West Seattle, Washington
14 Saturday
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“This is just the start.”
Regarding the hot topic of light rail in West Seattle, that was a common theme and assurance from Sound Transit experts and longtime community leaders alike at the monthly meeting of the Southwest District Council, held at the Senior Center of West Seattle on Wednesday night.
Following the previous Friday’s meeting of the Elected Leadership Group and this past Tuesday’s deadline to submit “scoping comments,” the project has definitely taken the next step, but leaders stressed that the end of the 3rd and final level of filtering routing/statio options for environmental review certainly isn’t the end of public input.
Several staff members from Sound Transit talked about the latest plans at the meeting (with a special focus on potential housing displacement), including West Seattle project lead Stephen Mak (pictured above), outreach supervisor Leda Chahim and property director Joe Gray, to summarize the project proposals and report on current status. Later in the meeting, representatives from the new East Alaska Junction Neighborhood Coalition organization (initially formed in response to ST plans, as we reported here) also introduced themselves to the SW District Council, and talked about ways to collaborate in the future on transit and on broader issues.
Aside from the core agenda, attendees went around the room for quick announcements, including:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the first time since the city announced Camp Second Chance would be able to stay at 9701 Myers Way S. for at least six more months, its Community Advisory Committee met today.
The meeting included updates on camp operations and on moving campers into housing as well as questions about the camp’s future.
CAMP UPDATE: Resident manager Eric Davis distributed the monthly update: 50 campers right now, 18 women and 32 men. Campers are now in 41 “tiny houses” and 7 tents, with “2 spaces earmarked for two more houses,” thanks to donors working with “volunteers and residents.” He expressed gratitude for the city extension.
UPDATES FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS: The meeting started, as usual, with a chance for CAC members in attendance to share comments and observations.
Almost two years after the city Find It, Fix It Walk in Highland Park, another of the spotlighted issues is being addressed. Here’s the invitation from the Highland Park Action Committee:
Special Meeting With Parks Dept. on Options for Riverview Park: New Barrier/Fence
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Meet at Riverview Park – 12th Ave. SW & SW Webster at 5:30 pm.
Come discuss possible optionsDuring the May 2017 Find-It-Fix-It walk, neighbors and community members raised concerns about the existing logs that served as barriers to the park. Neighbors expressed that the logs were unsightly and not good for the environment.
Parks staff responded that we would look at alternatives. The logs serve an important purpose of keeping folks from driving on to the field and damaging the park.
This Wednesday, we’d love to discuss possible alternative to the existing logs and solicit feedback from the community.
Please come to the Highland Park Action Committee (HPAC) special meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 12th Ave. SW and SW Webster at 5:30 pm. This is the south lot. Seattle Parks and Recreation staff will be there to talk through this upgrade to the park.
If you are unable to attend this meeting, you may email your comments or questions to carol.baker@seattle.gov.
3:27 PM SUNDAY: If you have something to put in the mail, you won’t be able to use the drive-up/ride-up box outside the West Seattle Junction Post Office for a few days. We don’t know the backstory, nor do we know when it went out of service, but the sign on the side says “lock replacement Monday or Tuesday.” So we’ll check back. (Thanks to Lora for the photo/tip.)
10:08 AM MONDAY: We just went over to check – back in service already.
Early this morning, the Olympic Mountains peeked out from beneath the clouds to show what was happening up there while overnight rain was soaking us down here. The top photo – featuring Mount Constance – is from Jim Borrow; the wider view below is from JayDee:
Side note: We wondered about the state of the snowpack, given that March was light on precipitation. Here’s a variety of ways to gauge it.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Seattle-based experimental pop band Sun Breaks played an in-store performance at Easy Street Records in The Junction on Saturday night, featuring songs from their new album All On Camera.
Here are some video clips from the show:
Coming up at Easy Street Records: Lostboycrow on April 9, Record Store Day on April 13, and SYML on April 16.
(Saturday sunbreak on the Arroyos shore, photographed by Anjanette Nelson-Wally)
Highlights for the hours ahead, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PUGET PARK TRAILS NEED YOU: 9 am, meet at the Puget Park trailhead:
Community support is needed for this month’s work party; we will construct a log and gravel ramp to smooth a steep muddy transition on the trail that leads to the bench near the ramp constructed last season. Several neighbors have come together to lead this Puget Ridge family friendly community event. Please stop by and give whatever time you have, every little bits helps, even just swing by to say “thank you”. Our presence and participation at this event demonstrates to Seattle Parks that we care and appreciate improvements they are making to the parks in our neighborhood.
(19th SW/SW Dawson)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: See what’s new as we get further into spring. 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TURNS 9: 11 am saunter/sprint starts the third and final day of the West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) birthday party – plus discounts, raffles, treats – details here. (2743 California SW)
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Questions, comments, concerns about West Seattle’s city-sanctioned encampment? 2 pm, all are welcome at the monthly meeting of its all-volunteer Community Advisory Committee. Representatives from the city and from camp operator LIHI are usually there too. The meeting’s in the community room on the east side of the Arrowhead Gardens complex, which is a few blocks north of C2C. (9200 2nd SW)
RAVEIS KOLE: Bellingham-based duo live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
‘THREE TALL WOMEN’: Twelfth Night Productions‘ matinée performance of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Edward Albee play, 3 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
DENNIS JAMES AT THE MIGHTY WURLITZER: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall, pipe-organ accompaniment for three classic silent comedies. Check ASAP to make sure there’s still room! (7904 35th SW)
MAURICE & HIS THING: Maurice Caldwell‘s many-faceted performance, live at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD … via our full calendar. See it here!
About two hours into Saturday morning’s 27th annual Fairmount Ravine cleanup, we stopped by the main site beneath the bridge to see how things were going. Down by the roadside, a pile of filled bags; up under the bridge, neighbors and friends still hard at work.
Joining the volunteers this year, our photographer discovered with that zoom view (we’re admittedly not much for climbing), City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. The SPD Community Police Team was represented too. But the heart of the cleanup crew is comprised of the nearby residents who have over the past quarter-century-plus pulled tons of debris and trash out of the area along the road used by drivers, runners, and riders to get between Admiral and east Alki.
P.S. If you’re thinking about a neighborhood cleanup, the city’s Spring Clean program offers support – info’s here.
9:10 PM: Thanks for the tips. A police search is under way in Morgan Junction. We’re headed that way to find out more.
(Added: WSB photo)
9:17 PM: Police tell us this started as a shoplifting incident at nearby West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) that turned violent, which turns it into a robbery case.
9:09 PM: Police and fire are headed to an address in the 9200 block of 17th SW for a ‘scenes of violence’ callout. More when we get it.
9:32 PM: SFD has closed out the call. Police will only tell us they responded to a report of a single gunshot.
10:16 PM: A Seattle Fire spokesperson tells us their role in the call closed quickly because the person had already died.
Five weeks from today – on Saturday, May 11th – for the 15th consecutive year! – one-of-a-kind treasures will have new homes after the peninsula’s biggest person-to-person recycling event of the year, West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (coordinated by WSB).
We opened registration three days ago and sellers have signed up from North Admiral to south Arbor Heights, Highland Park to Fairmount Park to Lincoln Park, Genesee Hill to Gatewood to Westwood, and other neighborhoods all around the peninsula. If you’re planning to have a sale, here’s where to sign up. If you’re planning to shop, watch WSB for the map – clickable and printable versions, both with up-to-20-word descriptions of each sale’s highlights – available one week before sale day!
Three weeks from tonight, a local fundraiser promises to transport you thousands of miles away … without leaving West Seattle … all to educate children. Last September, we reported on A Child Becomes Preschool (WSB sponsor) launching its biggest service project yet, one that literally spans the globe – building a preschool in rural South Africa. It’s open, and now A Child Becomes is working on opening a second one. You can be part of it on Saturday, April 27th, by enjoying “an evening of adult beverages, tasty bites, music, and an Eastern Cape Market featuring student artwork.” It’s an adults (21+)-only evening at A Child Becomes (4320 SW Hill), with tickets available at ReachForSouthAfrica.org. The goal:
Help fund preschool in South Africa!
Our first school is up & running, and we’re fundraising now for our second school to open in January 2020. These newly built preschools in rural South Africa will work with our students at A Child Becomes in West Seattle creating an extremely personalized cross-cultural experience. Your donation is greatly appreciated and tax deductible.
Can’t make the event? Please consider supporting in the following ways:
– Donate goods and services for our silent auction
– Provide desserts for the event
– Make a cash donation: ReachForSouthAfrica.org
The preschool’s director, Michelle “Teacher Shelley” Neal, has a special interest in South Africa; that’s where her husband Ralph is from, and they travel there each year. The Eastern Cape area – inspiration for the April 27th event – is where they opened the first preschool a few months ago; you can read Shelley’s journal here (and see video of the preschool building’s arrival!). And if you can attend the April 27th party, there you’ll find out even more about what’s happening now as well as the plan to open the next preschool next year.
(WSB photo)
2:19 PM: Thanks for the tip – those tree limbs that fell on SW Othello east of California SW in Gatewood [map] are the first effects we’ve seen of the bursts of wind and rain that have moved through a few times so far this afternoon. Inbetween – some sunbreaks like the one we’re in right now. The National Weather Service’s Wind Advisory alert remains in effect until 7 tonight. If the weather causes any trouble where you are, text or call 206-293-6302 to let us know – thanks!
4:39 PM: The NWS just announced it’s ending the Wind Advisory early.
Passing by 35th SW and SW Barton, we saw the sign … “Tony’s OPEN.” So we stopped by to verify, and indeed, it’s day 1 of the 2019 season for the little family-owned produce stand in the red/green/white tent on the corner. Tony’s Market is open 9 am-7 pm daily and will be adding something new this season – a few select garden supplies, such as bark. Watch for that soon – some flower plants are already available:
This is an earlier opening for Tony’s than the last few years – they started in May last year and June the year before that. The market usually stays open through spring and summer before transitioning to Halloween pumpkins and then Christmas trees.
10:57 AM: Even before the wind kicks up, it’s a challenging day on the roads. One lane is blocked on the westbound West Seattle Bridge. And if you are trying to use either direction of I-5 just south of the bridge, a multiple-truck incident is still causing trouble:
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo of part of the scene. A State Patrol spokesperson explains, “Semi traveling NB I-5 lost control, went through the barrier. One trailer on its side in the NB lanes and the can and other trailer rolled into the SB lanes. Light pole down in SB lanes minor injuries to driver.”
1:45 PM: The I-5 situation still isn’t fully cleared. Update from WSDOT just now: “Just the HOV lane is blocked in each direction of I-5 just south of the West Seattle Bridge. Still a lengthy backup to Capitol Hill in the southbound direction.” State Patrol, meantime, says, “According to investigators, it appears that the driver fell asleep.”
(“Crows playing air tag,” as photographer Danny McMillin – featured in one of tonight’s listings, below – describes it)
Welcome to the first day of the first weekend in April! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S 9TH ANNIVERSARY, DAY 2: The 8 am group run at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) starts the second of three days celebrating WSR’s 9th anniversary. Raffles, treats, and deals too – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
SHOW SOME FAIRMOUNT RAVINE LOVE: This is the 27th year that neighbors have led a community cleanup in Fairmount Ravine. The more helping hands, the better! Meet them at the south end of the ravine at 8:15 am. Just a little of your time will make a big difference – details are in our calendar listing. Refreshments provided! (Fairmount & Forest)
YMCA GARAGE SALE & BAKE SALE: 9 am-1 pm, the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) welcomes you to stop by and check out the sales! (3622 SW Snoqualmie)
HIKE THE WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT: New season of hikes! 10 am – “Bird watching hike with Scott Markowitz, an international birder, member of the board of directors at Tahoma Audubon.” Meet at Puget Park trailhead. (4418 21st SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: Spend part of your Saturday morning at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 11-11:30 am. (2306 42nd SW)
DANNY McMILLIN PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW: Not in West Seattle, but not far – and you’ve probably seen some of the photographer’s work here on WSB! “Birds in the ‘Hood,” 6-10 pm at The Bakeréé in Georgetown. 21+. (74 S. Lucile)
NO NUKES: West Seattle Meaningful Movies focuses on nuclear weapons this month. 6:30 pm, doors open at Neighborhood House High Point – more info here. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
SUN BREAKS: 7 pm live in-store at Easy Street Records, all ages, free. (California/Alaska)
‘THREE TALL WOMEN’: Edward Albee‘s play, presented by Twelfth Night Productions, 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
AT KENYON HALL: Singer/composer/filmmaker Alexandra Blakely, 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)
THREE BANDS: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, First Saint Street, Aromatics, Phood perform. $7 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE THE REST OF WHAT’S UP … by checking out our full calendar!
11:45 PM: If you hear the Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter over Highland Park/Riverview and/or see police on the ground, here’s what the search is about, per radio dispatch: 911 got reports of possible gunfire, heard near 12th/Holden, followed by a potentially related hit and run, and someone seen running eastbound in an alley south of Holden. Guardian One heard the dispatch and offered to help. No injuries reported.
11:57 PM: Though the helicopter has moved on for now, police are blocking part of SW Holden as they investigate.
12:05 AM: A texter sent this photo:
12:10 PM: Police are reopening SW Holden.
New in city files: An early-stage proposal for an apartment building at the southwest end of Harbor Avenue SW, just north of the West Seattle Bridge. The documents in city files say what’s being considered is a five-story, 75-apartment building that would have 38 offstreet parking spaces in a garage accessed off Harbor. The parcels are listed in documents as having the street numbers 3405, 3411, and 3417 Harbor; the latter, the address at which documents are filed, currently holds a small commercial building. The site’s current zoning is for 40 feet in height but under the HALA MHA upzoning that’s about to take effect, 55 feet will be allowed. The area is a mix of commercial and residential, across the street from Emerald City Pet Rescue and ActivSpace, with houses to the west and condos to the north.
Blustery weather is expected tomorrow – so much so, that the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory alert for 11 am-7 pm Saturday:
* WIND…Southerly 20 to 35 mph with gusts 40-55 mph. …
* TIMING…Winds will increase late Saturday morning and peak during the afternoon hours. Winds will diminish Saturday evening.
* IMPACTS…Winds will make driving difficult for high profile vehicles. Weak trees or small tree branches may be blown down and result in local power outages.
For those by the water, looks like the day’s highest tide will be past before the wind kicks up.
4:26 PM: Thanks for the tips. A big power outage that’s mostly to the south has affected a few West Seattle pockets – such as Arrowhead Gardens. Here’s the outage map. City Light says via Twitter that a crash on East Marginal Way is to blame. Updates to come.
4:38 PM: The crash in question is on East Marginal Way in Tukwila [map], according to the Seattle Fire log – while it’s not in city limits, they’ve sent mutual aid. We’ve added a screen grab of much of the outage area (which stretches further into Burien beyond what’s shown – they’ve even closed City Hall early for the day as a result). In the full affected area, more than 16,000 homes and businesses are without power.
5:13 PM: Take note that the outage situation is causing traffic effects in a variety of places. For one, East Marginal is closed south of the South Park Bridge, as Trickycoolj points out in comments – Tukwila Police have tweeted this photo and explained that multiple power poles have been taken out:
There is a vehicle in the roadway that was struck by a power line that fell into the road. There are two people trapped inside the vehicle at this Rome. Crews are working to deactivate the lines and safely extract the two trapped inside. pic.twitter.com/tEekhPVNDu
— Tukwila Police (@TukwilaPD) April 5, 2019
We’re currently on Highway 516 westbound just east of Burien, about to exit to northbound 509, and it’s backed up – likely because much of Burien is caught up in the outage. Remember that a dark signal means all-way stop.
5:57 PM: Almost everyone’s back on – all but 300+.
6:16 PM: Back at the original outage site:
Both individuals in the vehicle have been safely extracted from it by Tukwila FD. 1 victim had a superficial injury & the other had non-life threatening injuries & was transported by ambulance. The roadway is expected to be closed for an extended time. pic.twitter.com/zwy8kh2Qhc
— Tukwila Police (@TukwilaPD) April 6, 2019
TV coverage shows multiple poles fell.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The road has reopened, according to Tukwila Police, though: “Several intersections will be without power for at least several days. Four-way stop signs are in place.”
The next big road project in West Seattle is about to start, and SDOT has just sent new information on exactly where it will get going with the first phase of repaving and rechannelizing SW Avalon Way, with three blocks of 35th and one block of Alaska as part of the project too. Here are the new details from SDOT:
Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as April 15 in Zone B – on SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to SW Yancy St. The decision to begin work in Zone B was made after SDOT consulted businesses along SW Avalon Way about what phasing would have the least impact on their summer schedules and business operations.
Work in Zone B will include:
-Paving the street
-New protected bike lanes
-Installing a new RapidRide transit island
-Closing 30th Ave SW at SW Avalon Way to prevent cut-through driving
-Applying a skid-resistant surface treatment on SW Genesee St
-New drainage
-New curb rampsWhat you should expect when construction begins between SW Genesee St and SW Yancy St:
-You will see construction crews mobilize into the area to begin staging and setting up traffic control
-Traffic will be shifted down to 1 lane in each direction
-Parking will be fully restricted along the street
-There will be intermittent closures of SW Genesee St and SW Yancy St
-The beginning of noise, dust, large trucks and machines operating, and an overall construction presence and experienceAs soon as early May, construction is also anticipated to begin along 35th Ave SW between SW Alaska St and SW Avalon Way (Zone E). We will provide more information on what to expect as the schedule for this work is confirmed as well as the schedule for work in additional zones is confirmed.
In order to minimize impacts during construction, we will be:
-Putting out “Businesses are Open” signs along the corridor
-Designating load zones for deliveries and pick ups
-Sending frequent email listserv updates to the community; sign up on SDOT’s websiteBusinesses along the corridor can also reach out to the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) Small Business Development Program for assistance with construction impacts. Please reach out to AJ Cari, the OED’s Construction Impacts Advocate, at aj.cari@seattle.gov or at 206-684-0133 for additional help and information on how the OED can help you prepare for construction.
It’s been two years since SDOT started ramping up the Avalon project. The other project the department was talking up back then, Roxbury repaving, has since been shelved indefinitely.
Though the City Council races have dominated the discussion so far this election year, there are other races you’ll want to pay attention to – such as the Port of Seattle Commission. This year, two of its five seats will be on ballots in King County, and both incumbents have announced their plans. Today Courtney Gregoire announced that after six years on the commission, she is not running for re-election, and she is “looking for other options to continue to serve the public,” according to the emailed announcement. Fred Felleman has already announced he will run for a second 4-year term, promising in his February announcement that he will work to “continue to increase the Port’s economic impact while reducing its greenhouse gas footprint.” So far only one potential contender has registered with the state Public Disclosure Commission, Ali Scego, who has not yet specified which position is of interest.
For the first time, the West Seattle Junction Association plans to line the heart of The Junction with rainbow flags for Pride. And it’s offering “adoption” of rainbow flags as a fundraiser, as WSJA has done with the annual flower baskets. Here’s the announcement:
Show your pride by adopting a rainbow flag to fly Pride weekend. Support love for all by adopting a 3′ x 5′ rainbow flag for Pride! For the first time in Junction history we’ll be proudly flying 60 rainbow flags all along California Ave! Be one of the 60 people who will be showing your love.
The cost to adopt a 3 ft x 5 ft flag is $85. You may adopt more than one flag; there are 60 available flags.
Your adoption fee includes a commemorative 8 inch x 6 inch rainbow flag (or keep the full 3 ft x 5 ft flag) with a desk stand. Your commemorative flag will include your name and message. Each commemorative flag will be affixed to the pole of your large 3 ft x 5 ft flag that will line California Ave.
If you’re interested – here’s where to start.
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