West Seattle, Washington
12 Friday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
At the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting of the year – the only one on the schedule so far – board members told the project team they have to come back for another try at getting Early Design Guidance approval.
The project is a residential building planned for 1116 Alki SW [map], a water-view site that currently holds six houses.
Present at the online meeting were board chair Scott Rosenstock along with three of the other four members – John Cheng, Alan Grainger, and Johanna Lirman, all West Seattleites. Also there, Theresa Neylon, the city planner assigned to the project.
The Early Design Guidance phase is the first of the two Design Review phases, and the focus is on “massing” – the building’s size and shape, and its placement on the site – as well as on which of the city’s design guidelines are most important for the project to meet. As Neylon reminded everyone, “the graphics are conceptual,” meaning that, especially for this phase, they don’t reflect all details that will be in the final design. (For example, it was reiterated, what the graphics show as big blank panels at the front of the building WILL have windows in the actual design.) See the design packet here or below:
(‘Preferred option’ rendering from draft design packet by MZA Architecture)
The meeting proceeded along the standard format – here’s our recap:
Week 4 of what the city says is a six-week experiment – two signs in High Point displaying results from a weekly check of how many drivers stop for pedestrians. Above, the Sylvan Way count is up to 17 percent, for an unmarked crossing, from last week‘s 11 percent; below, the 34th/Morgan marked crosswalk takes a drop to 22 percent from last week’s 43 percent.
According to SDOT, the percentages are from a hand count done by student interns working with Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. After six weeks, the signs are supposed to be moved elsewhere in the city.
(WSB photo – June 2021 shredding event)
If you have documents to shred – here’s your next chance in West Seattle: 10 am-noon Saturday, May 7th. That’s the date that John L. Scott Real Estate-Westwood (WSB sponsor) will present its annual shredding event in the northwest lot at Westwood Village. The service is free, but a non-perishable-food donation for the White Center Food Bank is requested.
A second West Seattle resident has declared her candidacy for the 34th District State House position that Rep. Eileen Cody is leaving at year’s end. Emily Alvarado spent five years with the City of Seattle Office of Housing, the last two as its director; she currently is a vice president with the housing nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners. She is quoted in the campaign announcement as saying, “For more than a decade, I have worked collaboratively to create affordable housing throughout our region, championing policies and investments that foster inclusive, healthy communities and reduce homelessness. … Everyone deserves quality, affordable housing, education and health care, in a safe, thriving community.” The announcement also describes Alvarado as “an attorney, coalition-builder and former community organizer” who “has fought for reproductive justice, equitable community development, and economic opportunity.” Alvarado’s announcement comes three weeks after the first candidate entered the race, Leah Griffin. The primary election is set for August 2nd.
3:51 PM: Thanks for the tips. This scene on the west side of Fauntleroy Way just south of SW Edmunds was getting cleared when we got there, but here’s what police told us – they’re investigating (updated) a driver for distracted driving, possibly phone use. That driver is reported to have veered into and damaged two parked motorcycles and a parked car. No one was hurt.
6:08 PM: Here’s a texted photo of where the silver vehicle ended up, taken before the tow crew arrived:
Thanks for the tips (and to Chris for the photo). We’ve been watching the ex-J&J Public House space at 2808 Alki SW for a while, and the banner that went up Thursday reveals it’ll be Alki Phở & Bar. We haven’t yet reached the proprietors but Chris spoke to someone on site who said they’re hoping to be open by June 1st. Ownership in online records cross-references to the ownership of Best Pho & Thai Restaurant in Renton.
P.S. This would be the first phở restaurant on Alki since Saigon Boat Café, which was at 2632 Alki SW before a preschool took over the space.
Thanks to Robin for the tip. The Muckleshoot Tribe‘s canoe family is gathered at Don Armeni Boat Ramp right now, preparing to launch. They told us they’ll be paddling this afternoon to Alki Beach and back.
Tribes’ canoes have been largely out of action during the pandemic; the traditional summertime multi-nation Canoe Journeys have been on hiatus, and there’s no date set yet for when they’ll resume.
(WSB photo)
10:35 AM: The no-parking signs have just gone up for another “remediation” planned at the long-running RV encampment along SW Andover between 26th and 28th SW, four months after the last one. This was foreshadowed by a trash/debris pickup back on Monday; after that, we asked Seattle Public Utilities spokesperson Sabrina Register about what’s ahead. Her response via email:
With a focus on addressing public health and safety, Seattle Public Utilities performs multiple RV Remediations monthly in different areas of the City. We do site assessments where there are five or more RVs in one location to determine which areas should be prioritized for cleanup. The remediation schedule is subject to change depending on factors like working conditions, staff schedules and safety concerns, and therefore is not posted publicly.
The SW Andover location you mentioned is scheduled for remediation in the coming days. At least three days prior to the remediation, no park signs are placed at the location, letting the public know about parking restrictions for a particular time period. Staff follow up with direct outreach to RV occupants starting 72 hours prior to a remediation.
Separate from an RV Remediation, SPU performed a clean (Monday) in this location to mitigate ongoing trash and debris in the right-of-way.
Since then, we’ve looked daily for the no-parking signs, and just spotted them this morning; the dates on them are April 10th-14th (Sunday-Thursday). Parking enforcement is now part of SDOT, so we are checking with that department to see if enforcement policies have changed since the last “remediation,” which included removal of only one vehicle that we’re aware of. The number of RVs there has remained steady in the ensuing months – usually ~14.
3:37 PM: Here’s how SDOT responded to our aforementioned inquiry: “SDOT parking enforcement is continuing to focus on clearing abandoned and unoccupied vehicles, and at this time is not impounding vehicles which are occupied by people refusing to relocate. … People living in vehicles often voluntarily move their vehicles before or during the clean-up event. SDOT may assist with parking enforcement of unoccupied and abandoned vehicles, if there are any present at the site of the clean-up effort.”
(Alki last night, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ART EXHIBIT: “Oceans of Emotion” is now on display at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), and you can drop in any time until 4 pm to see it.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: As previewed here, it’s the 12th anniversary for West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) and they’re celebrating through Sunday with a sale, during 10 am-6 pm business hours today, plus a Mizuno-demo group run at 6:15 tonight.
SPORTS: One home game at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – in baseball, West Seattle HS vs. Nathan Hale at 7 pm.
NOT DEAD YET, AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, music at 8, for West Seattle’s own Not Dead Yet headlining tonight’s show at The Skylark. $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE AT C & P: Monthly showcase at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm, no cover.
THEATER AT WSHS: “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,” in person or livestreamed at West Seattle High School‘s theater (3000 California SW), 7:30 pm, closing performance tonight. Tickets and other info can be found here.
THEATER AT ARTSWEST: ArtsWest‘s “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” continues tonight, 7:30 pm curtain time, in the theater at 4711 California SW. Tickets available here.
Got an event? Performance? Community meeting? Class? Or? Send it to us for the calendar – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
After the first four days of registration for the 16th almost-annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – first one since 2019 – more than 75 sales are registered!
Just five weeks until Saturday, May 14, 2022, the day for simultaneous sales of all sizes all around West Seattle. Registration will be open until at least April 25th. We close signups a few weeks before WSCGSD so there’s time to create the map/guide with locations and listings for all registered sales. It’ll be available in clickable and printable formats no later than one week before sale day so you can see who’s selling what and where. This will be the 16th WSCGSD, three years after the 15th because of the pandemic; hours are 9 am-3 pm, but sellers can start earlier and/or end later (if your sale will be open extra hours, please mention that in your up-to-20-words listing in the guide). Tp register your sale when you’re ready, go here!
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, April 8th.
WEATHER
No rerun of that warm sunshine (Thursday’s high was 73) – today’s forecast has clouds, possible rain, and a high in the 50s.
ROAD-WORK NOTES
*Highway 99 tunnel has its monthly maintenance closure tonight.
*No weekend preview from SDOT – if we get word later today of any weekend road work, we’ll add it here. (ADDED 3:45 PM – here’s the preview:)
We’re planning to complete several projects this weekend. We expect to begin work as early as 7 AM and be done by 4:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday. We anticipate minimal impacts to travelers, but please navigate with caution through work zones and follow directions from signs and flaggers.
On Saturday, we’ll be updating curb ramps at 16th Ave SW and SW Barton St in the Highland Park neighborhood. On Sunday, we will be updating curb ramps at 45th Ave SW and Admiral Way SW in the North Admiral neighborhood. Parking will be limited in these areas during this work. People walking and biking in the area will be detoured to the other sides of the intersection for crossing.
In the North Delridge area, we’ll be installing foundations for future radar speed signs on 16th Ave SW between SW Morgan St and SW Findlay St on Saturday and Sunday. The parking lane will be blocked as we complete this work, however we do not anticipate disrupting traffic or impacting people walking and biking in the area.
On Saturday, we’ll be replacing two traffic signs on Fauntleroy Way SW just before SW Avalon Way. We’ll also be replacing a sign on Delridge Way SW, approaching the 5-way intersection. During this work, we’ll need to reduce the two travel lanes to a single lane and there may be delays for people driving.
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. Shuttle service is now serving all runs.
Ferries: WSF is still using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
746th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Meantime, SDOT traffic-camera images are back.
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 by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here; West Seattle and vicinity-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.
1:03 AM: Big SFD response to the 7900 block of 14th SW [map]. The fire’s already under control. Updates to come.
1:06 AM: Firefighters have told dispatch the fire appears “confined to the exterior” of the building.
1:12 AM: Crews have declared the fire “tapped” (out). The SFD investigator is being summoned to figure out what sparked it.
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