West Seattle, Washington
29 Wednesday
The Southwest Design Review Board calendar now has one project set for a fall meeting, just added – the second review for 2715 California SW [map], “a four-story, 48-unit apartment building with one live-work unit and retail to be located at street level” with 46 underground parking spaces. The project, called “Admiral Station,” passed the first phase of Design Review on its first try six months ago (WSB coverage here). Its second and potentially final review is penciled onto the SWDRB calendar for 6:30 pm Thursday, October 19th, at the Sisson Building/Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon).
P.S. If you’re interested in the proposed changes to the Design Review process, see our coverage of the citywide public hearing earlier this week by going here.
12:45 PM:Metro has sent a reminder about what’s in its September service change, which kicks in September 23rd, one week from Saturday. Here are the local highlights:
• Night Owl: From midnight to 5 a.m., riders will see additional trips on most of these night service routes in Seattle, White Center, Burien, Tukwila and direct service to SeaTac Airport.
The two local routes are 120 and RapidRide C Line.
Also, C Line will “see more trips to ease crowding.” Trips also will be added to 50, 60, and 131, described in today’s reminder as follows:
• Route 50: Serving riders between Othello Station and Alki, a dozen more evening trips, creating consistent 30-minute service until midnight seven days a week. This additional service is funded by the City of Seattle.
• Route 60: Serving riders in White Center, South Park, Georgetown, Beacon Hill, First Hill and Capitol Hill. By adding 24 trips, weekday buses will come every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. instead of every 30 minutes. This service is funded by the City of Seattle and Metro.
• Route 131: Serving riders in Burien, Highland Park, South Park, SODO and Downtown Seattle. Northbound trips come every 15 minutes weekdays from 6:30-9:30 a.m.
You can get specifics on those and other changes, route by route, including links to PDF versions of the new timetables, via this Metro webpage.
ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: BH reminds us in comments (and we have an e-mail reminder too) that the September 23rd service change also will bring relocation of a downtown bus stop many West Seattleites use – Columbia east of 2nd. Here’s the official alert doc.
(Dark-eyed junco, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Wednesday:
EARLY-RELEASE WEDNESDAYS BEGIN: Starting today, every Wednesday of the school year, Seattle Public Schools will be out 75 minutes early.
FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES … grown at the High Point Market Garden, available for purchase at the weekly farm stand next to it, 4-7 pm today. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
MARY’S PLACE OPEN HOUSE: The family shelter that opened next to the White Center Food Bank six months ago has an open house today – all welcome to visit, 5:30-7 pm. (8th SW/SW 108th)
DELRIDGE GROCERY BOARD MEETING: All welcome at the meeting of the board working to make the Delridge Grocery Cooperative store a reality, 6:30 pm at Cottage Grove Commons. Here’s our report on the coop’s recent “town hall” meeting. (5444 Delridge Way SW)
CLIMATE CHANGE: 7 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center:
Holy Rosary and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes are co-sponsoring an evening with Jeff Renner called “Laudato Si: A Faithful Response to Climate Change.” Jeff, a member of Mary, Queen of Peace parish in Sammamish, will discuss the changes he’s observed in our climate during 38 years as chief meteorologist and science reporter with KING-TV in Seattle. He will also talk about the latest science and how it relates to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home.”
(3410 SW Myrtle)
CHIEF SEALTH IHS PTSA: First PTSA meeting of the year for Chief Sealth International High School, 7 pm in the Confucius Center on campus. (2600 SW Thistle)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, this month’s agenda is devoted to hot issues in Burien. (9131 California SW)
THE BILLY JOE SHOW: 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
TRIVIA NIGHT: 8:30 pm, it’s the famous Wednesday night trivia at Talarico’s in The Junction. (4718 California SW)
WHAT ELSE? See the full lineup for today, tonight, and beyond, on our complete-calendar page.
A few notes from last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse:
FERRY UPDATES: Gary Dawson, longtime Fauntleroy rep on the Ferry Advisory Committee and also a member of WSF’s Triangle Route Task Force, briefed the FCA board. He wasn’t at the most recent Task Force meeting, but caught up recently with other members. And he looked ahead to the next meeting of the Task Force, coming up tomorrow (Thursday), 4:30-7 pm (Fauntleroy Church, 9140 California SW), as well as the public meetings planned on Vashon (September 20th) and in Southworth, with people furious that boats continue to leave without being filled. He also noted that WSF has been short on boats due to unplanned maintenance issues. and had an update on turnover on the task force – especially among its Vashon membership; without Vashon representation, he thinks WSF should consider discontinuing the Task Force.
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: The popular annual event is coming up on Sunday, October 15th (details forthcoming). While the festival’s organizer couldn’t be at the meeting, she sent some updates: A falcon will be among the new attractions. New Fauntleroy business Wildwood Market will be a food vendor, with mac and cheese. The tamale vendor will be back. So will the cake walk, pumpkin painting, and birdhouse-making. They’re still looking for festival sponsors – and volunteers.
FAUNTLEROY TRIANGLE: 14 more planters are on the way to various areas in and around the newly reconfigured triangle in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne area. The planters and their dirt are to be provided by the city, while FCA is accountable for the cost of the plants. The owner of the building in the heart of the triangle has been donating the water to keep the plants hydrated in that area. FCA has a few other issues with how the area is working, but SDOT says other items are on hold because they are concentrating right now on “corridor” projects.
SURVEY: Every other year, the FCA surveys the community, both to find out what’s on residents and businesspeople’s minds, and to let those people know about FCA. It’s soon going to be survey time again, so they’re opening discussions about what they might ask and how they might get the survey out to the largest number of people. In the past, they’ve used postal mail as well as online.
MEMBERSHIP: A board business item included running through who had paid dues – FCA is one of the few local groups that collects them – and who had not. About a third of the membership on the rolls is behind. The bills should have arrived in spring with the newsletter. Also, a concern was raised about whether they’re reaching new prospective members who move into the area.
NEW BOARD MEMBER: Kris Ilgenfritz was introduced as the newest member of the FCA board.
NO CRIME BRIEFING: Though SPD had been on the agenda, they were not in attendance, so there was no update on local crime trends this month.
The Fauntleroy Community Association board meets most months on the second Tuesday, 7 pm, in the meeting room by the main entrance of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). All welcome.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:34 AM: Good morning. If you use 15th SW south of Roxbury, including via bus, note that a big early-morning fire response was still blocking the road as of just after 6 am. We’ll be checking back on that after sunrise. Otherwise, no incidents in/from West Seattle and vicinity.
ROAD-WORK ALERT TODAY: SW 106th/107th reconfiguration between 16th and 27th continues today.
ROAD-WORK ALERT FOR THIS WEEKEND: WSDOT is resuming repaving work on Highway 509 south of here and will have lane closures all weekend.
6:46 AM: Metro says 15th SW is open again.
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8:06 AM: Eastbound bridge trouble reported by comment and text – thanks! Bus lane reported blocked by cars/bus collision. Also, SDOT reports a crash on NB 99 at Lander.
5:35 AM: Thanks for the tips. The helicopter you might have heard over White Center/South Delridge was TV, checking out a fire call on 16th in downtown WC, just south of Roxbury. West Seattle fire units were dispatched for mutual aid for a while. We have a crew checking it out.
5:52 AM: What caught fire was a refrigerated truck trailer parked by a building at 15th/SW 98th that firefighters also say sustained damage. No injuries. Power’s out because lines were involved. (The TV helicopter has long since moved on to something else elsewhere in the region.)
6:13 AM: Added photos. Metro says buses that use 15th SW in the area might be affected; fire trucks were still blocking that street when we left a few minutes ago – we’ll be going back after sunrise for a closer look.
9:58 AM: The investigation continues:
In the photo above, you can see the blackened area where the fire spread to the building by which the trailer was parked.
A team of package thieves to watch for, according to this reader:
A package theft on 28th Ave SW near Holden around 2 pm (Tuesday). Amazon box containing a couple clothing items stolen from a front porch. Neighbor witnessed and reported a 1990s teal Subaru with a white female driver and an black male accomplice– white t-shirt & track pants, maybe about 6′ tall, who ran up the driveway, grabbed the package, and both fled in the vehicle.
8:46 PM: Thanks to @baritoneblogger for the tip and photo via Twitter – a crash in the 3800 block of Delridge Way is blocking northbound traffic from getting to the West Seattle Bridge onramp, so if you are headed for the bridge, try another route.
(WSB photo)
9:01 PM: Our crew has gone to the scene and advises avoiding Delridge/Andover and Delridge just north of Andover, which is blocked both ways – a pole is down. The driver who hit it is OK.
9:36 PM: From SDOT:
UPDATE: The westbound West Seattle Bridge exit to Delridge Way is closed due to a crash on Delridge Way SW. Use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/vUGHW6l53G
— seattledot (@seattledot) September 13, 2017
9:59 PM: Thanks to Patrick O’Connor for sending the next two photos – another look at the car, plus the pole that was hit:
We will update when the closures are over.
11:43 PM: SDOT says the bridge offramp is open again, which means Delridge has reopened. And James Thornton sent this photo of the car being towed.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When city staff booked a Queen Anne movie theater for a doubleheader public hearing before the City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee, they seriously underestimated the amount of time and space they would need.
Last night’s hearing at SIFF Cinema Uptown was scheduled for an hour and a half of public comment on the HALA upzoning proposal for the Uptown area, and then two hours of public comment on proposed changes to the city’s Design Review program.
The former turned out to be the hottest ticket. When we arrived around 6:40 pm, planning to cover the Design Review hearing, we found dozens of people waiting outside the theater – not for one of the movies in the other two auditoriums, but for the upzoning hearing. The theater had declared Auditorium 3 at capacity and was only letting people in to replace those who left; we had to argue our way in.
As it turned out, though, we might as well have waited, as the Uptown hearing ran an hour extra. It was a standing-room-only crowd, with four councilmembers – committee chair Rob Johnson, vice chair Mike O’Brien, Tim Burgess, and Sally Bagshaw – present for that hearing, while only Johnson and O’Brien stayed for the Design Review hearing. (West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who is a member of the committee, was not there.)
Uptown testimony finally wrapped up just after 8 pm, and Johnson ordered the proceedings to move immediately into the Design Review topic. A very quick overview was given by Christina Ghan from the Department of Construction and Inspections, and then it was on into the ~40 people who had signed up to speak. Seattle Channel was there, recording, but as of this writing, its video of the marathon hearing hasn’t appeared online, so here’s what we recorded. There’s literally nothing to see after the first couple slides, as our angle didn’t get the speakers (who were almost all down on the auditorium floor anyway), but you can play it as audio in the background.
Below – highlights of each speaker. Not full transcriptions – you’ll want to listen, to get the entirety of what was said. In summary, the criticism was wide-ranging, and not necessarily along the lines you’d expect. Criticism of the proposed “early community engagement” component ranged from leaving the fox in charge of the hen house to adds even more unpredictability for project teams; last-minute amendments led to a variety of concerns about changing the thresholds for design review, either raising them or lowering them. And several people suggested that adding staffing to SDCI would be the best way to speed up project reviews, expressing doubt that the design-review process was really a major factor in delays. Only a few people alluded to the amendments brought up last Friday (see them here). Ahead, the toplines:
A week of crosstown competition between Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School teams continued this afternoon with soccer at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. The Seahawks were the home team.
The visitors dominated the game, and the Wildcats went away with their first win (after two draws), 8-1.
West Seattle’s next match is 4:30 pm Thursday at Ingraham; Sealth’s next match is at home, also 4:30 pm Thursday, against Cleveland.
We’ve already previewed the next Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church – just a week and a half away, 9 am-3 pm Sunday, September 24th – and now a second West Seattle event is set for this fall: The West Seattle Junction Association has announced a recycle/reuse event for 9 am-1 pm Saturday, October 14th (in the parking lot on 42nd SW just south of SW Oregon).
The two events are complementary to some degree – while the Fauntleroy event has a long list of what will be accepted, it also has a short list of what won’t, and some of those items WILL be accepted at the Junction event – clothing, Styrofoam, wooden furniture, for example.
Both events are free!
3:11 PM: If you saw the police response on Delridge – with Guardian One overhead for a while – a short time ago, here’s what we know so far: They were following a vehicle, described as a gold or beige pickup truck type of vehicle, that did some sort of damage outside Home Depot. Per the scanner, the driver headed onto the eastbound bridge, then Northbound 99, and into downtown. A different precinct picked up the search there, so we don’t know if the driver eventually was stopped; meantime, we’re off to look at the reported local damage.
3:33 PM: Photos added, above. The damage was primarily to plants and shrubs that were on display outside the store.
1:22 PM: Just in via e-mail:
Today, Mayor Murray released the following statement:
“I am announcing my resignation as mayor, effective at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
“While the allegations against me are not true, it is important that my personal issues do not affect the ability of our City government to conduct the public’s business.
“I’m proud of all that I have accomplished over my 19 years in the Legislature, where I was able to pass what were at the time the largest transportation packages in state history, a landmark gay civil rights bill and a historic marriage equality bill.
“And I am proud of what we have accomplished together at the City during my time as mayor, passing a nation-leading $15 minimum wage, and major progressive housing affordability and police accountability legislation, as well as negotiating an agreement to build a world-class arena that I believe in time will bring the NHL and NBA to Seattle.
“But it has also become clear to me that in light of the latest news reports it is best for the city if I step aside.
“To the people of this special city and to my dedicated staff, I am sorry for this painful situation.
“In the interest of an orderly transition of power, Council President Bruce Harrell will become Mayor upon my resignation, and will decide within the following five days whether he will fill out the remainder of my term. During this time Director of Operations Fred Podesta has been tasked with leading the transition.”
The announcement was made hours after The Seattle Times reported new accusations of sexual abuse by Murray, this time from a cousin.
Four months ago, Murray gathered supporters at the Alki Bathhouse – noting that it was near his boyhood home in West Seattle – to announce that he would not run for re-election, but until today, he had continued to insist that he would finish out his term.
1:54 PM: As noted in the comment section, Council President Harrell circulated this memo a month ago, regarding succession if the mayor resigned. (Thanks to SCC Insight for making the memo easy to find.) It elaborates on what Murray’s statement mentions – that Harrell becomes acting mayor but can decide within five days whether he wants to keep that role until a new mayor is elected in November. If he declines it, the council would elect someone else from its ranks to serve as acting mayor, and then would have to fill that councilmember’s job.
2:41 PM: And if you’re still confused – a statement just e-mailed by City Attorney Pete Holmes says he’s helping to sort it out:
“As City Attorney, my number one priority is maintaining continuity of government operations for the people of the City of Seattle. My office is advising the City Council and the Mayor’s Office on next legal steps forward under the City Charter.”
3:54 PM: Council President Harrell isn’t saying yet whether he’ll keep the interim mayorship beyond a few days. In this statement, he says, “I intend to make an announcement within the five days on my intentions and will talk to my family, my colleagues on the Seattle City Council, and trusted members of our city on this decision with the understanding that the City and continuity of governance comes before all other factors.”
Two notes about this Thursday (September 14th):
COMMUNITY CENTERS CLOSED: Citywide, Seattle Parks‘ community centers will all be closed this Thursday. The note on the Parks website:
All our Community Centers will be closed Thursday, September 14th for a division retreat. School Age Care programs will be open as normal.
(Added – we verified with Parks that Southwest Teen Life Center will be part of the day-long closure, too.)
DELRIDGE BUSINESS-SURVEY MEETING POSTPONED: The event to release results of the Delridge Business Survey, originally announced for this Thursday, has to be postponed due to a key participant’s illness. No new date yet; we’ll publish an update when one is announced.
Thanks to Victoria Gnatoka for views of West Seattle from the air, photographed while she was flying out of Sea-Tac last week. Here’s what’s happening on the ground for the rest of your Tuesday:
DINE OUT FOR HURRICANE RELIEF: 4-10 pm, half the proceeds at Mioposto Admiral (and its sibling restaurants elsewhere in the city, if you’re off-peninsula tonight) go to hurricane relief, as do all proceeds from $5 raffle tickets. (2139 California SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL SOCCER: 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point, the Chief Sealth International High School girls-soccer team hosts West Seattle High School. (34th SW/SW Myrtle)
FREE IRISH-DANCE LESSON: 4:45 pm at the VFW Hall in The Triangle, it’s the start of a new round of Comerford School of Irish Dance lessons for new beginners, and the first lesson is free. (3601 SW Alaska)
‘SCHOOL YOUR PARENTS’: 5-7 pm at High Point Library:
Learn about great resources that the High Point Library presents during the school year for students and families
Scavenger Hunt Fun!
Refreshments
School Supplies Giveaway
West Seattle Helpline Clothesline Program will be giving out gently used clothing to all
Come join us!
(35th SW/SW Raymond)
JUSTIN KAUSAL-HAYES: Live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 5-8 pm. No cover; happy-hour specials available until 6 pm. (1936 Harbor SW)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm board meeting – everyone welcome – at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. The agenda is in our calendar listing. (9131 California SW)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm general meeting – everyone welcome – at The Sanctuary at Admiral. Guest speaker is Karen Berge from West Seattle Be Prepared – always a timely topic, but even more so right now with the hurricanes and Mexico megaquake affecting millions. (42nd SW/SW Lander)
SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm general meeting – everyone welcome – at SP Neighborhood Center. (8201 10th Ave. S.)
MAX CRUMBLE ORCHESTRA: “Homage to elevator music,” 7:30-10 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral)
THERE’S ALWAYS MORE … for today, tonight, and way beyond, on our complete-calendar page, where you can also find out how to get your event listed (hint: the earlier we get the info, the better!).
10:15 AM: Look familiar? Maybe something stolen in a car prowl, or … ? Suzanne found the basket and items strewn in the street in Gatewood, so it’s likely they weren’t simply “lost” (otherwise, we do have a “lost/found/non-pets” section you are welcome to use in other circumstances). If they’re yours, please text her at *number removed*. (She’s reported this to police, too.)
4:13 PM: Suzanne tells us the items have been claimed, so we have removed her phone number.
(2016 photo)
The Urban Homestead Foundation, raising money to buy the former City Light substation property on Genesee Hill, is sending out a last call for tickets to this Saturday’s pig-roast fundraising dinner. UHF’s Katie Stemp says it’s happening at the site, 50th/Dakota, 5-9 pm Saturday (September 16th): “Tickets are $75 and include a sit-down dinner, a drink, live music and dancing, and outdoor games! It’s going to be a blast and hopefully raise a lot of money to match the King Conservation Futures Fund grant we received! If there are local businesses that would like to be promoted by helping sponsor part of the event, they can contact Becca Bay at beccabayaway@gmail.com.” (We reported on the grant back in June.) You can buy your ticket(s) online right now – if you can’t commit until the last minute, Katie says they expect “a limited amount” available at the event.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning. One road-work alert for the area: Lane reconfiguration on SW 106th/107th between 17th SW and 26th SW, starting at 7 am today, though King County Roads promises no lane closures before 8 am. Details in our preview.
TRANSIT ALERT: Route 113 did not operate its 6:27 am run and won’t run its 7:39 am run either, says Metro.
11:15 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo – it is from the 1300 block of Alki SW, where we heard the SFD dispatch after a driver hit a pole. The texter says other vehicles are damaged too. We are off to find out more.
12:15 AM: What’s left of the scene is only affecting the east/southbound lane. Tow truck here, and one police car.
This is a big week for crosstown matchups between West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School, and it started tonight with WSHS hosting CSIHS in volleyball.
Coach Staci Stringer‘s Wildcats opened double-digit leads in each game and won the best-of-five set in three straight.
The scores were 25-7, 25-11, and 25-8. Once WSHS (2-0) got the serve, they hung onto it long into each game; Coach Lorna Considine‘s Seahawks (0-2) had some rallies, but that wasn’t enough. The two teams will meet again, next time at Sealth, on October 4th.
LATER THIS WEEK: CSIHS will host WSHS in girls’ soccer Tuesday at 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield, and WSHS hosts CSIHS in football at Southwest Athletic Conference at 7 pm Friday.
It’s the news that dog people await every fall – the chance for their pups to go swimming at Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club! The photo and announcement are from Cori Roed:
Dog Days at the Arb!
It’s time to bring your dog for a swim …
11003 31st Ave SW
Thank you for driving slowly on 31st!
Tuesday, Sept 19th through Friday, Sept 22nd, 5-7 pm
Saturday, Sept 23rd 11 am-1 pmDogs in the pool
Owners must remain at the pool and maintain some semblance of control
Dogs must be healthy, up to date on shots, and well socialized to people and other dogsNO PEOPLE IN THE POOL! ~ NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY
Please come prepared to scoop your dog’s poop!
Running on the pool deck is encouraged : )$10 donation per dog for the day or $25 per dog for an all-access pass is very much appreciated!
Your donations allow our self-funded teams to purchase equipment while keeping team fees affordable.
Thank you for supporting Otter athletes!
*****NOTE that this event is AFTER the facilities are closed for the season*****
As promised, we are continuing to follow the case of Ryan Cox, the repeat offender charged with stabbing a man in Gatewood a month ago. His first post-arraignment hearing was originally scheduled for last Friday; as he had done multiple times previously in early stages of the case, he refused to go to court, so a judge entered an order authorizing deputies to force him to appear today, if he tried refusing again, and court documents indicate a hearing was held this afternoon. Documents from the hearing indicate that Cox is seeking a trial rather than leaving the door open for a plea agreement, which is how a majority of cases are resolved. His trial date is tentatively set for October 23rd, depending on what happens at a case-status hearing on October 6th. Today’s court documents also say the prosecution is seeking a CrR 3.5 hearing in the meantime; according to state law, that’s a hearing generally held to rule on whether a defendant’s statements to law enforcement are admissible. Cox is charged with second-degree assault and remains in the King County Jail, held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Thanks to Terry for the photo – when we received it a little more than an hour ago, we couldn’t find any info about a fire in the Kitsap area, but now there’s info via Twitter: It’s a fire covering about an acre in the Illahee Preserve area, according to Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue.
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