West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo and tip. It was demolition time today for the houses at 1778 and 1780 Alki Avenue SW [map], 82 and 110 years old, respectively. They’re making way for a 3-story, 6-townhouse project with 9 offstreet-parking spaces. It’s been in the works since August 2018; the site changed hands this past February, for $2.3 million.
Another chunk of the state just qualified to ask for permission to move to Phase 2 of the reopening plan, and that kicks off our nightly roundup:
MORE COUNTIES REOPENING? They don’t have to if they don’t want to, but 10 more counties are eligible to seek “variances” to move to Phase 2 of the reopening plan, Gov. Inslee announced this morning. The new criteria are centered on “less than 10 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents over a 14-day span.” Would that also eventually apply to larger counties like ours? the governor was asked. That’s the direction they’re moving in, he said. Meantime, the 10 newly eligible counties are in this tweet from the governor’s office:
NEW: 10 more counties are eligible to apply to move to Phase 2. They are:
➡️ Spokane
➡️ Adams
➡️ Mason
➡️ Thurston
➡️ Lewis
➡️ Clark
➡️ Clallum
➡️ Kitsap
➡️ Island
➡️ San Juan pic.twitter.com/WNbx7K3WfZ— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) May 19, 2020
ALSO ANNOUNCED – PHASE 2 RULES FOR FITNESS & REAL ESTATE: All linked here.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*7,582 people have tested positive, up 53 from yesterday
*529 people have died, up 6 from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 7,179 and 511.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
SFD & SPD’S WEEKLY UPDATES: Again this week, the Fire Department says it has no personnel currently in quarantine; the Police Department‘s weekly update says 16 SPD employees are in quarantine or isolation.
NEED MASKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION? The city has launched a new “online marketplace.” Individual shoppers welcome too.
REMINDER – FREE FOOD TOMORROW: 2-5 pm Wednesday in South Park, you can get a free box of food from Food Lifeline, no questions asked (except your zip code).
AFTER 2 MONTHS OF SCHOOL @ HOME, 1 TO GO: Seattle Public Schools has a survey for its students’ families and staff.
GRATITUDE … or was it cat-itude? Another window sighting sent by Noodle:
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Reader report from North Delridge via text:
With Seattle Parks grounds crews overwhelmed, these neighbors and others decided to mow out most of Puget Blvd. Park (Sunday) evening for the little kids to run. One was even using a push mower. Good social distancing too.
The area is adjacent the Delridge P-Patch.
If you live and/or have a business in Highland Park, Riverview, or South Delridge, you’re invited to be part of HPAC‘s new subcommittee to focus on traffic issue caused/worsened by West Seattle Bridge closure detours. Here’s the invitation to its first meeting Thursday:
Let’s Talk Navigating Our Own Neighborhoods
HPAC Subcommittee Forming – Join Us This WeekIn order to prepare for further discussions, requests, and mitigation plans about the impact of the detour through Highland Park, Riverview and South Delridge during the closure of the West Seattle Bridge, HPAC is hosting a working subcommittee, West Seattle Bridge Detour Subcommittee. We are looking for neighbors to assist us in continuing to identify the needs of the neighborhoods, follow up and hold accountable SDOT, elected officials, and the Mayor.
Join our Zoom meeting for WSB Detour Subcommittee
May 21, 2020 – 7:00 PM – 8:00 PMThis subcommittee and this meeting is open to residents of and business owners in Highland Park, Riverview and South Delridge.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 819 1899 0702
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,81918990702#
Dial in number
+1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 819 1899 0702
SDOT says it’s working on neighborhood-specific traffic plans but hasn’t presented any of them yet.
(Part of the initial response, visible via new 35th/Holden SDOT camera)
Big SFD callout in the 7500 block of 35th SW but it’s being quickly downsized – first crews on scene say it appears to be just a dryer problem.
June 19th – one month from today – is the last day of the year for Seattle Public Schools. No decision yet about what school will be like in the fall, though the governor has said he’s optimistic that in-person classes will resume. In the meantime, SPS is asking its families and staff to answer a survey “to gather feedback on how things are going and inform additional supports and future planning.” It’s open through Wedneday (May 20th); the family survey is here, the staff survey here, the school-leader survey here.
Car prowlers were busy last night on both sides of 35th SW. This photo is from Tom at 36th/Graham:
Tom reports, “My car was broken into at 36th/Graham sometime last night between 10 pm and 6 am. Photos are attached, police report has been filed. As far as I can tell, nothing was taken: the contents of the console were left on the driver side seat when they realized there was nothing of value to take.”
TJ sent this photo from one of “a string of car windows being smashed” at 35th/Graham:
And texters report multiple break-ins near 34th/Morgan and 34th/Willow. If it happens to you – even if nothing is taken – you can report online; start here.
(Rendering by SMR Architects)
That’s the final rendering for Yancy Street, the supportive-housing complex that West Seattle nonprofit Transitional Resources plans to build on the project’s namesake street, with 44 studio apartments for people living with behavioral-health challenges. It just got key city approvals, as announced in Monday’s Land Use Information Bulletin. We first reported on the project in February 2018; it’s replacing houses at 2811, 2821, and 2827 SW Yancy that TR has long used as shared housing. (Our past coverage also includes a design-feedback open house last year, plus news of partial city funding.) You can read the full decision here; its publication opens a 2-week appeal period, explained here. TR CEO Darcell Slovek-Walker tells WSB, “We anticipate that demolition/construction will start end of June/early July.” Her nonprofit, headquartered nearby, already provides housing for more than 80 people.
(WSB photos)
Here’s a seasonal West Seattle tradition that the pandemic hasn’t pre-empted – The Junction’s hanging flower baskets! Installation started early this morning. Baskets of greenery, with some early blossoms, lined the sidewalks outside stores and restaurants, waiting to go up:
This is the fourth year the 90-plus baskets have been offered by the West Seattle Junction Association for “adoption,” with donors supporting the summer-long display. (We’ve adopted one each year.) When you visit The Junction in the days and weeks ahead, look closely for the plaques ID’ing the adopters, and watch the baskets grow ever more colorful all season long!
8:55 AM: Again today, we have more food/drink establishments joining/rejoining our West Seattle list.
WHISKY WEST: Just reopened for takeout. Lead bartender Holly tells us WW (6451 California SW) is open daily 11 am-8 pm. Here’s a pic of the menu; beverages are listed here.
MARINATION MA KAI: Reopening tomorrow (Wednesday, May 20th) for takeout food and drinks, 3-7 pm daily (at Seacrest, 1660 Harbor SW) – info here; menu here. Thanks to Jen for the tip!
TAT’S TRUCK: Bringing the Tat’s Deli sandwiches to West Seattle on Saturdays starting this weekend (May 23rd), 11:30 am-6:30 pm at Hans VW Repair (35th/Graham). Here’s the menu, sent by Rob.
Any other additions/changes for our list? Please let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you – EAT/DRINK LOCAL!
ADDED 3:35 PM: Thanks to Morgan for the tip – Shadowland (California/Oregon) has just reopened too! 3-9 pm Tuesdays-Sundays.
6:07 AM: Good morning – the 57th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. Headed out? Here are the cameras for the 5-way intersection at West Marginal/Delridge/Spokane, and the restricted-access low bridge (where SPD enforcement continues):
Since the main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map), that’s the next camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the approach:
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
ADDED CAMERAS: SDOT has added 6 more cameras, along 35th and Roxbury. Here are two:
16th/Roxbury:
35th/Morgan:
You can see all local traffic cams, including the new ones in West Seattle, here.
TRANSIT
Metro – Reduced schedule; reduced capacity; check here for next departure
Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues
Sound Transit note – Link light rail and Sounder trains will start charging fares again June 1st
During the stay-home order, we’re not live-monitoring morning traffic, so please let us know what you’re seeing – comment or text (but not if you’re drivingl!) 206-293-6302.
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