West Seattle, Washington

18 Thursday

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month : 07/2019 295 results

Park project updates, policing, politics, more @ Morgan Community Association
July 17, 2019 9:33 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Toplines from tonight’s quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting, just wrapped up at The Kenney (WSB sponsor).

MORGAN JUNCTION PARK EXPANSION: Karen O’Connor from Seattle Parks followed up on the presentation of park design concepts at last month’s Morgan Junction Community Festival.

(WSB photo from park project booth @ June festival)

As mentioned here last week, a survey is now open on the city website. The survey is expected to stay open until next Monday. Other updates: SDOT will give up jurisdiction of the street end that’s between the current park and the expansion site; A schematic design will soon go to the Design Commission and then to another community meeting. Asked about soil mitigation that will have to be done at the site (which previously held businesses including a dry cleaner), O’Connor said that likely will be discussed at the community meeting (which will probably be held in September).

LOWMAN BEACH SEAWALL: Barker read a late-breaking update from Seattle Parks’ David Graves. They’re now at 60 percent design. Plans will be up online by the start of next week. He said the city has received Aquatic Lands Enhancement grant from the state, so the project is fully funded. He also wrote that the West Seattle Tennis group headed by Lisa Corbin is looking at a replacement for the tennis court that’ll be removed because of the project. Construction is expected next year. He’ll bring updated designs and more info to MoCA’s next quarterly meeting October 16th.

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NIGHT OUT: Registered your block party yet?
July 17, 2019 8:22 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

We are now less than three weeks from Night Out 2019, a night to gather with your neighbors and celebrate community while reflecting on safety. Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner is reminding you to register your block (building) party – a requirement if you plan to close a street (non-arterials only), but appreciated even if you don’t. August 6th is the night; deadline for registration is August 4th. (And if you wouldn’t mind us stopping by to photograph your party, email us before Night Out – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!)

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Roadside reminders, and radio operators’ role
July 17, 2019 5:06 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

With three days to go until the West Seattle Grand Parade, the no-parking signs are up along California SW, Admiral to Edmunds, and some side streets near the start and end of the route that are used for staging, detours, and breakdown. The parade (11 am Saturday, July 20th) is preceded by the Float Dodger 5K (9:30 am – registration’s still open) and the PAWrade in The Junction (here’s how you and your dog[s] can be in it!), so it’s a big morning/early afternoon; please heed the signs. P.S. – bus reroute info is now available.

As we continue previewing the parade, a big shoutout to the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club. You might not notice the role amateur-radio operators play in keeping the parade running smoothly once the entries (~75 this year) start rolling south from California/Lander. This year, explains parade co-coordinator Jim Edwards (a WSARC member himself), 20 radio operators will be along the route, communicating about how things are going. The WSARC also is staffing the new added review (announcing) stand at California/Charlestown. You’ll also see WSARC’s own Cora in the parade with her famous moves. The club is a parade sponsor this year too! (Find out more about WSARC – whose members span a wide range of ages – here.)

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Concert series about to start, and other Admiral Neighborhood Association toplines
July 17, 2019 3:13 pm
|    Comments Off on Concert series about to start, and other Admiral Neighborhood Association toplines
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

That’s Sway Wild, which you’ll see tomorrow night at the first of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. The six-concert series has been presented for a decade by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, so it was on the agenda when ANA held its semimonthly meeting last week. Stephanie Jordan coordinates the series for ANA and reported everything’s ready to go – you might have seen the posters/promo cards that debuted last weekend:

You can find out more about the six-Thursday-night lineup on the ANA website. Ahead, other toplines from the July 9th meeting:

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THIS WEEKEND: Young Shakespeare Workshop performance @ Roxhill Park
July 17, 2019 1:34 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Westwood | WS culture/arts

(Photo courtesy Young Shakespeare Workshop)

It’s not your first chance this summer to see a Shakespeare play in a West Seattle park – but it’s the only one featuring the national-award-winning Young Shakespeare Workshop: 6 pm Sunday (July 21st) at Roxhill Park (29th/Barton), you’re invited to see YSW’s production of “The Merchant of Venice.” From YSW director Darren Lay (a Vashon resident):

The Revolving Company of the nationally awarded Young Shakespeare Workshop presents a free performance in the birch grove at Roxhill Park. Bring a picnic dinner if you like and dine with the Doge, no Gondola required.

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

“Tell me where is fancy bred, or in the heart, or in the head?”

– a question posed in song in this curious and complex play in which Shakespeare also explores the antithetical question of where is loathing bred, and of course some silliness by way of the clown Launcelot Gobbo.

This event is made possible with funding from Arts in Parks by Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Free, all ages welcome. YSW is in its third decade!

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Locust Cider opens its Alki taproom
July 17, 2019 11:35 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

Thanks for the tips! Less than two months after we broke the news that Locust Cider planned a taproom in the former Alki Urban Market space, it’s open. All ages are welcome; hours are noon-8 pm Sundays-Wednesdays, noon-9 pm Thursdays-Saturdays. Check here to see what’s on tap.

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7 for your West Seattle Wednesday!
July 17, 2019 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on 7 for your West Seattle Wednesday!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Northern Flicker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Highlights for the hours ahead:

LOW TIDE: Interested in low-tide beach exploring? Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists are out 10:30 am-1:30 pm at Constellation Park (61st/Beach Drive – look for the sign) and on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, walk in). Today’s lowest tide is -1.7 feet at 11:56 am.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES: Lunch-and-Learn event with the Equity in Education Coalition at Bethaday Community Learning Space, noon-1:30 pm. See the speaker list here. (605 SW 108th)

STOP SENIOR SCAMMING: Learn to protect yourself from scammers! Free presentation, 2 pm at Brookdale West Seattle. (4611 35th SW)

JUBILEE DAYS CARNIVAL: White Center Jubilee Days start today with the carnival! Second year at White Center Heights Elementary‘s field. 3 pm-10 pm. (10015 6th SW)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Second of this year’s weekly farm-stand sessions, selling fresh produce and flowers grown steps away. 4 pm-7 pm. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm quarterly meeting at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). See the agenda here. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

PROTEST POETRY: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor):

Launch of UK-based Last Bench Journal’s solicitation of unpublished North American protest poetry for a September publication. Lyn Coffin, Seattle writer and one of the editors, will be on hand.

(5612 California SW)

MANY MORE OPTIONS … on our complete calendar!

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YOU CAN HELP! Local school needs volunteers for Roots of Empathy
July 17, 2019 10:05 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From the WSB inbox, with an eye toward fall:

Have you been wondering how you can give back to the West Seattle community? Have you ever considered becoming a Roots of Empathy Instructor? Alki Elementary is in need of volunteers who are willing to train as Roots of Empathy Instructors in the coming school year. Applications are currently being accepted and training dates are scheduled for October 16th – 18th, 2019.

What is Roots of Empathy? Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that fosters empathy in children, now entering its 13th year of partnership with elementary schools in the Seattle area. Alki Elementary has participated in Roots of Empathy since 2013 and they are looking for a few more people who are willing to give time to children and watch them evolve over the school year as they watch “their” baby grow.

Want to see what Roots of Empathy looks like? Click to view a recent BBC World Hacks feature on the Roots of Empathy program. You can learn more about what being an Instructor means here.

Please reach out to Melissa Soltani, local Program Manager, at msoltani@rootsofempathy.org if you’re interested in joining Roots of Empathy in changing the world, child by child.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch
July 17, 2019 7:29 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:29 AM: Good morning.

STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT: Sounders play at 7:30 pm; that means the West Seattle Water Taxi has an extended night schedule.

SATURDAY STREET CLOSURES: The West Seattle Grand Parade will close California SW south of Admiral Way, to Edmunds, by 8 am Saturday, until early afternoon. Some side streets near the start and end of the route are used for staging and breakdown. Watch for – and heed – the NO PARKING signs.

7:39 AM: Checking Twitter, we have warnings that the 35th SW construction zone south of Avalon is “much worse” this morning.

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PREVIEW: West Seattle Grand Parade 2019’s marching bands
July 16, 2019 11:32 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

(Rainbow City Marching Band in West Seattle at 2017 Band Jam)

All week, we’re previewing Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade (11 am, southbound on California from Lander to Edmunds. Tonight, the marching bands that – as of Monday night’s lineup meeting are expected! As always, the award-winning All-City Band will be there, with student musicians from all over Seattle.

(All-City Band in 2018 West Seattle Grand Parade)

You can also expect to see the Kennedy Catholic High School band from Burien. Coming up from even further south, the Sumner High School Band. And Huskies will get to cheer for the University of Washington Alumni Band. Also planning to make music in the WSGP, the Rainbow City Marching Band. They’re all part of the ~75-entry parade presented by the West Seattle Rotary Foundation and coordinated by a hard-working group of volunteers. If you enjoy looking behind-the-scenes, be at the start of the parade route, early, and watch them in action. You can watch the parade from anywhere along the route; if you’re in The Junction, you’ll also see the PAWrade right before the Grand Parade – you can even be part of it! More previews to come.

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Water break in Morgan Junction
July 16, 2019 9:39 pm
|    Comments Off on Water break in Morgan Junction
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

The photo is courtesy of Deb Barker, who reports that crew is on scene fixing a water break:

Just talked with supervisor Oscar, who said that the main broke because it’s old. His emergency repair crew will have to shut off the water to repair the pipe tonight. He’s notifying businesses between Graham and Holly to find out when they close to be least disruptive. The crew will backfill and temp patch the hole tonight. They know it’s a bus route.

(Deb is president of the Morgan Community Association, which incidentally has its quarterly meeting tomorrow night – info and agenda here.)

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VIDEO: 2019 Concert in the Park with West Seattle Big Band
July 16, 2019 7:30 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

7:30 PM: Great night for a concert, and the West Seattle Big Band has drawn a great crowd to the east lawn at Hiawatha.

You still have time to get there – the free concert’s on until about 8:30. More coverage to come!

ADDED: The WSBB, directed by Jim Edwards, played up a storm until almost 8:45! A sample, featuring vocalist Jenaige Lane:

And the big finale:

One more thing to add – the special Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community presentation to philanthropist Adah Rhodes Cruzen!

ADDED WEDNESDAY: Adah (above with Michelle Edwards, WSBB member and West Seattle Grand Parade co-coordinator) accepted the award after an introduction by Barbara Edwards, who detailed her philanthropy. Her donations have enabled restoration of some of the murals her late husband, Earl Cruzen, made happen, as well as the new Welcome to West Seattle sign. She noted in her remarks that he had left her “extra zeroes” to carry on his legacy. You can cheer her as she rides with the trophy in Saturday’s parade (11 am, southbound on California SW from Lander to Edmunds).

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WATER TAXI: Downtown dock move postponed, so it’ll run next week after all
July 16, 2019 5:43 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

(King County aerial photo – temporary Water Taxi dock at left, almost-complete new one at right)

The King County Water Taxi will NOT take the week off next week for its downtown dock move after all, the county just announced:

The King County Water Taxi will remain in service the week of July 22-28 at Pier 52 to allow additional time to complete necessary work at the new Pier 50 passenger terminal, and a planned temporary suspension of service to move to the new facility will be announced soon

(This will provide) additional time for contractor crews to finish necessary security and safety installations and ADA accessibility projects. Passengers will continue to board and disembark at the temporary facility on Pier 52 until the new facility is opened.

Temporary service suspension of all Water Taxi routes will be announced soon. During that time, crews will finish work at the new facility at Pier 50 including moving the gangway, finishing flooring, and installing electronic equipment.

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Future redevelopment at Providence Mount St. Vincent? Hearing Wednesday on proposed city Comprehensive Plan change
July 16, 2019 3:53 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Should the West Seattle Junction Hub Urban Village boundary be extended to include Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW)?

Tomorrow when the Seattle City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee considers a stack of proposed amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, that proposal will be among them.

(Text here in PDF.) The 9:30 am Wednesday committee meeting at City Hall includes a public hearing. This is only midway through a long process of deciding whether the proposed amendment will be approved, but it’s of interest (thanks to Diane for the tip!) because in the document explaining the proposal, it’s explained as a potential precursor to redevelopment on the site:

The requested changes would provide Providence Mount St. Vincent greater height (50’ versus 40’) and a greater FAR (2.3 versus 1.8), while keeping the current zoning designation of LR3(M). These increases would be beneficial to expanding the existing and potential future uses, which include assisted living apartments, P.A.C.E, children day care, physical and occupational therapy services, a chapel, and the Sisters of Providence retirement home.

Here’s the full document:

It also says that The Mount’s planning is in the early stages and they expect to have community meetings about their plans before year’s end. We have a message out to The Mount’s leadership in hopes of finding out a bit more about what they’re hoping to build.

Meantime, back to tomorrow morning’s council-committee agenda. Other possible Comprehensive Plan amendments proposed, of West Seattle interest:

*An amendment to change the zoning of 2938-2944 Alki Avenue SW from single family to multifamily (text here in PDF)

*An amendment to change the zoning of 4501-4509 SW Admiral Way from Lowrise 1 to Lowrise 3 (text here in PDF)

Neither of those is recommended for advancing (“docketing”). Tomorrow’s meeting also includes a briefing on the city permit backlog and suggestions of ways to ease it, such as simplifying the city code, described as now up to 867 pages.

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VIDEO: Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition at the two-thirds-done mark
July 16, 2019 2:02 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

That’s a new video made public today by WSDOT, which says demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is now two-thirds complete. The video tells what WSDOT calls the “behind-the-scenes” story as the demolition work moves south to Pioneer Square. The full update on what’s happening next, and where, is here.

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CANOE JOURNEY: Alki Beach stop this week
July 16, 2019 12:16 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, July 2018)

On Thursday, some of the canoe families participating in this year’s Intertribal Canoe Journey, the Paddle to Lummi, will stop at Alki Beach. We’ve confirmed with the Alki-hosting Muckleshoot Tribe‘s cultural director Willard Bill Jr. that they are expected to start arriving around noon on Thursday. Fewer canoes this year because the journey is northbound – he says they’re expecting about 15. They will then travel by land to the Muckleshoot Powwow Grounds in Auburn and depart Alki on Friday morning for the next stop – here’s a map of the stops before and after (those stopping here will have been with the Puyallup Tribe the night before, and headed to Suquamish the night after). Every year a different tribe/nation in the region hosts the celebration at the end of the journey route.

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5 for your West Seattle Tuesday!
July 16, 2019 11:08 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

That’s a three-foot-wide jellyfish that Mark Wangerin photographed recently. If you see one – don’t touch it! And as our first calendar highlight of the day points out, you do have reason to be out on the shore …

LOW-LOW TIDE: Not as low as in early July but still a good day for beach exploring, especially since the weather has cleared. Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists are out through 1 pm at Constellation Park (61st/Beach Drive – look for the sign) and on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, walk in). The lowest tide is -1.9 feet at 11:19 am.

EMMA SCHMITZ OVERLOOK SEAWALL REPLACEMENT: Come see a short presentation and get your questions about the Beach Drive shoreline project answered, 6:30 pm at Alki Community Center. (5823 SW Stevens)

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION CRIME/POLICING: Live/work in The Junction? This is your focus group to share your opinioons about crime, safety, policing. 6:30 pm at West Seattle Library. (2306 42nd SW)

BIG BAND CONCERT IN THE PARK: As previewed yesterday, the annual free West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park (co-sponsored by WSB) is at 7 pm tonight on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center. Bring your own chair/blanket to sit on the grass – or stand up and dance, sway, as the music moves you! Special intermission presentation of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community, which will be carried in the West Seattle Grand Parade this (corrected) Saturday by honoree Adah Rhodes Cruzen. (Walnut/Lander)

BELLY DANCING: Jet City RAQS at The Skylark, free, all ages, 7 pm! (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen purple Civic (found!)
July 16, 2019 10:12 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT: That’s Olivia‘s car, and she is hoping you will help watch for it: “My car was stolen last night between the hours of 11:00 pm and 6:00 am this morning. It is a 2000 Honda Civic four-door in Plum Pearl (dark purple). No bumper stickers or cosmetic damage.” It was stolen on the county side of 25th/Roxbury so a report is on file with the King County Sheriff’s Office; call 911 if you see it.

ADDED THURSDAY NIGHT: Update from Olivia – “SPD found my car on the 9400 block of 15th Ave SW and I was able to drive it away.”

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
July 16, 2019 6:58 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

6:58 AM: Good morning. No incidents/alerts in our area so far.

10:08 AM: Crash blocking the outside eastbound lane at the crest of the West Seattle Bridge.

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ELECTION 2019: 20 questions for City Council District 1 candidates @ West Seattle Summer Fest forum
July 15, 2019 11:18 pm
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(View from the stage during Sunday’s forum)

Later this week, King County Elections will mail ballots for the August 6th primary, and you can vote as soon as yours arrives.

With that looming, the three contenders in our area’s highest-profile race, Seattle City Council District 1, spent an hour answering questions Sunday afternoon on the West Seattle Summer Fest Community Stage – Lisa Herbold, Brendan Kolding, and Phil Tavel. Your WSB co-publishers (Tracy Record and Patrick Sand) moderated the forum, which we presented in partnership with the West Seattle Junction Association (which brings you the festival each year). We chose the questions, some ours, but mostly from readers, as solicited here last week. Here’s how the hour went:

(One caveat about our recording – about halfway through, internal condensation blurred the center of the lens, so it’s more useful as audio than video from that point, fourth camcorder we’ve worn out in 12 years.)

As with our recent video interviews, we are not transcribing the questions and full answers – you’ll have to watch/listen for those – but rather, summarizing. Words are only exact quotes if you see them inside quotation marks. We had each candidate answer each question, with a :30 hard cutoff, plus a closing question and closing statement for which we allowed 1 minute each. Ahead, summaries of the 20 questions and answers:

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: New place to watch and listen!
July 15, 2019 9:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

(Vancouver, B.C. Police Motorcycle Drill Team in 2018 West Seattle Grand Parade – they’re back this year)

We’re counting down to Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, which starts at California/Lander at 11 am and heads south to The Junction. Tonight we sat in on the lineup meeting, during which the parade’s longtime volunteer coordinators arrange the order of entries – there’s an art to everything from making sure the marching bands and drill teams are evenly spaced, to deciding who’s parading immediately before and after the Seafair Pirates! (Earplugs ahoy.) And we learned about a new feature this year: An extra “reviewing stand” at California/Charlestown. Traditionally the only place you can hear the parade announced as it passes is in the heart of The Junction – that continues this year, with Brian and Christa Callanan your announcing team there, but they’ve also added announcing at California/Charlestown, where Ron Zuber will be at the mike. ~75 entries in the parade – more previews every day this week!

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FOLLOWUP: OutWest Bar sets final night
July 15, 2019 7:26 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

When we reported a week ago that OutWest Bar (5401 California SW) would be closing, proprietor Bob Lunke hadn’t yet decided on the final night. Today, we got word that he has – this Sunday (July 21st), 4-10 pm. The big farewell party is still on for this Friday (July 19th), as previously announced. Lunke cited a variety of factors in his decision to close West Seattle’s only LGBTQ+-focused nightlife venue after 8 years.

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BIZNOTES: 2 potential new tenants for Westwood Village
July 15, 2019 4:50 pm
|      82 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

Documents in city files show early stage plans to fill two empty spaces at Westwood Village – one big, the other relatively small.

First the big: A site plan has just been filed showing a proposed Ross Dress For Less outlet in the former Barnes & Noble space next to Target.

Second: Another site plan shows America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses in the works for the space next to Ulta Beauty. The chain currently has one other store in Seattle city limits, in Ballard, but has several around the greater metro area, including Southcenter.

Site plans are filed toward the start of the process seeking permits for remodeling (etc.) and don’t yield other details, but we will be contacting both companies to try to find out more.

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