West Seattle, Washington
08 Monday
Thanks for the tip that the signage is up for Irashai, taking over the former Mawadda Café space at 2352 California SW in The Admiral District. When last we reported on this space in March, Mawadda’s proprietor indicated they would soon shut down – which they did – but wouldn’t confirm that Irashai was taking over, though a liquor-license application was already in the works. Now, there’s also a remodeling permit on file. We haven’t made contact with Irashai’s proprietor(s) yet but will update when we do. One more thing the signage reveals, besides the name – sushi seems to be part of the plan, underscored by the one detail in a document found online related to the remodel – “install sushi bar.”
5:30 PM: Thanks for the text about the Seattle Fire response – four units sent – at or near Walgreens at 35th/Morgan in High Point. According to the SFD 911 log, the response is for a “natural gas leak.” We’re en route to find out more.
5:45 PM: Here’s what we’ve found out: Store employees called SFD because of a strong odor of natural gas. Responding firefighters used detectors (special equipment from the technical rescue apparatus in our photo, we’re told) to try to find a source, but couldn’t trace it. It’s reported to have dissipated and people have been allowed back in the store.
Car prowlers who hit a neighborhood west of Morgan Junction apparently had no use for CDs. It’s a complicated story – this is from the first note we received from Grant:
On the morning on Tuesday, May 17, a neighbor in the Beveridge-Holly neighborhood (off Fauntleroy near California) found a container of CDs abandoned in front of her mailbox. The container holds ~10 CDs and they are mostly from a “Golden Age of Country” disc set. I also found three abandoned CDs on my yard waste bin. Suspecting car prowlers abandoning loot, I checked my security camera footage and found that at 3:37 am, three drunken-appearing men deposited a vodka bottle in my recycling bin and these three CDs on top of my yard waste bin.
A neighbor confirmed these are her CDs and so the men in the video who abandoned them are almost certainly car prowlers.
That neighbor subsequently said those were empty CD cases. So far, no one in the neighborhood has spoken up for the other CDs – but the neighbor who did ID the CDs recognized something else in the video: A white box that had contained comic books and some paperwork from her job, all of which was taken from her vehicle.
Then, Grant contacted us again before we finished writing this, to say yet another neighbor found this tossed-aside garage-door opener:
If you have any clues about the unclaimed CDs or opener, or the identity of the people in the video – please speak up.
P.S. Car prowls remain the top crime problem in our area, Southwest Precinct Capt. Pierre Davis told the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council again last night (here’s our story in case you missed it).
In the middle of the second week post-Viaduct closure, an update on the Highway 99 tunneling machine: After a “break for rest and routine maintenance,” WSDOT says this afternoon, “Seattle Tunnel Partners resumed mining late Tuesday evening.” The machine has now gone more than 2,000 feet in all, which is more than 20 percent of the way along the full tunnel route, shown in the WSDOT-created graphic above. It also shows the machine in Zone 2, which will take it under the Columbia onramp; as explained during the closure, when we asked WSDOT on behalf of a reader, the machine is much further beneath that structure, so a precautionary closure was NOT considered necessary. WSDOT says that from there, the machine will travel under Western Avenue, and they promise twice-weekly updates here.
(Part of the Myers Way Parcels, photographed during last week’s tour)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The city-owned 30+ acres of southeast West Seattle land known as the Myers Way Parcels aren’t even officially up for sale – yet – but a prospective buyer has emerged with a new idea:
A commercial zipline-and-ropes-course park.
“My guy can provide the most elegant and simple solution to the whole problem,” declared Douglas Plager, who says he represents Brian Funtleyder, the owner of The Adventure Park at Long Island in Wheatley Heights, NY. “Leave the trees, clean out the trash, the Scotch broom, the blackberries, clear it all out, employ 40 or 50 people.”
Two development notes this morning, both on California SW:
DEMOLITION: Today’s teardown is at 5431 California SW, where a storage building is being demolished to make way for a project first mentioned here almost a year ago. It’s a mostly residential configuration that’s become fairly common: Three live-work units, with a two-unit townhouse building behind them, and two single-family houses on the alley. (Thanks to the nearby residents who tipped us to today’s demolition.)
NEW PROPOSAL: That configuration is so popular that a brand-new proposal is now on file for something similar a few blocks south (on a site with the same zoning, NC2-30, “neighborhood commercial” and three stories): An early-stage “site plan” just filed for the site of a small old house at 6010 California SW would replace it with three live-work units facing California, and two rows of two-unit townhouse buildings behind them. The plan shows six offstreet-parking spaces along the alley.
(Photo by Laura Goodrich, from the WSB Flickr group)
Six of the many options for the rest of your West Seattle Wednesday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FIGHTING STRESS: Free workshop at noon at West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing.
NETWORKING MEETUP: Noon-1:15 pm at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), network with local entrepreneurs, coworkers, freelancers, whoever shows up! Bring your lunch and spend some time networking. (6040 California SW)
KIDS’ NIGHT AT WORDSWEST: As previewed here last weekend, there’s a special 6 pm start time for this month’s WordsWest Literary Series presentation, which is geared for young readers as summer-reading season approaches – bring the family to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) and enjoy the free event! (5612 California SW)
MADISON PTSA + ‘SCREENAGERS’: The final Madison Middle School PTSA meeting of the year at 6:30 pm precedes a screening of “Screenagers,” the documentary about today’s youth and their lives online, at 7 pm. All welcome for both, in the Madison Commons – it’s a dessert potluck, too! (45th SW/SW Spokane)
34th DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: 7 pm at American Legion Post 160, it’s this month’s meeting of the 34th District Republicans, with an agenda featuring Lieutenant Governor candidate Marty McClendon and an update on Bill Bryant‘s campaign for governor. (3618 SW Alaska)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. This month’s meeting features community members’ presentations for proposed Neighborhood Street Fund projects. The proposals’ titles:
*Highland Park Way SW Access from Dumar Way SW
*New Sidewalks on 17th Avenue SW
*Operation Sidewalk 18th Avenue SW
*Project Fix Delridge Way SW
*Complete SW Barton Street
*Roundabout for Highland Park Way/SW Holden St
*14th Avenue SW Sidewalk Completion (Phase 1 – North of Trenton)
*Safety Improvements to 26th Ave SW and/or 25th Avenue SW (Connecting Chief Sealth HS and the Westwood Village Bus Hub)
*Modernize the Intersection of 16th Ave SW & SW Holden Street (Highland Park)
*16th Avenue SW & SW Trenton St (Safe Route for Schools)
*Brandon St Sidewalks (Delridge to High Point)
*16th Ave & SW Holden Left Turn Signal
*South Delridge Alleyway Improvement
*(Highland Park) SW Henderson Accessibility Improvements
*9000 – 17th Avenue SW Natural Drainage
DNDC members (representing organizations from around eastern West Seattle) will then have to decide which five they support advancing to the city for further review. All welcome. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
MUCH MORE … on our calendar – please take a moment to browse it here.
Before we get to today’s calendar highlights – if you live in and/or work at and/or visit Alki, you might want to know that the Alki Community Council has confirmed it is meeting tomorrow night for the first time in two months. On the agenda for the ACC meeting at 7 pm Thursday at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) are updates from Seattle Police, both recent activity and the neighborhood policing plan, plus the Seattle Summer Parkways event planned for September 25th and Seattle Neighborhood Greenways‘ campaign for lower speed limits.
(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)
6:21 AM: Good morning! More sunshine, and so far, no incidents in/from West Seattle.
OVERNIGHT BRIDGE CLOSURE #3: Tonight is scheduled to be the third night that the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will close, 9 pm-5 am, for the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion-re-replacement project. You might notice the closure – requiring, among other things, bridge exiting at or before Delridge – if you’re returning from …
STADIUM CONCERT: Stadium-zone traffic alert – superstar Beyoncé performs at CenturyLink Field tonight (7:30 pm).
LOOKING AHEAD – “BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY” FRIDAY: Friday is “Bike Everywhere Day“ (Cascade Bicycle Club‘s new name for what used to be “Bike to Work Day”), and riders will find a “celebration station” in the usual spot on the path west of the low bridge.
LOOKING AHEAD – WEST SEATTLE 5K SUNDAY: Sunday, Alki Avenue will be closed until late morning for the West Seattle 5K (with co-sponsors including WSB) run/walk. Tomorrow’s your last chance to sign up online, or do it at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) noon-6 pm Saturday or at the start line 8 am Sunday.
(WSB photo from last month, police searching for shell casings after Puget Ridge gunfire)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Frustrated Puget Ridge residents came to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting tonight to ask Southwest Precinct police what they’re doing about the gunfire problem plaguing their neighborhood.
First – the monthly crime-trends briefing:
“Our criminal element is alive and kickin’,” as is unfortunately usual in the warmer months, began Capt. Pierre Davis, Southwest Precinct commander. “Right now, the crime du jour is car prowls, up all over the city, and our regional partners are having the same type of issues.” In some areas, it’s doubled. Highland Park, Morgan Junction are getting the biggest increases right now.
He mentioned a spike in drug use, “and a lot of that activity is driving the car-prowl increase right now.”
Quick biznote tonight for anyone wondering about the former Redline space on the ground floor of The Residences at 3295 on the southeast corner of 35th and Avalon, since the “for lease” signs came down recently: Building permit and “site plan” documents reveal it won’t be another restaurant, but instead will become a dental office; renovations are under the name Glo Dental Studio.
The Metro League-champion West Seattle High School Wildcats won their first game at the district softball tournament tonight, 4-0 over Bainbridge at the Southeast Athletic Complex. They’ll be back in West Seattle for their next game, 6 pm Thursday night vs. Lake Washington at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
Thanks to Brian Presser of TouchTech Systems for the tip that demolition was happening today at 4528 44th SW in The Junction, tearing down an 8-unit apartment building to build a 6-story, 58-unit apartment building. The project got final Design Review approval last September (WSB coverage here). The site is prominent, as it abuts a busy alley (from which we took the photo) behind a block of West Seattle Junction businesses, and as we reported here in March, the construction team is posting information online here, including what’s next with the project:
• Excavation for the foundation
• Installation of concrete foundation
• On-site utility improvements
In Crime Watch this afternoon – Marie‘s bike has been missing since Saturday:
My bike was stolen from my apartment building at 2250 Bonair Pl SW near Alki Beach. The bike was in the laundry room in a secured building. The robber would have had to wait until the door was propped or had a key. The Kona was a gray mountain bike with “hybrid” tires. The bar handles had scratches.
Bicycles are often stolen to get from crime to crime, so you might spot one dumped somewhere, down a ravine, against a pole or fence – if you do, contact police.
P.S. Speaking of police, last call for tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm at the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster) – come hear about local crime trends and ask about your neighborhood concerns.
Half a dozen West Seattle development/real-estate updates:
NORTH DELRIDGE TOWNHOUSES: A 10-townhouse development is proposed for 2821 SW Yancy (map). The newly filed “site plan” shows four structures (all circa early 1900s) to be demolished at 2811, 2821, and 2827 to make way for the project, which the city website says will go through Design Review. Five townhouses would face onto Yancy, and the other five would be behind (south of) them, while 11 offstreet-parking spaces are shown on the east side of the site.
MORGAN JUNCTION APARTMENTS: A 48-unit building with 5 offstreet-parking spaces is proposed for 5952 California SW in north Morgan Junction. This would replace a 1925 house with garage spaces behind.
9030 35TH SW: Demolition permits are being sought for the two structures on this site that will be replaced by a 40-apartment, 32-offstreet-parking-space project, which had its most-recent Design Review meeting earlier this month.
4801 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: This mixed-use project got final Design Review approval back in February, and now the site and plans are up for sale, no price listed. It was approved for 53 units (including 13 micros), ground-floor commercial, no offstreet parking.
4453 CALIFORNIA FOR SALE: A corner commercial building in The Junction is on the market, the northwest corner of California/Oregon, home to more than half a dozen businesses. Its $4.3 million listing, touting “one of the last remaining key sites available,” notes that (as is most of the heart of The Junction) it’s zoned for up to 65′.
3050 AVALON FOR SALE AGAIN: The potential 104-unit “grandfathered” microhousing project is back on the market, asking $3.1 million. This version of the listing shows that two potential purchases “pending feasibility” didn’t go through since we first mentioned its listing back in January. The listing also says the plans are “paid off” and that construction could start immediately, if a purchase is completed.
The photos and report are from Sam Brown, who along with Billy Edwards, both Special Education staffers at West Seattle High School, coach the WSHS Special Olympics Unified Sports teams. If you’re not familiar with Unified sports, she explains, “These are teams that are made up of both Gen-ed Students (Partners) and Special Ed Students (athletes) who compete with other schools in the state.” The big news, from her announcement that went to the entire school:
This last Saturday, WSHS took two teams of Partners (gen – ed students) and Athletes (special education students) to the King County Special Olympics District soccer tournament.
Our “Player Development” team took the SILVER MEDAL, losing to Mercer Island in a double overtime situation [photo above]. Our “Division 1” team [top photo] took the GOLD MEDAL, beating Chief Sealth 3-1 – this allows our D-1 team to move on to the Washington State Special Olympics Championship Games, vying for an opportunity to take first place in the whole state.
This may seem like just another team and another announcement of athletic success – but it is SO much more than that. West Seattle is so blessed to have gen-ed student partners who are willing to volunteer their time and energy to make these games happen. They are bridging the stigmatic gap here in our school between gen – ed and special – ed students, creating relationships and silently advocating for equity all across the boards. West Seattle is also blessed to have spEd student athletes who are hard-working, motivated and so amazingly ATHLETIC!!
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of this group of students. We will be hitting the State Tournament the last weekend in May, waiting on location details.
(Male Calliope Hummingbird, photographed by Mark Wangerin, who says they’re not often seen in Seattle)
Lots happening today/tonight – here are some highlights:
EAT AT JOE’S, HELP THE FESTIVAL: The Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) dine-out fundraiser for the Fauntleroy Fall Festival today has expanded to the entire day/night; there’s also a silent auction during the dinner hours. (9261 45th SW)
CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 2 pm at City Hall, with agenda items including a proposed resolution with the council’s feedback for Sound Transit 3 (as reported here Monday) and the Bicycle Master Plan implementation update (which includes the SW Admiral Way Safety Project). If you can’t be there, you can watch live on Seattle Channel. (4th/5th/Cherry/James)
POWER-FUL MEETING: Interested in info about your electricity service? This was announced by City Councilmember Lisa Herbold:
Join me and Seattle City Light (tonight) from 6 – 7 at Hiawatha Community Center. City Light will have a short presentation on the utility’s strategic investments, budget and rate proposal for 2017-2018. In addition to Q&A with City Light staff, applications will be available for the Utility Discount Program and information about the solar and conservation programs and customer rebates.
(2700 California SW)
SOFTBALL: Not in WS, but in case you want to go cheer them on, the Metro League champion West Seattle High School softball team opens district-tournament play tonight at 6 pm vs. Bainbridge at Southeast Athletic Complex. (8815 Seward Park Ave. S.)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:30 pm at High Point Library: “Join us for a discussion of the 2016 Seattle Reads featured work, ‘We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves‘ by Karen Joy Fowler.” (35th SW/SW Raymond)
TUESDAY TUNE-UP: Support SASG at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), featuring “live tunes by Piano-man and Emcee Victor Janusz with Medearis ‘MD’ Dixson on saxophone and Conor Apperson on drums.” Full details in our calendar listing! (1936 Harbor SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, it’s your monthly chance to bring neighborhood concerns to local police, and to hear what they’re focused on. Also, WSCPC president Richard Miller has booked a guest from the city’s “code compliance” division – here’s what they enforce. All welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
LOTS MORE … on our complete calendar, for today/tonight/beyond.
(Photo courtesy Seattle Chamber Music Society)
Just announced – a new outdoor-music series in West Seattle this summer!
For more than twenty years, the Seattle Chamber Music Society has presented a series of free, family-friendly summer concerts in various parks around town. This year — for the first time — we will be coming to West Seattle.
In partnership with the Delridge Community Center, these events will take place on Tuesday, July 5th, and then three successive Mondays (July 11th, 18th, and 25th). Each event begins at 7:15 pm with a live performance by an outstanding student ensemble, followed at 8:00 pm with KING-FM’s broadcast of that evening’s Seattle Chamber Music Society concert, streamed live direct from Benaroya Hall.
Here’s the lineup for the live ensembles:
July 5th: “An eclectic program of music for guitar and violin, performed by an ensemble from Cornish College of the Arts”
July 11th: “Trio from UW”
July 18th: “Quartet from the Seattle Youth Symphony”
July 25th: “An eclectic program of music for guitar and violin, performed by an ensemble from Cornish College of the Arts”
Delridge Community Center is at 4501 Delridge Way SW.
(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)
7:30 AM: Good morning. The sunshine’s back; it’s been a morning free of major incidents in/from West Seattle.
BRIDGE CLOSURE TONIGHT: The second overnight closure of the west end of the high bridge is scheduled for tonight, 9 pm-5 am, as part of the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion-re-replacement project; the 35th/Fauntleroy entrance to the eastbound bridge will be off-limits, so you’ll have to get on at Harbor/Avalon or Delridge; if you’re headed westbound, you’ll have to exit by Delridge.
NOTES FOR FERRY USERS: First, if you board via Fauntleroy, be aware of this change starting next Monday. Second, if you’re out there today, watch for whales – check this tweet:
@westseattleblog orcas this morning on ferry between vashon and southworth pic.twitter.com/h6kMV4Zo8n
— Joe Hauser (@4whodey) May 17, 2016
We also had a tip about whales yesterday, though not quite so early.
9:05 AM: Crash on the eastbound bridge at the 99 exit. “Gridlocked,” reports Randall.
9:15 AM: SDOT says the crash is cleared. But as the advisory goes, “residual backup” might take a while to do the same.
10:52 PM: The barrels and barricades blocking the 35th/Fauntleroy entrance to the eastbound West Seattle Bridge are just one sign that the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion-re-replacement project is finally under way. This is the first of dozens of expected overnight closures of the west end of the bridge so that crews can jack it up a bit from surface Spokane Street so more than 500 cushions can be re-replaced, four years after their original replacement, which turned out to have a design flaw. In addition to the eastbound ramp closure, if you are heading westbound on the bridge, you’ll have to exit at Delridge – Mike reports that the going is a bit slow because of that, and while under the bridge checking on the work, we noticed the heavier volume of vehicles coming off the ramp. The crews were staging in the center area when we went by.
The closure is scheduled to continue until 5 am, and to be repeated tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, 9 pm-5 am. No closures are scheduled Friday and Saturday nights, and SDOT says the closures will be delayed until 11 pm on nights with Mariners or Sounders games where crowds of 20,000+ are expected. We’ll have reminders in our weekday morning traffic coverage as well as, for the Sunday closures, in our morning “what’s happening today/tonight” lists.
5 AM: This “live” camera verifies that the first night’s closure is over and the bridge has reopened.
Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Seattle invites you to its Grand Reopening next Sunday (May 22nd). This is the big gym at 5050 Delridge Way SW, known previously as Straight Blast Gym of Seattle (WSB sponsor). From the announcement: “Recent events have allowed the two female owners of BJJ gyms to come together and grow our communities and provide a number of martial-arts programs such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, along with Strength and Conditioning classes for both youth and adults! We’d like to invite the community to our event and check out the mini clinics that will be held. There will be a gathering of people of all skill levels and interests.”
That photo is from this past Sunday, when they had a staff meeting with other Elite groups from around the metro area. Next up before the Sunday event, they’ll be doing renovations and rebranding this Wednesday through Friday, “which will include transformation of both the inside and outside facilities!” And then on Sunday, set for 1-4 pm, here’s what you can enjoy:
Join us in celebrating a new chapter as we open our doors and start our journey as a part of the Elite team.
Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers year-round programs for the entire family for kids and adults of all ages and skill levels, in a fun and safe environment.
1:30 and 3:30 pm
Take part in either a Muay Thai, Strength & Conditioning, or Kids clinic. A short 30-minute class with highly experienced coaches, you’ll have fun and learn something new. All skill levels welcome.2:30 pm
BJJ clinic with Professor Miriam Cardoso, head professor of Elite – 5x World Champion; check out her technical jiu-jitsu skills and coaching!* Stop by for some local eats and fun!
* New student and family specials!
* Raffle Prizes
From Washington State Ferries:
Starting Monday, May 23, all vehicles except motorcycles and bicycles must stop at the tollbooths at the Fauntleroy Terminal to purchase and/or redeem tickets. Motorcyclists and bicyclists will continue to be processed near the Terminal building at the west end of the dock.
To speed up the loading process during peak travel times, a bypass lane will be provided for pre-ticketed vehicles only (no sales). New signage has been installed in front of and on the toll booths to indicate when the pre-ticketed bypass lane is open, in addition to providing other important information. Please pay attention to signs and watch for instructions from WSF staff at the Fauntleroy Terminal.
Please note that as a safety precaution, WSF will not allow passengers to be dropped off or picked up at the terminal when the pre-ticketed bypass lane is open. Passengers can be picked up/dropped off in the load zone just south of the Terminal on Fauntleroy Way during these times. Customers with disabilities that prevent them from using the walkway at the terminal should notify WSF staff upon arriving at the terminal that they will need a closer pick-up/drop-off point.
This change is being implemented to speed vehicle processing and loading times. Thank you for your cooperation!
So much summer fun is approaching – including West Seattle Outdoor Movies, a free six-Saturday-night series in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) at California/Genesee, with sponsors including WSB. Opening night of this year’s series is exactly two months away – July 16th – which means it’s time for a WSOM tradition, your suggestion(s)! Here’s what not to suggest, since they’ve been shown in recent years:
2015’s movie lineup was “Zoolander,” “Singles,” “Raising Arizona,” “Big Hero 6,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Rocky Horror Picture Show”
2014’s movie lineup was “Gravity,” “Spice World,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “The Blues Brothers,” “The Goonies,” “Frozen”
*2013′s movie lineup was “Goldfinger,” “Devil Wears Prada,” “Muppets,” “Avengers,” “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “This Is Spinal Tap”
*2012′s movie lineup was “Pretty in Pink,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Lion King,” “Iron Man,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Top Gun”
The goals otherwise, besides avoiding recent reruns, are “relatively family-friendly” (obviously, as you can see from the lists above, it’s not all G-rated!) and “entertaining.” So if you have a movie to suggest, please post a comment – thank you, and set your calendar reminders for July 16, 23, 30 and August 6, 13, 20!
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