West Seattle, Washington
23 Friday
(Photo sent by Susanna Niederberger)
The message can be large, like on the skyline (above) or the street (below) ,,,
(Photo sent by Scott, street mural on 18th north of Myrtle)
… or simple, like a sign you hold. You have two chances to do that this week – Scott (who also sent the street-mural photo above) sends this announcement – he and neighbors at Puget Ridge Cohousing are organizing Black Lives Matter sign-waving events at 16th/Holden this Tuesday and Thursday (June 23 and 25), 4-6 pm both days.
The neighborhoods served by HPAC – Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – are among those for which the city promises a mitigation plan for bridge-detour traffic. HPAC will talk about it – and listen – this Wednesday night. The announcement:
Let’s Talk About Upcoming SDOT Mitigation Projects Process for Our Neighborhoods!
HPAC Community Listening Session – Join Us This Week!Join us this Wednesday, June 24, 7-8 pm .for a community listening session around the increasing West Seattle Bridge detour traffic through our neighborhoods and ideas we have for mitigation projects. We will also share what we know about the upcoming Project Prioritization Process.
We will have at least two members of the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force who represent our area in attendance to hear from the community.
The meeting is open to all but due to Zoom capacity we will prioritize attendees from Highland Park, South Delridge, Riverview, and Roxhill.
See the HPAC website for information on how to access the meeting.
The photo and report are from Samuel, who says this happened near 10th/Barton:
Our 2014 black Nissan Leaf (license plate BQJ-2625) was just stolen from out in front of our house (within the last 2.5 hours). Case number 20-194155
If you see it, call 911.
(SDOT photo – taking samples off side of bridge)
During last week’s West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meeting (WSB coverage here), SDOT revealed that analysis so far shows the bridge IS likely fixable – so the biggest question now is whether repairs are feasible, more than whether they’re possible. Just published on SDOT Blog this afternoon is a close-up look at what led to that preliminary determination. From the post:
…Over the past few months, we have been hard at work conducting more than 100 scientific tests to analyze the structural stability of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge. The tests completed so far have not found indications of problems with the post-tensioning system, comprising the steel strands running through the structure like a skeleton. Problems with this system would mean repairs would be much less likely to succeed.
We are continuing to analyze how long repairs would take, how much they would cost, whether or not repairs would allow traffic to return to previous levels, and how long and in what capacity the bridge could remain open after potential repairs were completed so that we can tell whether or not fixing the bridge is a worthwhile investment. …
We are keeping all options open and are still moving forward with our search for a team to design a replacement for the bridge in case repairs are not a feasible option. Meanwhile, we have begun assembling our construction equipment to stabilize the bridge, which will be a necessary step in every possible scenario.
The full analysis of the structural stability of the bridge should be complete in early July…..
From there, the post takes a deep dive into “a look at how the steel post-tension system works and the types of scientific tests we performed to analyze the structural stability of it.” It imcludes more on the cracks themselves. Again, the full post is here.
P.S. The next Community Task Force meeting is Wednesday at noon; we’re awaiting the link for public viewing and will publish it when we get it.
Lots of questions today about the story we first reported on Friday evening, human remains found off Duwamish Head. As promised, we’ve followed up. First, the biggest question: No information yet on whose remains, or how they died – that’s up to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, and we just checked with them – they told us it may take several days, and they have nothing to report right now. As for Seattle Police, we’ve talked with them too. Their next steps depend on what the ME’s Office determine. But for now, it is a homicide investigation.
We also asked SPD about the TikTok videos that surfaced over the weekend, as discussed in the comment section following our Friday report. Det. Mark Jamieson says SPD “is aware” of the videos, and while they can’t attest to authenticity, he can say that the report does show the initial call was for “a suitcase that smelled really bad,” which is the circumstance presented in the videos (police previously had not mentioned a suitcase, only plastic bags). And yes, as noted in one video, he says, police did not arrive for two hours – they had no officers available to send when the call first came in around 2 pm; they arrived around 4 pm. On TikTok, the teens say the suitcase was on the rocks but then the tide started taking it, and its bagged contents, away.
(Side note: The gruesome nature of the case has attracted attention from around the world; we’ve received calls from a British tabloid and a nationally syndicated TV show.)
After almost two months – with some stored near Jack Block Park (photo above) – bike-share bicycles are returning to service. Here’s the announcement we received:
JUMP bikes are returning to Seattle to help residents and visitors travel more safely via an open-air, socially-distant option. Seattle is the 2nd city in the world where Lime is relaunching JUMP bikes.
In early May, Lime acquired JUMP, which then pulled its bikes from Seattle streets at the time as a result of the deal to integrate the systems operationally. Lime will now redeploy the bikes, and they will continue to be available through the Uber app. The fleet size will start at around 500 e-bikes and grow based upon demand. Pricing is $1 to unlock and 36 cents per minute thereafter. Starting today, JUMP rentals will only be available in the Uber app. JUMP bikes will be added to the Lime app at a later date as a result of ongoing systems integration.
We know the ongoing COVID crisis has made it difficult for folks to get around. Metro ridership has dropped 72%, with very limited capacity on buses due to social distancing protocols. But we know people still have a need for transportation. With the return of bike share service to Seattle, more residents will be able to make critical errands and get to work in a pollution-free and congestion-reducing manner as King County moves to Phase II of COVID recovery.
We have a message out to ask if any of those initial 500 bikes are being placed in West Seattle. Let us know if you see them!
12:48 PM: This has been discussed in comments on our morning traffic post but afternoon is here and it’s still not resolved, so we’re mentioning it: NB Highway 99 is still closed at Des Moines Memorial Drive just south of South Park [map]. Information is scant but witnesses on Twitter say it’s a standoff with a person on the overpass there, and it’s been under way for four hours. So if you’re headed this way from points south, you’ll want an alternate route.
12:53 PM: Moments after we published that, WSDOT sent an alert saying the highway has reopened.
Today, we welcome two new WSB sponsors! Through their community, two West Seattle Contractors discover a common goal.
Chris Spott, owner of Steelhead Residential Construction, LLC, and Drew Foster, owner of Foster DBC, LLC, are both residents of West Seattle. They met in a yoga class in a West Seattle studio and then ran into each other in the same West Seattle branch of HomeStreet Bank. They discovered that their kids went to West Seattle High School together and also discovered they were both in the residential-construction industry.
Chris moved to the neighborhood in 2008. At the time he had worked for a decade with a larger construction company but decided to set off on his own in 2013 and started Steelhead Residential Construction. He has been working on homes throughout the city.
Drew has lived in West Seattle since 1995 and was part owner of Ncompass Construction for 18 years before embarking on his new adventure Foster DBC (Design Build Consult). Drew is a true believer in community and that is what he set out to create with Foster DBC, bringing together a unique community of professionals, gathered and centered on residential construction and remodeling excellence. This idea struck home with Chris, and it’s what brought Drew’s attention to Steelhead.
Steelhead Residential Construction is a small general-contracting company that specializes in residential renovations, remodels, basement apartments, and small additions. Steelhead’s team consists of exceptional carpenters, project managers and partner with a group of experienced subcontractors who take great pride in the quality of their work. Combine this with the design professionals and craftsmen that Drew has worked with along with his experience with Backyard Cottages, you now have a strong basis for that community of professionals working toward an overall goal. That goal is to bring a personal, creative, and honest approach to your desired project. They will pay attention to your ideas, needs, and budget with the intension of providing the most professional and pleasant experience possible for each client.
Their desire is to focus on serving their community of West Seattle. Steelhead Residential Construction and Foster DBC are currently available to look at your projects and help make them a reality. They have taken the proper COVID-19 safety steps to ensure each one of their sites is safe for not only their employees but their clients and the community. You can contact them through their websites – steelheadrc.com and fosterdbc.com.
We thank Steelhead Residential Construction and Foster DBC for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
One more graduation celebration is yet to come – South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) this Thursday:
CAN’T STOP US Celebration
Location: South Seattle College at 6000 16th Ave SW (graduates will enter at Entry 3/South Entrance – see campus map with route)
Date: June 25, 2020
Time: Graduates can drive through anytime between 4 PM – 7 PM
Attendees at the CAN’T STOP US event must:
Wear masks
Follow 6 feet apart social distancing guidelines during photos
Refrain from congregating with others attending
Remain in vehicles except for photo exiting area
Refrain from attending if ill
For additional information contact SouthStudentLife@seattlecolleges.eduWhat to do now:
To participate, please send an RSVP to SouthStudentLife@seattlecolleges.edu to let us know if you plan to drive through this event. A walk-up option is available for students who are mobility impaired or do not have automobiles.
Find more info here.
6:07 AM: Good morning – the 91st morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD WORK
*Demolition begins this week on the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project – here’s what’s happening this week.’
TRAFFIC
Heading off-peninsula? First, 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) – which has up to 14 overnight closures planned next month. Meanwhile, 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 – Some service will be added back starting today – details here.
Water Taxi – Also restoring some service today, plus the 773 and 775 shuttles – see the schedule here.
Trouble on the roads/paths? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
(Port photos from February T-5 update)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Updates on the Terminal 5 modernization project were part of two recent West Seattle meetings – the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
“The need for T-5 is as relevant as ever,” Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck declared while presenting the annual “State of the Port” speech to the Chamber – usually given at an outdoor lunch at Jack Block Park, but presented online this year due to COVID-19.
The PPNC also met online. T-5’s project manager Emma Del Vento told the group that the project’s first-phase construction schedule is running behind.
Wrapping up a relatively quiet weekend, here’s our nightly virus-crisis roundup:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*9,234 people have tested positive, up 69 from yesterday
*584 people have died, down 1 from yesterday (data correction)
*1,541 people have been hospitalized, up 1 from yesterday
*141,474 people have been tested, up 580 from yesterday
One week ago, the totals were 8,751/574/1,520/123,508.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
MORE BUS & WATER TAXI RUNS: Starting tomorrow, “reduced service” will be a bit less reduced.
HOW’S YOUR INDUSTRY/OCCUPATION? The state has released a new report on how the pandemic is affecting industries/occupations. The largest number, the summary says, “is associated with health-care workers and people who provide health-care support.”
DATAPOINT: We asked the city what all those COVID-19 park signs have cost.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(WSB photo from March, MV Doc Maynard at Seacrest)
We’re reminding you tonight that Metro and the King County Water Taxi are restoring some service tomorrow, after months of much-reduced service levels. For the Water Taxi, you can see the new schedule here. You’re reminded that “it’s important to note that social distancing passenger limits are in effect on the water taxi. The typical capacity aboard both Doc Maynard and Sally Fox is 278 passengers. With current COVID restrictions, we’re limited to 86 passengers on each vessel.” The shuttles, Routes 773 and 775, return to service too. As for Metro, here’s what’s coming back. You can also check here for canceled trips. The system is still fare-free, and buses are still running at reduced capacity too.
Just in via text:
Right now! Father’s Day fundraiser Lemonade stand. Proceeds go to Black Lives Matter. Hosted by 8 & 6 year old siblings. Fauntlee Hills. 41st/SW Trenton.
They’ll be there until 6 pm.
(WSB photo, West Seattle Junction, June 6th)
Where thousands of people stood in support of the Black Lives Matter movement just two weeks ago in the West Seattle Junction, two street murals are now planned. Stephanie Kramer says two murals are planned on the street itself – one at California/Alaska one at California/Oregon – roughly 53′ by 20′, to be painted on a day when the street is already closed for the Farmers’ Market. The announcement:
West Seattle Art for Social Justice is a collective of educators and local small business owners with an intent of elevating the voices of BIPOC & LGBTQIA BIPOC youth and adults through arts initiatives.
Inspired by the many communities coming together to create art as a beacon for systemic change, we are inspired & honored to be organizing this important art piece at the West Seattle Junction. Artists from the greater Seattle community will be working together to create this important piece of art in late July with support of the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Farmers Market.
Artist bios and information will be featured on the WS Art for Social Justice BLM mural page [on social media] and inquiries can be sent to wsartforsocialjustice@gmail.com. To support this work, please see our gofundme @ gf.me/u/x9pasi
Each letter of the two murals – each reading BLACK LIVES MATTER – will have a separate artist, so, 32 in all.
While at Alki last night to cover the Moon Dancers, we noticed the newest Seattle Parks pandemic-related signage. It’s the latest in what’s been a three-month-long series of signage, from closures to social-distancing exhortations. We wondered how many signs have been made and how much the city has spent, so at week’s end, we asked. Here’s the reply from Seattle Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin:
Since the pandemic began, SPR has spend $87,757 on signage for over 4,000 signs.
The signs have all been made by United Reprographics, a black-owned business that the City often uses for larger printing and signage needs. These funds have come out of our Operating Budget, and may be eligible for reimbursement for federal dollars for COVID response.
(Friday’s sunrise, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
It’s summer’s first Sunday! Here’s our list of what’s happening today, starting with this week’s updated links for West Seattle churches’ online services, most livestreamed, some not:
ADMIRAL UCC: The video service is here. Also – follow that link to see how to join 11:15 am sharing and 11:45 am coffee hour.
ALKI UCC: 10 am online service, via Zoom – info and link on church’s home page.
ALL SOULS SEATTLE (WSB sponsor): Online worship will be linked here at 10 am.
ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 10 am.
BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am, 7 pm.
CALVARY CHAPEL: Service is viewable here, plus 11 am fellowship via Zoom, 6 pm all-church prayer and 7 pm evening worship (info on home page).
EASTRIDGE CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 9 am and 11 am.
FAUNTLEROY UCC: Livestreaming on the church’s YouTube channel at 10 am.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE: Today’s online liturgy is here.
GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.
HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming in English at 8:30 am, en Español at 10 am, all here.
HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 9:30 am here.
HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service and children’s story are viewable here.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 10 am, both here.
PEACE LUTHERAN: Livestreaming at 10:30 am on YouTube.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Viewable on YouTube: All Ages Sunday School at 10 am, Morning Prayer at 10:15 am (here’s today’s bulletin), Kids’ Club at 11:30 am.
TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): The video service for today will be viewable here.
TRINITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10 am.
WEST SEATTLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The video service for today is viewable here.
WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming here, 11 am.
WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN Livestreaming at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION: Livestreaming via Zoom, 10:30 am.
WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online worship at 11 am; info here.
Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Also today:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm. Here’s the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska)
DONATION DRIVE: As previewed here, food and more will be accepted outside Alki UCC, 10 am-4 pm. (6115 SW Hinds)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.4 feet at 11:43 am.
FREE TO-GO DINNER: High Point Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near High Point Community Center. (6920 34th SW)
Thanks to SF for the photo. That car caught fire at 42nd/Charlestown after the driver hit a pole. Apparently no serious injuries – no medic unit was sent. Radio communication indicated the driver got out OK. No other details.
Right after summer’s first sunset, Moon Dancers appeared on Alki tonight, twirling their way along the beach.
We got the advance alert from Denise, who explained that she and some friends created the dance for this year’s virtual version of the Fremont Solstice Parade, and they “had so much fun doing the shoot that we decided to do a guerrilla performance at Alki on the Solstice.”
(If you missed the Solstice Parade when it was livestreamed Saturday afternoon, the video is archived here – you can see the Moon Dancers at 1:09:30.)
Locally, the pandemic has now spanned a full season – here’s the roundup for the first night of summer:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative numbers from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*9,165 people have tested positive, 69 more than yesterday
*585 people have died, 1 more than yesterday
*1,540 people have been hospitalized, no change from yesterday
*140,894 people have been tested, 3,582 more than yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 8,700/574/1,518/117,097.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: More than 8.7 million people have tested positive. Most cases: U.S., Brazil, Russia, India, United Kingdom. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: On again tomorrow, 10 am-2 pm. The market-management organization’s new website means a new format for the vendor list, plus a map – scroll down this page to find both.
FOOD DRIVE: If you can donate, Alki UCC is collecting food and more outside the church 10 am-4 pm tomorrow.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Three reader reports:
CATALYTIC CONVERTER STOLEN: From Maya:
I want to alert people to the fact that my Prius had its catalytic converter cut out this morning around 10:35 am at the 8400 block of Fauntleroy Place (by the one-way street near Lincoln Park). My neighbor scared off a car parts thief as they were finishing up.
They sped off, without time to close their trunk or pick up all of their things, not stopping at the stop sign.
Maya’s neighbor got the getaway car on camera but this is the only sharable frame:
CAR PROWL: From Al on Myers Way:
On 6/16/2020 my truck was broken into. The perpetrator stole everything from the inside of the vehicle, attempted to steal a tool box that was secured with a cable and lock, left and came back two hours later with a torch to cut the handles off the tool box.
Al says the thief got away in the light-colored 1992 Toyota Paseo you see him putting items into, license plate starting with BNX.
SIGNS STOLEN: From Mary in Fauntleroy:
Two signs, one Black Lives Matter, the other In Our House We Believe…. Two were also stolen from next-door neighbor and one down the hill. We live on 44th Ave SW above Endolyne Joe’s.
That’s a photo of community generosity as received during one of Alki UCC’s food-and-more drives this spring. If you can give, tomorrow’s your next chance. Here’s the reminder:
Thanks to our community’s generosity, Alki United Church of Christ (Alki UCC) is once again accepting donations outside our building for an In-Person, Socially-Distanced Food Drive at 6115 SW Hinds this Sunday, June 21 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Contributions of non-perishable food and other items will be distributed via the White Center Food Bank; top requests include Canned Meat/Soup/Fruit (pop‐top cans preferred), Rice, Noodles, Peanut Butter, Oats, Toilet Paper, Diapers, Similac Formula, Cleaning Supplies, Hand Sanitizer and Baby Wipes.
The drive benefits our vulnerable neighbors in need, those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID 19. Check alkiucc.org for updates.
5:33 PM: Seattle Fire has a water-rescue callout arriving in the 1100 block of Alki SW. We’re headed that way too. Updates to come…
(Added: Photo sent by Jan, as response wrapped up)
5:36 PM: Per radio communication, there was a report of a missing swimmer but that was a false alarm. Response is being downsized. SFD also just verified that via Twitter.
| Comments Off on SHOW OF SUPPORT: 2 chances this week to join neighbors in showing that Black Lives Matter