By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Neighbors gathered Tuesday night for a meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, to discuss topics ranging from affordable housing to “Viadoom.”

The meeting, held at The Sanctuary at Admiral, was the first ANA meeting with David Hancock at the helm as the group’s president. The current slate of ANA officers includes:

• President: David Hancock
• Vice President: Larry Wymer
• Secretary: Delores Kannas
• Treasurer: Carrie MacCann
• Membership: Susan Staples and Sofia Velling
• Neighborhood Plan Stewardship: Matt Hutchins
• Summer Concert Series: Stephanie Jordan

Board members provided some brief updates, including the news that the likely dates for this summer’s Thursday night Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series would be July 18 through August 22.

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(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

With more than a century of history, Admiral Congregational UCC Church is looking to the future with talk of redevelopment.

Exactly how the church will redevelop, its congregation has yet to decide, but its pastor briefed the Admiral Neighborhood Association last night in hopes of getting community dialogue going early.

The ANA also heard from Department of Neighborhoods director Andrés Mantilla in his ongoing mission to visit every neighborhood group in the city.

First – the church. Admiral UCC happened to be the ANA’s meeting site last night – as it was years ago, though the group has met for a while at a former church instead, The Sanctuary at Admiral. Pastor Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom said the ANA’s presence is just one more example of how Admiral UCC’s facilities are used as a community hub; he ticked off a long list of groups that meet there regularly, as well as describing its philanthropy and “community education/enrichment programming,” not to mention its longtime status as home to A Child Becomes Preschool (WSB sponsor). Plus, he said, the church provides space for “values-based” organizations, from community theater to political advocacy. It even serves as a comfort station for bus drivers taking breaks, “a safe, warm place to use a bathroom that’s clean.”

With all that in mind, he said, the church also realized that “we’re sitting on about $4 million worth of property” on a 27,000-square-foot site that is seriously underutilized. Some of the ideas they’re considering so far:

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By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

One year into her term, Mayor Jenny Durkan hasn’t clarified what kind of relationship she wants to have with neighborhood groups – particularly what remains of the neighborhood-district-council system the previous elected mayor tried to dismantle.

So some have decided to not waste any more time waiting to see what Durkan might decide to do.

Members of West Seattle’s two neighborhood-district councils, Southwest and Delridge – which have remained active despite the loss of city support – are joining forces with community leaders from South Park to form the District 1 Community Network.

That working title emerged at a recent gathering that explored that idea of “getting together on issues that affect the whole peninsula,” not just specific-neighborhood-based, as described by Amanda Sawyer of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, co-chair of the SW District Council.

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Many – but not all – community councils take a break from meetings in December. The Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s every-other-month meeting, however, is ON for next Tuesday (December 11th), 6:30 pm at a different location – Admiral Congregational Church. From ANA president Larry Wymer, here are the agenda highlights:

1) Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
Director Andrés Mantilla will provide an update and overview of Seattle’s ‘Department of Neighborhoods’, including recent changes under our new mayor, with an opportunity for Q&A with the neighborhood to discuss how best to work with their department.

2) Admiral Congregational U.C.C. Property
Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom will present information on the various services the church provides for our neighborhood beyond inclusive worship, as well as informing us of some near-term changes the church is planning to make. Admiral UCC is considering re-purposing some of its property, and wants to keep the neighborhood connected to and informed about the possibilities.

3) ANA Officer Elections (& 2019 Priorities)
We will be holding elections for all ANA officer positions including:
● President
● Vice President
● Secretary
● Treasurer
We will also be discussing YOUR priorities for ANA for 2019, and offering opportunities for you to volunteer in whatever capacity suits your time and interests.

Admiral UCC is at 4320 SW Hill.

Right now, Harbor Avenue SW is a street without a stop sign or stoplight, from its south end at the bridge, all the way until its end where the street becomes Alki SW (which continues stop-less until 63rd).

The Alki Community Council wonders if a three-way stop might enhance safety at the intersection with California Way. That was one topic at the ACC’s November meeting.

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Multiple quick updates at the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting this past week.

MORGAN JUNCTION PARK EXPANSION: It’s now been more than four years since the city bought and “landbanked” the site north of Morgan Junction Park to expand that park. Planning of the expansion is expected to continue into next year; soil testing is under way too, to see what remediation might be needed considering its past, including the years a dry cleaner was on the site. About 200 people commented on the park’s future when feedback was collected at the Morgan Junction Community Festival in June.

LOWMAN BEACH PARK SEAWALL: The next step in this project determining the future of the park’s failing seawall is to get to the 60 percent design phase; a county grant for $150,000 is helping fund the work. Seattle Parks expects to hold a public meeting in January about what happens next.

LITTER LEAGUE: Speaking of grants, Jill Boone, who’s been organizing volunteer community cleanups in Morgan Junction, is applying for a Seattle Public Utilities grant. She told MoCA that cigarette butts comprise a large part of the litter that volunteers have picked up in the past year.

AFTER THE VIADUCT: Chris Arkills from King County briefed MoCA about bus-route changes, both right after the Alaskan Way Viaduct is permanently closed January 11th and beyond. (We published the information here.) He also reiterated plans for the Water Taxi to add boat and shuttle service as well as Pier 2 parking during the three-or-so-week Highway 99 closure post-viaduct/pre-shuttle.

ABANDONED BUILDINGS: MoCA president Deb Barker talked with City Councilmember Lisa Herbold about beefing up the city’s monitoring and enforcement of rules regarding vacant buildings. (Herbold focused on the program in this online update.) MoCA’s Tamsen Spengler pointed out that there’s an e-mail campaign now to let the council know about support for funding that increased monitoring and enforcement.

The Morgan Community Association meets quarterly, third Wednesdays in January, April, July, and October, 7 pm at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW).

Toplines from this month’s Alki Community Council meeting, covered by WSB’s Patrick Sand:

NOISE ENFORCEMENT: So now that the city ordinance has changed, what’s the plan? An ACC subcommittee is talking with police about that. Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Steve Strand said traffic and patrol officers had gone through training related to the change, including what a 75-foot distance looks like. How many citations have been issued so far? He didn’t have any numbers. Meantime, the community subcommittee hopes to be able to gather data to quantify the problem, maybe with the help of the entrepreneurs who have long been talking with the ACC about their new technology addressing this issue.

ALKI STATUE OF LIBERTY PLAZA: Shortly after the plaza’s 10th anniversary, the agreement for its upkeep is expiring.

(Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, WSB file photo)

The fundraising campaign for the plaza’s creation still has a legacy of $65,000 in the bank for maintenance. The ACC plans to talk with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society about partnering for the plaza’s future; the next agreement would have to be drawn up before January.

KUDOS: This was the first ACC meeting since thousands of people swarmed Alki on August 11th for Sub Pop Records’ 30th-anniversary megaparty SPF30. The music company had been sending reps to ACC and other community meetings for months. Verdict: It all went very well.

The Alki Community Council meets on second Thursdays most months, 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).

The Admiral Neighborhood Association is looking for a new president and will be formally asking for nominations at its next meeting in October.

That’s part of what was discussed at ANA’s summer meeting Tuesday night, after a tour of the Admiral area’s biggest project since the Safeway rebuild seven years ago – Aegis Living of West Seattle (4700 SW Admiral Way; WSB sponsor), which now has its first residents.

ANA attendees were escorted throughout the property, which already has 20 residents. 50 units are assisted living, 33 – on their own specially designed floor – are memory care. Amenities span the floors from a plush-seated movie theater on a lower level to a rooftop deck with a big movie screen. In a courtyard with a walking path, you’ll find the tugboat we mentioned earlier this month (top photo).

The nautical/seacoast theme is carried throughout the building, from decor to art to the color palette. To the point of hosting the neighborhood group, managers said that if nearby residents have any concerns at any time, they want to hear about it. Aegis bought the site that had previously held Life Care Center until 2013.

After the tour, ANA had a short business meeting. As mentioned above, the next meeting will include a call for candidates for the presidency – Larry Wymer‘s term is almost up – and other positions. Wymer, meantime, said he’s been focusing on increasing membership, including talking to local businesses about getting involved. He’s also still hoping to drum up interest in Admiral District holiday decorations..

He also read an update from Stephanie Jordan, organizer of the ANA-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series. Attendance seems to be up from last year; this week (6:30 pm Thursday on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center) will feature The Service Providers, and next week’s series finale, starring Caspar Babypants, is expected to be massive as always.

Speaking of concerts, one attendee had big kudos for last Saturday’s SPF30 mega-music festival at Alki, presented by Sub Pop Records, which had sent executives to multiple ANA and Alki Community Council meetings with advance info. She lauded SPF30 as a very well-run event.

NEXT ANA MEETING: Tuesday, October 9th, 6:30 pm, back at the usual site, The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander).

(WSB photo from last month)

Many neighborhood/community groups skip August meetings. This month, the Admiral Neighborhood Association is an exception. But it’s not a regular-format meeting – ANA president Larry Wymer has announced that the ANA will meet at newly opened Aegis Living of West Seattle (WSB sponsor), and you’re invited to join the sneak-peek tour (including the tugboat shown in our top photo from its July installation), in advance of the August 25th grand opening. Be there – 4700 SW Admiral Way – at 6:30 pm Tuesday (August 14th).

By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

With Sub Pop Records’ 30th-anniversary party bringing thousands to Alki Beach three weeks from tomorrow, it was a primary topic at last night’s Alki Community Council meeting.

Sub Pop CEO Megan Jasper opened discussion by thanking community members for asking questions and offering feedback that have helped guide efforts to minimize impact on the neighborhood.

“You share your neighborhood with so many of us,” said Jasper, “and I want to be respectful of that.”

Following Jasper’s opening remarks, Sub Pop Operations Manager Gabe Carter introduced the topic of street closures, with a reminder that Alki Avenue will be completely closed to traffic between 56th SW and 63rd SW. There will also be a “soft closure” of 59th SW from Alki Avenue SW to SW Stevens Street.

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