West Seattle, Washington
07 Thursday
One week from tomorrow, the West Seattle Water Taxi starts its spring/summer 7-days-a-week schedule. Two days later, you’ll get to ride the new M/V Doc Maynard – twice the capacity of its predecessor – for free during Community Appreciation Day on Sunday, April 10th, hosted by the King County Marine Division at Seacrest Pier. Full announcement after the jump:
(ADDED: WSB photo)
8:23 AM: Big emergency response for a boat reported to be in trouble off the 10400 block of Maplewood Place SW [map], which is in southwesternmost West Seattle.
8:28 AM: From the scanner, 50-foot boat, “foot of water in the bilge,” three people on board, no injuries, “the boat is secured but not to shore yet.”
8:43 AM: Our crew has arrived. It’s a fishing boat, and this is all taking place on private shoreline. The Coast Guard is helping Seattle Fire.
(ADDED: Photo texted by Kathleen)
8:50 AM: More information from SFD – the boat lost power, ran aground, and sprang a leak. Two of the three people on board were taken to an SFD boat by a small USCG craft, while the third worked to fix the problem and get the boat under way again.
9:04 AM: Added photos. The incident commander tells us the boat will head back toward the Duwamish River, and that a fireboat is following just in case there’s any more trouble.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:21 AM: Good morning – welcome to the last day of March. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.
AVALON/YANCY/30TH/ANDOVER PROJECT: As of yesterday afternoon, crews on this pedestrian-safety project had closed Andover at Avalon.
7:54 AM: Matt says via Twitter that lower Spokane St. is jammed east of the low bridge but isn’t seeing why; no incidents that we’re seeing logged, either.
8:46 AM: Crash reported at Olson/Myers – one south/westbound lane of Olson is blocked.
1:01 AM: Lots of questions this past half-hour about a helicopter just south of the city/county border. Flight-tracking showed it was Guardian One but there was little discussion on the scanner and no reports of ground activity, so we didn’t know what it was up to until this tweet just after it left the area: “Assisted White Center patrol on person with a gun call in 18 Ave SW. Led patrol in to person in front yard of house. Subject is detained.” That would be a King County Sheriff’s Office case and we’ll follow up later this morning.
ADDED 5:14 PM: We finally have additional information to share. From KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West: “Around midnight, we responded to the area of the 10400 block of 18 Ave SW for a report of a suicidal man who possibly had a gun. We contacted the man in the area and did not locate a gun. The man was transported to a hospital for a mental-health evaluation. The man is a 66 year old living in the vicinity.”
As we close out the last Wednesday of March …some beautiful views of its sunset and sunrise. The top photo is from Colleen Brenize; below, from Howella:
After the jump, more of the colors with which the day ended and began:
West Seattle High School is at the top of the Metro League baseball standings. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photos from today’s victory:
The Wildcats traveled over the pond to take on the Crusaders of Eastside Catholic. Junior Ryan Kimsey [#15, above] started on the mound for Westside. He would go on to throw a complete game of shutout baseball, giving up only two hits and striking out three. Again West Seattle’s defense was strong behind their pitcher.
Juniors Jack Page and Nathan Johnson led the team with two hits each.
Andrew Burggraff [#39, above] had a double in the 4th inning to hit in an insurance run. In the end, behind the strong pitching of Kimsey and the great defense, West Seattle topped Eastside Catholic 3-0 and now sits atop the Metro League standings at 6-0 in league play.
Next game is 3:30 pm Friday against Ballard at Whitman Middle School.
See the full league standings on the left sidebar of this page.
With school start-and-end times – officially known as bell times – changing next year at many Seattle Public Schools, the district says it knows the change “has presented some significant logistical, scheduling, and programmatic challenges, and appreciate the feedback from schools, families and community members on the impact.” So it’s asking families to take a survey focused on how the changes will affect “Nutrition Services (Breakfast and Lunch), Before and After School Programs, and Athletics.” Find the survey here, in six languages. (And if you haven’t checked your school’s bell times, find them here.)
7:35 PM: Thanks for the tips and photos – neighbors near 39th and Raymond [map] report a semi-truck took out a fire hydrant, sending water into the street, and reducing water pressure in nearby homes.
Seattle Fire Department is there. No report of injuries – the call is classified as “investigate, out of service.”
7:42 PM: Another texter just sent word of brown water at a home nearby. Having just toured the city drinking-water control center today (story tomorrow) – we can confirm the hydrant problem would definitely cause something like that, though we would still advise making sure Seattle Public Utilities knows – 206-386-1800.
9:36 PM: Commenters in the affected area say SPU’s telling them water could be out until about 4 am.
Construction of the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway is done, SDOT announced this afternoon – aside from “a few minor tasks,” such as:
*Finish sign installation and road striping
*Replace temporary handrail with permanent handrail on the new stairway on 17th Ave SW
*Reseed planting strip on 21st Ave SW just north of where 21st Ave SW and 22nd Ave SW merge
Seattle City Light will turn on the new signal at 15th Ave SW and SW Holden St
And Seattle Public Utilities continues with the Delridge Natural Drainage Project. If you live/work in, and/or frequently travel through the greenway area, you’re invited to answer this survey. Meantime, scroll down the project webpage for the city’s before/after images of spots along the greenway.
(Saturday WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Whether or not they’re directly responsible for the illegal tree-cutting in the Duwamish Head Greenbelt, nearby property owners may be taxed for it, sooner rather than later.
Checking the status of the investigation and other revelations, we found out today from City Councilmember Lisa Herbold that the King County Assessor has received a “constituent request (to) increase 2016 real-estate tax to reflect View Property status.” She says the Assessor’s Office already “has sent division directors out to visit the site and will be sending an appraisal team out shortly.”
Speaking of valuation, Herbold told us there’s something else that she’s emphasizing to the City Attorney’s Office and others who are investigating:
I want to be sure the evaluation of the value of the trees takes into account the role the trees play in maintaining soil stability in an environmentally critical area by absorbing water, thus lessening the risk of landslides onto a major arterial.
Further, trees maintain air quality by absorbing carbon —an important issue in West Seattle, which sits adjacent to SODO and the Duwamish industrial area. The Green Cities Research Alliance 2012 Report, Seattle’s Forest Ecosystem Values, has additional information about Seattle’s trees, estimated to have a replacement value of $4.9 billion — an important capital asset.
If you’ve been away or are otherwise just tuning into this, The Seattle Times broke the news last Friday night that the city was investigating the illegal cutting of more than 100 trees on parcels owned by the city Parks and Transportation Departments in the Duwamish Head Greenbelt, north of 35th SW and northwest of 34th SW/City View.
We followed up on Saturday and on Monday, which is when the City Attorney’s Office disclosed the cutting was brought to the city’s attention in January, and that a lawyer for at least one of the guilty parties had written to the city about it in early February. We published a statement from lawyer Clayton Graham in our Monday report. We now also have a copy of his February 5th letter and the proposed restoration-plan outline, both obtained from the City Attorney’s Office. Here’s the letter (PDF); below is the restoration-plan outline, which Graham said on Monday was provided to the city on March 9th. The city stresses that it has NOT approved the plan; we publish it to show you what was proposed before this all came to light:
RESTORATION ACTIVITY OUTLINE
Hire contractor approved by SPRD for following activities:SITE PREPARATION Spring/Summer 2016
Install erosion control along perimeter of site per SPRD and DPD guidelines
Move cut logs to accommodate work and utilize as erosion control and terraces as possible
Invasive Shrub/Vine Removal following SPRD guidelines within perimeter of exposed canopy
Invasive Tree Removal/Herbicide (if necessary) under SPRD guidelines within perimeterBroadcast Herbicide (if necessary) under SPRD guidelines within perimeter
Mulch to a depth of no greater than 6” consisting of arborist chips, straw or burlap will be installed across area to suppress weeds, increase moisture retention and limit erosion potentialPLANTING Fall/Winter (2016)
Install trees, shrubs, groundcovers in species and numbers as prescribed by Green Seattle Partnership – SPRD guidelines for similar sites.Planting will be done in the suggested mosaic for the site with adaptation for existing native plants.
Location and species of trees planted to be determined based on discussion with City staff and owners’ urban forester.IRRIGATION Winter/Spring (2016)
Installation of a temporary water reservoir and drip irrigation system in the spring is requested. Water will be supplied by adjacent property ownerIf system is not approved contractor will be engaged for 3 seasons of watering and continued invasive species control and erosion monitoring
ESTABLISHMENT WEED CONTROL Spring-Summer (2017-2020)
Invasive weed control and plant health monitoring will be contracted for three growing seasons to assure success of plantings and site
Again, that is what the one unidentified homeowner proposed in early February, and it has not been approved by the city. Graham’s Monday statement said he and his clients “offered to provide a detailed restoration plan (complete with tree size, species, placement and ongoing care obligations) from our client’s urban forester when the City was ready to review it.” (Since that apparently has not yet been received by the city, we’re asking Graham if his client would make it public.)
Whether it’s from that plan or not, will the city take any action to start restoring the cut slopes before it’s decided whether those responsible will be prosecuted, and how they will be penalized? We asked the Parks Department that question yesterday and are still awaiting the answer.
Finally, if you haven’t already seen it in our previous story’s comment thread, this online petition is in circulation, asking the City Council to toughen the laws governing incidents like this.
If we get any more new information today, we’ll add it to this story.
ADDED 4:59 PM: Parks spokesperson Christina Hirsch‘s reply to our question about whether any immediate restoration work is planned:
Right now we are working with our own restoration experts and are also consulting with outside advisers to figure out the plan to restore this area. This is a unique situation and restoration will be a challenge, both because of the scope of the damage and because it is such a sensitive and environmentally critical area. Because the situation is so severe, it could take years to get the area back to where it needs to be. Restoring this area is something that we need to do and we are working diligently with our team to put together a plan. We don’t have a complete timeline for restoration, but we do know that restoration in this area will not be something we can complete in one attempt; we will have to work on restoration on an ongoing basis.
More free public wi-fi is en route to West Seattle, as part of the city’s Digital Equity Initiative, but via public funding. A public-relations firm for Google just sent this:
Google has provided $344,000 in grants to fund WiFi access points at all 26 Seattle Parks & Rec community centers, including Delridge, South Park, Alki, Hiawatha, and High Point Community Centers, which will improve public events, classes, camps and learning programs, and to provide WiFi to low-income families in Seattle Housing Authority housing. Some community centers will also get new computers — the funding will be used to replace 31 outdated and obsolete computers at five RecTech Community Technology Labs, including Delridge.
Last year, you might recall, Google bought borrowable wi-fi hotspots to make available through Seattle Public Library branches.
Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
SEEN THIS STOLEN CAR? Susumu e-mailed Tuesday to say his silver 2-door 1997 Honda Civic stolen from the apartment parking lot at 6901 Delridge late March 19 or early March 20, plate AYL1636, is still missing. Call 911 if you see it.
SHOPLIFTING CASE #1: Two shoplifting suspects who police say had fled the RiteAid store south of The Junction wound up crashing at 41st and Brandon Tuesday evening.
At least one person was in custody – we had to break away from the scene to go to the 15th/Henderson crash so that’s all we know so far.
SHOPLIFTING CASE #2: Mike from Sound Advice (the Verizon store in The Junction) reports two iPhones were shoplifted on Tuesday while the store was full of customers. The two shoplifters were caught on HD video that is already in police hands, he says.
HIT-RUN: Shelly sent word of this last night:
Everyone keep a lookout for a red/maroon sedan with substantial front end damage. Saturday at about 6 am, it bumped into my neighbors cars, then smashed into my car and took off. They hit my car so hard it jumped the curb and caused substantial damage. The police have pieces of their car as well as descriptions of the people/car, but any leads would be super helpful. This happened on 30th between Myrtle and Othello.
Thanks for the tips and reports – 206-293-6302 text/voice if urgent, editor@westseattleblog.com if not – as long as you have already called 911/SPD!
It isn’t spring on WSB without a Canada-gosling(s) photo by David Hutchinson, whose note accompanying the photo above said, “Noticed these 3 goslings with parents heading for shore along Harbor Ave this past weekend. Spring has arrived.” (Scroll down for Lise Thivierge‘s photo of goose and goslings on shore.) And now, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
4 STORY TIMES: Coming up at local libraries in the hours ahead – Toddler Story Time at 10:30 am at Southwest Library (35th SW/SW Henderson), Preschool Story Time at 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW), Baby Story Time at 11:30 am at High Point Library, and Somali Story Time at 5 pm, also at High Point (35th SW/SW Raymond).
DREAM DINNERS ‘FREEZER SALE’: 10:30 am-12:30 pm, see what’s pre-assembled and ready to buy in the freezer at Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), on the street-level outer east side of Jefferson Square. (4701 41st SW)
ENTREPRENEUR MEETUP: Bring your lunch to West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), noon-1:15 pm, and meet other local entrepreneurs. (6040 California SW)
FINAL WEEK FOR ‘VIOLET’: Been to the musical @ ArtsWest yet? Time’s running out. Tonight, it’s a 7:30 pm curtain. (4711 California SW)
TALARICO’S TRIVIA: The biggest local trivia night, 8:30 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria in The Junction. Details in our listing. (4718 California SW)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:50 AM: Good morning. Notes so far:
PIONEER SQUARE INVESTIGATION: If your commute takes you through/to Pioneer Square, note that SDOT reports 2nd is closed between Yesler and Washington for a police investigation (two people shot, one killed).
YANCY/AVALON/30TH SAFETY PROJECT: Work began on Tuesday, with 30th closed at Avalon.
SOUND TRANSIT 3 COMMENT TIME: The monthlong comment period has begun for the Sound Transit 3 draft plan made public last Thursday (including light rail to West Seattle in 2033). You’re invited to share comments via this survey, and a community meeting at West Seattle High School is set for 5:30 pm April 26th. The final plan will be approved this summer and go to voters in November.
7:01 AM: JayDee texted to say the 56 is running 25 minutes late.
8:43 AM: Metro says bus operation downtown in the aforementioned investigation zone is back to normal. See the comments for discussion of Admiral bus woes – we don’t know whether they have anything to do with what had been happening downtown.
8:30 PM: Thanks to Kanit Cottrell for that view of tonight’s sunset, from Gatewood – the most vivid sunset so far this spring. Among the views shared via social media – Stacy directed this one our way via Twitter:
Wow. Never get tired of looking at THIS. #sunset #westseattle #pugetsound @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/TGbW5CgTSM
— Stacy McCauslin (@Aloha_Stacy) March 30, 2016
Tomorrow night looks promising too!
ADDED 10:08 PM: One more view – by David Hutchinson at Alki:
ADDED AT MIDNIGHT: And from Jamie Kinney in Fauntlee Hills:
DCIM100GOPROG0017013.
(ADDED: WSB photo)
7:27 PM: If you are hearing the sirens – a sizable emergency response is en route to a crash at 15th and Henderson.
7:41 PM: Eastbound Henderson is blocked at 16th. An ambulance has been summoned for one person.
8:07 PM: Two vehicles collided; they have since cleared to the side, SFD has left the scene, and a passenger from one vehicle has been taken to the hospital. The road was reopening after some debris cleanup.
From the Chief Sealth International High School PTSA:
Chief Sealth International High School sends out a big THANK YOU to our community, especially the Westside Universalist Unitarian Congregation and St. John’s Episcopal Church, for their generous donations of clothing, school supplies and funds. Our students appreciate not only the useful items they get from the Clothing Closet, they are grateful that their community cares about them.
We have many students looking for gently used 2-piece business suits, white dress shirts and ties (thinner is more on-trend for youth) for their college, job and internship interviews. We can use all sizes and especially sizes that will fit slim young men. Donations can be dropped off at the front office Monday-Friday or contact Lisa Conley at lisalconley@hotmail.com to make other arrangements. Thanks!
Sealth is at 2600 SW Thistle; this year’s bell times are 8:40 am-3:10 pm, if you’re timing a donation dropoff.
Four West Seattle development notes this afternoon:
MORE EARLY DETAILS ON PCC-SITE PROPOSAL: When we most recently reported on the early-stage plan for 2749 California SW – current site of the PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) West Seattle store, purchased by Madison Development Group a year ago – little information was available. But a new document in city files has a few more tentative details: According to the “pre-submittal” form, the proposal is currently envisioned for 92 residential units, 145 parking spaces, and 24,000 square feet that are described as “grocery/retail.” Will that be PCC? When we last checked with Madison, they did not have a tenant signed; PCC told us they expected to be in West Seattle for a long time, whether at this location or elsewhere, but had nothing to say yet either. Stay tuned for updates.
AEGIS LIVING PROJECT UPDATE: Also in Admiral – the land-use permit for the Aegis Living project at 4700 SW Admiral Way cleared a major hurdle this week, with the key decision detailed here. We checked today with Aegis regarding its plans for demolition of the three-years-empty former Life Care Center; spokesperson Charlotte Starck says they are expecting the demolition permit in June. As reported in our coverage of this month’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, police say the property is now part of a trespassing-crackdown program that gives SPD the ability to boot people found there. Meantime, this week’s approval opens a period for appeals – deadline is April 11th; this city page explains how to file one.
4528 44TH SW COMMUNITY MEETING: We stopped by the Senior Center of West Seattle on Monday evening to ask a few questions at the project team’s “drop-in community meeting,” part of the community outreach they needed to do while the permit’s being finalized for the 6-story, ~58-unit building. Toplines: They’re expecting to get started around the end of April. The work shouldn’t affect the alley behind nearby businesses, except when they’re getting deliveries, which they will try to schedule to avoid conflicts. Their staging area should be limited to the paid-parking lot closest to the building’s south side, steering clear of the Wells Fargo lot south of that.
4 PROJECTS UPCOMING AT DESIGN REVIEW: The Southwest Design Review Board hasn’t met this month because the city hasn’t scheduled any projects for review. Starting next week, that changes. We reported two weeks ago about the project reviews scheduled for 6058 35th SW (6:30 pm April 7th) and 1606 California SW (6:30 pm April 21st). Now a second review has been added for April 21st – at 8 pm, the board will have its third Early Design Guidance review for six-story, 84-unit 4532 42nd SW, which you might recall is the site where a big tree was cut after the last review, despite the board’s interest in seeing it remain. And a May 5th review is scheduled (6:30 pm) for a proposed 40-apartment building at 9030 35th SW in Westwood, coming back to the SWDRB eight years after its first review.
(Pets, kids, everyone welcome! WSB photo from 2015 West Seattle 5K)
Today’s sunshine is a reminder that this year’s big spring/summer events are getting closer all the time – including the eighth annual West Seattle 5K, the season-opening run/walk on Alki, coming up May 22nd. Race director Jeff Mensing sends a reminder that the early-registration-discount deadline is this Thursday night (March 31st), so if you’re thinking about taking part this year, you might as well sign up now. Not only do you get a discount – you’ll also be registered to win a pair of running shoes. Race proceeds support West Seattle High School students and staff; we’re among the race sponsors again this year. You can sign up right here, right now.
(ST3 draft-plan map section with proposed West Seattle light rail)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Today – five days after the draft Sound Transit 3 plan went public – the monthlong comment period officially begins.
That will include a community meeting at 5:30 pm April 26th at West Seattle High School, it’s just been confirmed.
And more information is being added today – fleshing out what was outlined last Thursday – to the official Sound Transit 3 website.
Of course, commenting informally started the moment the plan was circulated that afternoon.
Hours after the announcement downtown, it was a hot topic at the March meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition – though not until about two hours in – and while group members had opinions, the question of an official position wasn’t settled. (The agenda also included the Metro Long-Range Plan – more on that in the second half of this report.)
Washington State Ferries is changing concessionaires for its food and beverages, including on-board galley service. Eight firms made proposals; Connecticut-based Centerplate was chosen. WSF’s announcement says features of the new contract include:
·Consistent hours of service across the system, with additional service in the San Juan Islands.
·Creative, fresh and healthful product offerings, including local brands such as Hempler’s beef and ham, Uli’s sausage, Beecher’s cheese, and Stimson Estate Cellars wine.
·Creative concepts for using existing spaces, such as opening additional coffee and beer kiosks on the Jumbo Mark II class ferries.
·Promotions and incentives, such as commuter-reward programs.
Centerplate also provides concessions at Safeco Field and Tacoma Dome, WSF’s announcement notes. The transition from current concessionaires is expected to be completed by mid-June.
(Monday sunset, by Chris Frankovich)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
DREAM DINNERS FREEZER SALE: This is one of two times a year when you can stop by Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) and pick up pre-assembled entrees, sides, desserts, etc. Today’s day 1, 4:30-7 pm – details in our listing. DD is on the street-level eastern exterior of Jefferson Square. (4701 41st SW, Suite 110)
BILLY JOE AND THE RC’S: Live at Parliament Tavern, no cover, 7-9 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
YARN FANS, UNITE: The West Seattle Crochet and Knit Circle welcomes all, 7-9 pm at Uptown Espresso in The Junction. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)
SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE: Weekly showcase at Shadowland in The Junction, 9-11 pm. (4458 California SW)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … with a quick trip to see our complete calendar.
It’s been years since our last reader report about an owl attack. This morning, Rose e-mailed this report of what happened while she jogged along Harbor Avenue:
On my run this morning at about 5:20 am on Harbor Ave SW just a bit south of the 7-11 [map] I was attacked by an owl. It is literally that one stretch of Harbor that if you scream no one hears you!
It clawed my head and it looked like it was considering another swipe.
I run that stretch of road every day and have never seen an owl there. So I want folks to be alert that one was there this morning.
ps – it did break my skin and there was a little blood but I am okay. and I was able to finish my run.
Our archived reports include encounters on Bonair in 2010 and in 2011, and, later in 2011, in Lincoln Park. And web searches reveal more than a few reports from elsewhere in the city. The state’s “Living With Wildlife” one-sheet about owls offers explanation as well as advice.
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