West Seattle, Washington
20 Saturday
As a Chief Sealth International High School team parent described it in an email to us, “Huge win for the baseball team last night.” Sealth beat O’Dea for the first time in years, the parent explained – and the Seahawks were the visiting team. Final score Sealth 11, O’Dea 8. The parent added, “Fans were wild with the win! It was about 47 out and with a 7:00 start we all waited for the almost 11:00 finish!” According to the game notes logged with GameChanger, the Seahawks took the lead in the ninth inning, breaking an 8-8 tie when Teo Perala singled to bring in a run. The game’s hitting star for the Seahawks was Seth Clark, going 3 for 5. It’s early in the season but Chief Sealth has a 5-1 overall record and will play next at Nathan Hale, 3:30 pm Friday. O’Dea, meantime, will be visiting West Seattle High School (6-0) at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex at 7 pm Friday. We appreciate sports updates and tips – westseattleblog@gmail.com any time!
(Reader photo)
Thanks for the tips. Since the gas station/mini-mart at 35th/Henderson has been hit by robbery multiple times before, it’s no surprise that a police response there this past hour had some people worried. We went over to find out what had happened. Police told us they responded to reports of a sighting of a stolen vehicle – this pickup truck:.
(WSB photo)
So they’ve recovered the pickup, and are questioning two people.
Two updates related to the ongoing modernization work at Terminal 5 in West Seattle:
QUIET ZONE CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN: SDOT is overseeing the construction of T-5’s “Quiet Zone“ – which involves modifying railroad crossings in hopes of reducing the need for train operators serving T-5 to blow their horns. Back in January, we reported that the project had gone to bid and wasn’t expected to be complete before 2024. Today SDOT says the succssful bidder was Merlino Construction and that they could start work as soon as the first week in April, with construction lasting about a year.
NO SHORE POWER YET: Ships using T-5’s north berth still aren’t plugging in. Various reasons have been given for the delays; Melanie Stambaugh from the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which oversees the Seattle and Tacoma cargo operations, gave us another update this week:
Unfortunately, the system is still experiencing technical difficulties. As a reminder, this is the first international cargo facility in Puget Sound to install a shore power system, so we are still very much in the learning phase. The large number of stakeholders involved are anxious to get it working as soon as possible and The Northwest Seaport Alliance is doing all that we can to expedite the process.
Last time we checked in, the delay was attributed to “administrative” problems. But it’s something else now, Stambaugh told us: “We’re glad to say that the previous administrative problems have been resolved. Currently, the NWSA, alongside our partners, are working through some technical challenges with both the hardware and software.” Shore-power-capable ships originally were supposed to be able to plug in from the start of T-5’s modernized operations early last year.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
ANOTHER COLLISION LEADS TO ARREST: Less than an hour before last night’s deadly West Seattle Bridge crash, SPD and SFD were dispatched to an unrelated crash on West Marginal Way SW. Today, SPD says that crash resulted in an arrest for investigation of DUI and a firearms violation. Their summary says it happened in the 4500 block of West Marginal [map] around 11:30 pm, and: “The first arriving officer found a heavily damaged pickup truck which struck and bounced off a utility pole, then came to rest on nearby railroad tracks.” The driver, a 23-year-old man, was found nearby. Police say he told them he had fallen asleep whiled driving, and denied having consumed alcohol – but they spotted an empty beer can in the truck, and noticed “signs of impairment.” So they did a field sobriety test, and after taking him into custody based on those results, they found “a loaded and concealed full-size handgun” in his pants pocket (SPD photo). He didn’t have a concealed-carry permit. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation of possible injuries.
SHOPLIFTING TURNS VIOLENT: Just got a reader tip on this and have only preliminary details – if you saw police at Jefferson Square around 1 pm, they were investigating a case of shoplifting turned violence. According to the tip, three people “tried to leave the [Bartell Drugs] store with a basket filled with items.” They are reported to have assaulted and knocked down someone who tried to stop them. We’ll add whatever more we find out. (added) The description of the main assailant was, according to exchanges between dispatch and officers: Black, female, wearing a black top, gold chain, black and white shots.” She is reported to have punched a woman and pulled her hair; the victim declined medical attention. The attacker was last seen “turning the corner into The Junction.”
Two months after the city Office of Planning and Community Development announced the South Delridge Action Plan by launching a survey, you can find out more about it at tonight’s monthly meeting of HPAC. At centerstage during the community coalition’s 7 pm online meeting will be OPCD reps led by David Goldberg. HPAC’s announcement says they plan to discuss:
-Their partnerships with SPU and other City Departments
-Engagement that’s already completed to help guide their understanding of priorities
-Ideas about what the Outcomes of the work might be
-Rough phases of work moving forwardThey’re interested in hearing ideas on engagement for 2023 and any opportunities to partner and hearing about outcomes of interest to HPAC members.
All are welcome at tonight’s meeting, to listen/watch and/or ask questions. You can get the video/call-in info by going here.
(SDOT camera images unless otherwise attributed)
12:30 AM: A crash involving at least two vehicles is closing the westbound West Seattle Bridge to traffic near the crest. SFD is sending a “rescue extrication” response. Dispatch says this involves a wrong-way driver – there was a report shortly before the crash of someone going eastbound on the westbound side. At least one person is reported injured. Updates to come.
12:40 AM: Firefighters report they’ve extricated the person who was trapped in one vehicle (which appears to be a pickup truck). They’re reporting a second injured person.
12:52 AM: Responders also have blocked the two inside eastbound lanes of the bridge, as shown on the traffic camera.
12:59 AM: And now they’ve cleared, so the eastbound side is fully open again. Westbound still closed.
1:24 AM: Traffic Collision Investigation detectives have been mentioned, which means the closure won’t end any time soon.
3:06 AM: Investigators are still on scene. No updates so far on the victims’ condition.
3:37 AM: We’ve just learned this crash was deadly; SFD has been dispatched back to the scene to remove a body from one of the wrecked vehicles.
4:12 AM: The victim is now being taken away to the Medical Examiner’s Office. They were in what appeared to be the smaller of the two vehicles, a light-colored car shown closer to the median.
4:43 AM: Police have just said two people are dead. Here’s what they’ve just posted:
Police received multiple 911 calls of a white pickup truck traveling the wrong way in the westbound lane of the West Seattle Bridge Wednesday morning. Prior to arrival, witnesses advised the pickup truck collided with another vehicle.
(SPD photo)
Police arrived at approximately 12:20 a.m. and found a sedan and the pickup truck in the westbound lane of the bridge. Both vehicles had extensive damage. Seattle Fire Department personnel arrived and pronounced the male driver and female passenger of the sedan deceased. Both victims were 18 years old.
The male driver of the pickup truck was transported to the hospital for serious injuries. Based on the investigation, the male driver of the pickup showed signs of impairment and is under investigation for vehicular homicide.
5:54 AM: After 5 1/2 hours, the scene has been cleared, and the westbound bridge has just reopened.
11:56 AM: A company that records traffic-camera video has tweeted video from the same SDOT camera that we used for the screenshots above. You can see it here; it briefly shows a vehicle described as the wrong-way pickup just before the crash, and then shows Good Samaritans who rushed over to try to help before SPD and SFD arrived. (Added: Commenters have suggested this merits a content warning, as while it is not bloody, it is intense, and does include a brief flash of the crash impact.)
2:02 PM: While the victims’ age was made public, the pickup driver’s age was not. We followed up with SPD and spokesperson Det. Judinna Gulpan explained, “We have not yet been able to identify him yet, therefore can not confirm age.” He will be booked into jail, she said, when “medically cleared.”
6:12 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the crash victims’ names via its daily media list: Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, both, as police had said, 18 years old. While the KCMEO announcement did not include information on the victims’ cities of residence, KING 5 TV reports the two were current and past Snohomish High School students.
(Governor’s office photo)
That’s Gov. Jay Inslee, during a visit this afternoon to the encampment cleanup on what’s mostly state-owned land by the (also state-owned) 1st Avenue South Bridge. This was the second day of an extensive cleanup at the site; workers at the site this morning told us they expected to be there two or three more days.
(WSB photo)
The governor used his visit to focus on the fact that 30 people had been living there and have been placed in shelter/housing, and to repeat his criticism of the State Senate for not allotting as much money on housing as he wants them to.
6:41 PM: If you live, work, do business, study, or enjoy recreation in Fauntleroy, this is the place to be tonight – until 8 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), it’s the annual general meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association – also known as the Food Fest because local purveyors of food and beverages bring free tastes (savory and sweet) as a community contribution. Tonight, those include Wildwood Market:
(Regina and Lonjina from Wildwood Market)
Also Nola’s, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering (which operates The Hall), The Birdhouse, The Unsweetened Tooth, and Endolyne Joe’s. You can also find out not only what the FCA’s about (including the annual Egg Hunt coming up April 1st) but also other organizations including the Morgan Community Association, Fauntleroy UCC, RainWise (which is again offering rebates to many homes in this area for installing green stormwater features), the Fauntleroy Watershed Council, and – with the mobile precinct parked outside – Seattle Police‘s Southwest Precinct.
You can also learn about the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, set this year for October 15th (with a fundraiser coming up April 18th at Endolyne Joe’s).
8:30 PM: Though mingling was the main order of the night, there was a bit of business: Voting on whether to re-elect the FCA board.
They were re-elected by acclamation. From left in our photo are vice president Catherine Bailey, president Mike Dey, Kris Ilgenfritz, Bill Wellington, Susan Lantz-Dey, David Haggety, Diana Spence, Bruce Butterfield, and Marty Westerman. Three other board members weren’t able to attend: Frank Immel, Alan Grainger, and Nils von Veh. In general updates from the stage, Dey said the board welcomes new members – they have openings for secretary and treasurer currently – contact info is on the FCA website, fauntleroy.net. The board meets second Tuesdays most months at 7 pm at the schoolhouse, and community members are always welcome.
Two months after Morgan Junction’s only gas station closed for an ownership and brand transition, it’s partly reopened. After a tip (thank you!), we confirmed that the gas pumps – now dispensing Mobil gasoline – are now functioning. You have to pay at the pump, though, until the station’s mini-mart opens. That could happen as soon as tomorrow, we were told while there.
Yet another sign of spring – West Seattle Little League baseball and softball teams are about to start playing. You’re invited to the season-opening, two-location jamboree – here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Little League will kick off the season with its annual Jamboree this weekend. Tee ball and baseball games will be held at WSLL’s Bar-S home field, and girls’ softball will also be celebrating the opening weekend with games at Chief Sealth.
Games will occur on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of March. Baseball games will occur between 9 am and 7 pm on both days. Softball games will occur between 9 am and 5:30 pm Saturday and 10 am and 4:30 pm Sunday.
Come cheer on our kids, get some pics with the Mariners Moose and DubSea Fish Sticks, learn about WSLL, and grab a bite to eat at the concessions.
The Bar-S fields are at 64th SW and SW Admiral Way in Alki; the Chief Sealth (Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex) fields are at 2801 SW Thistle in Westwood. According to the WSLL website, the Moose will be at Bar-S 10:30 am-2:30 pm Sunday; the Fish Sticks mascot’s schedule is TBD.
Thanks to Joe Laubach for the photos and report:
The old bike counter on the East end of the Spokane Street bridge has been out of order for several years. I’m pleased to see SDOT has installed a new bike counter and it is up and operational!
On a related note, I’m happy to see so many people biking around West Seattle now that the weather has warmed up. Motorists – please drive carefully and be attentive. Thank you.
This is near the site where Robb Mason was hit and killed last July (his accused killer‘s case continues making its way through the court system, with another hearing next month). We have an inquiry out to SDOT for more information about the new counter and will add whatever we hear back. (The stats page is here.)
ADDED WEDNESDAY: SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali responded to our inquiry: “We have replaced the bike counter on the Spokane St Swing Bridge (West Seattle Low Bridge) to address inconsistencies with the data from the old counter. The previous bike counter was experiencing intermittent issues storing and transmitting data which has led to periodic gaps in our historical data beginning in May 2021, despite multiple repair attempts.”
Back in October, we reported on a city plan for a new “natural drainage system” – basically stormwater-filtering landscaping – along a stretch of SW Holden in Highland Park. As we subsequently learned, the project is also meant to assist with traffic calming on what the city considers a too-wide section of the street. Seattle Public Utilities has announced the next step in the project – an on-site opportunity to talk with city reps one week from today, at 17th/Holden, 2:30-5:30 pm Tuesday, March 28th. The city website says the plan is just getting to 30 percent design and is still not expected to go into construction before next year. You can review and comment on early design concepts at next week’s drop-in event, SPU says. The city has already installed “natural drainage systems” in other areas, including a section of 17th further south, between Kenyon and Henderson.
(WSB photo from 2022 Delridge Community Center egg hunt)
This spring’s lineup of egg hunts in West Seattle starts this weekend. Here’s a quick look at what we have so far:
MARCH 25: The West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(4001 44th SW) invites kids from throughout the community, 10-11:30 am; event includes egg hunt and cookie decorating.
APRIL 1:
-The first city-presented egg hunt in our area, at South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave. S.), 10 am.
–Fauntleroy Community Association Egg Hunt, 1-4 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW).
APRIL 8: This is the big date.
–Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), 10 am
–Eastridge Church at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, south meadow), 10 am
–High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), 10 am (the city brochure time is wrong, we’re told)
–Ounces Beer Garden (3809 Delridge Way SW), 3 pm
APRIL 9: If you’re attending an Easter Sunday service, check with your church – several hold them in conjunction with services. (added) So far, we have one announced by Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 11:15 am, community welcome.
Are we missing any? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Monday afternoon’s rainbow, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here are the highlights of what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BRIDGE AUDIT: The City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will get an update on the audit of Seattle bridges during its 9:30 am meeting, viewable via Seattle Channel. Here’s the agenda.
SPRING PLANT SWAP: All week. “Bring plants to swap or repot, pots to fill or trade, seeds to share,” noon-3 pm daily at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) – details in our calendar listing.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon): “Are you looking for a new activity to keep your brain sharp and clear? The Senior Center Chess Club welcomes both novice and experienced players. Join us at 1:30 p.m. for lessons, short tutorials and chess for all levels of expertise. For more information, contact Conwell: conwell@conwelld.net.”
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm this afternoon, it’s the full council’s weekly meeting, online or at City Hall (600 4th Ave.). See the agenda here; the meeting is viewable via Seattle Channel.
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOOD FEST: It’s the FCA’s annual general meeting with bites from local businesses and more, including info-tables from local organizations – drop in at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW) between 6 and 8 pm.
FREE CONCERT: First of two spring concerts this week by the West Seattle Community Orchestras at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), 6 pm, free admission.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), hosted by Midnight Marauders.
TRIVIA X 3: Three establishments 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 Sporcle Pub Quiz 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 look into the future any time via our event calendar – if you have something to include on it, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, March 21st.
WEATHER & TIME
The forecast for today: Mostly cloudy morning, mostly sunny afternoon, high in the 50s. Sunrise 7:10 am, sunset 7:23 pm.
TRANSIT
Metro – Second weekday for RapidRide H Line replacing Route 120, and for added trips on C Line and Route 50.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule, with added runs as of last week; check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
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 southwestward toward it:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another 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; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
(Meeting video added Tuesday)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Seattle Public Schools plans to stake its future on “well-resourced schools” – but hasn’t settled yet on what exactly they are.
That’s one of the takeaways from what turned out to be a relatively short online community meeting about the district’s budget woes. Four district executives sat at a table, presenting information and answering questions for about 40 minutes before turning the rest of the hour over to other district staffers for Q/A in a Zoom chat window.
They reiterated that no decisions on school closures/consolidations would be made until spring of next year. One attendee, via onscreen Q/A, complained that’s too late, as enrollment decisions need to be made earlier in the year.
Assistant superintendent Bev Redmond warned attendees at the start of the meeting against asking questions about specific school or staff issues. From there, superintendent Dr. Brent Jones gave a short overview of problems he said were causing the district’s $131 million budget gap for next year – declining enrollment since 2017, state funding still not covering the full cost of education.
Chief operations officer Fred Podesta then rolled out the numbers: The current year has a $1.14 billion district general-fund budget, and money from the levy-generated capital fund can’t be transferred to it.
The district has to show the state a balanced budget by August. To cover the $131 million gap, he said they’ll throw in almost half that much from district reserved, and will also make some notable cuts – including $33 million from the “central office.” But, he added, this is not a “one-time problem” – he said state funding covers only about half the price tag of special education and transportation, and barely a third of multilingual education.
Meantime, on the enrollment front, low estimates show the district could be down to 43,000 students in 10 years. (Three trajectories of enrollment estimates were shown but not explained.)
Then that phrase “well-resourced schools” took centerstage again. Associate superintendent Dr. Concie Pedroza listed some attributes:
From there, the four at the table answered a few questions:
Why now? They’ve been covering budget gaps for years with various forms of one-time funding, so the underlying problem is not new.
Will my student’s teacher lose their jobs? The executives said they expected minimal job losses because hundreds of educators leave the district every year, and so even if a specific job is cut at a specific school, that teacher should be able to be placed somewhere else.
Why are you building/expanding schools if enrollment is dropping? Podesta said rebuilds are more efficient than modernizations for older buildings, and that they’ll improve safety. Plus, he said, the city continues to grow and the district must “take the long view.”
How are budget-cut decisions being made? Podesta reiterated that the district is trying to minimize cuts at schools by cutting more from the central office.
Why is enrollment declining? The contributing factors that were listed did not include any potential dissatisfaction with the district; the number of households with children isn’t rising at the same rate as the city population in general, they noted, also citing the housing crunch, lower birth rates, and changes wrought by the pandemic. Overall, Dr. Jones suggested, “we’re doing a pretty good job … I don’t think we’ve been telling our story.” The district plans to start doing that via an “enrollment campaign.”
After the four executives signed off and invited attendees to keep asking questions in Zoom (written) chat, several brought up the issue of the district lacking solid data on why families have left the district – or declined to choose it in the first place. One suggested a “simple exit survey” would be in order.
The only answer we found of note in the onscreen chat: “School consolidation does not typically affect class size,” said SPS budget director Linda Sebring.
WHAT’S NEXT? “Engagement” will begin in earnest in fall, said Redmond. Here’s the rest of the timeline:
As noted in our previous coverage, West Seattle was part of a wave of school closures in the late ’00s.
(WSB photos)
The sun made a partial appearance for Alice Enevoldsen‘s equinox-sunset watch tonight, just under five hours after the official arrival of spring. The West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher, a NASA Solar System Ambassador, has led gatherings like this at Fauntleroy’s Solstice Park four times a year since 2009, missing just a few, even hosting some remotely during the peak of the pandemic.
Attendees leave with a better understanding of what exactly happens at the equinox – in short, the day and night are of equal length, though there’s more to it. Bonus attraction for visiting Solstice Park on these days – there are paths and markers that line up with th setting sun on the equinoxes and solstices, and you can see for yourself.
Missed it? Just three months until the summer-solstice gathering – Wednesday, June 21st. (The solstice moment will be 7:57 am; sunset will be around 9 pm.
Spring is here, and so is spring-cleaning season. You might just find enough stuff to sell on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2023 – so we will be reminding you about the approach of registration. As always, WSCGSD will be on the second Saturday in May – this year, Saturday, May 13th, 9 am-3 pm (though sellers are welcome to start earlier and/or end later).WSCGSD is not one big sale – it’s one big day, with many sales of many sizes and types (plant sales, art sales, bake sales, tool sales …), all around West Seattle. We release the map/list with locations and descriptions a week in advance so you can plan what you want to do – even something as simple as walking over to the nearest sale and mingling with neighbors. Registration will open two weeks from today, on Monday, April 3rd – we’ll publish the announcement and link here on WSB as soon as we’re ready to go. After that, registration will remain open for about three weeks until we lock it down to build the map/list of sales. Aside from the 2020-2021 pandemic break, WSB has presented West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day every year since 2008; it was founded in 2005 and presented through 2007 by a nonprofit called Megawatt, inspired by similar events in other parts of the city.
Parenting is a tough job. Especially considering the rules keep changing – for the kids as well as the parents. In hopes of helping a bit, the Westside Family Association is inviting all parents/guardians, West Seattle-wide, to this free event on Thursday:
Westside Family Association invites you to our next family-education event with speaker/educator
Consent Etc…. with Jo Langford from beheroes.net.
Thursday, March 23, 2023
6:30-8:30 pm
Westside Theater @ Westside School
10404 34th Ave. SWWe are now in 2023, and with our evolution both culturally and technologically, a new awareness about why and how we as parents need to speak to our kids about consent is emerging. It is our job to help ensure that we are providing the children we are raising communication and affirmative consent skills that are age-appropriate and that take into consideration the kinds of opportunities and obstacles they may face in today’s world – ‘cuz it’s not the nineties anymore…
This talk will help parents understand the ways that the concept of consent has changed and how variables such as LGBTQ+ identities and the use of technology impact affirmative consent. Attendees will also participate in a handful of fun, thought-provoking exercises and have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers around this important concept.
FREE. Please RSVP at this link. (so we know how many seats to put out)
Find out more about Jo Langford here.
Questions? Email wfa@westsideschool.org
(WSB file photo)
Four and a half years after Roxbury Auto Parts was forced to close, the site has just been listed for sale. In 2018, the building at 2839 SW Roxbury was “red-tagged” by King County (it’s just south of the city limits), declaring the building was unsafe and that its back wall was in danger of collapse. The store’s third-generation owners – who leased the site – had to close, and never reopened. The building has sat vacant and vandalized ever since. It’s on a half-acre site described in the listing as “Perfect development site with 155 feet of frontage on SW Roxbury. … Great location for chain restaurant or other commercial/mixed use applications.” Asking price: $1,375,000.
2:50 PM: Just before 11 am this morning, police say, an attempted carjacking happened in the 3800 block of 36th SW. The initial dispatch was that someone “pepper-sprayed an employee and attempted to steal their car”; that’s a residential area so we’re not clear what “employee” referred to, possibly a work crew in the area. The would-be carjacker left without the car, walking westbound on Charlestown. The description wasn’t in the report summary; we’re following up to try to get it. SFD was called to treat the person who had been pepper-sprayed.
3:12 PM: SPD says the description in the report is: “White male, 5’10, slim build, gray hoodie, gray pants.”
Both of these closures later this week are for staff training:
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Its facilities will be closed Wednesday (March 22nd), but branch book drops will be open. Details here.
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION: Many of its facilities will be closed Thursday (March 23rd), including community centers and indoor pools. Details here.
Streets are blocked off around the area beneath the south end of the 1st Avenue South Bridge, as the encampment cleanup begins. We reported last week that the long-planned cleanup was scheduled for this week, so we went down this morning to see if it had begun. We couldn’t get close because of the closures, but heavy equipment and hauling trucks were in view:
So were State Patrol vehicles (much of the area is WSDOT land):
As for the people who had been living at the encampment, we reported last week that outreach workers said 30 had been connected with shelter/housing. City Councilmember Lisa Herbold had a few more details on this in her weekend newsletter, quoting the Regional Homelessness Authority, which told her:
I’m pleased to share with you that KCRHA and our partners at PDA, WSDOT, and the City have completed the work with individuals at the encampment located at SW Michigan and the 1st Avenue bridge.
As of today, 30 individuals moved into shelter or emergency housing placements. Three individuals who have a shelter match have not been at the location for several days and their whereabouts are unknown. One individual declined services. One individual encountered issues when arriving at their referred shelter location, and that person is not at the program or the encampment.
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