West Seattle, Washington

23 Tuesday

57℉

month : 01/2023 290 results

Talking transportation and a lot more as HPAC starts its 2023 work
January 26, 2023 10:49 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

There was a lot to talk about when HPAC, the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge, convened its first 2023 meeting online Wednesday night.

Transportation was the big topic. The photo above shows SW Holden from 12th SW to 11th SW. The former intersection is getting a pedestrian-activated signal, and SDOT was going to as a result remove the flashing beacon at the latter – until local advocates convinced them not to. That responsiveness was something on which they complimented the night’s marquee guest, SDOT director Greg Spotts. He started work just as what HPAC called “two and a half years of hell’ – the West Seattle Bridge detour – was ending. HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick, facilitating the meeting, told Spotts that SDOT was very responsive to the area’s needs and concerns during that time.

Spotts then offered a few opening remarks. “I’ve developed a real passion for West Seattle,” though he decided to live, carlessly until at least this fall, in South Lake Union. He’s done 100+ field visits with community members around the city, four mornings a week, every week. (In West Seattle, those have so far included Fauntleroy and Alki.) His first day at work in Seattle started with.a visit to the West Seattle Bridge. He talked about the Alki response to reckless driving – installing features including speed humps. He also talked about the rapid response that created a bike detour when the low bridge broke down in last month’s ice storm. Spotts said his theme for SDOT for 2023 is “Delivery fast and flavorful, in concert with our values.” He said he told the mayor in his July 1st job interview that he wants to end the days of telling communities what they’re getting by pointing to lines on a map, and start “co-creating” projects instead.

Then he listened to myriad concerns raised by attendees.

Read More

Share This

WEST SEATTLE MUSIC: From Australia to Kenyon Hall
January 26, 2023 8:43 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE MUSIC: From Australia to Kenyon Hall
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Historic Kenyon Hall is hosting the duo Great Aunt all the way from Down Under this Saturday and thought them worth a special shoutout:

Kenyon Hall proudly presents
GREAT AUNT (from Melbourne, Australia)
January 28th, 2023
DOORS @ 7:00 PM
SHOWTIME @ 7:30 PM

“Raw and austere, simple and bold; full of stomping feet and clapping hands, chants and harmonies, whispered words and soulful lament – that’s the music of Great Aunt. Listen, and you’ll hear tales of joy and grief, whiskey and wine, gratitude and purpose-seeking.”

Great Aunt sets out on a US tour starting in Portland with Hall favorite Mary Flower, and lending their talents to our stage before heading East.

TICKETS: $15 General, $10 Seniors (ages 55+) and Students (ages 18 & under)*

TO RESERVE TICKETS: Go here

Haven’t been to Kenyon Hall? It’s at 7904 35th SW.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen gray Kia
January 26, 2023 6:50 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

From Laura: “My vehicle was stolen from West Seattle on Henderson St. last night 1/25, gray 2018 Kia Sportage, license plate BRK6105.” (Here’s a stock photo.) Call 911 if you see it. (As noted by City Attorney Ann Davison, Kias are such a theft target these days, along with Hyundais, she’s suing over it.)

Share This

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Two dates, plus online look at ‘further study’ findings
January 26, 2023 4:52 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Sound Transit | West Seattle news

4:52 PM: The Sound Transit Board‘s meeting has just concluded. As we learned shortly before the meeting, West Seattle “areas of further study” results for ideas such as scrapping the Avalon station were not part of today’s presentation after all, but will be included when the board’s System Expansion Committee meets at 1 pm Thursday, February 9th. The slide deck for this afternoon’s presentation by ST’s Cathal Ridge nonetheless included two dates of note:

Those dates: The vote to finalize the route and station locations is now expected on November 16th. The Final Environmental Impact Statement will be released at some point before that. According to the new timeline, the West Seattle project schedule has slid two months; the line is expected to open in the final quarter of 2032. One more note: While a new survey for the West Seattle/Ballard extensions mostly focuses on the unsettled areas, there is an open-ended option for providing West Seattle feedback; you can go here to do that before February 17th.

6:54 PM: The project website does recap some of what’s been found about the proposed West Seattle “areas of further study,” even though it wasn’t discussed today. Go here and scroll to where you can expand the West Seattle Link Extension section. From what you’ll find there:

Delridge access, integration and alignment refinement shifts alignment south towards SW Yancy Steet to improve passenger access and transit integration and reduce effects to organizations serving low-income and communities of color.

Findings:

14 fewer residential and 3 additional business displacements
Eliminates potential passenger and freight conflicts
Permanent closure of 32nd Ave
Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: + $50 million

Eliminate Avalon Station eliminates station and optimizes alignment to reduce costs. Assumes shifting alignment south towards SW Yancy St.

Findings:

48 fewer residential displacements and 3 fewer business displacements
Longer travel times for passengers closer to DEIS Avalon Station
No expected decrease in project ridership
Reduces temporary and permanent roadway closures
Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: – $80 million

Alaska Junction station access refinement shifts station entrance 42nd Avenue SW to improve passenger access.

Findings:

90 additional equitable transit oriented development housing units
Eliminates need for pedestrian crossing of 41st Ave SW
39 fewer residential and 32 additional business displacements
Cost delta compared to realigned financial plan: + $80 million

Share This

DEVELOPMENT: See the 5252 California design packet, one week pre-review; 1318 Alki project comment time
January 26, 2023 3:59 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Two project notes:

5252 CALIFORNIA SW DESIGN PACKET: One week from tonight, the Southwest Design Review Board meets online to look at two West Seattle projects. The second review, at 7 pm, is for the Aegis Living seniors’ complex proposed at 5252 California SW. We’ve been reporting on the plan since last July; now with a week to go until the meeting, the final design packet is available for review – more than 100 pages, twice the size of the draft version we linked previously, It includes the new “concept” rendering shown above, but its main purpose is to explore three “massing” (size and shape) options, since this is the Early Design Guidance part of the process. As previously mentioned, the proposal is for a five-story building – one floor higher than the basic zoning because they’re proposing Living Building Challenge elements – with up to 100 units (70 assisted living, 30 memory care). Public comment is part of the 7 pm Thursday, February 2nd, meeting; attendance/commenting info is here.

1318 ALKI COMMENTS: From today’s Land Use Information Bulletin, a Shoreline Substantial Development application has been submitted for a proposal to build two buildings with six townhouses and nine offstreet-parking spaces at 1318 Alki SW. Comments will be accepted through February 24th; this notice explains how to offer yours.

Share This

ELECTION 2023: Maren Costa officially announces Seattle City Council District 1 campaign
January 26, 2023 1:59 pm
|      82 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

A second candidate has officially announced a campaign for the Seattle City Council District 1 seat that Lisa Herbold is leaving after two terms. Maren Costa is a West Seattle resident whose announcement describes her as having been “illegally fired in 2020 for organizing Amazon workers” after organizing Amazon Employees for Climate Justice in 2019 and expanding its mission in 2020 “to include better working conditions for warehouse workers during the pandemic.” As reported nationally, a National Labor Relations Board lawsuit was filed against Amazon; it was settled out of court. As for why she’s running for City Council, Costa’s announcement quotes her as saying, “Everyone in our community deserves a livable wage, safe working conditions, and affordable housing. And we need Council members who understand that ‘feeling safe’ means different things to seniors, or to families, or to those of us who are LGBTQ+, or to the unhoused, or to people of color. And it is critical that at this moment, we look for solutions that also help us respond to the climate crisis.” Costa also says she recently “worked at Microsoft as a principal user experience designer leading the shopping team” and is an adviser “for three climate startups: Power Bloom Solar, Carbon Zero, and Impact Karma.” You can read Costa’s full announcement here. Her announcement comes six days after the first one in the race; Preston Anderson announced his campaign last week. Formal filing week is May 15-19, so the field of candidates won’t be finalized until then; the primary election is August 1st.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Bank robbery in The Junction
January 26, 2023 11:40 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo)

11:40 AM: Police are responding to The Junction to search for a bank robber. The robbery is reported to have happened at HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor). No description yet; a K-9 team will be part of the search.

11:48 AM: The description so far: White or Hispanic man, 30s, 6′, beanie, gray neck gaiter, gray/possibly orange work gloves, gray hoodie, last seen headed north on foot through the nearest alley. If you’re in the area, you may hear police making loudspeaker announcements about the K-9 deployment.

12:01 PM: A HomeStreet Bank employee confirms to us at the scene that they were held up. The branch is temporarily closed for the investigation. Photo added above. No word so far of a weapon being involved, nor are any injuries reported. If you have any information for the investigation, the SPD incident # is 23-024792.

12:37 PM: No further updates. Commenters note that two schools which are a few blocks north of the scene went into lockdown as a precaution.

3:25 PM: The only additional information released by police is that the robber “handed the bank teller a note that instructed her to give him the money. No weapon was seen or implied.”

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: What was done with one stolen pickup between theft and recovery
January 26, 2023 11:18 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The most common reason for auto theft is to use the vehicle to get to another crime scene. That’s what police have long said, and that’s what we’ve seen in practice so many times – a vehicle caught in security video turns out to have been stolen somewhere else. Such was the case with this pickup:

A texter sent that photo early Wednesday morning, noting “Dumped and stolen. Police and tow truck have come and gone.” It had been abandoned on SW Trenton near Westwood Village. Turns out the pickup, a 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel, had been spotted just before noon Tuesday by someone else near Lincoln Park, casing and then breaking the window of a van parked on Fauntleroy:

They gave the plate number to police, who confirmed that checked to a stolen pickup. Through social media, the car-prowl witness later found out it was stolen in Normandy Park, and eventually connected with the owner. After getting word of the truck’s recovery, the owner told the witness that the truck was trashed inside and that a locked toolbox in the back had been drilled open. Missing items include new Milwaukee tools and $1,500 in blinds that had been picked up for a customer – so please speak up if you happen to see items like those dumped anywhere. (The car-prowl witness also has made contact with the van’s owner, so they know what happened.)

Share This

New ArtsWest play, transportation meetings, more on the list for your West Seattle Thursday
January 26, 2023 10:40 am
|    Comments Off on New ArtsWest play, transportation meetings, more on the list for your West Seattle Thursday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead:

PIZZA FUNDRAISER: Dine at, or order from, MOD Pizza‘s 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW location today/tonight (open until 10 pm) and use the code in our calendar listing so part of the proceeds will benefit West Seattle High School boys’ basketball.

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome, weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayers@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.

(Photo sent by Marilyn)

SOUND TRANSIT BOARD: Did you get one of those flyers? Today’s meeting is what it’s about. As previewed here, agenda items for the 1:30-4 pm meeting include a report on the “further study” items for the West Seattle light-rail extension, which include the possibility of shifting the Delridge-area routing and dropping the Avalon station. This page has information on how to comment as well as the link for the live stream; you also can go to the meeting in person at the board room downtown (401 S. Jackson).

THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UPS: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the NWTXBBQ food truck will be visiting.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.

RAPIDRIDE H LINE Q/A: Talk with construction-team members in an online drop-in Q/A session 5-6 pm. This story includes video/phone connection info.

HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: Prospective families are welcome to visit the school (1012 SW Trenton) for tonight’s 6-7:30 pm open house.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: Tonight’s 6:30 pm agenda includes a low-bridge update from SDOT and a discussion of the Fauntleroy ferry-dock replacement project. It’s an online meeting; video/phone connection info is in our preview.

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Tonight’s 6:30 pm online meeting includes a discussion of the “social housing” initiative I-135, which you’ll be voting on as soon as your just-sent ballot arrives. RSVP ASAP – the email address is in our calendar listing.

‘AN ENDLESS SHIFT’: New play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) opens tonight, 7:30 pm:

Created from verbatim accounts of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Seattle nurses who were there, AN ENDLESS SHIFT is a tribute to the everyday heroes who were confronted with what would become the longest shift of their lives. Seattle theater artist Gloria Alcalá, in a solo tour de force performance, embodies and voices the multitude of perspectives on the harrowing journey Seattle nurses faced in an ever-shifting landscape. It is a journey of challenge, hope, and deep recognition of our common humanity, told in the firsthand words of the humans who were there.

Get your ticket(s) here.

Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

UPDATE: Delridge/Orchard crash; Genesee/30th spill
January 26, 2023 9:47 am
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Delridge/Orchard crash; Genesee/30th spill
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:47 AM: That’s the view from the new-ish Delridge/Orchard traffic camera, with police blocking southbound Delridge Way because of a crash. Few details except that a truck is involved and officers have called for an SDOT crew to clean up spilled dirt. Avoid the area for a while.

(WSB photos)

9:59 AM: At the scene, we’ve learned the incident with the spill is actually on 30th/Genesee, The crash blocking southbound Delridge is a collision where Sylvan meets Delridge; no serious injuries, and they’re awaiting tow trucks. Photo added above.

10:14 AM: Our crew then went over to check out the Genesee situation. A stuck truck spilled some dirt; eastbound is blocked at Avalon and westbound is blocked near the hillclimb section east of Avalon:

10:34 AM: The Delridge crash has cleared and all lanes have reopened.

10:41 AM: And on Genesee, there’s still dirt to clean up but officers just told dispatch “the truck is out of here.”

11:50 AM: Genesee has fully reopened.

Share This

Young writer in the family? Learn to ‘Write YOUR Story,’ free!
January 26, 2023 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on Young writer in the family? Learn to ‘Write YOUR Story,’ free!
 |   High Point | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Julia Douthwaite Viglione, a local educator/writer whose community involvement includes leading the monthly Classic Novels (And Movies) Book Club, is offering a free writing workshop for kids/tweens starting one week from today:

Write YOUR Story
Ages 8 – 12

Thursdays, February 2, 2023 – May 4, 2023
4:30 – 5:30 pm

High Point Community Center
6920 34th SW

Free writing workshop! As a peer group, you’ll evaluate 3 existing stories selecting one plotline as the basis for a brand new story. The group will then create a brand new story, and illustrate it before it is sent to print. For the second part of the program students will be working on their very own story with support and guidance from professional writers. The program ends with a celebration—a chance for each participant to share an excerpt from their work and play some games. Each participant will receive a spiral bound, color copy of the group book. Each registrant must be committed to attend all 12 sessions for the program to work. Enrollment required. To enroll, call 206-684-7422.

Here’s a flyer for the workshop.

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday notes
January 26, 2023 6:01 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:40 AM: Incident at Delridge/Webster blocking southbound lanes of Delridge.

10:34 AM: Reopened.

Earlier:

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, January 26th.

WEATHER

Mostly cloudy, chance of rain, high in the mid-40s. While the sunset might not be visible, if you’re taking heart in the longer days, note that starting at 5:01 pm tonight, the sun sets after 5 pm (until November 5th).

TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS

–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still running with fewer buses and fewer drivers – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions (far fewer of those alerts so far this week).

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on a two-boat schedule – check here for alerts/updates.

SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.

High Bridge – the camera at the top:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – open again:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route:

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All working traffic cams citywide 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 bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely) – 206-293-6302.

Share This

Low-bridge update @ West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting Thursday
January 25, 2023 10:10 pm
|    Comments Off on Low-bridge update @ West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting Thursday
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

One more transportation-related meeting of note has just been confirmed for tomorrow: The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is on its new every-other-month schedule, and the year’s first meeting is Thursday (January 26th), 6:30 pm online. Major topics are the West Seattle low bridge and the Fauntleroy ferry-dock replacement project. For the low-bridge update, they’re expecting a guest from SDOT – remember that though the bridge is back to surface use as well as maritime use following its three-week closure, it’s not back to normal yet as one turning cylinder is being overhauled and three more will follow, with other projects in the works that already were planned for this year. You can attend the meeting online here or by phone at 253-215-8782, meeting ID 819 3711 6466, passcode WSTC.

Share This

SPORTS: Two big events ahead for West Seattle High School basketball
January 25, 2023 6:26 pm
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: Two big events ahead for West Seattle High School basketball
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSHS game Friday night – photo by Holli Margell)

Tomorrow brings the first of two big events in three days for West Seattle High School basketball. On Thursday, the boys’ team is the beneficiary of an all-day fundraiser at MOD Pizza‘s 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW location (open 10:30 am-10 pm). Our calendar listing has the flyer with the code you can use when ordering to be sure part of the proceeds are donated.

Saturday is a big day for both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams – they both play Eastside Catholic at home and since these are the last regular-season home games of the year, they’re both “Senior Night” games, with special recognition for the students who’ll be graduating this year (usually cheer squad and band members as well as athletes) In this case, it’s more “Senior Day,” as the girls’ game is at 3 pm Saturday, the boys’ game is at 4:30 pm Saturday. Both are having winning seasons, with 9-6 records pending away games tonight, and community support is welcome – you can even come earlier, as the JVC boys play at 10:30 am, the JV girls at noon,and the JV boys at 1:30 pm. The WSHS gym is off the south end of the WSHS parking lot at 3000 California SW.

Share This

RapidRide H Line launch date set
January 25, 2023 4:30 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Metro photo – RapidRide station work on Delridge)

After years of delays, RapidRide H Line – the conversion of what’s currently Metro Route 120 – is locked in for March, on the day of the bus system’s twice-annual service change. In this case, that’s Saturday, March 18, confirms Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer. (The conversion originally was expected to happen in 2020.) Recent developments have included confirmation that the H Line will follow the 120’s current pathway in downtown Seattle, ending at Third and Virginia, while promising to “assess the feasibility of extending RapidRide H Line to South Lake Union in the future.” According to the latest email update, some of the finishing touches along the route will be some work on SW Roxbury as well as installation of transit lanes starting in the next week or so “along 16th Ave SW between SW 107th St and SW 116th St [in White Center], and on Ambaum Blvd SW between SW 128th St. and SW 148th [in Burien].” If you have construction-related questions, the project team’s next online drop-in Q/A session is tomorrow (Thursday, July 26th), 5-6 pm, online (meeting ID: 228 271 1759) or by phone (253-215-8782). The H Line will be West Seattle’s second RapidRide line, after the C Line, which launched in September 2012.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: ‘Further study’ results due at Thursday’s Sound Transit Board meeting
January 25, 2023 2:26 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Sound Transit | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: When the Sound Transit Board meets Thursday afternoon, it’s scheduled to hear a report on some as-yet-undecided aspects of the West Seattle light-rail project, the “Areas of Further Study,” which most notably included the possibility of scrapping the Avalon station. The “areas” were recapped in a presentation at a board-committee meeting back in November – this is a slide section showing the West Seattle study subjects:

(The full slide deck from the November meeting includes closer looks at each “area.”) Some residents close to the proposed light-rail route have received a flyer mentioning the presentation planned tomorrow – we heard from one resident near 32nd/Genesee who said a printed copy was hung on her front gate. The flyer also says the “further study” results will be discussed when the board’s System Expansion Committee meets February 9th. Here’s the 1:30 pm meeting’s agenda (including how to comment); we’ve requested the report in advance but it hasn’t been made available yet.

One other West Seattle light-rail-related note: ST is now doing more field work, involving “noise monitoring at several properties near the West Seattle Link Extension corridor” as part of the work toward the Final Environmental Impact Statement’s publication later this year. This flyer, forwarded to us by another community member, has gone out to residents who agreed to allow monitoring devices on their property. The flyer, among other things, says they’re not recording actual sound, just decibel levels. We have several followup questions out to ST, including asking which areas these studies are being conducted in.

ADDED 12:13 PM THURSDAY: As noted below, we have finally obtained some advance information on today’s discussion, and are told it will NOT include West Seattle results, but will focus on other areas of the project, particularly Ballard. West Seattle will get a closer look at the February 9th System Expansion Committee meeting, we’re told.

Share This

Seattle Police plan to follow up 911 calls with surveys
January 25, 2023 12:39 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

These days it seems almost every transaction is followed up by a survey asking your opinion on how it went. Next to join the trend: The Seattle Police Department. Starting tomorrow (Thursday, January 26), SPD says many 911 callers and crime victims will get automated text/email messages – “once the 911 emergency has passed” – to “solicit feedback about the caller’s experience with SPD to improve services to the community.” The feedback solicitations will follow initial messages with the incident number and some general advice, as shown in examples here. SPD says it’s announcing this in advance so that people who start getting these messages don’t think they’re spam. The SPD announcement says the technology they’re using for this is from SPIDR Tech, an Arizona-based company that says it provides “the world’s first automated customer-service platform for public safety.”

Share This

ENCAMPMENTS: Two West Seattle sites may be ‘months’ from action
January 25, 2023 11:58 am
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Harbor Avenue last week)

Two West Seattle RV-encampment sites continue to be the subject of much discussion at community meetings – usually with local police commanders who aren’t the final decisionmakers on city action. So as promised, we sought official updates from the city’s homelessness-response spokesperson, Linda Robson. Here’s what we heard back:

2ND/MICHIGAN: This is the state-owned site by the 1st Avenue South Bridge where, according to Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Dorothy Kim, more than 100 stolen vehicles have been recovered and actual residents are estimated only in single digits. She also told the SWP Crime Prevention Council that a sweep had been scheduled – and then suddenly scrapped. According to Robson:

The site you note is part of a large area that is WSDOT jurisdiction. The encampment response will require the coordination of multiple jurisdictions and City departments, including WSDOT and KCRHA, so naturally scheduling can get a bit complicated, and we expect that clean-up will take several days. The Unified Care Team is actively working with WSDOT on scheduling in the coming weeks and months.

We also asked about Harbor Avenue, where scattered groupings total about a dozen RVs/trailers, plus other vehicles as well as several tents and canopies. Robson’s reply:

The City’s Unified Care Team has been monitoring conditions along Harbor Ave SW, recognizing the need to ensure a coordinated approach in addressing multiple encampment sites along a significant stretch of Harbor Avenue. Based on this approach and available resource capacity, we expect these sites to be resolved in Quarter 1, 2023. In the meantime, the UCT is conducting regular trash removal and cleaning in the area.

Harbor Avenue was a central topic at a meeting six weeks ago. After receiving. Robson’s replies, we also checked with one of the city officials who participated in that meeting, Councilmember Lisa Herbold. She said she hasn’t received any date specifics either, and is working to get clarification on the current prioritization process.

Share This

BIZNOTE: Change ahead at Morgan Junction’s only gas station
January 25, 2023 10:50 am
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to Ian for the tip. The pumps are closed and the mini-mart shelves are bare at Morgan Junction’s only gas station/mini-mart (6540 California SW). According to city permit files, a branding change is imminent – currently it’s Shell, but a sign company has just been granted a permit to install Mobil signage. How soon that’ll happen, we don’t know, but the permit issued this past Monday lists an estimated installation date of March 6th.

Share This

Pet-food donation drive, SDOT director at HPAC, more for your West Seattle Wednesday
January 25, 2023 10:03 am
|    Comments Off on Pet-food donation drive, SDOT director at HPAC, more for your West Seattle Wednesday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Jerry Simmons)

Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

PET-FOOD DRIVE DAY: The West Seattle High School NHS student-organized pet-food drive is collecting donations this afternoon, 3-5 pm, at the school’s north entrance (3000 California SW).

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.

MARITIME HIGH SCHOOL INFO NIGHT: Some West Seattle students attend this specialized public high school in the Highline district and thought others might be interested, so they sent word of an Information Night tonight at 6 pm at the campus in Des Moines (615 S. 200th).

TRIVIA x 6: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) now offers trivia … at 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.

LIVE AT EPHESUS: Kimball & The Fugitive Trio now plays Ephesus Greek Restaurant (5245 California SW), 6:30 pm Wednesdays.

LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.

HPAC: Live, work, play, study, shop in Highland Park, Riverview, or South Delridge? Your community coalition meets online at 7 pm, all welcome, with new SDOT director Greg Spotts among the guests and other topics including the new West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails map. The agenda and participation information are on the HPAC website.

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Having an event – one-time or recurring – that could be featured on West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar? Tell us about it! Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Chevrolet pickup
January 25, 2023 9:04 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Chevrolet pickup
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Another stolen vehicle to watch for. The report and photo were sent by Liz:

Between 1 am and 6 am this morning our truck, a 1996 Chevy K1500, was stolen from in front of our house on the 8400 block of 22nd Ave SW. Plate D63246B. Police incident # 2023-023543. Currently checking with neighbors for security camera images.

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: January’s final Wednesday
January 25, 2023 6:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, January 25th.

WEATHER & WATER

Mostly cloudy, high in the upper 40s. … Just before 8 am, predicted high tide is 13.1 feet, last time we’ll see a 13-foot high tide until next January. So far, this last round of “king tides” has not brought the Duwamish back over its banks, so no new flooding trouble for South Park.

TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS

–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still running with fewer buses and fewer drivers – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions (far fewer of those alerts so far this week).

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on a two-boat schedule – check here for alerts/updates.

ROAD WORK

Again today, expect intermittent lane closures on the South Park Bridge, 8 am-3 pm each day, for workers who will be power-washing the bridge sidewalks.

SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.

High Bridge – the camera at the top:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – open again:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route:

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All working traffic cams citywide 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 bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely) – 206-293-6302.

Share This

‘West Seattle Hey’ + 10, as Not Dead Yet plays The Skylark on Friday
January 24, 2023 11:56 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

While the music video above for Not Dead Yet‘s “West Seattle Hey” features some WS icons, the bridge is not among them. Who knew, when the video was made in 2012, that the bridge would close for 2 1/2 years? But that’s all in the rear-view mirror now, and Not Dead Yet is still standing – and playing. This Friday (January 27th), you can see for yourself at The Skylark, doors at 7, music at 8. Not Dead Yet’s piano player Paul adds, “We will be joined by two other local W Seattle bands, The Still Peaking Project at 9 pm and the premiere of the Palm Ave Lounge Band at 10 pm.” So go enjoy a night of all-local music at 3803 Delridge Way SW (right next to the aforementioned bridge).

Share This