West Seattle, Washington
12 Wednesday
(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.
Village Green Nursery at 10223 26th SW, closed last year by longtime owner Vera Johnson, is reopening under new ownership. Noah Trutzschler and Sarah Young (photo at right) contacted us to say they’ve taken over and are getting ready for a grand opening next month. Right now, they say they’re “in the process of setting up the nursery to its former beauty, and plan on continuing the tradition of providing the community with healthy and beautiful plants.” They also plan to feature garden art and are looking for artists. You can see their full announcement on our partner site White Center Now.
Seattle City Light has just gone public with its next round of locations for utility-pole replacements, in Gatewood, Upper Fauntleroy, Highland Park, and Burien. Embedded above (and also available on the SCL website) are five 2-page flyers for different areas, each one with its own map(s) – note that what you see above is the first of FOUR map pages, one every other page, so be sure to scroll through or check the SCL website directly; below, the announcement from SCL:
Starting in mid-to-late March 2017, Seattle City Light’s contractor, Magnum Power LLC, will be replacing aging utility poles in parts of its service territory. This project will enhance electrical reliability by replacing older poles in the system. The installation of new poles, wire and equipment relocation is an important investment in infrastructure.
Crews will be working in the following areas:
· SW Elmgrove St to SW Sullivan St (east of California Ave SW)
· SW Holden St to SW Southern St (west of 35th Ave SW)
· SW Thistle Street to SW Henderson St (west of 35th Ave SW)
· SW Kenyon St to SW Trenton St (east of Delridge Way SW)
· SW 122nd St to SW 126th St (west of 1st Ave S)Highlights from the project:
· The entire project is anticipated for completion by the end of 2017. Daily work hours are from Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Crews may be working in other areas before transitioning to these construction areas.
· The new poles will be placed alongside pre-existing poles. They will meet standard heights and widths required for overhead power line construction. This may mean that poles in your area will be slightly taller and approximately two inches wider than existing poles.
· Once the electrical equipment is relocated, it may take several months before the other companies with utilities on the existing poles make their transfer(s). We will continue to monitor/coordinate these efforts as needed to facilitate the removal of old poles.
For more information, customers can contact:
· Percy Schlimm, Sr. Electrical Service Representative at percy.schlimm@seattle.gov or (206) 386-1735.
· Kevin Knutz, Magnum Power Project Manager at kevin@magnumpowerllc.com or (360) 904-8318.
SCL says that if you’re affected, you’ll be getting all this information directly, too. (This round includes our area of Upper Fauntleroy, we notice, so we’ll be watching to see when the direct customer communication arrives.)
ADDED NOON WEDNESDAY: For the record, our notice arrived via postal mail this morning.
(Killdeer, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From early afternoon to late night, seven options from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE JOB-SEARCH SUPPORT: Looking for work? Get free support 2-4 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, as explained here. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD @ WWRHAH: 6:15 pm in the upstairs meeting room at Southwest Library, the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council welcomes you to this month’s meeting, featuring a conversation with City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor), monthly meeting – open agenda, all welcome. (41st SW/SW Alaska)
FAMILY STORY TIME: Songs, stories, and rhymes with your children’s librarian at Delridge Library, 7 pm. Free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB: 7 pm in the library at West Seattle High School, with the agenda including discussion of an upcoming fundraising event. (3000 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC: Jared Mitchell & The Wing Tips and Gregg Graham are performing at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
BABY KETTEN KARAOKE: Not the boring kind of karaoke. 9 pm, The Skylark. You can search the Baby Ketten website for songs you’d love to sing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
WONDERING WHAT’S AHEAD: Peek at the future via our complete-calendar page.
(WSB photo from Taste of West Seattle 2016)
We recently published set-your-calendar word that the Taste of West Seattle had been set for May 25th this year – and now, you can get your ticket(s). The announcement from the West Seattle Helpline:
Date: Thursday, May 25, 2017
Location: The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California Ave SW)
Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm (VIP entry at 6:00 pm; General Admission at 6:30 pm)
The West Seattle Helpline is THRILLED to announce that Metropolitan Market is back as our presenting sponsor for Taste 2017! Metropolitan Market has been a supporter of the West Seattle Helpline since our organization was founded and we are so thankful for their steadfast support.
This local, community-based food fair is the largest event of its kind in West Seattle. This year’s Taste will feature food and drink from more than 50 different restaurants, breweries, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries, chocolatiers, and more–all from right here in West Seattle!
All proceeds from the event go directly to the West Seattle Helpline’s emergency assistance programs. These services stabilize and support low-income individuals and families in West Seattle who are recovering from a crisis or unexpected hardship.
The Taste has drawn a sell-out crowd of more than 500 people for the past six years. Make sure to get your tickets before they sell out!
Buy your tickets online – go here
Sign up to participate as a West Seattle food/drink vendor – go here
Become a sponsor of the Taste of West Seattle 2017 – go here
For more information – go here
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page; SDOT’s West Seattle Bridge cameras are down as of 7 am so we don’t have them so far this morning)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning. Roads are damp and temperatures are in the 40s.
7:12 AM: Looking ahead to next weekend, two notes: WSDOT is planning on another one of those major lane closures on eastbound I-90 just east of I-5, with details here; and Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 am Sunday (this is the time to “spring forward” one hour).
ADDED: Just for the record – Kevin tweeted this during the morning commute:
Ridiculous! @kcmetrobus busses have to turn right from left lane at Avalon/Spokane b/c of lane violators! Plz 🚔 @SeattlePD! @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/R0jxc5g5JJ
— Kevin Freitas (@kevinfreitas) March 7, 2017
(Cross-section from city project page)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Some Triangle-area businesses are worried that the Fauntleroy Boulevard project has too much in common with the 23rd Avenue project on the other side of Elliott Bay.
That was one of the concerns voiced during the launch meeting for the new Fauntleroy Way Neighborhood and Business Association.
Not only did last Wednesday’s meeting draw about two dozen business reps and residents, it also drew the former City Councilmember who long advocated for the project – Tom Rasmussen – and the current City Councilmember who is somewhat shepherding it now – Lisa Herbold. (Both are West Seattleites.)
First, a bit of backstory in case you aren’t caught up on the recent “re-activation” of the project: Read More
Spring’s almost here. Thinking about spring cleaning? Clothes you and/or your teen(s) don’t need? Here’s a great way to get them to someone who can use them. From parent volunteer Lisa Conley, who also shared the photo:
The Chief Sealth International High School Clothing Closet would like to give a big shoutout to our wonderful community that donated hundreds of coats, hoodies, shirts, socks, gloves, and other articles of clothing over the holidays. Our students and staff are grateful for your generosity which is keeping our homeless, foster and low-income students warm and styling this winter.
We’re getting ready for what students will need this spring and through the end of the school year. Many students will be interviewing for jobs or college and attending prom. We would love donations of new or gently used:
* business wear for young women — blazers, skirts, dress pants, dresses and tops
* business wear for young men — suits, jackets, white shirts and ties
* casual tops for young women
* formal and party dresses
You may drop off donations at the school office Mondays – Fridays, 8 am – 4:30 pm. If you have any questions, please email Lisa Conley, parent volunteer, at lisalconley@hotmail.com.
CSIHS is at 2600 SW Thistle. If you’ve never been there, the office is reachable through the entrance up the stairs just northwest of the parking lot.
(WSDOT photo: Crews assembling rebar for a section of the foundation to support northbound SR 99 roadway and wall on west side of roadway)
The Highway 99 tunneling machine is back on the move, and re-aligned after veering a half-foot off course, according to this update late today from WSDOT:
Seattle Tunnel Partners resumed mining today after conducting additional survey work to verify Bertha’s position and to make necessary adjustments to complete the tunnel drive. Crews performed routine inspections and maintenance while mining was stopped, including the replacement of cutterhead tools.
As of this afternoon, Bertha was tunneling north toward the intersection of Denny Way and Sixth Avenue North, less than 1,000 feet from the disassembly pit.
STP stopped mining on February 28 after survey data indicated the tunneling machine may be several inches off the tunnel alignment. Three independent surveys confirmed the 57.5-foot machine was approximately six inches off alignment.
STP designers made a slight change to the tunnel alignment between the machine’s current location and the end of the tunnel drive. Adjustments are common during tunneling, including on this project. STP made a similar adjustment to correct Bertha’s course after the machine mined out of the access pit following repairs.
Crews steer Bertha based on information they receive from its on-board guidance system. The system is now set to the new tunnel alignment. According to STP’s most recent schedule, Bertha will arrive at the disassembly pit in May.
(Hydrologist/watershed resident Steve Winter [left] directed the work party and staked coir logs into place with Mark Harman. Photo courtesy Judy Pickens)
By Dennis Hinton
Special to West Seattle Blog
Volunteers turned out Saturday morning for state-approved emergency work to check bank erosion in lower Fauntleroy Creek. Over the past four years, erosion had chewed away a section of path used by hundreds of schoolchildren in the spring and salmon watchers in the fall.
The Fauntleroy Watershed Council spent nearly a third of its bank account on supplies and called on creek lovers to pull ivy and anchor coir logs to force flow away from the eroded bank. The council unsuccessfully sought grant funding two years ago, before the problem became severe, and plans to try again this spring to fund what has become an even larger scope of work.
“Starting in the late 1990s, the City of Seattle got behind restoration of its urban creeks and, in partnership with residents, accomplished a lot,” said longtime Fauntleroy Creek advocate Judy Pickens. “Over the past few years, the city has pulled back, making maintaining natural drainage systems a challenge borne to a great extent at the neighborhood level.”
(Steve Hodson, Judy Pickens, Pete Draughon, Mark Harman, Steve Winter, Fred Fleischmann. Photo by Dennis Hinton)
As the mile-long Fauntleroy system illustrates, urban creeks convey more than a lot of water. “They’re also rich outdoor classrooms, science labs, urban respites, and close-at-hand examples of the value of protecting habitat,” Pickens said. “We’re doing all we can to avoid losing this urban creek to the impact of development and shifting city priorities.”
Last May, volunteers with the watershed council hosted a record 764 students, who released 1,795 coho fry as part of the Salmon in the Schools program. In October and November, volunteer salmon watchers documented seven coho spawners in the reach just repaired.
2:47 PM: If you are in, or headed toward, downtown, avoid 4th Avenue in/through the Yesler vicinity – a major Seattle Fire response has been dealing with a natural-gas leak from a four-inch line. The area is closed off and some nearby buildings have been evacuated. SFD reports the leak has been stopped as of moments ago but they are still monitoring to decide if it’s safe to allow people back into the area.
3:18 PM: SFD says the 100 people evacuated from nearby buildings are in the process of “re-occupying.”
3:30 PM: SDOT says all lanes of 4th have reopened.
(Bald eagle watching M/V Walla Walla – photo by Dan Ciske)
Before we get too much further into the afternoon – four reminders for tonight, from the WSB Calendar:
TOWN HALL WITH YOUR U.S. HOUSE REP: Not in West Seattle, but this might be the closest “town hall” to our area for U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, whose district includes WS, so it’s in our calendar; 5:30 pm at the Great Hall in Town Hallhttps://townhallseattle.org/ downtown. (1119 8th Ave.)
MORGAN JUNCTION REZONING: Each of West Seattle’s three other city-designated urban villages has had a city-coordinated Community Design Workshop to talk about proposed Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning under the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, and tonight, it’s Morgan Junction’s turn. 6 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, as previewed here last night, come hear about HALA and then talk about what’s proposed in Morgan Junction. (9131 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU’S FUTURE: 6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, the board discusses two options for the future, as previewed here, and the question, what would be missed without Hi-Yu, which has 82 years of history? All welcome. (2306 42nd SW)
WEST SEATTLE PRIDE AAU BASKETBALL TRYOUTS: Tonight, 7-9 pm at West Seattle High School, senior, junior, and sophomore boys are invited to try out. Details in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
TOMORROW AND BEYOND … look ahead via our full-calendar page.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
When we saw via Twitter this morning that Dick’s Drive-In is taking votes again on where to add a new location, we thought it hadn’t been that long since their last vote. Checked our archives and … well, time flies. It’s been six and a half years! Anyway, this time they’re asking “east or south?” – with West Seattle included in the potential “south” spots. You can vote here.
(Back in 2010, north beat south, and Dick’s opened its Edmonds location a year later.)
The Sunset Sunrise kids-consignment store at 4140 California SW has announced it’s closing at the end of this month, via its website and via this e-mail that proprietor Suzanne sent to customers today:
I have loved being a shop owner in my West Seattle community. I am grateful for these last two years. The hundreds of families that I have had the joy of meeting and develop relationships with have made this journey priceless. I will cherish the memories and look forward to seeing you and your sweet children around West Seattle for many years to come. … Sunset will close on March 31st. New inventory will continue to be put out in the shop over the next couple of weeks. Please stop by and use your available store credit and say hello.
No word yet on what’s next for the space.
From today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, the next phase of a microhousing project we first told you about in May of last year, at 5952 California SW, north of Morgan Junction, replacing this 1925-built house and the garage building behind it:
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
Last September, we reported on the “administrative design review” phase – a process in which comments are invited, but there’s no public meeting – for the proposal. Today’s notice (see it here) is for the land-use permit; the project has downsized from the first-proposed 48 units and is now described as “a 4-story apartment building with 29 small efficiency dwelling units and 6 apartment units (35 units total). Surface parking for 5 vehicles.” (Small efficiency dwelling units is the current official city term for microhousing.) Comments will be taken until March 20th, the city says; here’s how to send in yours.
P.S. Here’s the city’s final report on the aforementioned no-meeting design review.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:42 AM: The trouble this morning has all been outside the city so far. But as we write this, a Seattle Fire medical-aid response is headed for 28th SW/SW Roxbury, so be careful through that area.
7:57 AM: Trouble on I-5 northbound downtown – a big “heavy rescue” response at Mercer. WSDOT says it’s in the left lanes. Per scanner, it’s a car on its side.
8:05 AM: Now another West Seattle incident – crash at 16th SW/SW Myrtle.
8:31 AM The NB I-5 incident is reported to be blocking all but one lane.
9:04 AM: More lanes have opened, and SFD has just cleared the crash scene. But the I-5 NB backup has stretched south of the West Seattle Bridge.
Three notes related to the ongoing community feedback on proposed Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning as part of the city’s HALA (Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda) initiative:
REMINDER – MORGAN JUNCTION COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP ON MONDAY: 6-9 pm Monday at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), it’s the Morgan Junction Urban Village version of the city-organized meeting that’s already been held in West Seattle’s three other urban villages (most recently Admiral last month – WSB coverage here – and The Junction in January – WSB coverage here). The city’s official description of the meeting – including how to RSVP, though that’s not required – is here.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK – WESTWOOD-HIGHLAND PARK CONVERSATION: This past Wednesday night, a community-led conversation about the proposed HALA rezoning happened at Highland Park Improvement Club:
Organizer Kim Barnes told the dozen or so attendees that she’s hoping to have two more meetings along the path of creating a community response to what’s proposed for the Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village. The affected area has three neighborhood groups, but she’s hoping their response can be coordinated. That was underscored by Cindi Barker, one of the West Seattle community advocates who have been helping neighborhoods around the area get up to speed on the proposals; she said that talking points are vital so that neighborhoods “don’t get steamrolled.” Attendee concerns included how to ensure that existing small businesses, especially those owned by people of color, aren’t put at risk by the upzoning. No dates for future meetings yet, but Barnes says she hopes that once the HALA Environmental Impact Statement comes out, that a city rep will come out and present a briefing.
TWO LINKS OF INTEREST: First – if you’ve been to a Community Design Workshop already (Westwood-HP in November, WS Junction in January, Admiral in February) – here’s a survey you might want to answer. Save the link if you’re going to Morgan on Monday, so you can answer afterward.
Second – If you’ve wondered how the city is talking with builders/developers about the proposed upzoning, read the newest SDCI newsletter, published online earlier this week.
… AND IF YOU’RE STILL NOT SURE IF/HOW YOU’RE AFFECTED BY ALL THIS – zoom in to your neighborhood via the interactive citywide map. You can comment via e-mail, at halainfo@seattle.gov, and the city has a feedback website, organized by urban village, at hala.consider.it.
7:10 PM: A “full response” is on the way to Fauntleroy and Juneau for a possible fire in a multifamily building. Crews are starting to arrive. More to come.
(WSB photos, added 8:19 pm)
7:13 PM: Crews have traced it to a “small rubbish fire” in the alley by an under-construction townhouse project. They’re calling for the SFD investigator.
7:42 PM: Just back from the scene. The fire was in a pile of “combustible materials” under a stairwell on the alley side of the construction project. The incident commander considered it suspicious enough to call in the investigator, who arrived a few minutes ago. Police are talking to neighbors. No major damage and no injuries.
ADDED MONDAY: We followed up with SFD, whose spokesperson Alice Kim said, “Our Fire Investigation Unit members ruled the Fauntleroy/Raymond incident as undetermined, either caused by a careless disposal of smoking material or a handheld flame. SPD was notified.”
Last August, we reported on one city notice covering 60+ potential zoning-policy changes – from parking to signage to trees to marijuana – and more, including the “historic lot exception” rule, which has factored into various land-use controversies in this area and elsewhere. That August notice was the first official public announcement of what the Department of Construction and Inspections said would likely go to the City Council for final consideration by year’s end, as what it characterized as an every-two-years “omnibus” proposal.
The measure did indeed go to the council in January and got approval from the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee on February 24th – with two members present and voting, Rob Johnson and Lisa Herbold – after discussions at two previous meetings. We’re making note of it tonight because it goes to the full council for a final vote tomorrow (Monday, March 6th). The full 142-page text – with some changes – can be seen here. Some of the changes proposed before that vote are detailed in this memo from council staff; the original department memo summarizing the proposed changes is here. Tomorrow’s vote is scheduled during the 2 pm full-council meeting at City Hall; you can watch via Seattle Channel, cable 21 or online.
(Photos by Steve White)
Thanks to Steve for the photos – West Seattle High School presented its annual Big Band Dinner Dance this past Friday night, and student musicians were a big part of the lineup:
This fun(draiser) also starred the West Seattle Big Band, whose main mission is to support school music programs. If you missed it – or if you were there but want to see/hear/dance to the WSBB again, while supporting more student musicians – the WSBB is on the slate for the Madison Middle School Swing Dance and Auction in less than three weeks. All the details are in our calendar listing for the March 24th event.
It’s nesting/hatching season for bald eagles in our region, so tread lightly if you see a nest! As you know if you’ve been in West Seattle for any length of time, we are lucky to get frequent views of the bird that’s in its third century as America’s national symbol. Here at WSB, we are lucky to have been able to share awesome photos of local bald eagles, courtesy of generous and talented local photographers. One of those photographers, Danny McMillin, recently put together the slideshow video you see above – all photos of eagles (“and a few corvids”) in the Alki area, except for a few views from the Yakima River Canyon at the end – and sent it to us for sharing. Thanks, Danny!
P.S. Think you know everything about bald eagles? Check the Seattle Audubon fact sheet.
(WSB photo, taken Friday morning)
By Clifford Cawthon
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The expansion of Camp Second Chance on Myers Way in southeast West Seattle as a city-authorized encampment has begun.
In the month-plus since an emergency mayoral order created three new authorized encampments including this one, the city has been finalizing a contract with Patacara Community Services to operate the camp, which continues to draw support from residents as well as concerns from the surrounding community, while growing and maturing as a clean-and-sober homeless encampment. (Here’s our coverage of the most recent city-organized meeting about it, on February 1st.)
This week, George Scarola, the city’s director of homelessness, confirmed to WSB that the operating agreement for Camp Second Chance had “a few steps still remain (ing), but the agreement is close.” This process includes permits and agreements as well as a framework that Patacara will operate under while administering the camp in its partnership with the city.
Ahead of the finalization of the agreement, the following improvements have already been made: Read More
Got a little time to spare today for your community – something you can do right where you are right now? It’s the second-to-last day to nominate businesses/people for this year’s Westside Awards, presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, which sent this reminder:
West Seattle is home to many remarkable people and successful and innovative businesses with amazing stories. We need your input. Each year the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce looks to the West Seattle Community to nominate businesses and individuals for the annual Westside Awards. The recipients from past years listed below.
Westside Business of the Year
Westside Emerging Business of the Year
Westside Not-for-Profit of the Year
Westsider of the Year
Deadline for Nominations: March 6th
Your input is valuable because the number of votes is not the criteria for winning. Criteria includes how the candidate:
Demonstrates the highest standards
Promotes diversity, equality, and inclusiveness
Demonstrates a consistent commitment to environmental sustainability
Takes a leadership role in the communityThere is always room for anything else you would like to share. On March 7th, your nominations and comments will be submitted to the selection committee and on May 4th the recipients will receive their award. Everyone is invited to attend!
Here’s the form you can use to nominate. Past year’s winners, dating back to 2010 (when WSB was honored to be chosen as Business of the Year), are listed on the Chamber’s home page.
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