West Seattle, Washington
03 Friday
We should know soon who will get Seattle Public Schools‘ ~$9 million contract to modernize EC Hughes Elementary (7740 34th SW) before it becomes the new home of Roxhill Elementary in a year and a half: Bids for the project are due next week (March 15th, per the district website, delayed from the original deadline of today).
In the meantime, we followed up on two questions that emerged again when the Roxhill PTSA met at, and toured, EC Hughes last month (WSB coverage here).
Both answers were sought and provided via SPS spokesperson Tom Redman. The shortest one – what will happen to Roxhill after the move? “We have not yet determined the future use of the Roxhill School building.”
Second – we asked about the process for determining what EC Hughes will be called when the Roxhill program is there (or whether it had already been determined):
We will address the naming issue in the near future. A good example is the recent change of the Schmitz Park Elementary program name to Genesee Hill Elementary, and thus, taking the name of the building to which the program moved. As with Genesee Hill, Superintendent Nyland will make the final decision after conferring with the Roxhill principal and the Executive Director of Schools for the West Seattle region.
According to the SPS history of EC Hughes, it was in operation as an elementary until 1989. It then became a surplus/interim site, temporary home to several schools during construction/renovation projects. Independent Westside School (WSB sponsor) leased it for five years until moving into its own permanent home in Arbor Heights in fall 2015.
Since St. Patrick’s Day is on Friday this year – one week from tomorrow – many celebrations are a bit early, happening this weekend, like these three:
(WSB photo: WSHS students in 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Parade)
LOCAL STUDENTS IN ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE DOWNTOWN: Saturday (March 11th) at 12:30 pm, three schools have bands in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade downtown. First, the parade overview:
At 12:20 pm, the Irish flag is raised in front of the King County Administration Building, followed by trumpeters playing the Irish and US National Anthems. Then at 12:30 pm, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshals and the Honorary Parade Grand Marshal lead Seattle’s 46th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade up 4th Avenue, traveling north from James St to the reviewing stand at Westlake Park. From there participants are invited to travel for free via the Monorail to the Seattle Center for closing ceremonies at the Irish Festival in the Armory at 2:30 pm.
According to the parade running order, the marching bands from Chief Sealth International High School, West Seattle High School, and Denny International Middle School are participating. (Any other West Seattleites in the parade? Please let us know so we can mention you too!)
LIONS CLUB ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER: Keep wearing the green into Saturday night, when the West Seattle Lions Club invites you to its annual “dinner and karaoke extravaganza” at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon). $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for children under 12. “Dinner includes traditional St. Patrick’s Day fare. Adult beverages available at cost.” RSVP requested – call Cheryl, 206-909-6427.
TIBBETTS UMC ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY: Then on Sunday, 11:30 am-1 pm, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) invites you to a St. Patrick’s Day party/lunch in the Fellowship Hall (3940 41st SW): “We welcome all to this free and fun gathering that includes a warm meal and crafts. We will be serving homemade potato chowder. We’ll have crafting supplies on hand for all ages to inspire creativity.”
And other St. Patrick’s Day festivities are set for next week – see the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.
Spring is near and that brings thoughts of home maintenance/improvement. Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Sound Painting Solutions. Here’s what they would like you to know about what they do:
Sound Painting Solutions is a West Seattle-based painting business serving both residential and commercial customers all over the region. Our services include interior painting, exterior painting, deck staining, and pressure washing. We are a fully licensed, bonded, and insured painting contractor (WA Registration No. SOUNDPS880OS).
Our owner and founder, Jeff DuPont, is a third-generation painter. Jeff, along with his fiancée and cofounder Lindsey Mueller, had a vision of creating a painting company founded on the principles of superior customer service, open and honest communication, and quality workmanship. Our dedication to this goal is reflected in our many reviews on sites like Yelp, Google, Facebook, and Houzz. Our reputation in the community provides our customers with the peace of mind they seek in a painting contractor.
We thoroughly prepare all painting surfaces and work with premium-quality Benjamin Moore paints and stains to deliver rich colors and beautiful, lasting finishes on both the inside and outside of your home.
Sound Painting Solutions is a proud member of the PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America), a national association dedicated to promoting success in the painting industry through ethics, education, and excellence. We are committed to meeting all workmanship, ethical, and safety standards set forth by the PDCA. We are also Lead-Safe certified by the EPA to safely work on homes built prior to 1978, which applies to many homes in West Seattle and the region overall.
Contact us today to discuss your painting needs and schedule a free quote. We perform jobs both large and small, and even offer a “Painter for a Day” flat-rate special for smaller projects. We may be reached by our website contact form, by email at info@soundpaintingsolutions.com, or by phone at 253-642-7041. We can’t wait to hear from you!
We thank Sound Painting Solutions for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
FIRST REPORT, 11:18 AM: You’ll want to avoid Bonair Drive SW between Alki and North Admiral for a while. Seattle Fire crews are in the 2100 block of Bonair [map] checking out a possible natural-gas leak. So far, per scanner, firefighters are saying it does not appear to be a major gas line and they’re not evacuating anyone, but they are calling for Puget Sound Energy.
11:21 AM: Another one reported now, with two SFD units redirected and PSE notified – this time in the 4200 block of Chilberg [map], north of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park.
Thanks to Jenny for the tip. This crash near 17th SW/SW Graham on Puget Ridge [map] sent a man to the hospital this morning and left behind a trail of damage including this shed. Emergency crews had just cleared the scene when we arrived so we don’t have any other information on the circumstances, but we have been able to find out from SFD that the driver was taken to a hospital by private ambulance for “injuries related to the crash.”
(Great Blue Heron at Alki during Tuesday’s sunset, photographed by David Hutchinson)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
‘ACTIVE DADS’ PLAYGROUP’: Free playgroup on Thursday morning geared toward dads, babies, and kids, 10 am-noon, at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
SPEED NETWORKING WITH THE CHAMBER: 11:30 am West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting at The Kenney is devoted to “Speed Networking” with other local businesspeople. Check ASAP to see if there’s still room. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
ART IN SOCIAL JUSTICE SYMPOSIUM: 1-4 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, first day of a two-day symposium – details here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
HELP DECIDE WHICH STREET/PARK PROPOSALS GET VOTED ON: The next phase in the Your Voice, Your Choice process, which has included 211 proposals for improving streets/parks in West Seattle, involves joining the “development team” to figure out which ones should go out to a vote – and if you choose to do that, there’s a 5:30 pm meeting at Southwest Library tonight – details and links in our most-recent story.
MARCH ART WALK: 6-9 pm tonight at venues around West Seattle. Here’s the venue list/map for this quarter:
During WSAW, stop by Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) and see the work of painter Lindsay Peyton … Stop by VAIN (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, where photographer Colton Jacobs and his work will be featured at a cocktail reception, 6-9 pm … At Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), the “featured artist is Amy Douglas, whose multi-layered, hand-pulled screen prints commemorate several iconic buildings from Seattle’s past.” … John L. Scott (4445 California SW) is “showcasing the iconic photographs of local legend Karen Mason-Blair, and featuring live music by Ayron Jones. 6-9 pm” … (added 1:36 pm) And here’s the megapreview from the official WS Art Walk website!
THINKING OF STARTING A BUSINESS? Free seminar at Delridge Library, 6-8 pm – details here. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
SHELBY EARL: The singer described as having “the most heartbreakingly beautiful voice in Seattle” is live in-store at Easy Street Records tonight at 7 pm. Free. (California SW/SW Alaska)
‘MILK LIKE SUGAR’: 7:30 pm curtain tonight at ArtsWest Playhouse in The Junction. (4711 California SW)
THE DEEP CUTS WITH DJ KINGBLIND: Starting at 8 pm Thursdays at Maharajah Cuisine of India in The Junction. (4542 California SW)
8:31 AM: Thanks for the texts. We’re on our way to check on a report of police at/near Chief Sealth International High School and a shelter-in-place situation. SPD has tweeted that it is an “apparent false report of weapons.” More to come.
8:41 AM: Our crew is at the school (photo added above) and have talked to police who confirm so far they haven’t found anyone or anything. This is close to the start of classes and aside from the police presence, activity appears normal – people coming and going, students being dropped off.
8:46 AM: Shelter-in-place has been lifted and police are leaving, our crew reports. Police say that the unfounded report was made by telephone.
ADDED 1:40 PM: Here’s the letter sent to Sealth and Denny families, in English and Spanish, signed by Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer and Denny principal Jeff Clark:
Dear Denny and Sealth Scholars and Families:
We want to update you and share information regarding a situation that occurred early this morning.
At approximately 8:15am, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) received a 911 phone call reporting that there were shots fired at the Denny/Sealth campus. SPD responded immediately and contacted our schools. Although both schools reported that there was no unusual activity, in an abundance of caution both Denny and Sealth went into a brief shelter in place while the police investigated the situation. At this time, SPD believes this was a fictitious or “prank” call and they are continuing their investigation to determine the source of the call.
We are very proud of how our staff and scholars responded to the situation. Prank calls can sometimes increase scholars’ level of concern about their safety – staff are available to provide support as needed.
As always, maintaining the safety of the students and staff on our campus is our top priority. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. Thanks for your ongoing support.
En Español:
Estimadas Familias y Alumnos de Denny y Sealth,
Queremos actualizarle y compartir información sobre una situación que ocurrió temprano esta mañana.
Aproximadamente a las 8:15 am, el Departamento de Policía de Seattle (SPD) recibió una llamada telefónica al 911 informando que hubo disparos en el campus de Denny / Sealth. SPD respondió de inmediato y se puso en contacto con nuestras escuelas. Aunque ambas escuelas informaron que no había ninguna actividad inusual, como una medida de precaución, Denny y Sealth entraron en un breve estado de refugio mientras la policía investigaba la situación. En este momento, SPD cree que esto era una llamada ficticia o una “broma” y continúan su investigación para determinar la fuente de la llamada.
Estamos muy orgullosos de cómo nuestro personal y estudiantes respondieron a la situación. Las llamadas de broma a veces pueden aumentar el nivel de preocupación de los estudiantes en cuanto a su seguridad – el personal está disponible para brindar apoyo cuando es necesario.
Como siempre, mantener la seguridad de los estudiantes y el personal en nuestro campus es nuestra máxima prioridad. Por favor, no dude en ponerse en contacto con nosotros con cualquier pregunta o preocupación. Gracias por su apoyo continuo.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: No current incidents in/from West Seattle.
Weather-wise, it’s a little murky this morning, and the weather alert for tomorrow was upgraded overnight to a Wind Advisory, 1 am-10 am Friday.
Advance alerts: The SDOT roundup includes the St. Patrick’s Day Parade downtown on Saturday afternoon (local schools’ bands are part of it!) and the St. Patrick’s Day Dash downtown on Sunday.
8:59 AM: And one more advance reminder … we “spring forward” early Sunday, one hour, to start Daylight Saving Time.
9 AM: Traffic note too – police are being dispatched to NB 99 at Lander for a reportedly stalled vehicle.
(Southwestern side of Roxhill Bog – WSB photo from March 2014)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It’s been three years since the then-fledgling Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council put out a call for help with the issues threatening Roxhill Bog, historic headwaters for Longfellow Creek. The bog had been a community concern for years before that, and underwent some restoration, but needs help beyond what community stewardship and work parties can offer. That was one of the topics brought up at WWRHAH’s meeting last night when City Councilmember Lisa Herbold – in her second year in office – sat down for a conversation, the centerpiece of a meeting that touched on other topics too: Read More
(WSB photo & video)
Friday night, you can enjoy beautiful music for free without leaving the peninsula. The West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Symphony Orchestra is getting ready for its “Spring Celebration” concert; we stopped by last night’s rehearsal to record a bit of video with internationally acclaimed guest violinist Quinton Morris:
Dr. Morris will be performing Mozart‘s “Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major” with the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Pham, in the auditorium at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). Showtime Friday night (March 10th) is 7:30 pm. No admission charge, no tickets required, but as always, donations “will be gratefully accepted,” WSCO says.
Four biznotes to share:
RESTAURANT UPDATE: From our watchlist of future West Seattle restaurant openings, Vine & Spoon at 4706 California SW says it’s close to setting an opening date. Executive Chef Larkin Young‘s “farm-to-table-inspired” restaurant/bar is currently looking at mid-May, according to a spokesperson. We first told you last May about Vine & Spoon; today’s update says:
The menu will feature seasonal ingredients, many of which Chef Young, an avid outdoorsman and forager, quite literally picks for himself in the wilderness. Guests will be treated to signature dishes such as green juniper cured salmon lox (fresh cheese, pickled mustard seed, marbled rye crisps); crispy herbed gnocchi (caramelized parsnips, hedgehog mushroom, smoked cipollini onion, butternut squash puree); grilled Snake River Farm wagyu hanger steak (roasted baby carrots, crimini mushroom, potato gratin, jus); and much more. Paired to elevate and complement the overall experience, the beverage program will feature an array of local wines and craft beers. ,,, Vine & Spoon will feature indoor and outdoor seating complete with an open kitchen, 18-seat bar, raw bar, and large garden patio.
The hours will be 11 am-midnight daily.
EVERGREEN TANG SOO DO ACADEMY MOVES: The martial-arts studio has moved two doors down, to the north, in the former Westside Gymnastics space at 2701 California SW. You’re invited to an open house to celebrate, 10 am-2 pm on Sunday, March 19th, with three free events:
10:15 am – Women’s Self-Defense
11:15 am – Kids Anti-Bullying
1:15 pm – Parents as Coaches Class
The grand-opening event also will feature free food provided by Dinners by Dao, LLC.
SECOND GEAR SPORTS CLEAT-EXCHANGE UPDATE: This Sunday (March 12th) is the second and final Cleat Exchange date at Second Gear Sports (6529 California SW; WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction, 9 am-noon (that’s two hours earlier than SGS usually opens on Sundays). Before then, youth baseball/softball players and their families are welcome to drop off their used cleats at SGS. Details are in our original preview, here.
MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS KINDERMUSIK: My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor) proprietor Jennifer Young has announced that free kindermusik is returning, starting this Saturday and every Saturday, 12:30 pm at the shop. It’s targeted to babies/toddlers, she says, but all kids are welcome.
(July 2016 photo of what is now officially the last West Seattle Hi-Yu float – photo by Jim Edwards)
After months of working to figure out if West Seattle Hi-Yu – an 80+-year-old community organization – could be reorganized and saved, the decision is in. We asked Hi-Yu Secretary Gloria Teves about the results of this past Monday night’s meeting, and received this statement:
Dear West Seattle,
After much consideration and sadness, the West Seattle Hi-Yu announces it will be ceasing operation effective May 1. After 80+ years of service to the West Seattle community, this decision was not an easy one, but the right one to make at this time.
West Seattle Hi-Yu is an all-volunteer 501(c) 4 organization, originally established by the West Seattle Service Clubs to produce a community summer festival. Over the years, various aspects of the Hi-Yu Summer Festival have been transitioned to other groups. The largest of those activities, the West Seattle Parade, is now hosted by the West Seattle Rotary Club. Hi Yu has not hosted the parade for more than a decade.
Prior to the hiatus that Hi Yu began last fall to consider options regarding reorganization, Hi-Yu’s program consisted of the West Seattle Hi Yu Royalty Scholarship Programs and the West Seattle Parade float.
For several years the Hi-Yu organization has struggled to attract royalty candidates for both its junior and senior courts, dwindling numbers of volunteers and inconsistent financial support. On Monday, March 6, 2017, at its monthly general membership meeting, discussion was held on how the organization would move forward. After direct invitations and notice on the West Seattle Blog of the meeting date, time, and agenda, there were no attendees to the meeting. Compounding the lack of participation, West Seattle Hi-Yu organization is financially insolvent. Faced with these issues, the officers agreed to cease operations.
It is with great appreciation that we recognize the support and participation of the West Seattle community over the last 80+ years. While the Hi-Yu organization may have run its course, the nostalgia of the wonderful courts that were for years the mainstay of Hi-Yu, and represented West Seattle in wonderful summer festivals around the region, will live on.
From now until May 1, we will focus on the following activities:
*Confirm participation in the 2017 Seafair Women’s Scholarship Program.
*Pay existing scholarship commitments.
*Donation or disposal of the float.
*Miscellaneous business closing activities.For additional information, please email info@westseattlehiyu.com
Our archive of Hi-Yu coverage over the past decade is here.
Thanks to @westseawx for the alert: The National Weather Service is out with a Special Weather Statement warning that it could be extra-windy on Friday morning – sustained wind 20 to 30 mph, gusts to 50 mph. Most likely timeframe – 3 to 9 am.
(WSB photo)
1:03 PM: Thanks for the tips. We are at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, as are at least eight SPD cars. We are told this started with someone thinking they saw someone with a gun, but so far police aren’t finding any evidence of that.
1:10 PM We have since found SW Precinct Capt. Pierre Davis at the scene. He says police are working to get a search warrant for a car that might be connected to the alleged weapon sighting.
(WSB photos)
11:16 AM: Thanks for the tips: A tree-cutting crew is preparing to take down the “exceptional tree” at 3036 39th SW that had been at the heart of a neighborhood battle – it’s the ~100-foot Ponderosa Pine growing in the middle of a lot where the new owner intends to build a house. Here’s how the tree looked when we first reported on it nine months ago, interviewing a young neighbor who wanted to save it:
(WSB photo, June 2016)
Our most-recent update was three weeks ago, when nearby resident Lisa Parriott announced she was taking the fight to court, after the city Hearing Examiner ruled in favor of property owner Cliff Low in January. Court records show Parriott’s Land Use Petition in the case is scheduled for a hearing on March 31st – more than three weeks away. But the tree that neighbors dubbed the “Silent Giant” will apparently be long gone by then. Crews from Ballard Tree Service first cut a smaller tree on the lot this morning and are getting ready to take down the pine tree, with an offduty police officer hired to provide security on site.
The building permit for the house was issued more than a month ago. The tree crew says they expect to have the Ponderosa pine down by mid-to-late afternoon. We’ll check back at the site later.
1:32 PM: Stopped by about half an hour ago, before being diverted to breaking news. Limbs are being removed before they tackle the trunk.
The tree neighbors tried to save is being cut down today. https://t.co/HWRO5IsD6n pic.twitter.com/SBT8BmLRzJ
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 8, 2017
4:48 PM: The tree was completely de-limbed when we went back over a little while ago:
Not long before our arrival, Craig Young took the next photo, as the tree’s top was removed:
ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Thanks to the texter who sent this photo from the end:
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning:
STOLEN CAR: From Michael near 42nd SW/SW Bradford – “Our silver 1997 Acura 2-door was discovered stolen this morning. License AOL6520 in case anyone sees it parked in their neighborhood.”
CAR PROWL: From Sara:
Just wanted to let you know that our car was rifled through on 35th and Dakota last night between midnight and 5 AM. They took the change they could find, cheap sunglasses, makeup, and some cheap jewelry. The only thing of value that they were able to get was a Kate Spade wallet that only had rewards cards and receipts in it. I would love to get the wallet back if anyone sees it dumped anywhere.
(Tuesday evening photo by Don Brubeck)
Six events for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORKING MEETUP: 10 am-11 am at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), free meetup hosted by West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Christine. (9261 45th SW)
LOCAL BIZ MEETUP: Then at noon at WS Office Junction, any and all local businesspeople are invited to the weekly meetup at West Seattle’s only coworking center. (6040 California SW)
‘DAY WITHOUT WOMEN’: So far, we have heard of only one West Seattle event – staffers from Genesee Hill Elementary School planning to rally across the street after school gets out. (If you are involved with, or know of, anything else, please let us know – 206-293-6302 text or voice, editor@westseattleblog.com e-mail. Thank you!)
STUDENT FUNDRAISER: 6-8 pm at Marination Ma Kai, part of the proceeds go to the Junior ASB at West Seattle High School. (1660 Harbor SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Our area’s largest political organization meets at 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. See the agenda on the 34th Dems’ website. (9131 California SW)
THE BILLY JOE SHOW: Live music at Parliament Tavern, 8-11 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(ARBOR HEIGHTS HOUSE FIRE COVERAGE: Continuing here)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:45 AM: We’re continuing to cover the aftermath of this morning’s Arbor Heights fire, which is continuing to affect transportation on SW 100th, including Metro Routes 21 and 22, because of lines run to hydrants on 100th. Meantime, here are some advance alerts of importance, for today and beyond:
ADVANCE ALERTS: Rallies/marches are planned downtown at midday today and this evening, as well as Friday afternoon/evening. See the SDOT weekly alert for full details. … Also, remember that Metro’s next service change starts Saturday; here’s our preview of West Seattle changes.
7:53 AM: Metro has just sent an alert saying Routes 21 and 22 are back to normal in Arbor Heights.
(UPDATED THURSDAY AFTERNOON with identification of victim)
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
4:55 AM: A full Seattle Fire response is arriving at a house fire in the 9800 block of 44th SW [map]. More to come.
(Added: Photo sent by Trista)
5 AM: The house is described as “fully involved” (in flames) with wires down.
5:05 AM: Per scanner, SFD says everyone is out of the house and they are fighting the fire in a “defensive mode.” They’re calling for more crews.
5:14 AM: We’ve added the first photos from our crew. SFD is now not certain everyone is out after all.
5:24 AM: They’ve called for the Red Cross to come help three people described as adults. Meantime, if you’re hearing a helicopter, it’s TV.
5:49 AM: Fire crews report continued progress on what’s left of the fire. They’ve called for the investigator as well as the chaplain. Media has just been briefed by SFD spokesperson Alice Kim, who confirms three people got out OK – one with minor injuries – and that there are as-yet-unconfirmed reports someone might still be in the house; they’re searching.
5:55 AM: Our crew says hoses were run to 45th and 100th, which explains why Metro says Routes 21 and 22 are rerouted from 44th and 100th, a block-plus south of the fire.
6:22 AM: Media at the scene is being kept back from the house. Per scanner, firefighters are trying to search from outside; hotspots are reported to be flaring up on one side. Wires were reported down in the early going; the City Light map says six homes are without power in the area.
6:55 AM: Seattle Fire now confirms that one person has been found dead, described as a “middle-aged woman.”
7:15 AM: Still a large SFD deployment on the scene, two and a half hours after the first report. Here are new photos from our crew:
SFD says the woman was found dead in a bathroom on the first floor of the house and that firefighters had to cut through two walls to reach her.
8:26 AM: More units are leaving the scene. Here’s what’s visible from the alley behind the house:
We’re uploading video from the most-recent briefing at the scene by SFD spokesperson Kim. (added:)
We’ll be checking back at the scene later this morning.
11:59 AM: We asked the local Red Cross about help for the family. Colin Downey replied, “Red Cross volunteers did respond to this morning’s tragic fire. They provided assistance for three people to help meet immediate needs, which can include emergency lodging, food and clothing. Our caseworkers will continue to follow-up in the coming days.”
5 PM: We went back over a while ago. A Seattle Fire engine was still on “fire watch” – after most major fires, at least one unit is usually kept at the scene for some time in case of a flare up. SFD, meantime, says it has not yet been able to determine what started the fire, “pending further information” – but estimates damage as worth $400,000. The woman found dead in a bathroom has yet to be publicly identified.
ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: The victim is identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as 51-year-old Lori Ann Stapleton. The KCME says she died of smoke inhalation.
(Morgan Junction rezoning-proposal map, as marked up during small-group discussion @ workshop)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One phase of feedback on the proposed rezoning for the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda component called Mandatory Housing Affordability is ending, and another beginning.
Last night, Morgan Junction became the fourth and final West Seattle urban village to have a HALA-related, city-coordinated Community Design Workshop for feedback on the proposed rezoning. (We covered two of the others – Admiral in February, and The Junction in January.) And today, the city announced its next West Seattle meeting will be an open house in Arbor Heights on May 6th.
More on that shortly. First – here’s how the Morgan meeting at The Hall at Fauntleroy unfolded, with ~60 in attendance:
As facilitator John Howell from Cedar River Group noted in the opening explanation, the purpose of the workshop was to hear comments on the proposed zoning changes. “We want your comments, reactions, and thoughts … (the changes) have been prepared primarily for the purpose of providing additional ‘affordable housing’.” He said the conversation is happening “in every corner of the city.” It’s not “whether our neighborhoods are going to change” with so many new arrivals, but “how we want them to change.”
Howell (who also facilitated the West Seattle Junction workshop in January) introduced city reps including Spencer Williams from Councilmember Rob Johnson‘s office – Johnson chairs the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee, heading the HALA review – and Office of Planning and Community Development staffers Geoff Wentlandt, Sara Maxana, and Vinita Goyal. Wentlandt gave the background presentation, which has been given by someone different in each of the three workshops we’ve covered. The small-group facilitators for the discussions after the opening presentation/Q&A were from Makers’ Architecture and Urban Design.
Howell also said the night’s comments will be summarized and provided to OPCD as it works on a “final set of proposals,” and that they will be provided to the City Council. (Online notes have also been promised for the workshops, but notes from only one West Seattle workshop are up so far – notes from the Westwood-Highland Park workshop in November were posted in February.)
Here’s our video of the hour-long background presentation (largely the same as other workshops we’ve covered, so it’s not fully summarized in our text below) and the Q&A that followed:
The key points included the explanation of MHA, in case you are still not clear on it: Read More
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with a reader report:
CAR PROWL: From southwest of The Junction, Kyle reports:
My fiancée woke up to her car open and rummaged through this morning at 730 am. The neighbors’ car was also open. No damage was noted and only minor beauty products were stolen. Incident happened in the alley between 48th Ave SW and 49th, and between Hudson and Dawson.
And the following four recent West Seattle incidents now have narratives available via the Seattle Police website:
‘BB’ SHOOTINGS: Police were called last Saturday (March 4th) night at 7:22 pm to a “disturbance” reported at 60th SW/SW Stevens. They found the callers at their nearby home and talked to a victim who said “he was playing at the park playground with his two friends,” when he noticed an “unidentified adult male behind the bushes near him and his friends … (he) felt that he needed to leave the area because he was not sure what the unidentified male was doing …” As soon as the victim started running home, he told police, out of nowhere “three unidentified males started to chase after them” and the victim heard “loud repeating noises as if someone was shooting at them with a BB gun.” A BB, he said, struck his backpack, and he heard “pinging” noises as if vehicles were being hit. The victim and his friends said they didn’t get a good look at the people chasing them, except to describe them as “three males wearing dark clothing.” Police subsequently searching the playground area were flagged down by two residents who said they heard BB gun shots while having dinner at their home; they went outside and noticed a “black 4-door sedan-type Acura or Lexus driving by their house very fast.” One of the residents told police someone in that vehicle “shot at him” and that he was hit in the left arm but he declined medical attention because the BB didn’t break his skin. The other resident said the person shot toward a window of their house, but there were no signs of damage, and police didn’t find any damage anywhere else, either.
SHOOTING THREAT: In the 7100 block of 18th SW at 11:41 am last Saturday (March 4th) morning, police got a call about someone allegedly pointing a gun at a person who had yelled at them as they sped by. The victim reported it was a “dark-colored, 4-door Camry, possibly 2008 model, with dark-tinted windows.” He got a partial plate (redacted in the report). He said he yelled at the vehicle as it spend by; the car stopped a short distance away and someone got out, pointing a handgun at the man and threatening to shoot him, while also calling him the N-word. Then the person got back into the car and drove away. The victim told police the man was black, 20s-30s, 6 feet tall, short black hair with possible dreadlocks, and a black hooded sweatshirt.
BURGLARY: In the 6700 block of 21st SW around 3:30 last Thursday (March 2nd) afternoon, police were called to what originally was described as “suspicious circumstances” but turned out to be a break-in. Someone noticed a gate had been cut and “items strewn all over the yard.” Officers found a sliding door had been pried open at the back of the house, which had been ransacked. Several sheds on the property also had been broken into. Power tools were missing from a shed. Police found possible fingerprint evidence at several points around the scene, including a “coconut drink in the kitchen that may have been removed and touched by the suspect.”
The fourth now-available report is about an incident we covered the day it happened:
ROBBERY DETAILS: We reported on an armed robbery at the Shell station in The Triangle (Fauntleroy/Alaska) last Saturday afternoon. The full police report is now available. It says the cashier noticed a green Honda Civic in front of the business; the robber got out of the car, went inside and up to the counter, put a black backpack on the counter and pulled “what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun” from it. The robber demanded money; she took cash from the register and gave it to him. He demanded that the safe be opened and she explained there’s no safe. He then demanded Newport cigarettes, and she “handed him an unknown number” of packs. He then ran out and drove away in what turned out to be a car that had been stolen the day before. The robber was described as an Asian man, 5-7, slim, short black hair, black jacket, black scarf over his face from below his eyes to his neck. Police ran the plate number from the getaway car, meantime, and discovered it was stolen (the plate is redacted on the report, but the incident number listed checks to a theft reported early Saturday morning in West Seattle, in the 5400 block of 34th SW).
(Editor’s note, 10:15 pm: Dates corrected for the first three police-report-narrative recaps)
That’s the clickable map the city has just made public as the first-ever “Your Voice, Your Choice” process heads into its next phase. As we first reported in January, this is what the city is trying this year for deciding how to spend what used to be the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund, grants of up to $90,000 for community-proposed, city-and-community-reviewed projects. The first phase, submitting ideas, has just wrapped up, and the map shows the ideas sent in from around the city. Clicking on any marker (use the “plus” sign at lower left to zoom in, and grab the map to pull up more of West Seattle) will show you the location and description of what’s proposed there (you can also access the map directly here). Project spokesperson Jenny Frankl tells WSB that 211 ideas were received from West Seattle – 178 online, and 33 via outreach meetings (at Stewart Manor, Westwood Heights, West Seattle High School, and Center School – the students contacted there were from West Seattle, Frankl notes). Citywide, the Department of Neighborhoods says, more than 900 ideas were submitted.
Now comes the second stage: Reviewing the ideas to figure out which ones should move on to the voting stage in June. If interested in helping with that, you’re invited to be part of the Project Development Team. The one for this area – District 1, West Seattle and South Park – has four meetings scheduled, but you don’t have to commit to all four. The first one is this Thursday, 5:30 pm, at Southwest Library (35th SW/SW Henderson); if you’re interested in being on the team, you’re asked to send in this quick online form.
(WSB photo from January, before damaged mailbox was removed)
Since we reported back in January on the out-of-service West Seattle Junction Post Office drive-up/ride-up mailbox – which commenter Tim reported was removed a day after our story – we’ve continued to ask the US Postal Service when its replacement will arrive. So have customers, and some have contacted us with the question too. We asked again, and basically, local USPS media liaison Ernie Swanson replied this afternoon, they still don’t know:
The Manager of the West Seattle Station is still waiting on delivery of the new drive-up mail collection box. He does not have a date when the box is expected to be available. The Postal Service apologizes to its customers regarding the inconvenience this is causing.
No word on the root cause of this – backlog at the mailbox factory? or? – so we are now pursuing that angle.
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