West Seattle, Washington
26 Monday
As we’ve been reporting, the city is about to launch another “remediation” at the 6+-year-old mostly-RVs encampment along SW Andover between 26th and 28th SW. The remediations in December and April only resulted in junk removal, but there are indications this one will be more sweeping. Last night, we reported on an announcement from West Seattle Health Club that it had been told the area will be entirely cleared. We’ve gone through the area three times today to look for signs of advance preparations; we saw one trailer being towed from the west side of WSHC by a pickup truck, and noticed green tags along with orange tags on the vehicles, all titled FINAL NOTICE. And early this evening, we received this from Seattle Public Utilities spokesperson Sabrina Register, from whom we had requested details of the plan:
On June 13, parking enforcement officers visited SW Andover St between 26th Ave SW and 28th Ave SW to provide 72-hour notification to RV and vehicle occupants of the exact area that needed to be free of vehicles so Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews could perform an RV Remediation to thoroughly clean the area and dispose of trash and debris on June 16. At the time of the notification, there were 15 RVs, 11 vehicles and one utility trailer.
Additionally, to address a nearby sidewalk obstruction due to an encampment, the City posted a notice on June 14 that all personal items must be removed from the encampment by June 16.
For almost a month, the HOPE Team, within the Human Services Department that coordinates homelessness outreach and referrals to shelter, in coordination with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) and outreach providers, including REACH, LEAD, Urban League, Catholic Community Services’ SCOPE Team, St. Vincent de Paul’s RV Project, and the Scofflaw Mitigation Team, have been intensifying outreach to this area to connect those residing onsite in vehicles and in the encampment with vehicle maintenance support and offers of shelter and services.
As of June 15, these outreach efforts have resulted in at least nine referrals to 24/7 enhanced shelter spaces or tiny houses. For additional details on these coordinated outreach efforts, please reach out to KCRHA, who also recently awarded a contract to the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to develop a safe lot program.
With a focus on addressing public health and safety, SPU performs multiple RV Remediations monthly in different areas of the City. Staff do site assessments where there are five or more RVs in one location. The assessments help the City determine which areas should be prioritized for cleanup.
At least three days prior to the remediation, temporary “no parking” signs are placed at the location, letting the public know about parking restrictions for a particular time period. SDOT staff follow up with direct outreach to RV occupants starting 72 hours prior to a remediation.
If a car is towed from a public street, instructions to locate the vehicle and documents required to release the vehicle are available online. The first step to find and reclaim a vehicle is to call Lincoln Towing at 206-364-2000 or search for the vehicle on Lincoln Towing’s www.SeattleImpound.com website. More information on 72-hour parking enforcement can be found here: City of Seattle 72-Hour On-Street Parking Ordinance – Transportation | seattle.gov.
Any personal items remaining on June 16, will be stored per City policy. People can retrieve their items by calling 206-459-9949, and we will work with individuals to make arrangements for delivery.
The count of 15 RVs matches what we observed this afternoon. Meantime, we had also asked City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and her staff on Friday for any details of the plan, as she had previously mentioned she planned to meet with the mayor’s office. She sent us this reply today:
I have been in regular contact with both the HOPE Team at the City’s Human Services Department, and Marc Dones, ED of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, as well as communicating with housed neighbors reaching out to my office. HSD and KCRHA met with Nucor and the Alki Beach Academy last week, I was in on that meeting and I have been advocating that we address – before enforcement of the parking prohibition scheduled this week – the urgent needs and requests of the people living in RVs and tents in the area, including a dumpster to help with trash as well rats, repairs for the vehicles, and facilitating the opportunity to visit Camp Second Chance, where 20 new tiny houses will soon be available.
Camp Second Chance is West Seattle’s only city-supported tiny-house encampment, on Myers Way in southeasternmost West Seattle.
6:06 PM: Police and fire are at the scene of a motorcycle crash on Harbor Avenue. They are blocking Harbor at Don Armeni. We just arrived to find out more.
6:16 PM: The motorcycle rider has been taken to Harborview. We are told he hit a pole outside a condo building on the south/eastbound side of the street. Traffic is being detoured through Don Armeni.
7:08 PM: Commenter reports the road has reopened. We have a message out following up on the rider’s condition.
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: The police summary released today says that “an individual was test driving a motorcycle, without a helmet, at speeds of 70 + MPH, on Harbor Av SW. He was also weaving in and out of traffic. Eventually the motorcyclist struck a vehicle and flew 80-feet onto the roadway. He suffered injuries to his head and to his body. Seattle Fire reported he was, “somewhat stable” and had him rushed to HMC via a medic unit.”
Thanks to Desiree for sending the photo and tip that work is happening at the long-“landbanked” West Seattle Junction park site on 40th SW between SW Alaska and SW Edmunds. No, this isn’t actual park development, according to Seattle Parks’ Kelly Goold, who we contacted to ask about the work. Goold explains that what’s happening is “installation of a temporary irrigation system and a temporary lawn – something to make it usable and accessible to the neighborhood.” This work should be done in about a week. So when will the site then be unfenced and “usable”? Goold told us, “When we can pull the fence down depends on how fast the grass establishes. Generally after 3 mowing cycles grass is established enough for use. So hopefully sometime mid-July.” Goold says the “long-term” plan for the site remains park development, but that was paused two years ago (along with the other two West Seattle “landbanked” park sites, 48th/Charleston and the Morgan Junction expansion) when the pandemic put city finances into question. The city bought the site nine years ago for $1.4 million; at the time of the last public design meetings in 2018, cost of developing it into a park was estimated at almost $2 million.
Right now, many local positions are on the ballot in odd years. That could change for some King County positions, under a county-charter amendment that got county council committee approval today. The amendment would move elections for county executive, county assessor, county director of elections, and county councilmembers to even-numbered years. Supporters say that would mean higher voter turnout for those races, since even-numbered years tend to draw more voters because of higher-profile races. Opponents say this could mean the local races would get lost in the clamor over those higher-profile races. The next step for the proposal is a vote by the full County Council on June 28th; if they approve the amendment, final say would be up to King County voters this November.
1:58 PM: Thanks to Tom Trulin for the photo! Just after noon, as we’ve previewed, the low tide was out to the lowest point of the year, -4.3 feet. The photo is from Lincoln Park, one of two places where Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists have been out to educate shore explorers. If you couldn’t get out today for a look, tomorrow just before 1 pm will bring the second-lowest low tide of the year, out to -4.1 feet. (Got a photo to share from today? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)
4:39 PM: Thanks for the additional photos! The next two are from Bruce Gaumond at Constellation Park:
Also from Constellation Park, this one’s by Bonnie Drexler:
Even more from Constellation Park – the next three are by David Hutchinson:
8:35 PM: Even more photos – first, from Rosalie Miller, a gumboot chiton and decorator crab:
From Denee Bragg, who’s been flagging by the northwest end of Constellation Park and reports “It has been the best “office” I’ve worked at in a long time!”
From Eddie, a view of Luna/Anchor Park:
From David Dimmit:
Photographed by Ashwin Moodithaya, a moon snail:
From Dawn Hepburn at Lowman Beach:
Laura White, at Constellation Park, says, “Delightful to see also how respectful everyone was of the animals.” She sent this photo of a young explorer:
Jerry Simmons noted Bey the bald eagle out on the tideflats, with a crow hassling her:
This one’s from Yazmín Penzien:
Thanks again for all the photos!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Early design concepts for “the new Alki” (Elementary) made their public debut at an online community meeting last night.
The school is being rebuilt with $67 million from the 2019 BEX V levy; the existing gymnasium and adjacent community center will remain. Construction is expected to start in about a year and will last two years.
The meeting began with greetings from Seattle Public Schools‘ project manager Brian Fabella, a West Seattle resident, and Mason Skeffington, Alki Elementary’s principal, who acknowledged the School Design Advisory Team‘s work in the planning process over recent months. Architects from Mahlum also were there, as was a rep from Cornerstone General Contractors, the Bothell-based firm that will build the school.
(We’ve seen a lot of these lately. Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Here are highlights for the hours ahead:
LOWEST TIDE OF THE YEAR Today’s tide is out to a mega-low -4.3 feet at 12:09 pm, lowest low tide of the year. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are at Constellation and Lincoln Parks until 2 pm.
VACCINATIONS: Seattle Public Schools students, staff, and families, can get initial-series or booster COVID vaccinations 3-6 pm at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW).
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES MEETING: 6 pm online, it’s the second of two systemwide community meetings for Washington State Ferries users. Our preview has the registration link.
LIVE MUSIC: Locöl Barley & Vine (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.
KUNDALINI YOGA, MEDITATION, SOUND BATH: New night and location – Inner Alchemy now presents this weekly event at Jet City Labs, 7:30 pm Wednesdays. (4546 California SW, upstairs(
MIKU, AND THE GODS. 7:30 pm, it’s the preview performance of the new world-premiere play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), tickets available here.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm on Wednesdays, Kimball and The Fugitive Trio play live at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
TRIVIA x 2: Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm; at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Back on Monday, we published information that West Seattle High School‘s athletics program wanted to be sure students have before school ends – including summer dates for registration, tryouts, and practices. Today we have the same info for Chief Sealth International High School students planning on fall-sports participation – see it here. This is for those planning to participate in cross country, golf, football, slow-pitch softball, volleyball, and/or girls soccer and swimming/diving.
6:03 AM: Good morning; welcome to Wednesday, June 15th.
WEATHER
Mostly cloudy, high in the 60s (Tuesday’s high was 63, eight degrees below normal).
ROAD WORK
Seattle Public Utilities‘ pavement-restoration work at California/Myrtle continues.
LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL
-Today’s the last day for Our Lady of Guadalupe; Westside School (WSB sponsor) is out after Thursday; for Holy Family and most Seattle Public Schools, Friday is the final day (for Chief Sealth IHS, it’s next Tuesday).
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Looking ahead – there’s a reduced schedule next Monday for the Juneteenth observance.)
Ferries: WSF continues on the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
815th 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 (one of four new cameras!):
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are 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.
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