West Seattle, Washington
15 Saturday
The mainstage entertainment gets going soon, but even before then, there are many things to do and see at this year’s Alki Beach Pride festival, at the beach and on the street (no traffic on Alki SW between 57th and 61st) until 8 pm. Here’s the schedule:
Rainbow City did some twirling; emcees D Dynasty and Deaunte Damper gave a welcome:
DJs are spinning:
And signs are everywhere:
Many local vendors, from merch to food:
There’s a beverage garden for those of age:
Local businesses and nonprofits are there too:
Even Cascadia Pigeon Rescue!
There’s also a health zone and a family zone, and it’s all happening until 8 pm.
What would happen if a major earthquake struck, disrupting services and regular communication channels, with first responders spread too thin regionally to help? That’s what the Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs drill is practicing right now at the future Morgan Junction Park Addition site.
This is not a traditional “earthquake drill” – neither “duck and cover” nor “pretend you’re injured and getting tended to.” Today’s drill, which includes three other sites around the city, simulates what would happen at a hub on the second day post-disaster, as volunteers help connect people with needs and people who can help.
When we stopped by about an hour ago, more than 100 volunteers had already gone through an equal amount of “scenarios” – hypothesizing how to respond to things that might happen, even structure fires, which you and your neighbors might have to fight by yourselves, as firefighters might not be available, or might not be able to get to you. They’re also practicing how to disperse important information – down to the fundamentals like how to deal with waste if the plumbing’s not working (advice includes “don’t burn poo”):
Also a vital part of hubs – amateur-radio communication, which may be the only way to reach people outside the immediate area, so West Seattle Amateur Radio Club members are part of this:
Two volunteers are even standing by a short distance away, in the lot behind Zeeks and Whisky West, with radio equipmet including an antenna, to help with the simulation:
Still time for you to help if you can stop by the site before 1:30 pm or so – west side of California SW, short distance north of Fauntleroy, look for the canopies. If you can’t help, you can still do something important by learning the location of your nearest Emergency Communication Hub, where you’d go after a disaster to offer help, seek help, and/or just find out what’s going on,
10:43 AM: We just stopped by to check on the progress at 11th SW and SW Cloverdale, where the Highland Park Elementary PTA and volunteers are repainting the school’s street mural. This is its third refresh, we’ve learned at the site, and they add new elements every time – salmon today! Still time to get here and help before noonish. More pics later!
1:03 PM: That’s the mural’s original artist, Marianne Maksirisombat, at the refresh event today. Our archives remind us that she had provided a photo we published in coverage of the original painting in 2018, and reminded us today that the mural was created with collaborators including the Duwamish Tribe and Children’s Hospital. Symbols in the mural include a Duwamish canoe:
The raindrops are among past additions:
Artist Marianne, by the way, is an HP Elementary alum.
(Fishing at Seacrest this week – photo by Steven Director)
Lots of options for this mid-August Saturday – here are highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE GLASS FLOAT HUNT NOT OVER YET: All 105 floats were released as of Friday but the official website shows 17 yet to be found as of early this morning, and they’ll remain out until found, with clues posted if necessary.
ONE STEP CLOSER: Endurance event with Orca Running at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), from three hours to 18 hours – some started at 4 am!
RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: 8:15 am, get your weekend going with an at-your-pace run. (2743 California SW).
HELP REPAINT SCHOOL’S STREET MURAL: 9 am-noon, Highland Park Elementary PTA and friends are repainting the school’s street mural at 11th SW and SW Cloverdale and would love some help, even if you can only stay for part of that time!
FREE FIT4BABY CLASS: 9 am at Alki Statue of Liberty (61st SW and Alki SW), free prenatal-fitness class.
FREE MEDITATION: For a calm start to your Saturday, check out Heavily Meditated, 9 am, free – details in our calendar listing.
HIKE THE WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT: Free guided hike, 9:30 am – this time, meet at Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee) on Pigeon Point.
QUAKE DRILL WITH WEST SEATTLE HUBS: You can help! 10 am to 2 pm at Morgan Junction Park (6400 block of California SW), volunteers from the West Seattle Emergency Hubs will have a drill simulating how they would work after a major earthquake, coordinating with counterparts elsewhere in the city. Show up, even for part of the time, and help!
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: New location this season! 10 am-2 pm, shop for fruit and vegetables, prepared food and beverages, artisan body care, more … (9th SW and SW Henderson)
DACHSHUND WALK: 10 am Saturdays, bring your dachshund to Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki) for a group walk.
MASTER GARDENERS AT DELRIDGE HOME DEPOT: Saturdays, 10 am-2 pm – take them your toughest garden questions and get free expert answers! (Delridge/Orchard)
ADMIRAL HISTORY WALKING TOUR: 10 am, meet at 37th/Admiral – but first, register here.
ROW WEST RIBBONCUTTING: 10:20 am, the studio’s been open for months but is finally taking time to celebrate. (4740 44th SW)
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am, free, in-person, active writing group – see our calendar listing for info on how to participate.
SPRAYPARK SEASON: The season continues at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
(Added: Setup photo, courtesy Alki Community Council’s Charlotte Starck)
ALKI BEACH PRIDE: On the beach and on the street (closed to traffic for the day), Alki Avenue SW between 57th SW and 61st SW, the annual Alki Beach Pride celebration is today’s biggest West Seattle event! Official festival hours are noon-8 pm, but the Health and Wellness Zone gets going earlier with a Meditation Circle at 11 am.
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY: Annual celebration at Super Deli Mart (35th SW and SW Barton), noon-5 pm. Food, beer, music, kids’ activities, giveaways!
COLMAN POOL: Noon-7 pm, swim in the outdoor saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW); here’s the session schedule.
WADING POOLS: Two West Seattle wading pools open Saturdays – Hiawatha (2700 California SW) noon-5:30 pm and Lincoln Park noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open, with wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SIP N SPIN: Try the potter’s wheel at Rain City Clay (4208 SW 100th), 1-3:30 pm.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm, wine bar and tasting room open on north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
FLUTES IN THE FOREST: 3 pm, free classical music concert in Schmitz Preserve Park, flute and piano, featuring a special children’s program during the hour-long performance’s first half. (5551 SW Admiral Way)
LIVE-FIRE CREME BRULEE: That’s part of a Southern French Market happening at Princess & The Bear Winery in west South Park, 3-6 pm, free admission. (309 S. Cloverdale)
LIVE MUSIC AT MR. B’S: 7 pm, The Linens & Tax The Witch at Mr. B’s Mead Centere (9444 Delridge Way SW), no cover, all ages.
LISTENING PARTY AT EASY STREET: 7 pm, be among the first to hear new music by Weezer, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
SUNNY BLUE TRIO AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, performing “Americana to bluesy-grass” (7904 35th SW).
REVELRY ROOM SPINNING: 9 pm with DJ Shonuph. (4547 California SW)
SATURDAY NIGHT SKATING: 9 pm to midnight, skate at Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW), with rotating DJs spinning old-school funk and hip-hop, $18 (plus $5 skate rental).
KARAOKE AT TRIANGLE PUB: 9 pm, Megastar Karaoke with KDJ Mythikal at Max’s Triangle Pub. (9454 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Saturday night karaoke with Rone starts at 10 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Planning a West Seattle event that’s open to the community? Tell us about it; it’s free to list something in our Event Calendar, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Traffic reminder – the northbound First Avenue South Bridge is now closed for the weekend, both the driving lanes and foot/bike path. Here again is the original announcement, noting it’ll close next weekend too:
All northbound State Route 99 lanes will close across the First Avenue South Bridge in Seattle from 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, and again from 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, for maintenance.
The following ramps will also close for the duration of the closure:
-The First Avenue South on-ramp to northbound State Route 509.
-The Occidental Avenue South on-ramp to northbound SR 509.
-The South Holden Street on-ramp to northbound SR 99.
-Northbound SR 99 off-ramp to South Michigan Street.
-Northbound SR 509/SR 99 traffic will exit at South Cloverdale Street and follow a signed detour during the weekend closures.Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will make bridge deck repairs during the weekend closure.
WSDOT has been repairing and replacing deck panels since finding cracks last winter. As always, we’ll check on this Sunday so we can report if it reopens early. Your tips are always appreciated too at 206-293-6302, text or voice.
By this afternoon, the street-closure signs were standing by, ready for the street-party component of tomorrow’s Alki Beach Pride festival. Official hours are noon to 8 pm, but Alki Avenue SW will close to traffic between 57th SW and 61st SW sooner for setup. The festival founded and coordinated by Alki residents Stacy and Jolie Bass-Walden will include main-stage entertainment starting at 2:45 pm (see the performers and times here), five “community socials” starting with meditation in the Health and Wellness Zone at 11 am, two parties at Do Si KBBQ (including an afterparty starting at 7 pm), and more.
Thanks to Graham for the tip. The Rudy’s Barbershop chain is consolidating its two West Seattle locations as of Monday. The stylists from the 4707 42nd SW location are moving over to the original West Seattle Rudy’s at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW; the website verifies that and so does a staffer we talked to at the 42nd/Alaska shop. (Plus, the 42nd space is listed as available for lease.) We didn’t hear about this in time to try to reach the company for comment but will be following up. The 42nd location, in the east building of the Junction 47 complex, opened as a Bishops about a decade ago and was rebranded as Rudy’s in 2021 when that company bought corporate-owned Bishops salons.
4:50 PM: SPD and SFD are arriving at a reported rollover crash in the 9400 block of 25th. Someone is reported trapped. Updates to come.
4:54 PM: Firefighters rescued a woman from the wreck. Avoid westbound Roxbury near 25th/26th.
5:01 PM: Added photo looking north from south side of 25th/Roxbury. Some SFD units are leaving.
5:15 PM: Above is the view from the other side, looking south toward Roxbury. 25th is still blocked south of Cambridge.
After about three months of work, King County Wastewater Treatment District has announced a milestone in its sewer-pipe project on Beach Drive near Lowman Beach:
Crews have finished installing liners in the sewer pipes near the northeast corner of Lowman Beach Park and along Beach Drive SW.
As early as Monday, August 17, crews will work on the north end of the project area. They will install a valve underneath a metal hatch and restore the street panels. Flaggers will direct traffic while this work takes place.
Most of Lowman Beach Park remains open. Crews will restore each work area at the end of the project.
Thank you for your understanding and patience while we complete this work.
What to expect
-Part of the sidewalk on the west side of Beach Drive SW is closed until the end of August. Park entrances and other sidewalks remain open.
-Work hours are Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm. The contractor may occasionally work later to finish tasks.
-No interruption to wastewater service.
-Limited street parking along Beach Drive SW during posted hours. Please follow parking instructions.
-Construction noise is expected. You may also notice noise or vibration when vehicles drive over steel plates in the work area. The contractor will remove the steel plates after pipe work is complete.
-Temporary fencing around the work area at Lowman Beach Park.
Another local business has added a mural! Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW) sent the photo, explaining, “Working on making the Admiral and California Junction more comfortable and appealing.The murals and art have a welcoming effect and ‘we are open for business’ appeal. Alki Bike and Board’s mural is in celebration of 39 years of family ownership.” The artist is Katie Todaro of Glam Dusty, whose work you’ve likely seen elsewhere around West Seattle. P.S. Thanks to Gregg for the original tip on this!
If you happened to be awake and within sight of the southeast sky around 12:48 am, you would have seen that stunning fireball. Two WSB readers have shared their views – above, video sent by Derek; below, narrated video by Kevin Freitas.
Kevin included this link you can use to report it if you saw it.
11:41 AM: Since the Southwest Precinct is nearby, it’s not necessarily unusual to see police near the Delridge Home Depot, but in this case, they just made a notable arrest. According to police radio, they arrested a man wanted on a half-million-dollar warrant for what the dispatcher noted was a “multitude of crimes” including rape. We don’t have details yet including whether the “multitude of crimes” involved West Seattle cases, but it sounded as if the suspect had been in contact with police regarding his whereabouts before the arrest. We’ll be following up.
3:50 PM: SPD says the charges stem from a domestic-violence case.
(Love-ly sunflower photo from a SODO garden, sent by a West Seattle reader)
The weekend is in sight, and you can get an early start with some of what’s on our highlight list for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE GLASS FLOAT HUNT, DAY 8: As previewed here, no daily clues this time unless a float remains unfound – so just keep a look out all over West Seattle. Last announced date for the hunt – all 105 floats wwere released as of this morning and 74 have been found, according to the official website, which will show status when floats are found (provided the finder has used the special QR code). Rachel Porter at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, co-presenting with the WS Junction Association, says all floats will remain out until found, and clues will be added to the webpage as needed.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Still lots of time for summer gardening! Open 10 am-3 pm on the north end of the main campus of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
BABY STORY TIME: 11 am at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Daily-splashing season continues at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
WADING POOLS: Hiawatha (2700 California SW) and Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) are open noon-5:30 pm today, Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm.
COLMAN POOL: Noon to 7 pm today, swim in the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – here’s the session schedule.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: 12:30-2 pm, practice with other adult learners at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
BACKPACK BASH: 1World1Sky‘s annual backpack/school supplies giveaway event is 3-6 pm today at South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave. South).
SUMMER QUEST – PET PAINTING: 3-4:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), all ages -“paint a portrait based on a real shelter pet.”
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, and/or buy a bottle..
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) hosts the monthly Songwriters’ Showcase. No cover, all ages. (5612 California SW)
DRAG AT KENYON HALL: Kenyon Hall Cabaret, 6:30 pm (7904 35th SW), all ages, tickets here.
OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE: GreenStage presents “The Winter’s Tale” at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), follow the signs from the north lot. Free.
LISTENING PARTY AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Hear what’s new from Jungle, 7 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, music at 8, for Far The SIK, Panoramics, Madmax. $10 cover. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
MOVIES IN THE PARK: First of two outdoor movies at Maarten Park (42nd/Juneau), free, all welcome, tonight at dusk (8:15-ish) screening “Toy Story.”
SPINNING: Revelry Room (4547 California SW) regular Friday night spinning – with DJ Lady Coco tonight, starting at 9 pm.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING WITH MUSIC: Tonight, skate to the music of Mike’s Emo Band & Falling Forever (Tribute to Evanescence), 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
MEGASTAR KARAOKE: 9 pm at Max’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW).
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or ongoing calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather August 29 to celebrate the life of Annie Wallace Scott. They’re sharing this remembrance now:
In Loving Memory of Annie Wallace Scott
Our Annie was born on December 5, 1950, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to James and Annie Wallace. She was one of nine children and grew up in a large, rambunctious, very devout Catholic family. Annie loved telling stories about the high jinks and pranks she and her siblings pulled on one another, and there were many!
In 1973, Annie followed her older siblings, Frances and Jim, to Vancouver, Canada. There she met her husband, Jim Scott, and by 1975, she was living in Seattle, beginning a whole new adventure. Within a few years, she welcomed her only child, Heather.
When life took an unexpected turn and Annie became a single mother in a foreign country, she faced it with the strength and independence that would define her throughout her life. Knowing very few people in Seattle, Annie became close with her brother and sister in law, Mary Ann and Tom Scott. Before long, she packed up her things and headed to West Seattle to move in with them and their four children. Once again finding herself surrounded by a big, rambunctious, Catholic family!
Annie was a strong, independent woman who built a life she could be proud of. In the late 1970s, she became a paralegal and went to work for Tim Bradbury, one of Seattle’s first openly gay attorneys. She was working with him when the AIDS epidemic first hit Seattle and witnessed the chaos, sadness, fear, and heartbreak that many people experienced. Those experiences stayed with Annie for the rest of her life, and she became a lifelong supporter of the gay community.
Annie believed deeply in human rights and equality for all. She treated every person she met with kindness and respect, and she never judged someone for being different. She simply believed that everyone deserved to be treated with dignity and compassion.
By 1984, Annie had left the legal field and embarked on what would become a more than 40-year career in real estate. She began working at Cayce & Gain, where she spent many years building a successful career, forming lifelong friendships, and becoming a beloved colleague and friend to so many.
Annie was also deeply devoted to her faith and was very active in Holy Rosary Parish. Her Catholic faith and her church community were an important part of her life. She was equally proud of her Scottish heritage and never lost her love of a good time, a great party, and a good laugh.
Annie was generous, kind, fiercely loyal, and endlessly loving. She had a gift for making people feel welcome and cared for. She was also a beloved aunt to countless nieces and nephews, many of whom affectionately called her BAE—Best Aunt Ever. And honestly, there could not have been a more fitting name.
When Annie was diagnosed with cancer at the end of October 2025, she faced the news with the same courage and generosity that had guided her entire life. She participated in several brand-new chemotherapy trials, telling her daughter that she knew they might not help her, but that perhaps they could help someone else in the future. That was Annie.
Even during her illness, she remained a bright light. Her nurses and doctors would say how much they enjoyed seeing her and how they looked forward to her appointments because she was always such a cheerful presence and a delight to be around. She continued to bring laughter, warmth, and kindness to the people caring for her right up until the very end.
After a short battle with cancer, the Lord called Annie home to Heaven.She is survived by her brothers John, Jim, Joe, and Tony; her sister Mary; her daughter Heather; her granddog Maisie; and countless beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters Frances, Margaret and Teresa. Annie also leaves behind so many dear friends, colleagues, and people whose lives she touched along the way.
Annie is missed every single day. There is a tremendous void in our hearts, but we find comfort in knowing that this is not goodbye forever. We will see our Annie again.
A Rosary in Annie’s honor will be held at 12:30 p.m., followed by Funeral Mass at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Holy Rosary Church. A celebration of Annie’s life will immediately follow Mass at the Center for Active Living. And because Annie was proudly Scottish, we will honor her the way she would have wanted: with an uplifting wake and a celebration of a beautiful life. Please join us for refreshments, stories, laughter, and a toast to Annie.
Acknowledgements: We would like to say a special thank you to the wonderful caregivers at the European Family Home for the love, kindness, and care you gave our Annie in her last few weeks. Your compassion meant so much to our family, and we are deeply grateful to you all.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, August 14, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast is the same as Thursday – eventual sunshine with a high in the upper 70s. Sunrise will be at 6:04 am today; sunset will be at 8:22 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedule Fridays (tonight!) and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule; check the alert page for last-minute changes.
WEEKEND CLOSURES
Reminders:
-Tonight, overnight into Saturday morning, 10 pm to 6 am, Highway 99 tunnel maintenance closure, both ways
-Early Saturday morning through late Sunday night, northbound First Ave. South Bridge repair closure
-All day Saturday, Alki Avenue SW closed between 57th and 61st SW for Alki Beach Pride
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Here are four bridge views from the SDOT map:
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
(WSB photo)
Seattle’s biggest tribute to the Seahawks and their fans – visible across Elliott Bay, on the JPMorganChase Center downtown – is not simply because the preseason is about to kick off, but also, our tipster tells us, for the HBO series “Hard Knocks,” which has been chronicling the NFL champions’ training camp.
re
Another night of wildfire smoke tinting the setting sun. The photo above is from Chris Frankovich, while the sun was hidden behind clouds; the one below is from WSB senior contributor Christopher Boffoli, when it reappeared between the clouds and the Olympics:
According to the Washington Smoke Blog, the current smoke layer is almost a mile above the surface.
(New timeline, as reflected on Sound Transit website)
6:17 PM: Sound Transit dropped a bombshell during today’s meeting of its board’s System Expansion Committee – the opening date for the West Seattle Link Extension, long at 2032, is now delayed three years to 2035. Here’s how ST summarized it via email late today:
The West Seattle Link Extension is moving forward with an updated project schedule. Under the updated ST3 System Plan, the project remains fully funded and will advance toward construction. The anticipated opening date is now 2035, rather than 2032.
The updated timeline reflects both the cost-saving work completed to make the project affordable and refinements to the construction schedule. Concurrently, the project team continues to advance design and reduce community impacts. These efforts include a new SODO design solution that avoids significant utility relocations on 6th Avenue S., reflecting significant collaboration across Sound Transit, the City of Seattle, Seattle City Light, elected leaders, and community stakeholders.
We know many people have been eagerly anticipating light rail in West Seattle. We’re committed to delivering the project on a realistic timeline the agency can confidently stand behind.
We have more to report from today’s committee meeting and will add that soon.
ADDED 6:55 PM: The major West Seattle news on the committee agenda was originally – as we reported Tuesday night – proposed property acquisitions and a budget increase to pay for them (and other project costs). The presentation of those was when ST executive Brad Owen began the presentation, calling the West Seattle launch-date delay “difficult news to share,” describing it as an “unfortunate consequence as staff worked to identify an affordable path forward for the project, and as the board and the agency focused on addressing a nearly $35 billion gap in our long-range finance plan through the Enterprise Initiative.”
As part of the announcement, ST revealed the aforementioned new design plan for the SODO segment involving city high-voltage lines, as explained here, including:
The new SODO segment design will relocate major City infrastructure, Seattle City Light’s 230 kilovolt and 26 kilovolt transmission poles and lines, entirely within the light rail project footprint in the SODO Busway. This means that Sound Transit will not need to move massive powerlines onto 6th Ave S, which significantly reduces construction and lasting impacts on adjacent properties and businesses. The new design is expected to save the project over $100 million and remove the risk of damage to other critical City transportation and water infrastructure.
Presenting the 55 proposed property acquisitions – about half in SODO, half in West Seattle (all listed here) – ST managers told committee members they had used phone and email to contact all affected property owners to confirm they knew the plan was going to the board.
They also promised that they have a “vacant property strategy” so that none of the properties are unoccupied for more than a few months “before they’re actually needed for construction” and so that they “will not become burdens to the communities in which they are located.”
With a unanimous voice vote, committee members sent the plan to the full board, as they did with this companion resolution, a three-quarters-of-a-billion budget amendment to allow spending almost half a billion dollars for property acquisitions and another $300 million for “construction support services … through final design.”
Both resolutions will be up for a vote of the full board at its next meeting, August 27.
ADDED 8:45 PM: Two more notes – first, in a post elaborating on the email version of the schedule-delay announcement, ST blames part of the delay specifically on the cross-Duwamish-bridge part of the project. Second, for those trying to recall past timeline shifts, we checked our archives:
-2033 was what was originally proposed for the ST3 ballot measure
-2030 is what made it into the ballot measure
-2031 was the revision because of the pandemic
-2032 has been the date since the 2021 “realignment”
-2035 is the new projected WS date
5:44 PM: As previewed earlier, it’s West Seattle Art Walk night!
Our first highliht stop is West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW; WSB sponsor), where owner Marcia Bruno is also tonight’s featured artist. You might not know that before her WSN days, she had a 15-year career as a jewelry artist!
She gained fame for acrylic work in acrylic, silver, and steel guitar strings, and holds a BFA and MFA. Stop by the nursery before 8 to see the artist and her work! And check out tonight’s other Art Walk venues on this map – click a dot to see who’s where!
6:07 PM: One more stop tonight – Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), which is continuing to host a West Seattle Art Tour preview:
Gretchen Flickinger and Karen Johnson are two of the eight Art Tour artists you can meet tonight at the winery. The Art Tour itself (with WSB among the community co-sponsors) is September 19-20.
Early alert: If you have questions and/or concerns about Washington State Ferries, they’ve just announced the date for their next online systemwide community meetings:
As its busiest summer since 2019 comes to a close, Washington State Ferries is inviting the public to two virtual community meetings on Thursday, Sept. 10. Agency leaders will recap peak-season travel, share what’s ahead and take live questions from the public.
The meetings will also include updates on new hybrid-electric vessels, expanded on-board Wi-Fi, terminal construction and more. Most of each meeting will be reserved for questions from the audience.
WSF online community meetings information
When: 11 a.m. (register here) and 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 (register here)
Where: Online via Zoom
Prior registration is required for these virtual meetings. Each meeting will cover the same material and is designed to give participants the option to join the meeting that best fits their schedule. Participants will be able to ask questions and anyone can also provide comments ahead of time via email – wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov
After the meetings, video recordings will be available online on WSF’s community participation page.
3:30pm Thanks for tip and photos. California Ave SW at Willow has been temporarily closed for cleanup following a motor vehicle incident. Seattle Fire was called out at 2:33pm and closed out the call within 30 minutes. We’ll update with more details as we get them.
Update: Road is open again, per commenter.
(WSB photos)
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
More than forty people came to small section of SW Lander Street west of California SW last night – between local businesses The Good Society and Seattle Yarn, and neighboring Lafayette Elementary – for an SDOT-convened “community design charrette.”
It offered a preview of what the street might look like in the near future, as the purpose of the gathering was for city officials to get feedback about their plans to close the street to vehicle traffic and turn it into a “People Street” within a year.
SDOT closed the small section of SW Lander for the evening, bringing together city reps and associated consultants and designers with community members to talk in-person about the best way to implement changes, and what they might like to see from the project.
The project is a part of the city’s People Streets and Public Spaces Capital Program, which seeks to transform various streets across the city into miniature public parks. Traffic is blocked off, and the designated area is transformed with various architectural improvements and amenities to encourage community gathering and engagement. This site, on SW Lander, is one of two in West Seattle that are currently part of the program; we’ve previously covered the other proposed project, on 18th Avenue SW, between Delridge Way and Southwest Barton (which also had a recent meeting). The city says its goal is to transform SW Lander into public space offering cleaner air as well as an overall sense of safety and security for students.
The meetings for both sites aimed at a very preliminary stage of the process, akin loosely to ‘brainstorming’ with the community in a more free-form atmosphere. No concrete designs were presented; instead, community members were asked to write sticky notes on poster boards asking for feedback on things such as desired features, and put stickers on stock photo ‘mood boards’ representing which features or visuals they would find the most appealing.
The feedback will be used by the city as an initial step before they begin a more formal design processs. Beyond the feedback process, other light activities were available for attendees as well, such as over-sized street board games and coloring books for kids; refreshments were also available, featuring fruit empanadas from the Salvadorean Bakery in White Center.
Despite the festival atmosphere, the project proposal did not come without controversy. In addition to what was provided by the city, some community members brought some of their own boards and posters to protest the proposed project. One board offered two sign-up lists, asking attendees to pick a side: “Yes, close Lander Street” or “No street closure”. The latter choice had garnered around 10 signatures already by 15 minutes into the gathering, while the former had no signatures at all in the early going.
Another poster stapled to a local telephone pole called for neighbors to attend, framing the project as the city cutting off street access to California Avenue.
Words from attendees who spoke to us did not show much more positivity for the project either. “Well, this whole thing sucks!” said one of the attendees, an Admiral resident. “Congestion here is bad, and getting worse. Where are all the parents going to go to pick up their kids? […] The city is doing too much with too little, and too many people.”
People from local businesses and buildings in the block came to share their opinion too. Paul Cesmat, owner of the nearby Admiral Station apartments, came, also delivering a letter to city representatives from the owner of Financial Designs Insurance (in the same block) in absentia. Both of them expressed that the city’s plan would be negligent at best, actively harmful at worst – making it more difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and commercial block, and increasing traffic congestion for the school: “In my 49 years here, there has never, ever, been an incident with a kid,” Cesmat said. He also expressed frustration with the city’s communication strategy. “There was no real mail notification to the neighbors; just some stuff stapled on the poles.” he said. “Neighbors had to communicate with each other to encourage turnout.”
According to SDOT, there will be more chances for the community to provide feedback through the design process, though dates are yet to be announced. The formal design process will begin this fall, with finalization of a plan expected next winter (early 2027).
(WSB photos)
11:44 AM THURSDAY: At last night’s Seattle Police community-safety meeting in West Seattle (report to come), Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair alluded briefly to multiple local encampment clearances this week. One of them is under way right now. Thanks to a tip from Jon, we got over to the Delridge Home Depot area in time for these photos of city crews at the notorious encampment west of the store.
This encampment has been the site of problems including multiple fires. It’s on land that the King County Parcel Viewer shows is owned by the city.
We have a message out to the city seeking information about today’s operation.
6:36 PM FRIDAY: Our inquiry got a short reply today: “5 people were identified at the site. No shelter referrals were accepted.”
| 0 COMMENTS