West Seattle, Washington
26 Tuesday
We’ve heard from a few people wondering about two sites currently being readied for construction; here’s what we know so far:
The land west of the Arco station at 7301 Delridge Way [map] was up for lease for quite a while – and now, work is under way. City records show a permit granted one month ago for construction of a new 4,000-square-foot “retail building,” We have inquiries out to see if we can find out what sort of retail is planned, given that the existing station already includes a mini-mart; no reply yet.
Also in the earth-moving stages:
That’s 3266 SW Avalon Way [map], the second lot to the east of the 35th/Avalon 7-11 store. (Our photo was taken last week; the lot has even more heavy equipment in action now.) City records say the site is slated for a 7-unit “boarding house” building, same owner/developer as a Delridge project including boarding houses, and same one on record as in the early stages of pursuing a 14-unit boarding-house project at 3050 Avalon Way, as noted when we updated our West Seattle development map a month ago.
In a policy published last year, the city listed characteristics and requirements for boarding houses, including private bathrooms for a “high percentage” of the units, and pathways inside the building leading more to the exterior entrance/exit rather than to common areas. County records say the 3266 Avalon site previously held an 87-year-old house.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
One month after Christmas – the holiday giving isn’t over yet. This morning at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral, West Seattle Food Bank executive director Fran Yeatts and (left) board member David Weld accepted an $11,000 check from store director Glen Hasstedt (right). Yeatts says it’s from what MM customers donated over the holidays.
P.S. The food bank is inviting you to come get a firsthand look at how it works, during a community open house/tour opportunity two weeks from tonight, 5-7 pm February 7th (3419 SW Morgan).
Following up on the two Roxhill Park-area armed robberies in the past week in which the victims were reported to be local middle-schoolers: Last night, Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark shared a letter he had sent to his school community, and said one for a wider area would be forthcoming from the district. We have just obtained that one – read on:
Two incidents in this afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch report: Fawn from Kinetic Physical Therapy is looking for information related to the vandalism attack against her storefront (which also houses other wellness professionals) in the 4800 block of California SW early today: “Someone threw a large rock at the window this morning at 3:15 am, according to an upstairs tenant who heard the sound. Any information if anyone saw this would be helpful.”
Second, though SPD doesn’t include locations on its auto-theft tweets, a friend of the victim in this theft of a purple Honda tells WSB it happened in Delridge:
COLOR: PURPLEYR: 1997 MAKE: HONDA MODEL: ACCORD BODY: 4 DRLIC: 050YBLST: WA***DO NOT MAKE CONTACT CALL 911***
— Seattle Police(@getyourcarback) January 24, 2013
Let police know if you have any more information.
Finally, another recently stolen Honda has been found – the tipster in this theft three weeks ago e-mailed to say it was found last week “about 5 blocks north of where it was stolen, on SW Orchard between 12th & 16th. … The car was fine but everything in the trunk and glove box was stolen; they even took the rubber floor mats.”
When multiple reports came in two days ago of the Seattle Police Mounted Unit riding up and down SW Barton through Westwood and Fauntleroy, we noted that we usually only heard about one sighting a year, though the unit is based in West Seattle, at Westcrest Park in Highland Park. Now, just two days later, they’ve turned up on Alki Beach. Thanks to Kate Kaemerle for the photo!
Following up on the 51st/Andover dog attack reported here last night – two large dogs attacking a small one, biting it and its owner – we spoke with the Seattle Animal Shelter‘s executive director Don Jordan a little while ago, and he says he needs the community’s help to figure out whose dogs they are and where to find them. An agent’s already been back out on patrol and couldn’t find them; they’re planning to try another search, but right now, he told WSB, what would help most is ANY tip about whose dogs they might be and where/how to find them: “We need people in West Seattle to put their eyes and ears to the ground and see if we can locate these dogs.” If you have any information, contact Jordan directly – e-mail is his preference, don.jordan@seattle.gov, but you also can call him, 206-386-4286.
In the absence of our regular daily preview, here are four events happening TONIGHT that might be of interest:
WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE SIGN-UPS: If you would rather sign up in person than online, you’re welcome at the West Seattle High School library (3000 California SW) tonight, 6-8 pm – more info here.
THE WHALE TRAIL PRESENTS WHALE TALES: Orca researcher Mark Sears helps The Whale Trail kick off a winter series of speakers/events, 6:30 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW), with Seal Sitters and “Diver Laura” James from tox-ick.org on hand too – online registration is over so get there early to see if there’s room ($5 donation).
THE ART OF SOUP: Just found out from Krystal Kelley at Mind Unwind that Freshy’s proprietor and legendary soupmaker Amber is back from maternity leave and teaching the class for the first time tonight, 6:30 pm at M/U (2206 California SW), with a few spots still open! $50 includes food, wine, and recipes.
THE BIRDS, THE BEES, & KIDS: Got a kid who’s “that age” and looking for helpful advice on broaching The Subject? Amy Lang tackles the topic (how to talk to kids about love and healthy relationships, not just the s-e-x part) at Concord International School (723 S. Concord) in South Park at 6:30 tonight, presented by the Concord PTA. All welcome; Spanish translation available.
And of course there’s more on the calendar …
(From SPS administration, from left: Lucy Morello, Bob Boesche, Pegi McEvoy)
As ballots for the February 12 election, with two Seattle Public Schools levies totaling more than $1 billion, start arriving in mailboxes, a lineup of district officials came to Arbor Heights Elementary this morning to make the case to the media (turnout included four TV crews). They spoke in AH’s Room 19, in front of an old-fashioned blackboard. (Added: Unedited video of the briefing)
And there was news about Arbor Heights itself, which had been planned in the BEX IV levy to open a rebuilt school in 2018 (a year earlier than the once-tentatively planned 2019), replacing an aged, dilapidated facility with numerous problems: District officials confirmed what we heard at, and reported from, the West Seattle HS PTSA meeting last week – that SPS is taking steps to be able to move up the rebuild two years, to a 2016 completion.
More on that coming up – but first – the pitch for BEX IV and the operations levy:
(Photo courtesy Josh Sutton from the West Seattle/Fauntleroy Y)
When Mayor McGinn announced the recipients of the city’s summer-learning grants from the Families and Education Levy, multiple West Seattle recipients were on the list, and hundreds of local students will benefit. For one, the YMCA (WSB sponsor) plans a 9th-grade-transition program at Chief Sealth International High School and two other Seattle high schools. For two, Sealth’s neighbor Denny International Middle School received a grant too – principal Jeff Clark (in the photo above, second from left, with the mayor and Seattle Public Schools/Seattle Parks reps) shares details:
I am thrilled to announce that Denny International Middle School has been awarded a City of Seattle Summer Learning grant to increase the number of our scholars participating in our Westside Scholars Summer School program. Next summer, we will be able to serve 220 students entering grades 6th through 8th. The summer learning grant award of $73,363 will be focused on incoming sixth graders and will be augmented by other City of Seattle Families and Education Innovation Middle School funds to provide an exciting and rigorous program with core academics and enrichment activities during the six week program.
And North Delridge-headquartered Southwest Youth and Family Services also received a grant for a Young Writers’ Workshop in its education center. The official announcement was made Wednesday in Northgate; see the city news release here.
It’ll probably be quite a while before we forget what it was like to be UNDER all that stagnant air – but, courtesy of Long Bach Nguyen, we can see now what the inversion OVER West Seattle looked like, just before it went away earlier this week. As for the weather ahead – though we’re seeing some sunshine now, the forecast says rain will return tonight.
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
If you drive or ride on Avalon Way, remember that as reported here yesterday, the new stoplight at SW Genesee is in action. Only other traffic alert is the week’s final night of a scheduled southbound 99 closure between Battery St. Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge for SODO overpass work, 10 pm tonight till 5 am tomorrow (and then one more week of Monday through Thursday nights). Be safe!
At the Chief Sealth International High School gym Wednesday night, it was the second night for the friendly rivals from West Seattle High School to visit – this time, for girls’ basketball. Above are Sealth and WSHS’s head coaches, Katie Jo Maris and Sonya Elliott respectively. Unlike the boys-varsity game the night before, the Wildcats went home with the win this time – 51-35.
Ahead, toplines and more photos:
Lorrie wants to get the word out about a dog attack that she says a Seattle Animal Shelter officer is investigating. She says it happened around 9:30 this morning while her husband was walking their small, leashed dog:
At 51st and Andover [map], two large dogs ran up and attacked our dog. Both dog and man were bitten. … The animal control officer came to the house & documented the injury. He feels confident he will catch up to them. They have also been sighted up at Admiral. They’re really large so I would want people with small children to be wary as well.
The wounds weren’t major, she says. But they called SAS and police. No photo of the dogs, so we asked for a description: “One dog seemed to be a German shepherd/chow mix – big and furry. The other, maybe a brindle boxer/pit bull mix.” We’ll be following up with SAS tomorrow.
(WSDOT photo of the ‘noise shack’ during interchange work)
Two updates tonight on the latest state-highway projects in the West Seattle vicinity: First, for those following the I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Vicinity Special Bridge Repair project, replacing expansion joints – it is NOT scheduled for any more weekend ramp closures until the weekend of February 15-18.
One week after that, on February 25th, is the date set for work to start on the “Timber Bridge”/Spokane St. Overcrossing on Highway 99 south of the West Seattle Bridge.
(WSDOT photo)
As the project page points out, this section of highway was built as a temporary structure more than half a century ago. It will be rebuilt in two phases so that traffic can continue to get through: “Traffic will be reduced to two northbound lanes and one southbound lane between South Nevada Street and the West Seattle Bridge from Feb. 25 through June 2014,” says WSDOT.
Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark is sharing the letter sent to his school’s families, following up on the Sunday and Tuesday Roxhill Park robberies reported here earlier this afternoon, and he says the district will have a letter for more families tomorrow:
As a result of Denny International Middle School students being the victims of recent crimes in the Roxhill Park area, we are contacting all families to remind them of safety-related recommendations for walking to and from school. Recommendations include walking with other students and heading directly home.
We have contacted the Seattle Police Department and have learned that a detective has been assigned to these cases. If anyone sees any suspicious behavior on the part of anyone in our community, we encourage you to call 911. Also, as always, if any student has any problem on the way to or from school, please tell any staff member at school. Tomorrow, Seattle Public Schools central office will be sending home a letter to all families with children who attend schools in the area.
Sincerely,
Jeff Clark, Principal
Denny International Middle School
In advance of a media briefing next hour about Seattle Public Schools‘ response to concerns about the testing known as MAP (Measures of Academic Progress), and a rally by MAP opponents after that, Superintendent José Banda has just announced a testing task force. Read on for his open letter (and, ADDED 4:30 PM, another administration letter saying test-boycotting teachers face suspension):
Just got two reports that the Genesee/Avalon traffic signal is finally out of testing mode and into official operation – co-publisher Patrick spotted it (and sent the above photo), while North Delridge’s Holli Margell just tweeted about it. It’s been in testing mode for three weeks; installment work started three months ago. Metro’s Route 50 has been awaiting this light so it can travel its intended route; that, we were told earlier this month, will happen when the next service change takes effect February 16th. The new traffic signal, years in the making, is the result of neighborhood leaders seeking and finally getting a city grant for it.
1:09 PM: For the first of this afternoon’s two West Seattle Crime Watch reports, we are still working to get more details from police, 
but for starters, they confirm the robbery happened: Stacey e-mailed to say she was walking through the Westwood Village parking lot yesterday afternoon “when four 8th grade boys asked to use my phone. They were visibly shaken up and had, they said, just been robbed at gunpoint by three masked men while walking down an alley near the park across the street (Roxhill Park). The robbers each had guns and the boys gave up their phones, wallets and in one case a backpack.” That’s all we know so far; police tell us more details will be available via SPD Blotter later this afternoon, and we’ll add to this report when that information is in. We have no idea at this point if there’s any relation to the armed robbery at a 35th/Roxbury business on Monday.
3:13 PM UPDATE: The SPD report says this was one of TWO robberies targeting kids that age, in that area, in the past four days – the first one was near 27th and Cambridge last Sunday, and yesterday’s robbery is now described as having happened in Roxhill Park itself. Details here.
(back to original report) Second, a stolen truck to look for: In the Hansen View area south of The Mount, a locked work truck – white Silverado with a Charter Construction logo and the word HEROIC on the back – was reported as stolen overnight. Here’s the @getyourcarback tweet; call 911 if you see it.
Speaking of stolen cars – the blue Camry reported as stolen in our Monday night Crime Watch roundup has been found on White Center, according to this comment from Melissa, who sent the original report.
(Great blue heron photographed at Alki Point by Yuri Levchenko, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Before we get further into the day – nine notes for tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – starting with two that affect WS but are happening outside our area:
SCHOOL BOARD (ETC.): Tonight the board finalizes the Capacity Management plan for next year; before the board meeting, opponents of MAP testing plan a rally outside district HQ in SODO. That’s at 4; the board meeting’s at 4:15 – updated agenda here (including details on the transportation plan for next year, which you can see here).
REAL TALK FOR GIRLS: Young women 12-19 are welcome at 5:30 pm at Southwest Teen Life Center to talk about what’s on their minds (2801 SW Thistle).
OPPORTUNITY FUND PRESENTATIONS: The Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee (chaired by West Seattleite Pete Spalding) listens tonight to presentations by those who’ve applied for the second round of grants from the levy’s Opportunity Fund. While city staff has ranked Genesee Hill and South Park projects highest for this region, that’s just part of what the committee takes into account, and now is the time for applicants to make their case; eventually, the City Council has to give its blessing. This is the first of two events for presentations, and the closest one to West Seattle – it’s at South Shore Middle School (4800 S. Henderson; here’s a map), 6-9 pm, starting with an open house.
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: 7 pm tonight at Highland Park Improvement Club (or come early for the 6:30 pm potluck), 12th/Holden. Agenda includes talking with Seattle Parks about the possibility of more trees for Riverview Park, an update on the raingarden coming to HPIC, and a call for “ideas on what you think could improve Highland Park.” Plus – leadership nominations!
POEMS AND STORIES: The monthly poetry/storytelling night at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW), 7 pm – more info here.
BASKETBALL – WSHS @ CSIHS, NIGHT 2: Tonight, the Wildcats and Seahawks’ girls teams face off in the Chief Sealth International High School gym (2600 SW Thistle) – 5:45 JV, 7:30 pm varsity.
OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘SHIRLEY VALENTINE’: The new production at ArtsWest debuts tonight, 7:30 pm, details here.
JAZZ AT DUOS LOUNGE: The new beverage/food spot on Avalon Way in Luna Park is starting jazz music on Wednesday nights – 8 pm, the Triangular Jazztets perform.
TALARICO’S TRIVIA: New addition to our calendar – though not a new addition to the West Seattle nightlife scene! Phil Tavel e-mailed WSB to point out that he has been doing trivia at Talarico’s every Wednesday night for five years, 8:30 till 10 (or a little beyond) – says he hasn’t missed a week, even in snow! $2 person, no maximum or minimum team size, “cash prices to the top 3 teams and bottles of champagne for the bottom three teams.”
A preferred “schematic design” was revealed last night for what is now going by the working title of the “new elementary school at Genesee Hill,” rather than “the new Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill,” according to project manager Janet Donelson.
The design was shown to about 20 community members in the Schmitz Park cafeteria, exactly three weeks before the February 12th election in which Seattle voters will decide whether to approve the Seattle Public Schools BEX (Building Excellence) IV levy that will generate the property-tax dollars for this $38 million project and others around the city.
As Donelson explained at the start of the meeting, the district provided some advance money to get the design work under way – since getting a new school open by fall 2015 would be impossible if they waited till after the election to start; a community advisory team has been working since last fall.
Ahead, four more views from last night’s presentation led by BLRB Architects, and what happens next:
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Normal never looked so good. Everybody raise their hands if they’d had enough of the fog. (But don’t raise them if you’re driving! Don’t read this if you’re driving, either.) Once again, we’re on the move for the day. Besides the various projects under way around town, a traffic-alert again tonight: Southbound 99 closed again from Battery St. Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, 10 pm-5 am, for SODO overpass work.
The friendly cross-peninsula rivalry between our area’s two major public high schools is back on the court this week. Above, boys-basketball head coaches Keffrey Fazio of West Seattle HS and Colin Slingsby of Chief Sealth International HS, as their teams faced off Tuesday night in the Sealth gym, where the girls play tonight. In the boys-varsity game, the Seahawks topped the Wildcats 66-54, but it was closer than that much of the way:
Game toplines and more photos ahead:
The campaign announced back in September to push for electing City Council members by district filed its charter-amendment petition with the city today, report our partners at The Seattle Times. Right now, for example, there’s one West Seattle resident on the City Council, Tom Rasmussen, but he, like his eight council colleagues, was elected to represent the entire city. The Seattle Districts Now proposal draws boundaries for 7 council districts (here’s the map; note that West Seattle would be District #1); read the full text here. So what would it take to pass this? All explained here.
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