West Seattle, Washington
27 Thursday
(Alki Elementary project rendering showing ‘atrium’ that appellant called into question)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“There’s been a lot of testimony, but a lot of it’s pretty repetitive.”
That’s how deputy hearing examiner Susan Drummond assessed the three-day hearing on the Alki Elementary rebuild zoning-exception appeal, as she explained to the lawyers for both sides post-testimony why she expected she would need only a few days to make a decision, once they filed their closing statements.
Indeed, the third and final day of testimony – one day longer than originally expected – went back over many of the points already made, such as transportation consultants’ disagreement over parking conditions in the school’s neighborhood and how they would be affected if and when the new school operated at its full capacity, with 500+ students, 40+ preschoolers, and up to 75 staff members, compared to the current 271 students and 30+ staffers.
What’s at issue is whether Seattle Public Schools will be granted one more zoning exception – in addition to those it’s already been granted – to allow fewer offstreet parking spaces than the 48 required by zoning. The district now proposes 15, after its original plan for 0 was challenged successfully by other appellants. Drummond also heard, and ruled in, that appeal, which had a one-day hearing last July to consider the challenges to seven zoning exceptions.
Our coverage of the first day (Tuesday, May 28) is here; the second day (Thursday, May 30) is here. Day 3 (Monday, June 3) began with the main appellant:
Thanks to Lisa McGinty, forest steward with Friends of Lincoln Park, for a report and photos on their latest restoration event:
We had a great time in the forest on Sunday. Twenty-five volunteers gathered to enjoy wildlife, nature education, and have fun getting muddy doing some forest restoration.
Grateful to the community for showing up and caring about our urban green spaces!
This event is part of the Society for Ecological Restoration’s Make a Difference Week – an annual week of global restoration action where individuals and organizations from around the world host and participate in local volunteer restoration events to achieve a tremendous global collective impact.
Missed it? If you have time tomorrow afternoon/evening, it’s not too late to get in on the World Environment Day restoration event at Pigeon Point Park!
(Photo courtesy Outdoors for All)
“We can get almost anyone on a bike,” says Outdoors for All, which is coming back to West Seattle this Sunday (June 9) for another adaptive-cycling demonstration, with free test rides. Outdoors for All, which is partnering with SDOT for the free event, says it’s “for people with disabilities or anyone that can’t ride a 2-wheeled bike due to balance issues.” They’ll be there 10 am-2 pm Sunday, with trikes, handcycles, and tandems, free of charge to take for a ride. No need to register in advance: “Riders can complete their liability waiver and registration at the event.” Outdoors for All came to the same location last August for a similar event.
Good news for fans of Miso (Chef Korea) at 1513 SW Holden in Highland Park – the restaurant has reopened, and changed its hours. Two weeks ago, there were concerns it was gone for good when a sign reading SORRY CLOSED DOWN appeared on the door along with a city-issued water-shutoff warning. Then two days later, a new sign declared the closure “temporary,” and a social-media message said “see you in (a) few days,” explaining they were “temporarily closed for renovations.” So we’ve been watching, and confirmed today that Miso has reopened. We asked what they’d renovated, and the person behind the counter said they’d changed their mind about renovations. They did change their hours a bit – they’re now open 11 am to 9 pm, Mondays-Saturdays, closed Sundays.
(WSB photo, 2023 parade)
Just one month until Independence Day … and the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade, a quarter-century tradition. Megan Erb is coordinating it again this year, now under the umbrella of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, and she sent us this update:
We’re one month away from one of the biggest and possibly cutest West Seattle events of the year! The West Seattle 4th of July Kids Parade takes place on Thursday, July 4, 10 a.m. at the corner of Sunset Ave. and 44th Ave SW. Start planning your festive decorations for your bike, wagon, scooter, stroller, and yourself and kiddos! West Seattle families are the parade as we march through the North Admiral neighborhood to Hamilton Viewpoint Park. At the park, you’ll find booths full of kids’ activities, food trucks, coffee stands, and our famous coffee-bean-sack races! Our local fire department truck and police officers will be on hand with truck tours, stickers, and more!
This year the event is hosted by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (ANA), with support from Mode Music Studios, Potter Construction, Mathnasium, South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools, Holy Rosary School, Neighborhood Naturopathic, Fit4Mom West Seattle, West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Blog, and three new sponsors this year: Wicked Rae’s Art Studio, Dragonfly Yoga Pilates Dance, and Brian M. Peters Design. Parade attendees can get food and coffee from JJ Super Dawgs and West Seattle Grounds! Festive 4th of July swag will be handed out at the beginning of the parade thanks to Holy Rosary School, Neghborhood Naturopathic, and South Seattle college Cooperative Preschool.
To learn more about the event, including how to sponsor a kids’ activity table or volunteer for the event, visit the ANA’s West Seattle 4th of July Kids Parade webpage or contact info@connecttoadmiral.org.
If you’re new – here’s our coverage of last year, including video of all participants as the parade began.
(Photo by Lynn Hall – low tide last month near Anchor/Luna Park)
Beach alert! The next series of low-low tides starts tomorrow, and they’re even lower than last time – four consecutive days of low tides at least -3.0 feet:
Wednesday -3.0 at 10:40 am
Thursday -3.4 at 11:21 am
Friday -3.3 at 12:02 pm
Saturday -3.0 at 12:45 pm
Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be at Constellation and Lincoln Parks all four days (and Sunday) – see their schedule/locations here. And whether you’re out there with an expert or by yourself, please tread lightly!
It’s the most delicious fundraiser of the year – the Taste of West Seattle – and the West Seattle Food Bank will present it on September 19 this year. Though that sounds far away, WSFB is looking for restaurant participants right now to meet planning deadlines – here’s the announcement we just received:
Back again this year: The Taste of West Seattle!
West Seattle Food Bank invites restaurants, wineries, breweries, bakeries, and more to participate in the Taste of West Seattle 2024!
Our local, community-based food fair is the largest event of its kind in West Seattle and will again be at the Hall at Fauntleroy on Thursday evening, September 19, 2024. Featuring food and drink from over 30 different restaurants, breweries, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries, chocolatiers, specialty food stores and more! This event draws a sell-out crowd of 500 people from throughout King County. All proceeds from the event go directly to support the West Seattle Food Bank’s most needed programs and services.
Attendees vote on entries into categories such as “Best Veggie”, “Best Beverage” and “Best Meat Dish”. YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE THE WINNER and have bragging rights all year!
Businesses participating donate 300-500 samples to serve at the event and have 1-2 staff members serving from 5-9 pm on Thursday, September 19th, but there is no cost to enter the contest.
Participation in this event brings us closer to our vision of a community where our neighbors have access to the essential necessities of living, including food, shelter, and clothing. Nearly 20,000 residents of our neighborhood will receive assistance from the West Seattle Food Bank over the next year. Your involvement can make a profound difference in ensuring we have adequate resources to meet this critical need, while promoting your business to our donors and community!
For more information or to sign up, please contact Robbin Peterson – robbin@westseattlefoodbank.org
Here’s who won last year.
P.S. If you’re not a restaurateur but hoping to attend – watch here (and WSB, of course) for updates when tickets are available – this often sells out in advance!
(Concept for what you’d see turning off California onto Hill)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Calling it a ‘continuation of transparency” about the future redevelopment of its site, Admiral Church brought back its partners to show off the site plan to the community this past Sunday afternoon, after an earlier meeting with its congregation. It’s not a final design but this has the most details yet about how the church and Homestead Community Land Trust envision filling the site with a mix of affordable and market-rate for-sale housing as well as a new mixed-use building for the church and its programs.
They finalized their partnership plans last year; the church had long been seeking a way to ensure a sustainable future despite its deteriorating building, while using its half-acre campus for community good, including affordable housing.
“We’re thrilled with this design – it’s exactly what we were hoping for,” said Admiral Church’s pastor, Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom. “We’re over the moon impressed with the work that Third Place Design has done.” That’s the project architect. The bulk of the new information was via this site plan:
The project would be broken up into five buildings. Third Place’s Poppi Handy explained that they didn’t want to design it as “one massive building.” From west to east, the site plan shows a building with four 3-story, 3-bedroom townhouses with garages; another with three 3-story, 4-bedroom townhouses; the mixed-use building with room for the church and its programs, plus eight condo “flats” on three stories above it; a building with two 3-story, 3-bedroom townhouses; and a building with four 2-story, 3-bedroom townhouses. The site also would have a shared courtyard, a rooftop deck, and an 18-space parking lot (12 for the church and 6 for residents). In all, that’s 21 for-sale residential units – 13 townhouses and 8 condos. One note: The condo “flats” in the mixed-use building will have access to an elevator, which the project team says helps with the accessibility challenges otherwise raised by three-story townhouses.
The church would have entrances on two sides – one for people coming from the parking lot, the other for people coming from California/Hill. The church’s space will include offices and community rooms (they currently host a variety of community uses, from the Admiral Neighborhood Association to recovery groups). One thing it won’t include: The preschool A Child Becomes will not be part of the new campus (Rev. Conley-Holcom said it has already secured a new home at another church).
(Part of a 3-D “flythrough” shown at meeting)
Questions were fielded by project participants including Handy, Homestead CLT’s Kathleen Hosfeld, and the pastor. What about the site grade? It’ll be leveled, said Handy. The current basement space will be filled. Will the rooftop deck be available to the neighboring community for events? Hosfeld said that possibility can be explored, though it would require a public restroom, among other things. Will there be solar power? Yes, they’re planning on solar for all townhomes, depending on financing, and probably at least the “common area” of the church/condos building.
The parking plans drew some discussion. Yes, there’ll be EV accommodation, with the help of city subsidies. Why 10 spaces for 21 residential units? They expect nearby street parking to handle it.
As has been the case in previous discussions of the project, many questions centered on the “affordable homeownership” aspect of the project. 13 of the units will be “affordable” to households with income no greater than 80 percent of the area median, though Homestead says they aim for more like 65 percent. Right now, that means a little over $300,000 for a three-bedroom townhouse, considered affordable to a 2-person household making $88,000. “That may sound like a good income, but it’s not so affordable for buying homes,” Hosfeld observed. In the agreement with Homestead, buyers agree to limit their equity to help ensure the unit would be affordable in perpetuity, as the land-trust agreement stipulates.
Why only 13 affordable homes? That’s all the available subsidies – city/state grants, for example, totaling about $250,000 per unit – will cover; profits from the eight market-rate units will also help subsidize the affordable units. So far they have about $4.5 million for the project (we reported on one grant earlier this year); making it all affordable units would require another $2.4 million or so. Which of the currently planned units are the affordable ones? That’s not settled yet, except for the four townhouses on the northwest side of the property.
Buyers will come from Homestead’s 2,000-family waitlist, and they said they have up to 40 qualified applicants for every home that’s become available (they use “fair housing tiebreaking criteria,” as explained here).
A lot of how this all works will be stipulated by a homeowners’ association agreement – for example, though they’re not part of the land trust,, “even the market-rate homes will have to stay owner-occupied.” The church will be a condo, technically, and it too will be bound by the HOA.
TIMELINE: Design and planning will continue through the end of 2025; they hope to get permits in March 2026, and from there, construction would last about a year and a half. The permit process will include more opportunities for public comment; at Sunday’s meeting, attendees were invited to evaluate design elements such as roof pitches, exterior materials, and windows (above).
That’s the area where Seattle Public Utilities plans to start work this summer on a pump-station upgrade at the waterfront end of SW 98th [map] that’ll expand the street-end parklet at the site. SPU sent an update about this because they now say the “parklet” will be closed to public use for up to 10 months during the work, which is recapped as follows:
During an evaluation of SPU’s pump stations, we identified that Pump Station 71 needs substantial upgrades to improve worker safety and to keep the system working at its full capacity. SPU is proactively making improvements to this critical sewer infrastructure to ensure we continue providing reliable sewer service to you and your neighbors. As part of this effort, we’ll be making some improvements to the shoreline street end, including removing the guardrail and extending the useable street end 20+ feet to the east, replacing the current bench as well as creating a pad for wheelchair access, and installing beach logs, native plants, and new trees to enhance the natural area in the street end:
This work will be done in the public right-of-way at the western end of SW 98th St. … Most of the work will take place in the pump station, with surface work and construction staging in the street surrounding the pump station.
Some preliminary electrical work will be taking place in early July. Full construction mobilization is expected to begin as early as late August 2024. Once it begins, work is estimated to take about 7-10 months to complete.
This project has been years in the making and is running behind the previously announced schedule; we published this update two years ago, at which time the work was expected to be done in 2023, lasting up to six months. A 2022 project communication included this rendering:
(Flowers before the rain, photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here are the highlights for the rest of your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE: Looking for an indoor playspace for your little one(s)? Drop in Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9 am until noon at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).
CONVERSATION AND FRIENDSHIP CORNER: 1-2:30 pm at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon):
Share stories in a friendly group to build connections, enhance skills and confidence for deeper friendships and learn to enjoy whole-hearted and open discussions to eliminate loneliness.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, also at the Center for Active Living (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 go downtown or watch live via Seattle Channel.
TRANSPORTATION LEVY PUBLIC HEARING: The second and final public hearing devoted to comment on the proposed Transportation Levy – which District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka proposes amending and further expanding – is at 4:30 pm, and the agenda explains how to participate, in person or online.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
‘READY FREDDY’ PREP PARTY: Just in Case Disaster Preparedness Services (WSB sponsor) invites you to another free Ready Freddy Prep Party, this time at 6 pm at Whisky West (6451 California SW(, as your next step toward being ready – just in case. RSVP required – go here.
TOWN HALL ON YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE: All welcome, 6 pm at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW):
An open forum where community members can come together to talk about youth substance-use prevention efforts, ask questions, and share thoughts and concerns. There will be a training on how to use naloxone, a medication to help reverse an opioid overdose. Sponsored by Westside HEY Coalition and SW Seattle Youth Alliance, King County, Washington Health Care Authority, and Seattle Public Schools.
FREE INTRODUCTORY ASL CLASSES: The series continues, and you can start at any time. 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: Bring your friends! Meet new ones! Gather at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
LEARN TO LEAD … and to communicate more clearly, among other benefits of participating in Toastmasters 832‘s online meetings. 6:30 pm. Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP so you can get the link.
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).
(added) ‘WWE: THE MUSICAL’: Student-written/directed/performed “satirical musical” at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), 7 pm tonight, tomorrow, Thursday. Admission free, charity donations encouraged.
BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – weekly Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (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).
BINGO AT TALARICO’S: You can play 8 pm bingo every Tuesday. (4718 California SW)
Event coming up? Are community members invited? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather June 13 to celebrate the life of Paul Thomas. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community:
Remembering Paul R. Thomas Sr. 1926-2024
Paul was born September 13, 1926, in Bow, WA, and passed away April 25, 2024. He came to the Seattle Georgetown neighborhood as a young child, moving to White Center and then Renton for a couple of years before returning and settling in West Seattle. He attended Cleveland and Highline High Schools.
After his mother fell ill, Paul headed to Alaska at the young age of 16 and started his lifelong work in the Maritime industry. He worked on fishing boats from 1941-1943 and then joined the Merchant Marines. Paul was a seaman on various supply ships and tugboats in the Pacific during WWII and into the early 1950s. His family loved hearing stories from his time at sea and he proudly wore his veteran hat as often as he could. Paul began working at Puget Sound Tug & Barge/Crowley Maritime in 1955 and continued in management there until his retirement in 1993.
After Paul’s retirement, he and his second wife Joann enjoyed traveling. He spent his time golfing, bowling, playing cribbage, gardening, and foraging for mushrooms and shellfish on the beaches and forests in the Pacific Northwest. Jigsaw puzzles were a favorite and he could spend hours working on them. Paul’s all-time favorite pastime was dancing at the West Seattle Corner Inn, the Eagles, or anywhere else he thought a good band was playing. He had a great group of dancing pals. He also loved celebrating his birthdays and spending time with his extended family and friends who he loved unconditionally. With six children, four stepchildren, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and even a couple of great-great-grandchildren, the parties could get pretty crowded!
Paul was always busy and had a great deal of energy. He often would be gathering oysters in the morning on Hood Canal, working all day in the yard, or making the rounds to see his kids, and still have the energy to go dancing the same evening. He would routinely meet up with friends Sunday mornings for breakfast at the Eagles well into his 90’s.
Paul was married to Adelaide Thomas and though their relationship turned out to be less permanent than either of them expected, they went on to raise six wonderful children. He married his second wife Joann Thomas and was beloved by her 4 children. They enjoyed their life together until her death. He and his friend and companion, Fran McCandless, spent loving time with their friends and families until her death. Paul is also preceded in death by six of his seven siblings, his son Earl, his stepchildren Patti and Ben, and his daughter in-law Laurie.
Paul was fiercely independent and lived on his own until 2 years ago when a fall and post-surgery complications made living alone impossible. His family is eternally grateful for the loving care he received from the Clark Residence in Burien. We can’t thank them enough!
A celebration of his life will be held June 13 at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse Emerald Room at 1 pm.
We love and miss you “Big Daddy.” May you be dancing on clouds without a care in the world.
(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)
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, June 4.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Showery, breezy, possible thunderstorms, high in low 60s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:13 am; sunset will be at 9:02 pm.
ONGOING ROAD WORK
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work.
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: Here’s the main view:
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. (The low bridge has been reconnected to the feed, too.)
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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