West Seattle, Washington
23 Friday
(Corps of Engineers photo, 2014)
Announced this morning:
The Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, awarded a $3 million contract September 27 to Redside Construction based in Bainbridge Island to replace an existing seawall in West Seattle.
The project will replace the existing 500-foot-long seawall at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, 4503 Beach Dr. SW, that was constructed in the 1920s and has experienced significant erosion and damage from storm events. We anticipate construction in mid-2020.
The new seawall will be a “soldier pile” (system of vertical piles spaced at a regular interval with material in between to create a wall) design, built a few feet seaward and a few feet higher than the existing seawall, and equipped with safety handrails that the current seawall lacks. This design will minimize the impact on the beach, address rising sea level concerns and create better contours for the restoration landscaping on the landward portion of the overlook area.
The Army Corps has partnered with Seattle Parks and Recreation to design and build this coastal storm damage reduction project under Section 103 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962. Coastal storms and erosion continue to threaten public infrastructure located in and around the project footprint, including a 54-inch King County sewer main, a main public arterial, City park property, and other underground utilities.
The Seattle Parks project page is here; our coverage of a Q&A community meeting about the project back in July is here. Community comments were first solicited in 2014, when the project was estimated to cost $2.3 million.
(Band-tailed Pigeons, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
What’s up? All this, for starters – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PCC WEST SEATTLE OPENS: In just minutes, the new store opens its doors, 9 am (regular hours will be 6 am-11 pm). The celebration includes coffee and cake this morning and music throughout the day. Missed our sneak preview? See it here. (2749 California SW)
FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME: Missed it last night? Catch this fun fire-safety event at South Park Library 11:15 am-11:45 am. (8604 8th Ave. S.)
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MOVIE: At the Senior Center of West Seattle, 1 pm: “Gun Fury.” $1 members, $2 nonmembers, popcorn included. (4217 SW Oregon)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Fresh produce sold by the people who grow it at the mini-farm next to the stand! 4-7 pm. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
LEARN THE THRILLER DANCE: Get ready for Halloween! Class series starts 6 pm tonight at High Point Community Center. Registration info in our calendar listing. (6920 34th SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. Spotlight topics include the “Seattle Squeeze” transportation crunch, with a guest from SDOT among others. Also, hear about the new Paws on Patrol program. All welcome! (4217 SW Oregon)
JIM PAGE: Singer/songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
THE LOOSE HEELS: Danceable country classics at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:11 AM: Good morning. WSDOT says a vehicle is stalled on the NB 99 exit ramp to Dearborn, blocking the right bus lane.
Looking ahead:
INTERSECTION CLOSURE: The next Avalon/35th intersection closure is scheduled to start 9 am Friday (October 4th) and last all weekend, weather permitting.
ALSO FRIDAY: The 4722 Fauntleroy/4721 38th tower crane is going up; a spokesperson for the developer tells WSB the staging will be on 38th, not Fauntleroy.
October is Fire Safety Month, and that means teaching everyone what they need to know to stay safe. For toddlers and preschoolers, the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Public Library team up for Firefighter Story Times, like the one we photographed tonight at Delridge Library. The readers included Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. The book was (as usual) “No Dragons for Tea”, written by Jean E. Pendziwol and illustrated by Martine Gourbault:
While the book was for the kids, the chief had homework for the parents.
He asked them to test their smoke detectors at home – not just to be sure they still work, but so the kids will know what they sound like. He also told parents to show their kids where NOT to go in case of fire (in the closet, under the bed) and to have a family plan for where to meet outside if everybody has to evacuate. And of course, Firefighter Story Time also featured a chance to see a firefighter in full gear:
That’s Steve Ericson from Station 36 in North Delridge. Missed tonight’s story time? Four more in the city this month – nearest one is tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:15 am at South Park Library (8604 8th Ave. S.)
From Shilei: “My longboard was stolen this morning near the bike path at the intersection of Alki Ave. SW and 57th Ave. SW. I parked the board near at the edge of the concrete/sand and walked toward the water for 10 minutes. I was within view and within 30 ft of the board at all times. When I returned, the board was gone. I’ve filed a police report, tracking number T19009011.” No photo but it looks like this – with “yellow wheels and different trucks set up for downhill.”
More than two dozen people participated in last year’s Artist Showcase at Southwest Library. This year’s showcase starts this weekend, and you’re invited to drop off your work starting Thursday – no judging no application process – so here’s the call for participants one more time:
It’s time for the Southwest Libraryâ€s 28th annual Artist Showcase. Artists may submit up to three unique works of art for this non-juried exhibition to celebrate West Seattle’s creative talent.
Entries may be submitted at the Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) from Thursday, October 3rd through Saturday, October 5th. Be sure to stop by the artists’ reception at 2 pm Sunday, October 6th to meet the artists and view all the fabulous work! Art will be on display at the library through the month of October.
The library will also be hosting two art programs to celebrate: a drop-in Family Art Day on Saturday 10/5 at 2 pm and Fill the Frame, a painting-exploration class for teens and adults on Sunday, 10/27.
The showcase is for artists of all skill levels – so even if art is just a hobby, step up and show off!
It’s October, and for the first time, it’s Deathsploration month. Here’s the announcement:
Deathsploration is a month-long effort to increase conversation about death and dying in Washington. Beginning on October 1 and running through November 2, community organizations and businesses in western Washington will work in partnership to create opportunities for engagement through education, art, dance, movement, death cafes, community outreach, workshops, and more.
In the United States, the topic of death and dying is not commonly paired with living. Deathsploration is an opportunity to reestablish the normalcy of death, a subtle reminder that talking about and preparing for death will not cause one’s death. Similarly, not talking about death will not keep it away. It is our hope that the exploration of death — through all the senses and on our own terms — will help people on the way to a good death.
Several of the community events that are part of this monthlong exploration are here in West Seattle – a Blessing of the Animals Friday night at Resting Waters (9205 35th SW), a Death CafĂ© on October 15th at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW), the daylong conference Une Bonne Mort at the Alki Masonic Center on November 1st, and a daylong Resource Fair (followed by a dance party) at Camp Long on November 2nd.
Thanks to Eddie for the photo from the two-building project at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW/4721 38th SW, which led us to ask developer Legacy Partners how soon the tower crane would go in. Very soon, we learned:
The tower crane will be installed this Friday 10/4. The entire process will occur off 38th. We have the required SDOT permits and will have police officers and flaggers directing traffic at 38th and Alaska. In addition, we have obtained a noise variance and spoke with the neighbors (single family’s, Les Schwab, fire station, Holland, etc) as this work will begin at 5:00 am and take the majority of the day.
Note that Friday is also the first scheduled day of the next 35th/Avalon intersection closure (though that doesn’t start until 9 am). This will be the first tower crane in West Seattle since the one at the Luna Apartments/PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor, opening tomorrow) site was removed in May.
One West Seattle Crime Watch reader report so far today:
GARAGE BURGLAR STEALS BICYCLE: That’s Jake‘s bicycle, stolen from his condo building’s garage in The Junction early this morning. He also sent this security-camera photo of the burglar:
Jake reports, “Suspect is an early 20s Hispanic male, average build, last seen wearing a black hoodie, gray pants or jeans, black shoes, and heading north on 41st with a stolen bike and bike pump. … Bike has a damaged front tire so may have been dumped in the bushes before making it out of West Seattle.” A police report has been filed.
(Photo by Brooke Eakes)
For a third week, courtesy of reader photos from the past few days, it’s #TurkeyTuesday as we present highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for this first day/night of October:
BABY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at Southwest Library. Geared toward little ones up to a year old. (9010 35th SW)
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: 10:30 am-10 pm today/tonight, mention the Lafayette PTA fundraiser at MOD Pizza and part of the proceeds will go toward it! (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW)
(Photo by Jackie Winter)
FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME: 6 pm at Delridge Library – bring the kids to learn about fire safety! (5423 Delridge Way SW)
ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Drop by and play! 6 pm at Fairmount Playfield. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm meeting at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
CLIMATE CHANGE – WHAT CAN YOU DO? 7 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Walmesley Center, all are welcome for this panel discussion moderated by the leader of our region’s Earth Day 2020 plan. Free. Full details including the panelist list are in our calendar listing. (7000 35th SW)
OPEN MIC NIGHT: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
LGBTQ youth 14-18 are invited to the first West Seattle teen meetup organized by the locally founded/based Gender Family Alliance. It’s planned for 7 pm October 9th at a residence in south West Seattle. You can contact the organizer to RSVP and get location information – our calendar listing has that info, as does the event flyer.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:20 AM: Good morning! Welcome to October.
FERRY FARES: Increased as of today.
REMINDER: The next Avalon/35th intersection closure is scheduled to start 9 am Friday (October 4th) and last all weekend, weather permitting.
That’s our video of SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe‘s return trip to the West Seattle Transportation Coalition at their September meeting. He was brand-new to the job when he last appeared before the WSTC five months ago (WSB coverage here). Since then, he and his family have chosen West Seattle to put down their local roots. And, as he moved on to the hot topic of the night – EB bridge backups blamed on the return of the NB 99 bus lane – he said he’s a bus rider too, most days.
We reported on his comments regarding the bus-lane situation in this WSB story on Friday.
One year after its last Southwest Design Review Board meeting, the project planned for 4508 California SW in The Junction has its next date with the SWDRB. As published on the city website, the meeting is set for 6:30 pm Thursday, November 7th. The project is currently described as “a 7-story building with 44 apartment units, 14 small efficiency dwelling units (58 units total), lodging and retail. Parking for 17 vehicles proposed.” It would replace the storefronts that currently hold three restaurants, Kamei, Lee’s, and Naked Crepe. The review meeting will be at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon) and will include a comment period. Also of note, separate from Design Review, the comment period on the project application has reopened – here’s the notice about that (PDF).
(Added: WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
1:40 PM: California SW is closed to traffic in the 3700 block – north of Charlestown – because of a gas-leak response. Avoid the area.
2:44 PM: Thanks for the tip – California has reopened and the SFD call has closed.
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) will celebrate both a grand opening and an anniversary at its new West Seattle store on Wednesday.
We got a sneak peek inside the store this morning with Cate Hardy, the West Seattleite who has led PCC as its CEO since 2015.
It was a bookend of sorts – we last interviewed Hardy in May 2017 on the final day of the old store, on the same site (2749 California SW) but half the size of the 24,000-square-foot new one.
The photo and report are from SPD Blotter:
Family members of a 91-year-old man with dementia contacted police last month expressing concern about him after he began threatening to shoot anyone that came to his home. The family members knew he had firearms in the house and were very concerned that he might harm himself or others.
A Crisis Response Unit officer took the lead and petitioned the King County Superior Court for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). The order was granted. The order was served last week and the man voluntarily turned over eighteen firearms from inside his West Seattle home. The firearms were submitted into evidence for safekeeping.
For more information about Extreme Risk Protection Orders, go to seattle.gov/police/need-help/erpo.
Back in January, ERPOs were explained at a meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council.
Thanks to Kathy for the tip about that sign at Alki Spud Fish and Chips (2666 Alki SW). We subsequently went over last night to find out more. The closure is likely to last through Friday, we learned – the restaurant expects to reopen by next weekend. The work they’re doing includes the rear siding:
Some interior work is planned too.
(Dark-eyed Junco, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights to start the week, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE VOTING DEADLINE: One more reminder, today is your last day to vote for up to three of 11 West Seattle/South Park safety projects vying for funding from the Neighborhood Park/Street Fund. They’re listed here along with information on how to vote.
AGING WELL: Facilitated discussion at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 1-2 pm – get support and coping strategies, and share your story. (4217 SW Oregon)
FRESH HOP WEEK: 4-9 pm at Ounces, first day of Fresh Hop Week: “The Fresh Hops are coming! For one full week, we’ll be featuring a TON of Fresh Hops on tap! These babies are super tasty and super fresh … so come drink em’ while they last!” (3809 Delridge Way SW)
FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS: 6:30 pm at Lafayette Elementary:
Lafayette Elementary welcomes a speaker from The Office of the Education Ombuds who will be presenting to parents and guardians about the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 Plan. This is an opportunity to learn more about navigating the IEP/504 process, to address the basics of your child’s right to special education services, to gain the tools to work collaboratively with the school teams, and to answer any questions you may have about these programs.
RSVP here. (2645 California SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. Bring everybody! (3411 SW Raymond)
QUIZ NIGHT X 2: Two options! 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm at Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way).
PREVIEW THE REST OF THE WEEK … via our complete calendar!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:29 AM: Good morning! No incidents/alerts reported so far.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Tomorrow is Mark C. Smith Day in the City of Seattle, honoring the retiring owner of West Seattle Nursery.
The proclamation by Mayor Jenny Durkan was read tonight by one of her predecessors, Greg Nickels, during a retirement celebration for Smith held in the nursery parking lot, just before that vivid pink sunset decorated the sky.
Smith spoke briefly, giving credit to his staff: “I am constantly amazed that people want to give me credit for this nursery. It’s never been me.” The party crowd was full of employees present and past:
Some of them took to the microphone to thank Smith for being the kind of boss who let them express their creativity. “I got to be me,” one said.
We first reported a month ago that Smith planned to retire. His family shared more backstory:
The announcement marked a major transition at a small business that has served the West Seattle community for almost four decades. The Nursery has sold a wide array of annuals and perennials, garden supplies, gifts, Christmas trees and wreaths, and more.
Throughout its history, the Nursery has donated resources to programs for children and youth, as well as local gardening. In 1995, the business founded the West Seattle Garden Tour, originally to benefit a burgeoning community group now known as ArtsWest.
“We were community activists before we launched the Nursery,” said Irene Stewart, who co-founded and operated the business with Smith until 1996. “We made an early commitment to support children and youth, as well as gardening, in West Seattle. After 35 years, the Nursery still works to make this community stronger.”
The Nursery began as a seasonal lot in the spring of 1984. Smith and Stewart set up shop first on SW Barton Street, across from Westwood Village. They moved around West Seattle until 1987, when they opened year round on land that is now a park by Beveridge Place.
In 1990, they moved to the current location at California Ave and SW Brandon St. And in 1992, they received a Mayor’s Small Business Award presented by then Mayor Norm Rice in recognition of their creativity and community reinvestment.
The Nursery has continued to grow in recent years. In 2017, it underwent a major expansion, opening a greenhouse on the adjacent property where Smith had lived for about 15 years. He offered to give his house to anyone who could haul it away (there were no takers).
“This has been an amazing journey. There have been some challenges but many more pleasant surprises,” said Smith. “Ultimately I think the Nursery has become a resource in the West Seattle community, and I am most proud of that achievement.”
Smith says he will miss the customers who enjoy shopping at the Nursery, especially in springtime when the lot overflows with flowers in bloom. He says he will also miss the Nursery’s staff, some of who have worked with him for decades.
“I have asked every manager at the Nursery to hire people who do the job better than me, and they did,” he said. “We have a fantastic team.”
The Nursery will remain open under new ownership to be announced in the coming weeks. For his part, Smith intends to stay active in retirement. Some plans include taking classes at South Seattle College and learning the Chinese martial art tai chi. He also wants to stay engaged.
“This is a new phase,” Smith said. “I look forward to trying new things and also finding new ways to give back to the West Seattle community that helped the business grow.”
P.S. Former Mayor Rice was at tonight’s party, too, so we took a photo of the city’s last two 2-term mayors:
Here, meantime, is the full text of the proclamation:
While Smith expressed appreciation tonight for the honor, his warmest words went to his staff and customers: “I am very, very proud of this business … I am proud that the community loves this business.”
(Photo by Robert Spears)
What a way to wrap up the first weekend of fall! Thanks to everybody who sent photos.
(Photo by Kanit Cottrell)
This view reveals the moon:
A 1 percent illuminated moon setting over the Olympics tonight. @westseattleblog @NWSSeattle pic.twitter.com/7GwLJyvReh
— Ethan Owens (@Twixted1) September 30, 2019
And a panorama:
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
One more closeup:
(Photo by Tom Stoner)
The National Weather Service says some clear weather is on the way – if the Olympics indeed are in full view, you’ll see fresh snow!
The latest faceoff between the two candidates for Seattle City Council District 1, like the previous one, didn’t yield any major points of disagreement. Both incumbent Lisa Herbold and challenger Phil Tavel said multiple times that they agreed with wht their opponent had just said. The two answered questions for more than an hour Saturday afternoon at Neighborhood House High Point, with an audience of ~20. We have it all on video you can watch above.
District 1 Community Network presented this event, as well as the one two weeks earlier (WSB coverage here); Aley Thompson of the South Park Neighborhood Association welcomed attendees. The questions asked by moderator Greg Kusumi dealt with, in order, transportation, homelessness, the mayor’s report on city-owned golf courses, keeping campaign promises, supporting small businesses, affordable housing, illegal dumping, neighborhood safety, school funding, adult education.
Highlights came in the audience-asked questions that comprised the final third or so of the event. The first one: With 40,000 district voters not casting ballots in the primary, what would the candidates do to change that, “besides doorknocking,” for the general election? Answering first, Herbold noted that primary turnout was better than four years ago, but said going door-to-door is effective. Tavel said he was particularly concerned about young voters’ extremely low turnout and said he was planning an “event” with spoken word, art, and music to encourage them. He also said he was working to meet voters in places such as bars and restaurants.
Other community-asked questions included one about this week’s big transportation controversy, the bus lane returned to NB 99. Herbold said she’d heard from dozens of constituents and is asking SDOT to review the situation, which she said also came up when SDOT presented its budget at a council meeting Friday; Tavel said he would like to see the data that preceded the bus lane’s return.
While the candidates are also appearing in multi-race forums outside D-1, four more are scheduled in West Seattle: October 10, October 14, October 17, and October 19.
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