From 16th SW concerns to stormwater-storage tank plan, here’s what happened at HPAC’s monthly meeting

Safety and stormwater were hot topics as HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – met online this past Wednesday night.

SOUTHWEST PRECINCT: New third-watch (nighttime) commander Lt. Nathan Shopay was a guest. He was surprised to find how busy it is “deep into the night” in West Seattle/South Park – it’s the quietest precinct but still busy. “We augment a lot – a minimum amount of officers we have to get to (via volunteers) to get to 10 officers a night.” He said they run many “emphasis patrols,” including Westwood Village, and extra staffing for gun violence. He says cross-precinct dispatches to or from South Precinct are common. “Our priorities are … enough officers to serve the community (plus handling) shots calls, anything gun violence related, and we’re still going after all our violent offenders.”

16TH SW SAFETY: With the increase in RVs along 16th SW near South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), crime/safety concerns, said an attendee who works at the college. “I’m at a crossroad where I don’t know what to do with the situation.”

He is particularly concerned because school started this week and there are teenage students attending too. Lt. Shopay said that they’re going to be doing an emphasis patrol in the area and invited the attendee to contact him with concerns but stressed it’s important to report crimes because SPD remains “data-driven.” That also goes for reporting parking violations by RVs, too. (As an aside, Shopay noted there are currently two RVs in front of the precinct.) Another area resident asked which kinds of reports were most helpful; Shopay said all kinds, also noting that reporting drug use other than marijuana is helpful too. Yes, even low-level theft, he said. What about more than one call about the same thing – like suspected gunshots? Yes, said the lieutenant. Multiple calls can help them verify what’s going on. What if you find a bullet just lying around? Yes, call police – might be evidence linked to another crime. “It won’t be on an emergency level (response) but eventually we’re coming to get it” – they can run tests to see if it’s related to other cases. Back to illegally parked RVs – how is the 72-hour rule being enforced? he was asked. They still don’t just immediately tow RVs, he said. He also advised calling in complaints to Parking Enforcement rather than reporting via Find It Fix It. The SSC staffer said they’ve added nighttime security after a lot of fence damage on the east and north sides of the campus.

LEAD: Sean Blackwell re-introduced himself and talked about how LEAD gets referrals from SPD. The subject of problems in the area of the Rozella Building in South Delridge had come up in the conversation with Lt. Shopay and Blackwell said there’s been a lot of discussion and activity related to it. He also said he’d gone for a look at the 16th SW RV encampment and said he can see why vehicle residents from other swept areas moved there “to a place of least resistance.” The people who live in vehicles, he said, are willing to move to someplace like a tiny house if they can have someplace else to store the stuff they have in their vehicles – without that, they would rather take their chances being parked on the street. Also, he noted, “there was a tent that used to be known as ‘the problem tent’ at 15th/Cambridge” and they got that person into the program. There are new tents and a van there now, though, and he talked to one of the tent dwellers, a man in a wheelchair who said he wants help – who also said that he has family members living in an RV on Barton, “Just to give you guys a window into what’s happening .. these folks want help but the resources aren’t there.” Even LEAD has limited resources in West Seattle; the mayor is asking them to focus downtown.

WEST DUWAMISH WET WEATHER STORAGE FACILITY: Amelia Bahr from the a href=”https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wtd.aspx” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>King County Wastewater Treatment Division brought an update on this storage-tank project meant to reduce stormwater/sewage overflows into the Duwamish River. The big tank to be built underground just west of the 1st Avenue South Bridge will hold up to 1.25 million gallons, as first reported here in February. They spent the summer focused on community engagement for the design of the above-ground portion of the project. An online open house is happening right now to answer questions about the project. Fencing, wildlife habitat, other aspects are what they want to hear about, as well as “high-priority neighborhood goals” regarding the environment and economy. The project will incorporate public art and will call for artists soon – with a requirement that they be local (not always the case, even for publicly funded local art). The project will be part of Trick or Trees on October 29th. Construction of this facility isn’t expected to start until 2025. The county has not yet closed the purchase of the site from the Port of Seattle but has an “access agreement” to start work related to the project, Bahr said. The encampments in the area are not on the property planned for the project, it was also noted in Q&A.

NEXT MEETING: HPAC meets on fourth Wednesdays most months, 7 pm. Watch hpacws.org for updates.

8 Replies to "From 16th SW concerns to stormwater-storage tank plan, here's what happened at HPAC's monthly meeting"

  • mem October 2, 2022 (6:46 am)

    Thanks Sean for bringing up the issues in South Delridge. We’ve tried working with various city departments to address the homeless, drug, random shootings and other illegal issues plaguing our neighborhood for years. It really does feel as if we’re “…..a place of least resistance.” We appreciate all of your efforts! I would like to see Henderson cleared all the derelict cars, boats and those in RV’s housed. Just between 13th and 15th Sts- there are 5 abandoned cars, THREE boats and several RV’s. Further to the East on Henderson, there are cars that have been left there for YEARS- just rusting away with windows smashed and tires slashed. A large 18 wheeler is parked between 18th and 20th, obstructing views and making it dangerous to walk across Henderson or turn from either street. Henderson is used by hundreds (if not thousands) of drivers daily. Residents walk their dogs and go to and from White Center crossing Henderson constantly. Please can we clean up the vehicles that should not be parked there?

    • LovesWestSeattle October 2, 2022 (5:55 pm)

      Please report these vehicles via Find It, Fix It.  We have reported these same vehicles along 13-15th and Henderson – one ending up moving to across the street.  If enough people report them, maybe the city will do something about it. 

  • Flabergasted October 2, 2022 (10:41 am)

    I have made several reports with photos of the RVs, boats, abandoned vehicles, and trash along 16th Ave SW at the South Seattle College.  Some have built full “front yard” spaces along the sidewalk with furniture, plants, and copious amounts of garbage that the College staff are forced to pick up.  Nothing has been done using the city’s suggested process and the 72 hour parking limit. What can we do?

    • Mike October 2, 2022 (11:31 am)

      Welcome to Our Failed City.

    • Paul October 2, 2022 (12:15 pm)

      I continued to be disappointed in the city. I’ve been reporting this weekly for months, including emails to West Seattle’s own Lisa Herbold. While I’m happy a few folks were vacated down to marginal way, the lack of response of telling from the city and the victimy messaging from Lisa is disgusting. It’s time to draw a hard line, these folks have been contacted in various encampments around the city before sweeps that brought them to a neighborhood of least resistance. The drugs (I’ve cleaned up needles), and filth is not humane or safe for anyone. I’m continually disgusted by the standards they let these folks live in. I’m ready for the NIMBY complainers, but I ask you to honestly tell me you would be cool with human waste, needles, addicts (not all of them, sorry to generalize), and garbage piling up in from of your home. Pretty sure, your option would change. Disagree? Post your address and I will offer a referral to your curbside.

    • WS Res October 2, 2022 (12:23 pm)

      Work with your neighbors to fund a dumpster and some port-a-potties?

  • Spooled October 2, 2022 (12:12 pm)

    We’re on our own.  This is the city that would sooner put a bike lane on Highland Park Way than enforce the existing laws on parking.  These campers are what’s left of Andover and Shree’s Truck Stop camps.  They’re here for the duration.  Multiple reports to Find it Fix it are still open (shocked they haven’t just closed them like last time) but with zero activity.  Time to keep the clock running instead of restarting from zero each time they move a couple blocks!  Best we can do is clean up and lock up our yards / anything left outside.

  • SEADOG October 2, 2022 (8:27 pm)

    I have reported the SunVoyager RV parked near 14th and Henderson multiple times. It’s been there pretty much the entire year without moving. I tried Find it Fix it, Parking enforcement, the police etc. I even wrote the Mayor. Nothing is done. Meanwhile, more affluent areas on West Seattle have been cleaned up.  I didn’t try Lisa Herbold, because I don’t know how to contact her in North Bend. 

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