West Seattle, Washington
08 Thursday
Five months ago tonight, King County announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case. So, into month 6 we go …
UPDATED GUIDANCE: The changes the governor announced last week are now in writing, as explained: “The memo outlines the updates to gatherings, live entertainment, restaurants and taverns, entertainment and recreational centers, card rooms, movie theaters, and weddings and funerals.”
KING COUNTY’S NUMBERS, WITH A CAVEAT: The Public Health daily-summary dashboard warns, “Negative lab results may be delayed and counts may not be representative of the actual count of tests.” That said, here’s what the page shows tonight:
*14,729 people have tested positive, up 110 from yesterday’s total
*644 people have died, up 1 from yesterday’s total
*1,900 people have been hospitalized, up 4 from yesterday’s total
*280,150* people have been tested, up 388* from yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 13,486/635/1,818/252,090.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
TELEWORKING EXTENDED: Many public-sector employers in the Metro area have decided to extend teleworking through the end of the year.
NOT-SO-SWIFT RECOVERY: Younger COVID-19 patients don’t necessarily get over it fast. King County’s newsletter shares this alert:
CDC report emphasizes COVID-19 can cause prolonged illness, including in younger people: Unlike early in the pandemic, most of the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases in King County have been in young people. In the last two weeks, over 65% of the positive cases were in people under the age of 40. People in this age group have lower likelihood of underlying health conditions and hospitalizations. However, the CDC released findings of a recent telephone survey that indicates more than one-third of people diagnosed with COVID-19 but did not have to be hospitalized had not returned to their usual state of health within 2-3 weeks of being tested. Among those between the age of 18-34 with no chronic medical conditions, one in five had not returned to their usual state of health. The CDC’s takeaway message? “Recovery from COVID-19 can take a long time, even in young adults.” Please share this message widely, especially if you communicate in networks that include young adults. You can refer to the entire CDC report here.
HELP SFD WITH PPE: Received today from the Seattle Fire Foundation:
Roughly 80 percent of the calls Seattle firefighters respond to are non-fire related, some of which are increasingly dangerous. In 2019, the Seattle Fire Foundation, the official non-profit organization of the Seattle Fire Department, was formed to help bridge the gap between the city budget and the changing needs of our city’s first responders. The initial ask of the community was to help raise funds to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of ballistic vests and helmets to respond to scenes of violence.
Last year, 70 sets of PPE were purchased to assist in providing Seattle firefighters additional safety. The Seattle Fire Foundation is asking for the community’s help to raise the funds to purchase an additional 88 sets by Labor Day. …
The foundation has laid out a goal of raising $135,000 by Labor Day in an effort to equip each Seattle firefighter with an appropriate set of PPE. It is critical that firefighters have the right resource for the right response.
Seattle Fire is not alone in adopting the use of this critical PPE. In 2018, the National Fire Protection Association adopted NFPA 3000, providing guidance and best practices for firefighters responding to active shooter and hostile events. The use of this PPE is an NFPA safety standard.
“Our heroes need heroes, and with the significant number of scenes of violence taking place, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to help ensure our first responders are properly equipped,” said Founder and President Debbie Steinhauer. “We are proud to help support the men and women who make up the Seattle Fire Department that risk their lives each day to serve our community. We are asking members of the community to consider making a donation at Seattlefirefoundation.org.”
STATE HEALTH LEADERS’ BRIEFING TOMORROW: 2 pm, you can get first word of the newest trends if you watch here as officials from the Washington Coronavirus Response Joint Information Center present their weekly media briefing.
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Thanks for the tip! Pho fans – and chicken-wing lovers – will have a new West Seattle option in a few weeks. i5 Pho is coming to West Seattle. It’s takeout and delivery, no dine-in; pho and wings are the entire menu. i5 Pho will be based out of the commercial kitchen at 4611 36th SW (already home to WSB sponsors West Seattle Local Foods and Jet City Beignet). i5 Pho plans to open there on August 8th. If you want a preview, they’re already doing the same thing in White Center, from the commercial kitchen at 10256 16th SW (the former DQ), as well as Queen Anne and Tacoma. They offer online ordering (or by phone).
(WSB photo, this morning)
While stabilization work continues under the West Seattle Bridge, there’s something you can do here on the ground right now – tell the city how you can, and can’t, get around without it. The Reconnect West Seattle mobility survey is open until Friday (July 31st), as are the “prioritization” lists of potential projects in four areas affected by detour traffic. The main survey is here; the neighborhood-prioritization surveys are here (Highland Park/Riverview/South Delridge/Roxhill), here (South Park), here (Georgetown), and here (SODO). Prefer a paper ballot? Call 206-400-7511 or email westseattlebridge@seattle.gov.
P.S. Questions? SDOT’s “virtual office hours” noon-1 pm tomorrow and 6:30-7:30 pm Thursday might be able to help – details for connecting are on this page.
(Port of Seattle image. 2019: Yellow-shaded area is where a new cruise terminal was envisioned)
Thanks for the tips! The Port of Seattle announced today that it’s officially canceling its plan to seek a partner to build out a new cruise-ship terminal at T-46 on the downtown waterfrpnt. As the announcement notes, the plan already was on hold:
In April 2020, the Port of Seattle suspended its planning for a new cruise terminal to serve the Alaska market, citing a need to better understand the short and long-term cruise industry market impacts from COVID-19 before continuing its project investment in additional cruise facilities. As a result of this current analysis, the Port will cancel its request for industry proposals for a joint investment to build and operate a proposed new cruise terminal at the preferred location of Terminal 46. …
Cruise has become an integral leading business line for the Port of Seattle and an important part of the region’s maritime and regional economies. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Seattle was forecasting a record year for 2020 with 233 cruise vessels scheduled to sail from Seattle. With an estimated 1.3 million revenue passengers expected to travel to and from our terminals this season, cruise supports 5,500 jobs, and provides nearly $900 million in economic activity for the region. …
Prior analysis of the cruise market and cruise ship deployment supported the need for a fourth berth to meet the demand for Port of Seattle cruise services. A cruise terminal requires a deep-water berth, a building to process passengers, a ground transportation area, long-term parking for cruise passengers, associated utilities, and connection to the local transportation system.
The Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance will continue with prior projects to make Terminal 46 more sustainable and durable for long-term general maritime use, including installing stormwater treatment infrastructure and rehabilitating the dock. Vessel berthing and maritime support will continue on the terminal. The Port will prepare a recommendation for the Cruise Terminal Project when there is greater certainty about demand for Port of Seattle cruise services.
Read the full announcement here. Last fall, the port had projected the now-canceled project for completion in 2023.
The Terminal 5 modernization project in West Seattle, meantime, continues full-speed ahead, confirms port spokesperson Peter McGraw, with its north cargo berth expected to be ready next spring,
(WSB photos)
It’s almost as if Bob Henry has an audience! As we reported Monday, the muralist is at work this week on the north side of 4727 44th SW in The Junction, re-hanging the restored panels that comprise the “Press Day” mural. Today, we got a look at part of the restoration:
It’s been more than two years since the restoration project began.
This is one of nine surviving murals of the original 11 created in the late ’80s/early ’90s – one, “Midnight Call,” was removed four years ago; another was re-created at a new location near the demolished building that originally held it. Crowdfunding is supplementing the philanthropy and grants to pay for the restoration.
4 development-related notes today:
REMINDER – CONCRETE POUR AT 1250 ALKI: As previewed here, traffic is down to one lane, alternating, past the 1250 Alki SW condo project today.
Thanks to Lynn Hall (top photo) and Stewart L. (second photo) for sending pics of the big pouring operation that’s under way.
Meantime – another redevelopment site has gone up for sale:
MICROAPARTMENT PROJECT SITE FOR SALE: The 22-microapartment plan for 4807 41st SW – just south of Jefferson Square – got key approvals last year. Now, though, it’s on the market as a “planned/permitted” development site, listed for just under $1.5 million.
TOWNHOUSE PROPOSAL: From the most-recent city Public Notices Summary, eight townhouses on two adjacent sites, 9238 20th SW and 9240 20th SW, are in Streamlined Design Review – click the addresses for the notices. Deadline for comments: August 10th.
NEW CITY MAP: The city has upgraded its Shaping Seattle map, which you can use to find out more about building/land-use activity. It’s explained here.
Thanks for all the tips on this: We don’t know yet if it’s related, but a widespread Comcast/Xfinity outage is reported – we’ve heard from affected customers from Alki to North Delridge to The Junction to Morgan Junction to South Delridge, so far.
9:44 AM: More than 200 customers in the West Seattle Junction have lost electricity – the Seattle City Light outage map shows it as multiple outages, but they all started within the past half-hour. Thanks to Amy Lee Derenthal at the Senior Center of West Seattle (which is affected) for first word. Updates to come.
10:11 AM: We’re told via text that a few businesses north of SW Oregon – Lady Di and Greentree – are among those affected. This by the way is exactly a week after another Junction outage affected hundreds, lasting five hours for some.
11:30 AM: The outage is now shown at 419 customers, and “equipment failure” is attributed as the cause.
3:37 PM: We checked in with City Light, which hasn’t much to say: “We have a Seattle City Light crew currently on-site investigating the outage right now. They are trying to determine the root cause for the outage.”
5:59 PM: An update from SCL: “The crew is investigating both overhead and underground lines. They are still trying to determine the cause for the outage. The crew plans to restore power in sections in an effort to isolate where the outage is located. Depending on how extensive the problem is, it may take the crew more time to fully restore service.”
8:05 PM: SCL says everyone was back on as of about 15 minutes ago. Still awaiting word on the cause.
8:24 PM: SCL spokesperson Jenny Levesque tells WSB, “The outage was due to a limiter failure; it serves to limit current on the pole. The crew had to do testing to isolate and repair the issue.”
In memory of Ken Stafford, this remembrance is being shared with the community:
Walking his dog on Alki. More specifically, carrying his treasured dog all over our city, from Alki to Ballard, to Lake Washington and back. That was Ken Stafford, an original Alki gem.
Kenny was born on July 14, 1949 and left this world on July 15th, 2020. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1967 where his band started up and continued to play at old nightspots like the Embers, Alki Tavern, and the Jigsaw. His biggest thrill was performing a tribute to Elvis, his idol.
After a stint in the Navy, Kenny continued to live, and walk, and always enjoy the Alki Beach neighborhood. Now, those that knew him, will miss him and are pretty sure he is up there playing great music, probably Elvis songs. Rest in peace, my friend.
A remembrance for Ken will be held at a later date.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
6:16 AM: It’s Tuesday, the 127th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD WORK/CLOSURES
*The Delridge RapidRide H Line project continues major work along Delridge Way – here’s what is happening this week.
*Today, expect alternating one-lane traffic by the 1250 Alki SW project.
*Another 1st Ave. S. Bridge northbound closure is scheduled tonight, 10 pm-5 am.
CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:
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). The camera is back:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed.
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 – Still reduced service and distancing – details here.
Water Taxi – Back to its “winter” schedule, with the 773 and 775 shuttles – see the schedule here.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
This one’s a few hours late, as we were out of the house on breaking news, but here’s what’s new in the virus crisis:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*14.619 people have tested positive, 186 more than yesterday’s total
*643 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*1,896 people have been hospitalized, 5 more than yesterday’s total
*279,762 people have been tested, 8,461 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 13,339/635/1,806/247,689.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
NEED FOOD? The pandemic economic crunch continues. So does help to prevent hunger. Free boxes of food are available at Food Lifeline‘s South Park-area HQ on Wednesday and Friday this week, 2 pm-5 pm (815 S. 96th).
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
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