By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Toward the end of a four-hour meeting today, the West Seattle portion of Sound Transit‘s light-rail “further studies” briefing lasted just a few minutes. That was not entirely surprising, since the rest of the briefing for the ST Board’s System Expansion Committee included sections for which big decisions have yet to be made.”Gotta fish or cut bait pretty soon here” is how ST board member Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell put it regarding those decisions. ‘

But the briefing did illuminate a few things for the West Seattle segment. For one, ST staff put forward a possible “end-to-end scenario” that incorporated two of the three “studied” possibilities for West Seattle – moving the entrance to the Junction station and shifting the Delridge alignment – but did not include the potential removal of the Avalon station. That doesn’t mean this is what staff is necessarily formally proposing or supporting, but it’s worth noting that it’s what they showed as an example.

Before getting to that slide, ST’s Cathal Ridge showed slides going back through the three West Seattle “further studies” proposals (explained in this memo). The most detailed was the possible Delridge “refinement,” which Ridge said had been evolving as design work proceeded:

Here’s the “updated concept” addressing some of the Delridge station concerns:

Another major concern that had come up earlier in the process was the potential effects on Transitional Resources, a nonprofit serving people living with behavioral-health challenges, with services and facilities including supportive housing. As this slide showed, the current alignment goes right through the heart of its operations:

The “refinement” shown today wouldn’t entirely spare Transitional Resources, but would reduce the major effect to one smaller property, Ridge said:

Uphill from there, he had little elaboration about the possibility of dropping the Avalon station, beyond what this slide shows:

Earlier in the meeting, leading off the public-comment section, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold urged board members to think about how elimination of the Avalon station might affect low-income High Point residents needing to get to light rail. Meantime, back to the last “further studies” area, here are the slides shown for the possible relocation of the Junction station entrance:

This option, it was clarified in response to a question, would only move the entrance, not the station itself.

So what’s next? For the West Seattle items, that’s up in the air. No vote is required (until the vote later this year that finalizes “the project to be built,” after the Final Environmental Impact Statement comes out). The board does have to vote on a “preferred alternative” for the rest of the West Seattle/Ballard extensions, beyond SODO, and is expected to do that next month. One thing we do know is that they’re still taking community feedback on all the “further studies” items (see the full 134-page slide deck here) and will get a summary at the full board’s February 23rd meeting, so if you feel strongly about one or more of these possible changes, now’s the time to say something. Here’s a survey, open for one more week (until February 17th), also reachable from the “further studies” section of the West Seattle/Ballard Link Extensions website.

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CORONAVIRUS: West Seattle High School cases lead to masking recommendation

February 9, 2023 8:15 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks for the forward. West Seattle High School principal Brian Vance has sent families this note:

There have been multiple positive COVID-19 cases identified in the past week here at WSHS. In response, the district is implementing a COVID testing event and recommended masking protocol at WSHS.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending that all students at West Seattle High School wear a well-fitting and high-quality mask for the next 10 calendar days starting Friday, 2/10/23 to help prevent further transmission of COVID-19. This will include Friday and next week. Masking is recommended but voluntary.

Our goal is to keep as many students learning in-person as possible while maintaining a safe environment. To help do that, we ask that you please monitor your child for COVID symptoms and keep them home if they are sick.

Covid Testing Event at WSHS – 2/10/23
In addition to the recommended masking, the district is initiating an in-school COVID-19 testing event on campus on Friday, 2/10/23. SPS staff will only test students who have consent for the current school year. If you would like to have your student tested, please consent to testing on the CIC Health website. Families will receive test results via text message or email.

Seattle Public Schools continues to update its COVID dashboard – you can see it here.

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Scenes from almost-Valentine’s Day edition of West Seattle Art Walk

February 9, 2023 6:01 pm

| Comments Off on Scenes from almost-Valentine’s Day edition of West Seattle Art Walk

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

6:01 PM: Love is in the air, and art is almost everywhere, tonight – the February West Seattle Art Walk is on!

AT WEST SEATTLE REALTY: Our first stop, the expansive new offices of West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor), where you’ll find an art installation – including paintings and fashion – by LA Wiltbank. Music by Harrison B, too!

We’ll be making a few more stops. Preview all the venues – including Art Walk night food/drink specials – and find out how to play HeART Bingo tonight by going here!

(added 6:34 pm) AT WINDERMERE: Another real-estate office with an artist reception is Windermere West Seattle (4526 California SW), where Pat Sanford is showing his paintings:

The artist is an award-winning TV designer/artist/animator and longtime West Seattleite. His work has included portraits of Mariners stars – you might recognize Julio “J-Rod” Rodriguez in the one with which he posed for our photo above.

AT JET CITY LABS: Jet City‘s regular Art Walk pop-up has moved to their new event space at 4547 California SW – tonight the artists include first-time Art Walk participant Lora Radford:

Lora’s creations include hand-cast concrete bowls and candle orbs, plus refill candle kits. Jet City’s event, like the others we’ve featured, is scheduled to continue until 8 pm tonight – still time to go find artsy Valentine gifts!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Early-morning street robbery

February 9, 2023 4:36 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

One incident of note so far from today’s police summaries: A street robbery early this morning. Police say a woman was returning home from work just before 4:30 am near 29th/Bataan. While walking from her car to her home, she was approached by someone who “poked her” with a pistol. The robber then, according to police, “demanded jewelry, and stole the victim’s purse, which contained cash, a cell phone, and other items.” Police say the robber then walked/ran away “and possibly entered a vehicle.” Officers tried to get search assistance from K9 and/or the Guardian One helicopter, but neither were available. The summary did not include descriptive information for the robber but we followed up with SPD and they say the full report describes him only as Black, male, about 5’6″-5’9″, with a medium build and dark clothing.

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Mayor’s next choice for Department of Neighborhoods director: Jenifer Chao

February 9, 2023 3:36 pm

| Comments Off on Mayor’s next choice for Department of Neighborhoods director: Jenifer Chao

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Six months after appointing Greg Wong as Department of Neighborhoods director, Mayor Harrell moved him to deputy mayor. Six months after that, the mayor has just announced a new DoN nominee. From today’s announcement:

Today, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that he will appoint Jenifer Chao to serve as the next Director of the Department of Neighborhoods (DON). Chao, a community engagement leader, currently serves as the Deputy Director of Strategy and Administration in the City of Seattle’s Finance and Administrative Services.

Working with the City of Seattle since 2009, Chao has built a reputation as a community collaborator and strong voice for equity and opportunity for youth and historically underserved communities. Chao previously served on the Department of Neighborhoods’ Outreach and Engagement team, where she focused on developing strong and trusted relationships in the Chinatown-International District (CID) through work on the CID Community Vision Workgroup and Sound Transit 3 planning. Chao also served as the Interim Director of the Office of Civil Rights’ Race and Social Justice Initiative and worked in the Human Services Department where she supported the Seattle Youth Employment Program.

Outside of her service at the City, Chao served five years at the Seattle non-profit Neighborhood House, where she supported people looking to achieve their long-term education and employment goals.

Read the full announcement – with quotes from Chao, Wong, and Harrell – here. As with other department-head positions, this one will require City Council confirmation.

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DEVELOPMENT: 6504 24th SW meeting; long-idle 5249 California SW comments

February 9, 2023 1:39 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle projects are part of today’s twice-weekly Public Notices Summary from the city Department of Construction and Inspections:

PUBLIC MEETING FOR 6504 24TH SW: A public meeting is being held for comments about an 11-unit proposal at this site in Delridge [map] – five 2-story single-family houses, three attached accessory dwelling units, and three detached ADUs, with 11 offstreet-parking spaces. The meeting will be online at 5 pm on March 2nd. The official notice includes information on how to participate/comment. We first briefly mentioned the site back in 2014, when neighbors were voicing concerns about another site on the street, in the context of flooding concerns from nearby Longfellow Creek.

(WSB photo from last year, with tagging obscured)

COMMENT TIME FOR LONG-IDLE 5249 CALIFORNIA SW: More than a year after we reported on a new plan for the long-stalled site at 5249 California SW [map], the land-use application is being reviewed, and that’s opened a comment period. The site is proposed for what the city website describes as “a 3-story, 6-unit townhouse building, and a 3-story, 3-unit live-work building (with p)arking for 4 vehicles.” Comments are being accepted through February 22nd; the official notice explains how to submit yours.

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READER REPORT: Parking lot scam alert

February 9, 2023 11:40 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

A reader hopes telling her story will keep others from falling for the same scam. She says this happened to her in the lot at Metropolitan Market in Admiral this past Saturday:

There is a guy riding around in a brand-new white Ford pickup truck approaching women at supermarket parking lots. He says he’s a mobile dent and ding repair business but I have tracked another victim and the m.o. is the same. He “repairs” your car and then covers the “repair” with something that you cannot remove for 24 to 48 hours so you pay him before you realize you are scammed. He’s super-convincing and I don’t want anyone else falling for it.

He actually made the dent worse by sinking something like tap screws in and then pulling it but he pulled the paint and primer off! Yes, I could not see that until I got home and realized what the scam was. He represented that he was a mobile business. I should have known better but there is (another victim) who was also scammed at the Whole Foods in Bellevue. Her repair had tape on it.

We asked her for a description of the man: “He’s probably close to 6 feet tall, brown hair, brown eyes, ponytail. Olive complexion. Late 50s, early 60s.” In researching the scam, she found this story about similar cases from 2013 and believes – because of cross-referencing two kinds of information she got from the man – this could involve one of those people. She has filed a report with SPD so if you have any information – or have also been victimized – you can refer to incident # 23-037964.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Submarine, outbound

February 9, 2023 11:03 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to the readers who sent photos of that submarine as it passed West Seattle, northbound, just after 9 am today. MarineTraffic.com identifies it only as “submarine,” currently off Edmonds, still northbound.

ADDED SATURDAY: Two photos sent by readers:

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West Seattle Art Walk, light-rail briefing, ‘Lost Roadhouses,’ open mics, much more for your Thursday

February 9, 2023 9:49 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunrise photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s ahead for the rest of today/tonight:

MIDDLE SCHOOL TOUR @ LOUISA BOREN STEM K-8: Prospective middle-school parents are invited to visit at 10:30 am today. (5950 Delridge Way SW)

LIGHT-RAIL BRIEFING: 1-5 pm, the Sound Transit System Expansion Committee meets – at Union Station (401 S. Jackson) and online – with the agenda centered on a briefing about the West Seattle/Ballard light-rail project’s “further studies” items, including three in West Seattle, as previewed here. (And here’s how to comment.)

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

THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the Born-n-Braised 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.

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Explore tonight’s venues pre-Valentine’s Day by playing (He)Art Bingo and enjoying artist receptions and food/drink specials, 5 pm “until late.” Find the venue list and other info in our preview; the full lineup is on the Art Walk website.

UNDER-21 OPEN MIC: 5 pm signups, 6 pm music at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), as Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) presents the monthly under-21 open mic – more info here!

BASKETBALL: The Metro League tournament continues tonight with a boys’ game, West Seattle HS vs, Seattle Prep at Chief Sealth IHS, 5:30 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)

CHIEF SEALTH IHS OPEN HOUSE: 6-8 pm, prospective students and families are invited to tour Chief Sealth International High School and meet the staff. Food provided, too. (2600 SW Thistle)

WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: 6 pm online, learn about the “Lost Roadhouses of Seattle” with author Pete Blecha. Our calendar listing includes the registration link.

BETTER RUNNING PERFORMANCE … with infrared saunas! Learn about it during a presentation at West Seattle Runner (2749 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm.

COFFEEHOUSE OPEN MIC: Musicians of all genres, including singers, are welcome at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.

‘AN ENDLESS SHIFT’: The one-woman play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues tonight, 7:30 pm. Get your ticket(s) here.

If you have something to add to our calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Dine! Bid! Support students’ tech adventures! Skunk Works Robotics invites you to dinner

February 9, 2023 9:00 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(File photo)

Skunk Works Robotics is a scrappy regional program, founded in 2006, that draws 8th through 10th graders from West Seattle to Burien and beyond. This spring, they’ll compete in the international FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics events. The program’s mission is “to inspire students to excel as robotics and engineering professionals, and to help them prepare for college and the future.” They’re looking for your support and offering a fun way to provide it: On Saturday, February 25th, head south to The Cove at Normandy Park (1500 SW Shorebrook Drive) for a spaghetti dinner and auction to support the team. They’re selling $25/person tickets through February 12th, and here’s what you’ll get:

The evening will include a silent and live auction with awesome items such as a signed Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card, two roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines anywhere Alaska flies, a two-night stay at Lakedale Resort on San Juan Island, a signed Julio Rodriguez Mariners jersey, cooking classes, a salon haircut & blowout, restaurant gift certificates – including some local favorites such as Circa, Srivilai Thai, Salty’s on Alki, and so much more! The night will also include a fun Dessert Dash, a tasty Wine Pull, specialty cocktails, beer and wine, a first-time reveal of our 2023 robot, and beyond.

Skunk Works is a 501(c)(3), so your contribution is tax-deductible. And it’ll help this program continue recovering from not only pandemic-era challenges but also a burglary last year that left them without thousands of dollars in equipment. But they’re building back, and you can help – get dinner/auction tickets here.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday morning

February 9, 2023 6:01 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, February 9th.

WEATHER

Mostly cloudy, high in the mid-to-upper 50s.

TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS

–Metro is on its regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, as its fleet is not yet back to full strength, so keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts.

-Regular schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi.

–Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on a two-boat schedule, but with reduced capacity since the 90-car Sealth replaced Issaquah on Wednesday – check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch to verify which boats are running.

TRUCK TRAFFIC

The backups were discussed Tuesday when Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners met as managing members of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which oversees cargo shipping for both ports,

SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, 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 – looking east to west:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route across the river:

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; take a quick look at West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras 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, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.

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