West Seattle, Washington
18 Wednesday
10:04 PM: A report of a water break at EC Hughes Playground has police first on the scene, with an officer saying the break is “flooding the whole park.” Dispatch is reporting it to Seattle Public Utilities.
10:39 PM: Officers just reported to dispatch that the water’s been turned off.
11:59 PM: Thanks to “Sunrise Heights” for sending the video and photo, added above.
The Sound Transit Board is still months away from a final routing decision for the West Seattle light-rail extension. But it’s scheduled to vote Thursday on 25 “early acquisitions” of property already considered necessary for the project. 22 of them are in SODO – including three that are deemed necessary for both the West Seattle and Ballard extensions – and the other three are in West Seattle. Sound Transit had said two years ago, as we reported here, that it might need “early property acquisitions,” likely for “a small subset of critical properties.” The three West Seattle parcels in the early-acquisition motion going to the board are:
-Parcel # 7666703290 at 3800 West Marginal Way SW, the Riverside Mill site (per King County, 269,452 square feet, currently valued at $14.5 million)
-Parcel # 7666704005 at 2414 SW Andover, the Frye Commerce Center (home to multiple businesses including Alki Beach Academy [added] plus PNTA, Uptown Espresso, Delridge Deli Mart, among others) – 191,113 square feet, currently valued at $17.4 million)
-Parcel # 9358000465 on the northwest corner of 28th/Yancy (described as “vacant” – 10,000 square feet, currently valued at $357,000)
The motion seeking authorization to acquire those properties notes, “The early acquisitions will not limit the Board’s final choice of alternatives for either project.” But it also says this authorization would include approval to acquire the 25 properties through “eminent domain” if necessary: “Condemnation will be initiated should negotiations between Sound Transit and the property owners reach an impasse.” We’ve noted the West Seattle parcels’ valuations above, but the ST document says they won’t be talking dollars in open session: “In accordance with Sound Transit policy, budgets for specific parcels will be discussed with the Board in the executive session.” According to the document, the owners have all been notified of the acquisition plan, including letters sent by certified mail three weeks ago. Thursday’s 1:30 pm meeting includes a public-comment period as usual, either in person downtown or remotely, as explained on the agenda.
Received this afternoon from Jenny:
I live on the corner of 39th & Morgan. I’m writing to file a grievance and to announce a request.
After two days of carefully pruning two city-planted crabapples in front of my house, yesterday I clipped and bundled the twigs and then hand cut the remains for my Summer fire bowl, bundling them separately with hemp twine, intending to drive all bundles to my alley when the rain stopped. I went out today to find the bundle of firewood gone; the bundles of twigs remained. This was very special wood to me, not only because I have nurtured those trees since 2005 despite the fact that they grow out of control, but also because I spent a lot of time preparing them for my fire bowl. I imagine the person who took my wood is unaware that this wood was special with intended purpose, not disposable. I request the return of this bundle with much appreciation and no questions asked. The taker can put it on my front stoop at any time.
(2013 image via Seattle City Light)
By the end of this week, the city will take the next step in transforming a former Seattle City Light substation in Highland Park into housing – “affordable homeownership,” to be specific (with ground-floor commercial space). We reported in November and December on the City Council votes to approve transferring the 10,000+-square-foot parcel from SCL to the Office of Housing (OH) for $424,000 in Mandatory Housing Affordability fees from developers who choose to pay fees instead of building affordable units in their projects. This week, the Office of Housing will open the Request for Proposals from developers interested in the 16th/Holden site, zoned Neighborhood Commercial 40 (four stories), as the result of neighborhood advocacy. It’s projected that the site might be able to house 16 units. There are very specific rules for affordable-homeownership development, both for buyer eligibility and for what can be done with the units post-purchase (they must be owner-occupied, for example). When the Request for Proposals is available – projected for Friday – it’ll be linked on this city webpage.
1:44 PM: Metro has finalized the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s plan for this spring/summer:
-Friday/Saturday late-night service resumes April 19 and continues through October 11 (last run from downtown will be 10:45 pm)
-No service the weekend of April 13-14, to get ready for the season
-‘No late-night sailings Sundays through Thursdays, including after-evening events at Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park’
Also coming up this summer, midday Water Taxi service for Vashon – which previously only had service during am and pm commutes – will be added starting July 1st, with funding from the state. That schedule won’t be finalized until June, but you can see the West Seattle summer schedule by going here.
8:41 PM: Thanks to Kanit for pointing out that shortly after we published this, Metro announced it IS adding special service for the opening Mariners’ homestand this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Residents near 47th/Admiral report “a man with his pants down masturbating and yelling at kids walking by” around 7:45 this morning. He was reported to still be hanging around outside nearby residences this past hour; police were dispatched again, but we haven’t yet heard back from them, so we’re reporting this as a general alert, now that it’s afternoon. We don’t have a detailed description but a distant visual shows the man in bulky clothing including a brown puffy jacket. The original SPD incident number is 24-081992.
11:45 AM: Trains blocking traffic on lower Spokane Street, beneath the bridge, aren’t unusual – but the one that’s stopped right now may be blocking traffic longer than usual, because it’s having mechanical trouble. Right now it’s blocking both eastbound and westbound traffic on Spokane between 1st and 2nd, so you’ll want to avoid the area TFN.
11:51 AM: Apparently the fears of a long blockage were unfounded – radio exchanges indicate the train’s moving again and the Spokane St. backups are clearing up.
(Daffodils in Seaview – photo sent by Gloria)
Highlights for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
‘MEAN GIRLS’ FUNDRAISER: Now through 10 pm, dine/drink at Circa (2605 California SW) and tell them you’re there to support the West Seattle High School production of “Mean Girls: The Musical,” and a portion of the proceeds will be donated.
FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop in Tuesday mornings until noon at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular weekly meeting of the Seattle City Council, 2 pm. There is a public-comment section – in person or by phone – if there’s something you want to tell the council. The agenda explains how. You can watch live via Seattle Channel.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Two teams are playing at home today, both at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – 4 pm, softball, West Seattle HS vs. Seattle Prep; 4:30 pm, boys’ soccer, Chief Sealth IHS vs. Ballard.
BEER & BASKETBALL: New event at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW), 4-9 pm – Jet BnB is part beer tasting, part basketball watch party. More info, and tickets, here.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
FAUNTLEROY YMCA COMMITTEES: 6 pm meeting at Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall (9140 Fauntleroy Way SW) for everyone interested in working on helping save the Fauntleroy YMCA.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: Run with new (or not-so-new) friends! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
MAKE POTTERY: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm Tuesdays. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) now has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
BINGO AT TALARICO’S: You can play 8 pm bingo every Tuesday. (4718 California SW)
What are you planning? Are community members invited? Tell everyone via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Joanne Moon, and sharing this remembrance with the community:
Joanne Rose Chicketti Heald Moon was born in Seattle on 2/18/1936 and passed away on 3/24/2024 in Buckeye, Arizona.
Joanne was born to Liberto Chicketti and Josephine Malaspino at Sisters of Providence. She was raised in what was known as Garlic Gulch in the Rainier Valley and graduated from Franklin High School in 1954. Joanne married Charles Heald in 1955, and they had two children together, Jeff (1955-2024), and Jodi in 1957.
After the end of her first marriage, she married George C. Moon (1924-1981) in 1965 and moved to West Seattle, where she lived until relocating to Arizona to be near her children in 2019. Joanne could be seen daily in the many years she lived in West Seattle up and down California Ave or along Alki on her five mile or more walks. She enjoyed her two fingers of Scotch daily at 5:00 PM, not 4:45 or 5:15 God forbid, 5:00.
Joanne lost her son Jeff in January of this year and is survived by her daughter Jodi Van Campen (Jack), her grandchildren Amy Van Campen Taylor, Ryan Heald, Jacinta Heald, and Dylan Van Campen. Her great-grandchildren Olivia, Collin, Dominic, Damian, Elena, Emilia, and soon to come great-great-grandaughter Ava, her stepdaughter Leona Moon, her daughter in law Donna Heald, her sister Rosemary Rutherford (Denis), nieces Nickie and Leslie Rutherford, and extended family and friends.
There will be no services, at her request.
(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)
6:01 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, March 26.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly sunny, with showers likely, high in the mid-50s. Sunrise will be at 6:58 am, sunset at 7:31 pm.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here. Reminder – the twice-yearly “service change” happens on Saturday (March 30); here’s our breakout of West Seattle changes.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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