West Seattle, Washington
15 Sunday
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered at the Delridge Library on Wednesday night for the May meeting of HPAC, the community coalition that includes Highland Park, South Delridge, and Riverview.
The meeting was facilitated by HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick, and featured discussion about crime statistics and prevention, an update on the Holden Natural Drainage System (NDS) project, and a presentation on RV waste outreach efforts. Meeting notes are below:
POLICE UPDATE: First on the agenda was an update from SPD’s Jennifer Satterwhite regarding crime stats in the area.
Although the numbers look good, Satterwhite said the summer months typically bring increases in criminal activity, so continued vigilance by the public is advised. She mentioned the increased summer emphasis on Alki and other hotspots, with overtime patrols and public education on burglary prevention. Regarding illegal vending on Alki: There is only one permitted vendor there; most are unpermitted, raising health and safety concerns as well as pushback from local restaurants. Enforcement is complex due to overlapping agency jurisdictions, and fines are often ineffective as vendors just pay the fine and quickly return.
Regarding the recent uptick in car crashes possibly linked to a social media challenge, Satterwhite said she’s been engaged with the community and SPD is investigating and facilitating prevention meetings. There were 4 crashes on the SW Alaska hill west of the Junction, and another in Sunrise Heights, just in the past couple of weeks.
DRAINAGE AND STORMWATER: Next up was a Seattle Public Utilities presentation from the team behind the Holden Natural Drainage System (NDS) Project, which is described on their website as follows:
More than 12 million pounds of pollution are carried into our water bodies through stormwater runoff each year. Stormwater that falls on the roofs, streets, and parking lots in your neighborhood can pick up harmful pollutants before entering Longfellow Creek, which flows into Puget Sound. The pollutants can harm fish, wildlife, and our ecosystems. The Holden Natural Drainage Systems (NDS) Project plans to build natural drainage systems, also known as roadside rain gardens or bioretention, on SW Holden St between 16th Ave SW and 17th Ave SW. The NDS will capture and treat stormwater runoff before it reaches Longfellow Creek and Puget Sound.
The NDS will be built in the space between the existing sidewalks and the edge of the road. The project will include roadway and pedestrian safety improvements such as curb bulbs and ADA ramps, in addition to new landscape plantings.
Project manager Wan-Yee Kuo led the presentation of the latest project plans and designs. Here is a PDF of the slides, provided by team member Val Bak, and you can also visit the “Project Documents” section of the project website which contains the “Final Design Concept” visuals as well as a narrated version of the presentation (“Final Design Narrated Presentation.”)
The NDS will be on the south side of Holden, using the parking lane for plantings. Some driveway and sidewalk reconstruction will be required. Underground water quality infrastructure (“tree cells”) will be installed on the north side to address flooding (which has been an issue in the area), using special filtering soil and structural elements.
Two small crabapple trees will be removed, and one new tree (hornbeam) will be planted. SPU will pay SDOT to plant five additional trees nearby. The NDS will be maintained by SPU, and the trees maintained by SDOT with annual inspections. Contractors will be responsible for plant establishment in the first year, which prompted some questions from meeting attendees about concerns with tree maintenance (or a lack thereof) on for past projects in the area — Kuo said that the contractors for this project will be carefully vetted.
Construction timeline: The final design is complete, advertising will begin in July, and construction is expected to start winter 2025 and last about a year. Planting will occur in appropriate seasonal windows. Construction will involve noise, dust, parking restrictions, and temporary bus stop relocation; clear communication and on-site engineer presence will be part of the project, according to the team.
Want to learn more? SPU will be hosting a project design drop-in Q&A session at BedHead Coffee at 1513 SW Holden St. (SE corner of SW Holden/ 16th Ave SW) tomorrow – Saturday, May 31st – between 11 AM and 1 PM (WSB event listing here). Free drip coffee for attendees! The team will also be providing the public with ongoing updates via flyers, mailers, and their website.
RV WASTE OUTREACH PROGRAM: As part of HPAC’s continuing conversations about challenges with RV camping in the area, special guest Mary Sweeney from St Vincent de Paul (SVdP) gave a presentation (see the slides here) about her group’s RV outreach & support program in partnership with SPU:
HPAC leaders reiterated that this has been an area of concern, which was brought up in last week’s walking tour of Highland Park, and is a “complex problem has no simple solutions – we need many voices and hands to make change happen.”
Sweeney said that the vehicle outreach program, powered by SVdP volunteers (which she affectionately refers to as “Vincentians”), provides direct outreach to RV residents, addressing public health and sanitation by coordinating with SPU to pump out wastewater and offer basic supplies to those in need. She said she has 20 volunteers, and sends out 2-3 people every day.
Sweeney said that many RV residents are local workers displaced by the housing crisis and pandemic. Most RVs are old and nonfunctional, leading to illegal dumping of waste. Residents of the RVs tend to face hostility, frequent displacement, and lack of safe parking options. St. Vincent de Paul initiated the program after discovering the extent of waste dumping in some areas of Seattle. Years of advocacy led to a pilot with SPU, which was later expanded due to demonstrated cost savings and a significant reduction in sewage spills, which in turn saves the city on costly hazmat cleanups and improves public health.
Volunteers accompany SPU staff and provide food (often provided by local churches and schools such as Holy Rosary with their Lunches of Love program) and connect residents to services, with an emphasis on treating residents with dignity and compassion. Sweeney said the program is unique in the U.S., and (as far as she knows) no other utility offers similar services. She said volunteers are always needed, and the program aspires to be a temporary solution until broader systemic changes occur.
OTHER NOTES: After the meeting adjourned, Satterwhite noted that registration for Seattle Night Out opens this week (Tuesday August 5th). Register your block, and hang out with your neighbors! Also, HPAC leaders said that public feedback is still welcome regarding the city’s Sidewalk Development Program, which was a driving force behind last week’s neighborhood walking tour (WSB coverage here).
NEXT MEETING: HPAC meets on the fourth Wednesdays of most months. Be sure to check the group’s website, hpaction.org, for updates and meeting confirmation.
ORIGINAL FRIDAY NIGHT REPORT: Sent by Wade:
Our car was stolen near E.C. Hughes Park around 7 o’clock tonight. Someone ripped off the handle and smashed the window.
The car is a white Hyundai Tucson with the license plate BMZ8991.
We don’t have a police report yet but will update when we do.
Call 911 if you find it.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Wade commented below that the car was found, in South Park.
We’ve routinely reported “brown water” sightings for years – so many at one point, Seattle Public Utilities did a system “flush” in West Seattle in 2016 to try to clear out the rust and other sediment that was getting stirred up. Recently, we heard from multiple West Seattle Junction-area apartment residents with a different sighting in their water – white hair-like “fibers.” Here’s one description:
The hair-like objects range up to about half an inch in length and there was consistently a few in any glass of water. I could not tell if they were plastic, organic, or what. My only rudimentary test showed that they do not dissolve in vinegar. There was no discoloration.
That resident had dealt with SPU and property management among others to try to solve the mystery. SPU is on the front lines in terms of water safety, so we asked them. Here’s what SPU spokesperson Brad Wong told us late today:
Seattle Public Utilities has analyzed water samples from the area around 42nd Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street in West Seattle after receiving reports from customers of microscopic strands or filaments in it.
SPU believes the strands are a result of a recent algae bloom in one of our water supply reservoirs, which has occurred seasonally for more than 15 years. The water is safe to drink because SPU has treated and disinfected it. The Cedar River supply does not have filtration, but meets treatment requirements with ozone, UV light, and chlorine.
Customers who have concerns can call SPU’s 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800. Customers may choose to filter their drinking water or purchase bottled water but should not consider this necessary.
SPU will contact customers who called with concerns and continue to monitor the situation.
The response didn’t explain why these complaints were mainly coming from The Junction; our tipster says the SPU person to whom they spoke didn’t have an explanation for that either. The reader quoted above says an SPU rep told them that the algae bloom was in <strong>Lake Youngs, a source for Seattle city water.
The West Seattle Junction Association has already mentioned a few of the headliners for the year’s biggest party, West Seattle Summer Fest – Friday-Sunday, July 11-13 (following an ever-more-festive Summer Fest Eve on Thursday, July 10). Now, the full lineups are revealed!
First, on the Main Stage (California north of Oregon):
FRIDAY
3:00 Mason Lowe
4:00 Mr. Dinkles
5:00 Weep Wave
6:00 Oh, Rose
7:00 Madman Across The Water
8:00 Couch Riffs presents Funkadelic Tribute
9:00 THEM
10:00 Jenn ChampionSATURDAY
11:00 Mode Music Studio Showcase
12:00 School of Rock
1:00 Princess Pulpit
2:00 Jay Cates & Josh Rowling Trio
3:00 Abbigale
4:00 The Dusty 45s
5:00 AnUngulante
6:00 Fan Club
7:00 The Alain Johannes Band
8:00 New Constellations
9:00 Monsterwatch
10:00 Reignwolf
And on the West Side Stage:
FRIDAY
4:00 WSMA/Kenyon students
4:30 Rootbeer
5:00 Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints
6:00 The PotholesSATURDAY
11:00 Country Dave Harmonson
12:00 Dave Hates Chico
1:00 Narrower
2:00 Cooper Point Road
3:00 The Everlovers
4:00 Reis and Cates Jazz Showcase
5:00 Self Doubt
6:00 asyouwish // Sour and the KrautsSUNDAY
11:00 Matt Benham & David Weidig
12:00 WSMA + Sweetiest Sweeties
1:00 Sonny Parker
2:00 Baby Crow Flight School
3:00 Massy Ferguson
Food and vendor lineups will also show up soon on the Summer Fest website.
(WSB photo, March)
This year’s Loop the ‘Lupe – obstacle-course 5K and more – is one week from tomorrow, and organizer Brian Callanan tells us today that both participants and spectators will have the opportunity to get health care from the Care-a-Van. The mobile health-care service was in West Seattle for March’s Resource Fair at Westwood Village, and it’ll be at Walt Hundley Playfield 11 am-3 pm on Saturday, June 7th. Services will include childhood, flu, COVID, and mpox vaccines, as well as blood-pressure and blood-sugar screenings, with more information – and a QR code for preregistering (though they expect to accommodate some walk-ups too) – on this flyer in English and en Español. Again, you do NOT have to be a Loop the ‘Lupe participant to use the Care-a-Van services during its visit that day.
Another unique event set for this weekend: The West Seattle Booster Club says there’s still time to sign up to play pickleball in its Paddle Battle tournament on Sunday (June 1). It benefits their fundraising for West Seattle High School, and it’s set for 8 am to 5 pm Sunday on the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex courts west of Southwest Pool. If you’re not signed up already, you can register here right now:
(Reader photo)
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The cafe formerly known as Till Dawn has rebranded itself as The Void. After several reader inquiries about the change, we talked with one of the new owners who took over at 5048 California SW a little more than half a year ago.
The rebrand follows other changes in the seven months since the ownership change. Previously a video game-themed bar and cafe, opened in 2022 in the former West Seattle Licensing space, it’s retained some of its original identity, albeit with a heavy metal twist.
(WSB photos from here down)
“We loved everything about it, but wanted to do something different. If you want white walls and wood-edged countertops, more power to you, but now we’re a place I’d like to hang out,” said Shadoe Leibelt, who co-owns The Void with his wife. The name is derived from their location, between the Alaska Junction and Morgan Junction. “We’re between two junctions, in an empty void of an area. Any other name just didn’t work,” Leibelt said.
Moving from St. Petersburg, Florida, roughly two years ago, Leibelt brings 13 years of bartending experience, as well as a background in horror filmmaking and cinematography to The Void. The grungy, punk aesthetic has molded his life, Leibelt says, and he’s taken that inspiration to heart with the new decorations.
With the aesthetic changes come schedule and service changes as well. The Void will continue to lean further into its identity as a dive bar. It will still serve as a place to get coffee and play games, including serving the old regulars, but they want to expand their offerings to cater to a wider audience.
The Void will also continue to run its bi-weekly movie nights, and while they’re taking it slow, Leibelt says one of their long-term goals is to push their hours later. “I plan to keep expanding hours until we can be open late every single night of the week,” said Leibelt.
“I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve seen the place grow into in the last six months,” he said, reflecting on how much The Void has changed since he started rebranding it. “This place isn’t for everyone, and that’s completely fine, but I want this to be a staple. I want it to be a standout spot for the neighborhood, to show that West Seattle doesn’t just stop at the end of The Junction.”
Current hours for The Void are 9 am-6 pm Mondays-Tuesdays, 9 am-10 pm Wednesdays-Thursdays, 9 am-11 pm Fridays-Saturdays, and 9 am-5 pm Sundays; check for updates here.
(Sunrise photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Delayed by breaking news, here’s our Friday highlights list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
STAY ‘N’ PLAY: Until 11:30 am – open gym for little kids is back at Arbor Heights Community Church (4113 SW 102nd).
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: The center (a WSB sponsor) is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW) campus.
QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: Fridays at 12:15 pm – info in our calendar listing. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
‘KICKOFF TO PRIDE’ PARTY: 5 pm to 7:30 pm on the playground at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW), “Food trucks, dance party, Pride popsicles, bubble machine, photo station, community partners, lots of fun!” More in our calendar listing. Community welcome.
JAZZ/BLUES JAM: Monthly event at Kenyon Hall! Free! Young musicians invited to jam, and everyone’s invited to watch/listen. Doors at 6, music at 6:30. (7904 35th SW; check out our recent in-depth update on Kenyon Hall)
COFFEEHOUSE SHOWCASE: WestSide Music Academy Student Showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm. All ages, no cover.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Deep Contact, Happy Chems, John Thornburg and the Moon Kids, doors 6 pm, show 7 pm, all ages, at The Skylark, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
AMATEUR RADIO TECHNICIAN LICENSE CLASS: 7 pm online, offered by West Seattle Amateur Radio Club – info in our calendar listing.
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Ichy tonight! (4547 California SW)
MAKE IT LOUD: Skating to live music at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), doors at 9 pm, $18 cover, $5 skates, 21+. Tonight: Smokey Mirror (TX), Nudity, SUX.
ANOTHER REMINDER – BEACH FIRE SEASON & PARK HOURS CHANGES: Tonight begins the second week of beach-fire season at Alki and earlier closing times there and at two other West Seattle parks, Don Armeni Boat Ramp and Hamilton Viewpoint – go here for Seattle Parks info about the changes.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:05 AM: Police are at Madison Middle School after an incident described in this note sent to families:
Good Morning Madison Families, at approximately 8:25 am students reported a vehicle approached some students in an unfriendly manner in the front of the school and sped away. Seattle Police were immediately notified and we escorted all students inside the building. We are currently sheltering in place and have extra SPS security on site. We will notify you when our SIP is lifted.
The note didn’t describe the vehicle but police in the area are currently looking for one described as a light-colored 4-door Hyundai Elantra.
9:18 AM: The initial dispatch was that a “suspect in a mask pulled up to the school and pointed a gun at them.” Four people in all reported to be in the car (described above), with the armed person described as a “Hispanic male, late teens,” dark clothing including a ski mask-style black face covering.
10:04 AM: No word of any arrest(s) but the investigation continues; commenters report the “shelter in place” has been lifted.
12:55 PM: Just to note, we have of course requested followup info both from the district and from SPD and will add whatever we hear back.
5:45 PM: Still no word from SPD. The district provided us with the message Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary sent to families at day’s end, but it contained no new information about the actual incident.
11:45 PM: Just got the police report narrative. It says, as we wrote above, the initial dispatch was that “suspect with mask pulled up to school, pointed a gun at RP (reporting party), last seen driving northbound on 45th … suspect description Hispanic male, late teens, black balaclava [ski mask], all black clothing.” The report says the person who reported a gun was pointed at them was a Madison staffer, not student. Then 911 got “a call from a parent saying her daughter told her that occupants of the vehicle are trying to sell narcotics to students and threatening to shoot up the school. This complainant has limited information, says daughter is in the office with staff now.”
The officer who wrote the report subsequently arrived at Madison, talked with the principal, who aid “he called after a staff member … advised him that suspects in a white vehicle had pointed a firearm at (the staffer).” The officer wrote that the staffer said they were in their vehicle “approaching the school when (staffer) noticed a 2010s (redacted) sedan with tinted windows parked facing SB on 45 AV SW near SW Hinds ST. XXXXX stated the sedan was obviously stopped speaking to students who were on the sidewalk and (staffer) stated the students appeared scared. (staffer) pulled up behind the vehicle and the vehicle reversed and pulled up beside (staffer, who) yelled at the occupants stating “what’s up?” when the driver of the vehicle pointed what appeared to be a silver firearm in (staffer’s) direction saying “what’s up?” back in an aggressive manner. (Staffer) told the kids to go inside of the school. The vehicle then took off. (Staffer) advised the kids to let the principal know and to call 911 and then assisted in getting the kids inside of the school to lock down. (Staffer) described the suspects as all HMs, with tanned skin, wearing all black clothing and balaclava’s showing their eyes and noses.” The report says two students talked to police, with the principal’s permission, about what they saw; they said the people in the car “offered to sell them marijuana” and “continued to circle the school approximately three times.” The report says these students did not report seeing a gun “but stated they were told by friends that the occupants had firearms.” It also says officers “were unable to locate the teen whose parent called in stating that the suspects threatened to shoot up the school” and that “the principal was unaware of a student making these remarks.” That’s where the report ends; the only other info we’ve received is from a district spokesperson who says “an SPS Security Division Lead was placed at the school after the incident occurred and stayed for the remainder of the school day.”
9:45 AM: A truck is reportedly stuck at 30th/Hinds.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, May 30, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:16 am; sunset will be at 8:57 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Gas pipeline work toward the Lowman Beach end of Beach Drive … street work for the Alki Standby Generator Project toward the Alki Point end.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays (tonight!)and Saturdays.
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”. Note: Online “open house” for commenting on possible ferry-fare increases/changes is continues here.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners are home tonight vs. the Twins, 7:10 pm. (Fireworks night.)
EARLY WARNING OF BRIDGE CLOSURE
As we reported Wednesday – the low bridge will close the weekend of June 7-8.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to 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 (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
12:18 AM: Police are converging on the Admiral Way 7-Eleven after two men are reported to have robbed the store a short time ago. So far they are described as both Black, in their mid-20s, about 5’6″, one in a red mask and black T-shirt, armed with a black handgun, the other in dark clothing and unarmed. They are reported to have gotten away in a car only described as a “silver sedan.”
12:42 AM: Officers have just given dispatch an updated description of the getaway car: Now it’s described as a newer 4-door blue Hyundai.
ADDED SATURDAY: We’ve obtained the police-report narrative, which adds that the till taken by the robbers was discovered by officers heading back toward the precinct, dumped on the side of the Admiral Way hill (3000 block). As for the holdup, the clerk told police that “he was near the back of the store when he was surprised by the two (robbers …one who) was wearing a red scarf covering his head and face pulled out a gun … then proceeded to tell (the clerk) to open the register while pointing the gun to his right side … (the clerk) opened the cash register and the suspect grabbed approximately 500$ from the till … (the other was) holding the door halfway open … (the robber with the gun) grabbed the register till and ran toward … a parked vehicle in front of the 7-11.” The description of the car is redacted, so we don’t know if there’s anything beyond what’s in our original update.
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