West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

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month : 01/2020 288 results

Driver damages parking-strip sculpture in Seaview
January 29, 2020 4:52 pm
|      47 COMMENTS
 |   Seaview | West Seattle news

One of the well-known planting-strip sculptures outside a house just west of West Seattle Nursery was knocked down in a crash this morning. Thanks to Kersti Muul for the photo above; she says another vehicle, a white cargo van, appeared to also have ben involved in the crash at 44th/Brandon. An anonymous texter sent the view below after the crash scene was cleared.

The planting strip and adjacent house have been known for sculptures like these for more than a decade.

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DEVELOPMENT: Sweeney family sites slowly advancing through city process, one year later
January 29, 2020 2:42 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

One year ago today, the Sweeney family announced they were looking at redevelopment alternatives for some of their West Seattle Triangle properties – most notably, the ones that hold their best-known business, Alki Lumber.

So what’s happened since then? We talked with family spokesperson Lynn Sweeney just as the potential project showed up this week on the city’s Early Community Outreach for Design Review website.

There’s no specific proposal yet, she told us – this is another step in the required process. Here’s the summary on the city website:

The proposed mixed-use project includes approximately 500 new residential units over approximately 18,000 SF of retail located near the future Avalon light rail station. The project spans two sites on either side of 36th Avenue SW between Avalon & Oregon.

The family, meantime, is still scouting for a new location for the lumberyard, but wants to stress it is NOT closing any time soon – the Alki Lumber move is at least “two or three years” away.

The project’s official addresses remain those of two sites, 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW and 4406 36th SW, both zoned for 75-foot mixed-use development. (The family’s holdings stretch beyond that, as detailed in this followup from last year.) The Early Community Outreach process means there’ll eventually be a community meeting or site tour before the project gets into the official Design Review Board stage, but there’s no date for that yet. The Sweeneys are continuing to work with West Seattleite-founded developer HB Management.

ADDED THURSDAY: The aforementioned early community meeting has just shown up on the city website for February 12th.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business burglars on camera; home break-in; stolen car
January 29, 2020 12:01 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch:

BUSINESS BURGLARS ON CAMERA: The images above and below are from a burglary this morning at Admiral Pub. (For those who tipped us to a big police response in the Admiral District, this is what it was about.)

The images are from the Admiral Pub’s owners, who tell us nothing was taken, but: “In the process of breaking into the bar, they busted a pipe.” That led to an SFD “water job” response. “Officer told us there have been multiple business break-ins in the area. They went in, saw our cameras and left. To all local businesses, be on the lookout.”

HOME BURGLARY: From Sue:

We’re so sad to report that our house was broken into at 2:30 PM (Tuesday). We think that our backyard shed was the initial target, since these guys broke the door of the shed first and likely moved towards our house.

They threw in a rock to break into our window and opened it to gain access. Luckily, we are safe and we spoke with the cops and filed a police report.

The thieves took a Samsung laptop with them, an empty Fossil purse, tools, and rifled through our documents… Though unlikely, we hope they get caught!

The SPD report # is 20-34163.

STOLEN SUBARU: Stephanie‘s Subaru was stolen in the Alki area, with this distinctive hood art:

1995 Subaru, 4-inch lift, plate BRG7668. If you see it, call 911.

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Here’s what’s being done about those West Seattle Bridge potholes …
January 29, 2020 11:21 am
|      49 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

11:21 AM: Megan sent that photo on Tuesday, saying, “This sadly just happened to me after hitting one of the many potholes on the eastbound West Seattle viaduct. Beware drivers!” The potholes also had been mentioned in comment discussion earlier in the day, so we asked the SDOT communications team about repair plans. Here’s the reply from spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:

The large pothole in the left eastbound lane of the West Seattle Bridge between the 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S offramps was reported to us earlier this week.

Our maintenance crews put in a temporary repair yesterday, and we are planning to return today to complete additional work today. We’ve been scheduling our work midday in order to minimize the impact to traffic flow during peak times.

People can report potholes by calling 206-684-ROAD, emailing 684-ROAD@seattle.gov, or by using the Find It, Fix It app. In 2019, we filled about 18,000 potholes on Seattle streets. With the exception of the period during and shortly after last year’s snowstorms, we responded to 90% of requests to fill potholes within 3 business days and also filled many potholes before they were reported to us.

While we are always doing the best we can to respond to potholes quickly, we need the public to understand the challenges we face and why potholes will continue to appear throughout the winter. Freezing weather causes significant damage to our roads and we typically experience a spike in pothole reports after it snows. As the snow melted earlier this month, water found its way into cracks in the pavements. Then, when the temperatures dropped and the trapped water re-froze the expanding ice forced apart fissures in the pavement, literally tearing the road apart from the inside. It can sometimes take a few weeks for the damage to show itself as heavy trucks and buses drive over these fissures, breaking off pieces of pavement to form larger holes.

Winter weather poses continual challenges even when it’s not freezing because asphalt doesn’t bind as well to the surrounding pavement when it’s too cold or wet. So many of the potholes we fill now will likely need to be repaired again in the coming months. If additional snowstorms are forecasted, maintenance crews will need to shift their focus from potholes to preparing the roads for snow and ice, which can slow progress.

You can see the pothole-report map here. P.S. It’s not just potholes – SDOT is where to send reports of other road problems, too – here’s the info. But if it’s urgent, like a tree blocking a road right now or other immediate hazard, 206-386-1218.

1:48 PM: Added above, two photos provided by SDOT.

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5 for your West Seattle Wednesday night!
January 29, 2020 10:48 am
|    Comments Off on 5 for your West Seattle Wednesday night!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Harbor seal in Elliott Bay, photographed by David Hutchinson)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BASKETBALL: Four high-school home games tonight, Seattle Lutheran HS hosting Evergreen Lutheran, girls at 6 and boys at 7:30 (4100 SW Genesee); Chief Sealth IHS girls hosting Bishop Blanchet at 7:30 (2600 SW Thistle); West Seattle HS girls hosting Cleveland at 7:30 (3000 California SW).

SPARK JOY WHILE DECLUTTERING: Tonight at The Kenney, you’re invited to a workshop teaching the KonMari method! 6 pm. Call to check if there’s still room. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FREE GROUP RUN: Rain or no rain, you gotta run, right? Do it with West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 6:15 pm. (2743 California SW)

PING PONG: Wednesday tournaments at Admiral Pub, 7 pm, prizes! (2306 California SW)

OPEN MIC: Find out why The Skylark calls this Seattle’s Best Open Mic. Sign up at 7:30 pm, performances start at 8:30.

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SWEET SALE: It’s Camp Fire candy time!
January 29, 2020 9:45 am
|    Comments Off on SWEET SALE: It’s Camp Fire candy time!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Camp Fire sent the photo with the news that it’s candy-sale time, through February 17th. The organization’s regional offices are right here in West Seattle (2414 SW Andover), and that’s one place you can buy candy, 9 am-3:30 pm weekdays. You can also buy it online, and you can watch the Camp Fire website map for other sale locations. The organization explains, “The sale teaches youth valuable skills including goal setting, public speaking and engaging with their community.” It’s $5 per box, and they also welcome businesses as Merchants of Merit by buying a case for $75. Don’t eat candy? “You can also support the sale by purchasing a box of candy that will be donated to our troops at USO Northwest.” Read more about the candy sale here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch
January 29, 2020 6:57 am
|      7 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)

6:57 AM: Good morning.

NEW STOPLIGHT: Thanks to everyone who reported the 35th/Dawson stoplight was activated Monday afternoon.

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DEVELOPMENT: 1st Design Review Board date set for 3417 Harbor SW apartments
January 28, 2020 8:31 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Ten months ago, we reported on an early-stage proposal for an apartment building at 3417 Harbor SW, just north of the West Seattle Bridge, on the site that now holds this small commercial building:

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

The plan has proceeded through the city system since then, with an Early Community Outreach meeting in mid-December. Now its first Southwest Design Review Board meeting is set, and the project is starting to take shape – here are the three size/shape (“massing”) options in the draft design packet (PDF):

It is now described as “a 5-story, 140-unit apartment building. Parking for 68 vehicles proposed” – almost twice the unit count mentioned last year. The architecture firm for the project is Atelier Drome. The SWDRB meeting is tentatively set for 6:30 pm Thursday, March 5, at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon).

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen silver Ranger
January 28, 2020 7:29 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen silver Ranger
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The photo and report are from Anne:

Our family member’s truck was stolen across the street from our house today between 3 and 4:30 p.m. on the 3900 block of Barton Street.

It’s a 2008 Silver Ford Ranger Truck; license is CO7307P. Police incident # is 2020-34392.

Call 911 if you see it.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Warrants lead police to arrest 1 after finding drugs, guns, cash
January 28, 2020 5:10 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

When residents near 41st/Hinds texted about plain-clothes police activity last Friday afternoon, all we could find out was, warrant service. But now we know more. The report and photo are from SPD Blotter:

SPD Narcotics seized fentanyl pills, cocaine, xanax, methamphetamine, and cash while serving warrants last Friday in connection with an investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering in West Seattle.

Officers from the South Precinct’s Anti-Crime team arrested the 40-year-old suspect in a West Seattle parking garage and found he was carrying 62 fentanyl pills, 28 grams of cocaine, and a small number of xanax pills, as well as a handgun.

Narcotics detectives and the West and South Precinct’s Anti-Crime Teams then served warrants at two homes and a storage unit – in the 4700 block of 40th Avenue SW and the 3400 block of 41st Avenue SW – and recovered a .22 rifle, documents pertaining to money laundering, and additional narcotics, including 140 fentanyl pills, 10 grams of cocaine, 20 xanax pills, a small amount of meth and over $4,000 cash.

Investigators booked the suspect into the King County Jail for narcotics delivery and money laundering.

We’ll add anything more we find out about the suspect and his status.

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FERRY ALERT: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3-boat service
January 28, 2020 4:03 pm
|    Comments Off on FERRY ALERT: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3-boat service
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

After being on a 2-boat schedule since this morning due to “mechanical issues” with M/V Kittitas, Washington State Ferries says the Triangle Route is going back to a 3-boat schedule this afternoon.

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READER REPORT: 35th/Dawson stoplight activated
January 28, 2020 3:33 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

The photo is from a reader who just texted that the 35th/Dawson stoplight “went live this afternoon.” That’s ahead of the latest estimate cited by SDOT when we inquired recently. The signal has been long requested for the intersection that includes the entrance to Camp Long, and was promised as part of Phase 2 of the 35th SW Safety Project.

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ORCAS: Another Southern Resident Killer Whale missing
January 28, 2020 1:39 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

(L41, Northwest Marine Fisheries Center photo)

Just days after West Seattle whale-watchers enjoyed multiple orca visits, sad news: Another Southern Resident Killer Whale is missing. In its newest report on an “encounter” with resident orcas, the Center for Whale Research notes that L41 was not with his podmates and hasn’t been seen since August: “Given his age and that he looked a little thin in our January 2019 encounter, we fear he may be gone and will consider him missing unless he shows up unexpectedly in an upcoming encounter.” As noted in a WSB report four years ago, L41 has been a prolific patriarch among the SRKWs. He was born in 1977. If he has indeed died, that would bring the SRKWs’ number down to 72, just one above the historic low of 71. (Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip.)

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DEVELOPMENT: Community ‘site walk’ set for 1123 Harbor SW
January 28, 2020 11:59 am
|    Comments Off on DEVELOPMENT: Community ‘site walk’ set for 1123 Harbor SW
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, February 2019)

While we’ve talked a lot about the future of the “Stone House” at 1123 Harbor SW, we haven’t talked as much about the development planned to replace it. The project team has scheduled a “site walk” on Wednesday, February 5th, at 5:30 pm, as part of the Early Community Outreach for Design Review process. Here’s the announcement:

Conflux Architecture is looking for our neighbors’ input on a new building we’re designing at 1123 Harbor Ave SW. We’re just getting started on the initial planning now, so we’d like to gather input from the community to integrate into the design. Please share your ideas about designs and activities for the new building and any other thoughts that would help us understand your concerns and priorities for this property and neighborhood overall.

When it’s complete, the building will include approximately 15 market-rate condominium units and 23 parking stalls. The new building will be about 7 stories tall (above a basement parking garage). We are working in concert with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society to relocate the iconic “Stone House” to a nearby location. Construction could start in winter 2021 and the building could be open as early as spring 2022.

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4 for your West Seattle Tuesday!
January 28, 2020 10:35 am
|    Comments Off on 4 for your West Seattle Tuesday!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Surfbirds, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Highlights for your Tuesday night, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DROP-IN CHESS: Kids/teens are invited to the High Point Library to play, 4:30-5:30 pm. (3411 SW Raymond)

TUESDAY TRIVIA #1: 7 pm at Ounces, “FREE trivia hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia! Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place.” (3803 Delridge Way SW)

TUESDAY TRIVIA #2: 8:30 pm at Admiral Pub with Devon. 21+. (2306 California SW)

OPEN MIC NIGHT: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)’

Something for our calendar? Email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU’RE INVITED: Celebrate Mardi Gras with Holy Family School
January 28, 2020 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on YOU’RE INVITED: Celebrate Mardi Gras with Holy Family School
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

School-fundraiser season continues, and we’ve received another invitation to share with you:

Grab your beads, raise a glass … and then your paddle! Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School is hosting a Mardi Gras fundraising auction Saturday, March 7th, and tickets are on sale now!

Come enjoy a Cajun-inspired three-course dinner, drinks, and bid on some very exciting items, including Club-level Seahawks tickets, a Las Vegas getaway for two, a family weekend stay at Great Wolf Lodge, and much, much more!!

This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and 100% of the proceeds will be used to support our young scholars. Holy Family strives to provide our diverse scholars with a faith-based, dual-language education, rooted in academic excellence, to create students that are productive, global citizens.

Tickets are limited, so order now! This is an event you won’t want to miss!

When: Saturday, March 7th, doors open at 4:30pm
Where: Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School, 9615 20th Ave SW (at Roxbury)

For more information, please email at auction@holyfamilybilingual.org or 206-767-6640. Look forward to seeing you there!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
January 28, 2020 7:06 am
|      12 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)

7:06 AM: Good morning. No incidents/alerts so far in our area, aside from the continuing 2-boat schedule on the Triangle Route.

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FERRY ALERT: 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth
January 28, 2020 2:49 am
|    Comments Off on FERRY ALERT: 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

When service resumes this morning on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state-ferry route, it’ll be on the 2-boat schedule – M/V Kittitas is having “mechanical issues” that need attention, WSF says. See the 2-boat schedule here.

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Gunfire in South Delridge? Police investigating
January 27, 2020 10:11 pm
|    Comments Off on Gunfire in South Delridge? Police investigating
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

We received multiple reports – and police dispatchers reported multiple calls – of possible gunfire near 16th/Roxbury, Police are checking the area but so far haven’t found any evidence (casings, witnesses, etc.).

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FIREWORKS: King County ban to be proposed soon; related state legislation progressing
January 27, 2020 9:17 pm
|      35 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Reader photo: Solstice Park fireworks debris, July 2018)

Though fireworks are illegal in Seattle, they’re rampant, particularly on the Fourth of July.

They’re particularly easy to get here, since West Seattle is next door to unincorporated King County, where they’re legal on the Fourth and sold for almost a week leading uo to the holiday.

Many on both sides of the line have long called for the county to join its biggest cities in banning fireworks too. The calls intensified after a deadly fire last year. King County Council Vice Chair Joe McDermott, whose district includes West Seattle and White Center, says he supports a ban. Today he told WSB that he’s been working on the ban proposal with both the county permitting division and King County Executive Dow Constantine, and that he expects Constantine to send the proposal to the council next week.

Even if a ban passed quickly, though, state law requires a year before it could take effect, so there would be at least one more year of legal fireworks. When this all came up for discussion last September at a North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting in White Center, 34th District Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon talked about legislation to change that.

Now, he’s introduced it – HB 2307, “to allow local governments to ban fireworks immediately” – and tells WSB it’s progressing in the House. Our area’s senior state Representative, Eileen Cody, is a co-sponsor. The Local Government Committee took action to advance it last Friday, two days after a hearing.

To comment on that bill, you can go here. As for the proposed county ban, we’ll publish a followup when it’s introduced.

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ELECTION 2020: Six weeks ahead of presidential primary, 34th District Democrats launch info HQ
January 27, 2020 7:56 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgIn three weeks, ballots hit the mail for our state’s March 10th presidential primary, which, this time, counts. If you’re thinking about voting Democratic, the 34th District Democrats want you to know they have just added a section to their website with info about how the primary and caucuses will work this year. They’re not endorsing a candidate, so this isn’t info about candidates – just about the process, which starts with the March 10th primary and April 26th legislative-district-level caucus. The Secretary of State’s office also has an FAQ about the primary, plus the official list of who’ll be on the ballot.

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TERMINAL 5: Sunday pile-driving rescheduled
January 27, 2020 6:22 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

Last week, the Port of Seattle announced plans for pile-driving on the Terminal 5 project in West Seattle this Sunday, February 2nd. That’s now been pushed back a week, to February 9th. Same hours, 9 am to 5 pm. And Saturday pile-driving continues each weekend TFN, as work continues to make up for a month and a half lost because of a problem with timber pile breakage.

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Memorial service Saturday for Jana L. Layman, 1978-2020
January 27, 2020 4:09 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather this Saturday to remember Jana L. Layman. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing:

Jana Lee Layman passed unexpectedly at 41 on January 13, 2020.

She was born on September 22, 1978 in Seattle, attended Alki Elementary, West Seattle High School (1997 grad), and Northwest College of Art (Poulsbo, 2001 grad) with a BFA. She was full of joy, adventure, and fun-loving. Her family, faith, and love of nature (especially the Puget Sound beach) was the focus of her vibrant, colorful artwork – ceramic, oil painting, watercolor, etc.

Among many jobs, she was an art teacher at Shorewood Christian School, a teacher at Salvation Army, Pottery instructor at the Alki Bathhouse, and a Nanny. Hobbies included synchronized swimming, family road trips to National Parks, and singing on the worship team at church. Two mission trips to Mexico with West Side Presbyterian Church Youth influenced her faith greatly.

She was loving, accepting of everyone, and a friend to all. Her faith in God lifted her through many health problems and hardships; she genuinely valued her many friend and was committed to their lives. She is survived by her beloved young children, Serena (10) and Joshua (9), who were the center of her life, and her mother Linda A. Layman, brother Adam G. Layman, and grandmother Lois Snyder, and many other close family members and dear friends, including Jonathan. She was both an organ donor recipient and an organ donor.

The memorial service will be held at Trinity Church, 7551 35th Ave SW, on Saturday, February 1, at noon. In lieu of flowers, and if you wish, a donation may be made at hls.hopeseattle.org/support-for-ablin-family/

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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