Entrepreneur proposes three ways to make Admiral District more walkable. Next step, community support

| Neighborhoods | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(California/Admiral intersection – Google Maps Street View image)

Stu Hennessey has a dream – a walkable Admiral District.

It’s where he does business as the proprietor of Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor), and it’s home to an increasingly busy collection of homes and businesses, including newer apartment buildings such as Luna, Admiral Station, and Element 42, plus Lafayette Elementary, West Seattle High School, and a senior-living complex.

While The (Alaska) Junction has a “walkability score” of 98, the Admiral Junction area scores only 70, says Hennessey, who presented his ideas for fixing that to Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association gathering.

In a written version of his presentation, he asks, “Is it our fate to have so much less walkability than the Alaska Junction? Both intersections have about the same amount of daily traffic volume. Both intersections should have the same regard for pedestrian safety. There have been plenty of pedestrian or bicycle accidents along California Ave. SW from SW Stevens to SW College St. Considering the schools, assisted-living facilities, and business storefronts, this neighborhood requires the same amount or more safety improvements to raise our walkability score to the level of the Alaska Junction. The call for better walkability is a call for economic development that will serve businesses and neighbors alike.”

(California between Admiral and Lander – Google Maps Street View image)

Here are Hennessey’s three proposals – two of which would mirror what’s in place at Alaska Junctiion:

—Walk-All-Ways intersection at California/Admiral. He says, “The biggest safety concern for pedestrians crossing the streets is the right turn on red. The all-walk design would eliminate the right turn on red. Traffic-light synchronization would both keep the traffic flow from backing up and increase the mobility and safety for pedestrians with a 40-second all-walk crossing.”

—Mid-block raised crossings on California between Lander and Admiral and College and Admiral. These would serve people going to and from the Admiral Theater and Admiral Safeway.

—Permanently close SW Lander between California and 44th. Hennessey elaborates, “This is an often-ignored one-way and daytime-temporarily-closed street that could be used as an emergency gathering point for Lafayette School, auto-free pickup of students, and a potential event space such as a farmers’ market.”

So what would it take to make any or all of that happen? He hopes to engage everyone with a stake in the area – residents, businesses, schools, even law enforcement – to petition SDOT. Support could be voiced through a variety of feedback channels, he suggests, and shown via yard signs with a QR code as well as flyers in shop windows, all pointing to the petition.

How to pay for it? Hennessey has thought about that too: “Beyond the next transportation-plan levy, there is available federal funding, and matching grants.” Last year, he said, the feds made $5 billion “available for community-safety improvements. To date, $813 million has been granted to 385 community groups like ours.”

Hennessey is no stranger to community advocacy; he is a co-founder of Sustainable West Seattle and led the campaign to create Puget Ridge Edible Park. His next step toward a more-walkable Admiral District is to build a stakeholders group, and he suggested the ANA should be involved. President Joanie Jacobs said their board will discuss it, but first reaction was positive. Hennessey emphasized that the funding is out there – what will be needed to make any of this happen is widespread organized community effort. He expects to return to the ANA at its next general gathering in March with updates.

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From traffic to trends, here’s what police discussed with two West Seattle community groups Tuesday night

January 10, 2024 10:19 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Southwest Precinct police representatives were guests at two community meetings we covered last night, with different topics:

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Mark Solomon, Crime Prevention Coordinator from the South Precinct who’s also currently handling Southwest, was the guest. The ANA conversation with him touched on two major topics: One, the two teenagers who have been reported as involved in multiple incidents in local businesses. Attendees included at least one affected business owner. The two boys were described as well-known to business owners, as they have gone in to various shops and restaurants, harassing employees. Solomon said he would check on the situation. (Side note, two teens were taken into custody in the Admiral District late today after incidents in at least three businesses; we’ll be following up with SPD tomorrow.)

He also mentioned that Admiral has not been immune to the business burglaries that have happened around the peninsula; he said Wiseman’s Appliance was broken into last month.

Solomon also got an earful about traffic violations in the Admiral area – people speeding, running red lights, and ignoring pedestrians. One person asked if there were stats on running red lights; Solomon said he only gets collision stats. There was also a request for motorcycle officers to give speeding tickets, but Solomon said the motorcycle patrol’s role these days is primarily to aid traffic these days and not so much hand out tickets.

(Separate from the discussion with SPD’s Solomon, the ANA also heard about a new community proposal to make Admiral more pedestrian-friendly; look for that story tomorrow. And one more note – Solomon, who ran for City Council last year, confirmed to us that he’s applied for the current council vacancy.)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Traffic was also a topic as second-watch Lt. Joshua Ziemer and community-liaison Officer German Barreto visited the FCA meeting. President Mike Dey brought up the recent collision that killed Steven Hulsman as he rode his bicycle on Marine View Drive, and wondered about speed bumps. How did Alki get so much traffic calming? was the question. FCA might consider asking Alki community advocates how they had so much success with SDOT, it was suggested.

Meantime, the SPD delegation brought crime-trend information that Lt. Ziemer said was for West Seattle in general. Homicides in the Southwest Precinct (which includes South Park) more than doubled, 3 in 2022, 7 in 2023 (the SPD crime dashboard says 8). The newest trend: Burglaries are on the rise. A not-so-new trend: Auto thefts are way up, 2023 was up 39 percent over 2022, and he said that mirrors a nationwide trend, fueled by the Kia and Hyundai thefts. They’re hopeful that a recent arrest (no name but likely this one) will make a dent. Robberies are also up (and in response to a question, he said that most carjackings fall into that category) – they believe the auto theft and robbery rises are related, because many vehicles are taken to be used in a crime.

How’s SPD recruitment going? they were asked. Departmentwide, they’ve still had more departures than new hires. Lt. Ziemer noted that it’s a nationwide problem, not just a Seattle problem. He said a contract agreement with the officers’ union would be an important step to assist in recruitment. But Lt. Ziemer stressed that they’re not just looking for “numbers” in hiring, they want “quality people” who want to come to SPD and will stay a while. The Southwest Precinct remains a popular place to work, he added.

(We’ve published two other reports from the FCA meeting – the latest on Seattle Parks‘ pickleball-court planning, and an update on West Seattle dog-park siting.)

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Sound Transit, Rethink The Link, Duwamish Tribe guests @ District 1 Community Network’s first 2024 meeting

January 8, 2024 1:10 am

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Here’s what happened when the District 1 Community Network – representatives of various groups and organizations around the area – met this week for the first time this year, with Deb Barker of the Morgan Community Association facilitating.

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: D1CN’s first guests were from Sound Transit, recapping the newest information presented regarding the West Seattle light-rail extension – early station designs. ST is still on track to publish the West Seattle project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement “the middle of this year,” Leda Chahim said – the board (which is getting some new members) will vote after that on final routing and station locations. The presentation went through the station-planning info shown at recent meetings including the West Seattle Transportation Coalition in November (WSB coverage here) and October’s “open house” in The Junction (WSB coverage here). ST’s station-planning lead Sloan Dawson headed up the recap, showing what were largely the same station design outlines presented at WSTC (with a few extra notations about bus access), starting with the Delridge station, northwest of the Delridge/Andover intersection.

Questions included how many buses the stop zone at the station would hold simultaneously – answer, three. Also: How is Metro involved in planning? Dawson said they’re “closely coordinating.”

The Avalon station is where the line starts going underground, with a “retained cut” station and then the tunnel leading into The Junction.

This station “straddles” 35th SW, with an entrance on each side of that street. Barker noted that Metro will be visiting the WSTC this year, so watch for that if you have questions about how bus service will interface with light rail. Dawson said that among other things, they’re working on street cross-sections to show more clearly how the station areas are supposed to work..

The Junction station will be “cut and cover,” spanning 41st SW.

Buses from California, Alaska, and Fauntleroy would converge on the station. There would be a new signalized intersection at 41st/Alaska. Jefferson Square would be “acquired and demolished.” That led to one commenter voicing concerns about how business tenants would be compensated compared to property owners; Chahim said it’s a complex conversation and that they haven’t discussed specific dollar amounts with specific businesses yet.

Time ran too short for detailed discussion but ST reps also noted “concepts” for projects to enhance walking and biking access to the stations. Next up in the process – they’re analyzing more than 2,000 responses to the station-planning survey that closed just before Christmas. They also promised another “engagement” event in West Seattle in the months ahead.

‘NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVE’: Another light-rail-related agenda item later in the meeting – Marty Westerman spoke on behalf of the Rethink The Link group advocating for this alternative to Sound Transit light rail. They contend that the light-rail extension “will make West Seattle to downtown rider experience worse” and that the massive expense and construction-related pollution, among other aspects, are not worth it. They say ST only projects 400 fewer car trips as a result and contend that beefing up bus service would “make more sense.” One attendee asked how the ST3 vote could be “undone” to allow this. Westerman said that’s not necessary, as the ST Board has the power to “ignore the voters” and do whatever they think is right, for example.

TRIBAL ART UNDER THE BRIDGE: Here’s our previous coverage about this. Facilitator Barker recapped how she found out about this by reading a City Council agenda back in November. The new City Council will have to make a final decision on the matter, which involves $133,000 for the Muckleshoot and Suquamish tribes to create art on columns under the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. The Duwamish Tribe – whose longhouse is barely a mile away from the site – was not consulted, though the city said a different art project would involve the Duwamish. Barker invited Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe to the meeting. He said that “to our shock, this proposal was going through” on the “last Duwamish Village site in Seattle.” He said the two tribes involved “are good people” and do have some Duwamish ancestry, adding that his tribe supports native art, but “this place is home for us and for somebody else to come in and say they’re going to establish their territory (here) … doesn’t sit well with us.” He said they were grateful to Barker for bringing it to their attention. He was asked how the fight for federal recognition is going; “we continue this fight … our attorneys are pushing forward for an acknowledgment, a summary judgment that (the Duwamish) would be recognized … My fear is that if we as a Duwamish people fail to get our names on the registry of recognized tribes, we will go the way of the Aztec and Inca and people will say they have ‘ancestry’ but there won’t be an actual Duwamish people any more.” Back to the art matter, city reps said at the time of the bridge proposal that they would work with the Duwamish on a separate public-art project; Workman said that will involve sidewalk art. No date set yet for the council’s next consideration of the project with the Suquamish and Muckleshoot, Council Bill 120726; the Transportation Committee shelved it on December 5th and will have to vote before it could go to the full council.

CITY COUNCIL VACANCY: This is now open to applicants as noted in our coverage Tuesday of the council’s first meeting – but you have to apply by end-of-day Tuesday (January 9). Barker noted that a public forum will be held as part of the process and wondered if D1CN participants might be interested in sending in questions. When a similar forum was held in 2019, it was noted, 18 groups asked questions.

COMMUNITY NOTES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Kay Kirkpatrick from HPAC said they’re excited about the construction of the permanent signal at Highland Park Way and Holden … Facilitator Barker said her organization, Morgan Community Association, will have a hybrid meeting at 7 pm January 17th, at Westside Unitarian Universalist (7141 California SW) … The Fauntleroy Community Association expects a guest from Parks at its 7 pm meeting Tuesday (January 9) to talk about the Lincoln Park pickleball-court plan. That’ll be at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).

D1CN’S NEXT MEETING: 7 pm Wednesday, March 6, in-person, location TBA.

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WEEK AHEAD: Talk with police, community advocates at Admiral Neighborhood Association gathering on Tuesday

January 7, 2024 6:32 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Also ahead this week: The next general gathering of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, in person on Tuesday (January 9th). Among other agenda items, ANA says it’s a chance to talk with police about community-safety concerns. Here’s the preview sent by ANA:

Join us Tuesday as we begin 2024 with updates from the Southwest Precinct, a conversation highlighting a campaign to create a more safe and livable, people-oriented district. We will also be giving previews and dates for 2024 events as well as presenting volunteer opportunities to get involved with us. The gathering will be held at Admiral Church, 4320 SW Hill St., at 7 pm.

Here’s our report on what happened at the ANA’s last general gathering, in November.

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LAST CALL: This year’s Public Safety Survey closes this week

November 27, 2023 2:16 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

This year’s Seattle Public Safety Survey is open for just a few more days. Researchers from Seattle University hope to find out your primary safety concerns and convey them to SPD.

Here’s the direct link to the survey, with a-dropdown on that page offering a choice of 11 languages. The survey is open through Thursday, last day of the month.

P.S. Here are the results of last year’s citywide survey.

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Endings and beginnings at Alki Community Council’s November meeting

November 19, 2023 8:01 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

It was a night for farewells when the Alki Community Council met this past Thursday night.

Three longtime officers said goodbye. So did our area’s city councilmember.

But with endings came beginnings – a new president and vice president. We’ll start there.

OFFICER TRANSITION: Months ago, longtime ACC leaders announced their intention to step down before this year was out, and the resulting need for new leadership – or else, they warned, like so many other West Seattle neighborhood groups in recent years, this one too would go dormant.

Departing:
President Tony Fragada
Vice President Randie Stone
Secretary/Treasurer Kathy Olson

Succeeding them:
President Charlotte Starck
Vice President Lindsey Pearsall
Secretary – vacant
Treasurer – vacant

Staying on are trustees Greg Showalter, Peter Stekel, and Will Winter; now-past president Fragada – who’s been involved with the group since the ’90s – becomes a trustee too. If you are interested in either of the vacant positions, contact info is at alkicommunitycouncil.org. Starck said she’s “excited” about the ACC’s potential and hopes to launch a membership drive. Pearsall added that she’s “super-passionate about building community.”

COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD: Our area’s city councilmember, about to leave office after eight years, made a brief visit in the meeting’s early going. She promised to help, in her waning weeks, with the issue Starck nand neighbors brought to the ACC last month – the need for traffic calming on 56th Avenue SW, a gateway from Admiral Way down to the beach. Herbold also suggested that the neighbors get it on her successor’s radar; she and Councilmember-elect Rob Saka were scheduled to meet the next day, and Herbold said she’d bring it up. Meantime, the neighbors are continuing to circulate an online petition, which asks for speed bumps, for starters. The group recalled a walking tour with SDOT director Greg Spotts suggesting there’d be a wider planning effort for the Alki area, but nothing had happened yet. Meantime, the ACC thanked Herbold for her assistance with various issues over the years and wished her well.

POLICE: Community-emphasis Officer German Bareto participated in the meeting online (this was a hybrid meeting, both online and at Alki UCC). He gave a quick update on crime trends – mentioning that aggravated assaults and robberies are up. The talk turned to the pervasive problem of dogs on the beach; he was asked how to reach Animal Control officers, and suggested surfacing the issue to Parks employees if they’re on hand.

FOLLOWUP ON DEFACED ART: Stekel reported that since his push to get utilities to clean up the paint markings with which they defaced the Constellation Park artwork – including artist Lezlie Jane‘s sidewalk octopus – they’ve done just that.

DONATIONS: The ACC will be sending $200 each to the West Seattle and White Center food banks.

NEXT MEETING: The ACC meets third Thursdays most months, in person at Alki UCC and online – watch alkicommunitycouncil.org for updates.

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Holiday event previews, officer elections at Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting

November 16, 2023 1:24 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It was a celebration of volunteer service and preview of a busy slate of holiday events at the monthly meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association on Tuesday night.

The meeting was held at Admiral Church and was facilitated by ANA president Joanie Jacobs and the rest of the ANA executive board.

One of the primary items of business for the evening was the annual election of ANA officers, as well as honoring officers who are stepping down. There were flowers, cake, and treats on hand in celebration of many years of service for outgoing officers Stephanie Jordan (Vice President and Hiawatha Concerts coordinator) and Carrie McCann (Secretary):

After taking nominations from the floor for the new slate of 2023-2024 executive officers, the following individuals were unanimously elected: new Secretary Meagan Loftin (who has also served as Admiral Art Walk coordinator), returning President Joanie Jacobs, returning Treasurer Bridgett Markillie, and new Vice President Cheryl Lea (owner of Seattle Yarn):

Other continuing/returning ANA leaders are: Read More

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From pickleball to pumpkins to police @ Fauntleroy Community Association’s final 2023 meeting

November 15, 2023 9:37 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two weeks after Seattle Parks announced a two-week “pause” in the Lincoln Park pickleball-court project, opponents took their case to the Fauntleroy Community Association board.

That was one of the topics at the board’s monthly meeting last night. President Mike Dey facilitated the meeting in the conference room at historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, and it also was streamed. First, other, somewhat briefer topics:

SEATTLE POLICE: The Southwest Precinct sergeant who attended mentioned the recent crime trends on which we’ve reported here, such as armed robberies committed using stolen cars: “We’ve been getting hit pretty hard. … They wear masks, they have firearms, late teens-early 20s, normally hitting between 3 and 4 in the morning” – possibly the same robbers but they’re using different vehicles. He also noted the crash-and-grab burglary trend, including the multiple hits at Global Smoke and Vape (35th/Roxbury). One attendee says stolen cars are being dumped at Barton P-Patch and urges people to report cars that look like they’ve been broken into. Asked if Kias and Hyundais were still the predominant makes of cars being stolen, he said yes, but “we’re seeing others now.” Another trend he mentioned, many reports of suspected gunfire, but many not verified as it’s “really hard to pinpoint.” Did he think it’s a good idea for the city to buy the ShotSpotter gunfire-detection system that’s under consideration? He said yes.

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Toplines from HPAC’s October meeting

October 30, 2023 12:55 am

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| Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Got something to say to the city about the streets and sidewalks of Highland Park, Riverview, and/or South Delridge? Don’t miss the chance to get your feedback in for the Seattle Transportation Plan – comments on the draft version are due Tuesday. That’s one of the community reminders that emerged this past Wednesday night when HPAC, the area’s community coalition, met in person.

The meeting, facilitated by (corrected) HPAC co-chairs Craig Rankin – who is leaving that position, with Barb Biondo succeeding him – and Kay Kirkpatrick was held in person, at the Southwest Precinct community room. City Attorney Ann Davison was a spotlight guest (as she had been at another West Seattle community-council meeting last month, the Admiral Neighborhood Association).

Davison gave a general outline of how her office works. She talked about her initial work of getting backlogged cases handled and her lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai regarding the flaw that allows so many to be so easily stolen. That led to a discussion among the group about the number of dumped Kias/Hyundais in Highlad Park. One question came up – whether stolen and recovered cars are tracked. SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon said his department has data tools and does map where cars and taken and where the cars wind up.

Davison used that example and a question over the city’s new drug law to remind people to report the things they see. Rather than get bogged down in “the police won’t come” preemptive pessimism, she said, call and report, and let the next step happen. That way there’s at least data on where and when crimes might be occurring.

Regarding the city’s new drug policy – she presented some background on that, and said she’s in favor of getting people into treatment, so she’s working with her staff to ensure that’s a priority for people whose cases are referred to the City Attorney’s Office under the new law.

HPAC attendees also heard an update on the progress toward building a new Highland Park Improvement Club building. HPIC’s Rhonda Smith said the latest period for project comments to the city is over. But the permit process still has a ways to go, and that’s why the fire-damaged building hasn’t undergone any demolition work yet. HPIC still has fundraising to do to ensure they can cover the cost of the new building, and they’re working with professional fundraisers to advance that effort. (Here’s how to donate.)

Speaking of money, HPAC co-chair Rankin, who’s active with the West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails group, said grant money is available for forest-restoration and trail improvements. (You can find out more about the WDGT group here.)

NEXT MEETING: HPAC meets fourth Wednesdays most months – watch for updates here.

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From traffic trouble to park problems at Alki Community Council

October 22, 2023 6:36 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Issues from traffic safety to crime to two park concerns were discussed at this month’s meeting of the Alki Community Council.

The meeting facilitated by ACC president Tony Fragada was held Thursday night in hybrid format, although the in-person gathering dropped off the Zoom call prematurely, so the meeting’s end was a bit muddied.

TRAFFIC SAFETY: Residents on 56th SW say it’s the only gateway-to-Alki street without traffic calming. They would like to change that, so they’ve launched an online petition. Problems related to the road’s use include two homes hit by three drivers in recent years, and two drive-by-shootings with bullets going into houses (here’s one we covered, in which bullets broke dishes). Neighbors are asking SDOT for speed humps to at least discourage the speeding and perhaps reduce the street’s popularity. If you’re interested in signing the petition, it’s here.

POLICE UPDATES: The same SPD delegation who attended Wednesday’s Morgan Community Association meeting came to the Alki CC meeting –

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Ex-bank, future park, safe walking, more @ Morgan Community Association’s quarterly meeting

October 22, 2023 2:12 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As always, the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting was update-laden. Here’s what we heard at Wednesday’s online meeting, facilitated by MoCA president Deb Barker. Here’s how it unfolded, starting with the quick notes dubbed Morgan Minutes:

‘WE NEED HELP’: MoCA needs a recording secretary – “very easy position” since the organization meets only once every three months. This person takes minutes and posts them online – email mocacnc@gmail.com if you might be interested in helping.

EX-BANK BUILDING: The former Washington Federal building on the northeast corner of California/Fauntleroy remains for sale, two and a half years after closing; Barker talked to the broker recently and was told the bank “only wants to sell the building and is not interested in leasing it” – but with the stipulation that future owners can’t use or lease it as a bank. Price has been cut to $2 million.

MORGAN JUNCTION FESTIVAL PLANNING: MoCA will start talking in January about next June’s festival. First thing: Pick a festival date, then consider the scope of the event. All are welcome to help plan – if interested, mocacnc@gmail.com.

HYBRID MEETING? MoCA hopes to move from online-only to hybrid meetings next year.

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Jim Price search, ‘bump-and-robs,’ other topics in Q&A with police at HPAC

September 27, 2023 10:30 pm

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| Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

The first fall meeting of HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – tonight lasted less than 40 minutes, as one guest was a no-show. But the online meeting’s first scheduled guest was there – on behalf of the Southwest Precinct, second-watch commander Lt. Grant Ballingham. He answered a variety of questions from attendees.

One was whether there’s anything new in the search for Jim Price, the 86-year-old Pigeon Point man who’s now been missing for nine days.

Lt. Ballingham said officers had responded to a few possible sightings, and in two of those cases, they found and talked with the person who was the subject of the sighting, but it wasn’t Jim. Otherwise, he said, all officers have the bulletin flyers with them and are on the lookout.

The Kia/Hyundai thefts aren’t slowing down, he said, though he didn’t have numbers. He said the cars often are stolen where others are dumped. The most-concerning trend, he said, is the “bump-and-rob” carjacking attempts. He said both people who were targeted for those in West Seattle one day last week escaped by simply driving away. He echoed the advice about driving to a safe place rather than getting out of your car.

As we’ve already added to our earlier story, he said Junction TrueValue had to deal with two incidents today, a “robbery by force” and then later the harassment/death threat incident we reported. He said a suspect had been arrested in the latter. And while he acknowledged there are many serious incidents, he said that judging by the number of Significant Incident Reports he sees from around the city each day, the Southwest Precinct has the least amount of violent crime in the city. He also voiced optimism about city leaders’ plans to supplement police with alternate responders. And finally, he thanked community members for their watchfulness and for reporting things (like all those stolen/dumped cars).

ALSO AT HPAC: Next month, HPAC will again join with Highland Park Improvement Club and Highland Park Corner Store for a combination tree giveaway and Halloween event (with a pet-costume contest!), Trick or Trees, noon-4 pm at the store (7789 Highland Park Way SW). … HPIC will soon have another Town Hall to update the community on the rebuilding project and the fundraising to facilitate it.

NEXT MEETING: HPAC usually meets online, fourth Wednesdays, 7 pm – watch hpacws.org for updates.

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Surveys and pumpkins @ Fauntleroy Community Association

September 15, 2023 2:25 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Two toplines from this week’s monthly meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association: The organization is getting ready to launch its periodic community survey. Homes and businesses in the “greater Fauntleroy area” will get postcards inviting them to answer the survey online. Questions will include opinions of the Fauntleroy ferry-dock replacement (as reported here last month, the timeline for that project has now moved back) and assessment of community awareness of FCA projects and events. … Speaking of which, one update: FCA’s annual community pumpkin hunt is set for October 21st, 1-3 pm. About 200 pumpkins will be hidden in the general Endolyne business district area, and some gifts will be up for grabs, including a glass pumpkin from Avalon Glassworks. … The FCA board meets second Tuesdays most months, 7 pm, at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse; watch fauntleroy.net for updates between meetings.

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Here’s what police and the City Attorney said about crime/safety @ Admiral Neighborhood Association

September 13, 2023 12:55 pm

| 37 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As community organizations resume regular meeting schedules for fall, the Admiral Neighborhood Association had public safety high on the agenda last night.

The meeting at Admiral Church, facilitated by ANA president Joanie Jacobs, had two major guests – the Southwest Precinct‘s new third-watch commander, and City Attorney Ann Davison.

POLICE: Lt. Joe Hadley now oversees the 7 pm to 5 am shift (“third watch”) and said he most recently worked with the Office of Police Accountability. He said they’re bringing back the Community Police Team (an officer with that assignment accompanied him). Lt. Hadley opened the floor quickly to Q&A.

First question: How’s the staffing? “It’s rough,” he replied. The goal remains to hire about 100 officers a year “but I don’t thin we’re going to make that this year.” The 4/10 schedule change has made SPD more attractive for “laterals” – trained officers coming from other police departments. “Our previous schedule was horrible” (four days on, two days off). “The chief has made it a priority to improve morale, improve retention, entic(e) folks to come work here.” The recent consent-decree announcement isn’t going to change anything short-term, he said.

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TUESDAY: Fauntleroy Community Association’s first fall meeting

September 10, 2023 6:12 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Previously, we previewed the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s first fall gathering, this Tuesday (September 12th). Also resuming meetings for fall on Tuesday: the Fauntleroy Community Association. The FCA also expects a Southwest Precinct rep to attend with updates on local crime/safety issues, so if you have a question for police, community-group meetings provide you with regular opportunities. Also on the FCA agenda – a look ahead to next month’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival, an update on Washington State Ferries issues, and a discussion of Sound Transit‘s West Seattle plan, among other issues. Community members are welcome to attend in person – 7 pm Tuesday in the conference room at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW) – or online (registration information is at fauntleroy.net/meetings).

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TUESDAY: City Attorney Ann Davison, summer recap @ Admiral Neighborhood Association

September 9, 2023 8:21 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Community groups are resuming their regular meeting schedules this month, and one of the first to reconvene will be the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Tuesday (September 12th) at 7 pm, ANA invites you to its next “general gathering,” with guests including Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison. She’ll talk about what her office is focused on right now, and listen to attendees’ concerns. ANA usually has a Southwest Precinct rep in attendance, too, so if you have concerns or questions, bring them. And they’ll recap a summer of fun events including the return of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha and the second Admiral Funktion festival. You’re welcome to come talk about those, too. The ANA gathering is at 7 pm Tuesday, in person, at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill).

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: 2023 Night Out block parties, from pizzas to pub to police horses, plus music

August 1, 2023 6:45 pm

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| Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

6:45 PM: Among the hundreds of West Seattle neighborhoods having Night Out block/building parties tonight is this one in Seaview, where Elyse and her neighbors are gathering for the first time.

Even something fun for the kids:

We’re making several stops tonight and also are welcoming your block-party photos (westseattleblog@gmail.com). If you’re not at a Night Out party tonight, be mindful of the many makeshift STREET CLOSED signs on non-arterials through 9 pm or so. Updates to come!

6:59 PM: One of the benefits of registering yuur Night Out party, though it’s not mandatory, is that you can ask for public-safety personnel to visit.

Also in Seaview, the party on Melody‘s block (you might know her as chair of the Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council) got a visit from the SPD Mounted Patrol, which is headquartered in West Seattle, at Westcrest Park. At left below is Chance, at right, Buzz:

Plus Melody and neighbors:

7:20 PM: In Gatewood, Jennifer invited us to stop by her block party –

It’s one of at least several tonight with live music:

That’s the voice of the Mariners, Tom Hutyler, performing. (Video added:)

7:40 PM: In Sunrise Heights, Lizzy and Vinnie are hosting a wood-fired-pizza block party:

They made the dough and sauce – neighbors brought the toppings:

7:54 PM: Another party with music is in east Gatewood – Reference Only is playing – video (added):

This party also has an inflatable Irish pub – at right in the background of our group photo:

9:14 PM: We’re adding more after taking a break this past hour for election-night coverage. Next photo is from our first stop of the night – every year when registration opens for Night Out, JoDean invites us to her Arbor Heights block party:

Night Out is for all ages. Jon sent the next pic from his block party west of The Junction – with him is 100-year-old neighbor Marie, who he reports is “still going strong”:

9:58 PM: We didn’t get to join in our Upper Fauntleroy neighborhood’s party since we were out photographing others, but we did take this pic of our neighbors upon return:

Not far away, here’s the Northrop Block Watch party, in the neighborhood at the top of the famously long SW Thistle stairs:

Melinda sent this photo from her Youngstown-area block party:

She reports: “We finally took a photo of our Night Out BBQ/Potluck — after 40 or so years!! “A good time was had by all” as was reported in the weekly Redfield Press of Redfield, South Dakota when I was a kid referring to Altar Society, 4-H club, etc meetings.” … Next pic is from Allison in Arbor Heights: