West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
While the Avalon/35th/Alaska project is about to start construction, another major SDOT project for West Seattle is proceeding in the design phase – and we have new information from a briefing presented to the City Council Transportation Committee. The council had passed a “proviso” requiring council check-ins on the Delridge Multi-Modal/RapidRide H Line project at certain milestones, and the Tuesday briefing was another one – the project has reached 30 percent design. First, here’s the video if you want to see for yourself – the presentation starts 1 hour and 45 minutes in:
See the full slide deck here. Some of the key points discussed – first, the scope of the repaving that will be included:
Because Sound Transit will be building light rail in North Delridge within a decade, SDOT said, they’ve “limited … the scope” of the paving, and heir plan focuses on road resurfacing rather than road rebuilding – a 10-year fix rather than a 40-year fix, the councilmembers were told. The rechannelization was shown in six proposed cross-sections:
The project includes a mix of general traffic, transit, and bicycle lanes, varying by stretch. Besides bus lanes, buses also will benefit from transit-priority signaling and two spots with “queue jumps,” the briefers said. They also summarized key points they took away from the most recent public-comment round in connection with the 10 percent design shown last fall.Those points were shown on this slide:
If you’re wondering why the repaving doesn’t cover all of Delridge – the south stretch was repaved in 2013. This project will start next year, as noted in this timeline:
One thing that slide did not note, though it’s mentioned elsewhere – though Metro is described as committed to launching the RapidRide H Line in September 2021 (a year later than originally envisioned, as we reported last year), stormwater-related work on this ~$72 million project could spill into 2022.
P.S. The updates shown to councilmembers Tuesday are not yet on the project website (we got the slide deck from the meeting agenda).
(Photos courtesy David Wilson)
Thanks to David Wilson for sharing the news about his daughter Nicole Wilson, a lifelong West Seattleite who’s experiencing success with the University of Washington Equestrian Team.
Nicole is a UW junior and recently served as show manager for the first home show that the UW team had sponsored in six years, according to this story in the UW Daily. The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association event at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe drew riders from eight universities around the region. Nicole also serves as PR chair for the team and explained the show to the Daily reporter, whose story as a result shows the work it took to make the show happen. Not only was it a success in organization and execution, the UW team also triumphed with the top point total.
As also reported in the story, Nicole has qualified for the IHSA Western-style-riding semifinals in Utah and will travel later this month to ride for a chance to qualify for nationals. She is an alum of two West Seattle schools – Arbor Heights Elementary and Holy Rosary – and, as the Daily report notes, is working on a new West Seattle connection: Bringing the Highland Park-headquartered Seattle Police Mounted Patrol to the UW campus to raise the riding profile.
We received a couple questions about the new signage at what had been Pailin Thai Cuisine in Admiral (2223 California SW) and is now Spring House Thai Kitchen and Pho. The former owners retired and sold the business, we were told when we reached the restaurant by phone, and the new owners took over just this past Monday. Same menu and hours – 3:30-10 pm Mondays and Tuesdays, 11:30 am-10 pm Wednesdays-Fridays, noon-10 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
From Robyn:
I stopped by Our Lady of Guadalupe this morning to attend Ash Wednesday mass on my way to work and unfortunately left my work bag in my car. Car was parked by water towers (SW Myrtle/35th Ave SW). Sometime between 9:05 am and 10 am my car window was smashed and purse taken with laptop and wallet inside. It was a gray canvas tote bag with leather strap. Just thought I’d alert the neighborhood in case anyone finds it dumped somewhere. Police have been notified.
A year and a half after 15-year-old Derek “Peachy” Juarez-Lopez was stabbed to death in Westcrest Park, the case is one hearing away from resolution. We discovered while checking on court files that all three teenagers arrested after the murder have pleaded guilty – though the murder charge was dropped for one who subsequently pleaded guilty to robbery. That’s the motive investigators cite in the murder, saying that the victim was lured into the wooded park so that marijuana could be stolen from him. Here’s what has happened to the three people arrested and charged a month and a half after the murder, all originally charged with first-degree murder:
–Diego Carballo-Oliveros, now 17: He has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He is expected to be sentenced next week; prosecutors are recommending 20 years plus a two-year sentence to follow for deadly-weapon use.
–Elizabeth Cabrera-Aparicio, now 18: She pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, under juvenile prosecution, and has been sentenced to remain in custody until she is 21, another two and a half years.
–Jonatan Islas-Martinez, now 19: The murder charge against him was dropped and he pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery with use of a deadly weapon. This past Monday, at a hearing that court documents say was attended by family and friends of the victim, he was sentenced to five years and five months, the last two years as the “deadly-weapon enhancement.”
The victim was killed one day before he was to start his sophomore year at Chief Sealth International High School, where he was remembered at a vigil less than two weeks later.
Yes, that’s a “wintry mix” some (us included) are seeing right now, but forecasters insist it’s not going to amount to much, and it’s way too warm for anything to stick. You might see a bit more tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
(Southwestern side of Roxhill Bog, 2014 WSB photo)
From Roxhill Park to the Delridge Triangle, public spaces are part of our toplines from last night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meeting:
BOG PROGRESS: WWRHAH and other community advocates have worked for many years to get action for Roxhill Bog in Roxhill Park, which is compromised by hydrology problems (as outlined in a report we published in 2014). Now there’s word of progress toward getting a study funded, with the first step being outlining the scope of work.
ARTS IN THE PARKS: WWRHAH’s Kim Barnes said a grant from this program will help make the recently announced World Music Day happen this summer. She’s hoping it will be a multicultural celebration as well as a music festival.
DELRIDGE TRIANGLE: The next step in improving this public space is a community workshop on March 23rd, as announced last month. Details of the Saturday morning event at Highland Park Improvement Club are expected before week’s end; other events will follow this spring as community participants plan the space’s future.
POLICE UPDATE: Southwest Precinct operations commander Lt. Steve Strand says crime in the area is down so far this year; police are continuing their emphasis patrols at Westwood Village. Strong-arm robbery is the current focus, because – as precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis mentioned at the recent West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – teens are getting targeted for their phones. The suspects also are juveniles, he said, adding that some arrests have been made.
OTHER RECENT MEETINGS: Recapped were the Southwest Design Review Board meeting for the 9201 Delridge Way SW self-storage project (WSB coverage here), attended by Barnes, and the February D-1 Community Network meeting (WSB coverage here), attended by WWRHAH’s Eric Iwamoto.
The Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meets first Tuesdays most months, 6:15 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
Back on Sunday, we reported that the next big SDOT project in West Seattle – repaving/rechannelization of SW Avalon, plus repaving on three blocks of 35th SW and one block of SW Alaska – will start as soon as next month, and that a pre-construction open house is planned for next week. Questions arose in comments and we took them to Adonis Ducksworth, capital-projects coordinator who is speaking for this project. First question – how long will the construction last and will it be split into “two seasons” this year and next as previously suggested? Ducksworth’s reply:
We anticipate construction starting in mid-April and lasting about 14 months and expect it to be continuous from start to finish. The 2 seasons you mention align with our paving windows. It’s more difficult to pave during the rainy and cold seasons. With this in mind, we expect to do some paving in 2019 and some in 2020 during the drier and warmer seasons. There is a whole host of other work that will be going on while the paving is on hold.
Another question was about what’s to keep the newly repaved street from being torn up for construction-related work, given how much redevelopment is happening in the area. Reply:
This is a good question and one that often comes up when we start construction projects in rapidly developing neighborhoods. Here I would refer your reader to Seattle Municipal Code 15.32.050 (SMC 15.32.050). Essentially it says a five-year pavement moratorium shall be placed on streets that have been resurfaced or reconstructed to preserve the City’s assets and reduce disruption to the traveling public. Note, we updated the code in 2016 to extend the moratorium from 3 to 5 years. With that said, a developer can apply for a waiver; however, we would require them to make significant restorations to the street cuts.
Your reader may also be interested to know that we worked with our Project Coordination Office to alert private developers about the new paving and how important it is that they complete their necessary underground utility work before paving begins this summer.
We also asked if SDOT knows yet where along the project zone the work will begin. Ducksworth’s reply: “In the next couple of weeks we will have a better understanding of the contractor’s plan for sequencing the work.” In the meantime, if you have questions, bring them to the project open house on Thursday, March 14th, 5:30-7 pm at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle (3618 SW Alaska).
P.S. Lots of new information has just emerged about another major SDOT project in the works – the Delridge repaving/rechannelization, and more, accompanying the Route 120 conversion to RapidRide H Line. That story’s coming up this afternoon.
(Photo taken along Beach Drive shore by Joan Miller)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, for the rest of today/tonight:
HOT TOPICS FOR SENIORS: Noon at Southwest Library, stop by for a discussion of the “Green New Deal,” as explained in our calendar listing. (9010 35th SW)
SCHOOL BOARD WORK SESSION ON LEVY PROJECTS: 4:30 pm-7:30 pm, the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors talks about what’s next for the projects that’ll be funded by the recently passed BEX V levy – including a rebuilt Alki Elementary and an addition at West Seattle Elementary. Here’s our preview. The district budget is on the agenda too. (400 23rd Ave.)
ST. PAT’S DAY SOCIAL DASH: Treats and other fun stuff during a special edition of the West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) weekly 6:15 pm group run – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
HOMELESSNESS ADVISER @ SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Tess Colby, senior adviser to the mayor regarding homelessness, is the spotlight guest at SWDC tonight – here’s the agenda. 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)
TRIANGULAR JAZZTET: Biweekly jazz at Whisky West (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. No cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)
JIM PAGE: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. All ages. No cover. (5612 California SW)
OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE SKYLARK: Sign up at 7:30 pm, performances start at 8:30 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘DANCEABLE COUNTRY CLASSICS’: That’s what’s promised at Parliament Tavern tonight, 8:30 pm, during Hank Williams Night featuring The Loose Heels and Friends. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
The family of Patricia North Stamets will say goodbye to her tomorrow and is sharing this remembrance with the community today:
Patricia North Stamets passed away Friday, March 1, 2019, at the age of 93. Patty brought joy and happiness to all the lives she touched.
West Seattle resident Patricia (Patty) North Stamets was born August 13, 1925, in Seattle, Washington to Dr. Charles Quay North and Charlotte Davis North. She grew up in West Seattle with her 5 siblings. Patty attended West Seattle High School. She attended the University of Washington for 3 years, majoring in English Literature, until she married William Kerr Stamets of Pittsburgh, PA.
Patty and Bill were blessed with five children, settling in Bellevue, WA, for a year before moving to Columbiana, Ohio, where Bill worked as an engineer and founded Northeast Ohio Machine Builders. They raised their family in Ohio for over 22 years.
Once her children were grown, Patty returned to the Seattle area settling in Normandy Park. She had a successful real estate career in sales for John L. Scott Real Estate in Residential Properties for the next 25 years in the Burien office. Patty retired in 1995.
Upon retirement, she moved to Winthrop, WA, to become the Resident Manager for the Methow Valley Ranch Ministries, a nonprofit Christian Retreat Center. In 2014, Patty moved back to the West Seattle home of her childhood.
Patty was an avid gardener, DIY crafter, active in women’s Christian groups, and grandmother to 4 grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Patty leaves behind her children – daughter Lilly of Mill Valley, CA; Bill of Chicago. IL; and twins North of Sausalito, CA, and Paul of Shelton, WA. Her son John Stamets of Seattle predeceased her in 2014.
Patty will be buried tomorrow (March 7th) in the morning. A private celebration of her life will follow.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Texted photo)
7:42 AM: Thanks for the photos and texts! That was the double-take scene in Elliott Bay this morning – the heavy-lift ship Zhen Hua 31 carrying four huge cranes, which just yesterday afternoon – as chronicled here – was last seen headed for Tacoma. When we stopped watching, MarineTraffic.com showed it south of Burien. So why was it back off West Seattle this morning? We just checked with Northwest Seaport Alliance spokesperson Katie Whittier, who told us, “The crane vessel left Commencement Bay overnight because the anchors were not setting in the bay floor. … We expect them back in Tacoma at some point this morning.” She promises more details later. Meantime, the ship has indeed sailed south – again – and is shown as off Burien – again.
(Photo by Chris Frankovich, as ship passed southernmost West Seattle this morning)
10:15 AM: More from NWSA’s Whittier:
The cranes have been back in Commencement Bay for a bit over an hour now. We don’t know yet whether they’ve successfully anchored. Last evening when they anchored, they began to drift, so they pulled up the anchor and tried a second location. The same thing happened there, so the captain decided to return to Elliott Bay where he had successfully anchored earlier in the day during the pilot change. A different anchorage location in Commencement Bay will likely be available today but was occupied yesterday.
The engineers will board the vessel after it completes Customs. If all goes according to plan, that will happen late this morning. I should have more information by the end of the day, but as you can imagine, there are a lot of moving pieces and other decision-makers involved in the next steps. Our hope is to bring them to berth by the end of Friday, though that depends on when other ships arrive—unlike last year, Husky Terminal is now a fully-operational facility so we must schedule the cranes to move between other vessel calls.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning! No alerts or incidents so far.
FERRIES: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is down to two boats for a third day.
7:07 AM: A Route 37 bus is stuck on Beach Drive, according to a texter.
7:19 AM: The stuck bus (see photo) is just north of Lowman Beach.
7:49 AM: Metro sent an alert noting that the 6:53 am Route 37 as a result didn’t run.
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