West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
Thanks for the tips on this: Grillbird Teriyaki announced this afternoon that it’s closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The note posted online and on Grillbird’s door:
We are closed until further notice
On Wednesday July 8th, a staff member at Grillbird tested positive for COVID-19. This individual was not customer facing and was immediately sent home to recover. Our entire staff will receive testing over the next couple days.
As a result of this positive test, we will be closing our doors temporarily so that we can wait for the results and disinfect/clean the restaurant. Our hope is to re-open as soon as possible, but until we can test everyone on our team, we cannot re-open. Your health and safety along with the health and safety of our team are of the utmost importance to us. We will be taking every precaution to ensure that when we do re-open, the environment will be safe.
We share this so we can be 100% transparent with all of our loyal customers and community that have been so supportive of Grillbird since we’ve opened.
We are grateful that our staff member who tested positive is not exhibiting any symptoms. We operate with a strict mask-wearing policy in our kitchens and at the counter, and will continue to reinforce this and rigorous daily cleaning practices. Please stay tuned about our reopening dates. We love you all and look forward to serving you again soon.
Matt & Danette
While out following up on a few things, we happened onto a lights/sirens police response in The Junction. They were headed for Bellevue Rare Coins at California/Oregon, where, they told us, someone walked in, smashed a display case, grabbed items, and ran. A K9 will be joining the search. No description available.
3:46 PM: We’ve reported twice in the past two weeks on COVID-19 cases among employees at Duke’s on Alki. We had followup questions out to Public Health Seattle-King County after reports of more cases – and PHSKC has just announced that the restaurant has been closed because of “ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 in employees” and “potential for workplace and customer transmission.” PHSKC also cited “non-compliance wth Washington State’s “Stay Safe, Stay Healthy” requirements.” The restaurant had closed for three days last week because of the initial outbreak, reopening on July 3rd.
4:45 PM: More from Public Health:
“At this time, all the cases have been in employees of Duke’s restaurant and we are not aware of cases among customers. The risk to diners is generally lower because they are typically not in close contact with employees for prolonged periods of time. For these reasons, customers do not need to quarantine, but should monitor their health closely for any symptoms and get tested at any sign of COVID-like illness,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health- Seattle & King County.
“With the recent increase in cases, everyone – including all restaurants, businesses and individuals – needs to remember the importance of physical distancing, limiting the number and duration of contacts with others, use of face coverings, good ventilation, and hand washing to the reduce risk of COVID-19 to customers, employees and the community. Anyone who knows they were in close contact with a COVID-19 case or has symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate themselves away from others and seek testing. And older adults and people with risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection should take extra precautions and limit activities to the extent possible.”
In response to rising COVID-19 cases county wide, Public Health is expanding efforts to educate and enforce compliance of Governor Inslee’s Safe Start COVID-19 reopening requirements in food establishments.
Information for customers of the restaurant
If you were a customer at Duke’s at Alki, watch closely for any symptoms daily until 14 days after you were at the restaurant. Symptoms of COVID-19 infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or a change in smell or taste perception. Other symptoms include recent or increasing tiredness or weakness, headache, muscle aches, diarrhea, chills, and sore throat. These symptoms occur within 2–14 days of your last exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19.
If you do not have any symptoms you do not need to quarantine. You can continue to go to work and out in public spaces as normal, but you should wear a face covering and stay at least 6 feet from people who do not live in your home.
If you develop any symptoms, even if minor, call your doctor or healthcare provider for a medical evaluation. Explain that you might have been exposed to a person with COVID-19. Follow their instructions for testing.
If you do not have a doctor or healthcare provider: free or low-cost testing is available at several King County locations to anyone, regardless of immigration status. Call the King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977 for assistance. The Call Center is open from 8am to 7pm, 7 days a week. If you need an interpreter, say the name of your language.
6 PM: We went over to Duke’s to verify the closure. They are indeed closed, but no explanatory note on the door.
ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: Duke’s posted a statement on social media confirming the 7 Alki cases that commenters have reported, The restaurant’s owners contend they have been “strictly following CDC and local health department guidelines.”
Thanks for the tips! The long-stalled development site adjacent to Ephesus, with the same property owner, is up for sale. Listing price: $1.7 million, including the plans for the three-story mixed-use building that was in progress, and the foundation and underground garage that have already been poured. The site held a small commercial building – before demolition in 2012; its businesses included a quirky retail shop called Cavvy’s, and Rick’s Barber Shop (which in the ensuing years has had to move again because of redevelopment). Work started in 2016, but didn’t get beyond the concrete and a bit of framing. Our archives show the site described with addresses including 5247 and 5251 California; the previous permits were granted for 5247, but the real-estate listing identifies the site as 5249.
As mentioned in last night’s virus-crisis roundup, a reader reported that a West Seattle Trader Joe’s customer went on a rampage after being asked to wear a mask – on the first day that businesses statewide are mandated to do just that. We promised to seek out the resulting police report, and obtained it – the narrative says there was a bit more to it:
On 7/7/20, at approximately 1031 hours, officers responded to a theft call at the location of 4545 Fauntleroy Wsy SW, Trader Joes. Upon arrival, a community member informed officers the suspect got on a bus prior to our arrival.
RP advised the suspect, a white male in his 20’s, brown hair, skinny build, with all-black clothing, was asked to put a mask on upon entering the location. RP advised because of this, the subject grabbed a case of Nova Vodka, and attempted to walk out the store. At this point, staff took the items out of the subject’s hand. RP advised the subject became angry and began to knock over rope barriers, air plants, then began to uproot a flower pot. According to the RP, the subject then walked away from the location, toward the QFC. … There were no injuries as a result of this incident. Unfortunately, the RP advised there are no security cameras that observed the incident.
We’ve received lots of questions in recent weeks about the status of Sunfish (2800 Alki Avenue SW) – and today we can finally report that it has reopened. We drive Alki just about every evening, and saw no change in the hand-lettered CLOSED note on the door – until last night, when we noticed that was gone. So we just went back for an early check, saw the open door, and went in to confirm: Yes, they’re open, for takeout only, 11 am-6 pm.
Another crash on Sylvan Way, this time at SW Holly (just after we got word that SDOT is out trimming trees on the increasingly busy corridor). Per Seattle Fire radio exchange, four vehicles are involved, no major injuries reported so far.
9:54 AM: Just a reminder that the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force has its fourth meeting today, online at noon. You can watch here – or, if you’d rather call in to listen, the number is 408-418-9388, access code: 146 162 4832. We’re awaiting the agenda, but one major topic today will be the impending release of neighborhood-specific lists for potential Reconnect West Seattle projects to address detour-route traffic. SDOT had said the lists would be made public this past Monday but now tells us Thursday or Friday.
11:13 AM: Here’s the agenda.
For the second time in three months, a fire callout at the former Yarington’s Funeral Home at 16th/107th in White Center – this time, much bigger, 2 alarms. We’re covering it on partner site White Center Now.
6:12 AM: It’s Wednesday, the 107th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD WORK
Lane reductions continue at several locations on Delridge Way as the RapidRide H Line conversion project continues – here’s what they’re working on this week.
TRAFFIC
Here’s the camera for the restricted-daytime-access low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – which has up to 14 overnight closures planned later this 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:
If you’re going through South Park, neighbors need you to slow down.
P.S. 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 has been restored – details here.
Water Taxi – Some service has been restored on the WT too, plus 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.
Toplines from the District 1 Community Network‘s July meeting last week:
WHO WAS THERE: Always hard to get a full roll call in online meetings, But this one included attendees from neighborhod-based groups (South Park, Fauntleroy, Pigeon Point, Pelly Place, Admiral, Highland Park, Alki, The Junction) as well as peninsula-wide groups such as West Seattle Bike Connections and the West Seattle Transportation Coalition, the Emergency Hubs. A few individual attendees were there too; we noted one from Fairmount Springs. D1CN is open to anyone with an interest in West Seattle and/or South Park. The group has an administrator (Larry Wymer) but no officers; each meeting has a volunteer facilitator – for this one, it was Phil Tavel.
WHAT THEY DISCUSSED – THE BRIDGE: The West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force was a hot topic – three members were in attendance:
Mask mandate, next level – that’s where we start tonight’s roundup:
NO MASK, NO SERVICE: As of today, businesses are not supposed to serve customers who aren’t wearing face coverings. At his media briefing this afternoon, the governor was asked about enforcement. He suggested that for example, retail stores could just refuse to ring up the unmasked customer.
MASK OUTBURST REPORTED: It’s not necessarily that simple. Reader report received via email:
Customer being asked to put on mask at WS TJs this morning proceeded to go into a frenzy and rip up all the plants in planter boxes in front of store. Staff attempted to verbally cool him down but were careful not to physically confront him.
We haven’t obtained the police report but there is a logged “property destruction” call in that block of Fauntleroy.
ONE MORE BUSINESS NOTE: From the governor’s news release, another new rule: “Employers must notify the employer’s local health jurisdiction within 24 hours if the employer suspects COVID-19 is spreading in the employer’s workplace, or if the employer is aware of 2 or more employees who develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period.” We’ll be checking with health authorities tomorrow to see what’s supposed to happen if/when they get such a notification.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s the daily summary from Public Health, with cumulative totals:
*11,206 people have tested positive, up 66 from yesterday
*596 people have died, up 5 from yesterday
*1,631 people have been hospitalized, up 8 from yesterday
*191,865 people have been tested, up 1,860 from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 10,196/586/1,589/167,270.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
PARKING ALERT: Next week, the city will resume enforcement of most street-parking time limits (and will be charging again at pay stations).
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Just four days until John L. Scott Real Estate-Westwood (WSB sponsor) offers free shredding! It’s set for 10 am-noon Saturday (July 11th) in the northwest lot at Westwood Village. No limit but if you can, please support the White Center Food Bank by bringing non-perishable food, or making a monetary donation – a WCFB rep will be there to accept a donation via card if you want to do it that way.
(WSB photos)
This half-mile-long Duwamish River shore site, where a groundbreaking ceremony was held today for a future park, won’t exist once the project is done.
This is T-117, a Port of Seattle=owned former industrial site in South Park (map) put on the Superfund toxic-cleanup list in 2003, and now destined for restoration to its roots as a tidal marsh. Since big ceremonial crowds are out of the question, a small group of Port and community representatives gathered for today’s event, which the Port streamed live.
It’s an “extraordinary project,” enthused Paulina López, executive director of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition.
DRCC has long been involved with this site (among others); this 2013 WSB story quoted one of her predecessors, describing early cleanup work at T-117. López spoke of the “hope” offered by the site’s transformation, both because it will open up more of the riverfront to a community with “limited public access,” and because the project also promises green job training, with opportunity for youth to learn how to work on habitat restoration and marine conservation.
Magdalena Angel-Cano, also with DRCC, embodies that opportunity – she joined the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps at age 13 and became a “first-generation college student.” She spoke of the need for a clear path for the community’s youth, so there can be more representation in the area’s industries, especially maritime.
The ceremony also included George Blomberg from the Port explaining what’ll happen at T-117.
The site’s elevation will be reduced to bring back the marsh; there’ll be an interpretive path, 8 viewpoints, a pier, and a hand-carry boat launch. Thousands of native plants will go into the ground. “This site has a memory,” observed Blomberg – a memory of its pre-industrial millennia – and that was affirmed by another speaker, Native storyteller/historian Roger Fernandes.
It’s a “powerful act” to see land like this returned to what it once was, Fernandes noted, before telling “The Changer Story.”
The changes here will take place over the next year and a half or so – more project details, and history, are here.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
CAR PROWLER ON VIDEO: Iris sent this clip and the framegrab:
Reporting a car prowler that was checking for unlocked vehicles on the 8400 block of 17th Ave SW at 4:55am July 7, 2020. This woman attempts to open the doors of both the cars in our driveway and seems to try the car at the end of the driveway as she turns the corner.
ABANDONED BIKE: Sent by Pat, spotted along Alki Avenue SW:
This is a red & black kid’s bike that’s been parked for several days in front of a new empty condo building across from Luna Park, called Pinnacle.
Support your local businesses! Here are three biznotes, starting with two reopenings:
ARTIST & MUSE SALON: This salon at 6701 California SW was open for just two weeks before the pandemic shuttered salons (among other types of businesses) for months. Now it’s open again. Alexa from Artist & Muse says, “we have 8 stylists who are amazing and are taking new clients. … Six of our stylists came from Ola Salon on Avalon Way and they are hoping to reach clients who may have been lost in the move.” Find the salon’s info online here.
ROW HOUSE: Also a relatively new West Seattle business, this fitness studio at 4203 SW Oregon just reopened this week.
LADY DI PET CHAPERONE: Sarah at Lady Di Pet Chaperone emailed to let pet owners know they’re open: “We are open and serving clients M-F (7-7), Sat-Sun- (10-6).” Lady Di offers in-home care as well as drop-off dog day care.
You might recall recent coverage here with Metro warning that the service funded by Seattle’s Transportation Benefit District tax is in danger of going away because the tax was expiring. Mayor Durkan has just announced a proposed six-year renewal – via a news release (see it here) that mentions West Seattle 13 times, though without any specifics – aside from the last line on the provided graphic below. The proposal would continue the 0.1 percent sales tax, and the city says that “is projected to generate between $20 and $30 million annually over the next six years,” broken down as follows:
The current TBD funding also includes a $60 car-tab tax, but that’s not possible now because of I-976. If approved by the City Council, this will go to voters in November.
(For context, here’s how the expiring TBD measure was presented by then-Mayor Ed Murray in 2014.)
Announced today by the city:
Starting Monday, July 13, we’ll reinstate on-street paid parking and hourly time-limited parking enforcement.
Paid parking and hourly time limited parking enforcement were suspended in early April in response to the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order. With King County’s transition to Phase 2 of the Safe Start Plan, businesses are reopening, and reliable access at the curb for customers is critical for recovery.
Parking will be $0.50/hour in all paid areas; the minimum rate allowed according to the Seattle Municipal Code.
The rate will remain unchanged for at least a month while we review data to determine parking activity and occupancy in our neighborhood business districts. Further adjustments could come later in 2020. We are committed to following a data-driven process.
Parking Enforcement Officers will begin enforcing paid parking requirements, as well as enforcement of free, hourly time limited parking (think 2-hour parking signs) on July 13. For the first two weeks, they will be focused on education and voluntary compliance of paid parking as customers return to our neighborhood businesses.
The full announcement is here. (West Seattle does not have paid on-street parking but does have many time-limited spaces.)
The fence is up, the new crosswalks are painted, and the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook seawall-replacement project is about to launch into major construction mode. When we covered the first of two public pre-construction briefings, the traffic plan for the site wasn’t finalized yet, but it was ready for the second meeting last week So in case you missed that- see it here. The plan includes crosswalks at Jacobsen and Snoqualmie. You can also read a transcript of the July 1st meeting and see the slide deck – which includes the planned truck routes for the work – by going here. If you still have project questions, here’s the contact info: AlkiSeaWall@usace.army.mil or 206-764-3750. Construction is expected to last into early next year.
While we await the Reconnect West Seattle proposed-project ballots, we know one thing for sure – the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force will have its fourth meeting tomorrow. We have the link for Wednesday’s noon meeting – you’ll be able to watch here. If you’d rather call in: 408-418-9388, access code: 146 162 4832. (Our coverage of the last meeting June 24th is here.)
6:07 AM: It’s Tuesday, the 106th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD WORK
Lane reductions continue in multiple spots on Delridge Way as the RapidRide H Line conversion project continues – here’s what they’re working on this week.
TRAFFIC
Here’s the camera for the restricted-daytime-access low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – which has up to 14 overnight closures planned later thi 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:
If you’re going through South Park, neighbors urge you to slow down.
P.S. 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 has been restored – details here.
Water Taxi – Some service has been restored on the WT too, plus 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.
We start tonight’s roundup with the statistics:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*11,140 people have tested positive, 126 more than yesterday
*591 people have died, 1 more than yesterday
*1,623 people have been hospitalized, 7 more than yesterday
*190,005 people have been tested, 2,358 more than yesterday
One week ago, the totals were 10,069 /586/1,587/161,398.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
STATE RECORD: The governor tweeted that this was the first day during the epidemic that our state has recorded more than 1,000 new cases in one day.
CITY TAX: The first year of revenue from the “JumpStart” business tax passed by the City Council today is supposed to go to COVID-19 relief. The tax on high earners, sponsored by West Seattle-residing citywide Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (with 4 co-sponsors including District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold), is explained in this Seattle Times report. All the documents are here.
NEED FOOD? Food Lifeline has announced three nearby chances this week for you to drive up or walk up and get boxes of free food:
Food Lifeline – 815 South 96th Street
Wednesday, July 8, at 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, July 10, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.Century Link Field – North Parking Lot
Thursday, July 9, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
NEED SUPPORT FOR STRESS? Just launched – Washington Listens:
In response to COVID-19, Washington has launched Washington Listens, a support program and phone line to help people manage elevated levels of stress due to the pandemic.
People who call the Washington Listens support line will speak with a support specialist and get connected to community resources in their area. The program is anonymous.
…The Washington Listens support line is 1-833-681-0211. It is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method….
Resources and self-help tips are available on walistens.org.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(Part of the #SayTheirNamesMemorial at Seacrest; photo by Stewart L.)
More than a month after the first streetcorner demonstrations in West Seattle as part of the nationwide movement to show support for Black lives, the demonstrations are continuing. The announcement is from Scott:
Tuesday, July 7, 4 to 6 p, corner of Delridge SW and SW Orchard
Thursday, July 9th, 4-6 p, corner Delridge SW and SW Orchard
Come show support for BLM and ending systemic racism. meet neighbors, and stand for racial justice. Scott at Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.
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