West Seattle, Washington
26 Saturday
With another tentative agreement for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, work is expected to resume on many projects in the region, including two that SDOT has going in West Seattle. One is the Arbor Heights sidewalk project along the west side of 35th SW between SW 100th and 106th; SDOT’s LeAnne Nelson tells WSB, “We are working with crews to plan work starting on Monday, but it’s not yet known if there will be challenges in getting materials—with many public and private projects resuming concrete/asphalt work at the same time. It’s expected that the concrete work will take place first.” The other is the Chief Sealth Walkway Improvements project on 25th and 26th north of SW Trenton. Nelson says, “This work requires asphalt, which ended up with more of a backlog from the strike than did concrete. The team is checking with the contractor to determine when the asphalt subcontractor will be available to finish the trails.”
(WSB photo, taken during concrete pouring on Thursday)
The Arbor Heights sidewalk project along 35th SW between 100th and 106th is nearing completion, according to SDOT‘s newest update, sent this afternoon:
We’re in our final stretch of construction work! This week, we have accomplished the following:
*Our crews completed pouring concrete on all sidewalks on the west side of 35th Ave SW, between SW 100th St and SW 104th St
*We completed asphalt paving on the roadway against curb on the east side of 35th Ave SW, between SW 100th St and SW 102nd St
*We installed temporary striping (roadway markings) on 35th Ave SW
Next week, our crews will:
*Complete pouring concrete at curb corners and build ADA-compliant curb ramps on west side of 35th Ave SW (Please note this work was pushed back to next week due to limited concrete availability this week)
*Begin demolishing and pouring concrete at curb corners and build ADA-compliant curb ramps on east side of 35th Ave SW
This work will require maintaining existing closure of 35th Ave SW, between SW 100th St and SW 106th St during our work hours, 7 AM – 5 PM
In addition, eastbound traffic at the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW 100th St will be intermittently closed next Monday, 8/20 between 9 AM – 5 PM. Vehicles traveling eastbound at this intersection between these hours, please do so at 35th Ave SW and SW Roxbury St. Flaggers will be on site to help direct traffic during this work.
Completed sidewalks will be accessible early next week. Pedestrians will be detoured to use sidewalk across the street during our curb ramp construction work.
Our crews will do their best to keep their equipment-staging footprint to a minimum and allow for more on-street parking available for impacted households to temporarily park their cars on the east side of the street and/or on the side streets. Please note that we will reopen 35th Ave SW at the end of each work day.
(WSB photos)
West Seattle’s first and to date only charter school, Summit Atlas, plans a ribboncutting event tomorrow for the new building they’ve added to their Arbor Heights site (which had its first ribboncutting a year ago). We toured it and talked with Summit Atlas’s high-school principal Katie Bubalo as she prepares for the new school year, which starts August 20th for new students, August 21st for returning students.
Summit Atlas opened a year ago with 6th and 9th grades and this year will continue ramping up toward being a full 6th-12th-grade campus by adding 7th and 10th grades. Bubalo says the 7th grade has a waiting list but there’s room in other grades. Asked about last year’s enrollment, she said it fluctuated but ended the year around 105 students in 6th grade, 65 in 9th grade, and while she couldn’t cite numbers, she said the “overwhelming majority” are returning this year.
The new building – adjacent to the former supermarket/church that Summit remodeled before opening last year – has two stories and will mostly be used for the high-school grades, though elective classes for all students (including drama, art, yoga) will be held there. It includes room for special-education classes and a new program called Joy Academy for special-education students whose disabilities might lead them to seek alternatives to traditional college – job training, life skills, etc.
The emphasis in Summit buildings is on flexible open space. Each floor in the new building has a common area; on the ground floor, that space will be used as a lunch area for the high-school students, among other things. (It is a closed campus; Bubalo says they might have a conversation with parents in future years about whether to change that for the older high-school students.)
Upstairs classrooms include spaces for English classes that will also include the school library.
This year, Summit Atlas’s staff will double in size, about 30, according to Bubalo. They will all be on hand at tomorrow’s 12 pm ribboncutting event, as will students and families. We asked about other stats from the first year. Their assessment results will eventually be released by the state, Bubalo said. She describes their demographics as “no (ethnic group) over 35 percent” and evenly split between students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch and those who are not.
Charter schools, approved by Washington voters in 2012, receive state funds for operations; purchase of and construction at the 9601 35th SW site was funded by Washington Charter School Development, from which Summit leases it. Both WCSD and Summit are part of California-based organizations.
(SDOT photo)
SDOT‘s Arbor Heights sidewalk project has veered off its original schedule, as neighbors are well aware. Brand-new info is just in regarding what SDOT says will happen next:
The water shut off by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has been postponed from last week to next Monday, August 6. Water will be shut off from 9 AM – 6 PM. Impacted areas include: 35th Ave SW and 36th Ave SW (between SW 100th and SW 104th St) and SW 102nd St (between 35th Ave SW and 36th Ave SW). SPU notified impacted households.
Due to delay and shortage of concrete, we are slightly behind on schedule – our crews are finishing pouring concrete for the curbs between SW 100th St and SW 102nd St today (all curbs are complete after today).
Next Monday, we will pour concrete on all of the driveways – come Tuesday, residents will be able to park on their driveways again.
We will also be paving asphalt on the roadway against the curb (where the gravel used to be).
35th Ave SW will remain open this weekend.
We are scheduled to pour concrete for all sidewalks on Wednesday, August 15.
The main goal of the project is to add sidewalks to the west side of 35th SW from SW 100th to SW 106th.
(WSB photo)
7:15 PM: We’ve just arrived at 31st SW and SW 106th in Arbor Heights, where we heard via scanner that police were setting up a command post and calling for the mobile precinct, but didn’t hear why, so we headed out to see what we could find out. It’s a “person in crisis” situation but it’s in the process of getting resolved – the person in question is now in custody.
7:23 PM: The lieutenant at the scene tells us that the person is going to be taken to the hospital by private (AMR) ambulance for an evaluation – as is common in “person in crisis” situations – and the police response will be winding down.
Another stolen car to watch for – from Rich: “Please keep an eye out for a dark green 1997 Nissan Maxima, Washington tag 902 XBT. The vehicle was stolen from SW 99th Street in Arbor Heights last night. The car was recently washed and it is in good condition. Bummer.” Call 911 if you see it
SW 102nd in Arbor Heights is blocked right now at 34th SW because of a 2-car crash that has left one on its side. No serious injuries. If you saw several SPD cars headed south with lights and sirens, this is where they were headed. As for the crash’s cause, police are still talking to the drivers but say the initial indication is nothing more than that they both arrived mid-intersection at the same time.
SDOT confirms, no more round-the-clock closures on 35th SW as its Safe Routes to School sidewalk project continues in Arbor Heights. On Tuesday, it looked like the announced 2-week shutdown of 35th between 102nd and 104th had finally begun – but a commenter noted that the stretch reopened later in the day. So we checked today with project spokesperson Ching Chan, who explained:
Our contractor’s concrete sub for paving 104th – 106th was delayed by a couple of days two weeks ago, which pushed back our schedule a little. We had originally planned for a full closure between 102nd – 104th just as we did with 104th – 106th. However, we were getting complaints from neighbors on 34th that cars are using 34th as a detour/shortcut. We intended the closure because it will allow our crews to complete the work in the shortest length of time. So we came to a compromise of only fully closing 102nd – 104th during our work hours, 7 am – 4 pm (depending on our workload, this may shift a little) and then reopening it at the end of each day to accommodate commuters. This temporary closure will last through end of July. And once we complete this section, we will apply the same plan for 100th – 102nd.
A few days later than originally announced, the second closure of 35th SW for the Arbor Heights Safe Routes to School sidewalk project is now in effect – we just went over to verify that 35th is closed between 102nd and 104th. This closure is expected to last about two weeks before crews move to the final stretch, 35th SW between 100th and 102nd.
12:57 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “scenes of violence” (formerly “assault with weapon”) response to a house near 35th SW and SW 106th in Arbor Heights. Per scanner, a 29-year-old man is reported to have suffered a gunshot wound to his leg in what was described as a “drive-by shooting” – but the location and circumstances are unclear; it may have happened elsewhere.
1:10 AM: Per scanner, the victim, now described as 24, shot in the “right thigh,” will be taken to the hospital via SFD Medic 32. Officers have broadcast the description of a possible suspect vehicle – black Subaru Outback.
1:15 AM: The victim is reported to have been walking when shot; police report finding a casing near 35th/Roxbury.
That map shows the next closure zone on 35th SW as the Arbor Heights sidewalk project continues. The section between 104th and 106th is expected to reopen before the holiday, while the new closure between 102nd and 104th starts right after. From the newest SDOT project bulletin:
(Last) week, our crews continued detention pipe repair and testing work and began sidewalk construction on the west side of 35th Ave SW, between SW 104th St and SW 106th St. Unfortunately, our concrete provider was not able to deliver (Friday). However, the sidewalk is formed and we will complete the sidewalk concrete pours Monday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 3. This segment of 35th Ave SW will reopen to vehicular traffic by the end of the day on Tuesday, July 3. The new sidewalks on the west side of the street will remain closed until Thursday, July 5. For pedestrian access, please use sidewalk on the east side of the street.
Our crews will (next) begin sidewalk and driveway construction on the west side of 35th Ave SW, between SW 102nd St and SW 104th St. Beginning on Thursday, July 5, 35th Ave SW will be closed to through traffic between SW 102nd St and SW 104th St for two weeks so our crews can complete this work. Access will be maintained for residents located on these two blocks.* A detour will be in place beginning next Thursday, July 5.
More project details are here.
That’s the section of 35th SW between 104th and 106th – looking north from the south end – that has been closed about a month for drainage work linked to the SDOT sidewalk project stretching north to 100th. It’ll reopen at week’s end, project communicator Ching Chan tells WSB:
The updates we received this morning at our weekly construction meeting were that crews will wrap things up on 35th Ave SW between 104th and 106th by the end of this week and begin work between 102nd and 104th by next Thursday, July 5. This means the segment between 104th and 106th will reopen at the end of the day this Friday, though we may still have some construction equipment and vehicles along the parking strip of the street.
Stay tuned for detour info on the next segment of the project.
While high-profile closures like the West Seattle “low bridge” and SB Highway 99 get all the attention, they’re not the only closures people are dealing with right now. For example, 35th SW between 104th and 106th remains closed for a fourth week in Arbor Heights, because of drainage work in the first phase of the 100th-to-106th sidewalk project. Today, the project team sent this update:
This week, our crews completed concrete pour at driveways and curbs along 35th Ave SW, between SW 104th St and SW 106th St. We tested the newly installed detention pipe and conducted any pipe repair work necessary to begin operation. We then backfilled and repaved the street surface.
Next week, our crews will begin sidewalk construction on the west side of 35th Ave SW, between SW 104th St and SW 106th St. We will coordinate with Puget Sound Energy to schedule for their crews to relocate the gas main at SW 106th St. We hope to complete the sidewalk construction for this segment of 35th Ave SW by the end of next week.
Since that didn’t include a progress report on the 35th closure, we asked about the latest estimate on when it’ll be over. The reply from project spokesperson Ching Chan: ” Assuming the sidewalk construction work on 35th goes smoothly next week, we are hoping to reopen the closed segment of 35th (between 104th and 106th) by first week of July.” An update is promised around the middle of next week.
12:28 AM: Two things:
*If you heard “gunshots or fireworks?” noise around midnight, according to police radio communication, it was fireworks, 24th/Holden vicinity.
*Thanks for all the tips about a search in northeast Arbor Heights. We know it involves both KCSO and SPD but we’re not sure yet what started it, so we’re heading over to see what we can find out.
1 AM UPDATE: We have found multiple officers on 28th and 30th south of Roxbury. Two said the search was related to a convenience-store robbery but wouldn’t/couldn’t say where. We have gone by several stores, no obvious signs of trouble. A K9 team was out on 28th when we went through. That’s all we have – no descriptions of who’s being sought.
2:50 AM: Unrelated incident, so far as we know, but it’s still early-morning police activity, so we’re adding … the sirens in south West Seattle this time are because police are now looking for a burglary suspect in South Delridge. We missed the exact address but one of the containment points is 18th/Henderson. The description of the suspect so far is black, male, 6’2″, 220 pounds, no shirt, no shoes, possibly bleeding from broken window glass.
3:29 AM: Still searching.
5:34 PM UPDATE: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott tells us this started as a shoplifting attempt by three juveniles at the 28th/Roxbury 76 station minimart. They tried to steal some candy; “When they were stopped by the clerk, one of them produced a handgun and threatened to shoot the clerk.” The search never did turn them up.
Received from Seattle City Light, as its year-and-a-half-plus project in South Arbor Heights/The Arroyos continues:
During the week of June 18, Seattle City Light crews will be working at the intersection of 39th Avenue SW and Marine View Drive SW to install a new electrical vault. As a result, a portion of Marine View Drive SW will be temporarily closed for construction.
ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
June 18-27: A portion of Marine View Drive SW will be temporarily closed for construction. This closure will occur both during and outside of construction work hours.
Traffic through Marine View Drive SW will be restricted to local access only.
Crews will work with affected residents regarding driveway access to homes.
Detour routes are available on 39th Avenue SW, SW 108th Street and SW 110th Street during the closure.
Signs will direct drivers toward these detour routes as they approach Marine View Drive SW.
Trenching for the vault will occur within the public right-of-way (e.g. street and planting strips).
Some sidewalks, driveway approaches and vegetation will be affected by construction activities.
Trenches will be covered with steel plates or fenced off outside of construction work hours.
All affected areas will be restored and repaved, in accordance with SDOT guidelines.
The heavy equipment is in place along 35th SW in Arbor Heights, where the first phase of the Safe Routes to School sidewalk project is set to start tomorrow, according to SDOT, as previewed here 2+ weeks ago – replacing the underground stormwater drainage and detention system on 35th between 104th and 106th. That will require a full closure of 35th in the area for at least two weeks, SDOT says.
Since that is near both Arbor Heights Elementary and Westside School (WSB sponsor), here are the detours for school traffic:
The project will install sidewalks on the west side of 35th between SW 100th and SW 106th.
Two SDOT updates on local projects bring news of closures ahead:
18TH/MYRTLE: On Puget Ridge, the project near Sanislo Elementary continues, with an unanticipated closure in a week:
This week, our crews continued work at SW Orchard St, 18th Ave SW, and SW Myrtle St. We worked with Seattle Public Utilities to relocate a fire hydrant and worked with Seattle City Light to relocate light poles along SW Orchard St. We were also able to pour concrete to complete more sidewalks and curb corners. Our crews worked on adjusting driveway thresholds along SW Orchard St.
During our earlier excavation work, we discovered the roadbed under the intersection of SW Myrtle St and 18th Ave SW was in worse shape than we had expected. Because of this unforeseen circumstance, our crews will have to completely demolish and reconstruct the intersection. We are scheduled to do this work on Saturday, May 19 – this work will require full closure of the intersection of SW Myrtle St and 18th Ave SW. Our crews will begin work as early as 7:00 am as we hope to complete this work by Sunday morning to minimize impact to school related traffic. Detours will be in place during this work. The newly paved intersection will have a smaller traffic circle footprint to widen the street around it and allow for larger vehicles more space for turning movements.
Then later this month, the start date is set for the long-planned closure for drainage work related to the Arbor Heights sidewalk project:
35TH/104TH: SDOT also sent an update about the Arbor Heights sidewalk project:
We will be starting construction work on 35th Ave SW between SW 100th St and SW 106th St on the week of May 21. Our crews may begin moving construction equipment into the area and begin preparation work as early as late next week. We will begin full closure of 35th Ave SW between SW 104th St and SW 106th St on Tuesday, May 29. This closure will last through mid to late June for our crews to replace the stormwater drainage and detention system underground. Detours and reroutes for access to Arbor Heights Elementary and Westside School have identified. A map will be available and included in next week’s update.
4:26 AM: Thanks for the tip about an outage in the south Arbor Heights/Arroyos/Seola area. Seattle City Light‘s map says 106 homes are without power; no cause listed so far. (This is near the area where City Light plans to start a project soon to replace underground cable, with an informational open house this Wednesday.)
7:45 AM:: As commenters note, SCL has since updated to blame a tree.
1:25 PM: Restored since our last check a couple hours ago.
Seattle City Light says it’s starting work soon on its project to replace underground cables for “enhanced electrical reliability and efficiency” in South Arbor Heights and The Arroyos, so if you have questions about the project, a drop-in open house has been announced for one week from today: 5:30-7 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). SCL says the work “will require installing new conduits, vaults, and other associated work. Streetlights will also be replaced as part of this work.” The work is expected to start in early-to-mid-May, on California SW between SW 106th and 107th. This will be a long-running project, per SCL: “Civil construction is estimated to last approximately 1 1/2 years. Additional streetlight work will follow.”
The map is from SDOT’s Ching Chan, who has been out going door to door and also e-mailed us to be sure everyone knows about a community meeting one week from tonight for the Arbor Heights sidewalk (and more) project along 35th SW between SW 100th and SW 106th. As we reported a month ago, it’s starting this spring – likely next month, Chan says, with completion projected by Labor Day. And SDOT now confirms the south end of the project, which includes drainage work, will close 35th SW between SW 104th and SW 106th for “up to four weeks.” Here’s the newest flyer/postcard. Get the details, and answers to your questions, at the community meeting 6-8 pm Tuesday, April 24th, at Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th).
Yet another development note today:
(Project rendering by Lemons Architecture)
Almost two years have passed since we first reported on a project proposed for a small slice of commercial/multifamily-zoned property in Arbor Heights, the former church site at 4220 SW 100th. At the time, the proposal was for nine live-work units; last year, that changed to eight townhouses and one live-work unit. Today, a tentative date was set for the project’s next Southwest Design Review Board meeting, June 7th, more than a year after its second review in April 2017 (WSB coverage here). Its draft “design packet” is also now available (see it here – big PDF). The June 7th hearing is set for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon)
Out of the WSB inbox, from Aiko:
My forest green 2000 Chrysler Cirrus LX was stolen from the front of my house this morning between 12:00 am-7:15 am. I live in the 9000 block of 32nd Ave SW in the Arbor Heights neighborhood. The license plate number is BGK1449. I have reported this to Seattle Police.
If you see it, call 911.
APRIL 18TH UPDATE: Aiko tells us her car was found today in SODO.
In West Seattle Crime Watch, two followups and an alert:
FOLLOWUP – SUSPECT AWAKENED IN STOLEN CAR: Remember last Friday’s incident in Arbor Heights during which Guardian One‘s crew recorded that video of Seattle Police awakening a man found asleep in a stolen car? The suspect got out of jail tonight after five days. Prosecutors have yet to charge 34-year-old Craig R. Crisler in last week’s case but we are identifying him because he was being held on a warrant from a similar case in which he is charged. Crisler was charged three weeks ago in a February case in which police found him asleep in a stolen pickup truck in Burien. Also asleep in the truck, a 6-year-old whose mother is described in court documents as Crisler’s girlfriend; he was taking care of the child because she had been booked into jail two days earlier. The child was turned over to CPS; meantime, it was discovered that the stolen truck had been painted a new color since it was taken, and that it was found to contain tools including a pressure washer stolen from someone else. Crisler missed a court appearance in the case and that led to a warrant carrying $5,000 bail. He posted bond tonight and got out before 9 pm. Court documents from the Burien case show his last known address in North Shorewood, not far from where he was arrested last Friday.
SPEAKING OF STOLEN TOOLS: We’ve published more than a few reader reports recently of tools stolen in break-ins, both vehicles and structures. This alert from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner says it’s a trend:
The SW Precinct Crime Analysis Unit Detective informed us of a recent crime trend involving burglaries of sheds, outbuildings, and garages. A variety of items have been stolen including bicycles, power tools and generators.
Please keep an eye out on your sheds/garages/out buildings! Ensure they are securely locked, regularly check to see if your door has been tampered with, take inventory of your items and secure bicycles with quality locks! Remember to always report theft and suspicious behavior to the Seattle Police Department by calling 911.
ONE MORE FOLLOWUP: Back on March 24th, we reported on trouble for a Southwest Precinct police officer while he was taking a suspect to jail – the suspect allegedly started a fire in the patrol car just as they were arriving downtown. As first reported in The Seattle Times, that suspect, 24-year-old Nickolas J. Osborne, is now charged with felony malicious mischief and misdemeanor harassment.
We have obtained the court documents, which say the latter charge is for the original reason he was arrested, reportedly harassing Lincoln Park and Lowman Beach park visitors and threatening them with a stick. The former is for the squad-car fire. The charging papers say that even before being placed in the car, Osborne was accusing police of being “agents of the Illuminati” out to get him; in the car, police say, he “slipped his handcuffed hands to the front of his body, unbuckled his seatbelts and began violently kicking the rear driver side window.” The officer radioed for backup at that point. Osborne then allegedly said the officer would have to kill him and should be nervous. After that, the charges say in-car video shows Osborne picking up a lighter from the car floor (whose lighter, it doesn’t say), using it to generate a flame, and setting the car ceiling on fire, including a camera; he was recorded, the report continues, saying, “There we go! Let’s both burn in hell!” Shortly afterward, the officer pulled over and got the suspect out of the car; Osborne’s clothing had ignited but he wasn’t hurt, nor was the officer. The car was damaged badly enough that it had to be taken out of service, SPD says. Osborne remains in jail, his bail set at $10,000.
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