West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
Two notes about projects with upcoming Southwest Design Review Board online public meetings:
(Rendering by Atelier Drome Architecture)
3417 HARBOR AVENUE SW: This 5-story, 115-apartment, 65-offstreet-parking-space project (map) has already been through the first round of Design Review (here’s our coverage from March, at the board’s last in-person meeting) and now the next review is tentatively set for 5 pm November 19th (online). A draft of the design packet is already available, showing various angles as well as what was done in response to board and public comments at the first meeting. When this meeting gets closer, connection and commenting information – and the final packet – will be here. You can also send comments to crystal.torres@seattle.gov, the city planner assigned to the project.
(Rendering by Caron Architecture)
9218 18TH SW: As first mentioned here last month, this 5-story, 59-apartment, 25-offstreet-parking-space building with retail (map) has its first Design Review meeting this Thursday (October 15th), 4 pm. Information for watching/listening and commenting is here; the design packet is here. (Since this is the Early Design Guidance phase, the focus is on massing – size/shape/location on the site – not on design details.) You also can send project comments to wayne.farrens@seattle.gov, the assigned city planner.
(WSB photo)
For all the grief caused by the West Seattle Bridge closure, Ally Rael says it’s part of the inspiration for her new business.
West Seattle needs more restaurants given the challenge of traveling off-peninsula, she reasons.
So she’s opening a restaurant in Luna Park, almost in the shadow of the idled bridge. Allyum will take over the 2940 SW Avalon Way space that formerly housed Duos (which is consolidating its operations into its Sanctuary at Admiral venue).
Readers tipped us after spotting signage on the space earlier this month, and we finally tracked down Rael to find out about the plan.for Allyum.
The chef/owner tells WSB that Allyum will offer a plant-based menu, upscale, focused on local foods, with beverages in the spotlight too, especially wine and cocktails. Happy hour and dinner, plus weekend brunch, at least in the beginning; indoor dining, outdoor dining, and takeout are all part of the plan.
She’s a veteran of the restaurant industry, in Los Angeles as well as Seattle, where she says her resumé includes time with Ethan Stowell Restaurants.
So what might you find on the menu? We ask if there’s any “signature” dish she’s been known for. After a moment, she mentions “mushroom chicken and waffles” – a rye waffle topped by a chicken-fried maitake mushroom.
Allyum’s name, by the way, is a triple play on words – her name, the botanical name of the onion/garlic family, and of course, yum.
Rael and business partner Dahli Strayer (who owns the building) are hoping Allyum will be able to open as soon as November. No website yet, but it’s in the works.
One way to celebrate Labor Day – honor the work of small local independent businesses. One is now offering another way to shop:
(Photo courtesy Avalon Glassworks)
Avalon Glassworks co-proprietor Shannon Felix tells WSB that the studio/shop in Luna Park (2914 SW Avalon Way) “is now open by appointment (masks required). Email GlassSales@AvalonGlassworks.com to arrange a time to shop. The glass pumpkins are ready and we are making new items nearly daily. Our Etsy store is also open.”
12:54 AM: Seattle Fire has just dispatched a “full response” to 30th/Charlestown [map] for a report of smoke and flames. Updates to come.
1 AM: Firefighters have radioed that it’s an “exterior rubbish fire” and are downsizing the response.
Today was scheduled to be the first day of Ola Salon‘s consolidated operations at its Burien location, after shuttering its original space in West Seattle’s Luna Park neighborhood. The salon sent its clients an announcement including, “We would like to thank you for supporting Ola Salon and Spa in West Seattle over the past 15+ years. It has come time for Ola to move out of our current location and merge into our newer location, Ola Salon and Spa in Burien, which is only 15 minutes away (less than 10 miles South) at the end of February. Remember when everyone thought West Seattle was so ‘out of the way’!?” The Burien address is 1835 SW 152nd. This leaves two business spaces vacant in the Luna Park business district, since the former Shack Coffeehouse is still seeking a tenant, according to its marquee. P.S. Thanks for all the tips on this!
(WSB photo of project site, September 2018)
Doing some followup work in city files, we discovered a West Seattle development site with a significant plan change since we last reported on it. In September 2018, we noted an early-stage proposal for 30 townhouses at 3101 SW Bradford [map], a site in the upper Luna Park area, bordering the West Seattle Bridge. The file shows a new site plan (PDF) submitted this past November, for an 8-story building with approximately 100 apartments. 55 offstreet-parking spaces for cars, 88 for bicycles. The architect of record on the site plan is Studio 19.
Thanks to Lynda for the tip: Shack Coffeehouse has announced it’s closing after this Friday. From its Instagram page:
As you all know it has been a rocky last couple of months for us here at The Shack. Construction has caused a drastic cut in business and it is sadly time for us to close our doors. Our last day open will be Friday Nov. 1st, 7:30AM-1PM. All merch such as sweatshirts, t-shirts, water bottles, coffee cups and reusable tote bags will be 50% off! Stop in and grab one to remember us by! We thank you for your support, and you can still see some of your favorite baristas working at @hotwirecoffee so feel free to swing by and see them! Thank you West Seattle!
Shack staffers told us business dropped by half within the first few weeks of the Avalon roadwork five months ago; then last month, the owners listed it for sale. Before it became Shack Coffeehouse, the little building at 2920 Avalon Way had been Java Bean for almost 20 years.
1:18 PM: There’s a big police response right now in the Luna Park area after a reported robbery, and a K9 team is joining the search. We are still getting details but there was a report of a car theft as part of this. More to come …
1:25 PM: The search has expanded to include the greenbelt northwest of Avalon/Spokane. Only a partial description of the suspects – “three unknown-race males in their 20s,” one in a gray hoodie, one in a black hoodie, one with a red jacket. Multiple K9 teams are involved now.
2 PM: No one reported in custody yet. Police are talking to various people involved and still trying to sort out exactly what happened and where.
2:08 PM: In our photo above, that’s the recovered stolen vehicle (stopped by a flat tire), uphill in the Avalon/Spokane area, about to be towed. Police tell us this all began in North Delridge; it’s now being described as having started as a “home invasion” robbery, but they continue to sort out the circumstances.
That’s the result of Night 1 of overnight paving on SW Avalon Way; tonight is scheduled to be Night 2. Meantime, local bicycle riders showed support last night for Luna Park Café (as previewed in the WSB Event Calendar. Don Brubeck from West Seattle Bike Connections sent photos and a repot:
Luna Park Cafe was going to close at 3 pm yesterday due to the impact of the Avalon Paving Project. But they stayed open for a Bike-In. We filled a bunch of tables, some of them twice.
Staging for overnight paving was in full swing, with traffic restrictions, but it was not difficult to bike or take the C-line bus. Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board initiated this, and West Seattle Bike Connections joined in, to support Luna Park businesses during a difficult time for them.
The weekly Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project update from SDOT includes a schedule for some work outside the basic project zone – the treatment on the steep SW Charlestown hill west of California SW. Also, early warning of a weekend closure of the 35th/Avalon intersection. Here’s the full update:
Asphalt base paving is complete on the north side of Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW) and crews have begun excavating on the south side of Zone C.
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:· Finishing concrete paving work on the new bus island at SW Yancy St this week
· Completing curb ramp and sidewalk work at SW Charlestown St. SW Charlestown St should reopen as soon as the end of this week.
· Rebuilding the sidewalk on the west side between SW Bradford and SW Charlestown streets
Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW, including:· Demolishing and excavating the road base on the south side of the road this weekend and next week
· Maintaining daytime driveway access when safe and feasible during the workday. If you need to leave your driveway, please plan for delays of up to 1 hour. We encourage you to speak with our crews to check when excavation will take place near your property.
· Placing steel plates or building temporary driveways between 5 and 7 PM to maintain evening access
· Paving the north side of the road is anticipated for Friday, August 30. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
· There will be no driveway access on August 30 from 7 AM to 7 PM
· If you need access to your car, plan to park on side streets the night before. You will not be able to use your driveway while the pavement cures.
Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:· Concrete paving on the west side of the street this week This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
· SW Snoqualmie St remaining closed for staging
While we are not conducting work in Zone B until we return to complete final paving, you may see private projects restricting parking and utilizing traffic control.
35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way Intersection:
To rebuild the concrete roadway, we will be closing the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way. The 35th Ave SW and Avalon Way SW intersection must be rebuilt to extend the useful life of the road, make utility upgrades, and make transit improvement for people walking, bicycling, driving, and riding the bus. Closing the intersection will allow us to complete this work as quickly and safely as possible. This intersection closure is weather dependent and subject to change.
(Corrected map substituted Friday morning – SDOT fixed Genesee’s mislabeling as Dakota on prior version)
· The intersection will be closed from Friday, September 6 at 9 AM to Monday, September 9 at 6 AM, weather depending
· Metro buses will be allowed southbound on 35th Ave SW from Fauntleroy between 3 PM and 7 PM on Fridays to assist with the evening commute
· This work will take up to 3 weekends
· Please visit our website for more information
· Please follow posted detour routes, see map above
High Friction Surface Treatments
In the next few weeks, crews will be placing high friction surface treatments on SW Genesee St and Charlestown Ave SW.· Crews will be working on SW Genesee St from SW Avalon Way to 30th Ave SW. One lane of traffic will be maintained, with flaggers present to direct traffic in each direction.
· Crews will be working on Charlestown Ave SW from 46th Ave SW to 47th Ave SW. Charlestown will be closed to through traffic from 45th to 48th. Please follow posted detour routes.
· Work is expected to take place on both SW Genesee St and Charlestown Ave SW on August 28-29 and September 3-6 from 9 AM to 3 PM
In case you wondered:
What is a high friction surface treatment?
We use high friction surface treatments on steep hills throughout the city to reduce the likelihood of slipping on the roadway. Crews will put down an epoxy and then place coarse rock-like material on top, to create a rougher surface for cars to travel over.
As work continues on the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project, here’s the weekly SDOT progress report:
Paving is complete in Zone A and we have begun breaking the road in Zone C.
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
To complete work in Zone A, we are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:· Finishing concrete paving work on the new bus island at SW Yancy St this week
· Closing SW Charlestown St as soon as the week of August 19 to complete curb ramp and sidewalk work
· Rebuilding the sidewalk on the west side between SW Bradford and SW Charlestown streets
· Finishing work in Zone A as soon as the week of August 19
Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW including:· Completing rebuilding the road base on the north side of the road this week
· Paving the north side of the road on Monday, August 19. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
o There will be no driveway access on August 19
o If you need access to your car, plan to park on side streets the night before. You will not be able to use your driveway while the pavement cures.
· Excavating the south side of the road and moving the SW Genesee St traffic signal as early as Tuesday, August 20
· Maintaining daytime driveway access when safe and feasible during the workday. If you need to leave your driveway, plan for delays of up to 1 hour. We encourage you to speak with our crews to check when excavation will take place near your property.
· Placing steel plates or building temporary driveways between 5 and 7 PM to maintain evening access
· Tentatively paving the south side of the road as early as the week of September 2
Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:· Beginning concrete paving on the west side tomorrow, August 16. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
· No driveway access from Thursday to early Saturday to allow the concrete time to cure
· SW Snoqualmie St remaining closed for staging
We are monitoring the worksite on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.
While we are not conducting work in Zone B until we return to complete final paving, you may see private projects restricting parking and utilizing traffic control.
SDOT adds, “In early September, there will be multiple weekend closures of the intersection of SW Avalon Way and 35th Ave SW to allow us to rebuild the concrete panels in the intersection.” Plus, the weekly Q&A:
Things we’ve heard from the community
Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.When will you pave SW Avalon Way?
We anticipate paving SW Avalon Way (Zones A, B, and C) in mid-September. We will return to the corridor in late spring to complete final striping.Are there noise permits for projects doing work at night?
Yes, there are permits to allow crews to conduct work at night. We cannot make impactful noises or jackhammer after 5 PM unless we have permission from the City’s Department of Construction & Inspections or need to complete emergency work.Cars are cutting through my neighborhood at unsafe speeds to avoid construction. What can I do?
We have heard a lot of concerns about speeding and cut-through traffic. People driving, please be mindful of your neighbors and follow posted speed limits through the corridor and neighboring streets. If you are concerned about cut-through traffic, we can provide Vision Zero signs to post in your neighborhood. If you’re interested, please email us at avalonpaving@seattle.gov.
The weekly Avalon/35th project update from SDOT is just in. One zone of repaving is complete, another is just starting, and one closed road is reopening, among other highlights:
Paving is complete in Zone A and we have begun breaking the road in Zone C.
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
To complete work in Zone A, we are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:-Installing electrical work on the new bus island at SW Yancy St
-Opening SW Yancy St today
-Working on Saturday, August 10 to finish electrical work and begin curb ramp work
-Finishing work in Zone A as soon as the week of August 12
-Temporarily opening SW Charlestown St as soon as today, August 8. SW Charlestown St will close next week for curb ramp upgrades.Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW including:
-Breaking the north side of the road today, August 8
-Excavating the north side of the road as early as Friday, August 9
-Maintaining driveway access when safe and feasible during the workday
-Placing steel plates or building temporary driveways between 5 and 7 PM to maintain evening access
-Tentatively paving Zone C as early as the week of August 19
-Working on Saturday, August 10 to continue building the new road baseZone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:
-Excavating the west side of the road north of SW Snoqualmie St
-Beginning concrete paving as soon as the week of August 12
-Preparing road base which can lead to noise and vibrations
-SW Snoqualmie St remaining closed for staging
-Working on Saturday, August 10 to continue building the new road base
-We are monitoring the worksite on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.Things we’ve heard from the community
Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.Where is work in Zone C starting?
Work in Zone C has started on the north side of SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW. Paving is anticipated to take place on the north side of SW Avalon Way as early as the week of August 19.When are the intersection closures happening?
Intersection closures are anticipated to begin as soon as early September. We will update you through our email updates, post a detour map and work with local businesses to help maintain access during each weekend.Will our trash still be picked up when construction is in our area?
We are coordinating with Seattle Public Utilities on trash collection so that your trash continues to be picked up when construction is in your area.
As noted earlier today, some additional street parking has opened back up on the west side of Avalon in the Luna Park business area.
The weekly update on the Avalon/35th paving-and-more project is in. From SDOT:
Last week, crews worked to excavate the road in Zone A and are getting ready to begin work in Zone C as early as the week of August 5.
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:-Paving at SW Charlestown St as soon as August 5
-Pouring new curb ramps at SW Charlestown St, which will remain closed until the week of August 16
-Paving SW Yancy St, which will remain closed until the week of August 5
-Pouring the new transit island north of SW Yancy St
-Weekend work on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4As crews wrap up paving, please use extreme caution if you are riding a bike through Zone A as the roadway is uneven.
Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
We anticipate beginning work in Zone C as soon as August 5, including:-Saw cutting and excavation on the north side of the road, followed by base repairs and then asphalt paving
-Two to three weeks of work on the north side of Zone CZone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:-Excavation of the road. Driveways will be temporarily impacted during this work, but we will place steels plates to provide access when safe and feasible.
-Beginning concrete paving in certain areas towards the end of the week of August 5Upcoming intersection closures for 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way
Crews will use multiple weekend closures of 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way to rebuild the intersection. While dates have not yet been scheduled, you can expect work to take place during the weekend in early to mid-August to reduce traffic impacts. You can also expect detours to be provided during this work.
SDOT has sent its weekly update on the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project, including word that the northernmost “zone” is close to complete:
We anticipate completing work in Zone A as soon as the week of August 5!
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
To complete work in Zone A, we are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:· Continuing work on the new Rapid Ride bus stop and transit island on the east side of SW Avalon Way near SW Yancy St
· Wrapping up water utility work at SW Charlestown St and paving SW Charlestown St as early as August 5
Temporarily closing SW Yancy St at SW Avalon Way as early as Monday, July 29 to complete bus pad construction. SW Yancy St may re-open as soon as August 6.
Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:
· Installing remaining catch basins along the west side of 35th Ave SW
· Continuing to demolish the roadway at SW Snoqualmie St and continuing this demolition work along 35th Ave SW from SW Alaska St to SW Avalon Way
Excavation of the road: Driveways will be temporarily impacted during this work but we will place steels plates to provide access when safe and feasible.
We are monitoring the work-site on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.
Upcoming Work
Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
· As early as the week of August 5, we will begin work in Zone C
· This work will include impacts to driveways
· If your property manager or HOA board would like a briefing about what to expect during construction, please email us at AvalonPaving@Seattle.gov and check our website for updates on construction and driveway impacts
· Please share this information with others who might be interested in receiving project updates about Zone C
35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way upcoming intersection closures
· We are anticipating multiple weekend closures at 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way to rebuild the intersection
· Work is tentatively scheduled for Friday night through Monday at to reduce weekday traffic impacts and scheduled to begin in mid to late August
· Detours will be provided
We will provide more details about these closures on our website and in our listservs as they are scheduled.
Also:
Things we’ve heard from the community Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors:
Why was traffic so bad on my Tuesday evening commute? While working to install a catch basin on 35th Ave SW, our crews noticed unsafe road conditions next to our work site. For the safety of both people driving and our crews, we restricted traffic to one lane and had flaggers present to alternate traffic in each direction through the area. This restriction was in place from around 3 PM to 5 PM. Thank you for your patience as we continue to safely complete our work!
Will my driveway be impacted when you begin work in Zone C? There will be driveway impacts as we complete work throughout Zone C. We will be in touch with more information as we get closer to construction and will continue to share updates through our email updates and on our project webpage. Why is construction so loud? We recognize that construction can be loud and disruptive. The City of Seattle allows crews to do certain work activities at night with a noise variance so that we can keep traffic moving during the day. When we complete night work, crews are working with a noise variance to allow that late work. This is necessary to keep the project compliant with City of Seattle regulations and to allow us to complete the project on schedule.
SDOT‘s weekly “what’s next” update for the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project has arrived. Note some timetable updates, a new road closure ahead, and also, the project team addresses why 35th had a very slow morning earlier this week:
Crews have paved the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Charlestown St to south of SW Andover St! Crews also completed the last expected water shut offs this week to connect the new water mains at 35th Ave SW and on SW Avalon Way at SW Charlestown St.
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the east side of SW Avalon Way between SW Yancy St and SW Charlestown St to rebuild the road
*A closure of SW Yancy St due to our work on the nearby bus pad. The closure is scheduled to begin as early as Friday and last for a few weeks.Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on the new drainage utilities on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the west side of 35th Ave SW to rebuild the road as early as next week
*Storm drainage work at SW Oregon St and SW Snoqualmie St
*We are monitoring the worksite on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.Things we’ve heard from the community
Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.
Once the road is rebuilt by my home, will I experience any more impacts?
Once we have substantially completed base paving and sidewalk improvements in the road near your home, active roadwork will not take place in front of your home until we come back later this fall to pave the final, top layer of SW Avalon Way. After paving, it’s anticipated that we’ll return in spring or summer of 2020 to re-channel the road with new striping and install the protected bike lane.Why was traffic so bad during the morning commute on Wednesday the 17th?
Crews conducted night work overnight from Tuesday, July 16 to Wednesday, July 17 on 35th Ave SW to make the final connections and water service transfers over to the new water main. This work took longer than anticipated so crews were not able to safely open the road until around 8:35 AM. Thank you for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience on your morning commute.Where will work start next?
Now that the water main is connected, we will work to rebuild 35th Ave SW over the next few weeks We’ll also work to build a new transit island at SW Avalon Way. We anticipate beginning work in zone C (SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW) as early as mid-August.
Does that mean the 35th work won’t last all the way until November? We’re asking that on followup
SDOT has announced what’s next for the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project. Two more water shutoffs are part of the plan. Here’s the update:
We are scheduled to pave the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Charlestown St to south of SW Andover St as soon as July 12, weather permitting.
Zone A: We are continuing work on the west side of SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:
*Water utility work at SW Charlestown St
*Paving the west side of SW Avalon Way south of SW Charlestown St to south of SW Andover St as soon as July 12. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
*As early as next week, crews will begin working in the center lane of SW Avalon Way between SW Yancy St and SW Bradford St to build a new bus pad
*SW Bradford St and SW Andover St are closed to SW Avalon Way to excavate and rebuild the road base. *If paving takes place, SW Bradford St and SW Andover St will be open as early as next week.Zone E: We are continuing work on the new water main and drainage utilities on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:
*Excavating for a new water service pipe on the westside of 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Snoqualmie St
*Connecting the new water main at SW Avalon Way and SW Snoqualmie St
*Demolishing the west side of 35th Ave SW
*Storm drainage work at SW Oregon St and SW Snoqualmie StSeattle Public Utilities (SPU) has two upcoming water shutoffs scheduled for next week:
*July 16 for customers on 35th Ave SW from SW Alaska St to SW Avalon Way from 9 PM to 6 AM
*July 17 for customers on SW Avalon Way from SW Orleans St to south of SW Andover St; SW Andover, SW Bradford, and SW Charlestown streets; and SW Andover St to mid block on 32nd Ave SW from 9 PM to 6 AM
Crews will use a temporary noise permit to complete this work and you can expect this work to be noisy as SPU crews cut and install pipes throughout the course of the evening and backfill the charged main. SPU is doing this work at night to minimize the impacts of the water shut off. If you are impacted by one of these shut offs, SPU will notify you.
If you have questions about, or experience problems with, your water service, contact SPU’s 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800.
The entire project is to be complete sometime by mid-2020.
With the long holiday weekend about to begin, SDOT has just sent its weekly update on what’s next for the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project:
There will be no work taking place on July 4 or 5, but traffic control will remain in place.
Over the holiday weekend, the following side streets will remain closed:
SW Andover St at SW Avalon Way
SW Bradford St at SW Avalon Way
SW Charlestown St at SW Avalon Way
SW Snoqualmie St at 35th Ave SW
Work resumes the week of July 8 with continued work on:SW Avalon Way with
-base repairs between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St
-tentative paving between south of SW Charlestown St and south of SW Andover St on July 12
-sidewalks at SW Spokane St
-water utility work on SW Charlestown St35th Ave SW with
-road excavation on the west side between SW Alaska St and SW Oregon St. Driveways will remain accessible at this time.
-water utility work on the new water mainOur second water shutdown will take place the evening of Monday, July 8, from 9 PM to 6 AM. The same area that experienced the first shut down, will experience this shut down. If you are impacted by this shutdown, SPU will notify you with a flyer or door hanger. If you have questions about, or experience problems with, your water service, contact SPU’s 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800.
SDOT says the crews working on the Avalon/35th project will take a four-day holiday weekend. Here’s what else is ahead:
Crews will not be working July 4 or 5 for the holiday but please expect traffic control to remain in place so crews can resume work on Monday, July 8. Next week crews will continue to work in the following locations:
· Zone A: We are continuing work on the west side of SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:
· Water utility work at SW Charlestown St
· Demolishing the west side of SW Avalon Way south of SW Charlestown St to south of SW Andover St in order to repair the road base
· New curb ramps on the west side of SW Avalon Way/SW Harbor St at SW Spokane St. Pedestrian detours will be in place for this work. People walking can cross at our new curb ramp at SW Orleans St. After work hours, a protected pedestrian path will route pedestrians around construction on the west side of SW Avalon Way.
· SW Bradford St and SW Andover St are closed to SW Avalon Way to excavate and rebuild the road base
· Zone E: We are continuing work on the new water main and drainage utilities on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:
· Excavating for a new water service pipe on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Snoqualmie St
· Storm drain work at SW Oregon St and SW Snoqualmie St
Things we’ve heard from the community
Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.When will work in Zone A be completed?
At this time, work in Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St) is scheduled to be complete in mid to late August.Where will you begin work once Zone A is completed?
Once we complete work in Zone A, we anticipate beginning work on SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW (Zone C). Work in Zone C will begin as soon as mid to late August.
That’s the newest map for the 35th/Avalon project, accompaying an update with some good news: SDOT says “At this time, construction is slightly ahead of schedule.” As for what’s next and where, here’s the weekly update, including some changes starting as soon as tomorrow:
Crews have completed paving on the northern portion of SW Avalon Way by SW Orleans St (Zone A). Next week crews will continue to work in the following locations:
Zone A: Work continues on SW Avalon Way between SW Manning St and SW Andover St on the east and west sides
We are conducting water utility work at SW Charlestown St
Beginning as early as the end of this week and early next week, we will be demolishing the west side of SW Avalon Way south of SW Charlestown St to SW Andover St. Driveway access will be maintained at this time.
We are working on sidewalk repairs on the east side of SW Avalon Way from SW Harbor St to SW Orleans St. People walking can cross at our new curb ramp at SW Orleans St. After work hours, a protected pedestrian path will route pedestrians around construction on the west side of SW Avalon Way.
SW Bradford St will close to SW Avalon Way as soon as Friday, June 21 for excavation work to rebuild the road base
Zone E: Work continues on the new water main on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St. Crews are currently testing the new water main.
We are continuing utility work at SW Snoqualmie St
As early as next week, we will be demolishing the west side of 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St. Driveway access will be maintained at this time.
Businesses are open! Please continue to visit businesses on 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way during construction. Follow signs for temporary parking for the Avalon Business District near the West Seattle Bridge. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times – please follow signed pedestrian detours.
The work is now in its third month.
Beyond Thursday’s notice about emergency water work, here are the weekly SDOT updates from the Avalon/35th project
Next week crews will continue to work in the following locations:
Zone A: Work continues on SW Avalon Way between SW Manning St and SW Charlestown St. At SW Charlestown St, we are conducting water utility work. As early as next week, we anticipate paving the east side of SW Avalon Way between SW Manning St and SW Charlestown St and beginning paving work on the west side of SW Avalon Way, south of SW Charlestown St to SW Andover St.
Zone E: We are continuing to work on the new water main on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St and utility work at SW Snoqualmie St. As we work in Zone E through November 2019, we will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on 35th Ave SW between Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Alaska St. …
Businesses are open! Please continue to visit businesses on 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way during construction. Follow signs for temporary parking for the Avalon Business District near the West Seattle Bridge. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times – please follow signed pedestrian detours.
SDOT also included some community Q&A. Two points of note:
Will parking be restored in Zones B and C?
Parking on the west side of SW Avalon Way in Zone B (between SW Yancy St and SW Genesee St) is now available. Please note that the parking area is not a travel lane and people driving and biking should be mindful of the traffic control in place. Parking on the east side of Zone B and throughout Zone C is currently restricted but will be restored as construction progress allows.Are there pedestrian detours at SW Charlestown St?
Pedestrian detours are in place. In response to frequent mid-block crossings witnessed onsite, we are placing a flagger onsite north of SW Charlestown St to help pedestrians cross SW Avalon Way at a temporary crosswalk during work hours. After work hours, a protected pedestrian path will route pedestrians around construction on the west side of SW Avalon Way.
(WSB photo from Monday)
Heads up if you’ll be traveling through the Avalon Way work zone tonight, and/or if you live in the area: Following up on Monday’s water break, blamed on crews hitting “an unmarked water-service,” they’ll be working tonight to make sure nothing else in the area is “unmarked.” SDOT’s announcement:
Emergency night work tonight:
In an effort to identify all existing water service lines in the vicinity of our utility work, crews will be completing excavation at the water main at SW Avalon Way tonight starting at 7 PM and will continue through the night. Excavation around the water main is needed to identify unmarked waterlines and prevent future water utility interruptions to our progress. Work must be performed at night to be least impactful to traffic. No water shut offs are expected. If you have problems with your water tonight, please contact Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800.
Please expect:
*At 7 PM, SW Avalon Way will be restricted to a single lane of traffic at SW Charlestown St
*Flaggers will be in place tonight to help alternative traffic through the work zone
*Please expect delays if you are traveling along SW Avalon Way after 7 PM
*Work will be noisy and will take place for several hours
Two water-related incidents of note today:
AVALON WAY: That photo is from midmorning in the Luna Park area, where the ongoing road work was complicated for a while after crews what Seattle Public Utilities spokesperson Sabrina Register says was “an unmarked water service pipe.” She adds that it led 23 “customers to experience a temporary loss of water for about one hour. Seattle Public Utilities crews were called to the scene to make the emergency repair and restore water service.” The area restaurants were not affected, though, Luna Park Café owner John Bennett told us.
FAIRMOUNT AREA: SPU got about a dozen reports of brown water and SPU attributes that to SFD hydrant testing. Just a reminder, if you experience brown water, the number to call is 206-386-1800.
Yes, the Luna Park businesses are open, even as the SDOT repaving-and-more project continues right out front. But they need your support to stay open. We heard this week from a team member at The Shack Coffeehouse (2920 SW Avalon Way) who asked if we could remind you of that. Since we’ve already mentioned it multiple times, we asked, what more do you want people to know? The reply included a reminder that new owners have been rebuilding the business since taking over two years ago, adding, “There isn’t a cooler spot in West Seattle in my opinion. This place is quirky, used, cozy, old and has such a RICH history in West Seattle.” But that’s in danger right now:
Construction commenced in Front of The Shack/Luna Park on 5/17. We immediately experienced a 30% drop in transaction volume on Saturday May 18th (as soon as the signs and barriers went up); this increased to 40% on Sat 5/25 and 50% on Saturday 6/1 – this is a material loss of sales that the business cannot absorb. It isn’t just a small hit – it’s a death sentence to The Shack if it continues at current levels.
After experiencing such great growth in both sales and transactions over this past year, sales and transactions are back down to what they were when they first took over The Shack over a year ago in what seems to be overnight. The hurt is real, and it is not sustainable. The Shack, the owners and its employees are at an impasse. We’re cutting service hours back to 7-Noon, opening up our pre-order text line “Hangryline” to everyone who wants to order in advance, and we’ve got a pickup space reserved. We hope that once construction is complete that we’ll be back to normal and back on an upward trajectory, but that is unknown. We need the support of the community! Stop in with your friends and family, grab some breakfast or lunch. Text in your coffee order and swing by and grab it! None of us will really know the full impact of the NEW Avalon design, until it’s complete. Let’s just hope we can make it until then.
As our photo, taken this morning, shows, the parking area on the SW Orleans street end between The Shack and Luna Park Café/Avalon Glassworks next door remains open; our photographers reported the crew was very helpful in making sure he got through. There’s also parking under the bridge, a short walk away.
P.S. So how long will work continue in that specific area? We asked the SDOT project team. “Work on the west side of SW Avalon Way in front of Luna Park is substantially complete. Our remaining work includes top paving and other miscellaneous activities, which will take place later this year for most of SW Avalon Way. Currently, we are completing sidewalks and base repairs on the east side of SW Avalon Way across from Luna Park. We anticipate this work wrapping up by the end of June. We will then continue to work in Zone 1, south and north of the Luna Park area through July. While work will not be directly in front of Luna Park, traffic control will remain throughout Zone 1. We anticipate opening parking as feasible as we move throughout the Zone.”
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