West Seattle, Washington
10 Saturday
First Metro had to deal with a staffing shortage. Now it has to deal with a temporary equipment shortage. We learned about this after a tip from Ian, who reported the driver on his RapidRide C Line trip late today made an announcement about a safety concern taking some buses out of service. We asked Metro about it, and they subsequently published this post, which explains:
… After two Metro operators identified a manufacturing issue in the steering system in some vehicles, Metro proactively removed 126 buses from service out of its 1,500-vehicle fleet. The identified problem did not lead to any accidents or injuries. Metro inspected all its buses to ensure all vehicles in service continue to perform safely and within specifications. We apologize and ask for your patience as some bus trips are being canceled and we adjust plans to keep you moving. …
The agency is coordinating with New Flyer, the manufacturer of the affected buses, who has already been on site to work toward resolving the issue. There is not yet a timeline for when the work will be completed and supply chain challenges may introduce delays. The defect does not extend to all New Flyer buses and many remain in service.
Metro advises using its planning tools to see how this might affect your trips.
(WSB photos)
Tonight’s featured West Seattle Christmas lights are across SW Charlestown from what’s known as the “water tower” but is officially a “standpipe.” It’s a corner house with a lights-laden yard, and decorations all the way up to the roof.
Even a show of sport support:
You can see all these lights at 40th/Charlestown. We’re continuing to scout, but tips much appreciated – westseattleblog@gmail.com any time – thank you! See what we’ve already shown this year (and in years past) in this WSB archive.
(WSB file photo)
Back in August 2021, the city announced it was considering removing the Delridge/Oregon pedestrian overpass instead of reinforcing it to make it more earthquake-resistant. Feedback opportunities ensued. Today, the final decision was announced – the bridge will stay, and will get a seismic retrofit. The announcement came in the newest email update on preparations for next year’s RapidRide H Line launch:
We will seismically retrofit the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge. Construction will begin in 2024.
The Delridge Pedestrian Bridge is a high priority for a seismic retrofit, which will make the bridge safer in events like earthquakes. Over the past year, we’ve been exploring whether we should remove the bridge or seismically retrofit it.
After we installed a community-requested crosswalk and walk signal as part of the Delridge Way SW – RapidRide H Line project at SW Oregon St, we considered if making the pedestrian bridge earthquake-safe and continuing ongoing maintenance was still the right approach.
Removing the bridge would save current and future costs. With the new signal and crosswalk offering a new way to get across the street, we thought community members might find the pedestrian bridge to be unnecessary.
However, Seattle’s older bridges continue to be used and often have interesting characteristics their neighbors have come to love.
Both options would improve safety in the event of an earthquake.
Beginning in summer 2021, we asked Delridge neighbors whether the bridge should be removed or kept and seismically retrofitted. We heard loud and clear that the Delridge community would like to keep the bridge. Read more here.
Most people wanted us to keep the bridge and many people currently use the bridge. The bridge serves as a community asset, particularly for people who live or work at the Cooper School Artist Lofts/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and want to access the Delridge Playfield, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and Southwest Youth and Family Services building.
The Levy to Move Seattle funds our bridge seismic retrofit program and we expect to begin construction on the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge retrofit in 2024. Thank you to everyone who shared feedback and helped inform the plan.
Last year when we asked, SDOT estimated the retrofit cost as at least $4 million, The city already has retrofitted the area’s other pedestrian bridge, the SW Andover bridge over the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.
3:55 PM: Police and Fire are responding to Delridge/Thistle for a reported collision, driver hitting pedestrian. SFD dispatch says the victim is a 15-year-old and so far the injury is believed to be minor, but responders have Delridge blocked for now.
4:09 PM: Added a photo from our crew at the scene. The teenage boy who was hit is being treated in the middle of the street, north of the intersection; we’re told family member(s) plan to take him to be checked out. Police are talking with the driver who hit him. They don’t expect the street to be closed much longer.
4:19 PM: Reopened.
Seattle Police say the Admiral Way 7-11 was held up early this morning, and they believe the robbers are the same ones who hit the 35th/Barton 7-11 and a Burien gas station early Sunday. The report summary says the Admiral Way holdup happened arund quarter till 4 this morning, with the robbers traveling in a “white, smaller SUV” and parking in the alley east of the store. From there, the summary says: “Two (robbers) entered, one wearing a backpack and armed with a handgun, the other pulled a long gun from his pants. They went behind the counter and demanded the cash drawer be opened. They also took some thin cigars from behind the counter. The cashier had some difficultly opening the register. The third (robber) then opened the front door and pointed a handgun at the clerk from the door. The (robber) with the backpack then took the cash from the register and they all fled to the vehicle.” The summary also notes that an officer heading toward that scene subsequently spotted what’s believed to have been the same vehicle in an alley by the 35th/Avalon 7-11. As the officer approached, that vehicle “fled at a high rate of speed onto the West Seattle Bridge from Delridge Way SW.” Followup investigation revealed that it was a stolen car and that the robbers inside it were likely the same ones from the 35th/Barton 7-11 heist.
Two West Seattle Junction shops are changing locations.
DOLL PARTS COLLECTIVE: This quirky shop has to move from its original North Morgan Junction location because of redevelopment, and the same thing is ahead for its current home at 4456 California SW. They’ve found a new permanent home a few blocks south at 4832 California SW, former home of Again and Again/Kid-Friendly Footwear (which merged with My Three Little Birds). Here’s what the Doll Parts team tells us:
The lease there will be long-term, and it’s a larger, more accessible layout, which we’re quite excited about! The open format of the space will allow us to host more indoor pop-up events, and mini-concerts like our One Year Anniversary Party featuring THEM. Once we’re settled in we also plan to start offering small-scale classes (taught by some of the local makers we currently collaborate with)! Our current plan is to keep our regular hours through next weekend (December 10th and 11th), and then we will close aside from a couple pop-up hours leading up to Christmas as we try to clear out inventory & fixtures we don’t plan to move to the new space. Provided our timeline doesn’t meet any roadblocks, we will be closed from December 24th through January 13th, and will have a grand opening event on January 14th, 2023!
Doll Parts Collective’s planned hours at the current location between now and December 23 are here.
SEATTLE E-BIKE: According to a sign in the window, right under a FOR LEASE sign, Seattle E-Bike is moving to the ex-Click! Design That Fits storefront at 4540 California SW, 2 years after they moved from Pioneer Square to West Seattle. The sign promises more info to come online regarding the timeframe for the move. (Thanks to Ross for the tip!)
Back in 2014, the city invited residents to look into the future for what was then called the “Seattle 2035” Comprehensive Plan. At meetings like this one in West Seattle, people talked about options for steering growth, particularly whether to keep focusing it in “urban villages”/”urban centers” like The Junction. Now, eight and a half years later, a similar discussion is under way, and the city this time is collecting feedback for a “major update” now called the “One Seattle Comprehensive Plan“ and now expected to look 20 years into the future. A West Seattle community meeting is planned for Thursday night (December 8), in-person at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). This time some very specific alternatives are being proposed, starting with “growth strategy” that would result in zoning changes. In addition to studying “no change,” the city is studying four “potential growth models”:
These are being studied for an Environmental Impact Statement due next year. Other topics for discussion are laid out in this pre-meeting document, where you’ll also find the “potential growth models” graphics shown above. Those additional topics include anti-displacement strategies; the document include this map showing two areas of West Seattle considered “high risk” for displacement:
Also up for discussion per the document – parks/open space, climate, equity, transportation, and economic development. The plan is meant to span the next 20 years. More background on the plan update is here; the Thursday meeting is scheduled for 6-8 pm at SSC’s Brockey Center (here’s a campus map). If you can’t be there, you’ll find online opportunities to comment here.
(Photo by Caity Gerhardt)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
SOUTHWEST POOL OPEN: The pool (2801 SW Thistle) is back to normal operations.
KOL HANESHAMAH DONATION DRIVE: Another of the donation drives featured in our Holiday Guide begins today – Kol HaNeshamah is collecting items to help oeople stay warm; drop off at 6115 SW Hinds.
FESTIVAL OF TREES: Second-to-last day to drop in at Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) before 5 pm and see the decorated/donated trees and wreaths, before they’re auctioned off Thursday night.
CHESS CLUB: Play chess at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 1:30 pm. Beginners welcome!
DONATION DROPOFF TO HELP STUDENTS: Today’s the last of three Tuesdays on which volunteers are collecting donations outside the north entrance of West Seattle High School to help make “care packages” for students to use during. winter break. Our calendar listing includes info on what they need. 3-5 pm (3000 California SW)
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: New start time for the longstanding weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: First of two WSCO holiday concerts, both free admission (“donations gratefully accepted”) – Debut and Concert Orchestra at 6 pm, at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle).
PARENTING SURVIVAL TACTICS: Online event at 6 pm presented in conjunction with Community School of West Seattle.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
TRIVIA X 3: Three of the venues where you can play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can always see more, and preview future events, via our event calendar – if you have something to add, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Sandra Coryell Rudd, who lost her life after a collision last month. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with her community:
Sandra Lee Coryell Rudd passed away unexpectedly at the age of 83 in November.
Sandra was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a member of a multi-generation horticulture and landscaping family. After high school, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she met and married her beloved husband of over 50 years, Professor Dale Rudd. They raised their children, Karen and David, in Madison, Wisconsin, before she and Dale retired to West Seattle in 1997. Dale preceded her in death in 2018.
A longtime civil-rights activist with the League of Women Voters, she was a pioneer in Title IX gender-equity law in Wisconsin. She was a master gardener, propagating her own plants, and an active volunteer in West Seattle, focusing on feeding and clothing the local homeless and low-income residents. Last but not least, she was an animal lover and advocate and fundraiser for animal welfare.
An energetic, gregarious, and kind-hearted woman, she was loved by many and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 6th.
WEATHER
Still cold – with a high near 40 – andcloudy with a chance of rain.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule this morning.
-WSF’s Triangle Route is too – check here for alerts/updates.
–Metro buses are on regular schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
SDOT crews may are continuing speed-hump wrk on Harbor and Alki Avenues, after weekend prep work. At least one set of humps was installed Monday, as Carolyn’s photo above shows.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (if SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
Low Bridge: Or nearby, depending on where SDOT points the camera.
1st Ave. S. Bridge: The south route.
Highway 99: Here’s the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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