West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Thanks for the tip! The former market at 7789 Highland Park Way has a new owner. And if you’re guessing the site is headed for redevelopment, given that so much of it is happening nearby – wrong. The new owner is local entrepreneur/preservationist John Bennett, who owns Luna Park Café as well as other properties in West Seattle, Georgetown, and South Park. We contacted Bennett after the tip that he’s the new owner, to ask about his plan. His reply:
I have had my eye on this property for awhile. It came on the market and I was able to purchase it. The Highland Park area is changing and growing, and it seemed like a perfect spot for a neighborhood coffee shop, deli, or cafe. It has parking and great outdoor seating area under a giant maple tree. We have been working on the building and hauling away truckloads of garbage. I will be looking for someone to lease it and start a business. As I have done in West Seattle and Georgetown, I will be searching for a business that will make the neighborhood a better place. Anyone interested can contact johnbennettproperties.com or call the office at 206-933-1950.
The market there closed almost two years ago. Last year – before the site went back on the market – there was a plan for Crowfoot Café to take over the space. That stalled, and we were never able to find out why.
The U.S. Coast Guard has sent information about the early-morning gasoline spill that brought a multi-agency emergency response to Harbor Island. The USCG says it happened at Shell‘s facility around 4:45 am, and that it was blamed on a pump failure. According to the Coast Guard, the spill was contained before it got into the waterway:
It was reported the tank lined up to feed the pump that failed had 160,749 gallons of gasoline at midnight. Approximately 13,825 gallons of gasoline had been reported released mixed with free-standing water in primary and secondary containment.
There is no report of gasoline in the nearby Duwamish River at this time, and it has been reported the source has been secured.
Coast Guard pollution responders from Sector Puget Sound’s Incident Management Division are currently on scene monitoring the cleanup efforts of the responsible party and a Coast Guard Station Seattle 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew is underway monitoring the surrounding area.
Other responding agencies included SFD, SPD, Ecology, and National Response Corporation Environmental Services.
(Added: WSB photo)
11:24 AM: Stay clear of Delridge/Hudson – there’s another natural-gas-leak response, and both Seattle Fire and Puget Sound Energy are responding.
11:27 AM: Per scanner, a 2″ line was broken. SFD is evacuating “one building to the east” precautionarily and having others nearby shelter in place. Delridge is blocked in the meantime.
11:36 AM: Delridge is blocked between Oregon and Orchard as this response continues, our crew reports.
11:44 AM: PSE is still working on stopping the leak but is reported to be closed. It’s described as an “open-air leak” and some of the SFD units are being dismissed.
12:04 PM: Photo added. This is in the road-work zone, and not the first utility problem – we’ve reported on previous gas and water breaks, and we’ll be following up with SDOT to see what their contractor is doing to minimize future problems – the project started in June and still has about a year to go.
12:30 PM: SDOT says Delridge has reopened.
You and your pet(s) are invited to join in two West Seattle churches’ Blessing of the Animals events this weekend, both with pandemic-altered formats:
SATURDAY: St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church invites you and your pet to the West Seattle High School parking lot (3000 California SW) north of the church at 10 am Saturday (October 3rd). The blessing dates each year are in recognition of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, and this event usually has a participant from the Order of St. Francis, as it will this year. As explained on the church website, you and your pet can either stay in your vehicle or stand outside to receive the blessing.
SUNDAY: Alki UCC will include its Blessing of the Animals in the livestreamed service at 10 am Sunday (October 4th), and you can send the church a photo of your pet to be part of it – today’s the deadline – office@alkiucc.org. The church website has info on registering to view the service. As also explained in our calendar listing, the church also is having a pet “walk-by” event Sunday, 11 am-noon outside the church entrance, at 6115 SW Hinds.
Two business notes this morning, both from Morgan Junction – first, a new business:
(Photo courtesy Doll Parts Collective)
DOLL PARTS COLLECTIVE: The co-proprietors of this new business in north Morgan Junction sent this announcement:
We are Doll Parts Collective – where creativity and sustainability collide :) Run by two awesome ladies, we specialize in vintage clothing & home decor, with a focus on ethical shopping practices and creative concepts! Located at 6016 California Ave SW, Doll Parts Collective will be hosting their first-ever Sidewalk Sale this Saturday, October 3rd, from 9:00 to 3:00. We will have discounted Summer Season items and lots of great Fall pieces for sale! Masks are obviously required, and we will be ensuring all shopping is safe & distanced. We are excited to be part of the neighborhood and can’t wait to meet the local community! Not comfortable being around strangers yet? We are offering private personal shopping appointments or curbside pickup of our online items as an alternative. To book, folks should check out our website – wearedollparts.com!
We will also be taking part in the West Seattle Art Walk starting in October! Keep an eye out- so much more to come from Doll Parts Collective.
The October Art Walk is one week from tonight – Thursday, October 8th.
FLOORING FOLLOWUP: Last weekend, we reported briefly that Floors Plus Northwest was on the way at 6959 California SW, offering carpeting, hardwood, vinyl, and LVP (luxury vinyl plank). We sent a message asking for more information and heard back from co-proprietor Luis Morales, who is opening the showroom with wife Liliana Morales. He explains, “We have been in the flooring business for several years and now we have an opportunity to open our own business since we have always worked under someone else’s company.” He adds that they have two teenage children and enjoy getting to know neighbors. “We love this community and we strongly believe this will be a great place for our neighbors to come and shop closer to their homes and stay local. We are targeting opening mid-October for the public.”
(Wednesday murkiness, photographed by Jen Popp)
Welcome to October! Happening in the hours ahead:
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING: Day 2 of the budget review, with online meetings 9:30 am and 2 pm, as city departments continue their presentations to the council. Today, SPD is scheduled to take up the entire first session; in the afternoon, Community Safety is the first discussion, followed by Municipal Court and Office of Economic Development. Here’s the agenda with document links.
DRIVE-THRU FLU SHOTS: Second-to-last chance in West Seattle for Seattle Public Schools students, staff, and families to get a flu shot at a drive-thru campus clinic. Today, 10 am-5 pm at Louisa Boren STEM K-8. First – register here. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
AZUMA SUSHI REOPENS: Takeout only – lunch and dinner – call 206-937-1148 to order. (4533 California SW)
DEMONSTRATION: As announced by Scott:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Thursday, October 1st, 4 to 6 pm, 16th and Holden
Come show support for BLM and ending systemic racism. Hold signs, meet neighbors, and stand for racial justice. Scott at PR Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.
PIZZA & ICE CREAM FUNDRAISER: 4-9 pm, it’s a dine-out benefit for Lincoln Park Co-Op Preschool at Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th SW) and Full Tilt Ice Cream (9629 16th SW) in White Center. Just mention Lincoln Park Co-op Preschool! (Here’s the flyer.)
DESIGN REVIEW: 4 pm online, the Southwest Design Review Board takes its first look at the newest proposal for 9201 Delridge Way SW, a 5-story apartments-and-retail building. This page has links for watching the meeting, commenting, and previewing the design packet.
(Tuesday sunset, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
THE ALLEY REOPENS: 4 pm, the doors reopen at The Alley, behind Be’s. (4509 California SW)
‘SHE TRAVELED SOLO’: Online history presentation at 7 pm:
She Traveled Solo: Strong Women in the Early 20th Century
The Woman’s Century Club, The Steamer Virginia V Foundation, and Humanities Washington are pleased to present Port Townsend scholar Tessa Hulls for an online talk on some fascinating women in the early 20th century – explorers, mountaineers, and even a circus performer. Hulls tells the stories of women who defied expectations and embarked on unprecedented journeys, enhancing her talk with historical photographs, primary documents, and hand-drawn illustrations.
Cost: Free and open to the public! Pre-registration required. This is a virtual event. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instructions.
6:16 AM: October begins with the 192nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
TRANSIT
Metro – Fare collection resumes today.
Water Taxi – Also no longer free.
ROAD WORK
*Delridge project: Remember that the SW Oregon closure is set to start early tomorrow (Friday), continuing until early Monday. Here’s the newest bulletin, with word on where else work is happening.
*West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way: Restriping to rechannelize part of the intersection is scheduled for Sunday.
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). Here’s the nearest camera:
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.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
12:53 AM: Seattle Fire has a water-rescue response happening near Alki Point and says, “Crews are investigating reports of an overturned vessel approximately 100 yards offshore.” Radio communication indicates they haven’t found it yet.
(Added: Photo by David Hutchinson)
12:58 AM: Now they’re moving the search toward an area northeast of Alki Bathhouse.
1:05 AM: Searching from land and at sea, they haven’t found anything yet. Per radio communication, the report was apparently called in as a light that was seen and then vanished.
1:15 AM: They’re ending the search – no one in distress was found, and the original caller acknowledges the sighting was tenuous.
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