West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
No cases of COVID-19 are reported at southeast West Seattle’s tiny-house encampment Camp Second Chance, but the pandemic has affected life at CSC in a few ways.
That was part of the discussion as the Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee met by videoconferencing and phone on Sunday afternoon.
The camp’s status was presented during the 40-minute meeting by site coordinator Eric Pattin.
10:26 PM: We mentioned tonight’s “supermoon” earlier – thanks to David Hutchinson for sending that photo after it rose over the downtown skyline!
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: More views! First, from Kersti Muul:
From Marc Milrod:
No big announcements today, so here’s what we have for the nightly roundup:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From today’s Seattle-King County Public Health news release:
3,486 confirmed positive cases (up 155* from yesterday)
230 confirmed deaths (up 8 from yesterday)
* The “new confirmed positive cases” figure we publish each day represents all new confirmed cases reported to us through 11:59 the night prior. Some of these test results were processed on days prior but were delayed in being reported to us.
No week-to-week comparison numbers tonight, as they had a data hiccup last Tuesday. The county’s data dashboard, meantime, shows no new deaths in the zip codes that comprise West Seattle/White Center.
ISOLATION/QUARANTINE SITES: Today’s county update also notes, “39 people are currently staying in King County isolation and quarantine facilities.” That does NOT include the Top Hat (east of White Center) site, which has not yet been activated.
2-DAY CONSTRUCTION SUSPENSION: The city has ordered work to be suspended Thursday/Friday on “active public works projects” to “allow contractors and staff to implement rigorous social distancing requirements and update health and safety plans.”
GOVERNOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS: He had two in a relatively low-key afternoon news conference today (video here) – a new fund for small businesses to get relief grants of up to $10.000, and a fund to help food banks around the state. (You can donate directly to both of the ones serving our area via their own websites – West Seattle Food Bank here, White Center Food Bank here.)
‘SEE IT,SNAP IT, SEND IT’: The Attorney General’s Office wants to enlist you in the fight against price-gouging – something about which the AGO has already received 400+ complaints in the past month. here’s how to do that.
TONIGHT’S CHALK-ART INSPIRATION: Seen along SW Thistle in Gatewood:
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Lots more business updates ahead, after we repeated our invitation for them today. First- one proprietor just wanted to share words of appreciation. From Chris Christensen of West Seattle Autoworks and Swedish Automotive (both WSB sponsors):
Our community is incredible!
Everyone is following guidelines and is respectful of one another.
Small businesses are taking solid steps to keep us safe and protected. I applaud all of those businesses.
I just want everyone in our community to know they are doing a great job through this process.
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
PROWLING REPORT: From an Arbor Heights resident:
Have (an attempted) break-in that happened this morning at 11:30 am … Has been reported to police with video from our doorbell camera, etc.
The vehicle (was) a red 1991 Ford F-150.
The guy approached the house because driveway was empty, and was trying to pry the doorbell camera off when I confronted him.
SPD incident # is 2020-116947.
BURGLARY PREVENTION: Also today, Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner sent this advice:
Even though many Seattle area residents are Staying Home to Stay Healthy, we still see residential burglaries occurring throughout Seattle. There are some trends worth noting. In some instances, suspects peered through windows, saw something close by that they wanted, then smashed the window and grabbed the item without entering the home. In other instances, burglars may be watching to see when people leave the house, (maybe going to the store for a short while), make entry, then leave quickly.
We wanted to offer these tips to help reduce burglaries in your neighborhood:
Lock your doors, even when home
Lock your windows or at least limit how far they can be opened
Don’t leave valuables in close proximity of a window
Answer the door; let people know you are home. “Answering” the door does not mean “opening” the door.
Always know who is on the other side of your door before you open it, even if you are expecting someone
While home, take moments to go outside and put eyes on the street; check out what’s happening on the street
When you see neighbors out and about, wave and say hi. When you see people you don’t know out and about on your street, wave and say hi. Send the message that you are a neighborhood that cares and that you are paying attention
Do not call 911 to report people being outside; remember that Police are focused on criminal behavior, not people who want to get out of the house for a bit (Please contact us directly if you have questions about how to report anyone violating the ‘Stay-At-Home’ order)
Stay connected with your Block Watch neighbors and help keep an eye on your neighbors’ place and ask they do the same for you
If you live in an apartment or condo make sure to check on your car daily to ensure it is secure.
It’s a good time to also use your Block Watch connections to see if any neighbors need help or could use a few items from the grocery store.
If you have prevention/safety questions, jennifer.danner@seattle.gov is her contact info.
As noted here last weekend, the 35th/Avalon/Alaska project is in the final stretch – with nighttime paving this week on Avalon west of 35th, and permanent striping/markers for the entire project zone. As part of the latter, some parking spots were marked “NO PARKING” starting today. That led to multiple tows, according to multiple readers plus a conversation we heard via scanner (and mentioned in a tweet at the time). That conversation mentioned “possibly 20” tows. Then we received this reader report saying it might have been more:
I discovered my car was towed out from in front of my apartment at 30xx SW Avalon Way around 3 pm, assuming it happened sometime today. Due to the Striping project. In the past there has been advance noticed and communication (that) this was happening. I do not believe there was reasonable notice given this time, as I do not recall seeing any no parking signs. I called a number from a flyer that is now definitely visible and spoke to (a) work crew member who said they had printed signs Friday and put out over the weekend. Again, I do not recall seeing these signs; of course I could have missed them. But considering the state is under Gov Inslee’s order to stay inside. I don’t believe this was a reasonable notice or expectation to residents.
I approached the work crew and spoke to a retired Traffic officer for advice. The work crew person told me they had towed up to 40 cars up and down Avalon Way, and pointed to reach out the number on the flyer and the Avalon Paving Outreach email.
Lincoln Towing is still charging me $230 to get the car, which I will also have to Uber to.
Via Twitter, another resident expressed concern about people risking exposure by having to go get their towed car. Twice now, as we’ve reported, Mayor Durkan has announced some parking rules have been lifted because of COVID-19, and the online SDOT policy says towing is to be limited too. So we have an inquiry out to the mayor’s office and SDOT, seeking comment about what happened on Avalon today.
(West Seattle Bridge cracks, from sdotblog.seattle.gov)
Two weeks after the sudden safety shutdown of the West Seattle Bridge, SDOT has just gone public with inspection reports chronicling the history of the bridge’s cracks, which as previously explained, were first noticed in 2013. The 14 reports are linked on the project website, and in a new SDOT Blog post which says in part:
… What we believe the reports show is our careful, proactive monitoring effort that put into place the systems necessary to make sure we could act quickly to preserve life and safety. Additionally, they show that during our frequent inspections of the West Seattle Bridge over the past several years, there was no indication that the bridge was unsafe for ordinary use or that preventative maintenance plans would impact normal use of the bridge until very, very recently.
Documents shared with the public today include:
Initial crack memo in 2013, special inspection memo in 2013, and technical assessment memo in 2014 from consultant indicated some cracking that should continue to be monitored
Inspection reports from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and late 2019 show monitoring of cracks and recommendations from each year
Memo from consultant in 2019 suggested sealing cracks with epoxy and further monitoring of cracks
Memo from consultant on 2/21/20 suggested the bridge should be reduced to two lanes each way and repairs initiated before end of year 2020
Memo from consultant on 3/20/20 that indicates a further review of 2019 inspection report data suggests immediate closure …
We’ve just begun reading the reports – starting with the most-recent one (March 20th, three days before the bridge was closed), which says in part:
Since our initial recommendation, our biggest concern has become the extent and rate of
cracking near the quarter points of the main span could lead to collapse in the near future if
strengthening is not implemented quickly.
The 2013 details on the cracks is also of note, carrying the observation, “The cracking does influence long term durability …” We’ll add more highlights later..
Meantime, no update yet on the timeline for determining what short-term repairs are needed before long-term repairs can be done, but we’ve asked for one.
(WSB photo from 2019 West Seattle Garden Tour)
Just in from West Seattle Garden Tour organizers:
It is with great sadness, disappointment and an abundance of caution, we announce the cancellation of our June 28, 2020 West Seattle Garden Tour due to the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our wish to protect our gardeners, volunteers and ticket holders is of paramount importance.
Anyone who has purchased tickets for this year’s event will be issued a refund.
Since 1995, the West Seattle Garden Tour has been inviting you to visit some of the most beautiful and unique gardens right in our own backyard. We do it for the love of lush, inviting spaces, but that’s not the only reason. We celebrate our neighborhood. We make connections and foster relationships.
Besides showcasing beautiful and creative gardens, we shine a light on local non-profits working hard to make our community a better place, and donate the net proceeds from the tour, about $25,000 each year, to those non-profits whose goals fit our mission—to promote horticultural-based interests, education, and artistic endeavors. Our all-volunteer organization is driven to provide them the funds they need to continue their important missions and create an exciting and enriching garden tour experience to our supporters.
For 25 years, we have found joy in growing community and all of this is made possible by you—our ticket buyers, and the generosity of many sponsors and donors. From the bottom of our heart, we thank you for supporting the West Seattle Garden Tour and hope to see you next year during our 2021 West Seattle Garden Tour.
Even if you aren’t in the Alki vicinity – as photographer Theresa Arbow-O’Connor was a few nights ago – you might be able to catch the full “supermoon” rising tonight just after 7:30 pm. The local moment of moonrise is also just a few minutes short of when the moon is completely “full.” You can also watch online; Space.com notes this will be the year’s closest full moon.
Though most construction is on hold, new plans/proposals are still being filed in the city system, so we’ve been keeping watch for anything of note, and found this:
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
The former CDE Software site at 4515 44th SW [map] has an early-stage proposal for an apartment building: 5 stories, 50 units, no off-street parking, per the site plan (PDF). The site is zoned for development up to 55 feet high (upzoned by HALA Mandatory Housina Affordability, previously 40′). The existing building is to be demolished. The website for CDE, which makes bowling software, shows it now has offices in Tukwila. The Junction site had a redevelopment proposal in 2008, but that was eventually dropped.
Two more West Seattle business updates this morning:
CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: This longtime WSB sponsor just announced:
Permission granted! You know that old saying about permission and forgiveness? Well… we did exactly the opposite of what it says. We asked the state for permission to ship orders. And they said YES.
We’ll be shipping twice weekly, are doing free contact-less deliveries within West Seattle (orders $50+) and free shipping on orders over $75.
Our web store will continue to be updated with in-stock goodies and we’re always available by email or IG DM. We’ve also got a brand spankin’ new Gift Helper form for personalized gift suggestions, the next best thing to being together in the store :).
Rick Moreno continues as our featured artist. The entire gallery of work is online for a little virtual Art Walking and we now have prints available upon request too!
ALAIR: From the South Admiral gift shop‘s proprietor Shandon Graybeal:
I have been offering local, no contact delivery and it’s been really nice to see how many people are staying home and flattening the curve. It’s also been fun to go to customer’s houses and see things like door mats that they got at Alair.
Also, we have always offered a gift concierge service and this week, we’ve been doing a lot of Easter baskets. I feel like Easter kind of snuck up on us and I have baskets, grass, and things to fill it with. People can email us at info@alairseattle.com and tell us about the kid/kids and a budget and we put something together and email them back! (We can even drop them off!)
Got a business update? Email is the best way to get it to us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
5:40 AM: The high-rise West Seattle Bridge remains closed for the 15th consecutive morning.
The low bridge is reserved for transit, freight, emergency response, and Harbor Island access – spot enforcement started Monday, and you’ll see new signage and lane striping to reinforce the restrictions.
For general traffic, the main route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – that’s also how to get to I-5, cutting across Georgetown.
Or you can use the South Park Bridge (map).
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if a bridge is opening for marine traffic.
TRANSIT ALERTS FOR TODAY:
As first reported here, Metro‘s schedule is reduced further. Use the lookup to see which trips are canceled.
The Water Taxi’s schedule is reduced too – 2 morning departures and 2 evening returns – and its shuttles are no longer operating.
ROAD WORK REMINDER:
Work on the last section of Avalon to be paved, west of 35th SW, is happening this week – striping in the full project zone, too.
OTHER LINKS
SDOT’s traffic map
Our traffic-cams page
Let us know what you’re seeing if you’re still commuting – comment, or text (not if you’re at the wheel!) 206-293-6302.
| 2 COMMENTS