West Seattle, Washington
11 Thursday
By Sean Golonka
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Residents from across West Seattle and South Park expressed concerns about community safety and a desire to see more alternatives to policing at a city-convened public forum tonight, but most people in attendance described feeling at least somewhat safe in their neighborhood.
Among the few dozen attendees — who reported hailing from all over the area, South Park to Alki — 32 people responded to a poll at the event asking how safe they feel in their neighborhood, with 12% selecting “very safe,” 51% “somewhat safe,” 15% “somewhat unsafe,” and 6% “very unsafe.”
The forum held at Concord International Elementary in South Park was one of four community-safety forums held by the mayor’s office, with a fifth and final forum scheduled in Queen Anne later this week.
The Tuesday forum offered local residents a chance to speak with staff from about a dozen city agencies, including Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Seattle Department of Transportation, and was designed for local government officials to collect feedback meant to shape the One Seattle Safety Framework.
The framework, which has not yet been released, will guide the city’s strategic approach to public safety, and includes six key goals:
9:49 PM: Police have closed both directions of 16th Avenue SW in front of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) while they try to get someone out of a vehicle; as our photo shows, it’s the area with a few parked RVs, but police are asking over a loudspeaker for someone to exit a “car.” We don’t know yet exactly what this is about – we have a crew at the scene hoping to speak with an officer – but wanted to let you know to avoid the area.
9:54 PM: We just talked with a sergeant who says someone they believe is armed is in one of the RVs and that’s who they are telling to come out – no details yet on why he came to their attention in the first place, though. The sergeant warns that it’s a standoff so far and could last a few hours.
10:46 PM: Not resolved yet, per update officers just gave to dispatch.
11 PM: Another update from officers to dispatch: They’ve seen no indication anyone is actually in the trailer and have no indication that there’s an active danger to anyone, so they’re leaving. The street is reopening.
ADDED: From the SPD summary of the incident:
Officers responded to a report of a disturbance with a gun. Responding Officers established probable cause for Felony Harassment with a firearm by a known suspect. Officers contained the suspect’s trailer/residence and attempted to hail possible occupants of the trailer. During these attempts, the 6300 block of 16 Ave SW was blocked to vehicle traffic. After a sufficient amount of time, Officers were unable to determine whether the trailer was occupied. No continued threat to life or public safety was determined and Officers disengaged and cleared from the scene.
That’s an edited video released by Seattle Police tonight showing two arrests – one following a foot pursuit that crossed SW Roxbury at one point – following an incident two weeks ago at the Walgreens in South Delridge. The accompanying SPD Blotter post says it happened the evening of April 28; police were flagged down about a cash-register theft at the store, and as the video shows, they were there as a 20-year-old woman walked out of the store holding the stolen register; it took a while longer to arrest the 40-year-old man they say was with her – the video shows him initially walking away, unchallenged. Police say both were booked into jail that night, the woman for theft and unlawful gun possession, the man for obstructing a law enforcement officer and “a previous incident of domestic violence.” We don’t know whether either was subsequently charged, as we won’t be able to get their names until tomorrow.
Thanks to Michael for the photo and report:
Admiral Pub’s pinball team (named the Admiraballs) won the Seattle Monday Night Pinball league championship last night after 14 weeks of play.
Michael says 34 teams of 10 players per team competed in the league, and that the championships were held at Add-a-Ball in Fremont. “Our team had the number-one seed going into playoffs so every game up until the finals was played at the Admiral Pub.”
4:16 PM: District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka was one of eight “yes” votes on the years-in-the-works Seattle Police officers contract approved during today’s just-concluded council meeting. The only “no” vote was Councilmember Tammy Morales, who wanted to delay the vote, saying the public hadn’t had enough time to hear about and comment on the agreement. But no other councilmember supported that idea. Saka said that, like Morales, he is also concerned about officer accountability and civilian oversight, and hopes to find “other ways” to “strengthen” them. Saka, vice chair of the Public Safety Committee, said he believes the pay increases in the new contract will bring SPD closer to “competitive pay,” which he sees as a “central component” in retention as well as hiring. It’s been two weeks since the mayor announced the tentative agreement, which covers contractless years through the end of 2023 (by which point the wage increases total 23%); read the full agreement here.
P.S. This is likely to be a topic at the mayoral public-safety forum for West Seattle/South Park tonight – 6 pm at Concord International Elementary (723 S. Concord) – the online RSVPs have closed but you can still attend if you didn’t sign up in advance, that page says.
6:05 PM: Shortly after the council vote, Mayor Harrell signed it.
After two reader tips, we’ve just confirmed with a spokesperson for restaurateur Brian Clevenger that one of his West Seattle restaurants, Haymaker (4706 California SW), has closed. His other restaurants – including West Seattle’s Raccolto and GH Pasta and Pizza – remain open. Here’s the statement we received in response to our inquiry:
Haymaker is officially closed and most teammates are transitioning to other General Harvest locations.
After a great five years and a ton of support from the West Seattle community, General Harvest has decided to focus on the two brand concepts the company has grown over the last several years and will continue to develop in the future.
The first is small neighborhood spaces offering a selection of handmade pastas, fresh local vegetables, and a variety of seafood and protein dishes – similar to Raccolto, Vendemmia, Autumn, and recently opened Haerfest.
The second is the GH Pasta and Pizza model, offering fan-favorite large bowls of fresh pastas, a variety of 12” pizzas with rotating specials, starters, and salads, all at approachable prices.
Haymaker, while well loved, was a bit of an outlier and thus it made sense to move on to new ventures aligned with the above. We’re wishing the next restaurant the best of luck!
No restaurant has announced a takeover plan for the space yet, but it’s been listed for sale. Haymaker opened in the space in summer 2019, a little over half a year after the first restaurant in the space, Vine and Spoon, was evicted (at the same time as Vine and Spoon’s sister establishment Alchemy). The Haymaker closure comes just months after another restaurant closure in the Junction 47 complex – The Lodge Sports Grille closed there at the end of last year.
(WSB photo from 2023 Admiral Funktion)
So much summer (and late spring) fun ahead! Today the Admiral Neighborhood Association wants you to know it’s bringing back the Admiral Funktion block party in the heart of The Admiral District, Saturday, August 24th, from 11 am to 10 pm … and while that might sound far away, planning and preparation starts early for festival organizers and participants, so they’re launching a call for vendors now! Registration is open via this link. (And if you want to get early intel about this event and other Admiral summer fun, be at the Admiral Neighborhood Association gathering tonight at 7 at Admiral Church!)
(Reader photo sent Monday by Lara)
Every day we’re continuing to get reports about the pair of birds we’ve dubbed the wandering guinea fowl of West Seattle, including people who haven’t seen our previous stories and/or who mistake them for turkeys. So we’ve been meaning to mention them again, and today’s the day, because we received a call from someone who saw them near the bridge entrance at 35th/Fauntleroy and was worried the birds were in danger of wandering into traffic. That, they’ve done, in other parts of The Triangle and The Junction, so the concern is not necessarily unmerited. In short, we first mentioned them last year; they have a home northeast of The Junction but they are allowed to roam, and seem to do so avidly. Because of that, the Seattle Animal Shelter told us last month, they’ve attempted to capture the guinea fowl, but haven’t had any luck with that. So what would happen if they did capture these birds? SAS spokesperson Melissa Mixon told us, “If they were in our custody, they would go on a stray hold. If no one reclaimed them, they could be placed for adoption.”
(Added: WSB photo, center’s executive director Amy Lee Derenthal and board president Dawn Schaper)
8:50 AM: We are at Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, where what was the Senior Center of West Seattle has just concluded its annual fundraising breakfast with the “big reveal” of its new name: The Center for Active Living. They’ll be celebrating all day at the center (California/Oregon). More on the event, and what’s next, later!
ADDED 12:24 PM: The new name is meant to showcase “the vibrancy” of the center as a “welcome and inclusive place for everyone.” And the center is growing – more than 1,300 members, double what it was pre-pandemic (despite a nearly 50 percent drop during the pandemic peak) – the youngest 27, the oldest 102.
Memberships alone won’t sustain the center, as more members – and visitors – means more users for its services. So this morning’s goal was $50,000, “to make sure this community has everything it needs to support people as they age,” explained emcee Ryan Sheaffer. In our clip below, you’ll hear from him as well as some of the event speakers – one of the center’s 150+ volunteers, Joe Lamy; executive director Amy Lee Derenthal; and supporter John Bennett:
The “big reveal” itself was announced from the stage at the end of the program, as was the artist chosen for the new mural that will grace the center’s exterior, as well as the team overhauling the center website.
Then the members in attendance got to go home with a goodie bag featuring the center’s new logo/name:
Assisting in the morning’s fundraising was Nucor Steel, which pledged to match donations up to $15,000:
Besides the new name, Derenthal said they’re expecting to grow beyond the 40 classes and activities they already offer each week (and the lineup is already varied, she reminded everyone, with recent offerings such as Cannabis 101 and Pickleball Injury Prevention) in addition to their café (open for lunch!) and Stop & Shop thrift store. The newly renamed Center for Active Living promises to be “a place where our community can gather, learn and thrive.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Signage with the new name was expected to go up today. It’ll be a “few months” before we see the work of selected muralist Brady Black joining it.
(Rhododendron that caught the attention of photographer Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ALL-DAY DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER FOR ALKI CO-OP PRESCHOOL: Until 5 pm, Ampersand Café (2536 Alki SW) is donating part of its proceeds to Alki Co-op Preschool – be sure to mention you’re there in support of the preschool.
EXPANDED FAUNTLEROY YMCA HOURS: The Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) continues its recently expanded hours – 9 am to noon and 4 pm to 7 pm, Mondays through Thursdays. Classes have been added, too.
FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop in Tuesday mornings 9 am 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 period – 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.
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.
MAYOR’S PUBLIC-SAFETY MEETING: Tonight at 6 pm at Concord International Elementary in South Park (723 S. Concord), it’s the West Seattle/South Park version of the meeting that city reps are presenting in each police-precinct jurisdiction, as explained in our calendar listing (where you’ll also find the RSVP link).
PARENTING WITH COURAGE AND CONNECTION: All West Seattle parents are invited to this free workshop at Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee), 6 pm – RSVP here.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Monthly board meeting (community members welcome to attend too), 6 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW) – here’s the agenda.
FREE INTRODUCTORY ASL CLASSES: This start-any-time series continues, 6 pm at the West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW), info here.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: Run with your neighbors! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
ALKI POINT FOR ALL: 6:30 pm community meeting organized by opponents of the final plan for the Alki Point Healthy Street, as explained in this announcement, which includes the RSVP link. At C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
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).
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), with an update on the Admiral Way Bridge earthquake-strengthening project and new info about summer events, as previewed here.
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) 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; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
FREE SEATTLE SYMPHONY CONCERT: 7:30 pm community concert with Chief Sealth IHS musicians joining the Seattle Symphony at the CSIHS Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle), free admission.
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!
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, May 14.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, high in the upper 60s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:32 am; sunset will be at 8:39 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERTS
*SDOT says the permanent Highland Park Way/Holden signals are now working. But they have more to do at the intersection:
Over the next couple of weeks we will repair the sidewalk at the northwest corner of Highland Park Way SW. It was damaged by freight trucks driving over it when turning right onto SW Holden St. To address this, we will also adjust the lanes on Highland Park Way SW to allow for wider turns.Additionally, we will rebuild the curb ramps on the northwest and northeast corners of Highland Park Way and SW Holden St to address issues caught during our ADA accessibility inspection. This work is scheduled through May 24 … Our work hours are generally 7 AM – 4 PM. However, we will need to work overnight to adjust the lanes, which involves removing the current traffic lane markings and repainting the lines to mark the new lane widths.
*PSE’s Beach Drive gas-pipeline project could start this week.
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check for advisories here.
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 last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Low bridge: Open.
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
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 open for vessel traffic. (We’re aware that the low bridge hasn’t shown up in this feed since the recent closure, and we’re awaiting word from SDOT on whether that’ll be fixed.)
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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