West Seattle, Washington
10 Friday
Since County Councilmember and Sound Transit Board member Teresa Mosqueda announced three and a half weeks ago that she was organizing another West Seattle light-rail forum, much has happened: The highest-profile development was the board retreat, with staff presenting three ideas for “approaches” the board could take to craft an affordable plan (WSB coverage here). One “approach” even envisioned “deferring” West Seattle expansion, and all three would stop the planned Ballard expansion short of actually reaching Ballard. None of the approaches was an actual proposal, but they were meant as food for thought, at the very least. So with all that out there, the planned April 1 forum is one of the big events in the week ahead.
The Wednesday forum, starting at 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), promises “more detailed information and analyses on potential cost-savings and service delivery updates to West Seattle” in service to “continuing momentum on the West Seattle light rail expansion.” The announcement also promised time for “questions and answers, both on note cards and at roaming microphones.” This follows a forum Mosqueda presented last November (WSB coverage here).
5:58 PM: It’s murky out there but if you have or can get the bay off Duwamish Head in view, we just got a texted tip (thank you!) that orcas are back. They’re apparently dining on prey, the tipster says, so we don’t have a direction of travel.
6:56 PM: They have headed west, per texter Bill’s comment below. Apparently they’ve been around much of the day; earlier we missed a 12:30 pm text from Kersti Muul that they were south of West Point. She says they’re off Constellation Park (it’s a little less murky now but the light is dimming as night approaches).
7:54 PM: Thanks to Kevin Freitas for the photos, added above and below!
(‘Site plan’ from city permit filings for Glassyard Commons, with 72 RV spaces and 20 tiny houses)
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Three and a half weeks have passed since we covered a community meeting about the plan for a new RV lot and tiny-house site called Glassyard Commons on state-owned land at 7201 2nd Ave SW [map] in southeast West Seattle. To find out where things stand now – as the city continues to say it plans to add hundreds of shelter spaces soon but has yet to announce other new sites – we followed up with the site’s planned operator, the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI). We inquired for not also updates, but also for answers to questions raised by community members during the meeting.
Glassyard Commons is still projected to be up and running by early June. LIHI also has reiterated plans to open up the site for tours by local business owners and community members upon construction completion.
The site’s religious sponsor is New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, and as noted at the community meeting, having a religious sponsor means “special consideration” to accelerate permitting. This is not the first LIHI project to be religiously sponsored, with others including Olympic Hills Tiny House Village and Miracle Temple Village. The construction-permit application for Glassyard Commons remains under review.
LIHI also provided us with a more in-depth outline of the process that potential residents would go through living at Glassyard Commons. Prospective occupant outreach is already being conducted by UHeights Vehicle Resident Outreach team (VRO), who plan to keep City Council District 1 as the priority focus for referrals to the facility. District 1 includes West Seattle, South Park, SODO, Georgetown, and Pioneer Square.
Each occupant will participate in an individual client service plan, which includes initial intake with a case manager where the occupant will learn about the code of conduct and potential safety measures. After this initial integration, clients will remain with their case managers who will aim to “support clients on the pathway to housing, including and not limited to assistance in securing identification, income support, SNAP benefits, employment resources, health care and behavioral health services, and housing options,” according to Marta Kidane, LIHI’s community engagement manager.. “Our program, in partnership with the UHeights VRO, will serve as a first step for clients to move into permanent housing.”
At the March 5 meeting, one community member raised a question about using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design at the Glassyard Commons site – about which LIHI did not have a concrete answer at the time. Since then, they have been coordinating with the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department, regarding fire safety and crime prevention throughout the facility’s layout. LIHI now says safety features will include “24/7 staffing, a secured front entrance, site lighting, a security camera system” as a part of the safety plan. The organization plans to develop a physical layout that will enable staff to maintain a view of what’s happening.
Aside from the ongoing volunteer opportunities listed on LIHI’s website, if you want to get involved, an online form is now open to join the Glassyard Commons Community Advisory Committee, which will meet monthly once the village begins its operations. Meetings would include a report on the site’s status as well as an opportunity to surface questions and concerns from the community outside the site.
1:22 PM: SFD and SPD are dealing right now with three victims in what they have told dispatch are believed to be related assaults, one at 37th and Alaska and one reported to be closer to Rotary Viewpoint Park (the one with the totem pole). At least two of them are reported to have a serious head injury from being hit by what police believe was a crowbar and/or fire extinguisher.
1:29 PM: One victim is being taken to Harborview Medical Center. Police have reported that they’re told robbery was involved in at least one case. They’re bringing in a K9 to help search for the attacker.
1:36 PM: The response is blocking the outside northbound lane of 35th north of Alaska – we’ve added a traffic-cam grab. Meantime, police still have only a partial description – “light-skinned Black man, 6′, medium build, 30s, acne scars,” possibly in a blue coat. They’ve said he might be associated with the encampment on the east side of 35th so that’s where the search is focusing.
1:57 PM: They’re still searching in that area and believe they’ve found the blue coat the attacker was wearing; he has reported to have since been seen in a gray T-shirt.
2:05 PM: Some police will be looking north of all that, as the attacker may have been seen in that direction.
2:20 PM: The search has been moved to a tactical radio channel, meaning we won’t hear more until/unless there’s a development such as an arrest. Before that, a few descriptive details were added – short curly black hair, chubby and freckled face, gap in the two front teeth (and believed to be a resident of the encampment).
3:21 PM: No arrests yet. Police are scaling back the scene. Added photos above and below sent by Jared. We’re checking with SFD on the victims’ conditions.
4:27 PM: Police are still in the area. They’re basing the operation out of the stadium/golf course vicinity, so that’s why you see a presence there.
(Added: Photo of SWAT trucks in golf course/stadium lot, sent by Dylan)
4:48 PM: They’re actually looking for two suspects and focusing on one particular tent in the encampment south of the stadium. SWAT is assisting.
5:07 PM: Police are planning to block entry to the stadium/golf course lot because of this ongoing operation.
5:44 PM: After getting a search warrant, they’ve gone into the tent on which they were focusing; no one there, but they’re searching for evidence.
7:18 PM: That has since wound down. Meantime, we’ve received the info we requested from SFD on the victims: One man, about 30, was in critical condition when taken to the hospital; a 39-year-old man and 35-year-old man were both in stable condition.
9:44 PM: SPD has just posted its summary of the incident. They say all three victims were attacked during “a violent robbery at a tent encampment inside of Rotary Viewpoint Park.” They say two of the victims – who SPD says are ages 28, 39, and 42 – are in critical condition. The summary describes what police believe were the circumstances:
Police determined that multiple suspects went to the victims’ tent and deployed a fire extinguisher inside. When the victims exited, they were ambushed by the suspects. They struck the victims in the heads using improvised weapons, reportedly a crowbar, the fire extinguisher, and a wrench.
The suspects knocked two of the victims unconscious. The third victim, suffering a severe head laceration, managed to get away. While on the ground the suspects went through the victims’ pockets and told them to give them everything they had.
Following the robbery, the suspects fled on foot before police arrived.
A police K9 team arrived at the scene. They tracked the suspects to a tent in a nearby encampment. Police wrote a search warrant for the property and SPD’s SWAT team responded to serve the warrant. SWAT did not find anyone inside.
Detectives in the Robbery Unit responded to process the crime scenes. Detectives also went to HMC to interview the victims. As of 6:30 p.m., two of them remain in critical condition. The third victim is in stable condition.
Anyone with information is asked to call the violent crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted.
12:32 PM: Thanks to Jay for the photo. The column of black smoke is what was reported as an “encampment fire” in the woods behind Delridge Home Depot. One engine on scene has called for a reinforcement because of reported equipment trouble. We don’t have stats but anecdotally can say this is a fairly frequent callout area.
12:37 PM: Flames are visible looking northwest across SW Orchard from the Vietnamese Cultural Center, from which someone texted this photo:
Some video from the same spot:
12:57 PM: One engine remains at the scene; there’s no report of anyone being hurt. The vacant wooded land in that area is Seattle Parks property.
1:02 PM: The other engine is clearing the scene too, as the fire’s out.
Recognize this bicycle?
It showed up in Liz‘s driveway the other day. If you know who it belongs to, let us know and we’ll connect you.
(Alki, photographed late in the day Saturday by Bob Burns)
Hello! Here’s the event lineup for spring’s second Sunday, a relatively quiet day, with the following lineup, mostly from our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PALM SUNDAY: We just launched this season’s service list for Easter, Passover, and what leads up to it; we’re expecting to receive more to add – westseattleblog@gmail.com – but it starts with a few of today’s special services.
SUNDAY FUNDAY RUNDAY: The Westies Run Club is meeting at Dough Joy Donuts at 9 am today for a today’s Sunday Funday run. (4310 SW Oregon)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: In The Junction, weekly Sunday morning games are happening at the new location of The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open as usual on California SW between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in early spring produce-and-products season – roots, greens, peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, beans, garlic, apples, more – and an abundant selection of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, fresh- and pre-prepared foods, nuts, condiments, pasta …
WEEKEND SINGALONG BRUNCH: 10 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), sing to hits of the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and chow down on a buffet breakfast.
FREE NIA CLASS: Begins at 10:15 am; first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need/want to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to find it at, and borrow it from, the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
FREE TAX HELP, BUT BE AWARE … 11 am-4 pm at Southwest Library, registration strongly encouraged as we’re told the slots have been all booked up. (9010 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESIST: One day after leading a large Junction rally, this group continues its regular weekly West Seattle Resist Sunday sign-holding event, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. South of Farmers’ Market. (California SW and SW Alaska)
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: You’re invited to hang out at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
WEST SEATTLE CLASSIC NOVELS (AND MOVIES) CLUB: “Oliver Twist” is this month’s title – 1837 book, 1948 movie; arrive at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) outdoor patio in back around 2:30 pm to chat and get your beverage; meeting starts at 3, details in our calendar listing.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Also at C & P Coffee at 3 pm, steel guitarist Fraser Havens, scheduled until 5 pm, no cover, all ages.
GRIEF CIRCLE, ANY GRIEF: Monthly gathering about whatever or whoever you’re grieving, 3 pm with Listening to Grief at Nurture Wellbeing (6307 California SW).
FREE COMMUNITY MEAL: 5:30 pm at Bethany West Seattle (8600 9th SW).
LIVE AT TIM’S: 7 pm Sunday night all-ages show at Tim’s Tavern, with West Seattle’s Across 35th, plus Radon Radar, Placeholder, and more; fundraiser for Tim’s. (16th SW & SW 98th, White Center)
BLACK TEA AT REVELRY ROOM: 7 pm-midnight late-night tea service with host Jack Sanders, RSVP here. (4547 California SW)
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: Trivia starts at 7:30 pm – free to play, and you can win prizes! (4302 SW Alaska)
LIVE JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm,jazz to wrap up your weekend, with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Organizing, or helping with, an event that we could add to the WSB community calendar – whether one-time or recurring? Please email the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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