West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
Morgan Junction’s pizza-and-more restaurant Peel & Press will close at the end of October, 10 years after it opened, proprietor Dan Austin announced late today. But the space at 6503 California won’t be empty for long, and Austin isn’t leaving the hospitality business. He will remain sole owner of the Flight Path bar in Boulevard Park and part owner of The Bridge in West Seattle and The Point in Burien. But closing Peel & Press, Austin says, will give him more time with his family – in his announcement, he notes, “I opened this place with a 5-month-old daughter and a wife already pregnant with another baby on the way … I have missed out on a lot of time with my wife and kids, and it is time to change that.” He adds, “I am proud of the restaurant’s ability to support the community. We have been a gathering spot for celebrations. We have been a spot for grieving. We have been a place that focused on a core principle. ‘We have no right to make money from a community that we don’t give back to.’ We focused on supporting the West Seattle Food Bank, local schools and many other local organizations. We rallied a group of other owners to help produce over 4,000 free meals for first responder and hospitality employees who were laid off at the start of the pandemic.”
As for what’s next in the Peel & Press space, Austin says, “I can’t tell you yet. I have worked to get an amazing owner in here and to bring something into West Seattle that I personally think we have needed more of for far too long. I will let them make the announcement, but I personally couldn’t be more excited!” He describes it as “a business that I think West Seattle will be really excited to add to its food scene.”
In an email conversation after his announcement, he told us a few more things. For one, he wants to be very clear that unlike some closures, this has nothing to do with lease matters – “I have an amazing landlord … a very fair lease with a great local building owner!” And he says some Peel & Press favorites will live on at his other establishments: “Some of my classic dishes will be run as specials at my other locations. Also, the West 5 Mac and Cheese will be available at The Bridge along with some of our specialty cocktails that people love,” starting shortly after Peel & Press’s last day on Sunday, October 27.
(WSB photos)
Looking for indoor activities for the weekend? Fauntleroy Church is ready for shoppers to show up starting tomorrow morning for its annual fundraising Second-Time Sale – carefully curated, donated items you might not be able to resist. Like this satin and velvet “crazy quilt”:
Or maybe a porcelain figurine:
Or a puzzle to keep busy on another rainy day:
If you need it, they just might have it. Furniture, books, sports equipment, kitchenware, jewelry, the list goes on. The Second-Time Sale is in the Fellowship Hall of the church (9140 California SW), 9 am-4 pm Saturday, 11:30 am-3 pm Sunday.
P.S. To make room for your finds, you can set aside stuff to take to the church NEXT Saturday (September 21) during the fall Recycle Roundup!
Thanks for the photo and tip! Just one week after its previous inbound trip to Bremerton, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) headed out again this afternoon. MarineTraffic.com shows it currently sailing past the west shore of south Whidbey Island. The Nimitz is scheduled for decommissioning in 2026, and a related contract was recently announced.
Thanks for the tips. “No parking” signage for next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday has gone up along SW Trenton between 25th and 29th, and the paperwork attached to some of them confirms those dates are set for cleaning up the encampment in that area.
As reported here previously, the city said it was planning to resolve the encampment in the second half of this month (which starts Monday); that timeframe was reconfirmed by City Councilmember Rob Saka and his district director Leyla Gheisar at Wednesday’s Southwest Precinct community meeting (WSB coverage here). SPD’s Parking Enforcement unit also has orange-tagged vehicles parked in the area:
The tags are warnings that the vehicles will be towed if not moved. Though the signage sets aside three days for the cleanup, past encampment operations we’ve reported on in other areas of West Seattle have tended to be completed on the first day.
Matt is hoping someone will see his stolen pickup:
Stolen from the 26th & Hudson area, just off Delridge Way. Stolen overnight, found it missing this morning & reported it to police.
The truck was parked directly in front of our house, with clear line of visibility from the main living room window, and we slept with the windows open. Neither we nor the neighbors heard a peep.
This truck has immense sentimental value to me, as it was previously my father’s, and I’d hoped to own it for many years to come.
2001 F-350 XLT (four-door, diesel, full bed, aftermarket dual hoodscoop hood), dark red. Plate D13678D. I only have 7 days before the insurance will write it off and I have no chance of getting it back. Hopefully someone sees it soon and I can get it back, fix it, and get back on the road.
Call 911 if you see it.
(File photos courtesy Cascadia Fresh Market)
Back in May, the West Seattle couple who own Cascadia Produce opened a small grocery store meant to be an oasis in the North Delridge “food desert” – Cascadia Fresh Market (5444 Delridge Way SW). They said they planned a pilot – test run – to see if the community would embrace this neighborhood spot to shop for affordable, nourishing food. Recently we asked co-proprietor Jill Moore what happened and what’s next. She provided this detailed, and hopeful, update, including big news:
Cascadia Fresh Market opened in May of this year with the goal of exploring our “fresh-food bodega” concept on the food-desert neighborhood of North Delridge through the end of August 2024. In that time, we hoped to show that people desired healthier food conveniently located to them and would change their habits to shop there. We also partnered with schools to engage local elementary school communities in introducing good, affordable food to kids and families, and pursued programs like SNAP/EBT, Fresh Bucks, and partnership with the West Seattle Food Bank to make sure all fresh food is utilized to its highest potential.
So How Did It Go?
It was a mixed bag. But most of the things that fell out of the bag were good. There were victories, failures, and a lot of rapid learning. We are more certain than ever that we want to nurture this market space in our community. However, we didn’t achieve consistent profitability during the initial pilot. The people that shop with us are enthusiastic about the mission, the value, and the atmosphere. There is a real value proposition for them – save money, shop conveniently, and support kids in their community all in one fell swoop. But the Fresh Market needs additional shoppers to achieve long-term viability. With margins on produce and grocery items low, many transactions are required to turn the profit necessary to support overhead. We know more time is required to build that shopper base – and that is the big announcement here today.
Cascadia Fresh Market OPEN and in Talks to Extend Pilot
Cascadia Fresh Market is seeking more time in the space to determine if our market experiment is a success. We are in discussion to extend our time in the 5444 Delridge Way SW space until at least June of 2025, so that we can properly establish and assess the business’ future. The new lease/dates have not been finalized yet, but this is our direction and the landlord seems open to this new timeline and mutually beneficial agreement.
Tenders EBT/SNAP and Fresh Bucks Now Accepted
We recently got both SNAP and Fresh Bucks implemented in the Fresh Market – we do hope that will lead new shoppers to the market and push us into sustainability. We are looking for ways to make this known more widely, as well as our daily hours (10 – 7 pm). Our goals during the extended pilot period will include keeping prices low, while bringing in key local foods including ready-made grab n go selections from local food entrepreneurs who also wish to reduce food waste and feed more people. Cascadia Fresh Market will partner our faces off with schools and business and institutions and care facilities – anywhere where people are, there should be access to good food. We are working new programs with West Seattle preschools and elementary schools that include experiential learning about nutrition and food access for vulnerable families. We hope to partner with local senior living facilities and medical institutions to bring fresh food access to communities with limited transportation as well.
The Fresh Market is open every day from 10 am – 7 pm on Delridge.
If any small business can do this, we can. Cascadia Produce is a wholesale food access company with a warehouse and a small fleet of trucks based in Auburn. We (Jeremy and Jill, owners) live 650 steps from the market front door. From our vantage point, there is no shortage of food and no logistical hurdles preventing us from bringing right-size quantities to North Delridge. Our business has all of the resources needed to keep a neighborhood market stocked with good food consistently. We care enough to fine tune and learn new skills (like marketing!). Cascadia Fresh Market has a solid shot at being a sustainable independent business come June.
The Ask: Start at Cascadia Fresh Market and shop out.
If you value convenient grocery shopping in an urban food desert and want to see independent markets flourish and proliferate, we have an ask for you: Will you start your shopping at the Fresh Market and then “shop out” to other retailers as necessary? Try it for a few weeks and see if it works for you/your family. In return for this routine change, we will make sure we always have a wide selection of staple and exciting things at affordable prices. The more people shop, the more variety we can bring in. Express your food preferences to the staff and we will seek the foods that are important to you. This market is in the process of tailoring itself to fit the contours of the community and you can help shape that.
Where even is the Fresh Market?
One of our barriers has been that our storefront is hard to notice from the street. We are on Delridge, but mid-block in the base of a building. Young trees in the parking strip and median are the perfect height to obscure signage and cause cars and busses to pass in a blur without noticing the cool new market in town. Find our sunny little market in the shade of the building at 5444 Delridge Way SW. Cascadia Fresh Market is just south of the Delridge Library, just north of Sree’s gas station, on the East (opposite) side of Delridge Way. There is nearly always open parking directly in front of the store. Other nearby landmarks: the Rapid Ride H line stop on the corner of Findlay and Delridge (same side of the street), Pho Aroma, or any of the small restaurants in the KBM commissary kitchen. All of these locations are within a stone’s throw of our storefront.
Full grocery, full tummy, full heart.
The Fresh Market doesn’t just have veg – we always have staples like eggs, milk, rice, beans, yogurt, etc. We also have spices and drinks (cold brew, kombucha, soda, flavored milks, the works) and all sorts of snacks (ice cream, cookies, chips, pizzas, and more).
The Fresh Market aims to weave together a better, stronger food culture in North Delridge – one that is
inclusive and easy and a place every person looks forward to visiting. There are wide aisles for those
with mobility challenges, and lo-fi games to occupy kids for a few moments of rare shopping peace.
Free Fridge Overflow-eth
Before there was a Free Fridge there was Carrot Man’s Carrot Stand on 25 th . Our family put out free produce during the pandemic and our neighbors didn’t let anything sit long! Everyone felt welcome and excited for free food, even if it needed a little rehab (aka, to be put in a glass of water for a few hours). This resource has simply moved to the refrigerator inside the Fresh Market. It’s not much farther away and everyone is welcome to utilize the fridge. It often sits super full for days. We would rather people take the items immediately so that they are in the best possible shape. The West Seattle Food Bank has sponsored our Free Fridge and together we want you to know – FREE FRESH FOOD IS AVAILABLE EVERY DAY at the Fresh Market. It’s usually fruit and vegetables, but other items make their way there as well. Come check it out. It’s okay to bring a pet on a leash into the Fresh Market.
Cascadia Fresh Market took over the space where Delridge Grocery Co-op ended its retail run last spring.
The business notes have been piling up behind this week’s huge stories and breaking news, but here goes with five!
GRAND OPENING: Charcuterie by Annalise is finally through the final stages of permits and remodeling at 6032 California SW and is getting ready to open (two months later than she originally hoped). Her new ribbon-cutting date is noon Sunday, September 22, and the shop will be open until 5 pm that day. Annalise Johnson says the event will include “cheese tastings, raffles/giveaways, demos, sweet treats, and charcuterie boxes for sale.” Find out more about her business in our previous story.
LADY JAYE TURNS 5: As mentioned briefly in today’s highlight list, Lady Jaye (4523 California SW) is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Co-proprietor Evan tells WSB, “We are so excited to have been a part of West Seattle for the last 5 years and we re-signed another 5-year contract. We are sticking around!” As part of the party, today starting at 4 pm they have a special menu item – for the first time, Smoked Texas-Style Wagyu Brisket. (Evan says they have seven briskets for the occasion – but when they’re sold out, they’re sold out!)
PAPER BOAT BOOKSELLERS TURNS 5: Also celebrating a milestone anniversary, Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW). Tomorrow (Saturday, September 14) is the party, 4-6 pm, and co-proprietor Desirae says in the announcement:
We hope you’ll join us even if it’s just to say hi and grab a slice of cake. We want to see your faces because we honestly can’t believe it’s been 5 years so we’ll need you to pinch us to assure it’s actually real! Communities like ours thrive when places bring them together and we’ve always believed that’s just what a bookstore can do. Through thick and thin, we’re here, because what would a bookstore be without the people who enter them.
Full celebration details are in our calendar listing, including 15 percent off purchases all weekend.
CHERRY EXPANDS TO 7 DAYS A WEEK: Cherry Consignment (4142 California SW), which celebrated its 15th anniversary a month ago, wants you to know that the shop is now open 7 days a week, noon-5 pm.
MYSTERY: Readers have emailed pointing out that “LEASED” sign in the window at the ex-Lodge space in Junction 47. As we’ve told them, there’s nothing on record yet, but we asked the commercial real-estate broker who leased it, Jason Miller, first VP at Kidder Matthews, what he could tell us: “I can confirm the space has been leased and the new Tenant plans to open in the first quarter of next year. Construction on the remodel will probably start later this year.” He describes the new tenant as “a great local restaurant with West Seattle roots” and expects them to go public “when the time is right.”
(The view from Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook – photo by Lisa Ruiz)
Here’s our reminder list of what’s happening in our area for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can always preview what’s ahead for the coming days and weeks):
STAY ‘N’ PLAY RETURNS: Free weekly drop-in indoor play is back at Arbor Heights Community Church (4113 SW 102nd), until 11:30 am.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: With fall just a week away, season-appropriate plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, now until 3 pm. Plus, until 2:30 pm, while you’re there, you can visit The Otter Pup for coffee, ice cream, and other treats!
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM: 1-6 pm, open in the north lot of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
LADY JAYE’S 5TH ANNIVERSARY: Lady Jaye celebrates five years in business today with a special menu item – smoked Texas-style Wagyu beef brisket, available 4 pm until sold out. (4523 California SW)
FOOTBALL: Both local teams play home games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) tonight – at 4:30 pm, Chief Sealth IHS vs. Franklin; at 7:30 pm, West Seattle HS vs. Interlake.
VISCON CELLARS: The tasting room/wine bar is open for wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
MAKE LUMINARIES AT THE CLAY CAULDRON: Be creative on your Friday night! 6-9 pm, we’re told there’s still space in this class at The Clay Cauldron – make a pierced ceramic constellation luminary with Lora – our calendar listing has registration info. (5214 Delridge Way SW)
AT KENYON HALL: Doors at 7 pm, show at 7:30 pm, for Kenyon Hall Cabaret, the monthly all-ages drag show. Check here for tickets/reservations. (7904 35th SW)
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Songwriters’ Showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.
AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
SOUND BATH WITH MT. SHASTA ENERGY: 7:30 pm with Maari Falsetto at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska)
‘GUARDS AT THE TAJ’: Second night for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 7:30 pm.
MAKE IT LOUD: Tonight’s bands at Southgate Roller Rink are Freddie Lee Toyoda, J Graves, No Existo. 9 pm doors, $18 cover, $5 skates, 21+. (9646 17th SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Proh Mic! (4547 California SW)
JARAY’S DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buzsy at Jaray’s Lounge (2216 SW Orchard).
Anything missing? If you have something else to add to our event lists and calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo from 2023 Fiestas Patrias Parade)
If you love parades, you don’t have to wait for next summer. Tomorrow (Saturday, September 14) brings this year’s Fiestas Patrias Parade in South Park, as part of the annual celebration of Latin American cultures and heritage. More than 40 entries are scheduled to participate, including groups from Denny International Middle School, Chief Sealth International High School, and Concord International Elementary. The entries also include folkloric dancers, horseback riders, mariachi musicians, car clubs, even the Seafair Pirates. The route starts at Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which presents the parade, continues eastbound on S. Henderson to 14th Avenue S., then turns west on S. Cloverdale and ends near South Park Community Center. It starts at 10 am.
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, September 13.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Today’s forecast: Cloudy, possible pm showers, high in mid-60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:44 am, while sunset will be at 7:24 pm. (Nine days until the fall equinox!)
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT, AND OTHER ROAD WORK OF NOTE
*No work scheduled tonight or this weekend on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project.
Other projects:
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive gas-line work continues.
WEEKEND NOTES
*Saturday – Fiestas Patrias Parade in South Park will close 14th Avenue South north of Henderson and South Cloverdale west of 14th, before and during the 10 am parade
*Saturday and Sunday – The Orca Half half-marathon will run both mornings, from Lincoln Park to Don Armeni; no road closures but some running will happen in parking lanes
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes. Still summer schedule, so late-night runs too.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules. Note that the twice-yearly service change is tomorrow, September 14 – Routes 60, 125, 131, and 132 are the ones in our area that will see changes.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. The “unscheduled third boat” is back.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – Looking east:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
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. (Note: We’re checking with SDOT re: why the low-bridge status doesn’t seem to have been appearing.)
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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Every chair was filled, and open wall space was lined with people standing, by the time SPD’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite convened last night’s quarterly community meeting in the precinct meeting room.
The major topic was encampments – particularly the one on SW Trenton between Westwood Village and Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex; gunfire was a topic of concern too. But before the attendees got to ask questions, they listened to District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka for more than half an hour. Here’s our video of his speech, with a few minutes of Q&A toward the end (he had to leave the meeting early for a conflicting commitment described as “tribal”):
He summarized what he and his council colleagues have been doing in the nine months since he took office, focusing on public-safety-related matters (he is vice chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee). First accomplishment Saka mentioned was the Seattle Police Officers Guild contract agreement. Lack of a contract had been considered one hindrance to police hiring; Saka said he helped address another via action he said would “streamline and simplify” the process. And he contended that the council’s approval of a plan to pay for space at the regional SCORE misdemeanor jail would also help with police retention, as he called it “demoralizing” for officers if they make an arrest but have to let the suspect go if there’s nowhere to book them. Saka also touched on expansion of police use of automated license-plate reading technology, and the ordinance allowing the city to demolish certain dangerous vacant buildings.
This was unfolding just as the Delridge incident (unrelated) was winding down, so we’ve gone back into the emergency-radio archives to catch up. 911 got multiple reports of suspected gunfire along SW Brandon between 26th and 30th just before 8:30 pm. Officers told dispatch they four 9mm casings. No reports of injuries.
8:30 PM: For those asking about the big police response along Delridge Way just south on SW Thistle – police were dealing with what was logged as a person-in-crisis situation at an apartment complex. The man at the heart of it was armed. He’s been taken into custody and police recovered the gun. He’ll be taken to Harborview for a mental-health evaluation, according to emergency radio.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: From the SPD summary of the incident:
At (6:44 pm), Officers responded to a crisis call located at the 8400 BLK of Delridge Wy SW. The details of the call indicated that there was a male in crisis with a firearm saying that he can see clowns and ninjas and that he wanted to hurt them. Officers arrived and contacted the subject on the phone. Officers contained the apartment building. The subject was initially inside of his apartment, but he decided to exit and continuously knock on his neighbor’s door. The subject damaged his apartment windows. Officers also contacted the complainant to determine if a crime was committed. … The subject eventually came outside, and he was placed in handcuffs. Officers recovered three BB guns that looked like real firearms. The subject was transported to the hospital on an (Involuntary Treatment Act commitment).
6:22 PM: Evening sunshine is making this a great night to get out on the West Seattle Art Walk!
Our first stop, the West Seattle Art Tour preview at NOR Design and Construction (5953 California SW). Above is Carolyn Autenrieth, one of the artists who’ll be hosting a studio stop on the September 21 tour (#6); below, milliner Izzie Lewis, who will be participating in another stop with her hats:
Other artists we met included Linda Voelker:
And Daniel Bernunzio:
The space at NOR is full of artists and samples of their work, plus snacks, so stop by tonight and find out more about the Art Tour! We’re on our way to other spots – this post on the Art Walk website has shortcuts to the venue list and map for tonight. More to come!
6:47 PM: You still have another hour to go see one, two, or even all three of tonight’s Art of Music mini-concerts. We just stopped in at Great American Diner & Bar (4752 California SW, venue change) to listen to the Toujaise Flute Duo:
Jennie Goldberg and Jaime Cornutt comprise the duo (perhaps you’ve seen/heard them during “Flutes in the Forest” concerts at Schmitz Preserve Park). They’re playing until 7:45 pm, as are Trevor Ras at Welcome Road Winery (3804 California SW) and McPage & Powell at Pine Lake Cellars (5405 California SW). Art receptions elsewhere along The Walk are continuing until at least 8. P.S. Bonus music in The Junction – Johnny Nails in-store at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) starting at 7!
ADDED: We’ve added two more artist photos above from our visit to the Art Tour preview. Later, while in The Junction, we also visited Jet City Labs, hosting Robin Jordan, who is this quarter’s featured Art Walk poster artist:
You can see her poster here. Set your calendar for next month’s Art Walk – October 10! (And the West Seattle Art Tour, a week from Saturday, on September 21.)
Thanks for the texted tips and photo. SDOT has installed more school-zone traffic calming, this time adding an all-way stop at 49th SW and SW Spokane, near the former Schmitz Park Elementary (currently in its second of three years as temporary home to Alki Elementary). Tipsters thought we’d want to let you know, as this might take some people by surprise. We found it mentioned as a “current project” on the same SDOT webpage where we found a mention of the speed cushions installed last week on California SW near Gatewood Elementary. The mention says simply, “Install all way stops near Schmitz Park – SPS interim site (expected in 2024 or 2025).” We’ll check again with SDOT on any others with imminent installation.
4:24 PM: Avoid Highland Park Way east of West Marginal for a while. As shown in the traffic-camera screenshot above, there are crashes on both sides of the street near 2nd SW – the eastbound one involves a school bus, but officers have told dispatch there were no children on board. No serious injuries reported in either crash.
4:51 PM: The eastbound crash has cleared and the live-camera view shows the westbound one should clear soon, with a tow truck on scene.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for tips that transient killer whales are in the area again today. A short time ago, she texted that “T65A5, the lone guy, is close to Alki Point SB,” which potentially means at least one whale in view from west-facing West Seattle. Let us know if you see any!
As happened in 2022 with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Sound Transit has published the Final EIS for West Seattle light rail ahead of its official release date (September 20). We’ve been watching the ST site for the likelihood this would happen (as explained in 2022, “early” publication relates to the Federal Register); thanks to Joe for the tip that it happened since our last check early today. We haven’t started reading it but are publishing links for those ready to dive right in. You can start here – that page has links to more than 50 chapters and appenndices. If you want to skip right to the key points, you can start with the 44-page Executive Summary, find that here. This is all a prelude to the Sound Transit Board making its final decision on routing and station locations; the date for that is not yet set.
ADDED 1:30 PM: If you’re interested in seeing more renderings (the one we featured atop this story was from the Executive Summary), tipster Joe reminds us that the 268-page Visual and Technical Aesthetics section is where you’ll find them – go here and scroll ahead to page 73 (titled Attachment N.2A: Key Observation Point Analysis). You’ll find dozens of images, such as this one showing what the light-rail line’s new dedicated bridge might look like:
More to come. Meantime, we also should remind you that ST has announced in-person informational sessions for September 25 and October 1 in West Seattle, October 2 in SODO – details here.
11:59 AM: Above, that’s what the southwest corner of 16th/Holden looks like today, a 9,425-square-foot former Seattle City Light substation originally declared as “surplus” more than a decade ago … and below is a “massing” rendering of its potential future with newly chosen prospective “affordable homeownership” developer Homestead Community Land Trust.
The city Office of Housing has just announced that it’s chosen Homestead CLT – which is also working on the Admiral Church project – to develop “permanently affordable” homes on the site. We’ve been following this process; most recently, the city told us in June that two developers were in the running, and one would be chosen by summer’s end. From the city announcement:
The City of Seattle’s Office of Housing (OH) is proud to announce a significant investment of up to $3 million in the future of affordable homeownership in West Seattle. This funding will be awarded to Homestead Community Land Trust (Homestead CLT) for the redevelopment of the former Dumar Substation site at 1605 SW Holden Street and will support the creation of 21 permanently affordable homes, marking a critical step forward in the City’s ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing options for low-income families.
Homestead CLT, partnering with the Cultural Space Agency, submitted a winning proposal through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that not only increases the supply of affordable homeownership units but also integrates ground-floor commercial space to enhance community vibrancy.
Homestead CLT’s proposal garnered strong community backing, with local organizations like the Highland Park Action Committee and the Highland Park Improvement Club voicing their support. Once complete, the development will feature a four-story building with a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom homes, all of which will be available to buyers earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). In addition to providing affordable homeownership opportunities, the development will also include ground-floor commercial space.
The commercial space is something that community groups long had advocated for, as well as supporting zoning at the site – at an intersection with businesses on two corners and a fire station at the third – so it could support a project like this. We’re following up with Homestead regarding timeline and what happens next.
ADDED 1:03 PM: Here’s the response we received from Homestead CLT’s CEO Kathleen Hosfeld:
First, I want to give big props to [former City Councilmember] Lisa Herbold, because making sure this property was set aside for affordable housing was one of her top priorities before she left office. This was something I’d been hearing about for years directly from community leaders, and she got it done. Let’s make sure we give credit where it’s due.
In terms of opportunities for community engagement….The City has already engaged in a lot of outreach to determine what people want for this site. We don’t want to contribute to “process fatigue” by asking community to keep repeating the same feedback they’ve given before. But we typically host one or more community open house opportunities for engagement on projects before we submit our permit application. We intend to submit the permit application in May of 2025. We have not yet scheduled those events.
We hope to have full funding for the project by the end of 2025 and start construction in early 2026. However, if we are not fully funded, the timeline may get pushed to start construction in 2027.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Leaders from the Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association (MJAWA) met online to discuss the latest plans for an all-wheeled “skate dot” space (for activities like skating, scooters, and biking) in the south part of Morgan Junction Park when its expansion is built. The team also shared that they had reached a major goal with regard to volunteer hours (more on that below).
The meeting last week was facilitated by Matt Johnston and other MJAWA members, and the most recent design concepts (such as the screenshot above) were presented by team members including James Klinedinst, project manager for Grindline Skateparks (headquartered in West Seattle). The complete set of designs are summarized in this PDF. focused on the roughly 1,500-square-foot skating area within the larger park.
We start today’s highlight list with tonight’s biggest event:
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: It’s the second Thursday of the month, which means West Seattle Art Walk night! From North Admiral to Morgan Junction, you are invited to visit dozens of businesses offering art and/or music and/or food/drink specials. Here’s the list:
You can preview specific venues and participating artists here; most receptions run 5 pm-8 pm. Among the highlights is one we’ve already previewed, the West Seattle Art Tour preview at NOR Design and Construction (5953 California SW, 5-8 pm).
Also during tonight’s Art Walk, the September Art of Music! Three free mini-concerts scheduled for 6-7:45 pm – the Toujaise Flute Duo (have you seen them playing in the park?) at (LOCATION CHANGE) Great American Diner in The Junction (4752 California SW), Trevor Ras at Welcome Road Winery in South Admiral (3804 California SW), and McPage & Powell at Pine Lake Cellars (5405 California SW).
Here’s the rest of our list for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Shop late-summer-and-beyond plants at the center, open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Annuals, perennials, sun, shade, natives, edibles, ground covers … wide variety!
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open Thursdays-Saturdays 1 pm-6 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Food too – stop by to sip and nosh!
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm yoga class at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s C. Davis Texas BBQ at HPCS.
(updated) HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Two home contests on the schedule – in girls’ soccer, Chief Sealth IHS hosts Nathan Hale, 4:30 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), and in volleyball – the West Seattle High School Wildcats host Lakeside, varsity at 7 pm (3000 California SW).
UNDER-21 OPEN MIC: Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) presents this special monthly Open Mic next door at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), signups at 5 pm, performances at 6 pm. This month’s optional theme: Beatles songs!
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle, as well as participating in tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk!
B.J. BULLERT @ WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: West Seattle historian, author, and documentary filmmaker B.J. Bullert has the spotlight tonight in the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly speaker series, online at 6 pm. Our calendar listing has the link you can use to register to attend.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for a group walk in Lincoln Park – details in our calendar listing.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)
BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday it’s blues night.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
‘GUARDS AT THE TAJ’: Opening night for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 7:30 pm.
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, September 12.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Today’s forecast: Cloudy, possible pm showers, high in upper 60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:43 am, while sunset will be at 7:26 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT, AND OTHER ROAD WORK OF NOTE
*Again tonight, work on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project is focused on the westbound side – the two left lanes are scheduled to be closed 8 pm to 7 am, then no work Friday-Sunday nights.
Other projects:
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive gas-line work continues.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules. Note that the twice-yearly service change is this Saturday, September 14 – Routes 60, 125, 131, and 132 are the ones in our area that will see changes.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. The “unscheduled third boat” should be back.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – Looking east:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
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.
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!
(WSB photos)
As hundreds of mourners gathered tonight on Alki Beach to mourn former West Seattleite Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, our state’s two U.S. senators echoed her family in calling for an American investigation into her killing. Israeli soldiers shot and killed her as she participated in a demonstration in the West Bank last Thursday. Friends from the UW, where she graduated just a few months ago, were among those celebrating her life tonight on the beach where she is reported to have recently celebrated her 26th birthday.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell both sent letters to the White House (here’s Cantwell’s letter; here’s Murray’s letter, co-signed by U.S. House Rep. Pramila Jayapal).
Israel is reported to have said its soldiers likely killed Ms. Eygi “unintentionally.” Her family has said in a statement that they are “deeply offended” by that claim. A statement from them was read by a friend at tonight’s memorial, remembering Ms. Eygi as a loving, caring person.
Also speaking tonight on Alki were friends of hers from pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the UW this past spring, describing her as a shining influence on their activism. Some mourners flew white kites:
Ms. Eygi attended West Seattle High School, but not all the way to graduation. Readers have remembered her from Alki Elementary and Madison Middle School as well.
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