day : 24/07/2020 10 results

21 weeks ago tonight, King County announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19. We start tonight’s roundup with the numbers:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:

*14,047 people have tested positive, 213 more than yesterday

*638 people have died, 2 more than yesterday

*1,866 people have been hospitalized, 28 more than yesterday

*265,108 people have been tested, 8,520 more than yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 12,807/624/1,790/231,848.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 15.6 million cases, 638,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

EVICTION MORATORIUM FOLLOWUP: Yesterday, Gov. Inslee announced his intention to extend the statewide eviction moratorium, with details to come. Here they are – in the full proclamation. The announcement notes:

The extension makes modifications to the prior moratorium, including:

*Makes minor clarifications to existing restrictions, such as clarifying that law enforcement may serve eviction orders that include findings required by the proclamation; and

*Creates a workgroup to help inform potential changes to the moratorium in the short-term and the long-term, if needed. The workgroup is specifically asked to consider how future extensions could address options to increase rent.

The moratorium is extended through October 15.

RESTAURANT/TAVERN GUIDANCE: Full details of those changes are out too.

NEED FOOD? Free lunches are offered noon-1 pm tomorrow at West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California SW).

GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Tree down across California Way

July 24, 2020 8:48 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks for the tips (and to Mike Jensen for the photo) – a tree is down across California Way, uphill from Harbor Avenue SW, so you won’t be able to use that route between Admiral and Alki until it’s cleared.

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BIZNOTES: My Three Little Birds, Highstrike Grill, La Rustica

July 24, 2020 7:24 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Three business notes:

MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: The shop at 4736 California SW is having a sale and food drive this weekend:

Our store is running our Annual Summer Sale this weekend. All customers who drop off their donation to the West Seattle Food Bank get one of our cool PNW stickers.

We are here Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11-4.

HIGHSTRIKE GRILL: Though bowling alleys can’t reopen yet, the restaurant at West Seattle Bowl just announced it will reopen next week:

We are excited to announce that we are reopening the Highstrike Grill on Wednesday, July 29. We will be open for both delivery and dine-in. Tables will be limited to 50% capacity and maximum of 5 people of the same household per Governor’s orders. We have missed you and look forward to seeing you soon!

In addition to getting your favorites, we will be offering both food and beverage specials. Our hours will be Monday through Thursday Noon to 8:00 pm and Friday through Sunday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Friday through Sunday we will be serving breakfast items from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

The restaurant is on the corner at 39th/Oregon.

LA RUSTICA: The 4100 Beach Drive SW bistro has launched something new:

We are now offering our first ever Happy Hour!

Hours are 8:00 pm until close, Tuesday- Sunday.

Our Happy Hour includes both food and drink choices. We wanted to offer our guests another safe option to dine out with us while we all try to find ways to support each other.

As ever we are adhering to all safety standards as required and consider our employees and guests safety first. Continued thanks for your support during these trying times. We are ever grateful.

See La Rustica’s Happy Hour menu here.

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DELRIDGE PROJECT: Here’s where crews will be working next

July 24, 2020 5:24 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Some additional closures – including a parking-lot entrance – and overnight work are part of what’s ahead next week in the Delridge road-work megaproject paving the way for the RapidRide H Line. Here’s what the project team just sent. Note that they are continuing to work in all three project “zones” simultaneously.

What’s new

Temporary weekend street closure at SW Genesee St and Delridge Way SW
*For the weekends of August 7-9 and August 14-16, please expect no through access to or from Delridge Way SW from SW Genesee St

-SW Genesee St will be closed between 25th Ave SW to Delridge Way SW during this work
-Local access to SW Genesee St will be maintained from SW Avalon Way
-Route 50 will detour from Delridge Way SW to SW Avalon Way.

Sidewalk closures and detours between SW Orchard St and Sylvan Way SW
*The sidewalk on the west side of Delridge Way SW are closed during construction. Please follow posted detour signs.
*People walking will need to cross at the marked intersections at SW Myrtle St or SW Holden St
*Access to some driveways at or near the SW Orchard St intersection may be impacted. Businesses will be open during construction and access will maintained at other driveways.

Driveway closure for the northern parking lot at the Delridge Playfield
*We are planning to demolish and rebuild the driveway into the parking lot entrance between SW Genesee St and SW Oregon St as early as Wednesday, July 29
*People driving will not be able to access the parking lot at this time
*Please plan to park in the southern parking lot near SW Alaska St during construction You may access this parking lot by taking 26th Ave SW to SW Alaska St

What’s continuing
*Temporary driveway closures near 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW
*Expect intermittent delays to driveway access. Driveways will be covered with a steel plate when work is not occurring.
*We will work our way south towards SW Thistle St in the next few weeks. Properties will be notified in advance of this work occurring.

Temporary access restrictions at 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St near the Longfellow Creek Greenspace
*This week, we began excavating a trench across 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St to complete utility work in the roadway
*Access to 24th Ave SW, 25th Ave SW and SW Graham St will be interrupted during this work
*If you need to exit at 24th Ave SW onto Delridge Way SW, please plan for delays of up to 30 minutes to exit and enter your street during working hours
*You can coordinate with crews onsite to have a steel plate placed over the work area as needed to allow access

Ahead, next week’s planned work, zone by zone: Read More

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POLICE: Southwest Precinct windows boarded up

July 24, 2020 2:14 pm

| 156 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

2:14 PM: Thanks for the tip: Windows on the two unfenced sides of the Southwest Precinct are being boarded up right now.

So far it’s just boards – no sign of the heavier fortification seen downtown. Protests previously have steered clear of this precinct, aside from the march from High Point on June 14 that stopped on Delridge yards short of the police building before heading north.

2:56 PM: A little more context – this is happening after Police Chief Carmen Best warned that a new city ordinance restricting what police can use for crowd control will result in “an adjusted deployment in response to any demonstrations this weekend.” She contends, “The Council legislation gives officers no ability to safely intercede to preserve property in the midst of a large, violent crowd.” Best and Mayor Durkan held a media briefing this morning in which they urged protesters to stop the violence, saying it’s distracting from their cause.

10:16 PM: At a federal court hearing tonight, a judge blocked the new city rule from taking effect. It’s complicated, as SCC Insight explains.

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FOLLOWUP: First look at design concepts for two-building project envisioned as ‘new heart of the West Seattle Triangle’

July 24, 2020 12:49 pm

| 49 COMMENTS

| Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

(Renderings from Ankrom Moisan)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As we first reported 2 weeks ago, two 7-story mixed-use buildings proposed for the Sweeney family’s property in the West Seattle Triangle are going before the Southwest Design Review Board next month. Though these will be reviewed as two projects – 4406 36th SW (277 apartments) and 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW (209 apartments) – the all-West Seattle team behind them says it’s one vision, and met with us this week for a design preview, 5 months after we covered their “early community outreach” session.

First, remember that the reviews on August 6 and 20 are in the Early Design Guidance stage of Design Review, which means the focus will be on the proposed size, shape, and location of the buildings. In this case, as explained by developer Ed Hewson and architect Jenny Chapman in our conversation, there’s a vision for the street between them – 36th SW south of Fauntleroy – too:

The street factors heavily into the plan – explained as a “reinvention.” Over the years, 36th has seemed more like a default loading zone for the Sweeneys’ legacy business, Alki Lumber; this development will change that in a big way, transforming this gateway to West Seattle (with a potential light-rail station nearby in 2030, as well as the eventual restoration of bridge traffic before then). The project is envisioned with “boardwalks” between the building and sidewalk – here’s a cross-section:

The project team is working with SDOT on the plan, which proposes that about 6′ of the boardwalk would come from city right-of-way (they note that the street is 80′ wide) and 4′ from their property. That would all be in addition to a standard sidewalk. So what might it look like? Here’s a street-level concept drawing:

Because the “boardwalk” would lead to an extra setback at street level, they are proposing a zoning exception – “departure,” which the Design Review Board will be asked to consider – that would skip the upper-story setbacks instead.

Lynn Sweeney explained that the ground-level retail vision includes part of the family business – a “heritage hardware store” – as well as café-type space, and other retail potential, with a “market feel” – in an “unexpected” area that they hope will synergize with other businesses new and old, including the family’s Grove/West Seattle Inn lodging as well as the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor). Another envisioned synergy – the midblock connection heading eastward toward 35th SW just south of Avalon, with RapidRide stops and West Seattle Stadium access:

The connection would be to the hillclimb stairway at Aura on 35th.

The project is going into review a year and a half after the Sweeney family first announced it was studying “alternatives” for some of their property. So what happens next? Both Design Review meetings are scheduled online for 6:30 pm – these city-website links will show how to watch/participate/comment:

4406 36th SW (August 6) – includes meeting link & design packet
4440 fauntleroy Way SW (August 20) – meeting info not linked yet

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business burglarized, e-bikes and more taken

July 24, 2020 11:53 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

11:53 AM: Thanks for the tip: After a report of broken glass at Second Gear Sports in Morgan Junction (6529 California SW), we stopped by to inquire, and found out they were cleaning up after a burglary. No other details yet – they were still working on determining what was taken. We’ll add the police-report number when it’s available.

4:39 PM: An update just received from the proprietors:

To Our Community,

We have upsetting news that our beloved, family-owned store Second Gear Sports was burglarized in the wee hours on July 24, 2020. The front glass to our storefront was completely shattered. Two of our new Flash-brand electric bicycles were stolen, both gray in color, as well as a few backpacks and about three dozen pairs of sunglasses. A police report has been filed. We would welcome any assistance by our community if you have information.

Second Gear Sports is still here for you, and we ask that you continue to support us. If you have any questions or concerns, please message us at info@secondgearsports.com or call 206-935-3552.

Thank you,
Ellen & Mark Bremen, and our staff

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FRUIT FOR ALL: City Fruit plans West Seattle pop-ups

July 24, 2020 11:00 am

| Comments Off on FRUIT FOR ALL: City Fruit plans West Seattle pop-ups

| High Point | West Seattle news

Nonprofit City Fruit plans pop-ups to distribute homegrown fruit to anyone who wants/needs it – including four events in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement:

City Fruit is bringing fresh, hyper-local, FREE fruit to your neighborhood!

Fruit for All is a program designed to ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of their finances, has access to fresh, healthy fruit grown in the city. Over the next few months, City Fruit will host 12 Fruit for All Pop-ups, especially focusing on Seattle’s underserved neighborhoods, to share FREE fruit with community members.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of Seattleites are experiencing food insecurity, and demand for fresh, nutritious produce is particularly high. City Fruit puts our city’s fruit trees to their best and fullest use by harvesting otherwise unutilized fruit and sharing it with those who need it most.

The fruit will be super fresh, picked just a few days earlier or even that morning. The selection and quantity available will vary depending on the week’s harvest.

To ensure the safety of the community, everyone will be required to wear a mask and follow the safety protocol detailed here.

Those who wish to support City Fruit’s Harvest and Fruit for All programs can do so by becoming a member. City Fruit members can RSVP for up to 6 pop-ups and receive a full assortment of fruit at each pop-ups. For more information please visit www.cityfruit.org/join-us/fruit-all-pop or contact lisa@cityfruit.org.

The West Seattle dates are August 5, August 19, September 2, and September 16, all 4-6 pm, all at the High Point Community Garden (32nd/Juneau).

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FYI: Another test Saturday for wireless alerts in West Seattle Bridge emergency plan

July 24, 2020 9:00 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

An FYI from the city:

On July 25 at 12 p.m., the City of Seattle Office of Emergency Management will send a test message through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. The alert will only be sent to those who have opted in to receive local test messages through WEA and to a small geographic area under and near the West Seattle Bridge. The message will state: “This is a test of Wireless Emergency Alerts by the City of Seattle. No action is required.”

The national WEA system is an essential part of the City’s emergency preparedness and response. This public safety system allows customers who own compatible devices to receive geographically targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. The most common example of these alerts is the “Amber Alerts” sent by Washington State Patrol that directly ping mobile phones.

This is the second test to be conducted as a part of the West Seattle Bridge planning. The first test was conducted on June 26. Though not predicted, the City has emergency plans in place to use the WEA and AlertSeattle systems among other methods to notify people under or near the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge in the event of an immediate collapse.

This test is not linked to any specific action or report related to the condition of the West Seattle Bridge. The test is part of our proactive contingency planning to prepare for unanticipated changes in the bridge that may require an evacuation of community members on Harbor Island.

The City has successfully used the WEA system several times in 2020, though it’s important to test the geographical capabilities of the system to ensure the correct area is targeted. Twenty volunteers from Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management Auxiliary Communication Services will stage in locations on and surrounding Harbor Island during the test to confirm receipt of the message. Results will be collected by Seattle OEM to determine the reach of the system.

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TRAFFIC & TRANSIT: Friday notes, 18th week of West Seattle Bridge closure

July 24, 2020 6:12 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:12 AM: It’s Friday; the 123rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

CLOSURE

No 1st Ave. S. Bridge closure scheduled tonight, but nearby, it’s another all-weekend closure for S. Michigan between East Marginal Way S. and 4th Ave S., 9 pm tonight to 5 am Monday, for utility work and restoration. (The next NB 1st Ave. S. Bridge closure is 10 pm Sunday to 5 am Monday.)

ROAD WORK

Major work continues on Delridge Way as road-rebuilding and utility work continue for the RapidRide H Line conversion project – here’s what crews are working on this week.

TRAFFIC

Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):