt. Zerr and other Navigation Team members at this Tuesday’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. WSCPC president Richard Miller tells WSB that he’s confirmed them as guests at the monthly meeting. As always, you’re also welcome to bring neighborhood crime/safety concerns to Southwest Precinct police who’ll be there too. Tuesday’s meeting is at the precinct, 2300 SW Webster, 7 pm.
After reporting on the permanent closure of B’s Po Boy on Alki, we received this email from Alex Piano regarding Hawks Nest West about a block west, at 2806 Alki SW:
We are sad to announce that the Hawks Nest West on Alki has been sold to new ownership. They will be changing the concept and re-branding over the next few months.
We were given an opportunity to open a new sister location close to our original Hawks Nest in the SoDo area, we had to make the tough decision to sell our Alki spot to remain viable.
We had a fun run, learned a lot and want to say thank you to all the all the local sports fans who came in and enjoyed two exciting Seahawks seasons with us! We had an awesome time and made some amazing new friends. Don’t worry, the original Hawks Nest will be around for the long haul.
We will miss West Seattle and hope to see everyone downtown for the upcoming season! We still live in West Seattle and plan to be involved in the community! Please welcome the new ownership as they are excited to be in the community!
GO HAWKS!
Hawks Nest Ownership
We went by for a look; no note or sign, but definitely dark. We’re not sure exactly when it closed – on social media, a post last month mentioned transition to new ownership but not closure. We’ve noticed it (like B’s) listed for a while as a “business opportunity for sale”, but that kind of listing is often made while the business remains open.
SITE HISTORY: Before the change to Hawks Nest West a year and a half ago, this was Alki Huddle (closed in fall 2016), which followed Bamboo Bar and Grill (closed in fall 2014).
Thanks for the photo! A reader sent us that as artist Desmond Hansen worked on his newest signal-box portrait this afternoon, this time at Fauntleroy/Avalon. (Thanks also to the person who sent a text-only tip earlier; we subsequently passed the scene but were unable to get a photo.) If somehow you don’t recognize the faces, they are the Seattle rock ‘n’ roll sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. They’re the first women in Hansen’s set of tributes; he had said on Instagram that he had “a bunch of female icons coming up.”
Reader report from TD – a car break-in west of The Junction:
My Subaru Outback was gone through sometime last night. I thought I had locked it, but the battery is going out in my key fob and it might not have locked when pressed.
Nothing damaged and I don’t keep enough valuable stuff in the car for it to be much of a haul… a cheap cellphone auto charger, roll of dog poo bags, pair of cheap binoculars for bird watching and 1/2 book of stamps were the most valuable, along with some random papers, maps and a small notebook with non important information in it. The biggest concern is that they got my auto registration papers and owner’s manual, which I will have to replace.
This happened “in the alley between 46th and 47th, Oregon and Alaska,” and a police report has been filed.
(Recent Lincoln Park sunset scene photographed by Jonathan Shipley)
So much natural beauty in West Seattle – particularly in our parks. Want to help others learn about and enjoy it? This opportunity is for you!
Seattle Parks and Recreation is accepting applications for our Seattle Urban Nature Guide program. Up to 50 applicants will be accepted into this unique program that includes training on how to be a naturalist and interpret the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest.
The program is entirely free, and those accepted into the program make a one-year commitment Training, includes 5 weeks of classes and outdoor instruction in which new volunteers learn naturalist programming and the natural and cultural history of the Puget Sound area. Higher priority will be given to volunteers interested in guiding school programs in West Seattle.
Volunteers will have access to an excellent natural-history library, develop and hone communication, public speaking and group management techniques; and promote conservation and stewardship of natural resources.
“The people who enter this program have a chance to share fun, fellowship and community with others who enjoy nature and appreciate parks,” said professional Seattle Parks and Recreation Naturalist Penny Rose, who oversees the program.
Volunteers who complete the training are then asked to commit to at least one year of volunteering, including guiding 8 programs for school groups or public programs. Continuing education is offered throughout each year.
Successful applicants will enjoy working with children and the public, have the physical ability to lead group walks over rough terrain, feel comfortable working outdoors and would enjoy volunteering in West Seattle at Camp Long, Longfellow Creek or other parklands.
Applications for the volunteer program are due on Thursday, March 21st. Training begins at the end of March and continues through April.
For more information, and for a complete application packet, please visit our website, or contact Penny Rose at penny.rose@seattle.gov.
(WSB photo: San Juan Clipper on West Seattle Water Taxi run at Seacrest last Wednesday)
If you’re still catching up post-snow, here’s a reminder for tomorrow, from the King County Water Taxi:
This coming Monday, February 18, both the West Seattle and Vashon Island Water Taxis will be in service on the Presidents Day holiday. The Vashon route will be operating its normal commuter schedule and the West Seattle route will be operating its enhanced SR-99 (transition) schedule. Please check the King County Water Taxi website for scheduled departure times.
Expanded service during the SR 99 closure will remain through March 27: The West Seattle Water Taxi expanded service has departures every 20 minutes during peak commute times and is offering midday service. There is still a lot of capacity on each and every sailing, plus room on free shuttle routes 773 and 775, room on Ride2 on-demand shuttles, and 100 – 200 free spaces still available daily at the Pier 2 parking lot across from 7-Eleven on Harbor Avenue. Vessels depart the dock at the departure time, so riders are advised to allow time to board the vessel.
Metro buses tomorrow will be on the “reduced weekday” schedule.
(Another “snowbird” photo by Mark Wangerin – a Downy Woodpecker)
A lively day-before-Presidents Day – here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Tulips from Alm Hill Gardens are among the items you’ll find at this week’s market in the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
ALKI OYSTER FEST: 1-6 pm at the West Seattle Brewing Tap Shack and neighboring Ampersand Café, a celebration of oysters, with music, beverages, raffles, more – details in our calendar listing. (2536 Alki SW)
JAMTIME: Live bluegrass/old-time music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, THE MUSICAL’: 3 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, presented by Twelfth Night Productions. (4711 California SW)
SKYLARK ART MART: With music, comedy, more, 3-7 pm at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
THEATER AT THE TAVERN: Monthly edition of Drunken Owl Theater at Parliament Tavern, 7 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(3:29 pm update – sold out!) SILENT MOVIE WITH MUSIC: Rin-Tin-Tin in “Clash of the Wolves” plus Dennis James on the Mighty Wurlitzer at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm. Details in our calendar listing! (7904 35th SW)
THAT’S NOT ALL! See for yourself, here.
Story and photos/video by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It was a full house at at Easy Street Records on Saturday night for a free in-store performance by Guster.
The band, formed in Boston in 1991, is touring in support of their new album “Look Alive.” Their appearance featured a 30-minute set and a meet-and-greet autograph session with fans, before the band headed downtown for a sold-out show at the Showbox.
Singer and guitarist Ryan Miller thanked fans for their support, noting that the band had previously played at the Easy Street location in Queen Anne (closed in 2013) many years ago, but it was their first time at the West Seattle store.
Here’s a snippet of video from the performance:
Next up on Easy Street’s in-store calendar: Cold Soda, 7 pm next Saturday (February 23).
9:40 PM: Another big police response tonight -this one is happening right now in the 35th/Roxbury vicinity. Per radio communication, they’re investigating a reported burglary at a residence. They’ll be searching the area with K-9 assistance.
10:16 PM: No further details. Police are still at the scene in the 9400 block of 35th SW but the wider search is reported to be winding down.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
FIRST REPORT, 8:31 PM: Just over at Sammamish HS in Bellevue, an overtime heartbreaker for the West Seattle High School girls, losing to Garfield in the district semifinals, 65-59. They play Lake Washington for third place at 10 am Monday, same location but in the lower gym. Full story and photos to come.
ADDED 11:55 PM: This one was intensely fought all the way. Garfield was the tournament’s top seed, West Seattle fourth, but the Wildcats had the Bulldogs in check for a good long time.
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