West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
Some local businesses are reopening for in-person customer service, and that’s the big news as we start this roundup, exactly 14 weeks after news of King County’s first confirmed COVID-19 case:
‘MODIFIED PHASE 1’ BEGINS: At midmorning, King County announced the news that so many businesses – and customers – had been waiting to hear: The state had approved the application to move to “modified Phase 1,” just two days after it was filed. The changes took effect immediately, so businesses have been busy announcing they’re open – or deciding on their next step.
ALSO MOVING ON: Other decisions announced today included neighboring Pierce and Snohomish Counties moving into full-fledged Phase 2.
BUT REMEMBER … this key section from the “Safe Start” plan:
Until there is an efective vaccine, efective treatment or herd immunity, it is crucial to maintain some level of community interventions to suppress the spread of COVID-19 throughout all phases of recovery. This includes heightened protections for the health and safety of workers in essential sectors, people living and working in high-risk facilities (e.g., senior care facilities) and all other workers.
All Washingtonians have a responsibility to protect themselves and others. Each phase, while allowing for additional services to open and return to full capacity, is grounded in the following required basic practices:
Guidance for Individuals
All phases – Individuals should continue to:
• Engage in physical distancing, staying at least six feet away from other people
• Wear cloth face coverings in public places when not eating or drinking (cloth face coverings should not
be placed on children younger than 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious,
incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance)
• Stay home if sick
• Avoid others who are sick
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water (use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available)
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Disinfect surfaces and objects regularly
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*8,396 people have tested positive, up 63 from yesterday
*566 people have died, up 2 from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 8,006 and 554.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
WASH BUT DON’T WASTE: After three months of frequent hand washing, has your water bill gone up? Seattle Public Utilities has conservation tips.
VIRTUAL ART SHOW: Art has helped many people cope with the uncertainty of the past few months – murals, windows, sidewalk chalk. Seattle Public Schools‘ annual Naramore art show had to be held virtually this year because of the virus crisis – you can see all the students’ work, and watch a video version, by going here.
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Now that retailers have the go-ahead to let some customers shop in person, you’re invited to the expanded space of Thunder Road Guitars and The Bass Shop (6400 California SW) starting tomorrow (Saturday, June 6th). You might recall that TRG proprietor Frank Gross bought the building last year and planned to eventually expand into the entire space; now that work is done. This video made for TRG and TBS by Ryan Cory gives you a closer look:
More room to shop means more room to shop safely as they reopen – Frank says they’re excited for you to come see the shop! But wear your face covering -he’s all set with his:
Hours are 10 am-6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays.
P.S. The Wash Dog, previous tenant on the north side of the building, is now at 10623 16th SW in White Center.
More peaceful West Seattle protests this afternoon along local streets – first, near Highland Park Improvement Club at 12th/Holden:
(First 5 photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Not far away, Hate-Free Delridge was also back at 16th/Holden for the second time in three days. And at 8th/Roxbury:
Many honks of support, but our photographer saw one driver yelling that the protesters should “go home.” Brandon said something similar happened at a gathering in Upper Fauntleroy:
Small #BlackLivesMatter protest at 41st and Barton. Bunch of kids here and an old dude drove up really close to us to give the thumbs down. Mostly honks and cheers though. @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/mT8LmyS6pl
— Brandon Sparks, respected (@BestSeattle77) June 6, 2020
Earlier today, health-care providers knelt outside local facilities for a demonstration dubbed “White Coats for Black Lives.”
SATURDAY: We’re continuing to update this list. There’s now a noon bicycle ride from Alki, and two separate marches from north and south at ~12:30 pm to join the 2 pm Junction protest. Anything else this weekend or beyond? Please let us know – thank you!
As reported here this morning, King County is now in “modified Phase 1” and that means some businesses can reopen if they choose to – including restaurants, who can have some indoor and outdoor table service. Here’s who we’ve heard from/about so far:
LUNA PARK CAFE: Open! (2918 SW Avalon Way)
SEATTLE FISH COMPANY: Open! (4435 California SW)
BOX BAR: Planning to open Saturday: “The Box Bar will be open for indoor dining at 25% capacity (15 guests) starting tomorrow Sat 6/6 from 4 PM-10 PM. Hours moving forward are subject to change so please check the website boxbarseattle.com” (California/Brandon)
OUNCES: “We’ve reopened our outdoor. We are following phase 1.5 guidelines from the state: no indoor seating, operating at 50% outdoor capacity, wearing a mask requested when inside the taproom, seating is spaced 6ft apart, no more than 5 people per table…etc. We are also asking customers to practice social distancing and help us by sanitizing their space before and after use (spray bottle supplied). We will continue our pickup and delivery options, expanded hours, and our food truck schedule can be found on our website www.ounceswestseattle.com.” (3809 Delridge Way SW)
MIOPOSTO: Planning to open Wednesday (6/10), with this brand-new patio as well as indoor dining:
“Updated hours are 11:30 am-10 pm. Brunch and lunch are served daily until 3 pm. Daily happy hour 4 pm-6 pm (dine-in only). Guests can still order for curbside pickup via our online ordering website.” (2139 California SW)
ADDED SATURDAY
UPTOWN ESPRESSO: Both West Seattle locations (California/Edmunds, Delridge/Andover) reopened today, “for indoor seating at 25% and outdoor seating at 50%. Indoor seating will have an hour limit and 5 people MAX per table.”
CHACO CANYON CAFE: Open, 10 am-5 pm daily. (37th/Alaska)
LOCOL BARLEY AND VINE: Now “open 7 days a week from 4-8 now. Our patio is open, dine-in seating is available, and we still offer everything to go as well.” (35th/Kenyon)
We’ll keep adding as we hear more!
From Rebecca in Gatewood: “Early this morning, a red 1995 Subaru Legacy wagon with roof rack, license plate number BFP-5944, was stolen. Parked on street in front of residence. No broken glass, so most likely a shaved key was used. Car owner had a club on the steering wheel but that did not deter thieves. This theft has been reported to the police. If you see it please contact the police – Case #20-181934.” (Call 911 if you see this or any other known stolen car.)
(WSB photos)
Planning to participate in upcoming protests? You’re invited to join the group making signs at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th and Myrtle) right now, materials provided.
Above are organizers Taylor and Celia, both high-school seniors. They’re expecting to be there until 6 pm – please wear a face covering and keep your distance!
P.S. Our ongoing list of local protests in the days ahead is here.
The advocacy group West Seattle Bridge Now – which we first told you about in April – has expanded its online presence. It now has a website at wsbridgenow.com, and it’s produced a short video to emphasize the bridge’s importance to the community:
The announcement is from WSBN’s Kevin Broveleit:
West Seattle Bridge Now is launching a website to keep the community connected to the latest information on solutions to the closure of the bridge. The group plans to grow the website into a comprehensive resource with project updates, event calendars and most importantly how to get involved and make your voice heard in the planning process. On the site you can sign up for email updates, and follow West Seattle Bridge Now on social media.
Broveleit tells WSB that among other things, the group is getting weekly briefings from SDOT’s bridge-project leader Heather Marx. WSBN also has representation on the city’s new Community Task Force, which will meet for the first time next Wednesday.
P.S. In case you’ve lost track with everything else that’s been happening, the most-recent major development is the city’s search for a design team in case the bridge needs to be replaced – here’s our report from Tuesday.
The first of many reopening announcements, with this morning’s news that King County got the state OK to move immediately into “modified Phase 1” – the photo is from West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), which is now open!
We are open now until 4 tonight. Tomorrow we will be open 10-5, and Sunday 11-4. Starting next week our hours will be 10-6 M-F, 10-5 Sat and 11-4 Sun until phase 4.
We have gone a little over the top to keep staff and customers safe and distanced. We’ve added barriers to keep shoppers and people checking out separated even in close confines.
Even before state orders in March required WSR and other retailers to close in-store service, they had implemented special protection, well before even “essential” businesses followed suit.
10:44 AM: Just in – King County’s “modified Phase 1” approval from the state. Here’s the announcement:
With new state health officials’ approval today, restaurants and retailers will be allowed to serve customers in their establishments, in addition to other modified openings for a wide range of businesses and activities. Public Health – Seattle & King County will monitor transmission trends, medical capacity and other key indicators to help inform further reopening decisions.
A plan drafted by King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci, and King County Board of Health Chair Joe McDermott and approved today by state Department of Health Secretary John Wiesman immediately allows limited and modified openings for a wide range of businesses, recreation, and personal activities in King County.
Businesses are required to follow the state Department of Health’s specific guidance but must adjust their occupancy to the levels identified below. The State defines an establishment’s capacity as the fire code. The intent is to limit business operations to a level that allows for social distancing. Additionally, businesses in retail, professional services, and real estate must take steps to reduce indoor operations to thirty minutes. This is not meant to be timed to the second – no one is expected to have a stopwatch – but customers should be informed why it is important to limit close interactions.
Here is an overview of what’s happening in key sectors across King County:
Restaurants
• Outdoor dining activities is allowed at 50 percent of capacity with all tables and chairs maintaining 6 feet of distance, though additional seating will be allowed provided it follows Public Health – Seattle & King County’s best practices. Restaurants will also need to go through the normal process within their city – or King County if the establishment is located within unincorporated King County – to seek approval to expand outdoor seating.
• Indoor dining services may operate at 25 percent of capacity, provided such tables and chairs are more than 6 feet away from each other.In-store retail
• All non-essential retail activities may operate but an establishment’s occupancy may not be not be higher than 15 percent of capacity.
• Businesses are directed to provide signage encouraging indoor visits to less than 30 minutes, with face-to-face interactions limited to 30 minutes.
• Essential retail activities may continue to operate according to the existing state regulations.Personal services: Cosmetologists, Hairstylists, Barbers, Estheticians, Master Estheticians, Manicurists, Nail Salon Workers, Electrologists, Permanent Makeup Artists, Tattoo Artists, Cosmetology Schools and Esthetics Schools
• All activities may operate but the number of clients served will be limited to no more than 25 percent of capacity or one person if it is a single bed/chair studio.Professional services: Accountants, architects, attorneys, engineers, financial advisors, information technologists, insurance agents, tax preparers, and other office-based occupations that are typically serving a client base
• All activities allowed but an establishment’s occupancy should not be higher than 25 percent of capacity.
• Businesses are directed to provide signage encouraging indoor visits to be less than 30 minutes, with face to face interactions limited to 30 minutes.Construction
• All construction, including those activities for which social distancing may not be maintained and the start of new construction projects, is authorized to resume.
As we’ve done throughout the virus crisis, we’ll be publishing business updates as we get them – please let us know!
11:59 AM: Here’s the state Health Department announcement that King and 13 other counties are advancing. Meantime, everything King County requested is here.
(WSB photos)
10:39 AM: Brief but big – enough people to line the block outside Providence Mount St. Vincent joined in “White Coats for Black Lives” less than an hour ago, organized “to raise awareness of racial inequality and police brutality.”
(added) Reader video:
This is the first of several local demonstrations planned today and tomorrow – if you know of any not on our list, please let us know.
ADDED 6:35 PM: Caregivers and providers also participated outside Swedish West Seattle Primary Care:
Thanks to Stephanie Vogtzinn for those photos.
(WSB photo, low-low tide last month)
Today is the first of four days that’ll bring very low tides (we like to call them “low-low tides”) to local shores – -3.0 feet at 11:14 am today, -3.4 at 11:56 am Saturday, -3.2 at 12:39 pm Sunday, and -2.8 at 1:23 pm Monday. If you go to the beach, tread lightly – the low-low tide leaves many creatures vulnerable. Best way to admire is from a distance – you can walk Alki and marvel at how far out the water recedes, for example.
6:03 AM: Good morning – the 74th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. As usual, we start by checking the cameras for the 5-way intersection, and the restricted-access low bridge just east of it:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the SP-side approach:
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Check the Twitter feed for any breaking service changes. Otherwise – still on the reduced schedule and reduced capacity; check here for next departure
Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues
Trouble on the roads/paths? Let us know – comment or text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
(Added: Photo posted in comments, by Elizabeth)
1:40 AM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is headed to the 2400 block of Harbor Avenue SW for a possible fire in a business. Updates to come.
1:43 AM: First unit arriving reports “fully involved structure.” They’re closing Harbor.
1:46 AM: The address on the SFD log is not correct (yet) – the burning building is now described as appearing to be “derelict,” a small old house.
1:49 AM: One person is reported to have been inside when the fire started but is said to be unhurt.
2:12 AM: A witness who called it in says the building is on the water side.
2:37 AM: The fire is “knocked down,” says SFD. Some units are leaving.
ADDED 12:33 PM: We went by for that photo of the fire scene. SFD has since corrected the address to 2316 Harbor and tells us the cause was ruled accidental. County records show this is part of a site that sold to an investment entity for $3.5 million last November; a self-storage proposal has been working its way through the city permit system since last year.
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