West Seattle, Washington
26 Tuesday
(WSB photos, June 26th)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Highland Park Improvement Club is more than a building … it’s people.
And that’s why the early-morning fire that heavily damaged the century-old HPIC headquarters two weeks ago (WSB coverage here) hasn’t stopped HPIC from continuing to be the heart of its community.
Tomorrow (Saturday, July 10th), for example, the first of three “Giant Garage Sales” – already planned before the fire – will be held in the HPIC parking lot and courtyard on the two sides of the 1116 SW Holden building least affected by the flames.
But while that should make for a fun day, what’s been happening since the June 25th fire has been hard, heartbreaking work for HPIC’s all-volunteer board. We talked Thursday by phone with Nicole Mazza to see what they have learned, what’s next, and how people can help.
Four years ago, 21 candidates ran for Seattle mayor, and we moderated a forum to which 15 RSVP’d. This year, 15 candidates are in the race, and 10 have RSVP’d for the forum we’re co-presenting Saturday with the West Seattle Junction Association. It starts at noon, with the candidates side by side at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). Thanks to everyone who’s suggested questions – we’ll see how many we can get through with 10 candidates in an hour and a half. Our calendar listing has the lineup of participants and how to watch.
We’ve already reported on two road-work closures this weekend – SW Genesee west of Delridge, and westbound SW Alaska west of California. A roundup of alerts from SDOT today include two more worth noting:
SW ROXBURY REPAVING: First, the good news. Hard to see in the early-evening shade but our photo above shows a rutted section of SW Roxbury between 24th and 25th that SDOT plans to repave later this month:
In partnership with King County, SDOT crews will repave SW Roxbury St between 24th Ave SW and 25th Ave SW. Expect traffic slowdowns on Monday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 20.
Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 PM Monday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 20. For people driving, traffic will be reduced to one lane with crew members directing drivers. Please go slow when driving in the area. Watch for people biking and walking, follow signs, and expect delays. For people walking, rolling, and biking in the area, sidewalk access will be maintained.
In addition, tree pruning will occur on Wednesday, July 14 through Thursday, July 16 in advance of the paving work. This shouldn’t impact traffic flow, but there will be crew activity in the area. This tree pruning effort is to make room for the large paving equipment to ensure that we don’t damage the trees or the equipment.
The once-planned major Roxbury repaving project remains on indefinite hold, but spot projects like this come up now and then – in May 2020, for example, Roxbury was repaved between 16th and 18th.
DELRIDGE DETOUR: The weekly update on the Delridge Way work preparing for the RapidRide H Line has a new addition – southbound Delridge Way will be closed “as soon as 7 am Monday” (July 12th) between SW Holden and SW Trenton. SDOT says, “The street will remain closed for about two weeks as we work to safely demolish and rebuild both the northbound and southbound travel lanes on Delridge Way SW.”
The full list of this week’s highlights for the Delridge project – starting with the SW Genesee closure that’s already under way west of Delridge – is here.
6:07 PM: King County Sheriff’s Deputies are blocking off 16th SW in White Center south of Roxbury after a report of a crash and possible gas leak at 16th/98th. Updates to come.
6:24 PM: Deputies have just told dispatch “the gas is off” but the closure will continue for a little while until Puget Sound Energy arrives. Our crew has just arrived and a fire captain tells us they’re talking with nearby businesses to get them to “air out” as the leaked gas dissipates.
6:39 PM: Added photo of the car that hit the gas line on the north side of Beer Star’s building.
6:50 PM: Deputies just told dispatch that all but the 16th/98th intersection can reopen; cleanup there will take a while longer.
The city announced today that it’s adding a fourth scooter provider, Spin (pending final authorization). The same announcement trumpets a pilot program going in West Seattle requiring scooter and bike renters to park in designated “hubs.” They’re shown on the map above. From the announcement:
We’re testing a new strategy to improve parking in West Seattle. Over the past few weeks, several new bike and scooter parking spaces were painted along Alki Beach and near the King County Water Taxi dock. Starting this week, scooter and bike share companies will start using GPS technology requiring riders to park in these designated spots. If someone attempts to park on the sidewalk or sand, the app gives them instructions on where to move the scooter before the user can end their trip.
Several of these bike and scooter parking hubs are located on the street within “No Parking Within 30 Feet” zones near crosswalks, and new signs make it even more clear that it is illegal for cars to park there. This takes advantage of curb space that isn’t currently being used and helps keep the sidewalk clear so everyone can get around. It also enhances safety by preventing cars from parking illegally in a way that blocks other drivers view of oncoming traffic and people crossing the street.
SDOT’s announcement also says the new company, Spin, will operate mostly in West Seattle for starters – it’s already next door in White Center – and explains its technology guiding “better … riding behavior” as well as proper parking.
(WSB/WCN photo, Monday)
1:37 PM: Thanks for the tips. We’ve confirmed with the King County Sheriff’s Office that the fire which gutted the LumberYard Bar and seven other businesses in downtown White Center early Monday is now being investigated as arson. Though the original tentative determination was that it was likely accidental, KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Tim Meyer tells WSB that they received “new evidence” that led investigators to “reclassify it as arson.” Though the LumberYard has posted on social media that “This most likely is also a hate crime,” Sgt. Meyer would not speculate on a potential motive. Anyone with any information should contact KCSO.
1:50 PM: We went over to the fire scene to see if we could find out more; no one’s around, but we did photograph the signs asking for tips – 800-55-ARSON. That’s reiterated in this statement we’ve just received from the White Center Pride Committee:
The White Center Pride Committee is deeply disturbed and saddened to learn that the fire at The Lumberyard Bar on July 5th has reportedly been reclassified from an electrical fire to arson. The possibility of this being a hate crime targeted at an LGBTQI+ gathering space is also being investigated. Not only was The Lumberyard Bar destroyed, but also 7 other businesses, many of which were minority owned.
We will continue to stand with all of the businesses and individuals that were impacted by this horrible act. Our community is strong and will never back down in the face of adversity. We implore anyone with information to reach out to the King County Sheriff’s Office with any information at 206-263-2070 or 1-800-55-ARSON.
The fire broke out after 1 am on Monday. No injuries were reported. But along with the LumberYard, it devastated neighboring businesses The Boxing Gym, La Tipica Oaxaqueña, John’s Hair and Nails, Rat City Tattoo, Nuggi, and Dottie’s Doublewide.
The tables are out and the sales are on! First of two days for the West Seattle Junction Sidewalk Sale – which was the original big summer event in downtown West Seattle, long before Summer Fest (no street festival again this year due to pandemic uncertainty). More than two dozen businesses are participating:
Above are Keonii and Sam from Fleurt Collective (4536 California SW). Fleurt is a shop where you always can find home-enhancing items like plants – and across the street the Discovery Shop (4535 California SW) has tables full of them too:
Go inside the Discovery Shop – which benefits the American Cancer Society – and you’ll find half-off deals on other things, too. Further down the block, Pegasus Book Exchange (4553 California SW) has tables full of, of course, books:
On the southeast corner of California and Oregon, Stop ‘n’ Shop Thrift Store has appliances looking for a new home:
Those are just a few of the sights we saw shortly after it all began. The block south of SW Alaska has sellers too – we even noted a sidewalk table outside Bakery Nouveau. If you can’t get to The Junction today, the Sidewalk Sale continues Saturday – participants (including some pop-ups) are listed here.
11:42 AM: By mid-afternoon, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run will be down to two boats. Here’s the alert from Washington State Ferries:
The #3 vessel, Cathlamet is out of service until further notice beginning with the 2:15 p.m. departure from Vashon to Fauntleroy due to a propulsion issue. Fauntleroy /Vashon/Southworth route will continue to operate the three boat schedule using only vessels #1 and #2.
The cancellation will also cancel the following sailing(s):
2:45 p.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon
3:25 p.m. Vashon to Fauntleroy
4:10 p.m. Fauntleroy to Southworth
4:45 p.m. Southworth to Vashon.
9 PM: The Cathlamet returned to service before 7 pm.
(Thursday’s sunset on Alki – photo by Jen Popp)
This announcement is just in from Seattle Parks:
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) will extend the temporary early closure time of 10 p.m. at Alki Beach Park (2665 Alki Ave. SW) through September 12, 2021.
SPR originally piloted a temporary early closure time of 10 p.m. over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Based on positive community feedback, as well as continued concerns around illegal activity and public safety issues at Alki Beach Park over the busy summer months, SPR has decided to extend the temporary early closing. The park will close daily at 10:00 p.m. (instead of 11:30 p.m.) and reopen as normal at 4:30 a.m.
This extension of the temporary closing time change, authorized by SMC 18.12.040, is intended to mitigate illegal activity at the park during the busy summer months. Alki Beach Park has experienced an increase in public safety issues, including acts of violence, excessive noise violations, illegal fires, and unpermitted events.
SPR has already implemented several strategies to try to discourage illegal behaviors at Alki Beach Park:
· Public education: To clarify and publicize beach fire rules and other park rules, we are using our website and social media resources, sandwich-board signs at the park, and most recently, two large electronic reader-boards stating that fires are allowed in authorized firepits only, and the time by which fires must be extinguished. (Reader-board messaging may change to reflect updates.)
· Enhanced staffing: Five staff are on the beach nightly. They remind park users that fires can be in firepits only and must be extinguished by 9:30 p.m.; remind park users that amplified music is prohibited; pick up litter; clean and restock restrooms.
· Reduced hours for fires: Staff extinguish beach fires by 9:30 nightly.
· SPD coordination: We stay in close communication and strategize with SPD regarding efforts to enforce laws and prevent illegal behaviors.
Alki Beach Park will continue to allow beach fires through September 12 in designated fire rings. All beach fires must be extinguished by 9:30 p.m. and all visitors will be asked to leave the park by 10 p.m. Please see beach fire rules here.
Alki Beach Park daily operating hours will return to 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. effective September 13, 2021.
Last month, Parks announced a “pilot” to close Golden Gardens – the big beach park in Ballard – early for the next nine months, citing similar reasons.
(Seen off Alki Thursday night – photo by Danny McMillin)
The weekend starts early!
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION SIDEWALK SALE: For the pandemic-modified Summer Fest – today and tomorrow, starting at 10 am, dozens of Junction merchants – and some pop-ups from other parts of West Seattle – will have tables out for you to browse! Here’s a list of highlights. Some merchants are offering fun extras too – facepainting, refreshments, games. Come wander around to see what’s up!
FUN & FESTIVE FRIDAY, FEATURING ‘ELVIS’: Also in The Junction, it’s another Fun & Festive Friday at the Senior Center of West Seattle, inside and outside at 4217 SW Oregon. Outdoors – refreshments, 11 am-1 pm. Indoors – “Elvis” performs at 12:30 pm. Also, Margie’s Café reopens, 9 am-1:30 pm.
LOW TIDE WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: The tide is out to -1.7 feet at 11:17 am, not super-low but low enough that the Seattle Aquarium Volunteer Beach Naturalists will be out at Constellation (Beach/63rd) and Lincoln (8011 Fauntleroy Way) parks, 10:15 am–12:15 pm.
AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Open today – Highland Park spraypark (11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale) and Lincoln Park wading pool (noon-7 pm, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
DELRIDGE GROCERY COOPERATIVE: The DGC store at 5444 Delridge Way SW is now open Fridays, 3-7 pm, for food shopping, as well as Saturdays and Sundays, as previewed here.
ARTSWEST OPEN HOUSE: 4-7 pm, visit ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW) to get reacquainted!
6:08 AM: Good morning, Today’s forecast is for the same weather pattern we’ve been seeing – the sunniest weather will be in the afternoon.
ROAD WORK
Delridge project – As announced, 7 am today is the scheduled start of the closure of SW Genesee west of Delridge, continuing through the weekend. See the new detour map here.
36th/Oregon – The repair work is done and this stretch of street is expected to reopen sometime this morning. (UPDATE: It reopened at 7:30 am, SDOT says.)
Alaska/44th – More work on westbound Alaska this weekend, starting early Saturday.
TRANSIT
Buses and ferries are on their regular schedules today. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
473rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 26th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? See the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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