By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The location of Sound Transit‘s future Delridge light-rail station – first stop after the future extension crosses the Duwamish River – won’t be finalized until 2022, but planning it starts now.

That’s what ST reps said as they convened another West Seattle “neighborhood forum” on Saturday, focused specifically on the Delridge station. But it wasn’t as much of a planning exercise as a chance for the ~40 participants to acquaint ST reps with where they go in the neighborhood and how they get there.

After an open-house-style chance to wander the Delridge Community Center gym, looking at maps and bullet points on easels, it was time for the update, via this slide deck projected onto the gym’s concrete-block wall:

four project-team reps tag-teamed the presentation, starting with Dennis Sandstrom recapping the process.

Stephen Mak reviewed the routing/station locations currently being studied, including the Yancy/Andover option recently added. Then Alisa Swank went into details of what the current environmental review is about, working first toward a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. That’s expected to be made public in early 2021 – pushed back from the original “late 2020,” as was warned in the recent round of adding alternatives to be studied.

Share This

DEVELOPMENT: Comment time for 42nd/Genesee project

December 8, 2019 8:50 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(King County Assessor’s Office photo of current building at 4401 42nd SW)

The formal application for 4401 42nd SW – described as “a 5-story apartment building with 72 small efficiency dwelling units and 5 live-work units,” plus 36 offstreet-parking spaces – has been filed, and that opens a new comment period. This notice (PDF) explains how to comment, with a deadline of December 18th. This is a general comment period; there will also be another chance for input, but only regarding its design, when the project goes back before the Southwest Design Review Board, date TBA. Here’s our report on that board’s first look at the project back in September. The building would replace a West Seattle Christian Church-owned building, with past uses including a school and artist studios, on the southwest corner of 42nd/Genesee, across from Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Share This

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Peace-ful scene

December 8, 2019 7:42 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

As we do most years, we are continuing to feature West Seattle Christmas lights as we see them or hear about them. Spotted this display on the west side of the 6000 block of 42nd SW – the peace sign and Santa holding up lights are nice touches. Got something to suggest? Let us know! See what we’ve shown (in previous years, too) by scrolling through this WSB archive.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Seeking help to solve hit-and-run

December 8, 2019 5:22 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Seeking help to solve hit-and-run

| Crime | West Seattle news

The photo and report are from Rosalie:

While we were driving home last night at 5:45 pm on SW Manning Street at 36th Avenue SW, a red Toyota vehicle heading south on 36th, ran a stop sign and hit the right front side of our car. The Toyota left the scene headed west on SW Manning, then south on Belvidere Ave. A police report was filed. If anyone has a video surveillance system that possibly recorded the vehicle anywhere on 36th, Manning or Belvidere, we’d greatly appreciate that you contact the SW Precinct at 206-625-5011.

If you can help, refer to case # 19-453333.

Share This

In case you wondered too: Why crows are digging up the grass

December 8, 2019 2:58 pm

| 31 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news | Wildlife

That’s one of many dug-up planting strips we’ve noticed lately. You might have caught crows in the act of doing the digging; one reader asked us recently why they were “tilling.” By chance, we found the answer while covering this month’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting for our smaller site White Center Now. Marta Olson from the King County Noxious Weed Program was asked about it while talking to NHUAC about an unrelated topic. The crows are after “chafer beetles,” she explained, describing those bugs as invasive non-natives that have been spreading after first turning up near Sea-Tac. We hadn’t heard that before, so we’ve been researching. Here’s some scholarly info from just north of the border. The basic explanation is that the beetle’s larvae love grass roots, and crows – among others – find the larvae irresistibly delicious.

Share This

SAFETY: SPD’s free class for women next Saturday

December 8, 2019 1:03 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Next Saturday, 10 am-1 pm, women of all ages are invited to the next free personal-safety class at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). It’s not self-defense training – it’s a lecture/faciltated discussion, led by female SPD officers. From the reminder sent by the precinct’s Crime-Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner:

Our class goals:

-Know the important role your instincts and gut reactions play

-Discover potentially dangerous situations and how to avoid them

-Learn how to make a safety plan

-Decrease the odds of becoming a victim

It’s recommended for ages 14 and up. If you’re interested, RSVP here.

Share This

HAPPENING NOW: Giving coats, getting cocoa/coffee @ West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays donation drive

December 8, 2019 11:23 am

| Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: Giving coats, getting cocoa/coffee @ West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays donation drive

| How to help | West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

That’s the booth to look for at the south end of the Farmers’ Market, where the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive is headquartered. Generous folks had already filled the bin just half an hour into it – when we stopped by, the bin had been emptied once, and more donations had started to fill it again:

Bring gently used coat(s), scarves, and other keeping-warm clothing items before 2 pm – you’re helping the West Seattle Helpline and the neighbors it assists! You’ll be offered a hearty thanks as well as cocoa or coffee.

Share This

What’s up for your West Seattle Sunday

December 8, 2019 7:42 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Video by Troy Sterk – sea lions vocalizing off Lincoln Park)

From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:

SANTA PHOTOS: Find St. Nick at CAPERS, 9 am-noon, DIY photos with $20 suggested donation benefiting West Seattle Food Bank. (4525 California SW)

COAT & COCOA DRIVE: Gather up gently used coats, scarves, and other warm clothing you don’t need and bring it to the south end of the Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, and get cocoa while you’re dropping off your donation. Part of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays! (California/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round in the street in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

WREATH SALES: Pathfinder K-8 PTSA are selling handmade wreaths just south ofthe West Seattle Farmers Market on December 8th, and December 15th (10 am-2 pm). All proceeds support outdoor education. (California/Alaska)

TOYS FOR TOTS: Today’s the last day to bring new, unwrapped toy donations to your nearest fire station – as explained here.

HOLIDAY BOOK FAIR: At Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 10 am-2 pm, in the Social Hall. All used books; free cider and treats! (7141 California SW)

SEATTLE SAMPLING TOUR: Three West Seattle artists are part of the Seattle Sampling open-studio tour, 10 am-5 pm. (Map and info here)

VIVA TOUR: Vashon Island Visual Artists have an open-studio tour continuing today too and are sponsoring WSB to get the word out. 10 am-4 pm – also next Saturday/Sunday. (Map and info here)

SANTA AT MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: Free Santa photos at the new location of My Three Little Birds (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 11 am-2 pm. (4736 California SW)

MAKERS MARKET: Happening at Tibbetts UMC (WSB sponsor) 11:30 am-1 pm Sunday, hand-sewn items, stocking stuffers, crafts, gift baskets, and baked goods available for sale. “Sip a hot beverage and enjoy Christmas cookies while you shop.” Proceeds benefit the West Seattle Helpline. (3940 41st SW)

AUTHOR SIGNING: Kim Seely at Paper Boat Booksellers, 1 pm. (6040 California SW)

MUSICAL BENEFIT FOR THE FOOD BANK: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), bring food/financial donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. All ages. (5612 California SW)

‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) presents “Head Over Heels: The Musical,” 3 pm curtain. Directed by Mathew Wright. Tickets available here. (4711 California SW)

‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’: Join Twelfth Night Productions this holiday season for “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play.” 3 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)

HOLIDAY SINGALONG: “Songs of Christmas” at Admiral Congregational Church, 4 pm, “a free one-hour family concert and singalong, followed by Christmas cookies and cider.” (4320 SW Hill)

VERY EARLY CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: At 5 pm, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church invites you to be part of a very early full Christmas Eve service that will be recorded on video for worldwide webcast, as previewed/explained here. (3050 California SW)

SUNDAY NIGHT SEAHAWKS: Looking for somewhere to watch the 5:20 pm game? Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) and Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way) both invite you. Ounces is all ages, The Parliament is 21+.

THE ESOTERICS IN CONCERT: 8 pm at Holy Rosary – program and ticket info here. (42nd/Genesee)

SEE MORE … in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar

Share This