7:23 PM: Thanks to JoDean for the annual invitation to stop by her Arbor Heights neighborhood block party for a photo! It’s Night Out all around the U.S., a time for community-building block parties, with an emphasis on how neighbors can help each other stay safe. Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner tells WSB that more than 230 block parties are registered for West Seattle and South Park tonight. We’ll add more photos later.

ADDED: Games and entertainment enhanced the night at many parties. Above, Gary‘s block in Fauntleroy had a bouncy toy to keep the littlest attendees enthralled. Below, Jon‘s block (46th SW west of The Junction) had a cornhole game:

From Dragonfly Park in North Delridge, Laura sent this clip with the live music they were enjoying:

Laura explains who was playing: “It’s Doc HighDr8 tha PHilosoRaptor with Willie knockz and penny passion. Their band is Tha Nothin. Then there’s Rachel McDonald from the band OuijaBoob on ukelele. Finally Damian playing a mean harmonica. They just all came with their instruments and created some great original tunes on the spot! It was a really great evening and much needed.” … South of Admiral on 46th SW, Al says, Space Tractor was onstage:

At Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, the Teen Program‘s Family Night Out offered a treasure hunt and related-theme activities:

Via text, a group photo texted from the Night Out party in the 6700 block of 38th SW and Warsaw. “Love our neighbors — old & new!” the texter enthused.

We heard about new neighbors at a couple of our stops – people excited to welcome new arrivals. … From the 9000 block of 21st SW, Greg (a pro photographer), sent a drone pic of neighbors at his party:

And from Kelly’s party off Admiral between Walnut and 41st:

Kelly says, “We have a busy street that a thousand plus people cut down every day. We have such joy blocking it for 4 hours and bringing the neighbors together! Biggest turnout since 2019. Good to have the neighbors back together. Love WS! Pizza ordered locally from Pagliacci’s!” … Allison in Arbor Heights sent a pic from her block party near 108th & 36th SW:

Thanks to everybody who sent pics!

Roughly midway through the summer season at Alki, it’s “not as bad as years past.” So observed Seattle Police Southwest Precinct Officer Tammy Frame, first guest at this month’s Alki Community Council meeting online and in person this past Thursday night.

That’s not to say the beach has been trouble-free. Some residents were there with complaints. But there was general acknowledgment that the early beach closure – 10 pm, with fires to be out at 9:30 pm – makes a “significant difference.” One resident said, “A lot of the noise and rowdiness has evaporated.’ Even the Fourth of July was “much quieter,” attendees agreed; Officer Frame said the (unannounced) street closures that night were planned because police were “expecting a bigger crowd.”

Fast, loud driving continues to be a concern on Alki and Harbor Avenues, though, and one attendee specifically wanted to discuss aggressive driving and other problems on 56th SW, especially from people coming downhill toward the beach from Admiral Way. Neighbors have been asking for traffic-calming measures but “getting the runaround” including suggestions to apply for a variety of city grant programs that are either inactive or not applicable for transportation projects. Officer Frame suggested contacting Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner for clearer information on possible solutions.

As for the Harbor Avenue concerns – not just aggressive driving, but also the continuing presence of RVs – one local condo complex is hosting a meeting with police this week and has invited reps from other complexes too. Asked how best to voice concerns about RVs, Officer Frame mentioned the Find It Fix It app, as well as contacting the Parks Department, which she described as the current “lead” on encampment issues. But she also stressed, if/when you see crime or “suspicious activity,” call 911 – “we need data” to quantify concerns, she stressed.

One more note before the shorter-than-usual meeting wrapped up – the Alki Elementary rebuild project has an “environmental checklist” online now for comment – find it linked from this page (scroll down to Alki Elementary, click the plus sign to expand; you’ll also find info on how to comment).

NEXT MEETING: The Alki Community Council will take August off, so next meeting is September 22nd.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting last night started with what’s become a more-urgent-than-ever topic in West Seattle after two traffic deaths in less than three months:

(WSB photo, May 6)

CHANGES AT CALIFORNIA/FINDLAY: The city’s semi-new traffic engineer Venu Nemani was at the online meeting to talk about improvements to California/Findlay in the wake of the crash that killed 30-year-old Nicholas Wolf in May as he crossed the street just north of the intersection, headed to his home. SDOT recently announced the crossing on the south side of the intersection will be upgraded fron flashing overhead lights to a pedestrian-activated “half-signal.”

Nemani noted that the intersection falls in the middle of almost a mile of California without signals, and that it’s one of only a few RapidRide stations without a signal nearby.

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By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The heart of summer is usually light on community meetings, but the District 1 Community Network had an information-packed July meeting this past week.

Three topics brought guests to the online meeting.

TERMINAL 5: The Northwest Seaport Alliance – which oversees cargo operations for the ports of Seattle and Tacoma – had updates on Terminal 5, the West Seattle facility that opened one “modernized” berth to ships earlier this year and continues construction on a second berth. For one, they’re now not expecting operations to launch at that second berth until early 2024.

As of the meeting on Wednesday night, the first berth had handled 38 vessel calls, out of 299 total in Seattle and Tacoma during the same time period.

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Some community groups are on summer hiatus, but not the District 1 Community Network. The coalition of community advocates from West Seattle and South Park is meeting online tomorrow (Wednesday, July 6th) at 7 pm, with a city department head as guest: Greg Wong, director of the Department of Neighborhoods. The DoN’s mission has evolved in recent years, through multiple mayoral administrations, so this is a chance to hear/ask about its focus as Mayor Bruce Harrell‘s first year continues. Also on the D1CN agenda: The Port of Seattle, the West Seattle Dog Park Coalition, and the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s latest feedback in Washington State Ferries‘ dock-replacement process. All are welcome to attend and participate in D1CN meetings; connection info is in the agenda. (Here’s our coverage from D1CN’s conversation with the mayor last month.)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Whatever you’re concerned about, Mayor Bruce Harrell wants you to know he is working on it – or has just hired, or is about to hire, someone who will be.

That was the theme during his first guest appearance answering questions from the District 1 Community Network during its monthly meeting online tonight.

MAYOR HARRELL: This was the mayor’s first appearance at any public West Seattle community-group meeting. He opened by saying he’s trying to be “transparent in what we’re trying to do,” taking action “with kindness, with data … we don’t mince words … we work seven days a week.” D1CN prepared questions in advance to start with. First, he was asked about city neighborhood-district councils, which were supported by the city until two mayors ago. (D1CN is a hybrid successor to what were the Southwest and Delridge Neighborhood District Councils covering west and east West Seattle respectively.) Harrell said he hired Greg Wong as Department of Neighborhoods director to determine “in neighborhoods, what works best?” He said he hopes to have, “maybe by end of summer,” “a strong recommendation on what the new kind of neighborhood network should look like.” He asked for neighborhoods’ input on that.

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(WSB file photo)

We can’t guarantee you’ll get to sit inside a fire engine, but all five of West Seattle’s fire stations will be open to the public 11 am-1 pm Saturday (May 7th) for the citywide celebration of Neighbor Day. They are:

–Fire Station 11 in Highland Park (16th/Holden)
–Fire Station 29 in North Admiral (2139 Ferry SW)
–Fire Station 32 in The Triangle (38th/Alaska)
–Fire Station 36 by the bridge (3600 23rd SW)
–Fire Station 37 in Sunrise Heights (35th/Holden)

SFD says everyone’s welcome and encouraged to visit, but just remember the firefighters are still on duty in case of an emergency, so there’s a chance they might have to suit up and head out while you’re there.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As always, the Morgan Community Association packed a long list of topics into its quarterly meeting, facilitated online last night by MoCA president Deb Barker.

ELECTRIC-VEHICLE CHARGING LOT: We first reported on this a month ago. Seattle City Light wants to convert the 4,520-square-foot former substation at 4118 SW Morgan into an 8-space fast-charger lot for electric vehicles. Coby Zeifman from SCL came to the MoCA meeting to make the first public presentation about the proposal, joined by Theo Gideon, also of SCL.

The site operated as a substation 1945-2002. It’s scheduled for soil cleanup “later this year.” For everyone who has suggested using the site as housing instead, Gideon noted that it would have to be declared as “no longer serving SCL’s current and future needs.” But SCL does not consider that to be the case:

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For months, the District 1 Community Network has been talking about trying to get Mayor Bruce Harrell to make a guest appearance at one of their monthly meetings. As the coalition of West Seattle and South Park community advocates met tonight, D1CN’s administrator Larry Wymer announced the mayor has committed to be at their May 4th meeting. D1CN continues to meet online, so that’ll likely be a virtual appearance. … Another city-politics topic discussed tonight was City Council redistricting. Elsa Batres-Boni from the city talked about the Redistricting Commission‘s work, noting that census results mean District 1’s boundaries will change for the 2023 election, though new maps haven’t been finalized yet. You can look at four draft maps here – we reported on them in February – and send your comments. Final draft is expected in September … D1CN got an update on the Fauntleroy ferry-dock-replacement planning process from Mike Dey and Frank Immel of the Fauntleroy Community Association. They noted an all-West Seattle meeting about the project is planned for May 24th; details to come … D1CN meets first Wednesdays at 7 pm, so that’s when you can expect to hear from the mayor on May 4th.

With no guests or presentations, the Alki Community Council only convened for about 35 minutes on Thursday night. We have three notes from the in-person-and-online meeting:

(WSB file photo)

ALKI BEACH PETITION: This online petition is not an ACC project, but it voices a sentiment that comes up at many ACC meetings – the need for more Seattle Parks TLC at Alki Beach. It begins: “This is a call to action for our parks department and the city of Seattle to make the necessary repairs and improvements prior to the busy season of Alki Beach Park.” The petition also calls for more education to ensure people are mindful of the wildlife with which they share “this precious piece of paradise,” noting, “This beach is also the home to 200 species of fish, 100 species of sea birds, 26 kinds of marine mammals, and 3,000 species of invertebrates.” If you want to sign it, go here.

(WSB photo, last Saturday)

STONE COTTAGE: The ACC has already donated money to the rescue effort for the beloved bungalow, currently in storage, and now is deciding whether to endorse the idea of permanently siting it between the Alki Bathhouse and Statue of Liberty Plaza, an idea that Save The Stone Cottage is continuing to pursue with Seattle Parks. (We reported on this in our update last weekend.) Attendees decided they weren’t ready to take a vote, though, and are hoping to get a Save The Stone Cottage representative to their next meeting.

WEBSITE: The group also talked briefly about its new website, which currently features a spotlight story about a nonprofit whose volunteers are often seen at Alki, Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network. You can see the spotlight here.

NEXT MEETING: The ACC meets at 7 pm on third Thursdays, so that’ll be April 21st, likely also “hybrid” – online as well as in-person at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) – watch alkicommunitycouncil.org for updates.