West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
Forecast looks good for Saturday, when you’ll find the ninth annual Morgan Junction Community Festival at and around California/Fauntleroy/Morgan, 10 am-7 pm. We’ve already highlighted the Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests, starting at 2 pm, and the food, including local restaurants’ Bite of Morgan samples and visiting food trucks. Today, the entertainment schedule for the heart of the festival at Morgan Junction Park:
The festival is presented by the all-volunteer Morgan Community Association, and we’re proud to be among the co-sponsors (all shown here) again this year.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:20 AM: We start with a problem that we’re told has the 1st Avenue South offramp from the bridge closed currently – Seattle Fire is investigating a reported natural-gas leak. Spokane Street is closed on the surface in the area, too:
Natural gas line leak 55 S Spokane St. Building evacuated. S Spokane St closed between 1st Av to E 'Marginal Wy.
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) June 17, 2014
One of WSDOT’s cameras shows the offramp blocked on the westbound side of the bridge:
Our IRT is helping block the ramp from WB West Seattle Bridge to 1st Ave. due to possible gas leak. pic.twitter.com/IbHtJvOCqu
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) June 17, 2014
6:42 AM: We have now confirmed the 1st Avenue South offramps are closed from BOTH sides of the bridge – eastbound AND westbound.
6:51 AM: WSDOT reports the westbound offramp has reopened. Eastbound ramp to 1st S. still closed.
7:29 AM: SFD says the eastbound ramp is reopening.
Meantime:
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: ICYMI, the tunnel-machine repair plan, animation and all, is now public. And there’s another Sound Transit survey to take!
P.S. Looking for the travel times you see on the city’s lighted signboards? They’re also on the right side of the SDOT Travelers’ Information Map, always findable from the link atop the WSB Traffic page.
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5:12 PM: There’s a crash/police situation at the north end of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, right before East Marginal, and a big backup reported on 509 as a result. They’re calling for tows.
(Click image for larger view)
What you see above is a major step in volunteers’ quest to get a better playground for Pathfinder K-8 and its Pigeon Point neighbors (along with anyone else in West Seattle who’ll want to come play there): The design by Johnson Southerland debuted at a meeting Monday night. It’s the result of a community-participatory process, and dozens of people were there to get a look:
The meeting also was an ice-cream social, popular with the youngest participants as well as the parent volunteers.
Next step for the playground committee and its helpers – fundraising to get the playground built!
It could cost up to $100,000; grant money (beyond what was obtained to make the design happen) is being sought to cover at least part of that, with more fundraising details to come. It’s hoped that ground can be broken next year. Watch pathfinderplayground14.wordpress.com for more on the design and the project!
Thanks to Craig Young for the sunset view looking across Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza! It was the fifth-to-last sunset of Spring 2014, with summer due to arrive at 3:51 am our time Saturday (June 21st).
P.S. Yes, Alice Enevoldsen WILL as usual preside over a Solstice Park viewing event for the first post-solstice sunset – she advises arriving by 8:45 pm Saturday.
From David Hutchinson on behalf of Seal Sitters, a photo and update following this past Saturday’s community cleanup at Alki:
Saturday was a great success. This year’s event was co-sponsored by PAWS Wildlife Center and the Alki Community Council. Over 70 people turned out, and after a brief talk about the dangers of marine debris, they fanned out along the beach and street. Cleaning supplies were provided by Seattle Parks & Recreation. We want to thank everyone who participated in this worthwhile community effort.
For the complete story and to see what looks like trash, but is indeed part of the marine ecosystem, read our blog post here.
7:49 PM: Since this might not be a time of day when you usually check out regional news outlets, we’re mentioning this too: I-5 southbound is closed at the Ship Canal Bridge because of a law-enforcement investigation. Vehicles that were on the bridge at the time are being turned around and cleared off, and radio discussion indicates it’ll be closed for quite a while. So if you are headed this way from north of downtown, make your way to 99, or else way over to 405 and 90. The investigation involves an incident reported to have started as a vehicle fire on that bridge and turned into a state trooper shooting a man – details are still emerging.
8:01 PM: WSDOT has opened the southbound I-5 express lanes to help with the traffic backlog.
10:07 PM: State Patrol tweeted a few minutes ago that the closure isn’t ending any time soon:
The incident on the Ship Canal covers all lanes and is very extensive. Expect the road to remain closed for several more hours.
— Trooper Chris Webb (@wspd2pio) June 17, 2014
11:48 PM: That turned out not to be the case. Just reopened:
South bound I-5 at the Ship Canal bridge has reopened for normal traffic following the earlier investigation.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 17, 2014
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports. First one’s from Johnali:
Our Bob Revolution jogging stroller (black), was stolen from our secured building between 6:30 pm last night and 7:30am this morning. We live on Delridge and Trenton. Anything would be helpful as we are still hopeful we will find it.
Let police know if you do. Second, Lynn‘s hoping to find the hit-run driver who damaged her car and another one just south of The Junction:
The 2 cars that were hit were parked 1/2 block north of Rite Aid, near a telephone and across the street from a large apartment building construction site (west side of California Avenue, SW). My car is a 2013 gray 4 door Nissan Altima. I do not know the make of the other car that was hit, but its owner told me that her left-side mirror was bent backwards and was missing most of the mirror glass. I didn’t find any paint from the car that hit mine. However, I did find a side mirror on the ground near my car that may have been from the car that hit mine. It appears from the damage my car sustained that the offending car came from the north, which would mean that their car would be missing their right side mirror. I’ve kept the side mirror, just in case.
Third, Kezia wondered if anybody else woke up Sunday morning in the Westwood area to find out their car had been vandalized – a crude drawing in black paint on a white car, in her case.
REMINDER: Bring community concerns to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s meeting at Lincoln Park Shelter 1 tomorrow (Tuesday) night, 7 pm, map here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the second time this year, an “unlawful detainer” action is pending against the ownership of West Seattle Athletic Club in North Delridge. That’s the formal term for a legal action that could result in eviction. As reported here in February, the first case was called off on the eve of a court hearing, and the lawyer for the club’s landlord, H-P Properties, told WSB at the time, that was because club ownership “came up with a payment sufficient to reinstate the lease.”
Documents available online showed that case was formally closed in early April. But court records show that a new “unlawful detainer” action was filed one month later, on May 2nd.
Just last week at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s monthly meeting (WSB coverage here), top WSDOT executives answered a few questions about the stalled tunnel machine and its pending repairs. Today, the contractor, Seattle Tunnel Partners, is out with its official repair plan, and animation (above) showing what’ll happen during its phases. According to the timeline toward the end of the plan, they’re still expecting to resume tunneling in late March of next year.
Big stack of development notes/updates, all involving teardowns large and small:
First, the city has officially given a key land-use approval to The Whittaker, the 7-story, 389-apartment, 594-parking-space, Whole Foods-including project at 4755 Fauntleroy SW. It’s received a Determination of Non-Significance, meaning a full environmental review will not be required. Here’s the notice; here’s the decision. This is appealable until June 26th (this explains how). A project spokesperson tells WSB that they hope to start work at the site (which still holds five buildings, all to be demolished) this summer.
Next: The second Southwest Design Review Board meeting for 2626 Alki SW is on the schedule for July 17th (6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle). This is a three-story commercial/residential building planned for the corner of Alki and 59th, replacing three buildings that currently include a rental company, a retail store, a café, and a dispensary. The date is technically still temporary, so it has not yet appeared on the Land Use Information Bulletin. Here’s our coverage of its first Early Design Guidance meeting in February, when the board told it to give EDG another try.
Nor is a new lot-boundary-adjustment application we noticed in city files. The line adjustments proposed for 8437 41st SW in Upper Fauntleroy would make way for what are shown on a filed “site plan” as two houses, replacing the existing brick house on an 11,000-plus-square-foot site that was sold to a developer last month.
A one-into-two subdivision is being sought at 3036 Alki SW, turning one into two (2,663 and 4,049 square feet), with four townhouses and one single-family home proposed to replace what’s on the site now.
And one was recently approved at 1310 California SW, adjacent to Hamilton Viewpoint Park, splitting an 11,000-square-foot lot into two almost-equal-size parcels also bordering Donald and Palm. This review carried some controversy, according to the full decision document, saying that a surveyor determined the site to be about 50 percent larger than it was believed to be, which paved the way for the split. Two new houses are proposed, replacing a 79-year-old house; the appeal period on the lot split is open for one more week.
OTHER DEMOLITION/NEW-CONSTRUCTION PLANS: In Admiral, a demolition permit has been granted for 2600 45th SW, a 108-year-old duplex (County Assessor’s photo above) to be replaced by a two-unit townhouse (following a recent lot-boundary adjustment). … In Gatewood, one has been sought for 7931 California SW, a 64-year-old house slated to be replaced by a new single-family house. … And in Westwood/Roxhill, there’s one pending for 9411 35th SW, where an 89-year-old house is proposed for replacement by a three-unit townhouse … On Pigeon Point, 3816 22nd SW is proposed for demolition and replacement by a single-family house and a two-unit townhouse; we note that a separate application for 3806 22nd SW (no teardown, though) proposes four single-family houses nearby.
Wondering if anything’s planned near your home/townhouse/apartment/business/etc.? Browse the map on the DPD home page – and if you see something, follow the link to find out more. Caveat – we’ve noticed this map shows some idle/canceled years-old proposals as well as new and recent plans, though.
Thanks to Chris at West Side Music Academy on the north end of The Junction for sharing a photo of the new art on their wall at 42nd and Dakota:
I thought people might get a kick out of this mural that local artist Andrew Miller painted for us last week. Note the “WS Junction Loves You” on the right side… Andrew does this in all his WS murals.
If anyone is still looking for summer activities for their kids, we still have room in some of our music camps and rock band classes.
WSMA is at 42nd/Dakota.
Thanks to Minette Layne for sharing the photo of an East Pacific red octopus – Octopus rubescens – seen in the intertidal zone, near Lincoln Park, over the weekend, only about 3″ long. Low tide tops our quick list of what’s up today/tonight:
TIDE’S STILL LOW: -2.4 feet at 1:59 pm, per the chart.
FIRST WORLD CUP MATCH FOR U.S. TEAM: 3 pm our time, it’s the U.S. vs. Ghana. Local venues reported to be showing all games include The Bridge, West Seattle Brewing, OutWest Bar, Celtic Swell, Skylark. Who else? Comment, or e-mail us!
PATHFINDER PLAYGROUND DESIGN: As previewed here over the weekend, tonight’s the night you can be among the first to see the design for a new playground at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point. Ice-cream social, too! 5:30 pm. (1901 SW Genesee)
TRAVELING? The annual “sidewalk sale” continues at the West Seattle AAA HQ (WSB sponsor) in Jefferson Square: Travel books, luggage (up to 50% discount), AAA car accessories.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to the second half of June! A few notes as the day begins:
FERRIES ON SUMMER SCHEDULE: The Washington State Ferries summer schedule started Sunday; doublecheck your ferry schedule here.
ADMIRAL WAY BRIDGE WORK SCHEDULED TO START: For most of the next two weeks, repair work on the bridge over Fairmount Ravine will close a lane on Admiral Way above, as warned here.
7:12 PM NOTE: For anyone stuck in a backup north of downtown and wondering what’s up – all lanes of southbound I-5 are closed at the Ship Canal Bridge because of an investigation that is reported to be related to a shooting involving a State Patrol trooper. No other details but citywide media is getting onto this – just wanted to make note of it here.
Looking at the week ahead – two early reminders:
ADMIRAL WAY BRIDGE WORK STARTS TOMORROW: As noted here last week, SDOT says it’ll be closing the outside westbound lane of the Admiral Way Bridge 9 am-3 pm daily for about two weeks starting tomorrow.
NORTHBOUND 99 CLOSURE NEXT WEEKEND, FOR TWO REASONS: Remember last weekend’s southbound 99 closure? Next weekend – from late Friday night 6/20 until early Monday morning 6/23 – the northbound direction will be closed. Same reason – WSDOT is re-aligning the roadway west of the stadiums, as explained here. This will coincide on Saturday 6/21 with northbound 99 use – and other roads – for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon (which has many other road closures – see the full list here).
P.S. We include road-work alerts in the daily “Traffic/Transit Today” update you’ll find atop the WSB home page every weekday morning. (Sometimes there’s unannounced work, and we appreciate your tips when you spot it!)
Above, that’s the trailer for “Momenta,” which you can see for free ($3 donation suggested but not mandatory) at West Seattle’s historic Admiral Theater this Wednesday night (June 18th). “Momenta” focuses on the Pacific Northwest spur of the coal-train controversy, featuring advocates opposing Montana and Wyoming coal mining that would result in billions of tons of coal being exported to Asia through Northwest ports, with pollution concerns along the rail-transport routes as well as once the coal is burned to generate power. This particular advocacy campaign is on behalf of the outdoor- and winter-sports communities, including Protect Our Winters. A panel discussion will follow the screening on Wednesday, which is at 8:40 pm (the film runs 42 minutes); this is part of an eight-city tour for “Momenta.”
Right about now, the second and final day of the first-ever West Seattle Cup is wrapping up. Thanks to Steph for sharing this photo, which she captioned: “Seattle Sounder Zach Scott with superfan Zach Arthur. A tale of two Zachs.” He also visited the WS Cup on Saturday, as did Micheal Azira (seen in our Saturday story). If you have a photo to share from this weekend’s event – a celebration of soccer and community – we’d love to include it: editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks! Just as we finished writing this, we note that organizer Terry Kegel posted the “final score” on Facebook:
485 conversations for understanding and 453 goals scored together! A huge thank you to all the players, families, captains, volunteers and sponsors who made this amazing and memorable weekend possible!
(WSB file photo)
Next major summer festival in West Seattle is just six days away – the 9th annual Morgan Junction Community Festival, with activities, performances, booths, and mobile vendors spread around the California/Fauntleroy intersection. It’s organized and presented by the Morgan Community Association, an all-volunteer community council, with sponsors including WSB. We’ve already shared previews including the schedule for the Bark of Morgan dog parade and contests; now, MoCA’s Cindi Barker has shared the lineup for festival food, including the Bite of Morgan:
Bite of Morgan Participants – free small samples provided by our fabulous
Morgan Junction restaurants (11:30 am until supplies run out):* Caffé Ladro (mini scones)
* Domino’s Pizza (8 piece Parmesan bread bits)
* The Bridge (chocolate-covered strawberries)
* Harry’s Chicken Joint (chicken skewer)
* Little Prague (Hungarian goulash)
* Abbondanza (gnocchi)
* Feedback Lounge (flatbread Bahn Mi sandwich)
* Zeeks Pizza (pizza slice)
* Pet Elements (pet treat)West Seattle Thriftway special promotion for the festival
Thriftway will be holding a fundraiser BBQ for the festival! This is much appreciated and is essential to our fundraising. This year they will be cooking “Aloha Burgers” and the suggested donation of $7 will also get you a bag of chips and a drink. Best deal around!
Food Trucks
(AMNO & CO in regional competition, sped up 2.8x)
For the third year in a row, we’ve received an update from AMNO & CO, the local trio that competes in underwater robotics, and again this year, they’ve made it to the international level! Team member Alex Miller shares this update as he and his teammates get ready to head to this year’s competition in Michigan:
Last month, the local Seattle team AMNO & CO qualified to compete in the international level of the MATE ROV competition by winning the Pacific Northwest Regional. (For more information on the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center’s Remotely Operated Vehicle competition [go here].)
The MATE competition has teams build robots that can accomplish specified underwater tasks. For the team members – Alex Miller, Nicholas Orndorff, and Clara Orndorff – this will be the third consecutive time they have qualified.
At the end of June, the team will travel to Alpena, Michigan, where this year’s tasks revolve around the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which is home to many shallow-water shipwrecks. Not only must teams design and build high-performance vehicles; they also must create posters, write technical reports, and give engineering presentations about the design of their vehicle.
From this week’s June meeting of the 34th District Democrats, our video of the guest speakers on three much-discussed topics – income inequality, background checks for gun purchases, and the recent adoption of Singapore Math for the entire Seattle Public Schools district. The three clips, and our toplines from the discussions, are after the jump:
(Log House Museum’s totem pole, by Danny McMillin, shared via WSB Flickr group)>
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE CUP: “Final score” for Day 1, as published on the WSC Facebook page – 359 “conversations for understanding,” 226 “goals scored together.” Go see for yourself on Day 2 of this one-of-a-kind soccer-and-community event – bring Dad! – 8:45 am-6:15 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield. (31st/32nd/34th/Myrtle)
FRIENDS OF LINCOLN PARK … would welcome your help removing invasive growth that keeps trying to choke this West Seattle jewel, 9-noon – full details in our calendar listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Last week, we noticed lots of strawberries and lettuce, and still, plenty of plants. Go explore and see what you discover this week. 10 am-2 pm. (44th/Alaska)
FATHER’S DAY FOOD: Dine in West Seattle today, where you’ll find offerings like the Duos Lounge barbecue (see the menu here), 11 am-4 pm. And steps away, also in Luna Park …
BRING DAD TO SEE GLASS-ART-MAKING: 11 am-5 pm, you’re welcome to come in and watch glass-blowers at work in the studio at Avalon Glassworks in Luna Park – more info in our listing. (2914 SW Avalon Way)
SEE THE TOTEM POLE, AND THE EXHIBIT, AND … Lots to see and do at the Log House Museum, including checking out the newly restored and installed Admiral Way totem pole (photo above). It’s open noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Tony reminds us of the 8U Hardball Classic at the Pee Wee Fields; he says games start 11:30 this morning, and: “Also there are three west Seattle teams in the top 8 out of 19 teams. The WestSide Riverdogs are the top seed.” (12th/Myrtle)
KITTY HARBOR, DAY 2: The cat/kitten adoption/shelter facility by the West Seattle Bridge is open for its summer season, with more cats awaiting you today. Noon-5 pm. (3422 Harbor Ave. SW)
TOUR ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Third weekend of the season for free tours with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at Alki Point Lighthouse, 1-4 pm. (3200 Point Place)
LOW-LOW TIDE, AND STARFISH REMINDER: At 1:11 pm, it’s a -3.0 tide, not quite as low as Saturday, but almost. Naturalists are out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 11 am-3:30 pm. And please be on the lookout for starfish – here’s why.
BINGO BENEFIT: This time around, “Booze, Balls, and Bingo” drag bingo at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is raising money for Bailey-Boushay House. More info in our calendar listing; 5:30 pm. (6451 California SW)
YES, THERE’S MORE … on our calendar.
It was cap, gown, and umbrella time, with showers arriving for the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2014 commencement at Southwest Athletic Complex tonight. 268 graduating seniors, according to the program:
Since the spectator area at SWAC has an overhang, families and friends could cheer and wave signs without getting rained on:
Featured student speakers were Alison Nichols (below) and Miguel Castillo:
This was the first Sealth graduation for principal Aida Fraser-Hammer, who’s been running the school since last summer – she is second from left below, with (L to R) executive director of schools Israel Vela, school-board rep Marty McLaren, and district superintendent José Banda:
Chief Sealth Band musicians who played during the ceremony also entertained those on hand just before it – that’s Spencer Duncan singing, and Marcus Pimpleton directing:
ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: The entire opening procession, with faculty and then graduates:
Congratulations to all!
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)
Commencements always mean a lot to principals – but this afternoon’s graduation ceremony for the West Seattle High School Class of 2014 had extra meaning for principal Ruth Medsker, who pointed out that they arrived at WSHS in fall of 2010, just as she had. She is second from left in the next photo, with (L-R) assistant principal Mike Kelly, West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren, WS executive director of schools Israel Vela, and assistant principal Michelle Peterson:
The program lists 192 graduates.
(Photo by Greg Slader)
Hundreds of proud relatives and friends were there to cheer them on:
Giving the valediction, Megan Antalan, class president and one of 25 National Honor Society-member grads this year:
ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: Our video of the procession with all the grads walking in:
Congratulations to all!
8:51 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a major “fire in building” response to Stewart Manor, the 72-unit Seattle Housing Authority apartment building at 34th and Morgan (map). It’s been described on the scanner as a “room fire.” This will affect traffic traveling Morgan/Sylvan east of 35th.
9:01 PM: Firefighters have reported over the radio that the smoke appears limited to the fifth floor and it does not appear to be a major fire – they’ve just declared it “tapped”, originating in the kitchen, and are working on ventilation; no injuries reported.
9:11 PM: Many of the units are being dismissed; firefighters are monitoring air inside the building to be sure it’s safe for residents to go back to unaffected apartments.
9:29 PM: Our crew was told at the scene that no one was home in the unit where the fire started on a stove. That unit probably won’t be inhabitable tonight but other residents should be let back in the building soon.
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