West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
Maybe you saw them – or even offered a honk of support, as we heard several drivers do – at 45th SW/SW Admiral Way this morning. As first announced in this comment by Hollye, students and parents gathered to call attention to crossing safety.
Hollye and others have been campaigning for a crosswalk here for two years. Earlier this week, the area drew renewed attention when, just one block west, a driver hit two pedestrians. While SDOT’s SW Admiral Way Safety Project has mostly only addressed crossings further west, this section of the street is just a block from the Lafayette Elementary playground, and on the walking route to Madison Middle School a bit further south on 45th.
They got a high-profile show of support – State Sen. Joe Nguyen, a nearby resident as well as parent of future elementary schoolers.
Besides sign waving, the students enthusiastically shouted slogans such as “Slow and steady wins the race!” After almost half an hour, it was time for everybody to cross Admiral and head to school:
There is some hope for improvements at the intersection – while one of the proposed projects on the Your Voice, Your Choice ballot is titled 44th/Admiral (as reported here earlier this week), the full proposal (PDF) actually appears to suggest most of the improvements go to 45th/Admiral. (YVYC voting continues all month.)
Lots of big events this weekend (as shown in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar), including one of citywide interest – the screening of “On the Brink” 7 pm Sunday (September 8th) at the Admiral Theater. Filmmaker Jeff Shulman, a UW professor, will be there for a discussion. As described:
The movie explores the hyperbolic growth of Seattle and its ramifications to local communities and neighborhoods. … While the documentary takes place in Seattle’s Central District, it evokes the human impact of a transformation that is occurring in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. West Seattleis experiencing rapid changes and the Historic Admiral Theater is hosting the screening as a community event to start a constructive dialogue about our neighborhood’s growth.
Tickets are $13 and are available on the Admiral Theater’s website. All ticket sales will be donated to Southwest Youth and Family Services. Southwest Youth and Family Services partners with youth and families to transform their futures through its counseling, education, family support, and youth development programs.
The theater is at 2343 California SW.
Just under way – the first-ever Alki Beach Sunset Run, starting in six waves on the promenade and continuing up to Alki Avenue. (video added)
Traffic in the area will be restricted until about 7:30 pm. The run is using the westbound traffic lanes; side streets are blocked off. The post-race party will continue west of the Bathhouse until 8:30 pm.
If you’ve been wondering about the status of the future coffee shop that Itto’s Tapas proprietor Khalid Agour plans to open at 35th and Graham in the Upton Flats development – we have an update today:
Construction is taking longer than planned. We will be opening – hopefully – sometime in October. Construction is coming along.
We have finalized the name – “Nos Nos Coffee House.” Nos Nos is a popular coffee drink in Morocco. It literally means “half half” and is made from half espresso and half milk.
We can’t wait to open up the space to our beloved West Seattle community that have been waiting patiently.
Our previous report was back in June.
With the Seahawks‘ season starting Sunday, it’s time for fans to show support – including the fans at West Seattle Corporate Center at Delridge/Andover. Thanks to Tom Scott at Bartell Drugs (headquartered at WSCC) for sending the pics from earlier this afternoon as the big 12 flag was “raised by Bartell Drugs and Building Management.”
The flag first went up back in 2014.
It’s been 3 1/2 months since Sound Transit‘s West Seattle-to-Ballard light-rail planning entered a new phase, with the ST Board finalizing what the Draft Environmental Impact Statement should include. The board also told ST staff to look at some other options – and those assessments are about to go public, ST has announced, specifically these assessments of these possibilities:
*Elevating the new and existing light rail lines in SODO
*Refinement of the Pigeon Ridge Tunnel route with a refined Duwamish crossing, tunnel through Pigeon Point and further south Delridge station
*Route along Yancy/Andover corridor, with a Delridge station serving Youngstown
*Tunnel route with tunnel station at 20th Ave NW in Ballard
That description is from an ST message to former Stakeholder Advisory Group members, which adds:
We plan to have evaluation results for these initial assessment alternatives in mid-September and anticipate sharing those results with the Sound Transit Board at the Sept. 12th System Expansion Committee meeting and the public at that time. We are targeting October for Sound Transit Board review and potential action.
The committee meets 1:30-4 pm next Thursday at the ST boardroom downtown (401 S. Jackson) – here’s the agenda (PDF).
Just back from 35th/Avalon to check on the intersection closure, scheduled to continue until 6 am Monday. Above, crews have wasted no time demolishing the heart of the intersection. Traffic was heavier than usual on Fauntleroy Way – at 37th, an officer is directing detoured traffic:
So what about the businesses, if you’re driving? Pecos Pit (WSB sponsor) can be accessed from southbound 35th – they’re offering various $2 specials.
Habit Burger, Taco Time, and Starbucks are accessible from east/southbound Avalon, via eastbound Fauntleroy.
Meantime, here’s the bus-reroute info again. We’ll keep checking on this through the next few days.
Half a dozen things to do with the rest of your Friday:
CORNER BAR: Monthly pop-up bar at Highland Park Improvement Club, 6 pm. DJ Dr. Lehl spins ’90s hits and Peter Daniel plays funk/jazz. (1116 SW Holden)
ALKI BEACH SUNSET RUN: 6:20 pm 5K starting from the Bathhouse. If you’re not signed up yet, providing they’re not sold out, last-minute registration starts at 4:30 pm. (2701 Alki SW)
JACK WEST: 14-year-old musician who just released his debut album plays in-store tonight at Easy Street Records.
Free; all ages. (California/Alaska)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Home game for West Seattle HS, 7 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex vs. North Thurston. (2801 SW Thistle)
‘TWO DEGREES’: Opening night for Blue Hour Theater Group‘s production at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 8 pm: “A scientist grappling with personal loss is called upon to testify in Washington D.C. for climate change legislation.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)
BLUES & SOUL: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, with the Julia Francis Band, Ayesha ‘Musicbox’ Brooks, and Darren Loucas. $10 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Joyas Mestizas in West Seattle Grand Parade 2016 – photo by Don Brubeck)
Weekend’s almost here and we’ll be previewing a few spotlight events – starting with the first-ever World Music Festival on Sunday afternoon at Roxhill Park! Just in from organizers:
Roxhill Park World Music Festival – Free End-of-Summer Concert
Sunday September 8, 2019
1 pm to 5 pmRoxhill Park playground – 29th Ave SW at SW Barton Street
Join friends and neighbors to enjoy the dynamic sounds of:
Kouyate Arts and Global Heat along with Joyas Mestizas dance group
Community performances
Kids’ activities: drum tent and hula hooping too!
Tony B of Rainier Avenue Radio to EmCee.FESTIVAL LINEUP:
1:00 PM Kouyate Arts
2:10 PM Tabla Seattle with Chaz Hastings: spoken word to traditional tabla drums
2:50 PM The wonderful Joyas Mestizas traditional dance troupe
3:20 PM Vocal performance artists Moia Bri & Sarey Savy –
4:00 PM Global Heat
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.
Sponsored by Roxhill Park Champions and Seattle Parks and Recreation
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning! Third day with all schools back in session.
35TH/AVALON REMINDER: At 9 am, the intersection is scheduled to close for the weekend, reopening by 6 am Monday. Here’s info on bus reroutes.
SPEAKING OF REROUTES: Monday (September 9) brings the start of the south-downtown reroutes.
And one note for tonight:
ALKI BEACH SUNSET RUN: First-time event – watch for some closures and parking restrictions (signage is in place) 5-8 pm.
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