West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Don’t lose hope yet about the West Seattle Bridge reopening schedule.
Though the city has issued dire warnings of delays resulting from the ongoing concrete-drivers strike, SDOT’s program director Heather Marx offered a little optimism at tonight’s monthly meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition.
She and City Council Transportation and Public Utilities Committee chair Alex Pedersen were the spotlight guests at the WSTC’s online meeting:
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE UPDATES: Marx did not have specifics on the status of the strike. (The two sides met with a mediator today; here’s the union’s just-posted recap; added Friday, here’s the companies’ recap.) But she started by recapping the strike’s effects on the bridge project (as originally reported here), and what the city is doing to try to work around concrete’s unavailability as much as it can.
“We’re continuing to prioritize other (parts) of the work (but) there is a point where we can’t go any further without the concrete,” she stressed. They’re changed the way they’re staging the forms that are awaiting concrete so that once it’s ready, they’ll be ready. She reiterated that the project needs 245 yards of a specialized concrete mix, “more flowable and self-compacting.”
Just received from Seattle Public Utilities:
A minor sewer overflow (less than 3,000 gallons) occurred near the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal earlier today (Thursday).
The cause of the overflow can be traced to a blockage in the line. That blockage has been mostly relieved, preventing any additional overflow.
Seattle Public Utilities staff are posting signs at Cove Park this evening that let people know the area is currently closed to water activities.
We’ll be collecting water samples in the morning to determine when the beach can safely reopen to water activities.
ADDED: Register says, “The blockage, which was in the sewer mainline, was caused by a large piece of wood and other debris that got caught around the piece of wood.”
If you’re interested in registering your child(ren) at Seattle Public Schools other than the one(s) to which they’ve been assigned, a deadline is coming up next week – a local parent thought you might appreciate a reminder about this message from the district:
Open Enrollment for School Choice ends Monday, Feb. 28. If you are interested in applying, please do so now. School Choice applications are accepted through Tuesday, May 31, 2022, but are only eligible for priority tiebreakers if received during Open Enrollment.
Every student in Seattle Public Schools is automatically assigned to their attendance area school, based on where they live. Families can also choose to apply to request that their student attend a different school through the Open Enrollment for School Choice process.
Reviewing Your Student’s 2022-23 School Assignment
Next year’s school assignments are now available in the Assignment Lookup Tool. Your student’s school assignment may have changed due to new school boundaries and the opening of new schools. To view your student’s assignment, you will need their date of birth and student ID number. You can find your student’s student ID by contacting Admissions at 206-252-0760 or by logging in to your account on The Source.
Please note: If your student is currently attending an option school or another school that is not their attendance area school by choice, they can continue at this school until the highest grade offered without having to apply during Open Enrollment again.
Applying for Another School
Before you can apply to another school, your student must be enrolled.
If your student wants to apply to attend a school that is not their assigned school, you must submit a School Choice form. We encourage families to apply during the Open Enrollment period. Only forms submitted during Open Enrollment will receive tiebreakers. Applications received after Open Enrollment are prioritized based on the date the application is received.
School Choice forms (are available now) online or at the John Stanford Center. More information and the forms are available on the School Choice page.
In case you’ve been procrastinating on a COVID-19 vaccination or booster shot, here’s your reminder that the city-run clinic in West Seattle is about to close. As announced two weeks ago, Friday and Saturday are the final days for the clinic at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW). The clinic is scheduled to be open to walk-ins as well as those with appointments 4:30-7;30 pm Friday and 8:30 am-4:30 pm Saturday. The city also is closing its Rainier Beach clinic in early March.
The new owners of Alki Beach Pub (2722 Alki Avenue SW), who took over last November, have announced a temporary closure. Jackie Mallahan and Dan Mallahan emailed WSB with this announcement:
On Sunday, February 27th, Alki Beach Pub will be closing for a couple months for upgrades and renovations. We appreciate the continued support and look forward to welcoming everyone back late spring/early summer to our reimagined space! Much Love, Alki!
The temporary closure means that the west end of the beach business district will be a bit lonely for a while – east to west, the former Alki Cleaners space is still vacant, the No-Name Diner just closed (but has a “new concept” on the way), and the former Top Pot Doughnuts and the space next to it are still up for lease, as is the former J&J Public House space.
Thanks to the texter who tipped us that the backhoe has arrived at that destined-for-demolition house, 4022 Beach Drive SW [map], a particularly visible spot because of its proximity to Weather Watch Park and La Rustica. Online records say the 107-year-old house, sold late last year for $925,000, will be replaced by four townhouses, each with a single-car garage. The 5,000-square-foot lot is zoned Lowrise 2. One other note of interest: The city’s Shaping Seattle map now includes information on how development projects are dealing with the Mandatory Housing Affordability requirement (either incorporating affordable unit[s] or paying a fee that the city will invest in affordable housing elsewhere); it shows that the developers of this project will be charged a $106,000 fee.
11:17 AM: Thanks for the tips. South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is currently under “shelter in place,” according to an internal alert. Police were dispatched, according to radio exchanges, to a report of a robbery – an employee said someone stole “an air-conditioning nozzle” and when told to stop, implied they had a gun, though none was seen. They then headed out northbound. Police are in the area searching right now. (added) They’ve just given this description to dispatch: Black man, average build, 20-30 years old, red top, capri-type pants, slippers.
11:45 AM: The shelter-in-place has been lifted. No word of an arrest.
12:25 PM: We asked SSC for more info; here’s what we received from college spokesperson Ty Swenson:
Shortly after 11 a.m. on 2/24 a member of the South Seattle College custodial team made contact with an individual in a campus building who appeared to be trying to steal a vacuum hose. The custodial employee asked for the item back at which time the suspect threatened the employee and claimed to have a firearm. A firearm was not brandished.
The individual then left the building toward the Arboretum on the north end of campus. Campus security was contacted, at which time the security team sent out a “shelter in place” emergency message (at 11:11 a.m.), called police for assistance and evacuated individuals from the north end of campus.
Police arrived around 11:17 a.m. and performed a thorough search of the Arboretum area and north end of campus. The suspect was not located and after college security and police conferred, a decision was made to lift the shelter in place order at 11:31 a.m.
ADDED FRIDAY: One update – another change in description of what was stolen: It turned out to be a thermostat.
(Sunrise, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: The RSVP deadline for today’s 11 am discussion/11:30 am business/11:45 am program meeting has passed so this is just a reminder if you already RSVP’d – if interested in future meetings, our calendar listing includes the contact email address.
(added) RAPIDRIDE CONSTRUCTION QUESTIONS? The monthly online “office hours” for the King County team working on RapidRide H Line construction are happening 5-6 pm tonight. Drop in at any time:
To join online, click the following link: Click here to join the meeting
To join by phone, call: 206-485-0017; Conference ID: 206 834 474#
To request interpretation services for these virtual events, please contact us before the meeting via phone, at 206-257-3079, or email us at rapidride@kingcounty.gov
FREE ART CLASS: Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association is presenting a free art class in observance of Black History Month, 5:45 pm online. Our calendar listing includes information about how to participate.
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: What’s up (or not) with the bridge and other city projects? The City Council’s Transportation Committee chair, Councilmember Alex Pedersen, is one of tonight’s guests. 6:30 pm online, all welcome. We don’t have tonight’s connection information yet, though, so check back here later – we’ll add it as soon as we get it. UPDATE: The info is now in our calendar listing.
KING COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COALITION: A community coalition working on issues related to Boeing Field meets tonight to present a community briefing on its work, 6:30 pm online. Register here for the participation link.
BOARD GAME NIGHT: 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (upstairs at 3727 California SW), drop in and play!
There’s more on our calendar!
Sent by Kathy:
I want to report the theft of a 2018 Radwagon Electric Cargo Bike that was stolen from a storage area in my 6-foot fenced-in and locked backyard area on the alley between California and 42 Ave SW, between Dawson and Brandon. The only real distinguishing aspect to the bike is that it has has 2 hand-made saddle bags attached. We would appreciate any help in getting the bike back. Thank you!
Here’s what it looks like. The SPD case number is 22-904528.
6:01 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
As noted a few hours ago, snow has made another appearance this morning. But the forecast says it’ll get warmer today, into the 40s.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
Water Taxi‘s on its regular schedule.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
702nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Just noticed the forecast for “a slight chance of snow after midnight” has come true. The photo shows the scene up here in 300’+ Upper Fauntleroy. Very light snow right now; @WestSeaWX says the flurries may continue all night. Whatever falls is even less likely to stick around than our Monday night/Tuesday morning snow, as we’re on our way this time to a more-seasonal daytime high in the 40s.
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