WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: 2 ripple effects

While neither of these is directly related to Camp Second Chance, both bits of information emerged during this afternoon’s meeting (by videoconferencing/phone) of the CSC Community Advisory Committee (full report later): 2 elements of COVID-19 response that are dropped or on hold because the West Seattle Bridge closure has suddenly rendered our area a lot less accessible.

One is the plan for the Southwest Teen Life Center to be used as an additional shelter space for up to 50 people, so that existing shelters in the city could be made less dense. Shawn Neal of the city Human Services Department said that site is on the back burner now because transportation logistics between here and, for example, downtown services are a lot more complex without the bridge. Also, Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski of Fauntleroy UCC (now the camp’s sponsor) said a plan for the co-housed Fauntleroy YMCA to be used as a child-care space for medical personnel/first responders hit the same snag – suddenly it’s a lot harder to get to/from WS – so the church is now exploring “other (interim) uses” for its building.

5 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: 2 ripple effects"

  • dcn April 5, 2020 (4:59 pm)

    Interesting. Since transit can still use the lower bridge, I’m surprised they tabled the SW Teen Life Center’s use as a shelter due to transportation logistics.

    • WSB April 5, 2020 (9:10 pm)

      It’s not entirely an issue of transit – it’s also transportation for shelter staffers (no provider had been secured yet, but whoever it wouuld be, they’re based across the bay), supplies, etc. Meantime, transit is being slashed as of tomorrow.

    • chemist April 5, 2020 (9:42 pm)

      channeling my inner Jort:  Have they looked into using bikes to get between West Seattle and downtown?  The commute times have barely been effected for bikes and cargo ebikes have come a long way.

      • WSB April 5, 2020 (9:50 pm)

        Might be feasible if it were in, say, North Delridge and convenient to the path over the low bridge. From Westwood, the WS Neighborhood Greenway is still a work in progress.

      • Calires April 6, 2020 (1:13 am)

        I  love how “Jort” has become a sort of shorthand here on the blog for single-minded pro-bike/pro-transit/anti-car sentiment.  (Not slamming your idea, just having a chuckle about je ne sais Jort.  Remember when they were posting under “Jort Sandwich”?)

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