Quick update: 1 more Design Review meeting for Conner project
Tonight’s Design Review meeting for the Conner Homes (owner Charlie Conner, photo left) project at California/42nd/Alaska won’t be the last. After a somewhat rushed meeting — High Point Library had to close at 8 pm, no matter what — board members agreed the project wasn’t quite ready for final design-review approval. Board chair David Foster told WSB afterward that they’ll work with city planners to see if that last meeting can be scheduled sooner rather than later – perhaps in three weeks (which would be Thursday, April 2nd). More details later on the concerns, and kudos, expressed for the project, what board members want to see in that next review, and what else happens now. (Monday morning note: Full article will be published separately no later than noon this afternoon.)
West Seattle Crime Watch: Storage unit, cars broken into
Two break-in reports this afternoon. First, from longtime WSBer Pelicans:
Got a call yesterday afternoon from Public Storage on Avalon. My unit and at least about 29 others were broken into overnight on Tuesday/Wednesday. From the info I received, the theives got into the building by breaking through an outside door and into a stairwell. The went up the 4th floor and started jimmy-ing storage unit doors. In many of them, including mine, nothing was taken. The police told the managers it was as if they were looking for something. There were boxes labeled ‘clothes’, so that was probably not what they wanted.
We are checking with police on that one; Pelicans says the culprits were reportedly caught on camera. Meantime, a note from the south end of Beach Drive:
My cars were broken into last night. Unusual for my location. I live on Beach Drive SW, north of Lincoln Park. Nothing valuable stolen (except my treasured flashlight)
ADDED 6:03 PM: Thanks to the WSBers who let us know about police activity in Seaview this afternoon, around 45th and Raymond (map). It cleared out before we got there to check it out but this evening police say it was a reported residential burglary – nobody in custody so far.
ADDED 6:12 PM: And word of more car break-ins – this report from Gary Dawson in Fauntleroy:
Someone got into two different cars of two different addresses on SW Henderson between Fauntleroy Way SW and 45th Ave SW last night. Classic homeowner mistake, neither had locked the car doors. Two cars that we know of so far. We are talking to the neighbors. A Garmin portable GPS was taken from one of the cars, which is parked in a driveway next to the house with a very bright motion activated light over it. Nothing taken from the other as far as is known. Reported to SPD.
Status check: Idled West Seattle Whole Foods project
Some who closely watch the Fauntleroy/Alaska/39th site that has become better known as “Hole-In-The-Ground Foods” have pointed out that more of the idled construction equipment has moved off the site in recent days and weeks. So we launched a new round of checks, a month and a half since it was revealed the Fauntleroy Place site is being sold. First – we went to the Ledcor Construction site office across the street.
They’re still open (though prominently posted as “not hiring”), they describe the project as “on hold,” and they say the equipment was moved to another job site where they needed it. Next – a check with Seattle Capital, which spoke with WSB for our late January report; no callback yet – the main contact is out of town. After that – a check with BlueStar, the original developer. Eric Radovich says they cannot comment on where things stand now, but they are still hopeful they will be chosen to continue with the project under its new ownership – and he reiterates that their other two West Seattle projects, Spring Hill (5020 California) and Gateway Center (the optioned Huling Buick site immediately across from Fauntleroy Place), are up in the air depending on what happens with Fauntleroy Place. We also contacted Whole Foods‘ regional spokesperson Vicki Foley, who replied with this:
I contacted our Regional Construction Project Manager and he said that although we know that the ownership of the project is most likely changing, Whole Foods Market has a fully executed lease with benchmark dates that we are expecting the LLC to honor regardless of ownership.
That would be Fauntleroy Place LLC, still in county records as the official owner of the site, whose current “governing persons” are listed in online state records as Seattle Capital and BAJ Capital (owned by Christopher NeVan but dissolved earlier this month, per state corporation records).
Fauntleroy Way repaving: Stretching further than 1st reported
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Perusing bid notices in the Daily Journal of Commerce, we happened onto the advertisement for bids on the Fauntleroy Way repaving project, published last week. It’s been described all along as stretching from SW Alaska to California Avenue SW, provided full funding for that stretch could be found – but now it looks like they’re bidding for work to continue several blocks south/west of California SW – here’s an excerpt:
PROJECT LOCATION: Fauntleroy Way SW – SW Alaska St to SW Holly St
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Work includes concrete panel replacement, pavement removal, pavement base repair, asphalt planing, HMA resurfacing, drainage improvements, striping, traffic loops and other miscellaneous work
This project includes an Additive Alternate Bid as follows:
Work on Fauntleroy Way SW south of the California Avenue SW intersection which includes concrete panel replacement, pavement removal, pavement base repair, asphalt planing, HMA resurfacing, drainage improvements, striping, traffic loops and other miscellaneous work.
ESTIMATE: The Engineer’s Estimate for this Project is $3,900,000 to $4,700,000.
Again, the full bid advertisement can be seen here. We have a message in to SDOT to ask about the added stretch, including whether any rechannelization is to be done in that section; most recent estimate for the start of work was May. ADDED 3:43 PM: Here’s the response from Rick Sheridan at SDOT; our question was as follows: Does this mean they did secure funding for the entire Alaska-California stretch (which was not a sure bet a while back), and if it stretches to Holly, is any reconfiguration planned for those added blocks?:
SDOT fully expects to pave Fauntleroy Way SW from SW Alaska Street to California Avenue SW. If the bids are favorable, we may be able to further improve the road by exercising an option to pave between California Avenue SW and SW Holly Street. Fauntleroy from California Avenue SW to SW Holly Street features one lane in each direction and a center turn lane, and no changes are planned from its current configuration.
Also happening tonight: Parks Board in West Seattle, and more
In addition to the Conner project Design Review meeting, lots of notable events tonight. They’re all on the Events calendar — where you’ll find the full list — but here’s an extra shoutout for a few more:
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: The map/info link will be in the sidebar at right till the event’s over tonight, but if you missed it: 6-9 pm tonight, 40 venues all over West Seattle, and many offer treats and special deals for Art Walk-night visitors and shoppers. Artists highlighted here; printable venue map here.
PARKS BOARD IN WEST SEATTLE: The regular twice-monthly meeting of the Seattle Parks Board (whose chair and co-chair are both West Seattleites) is coming here tonight: West Seattle Golf Course clubhouse, 7 pm. The agenda includes two items of WS-specific interest — the city’s Golf Master Plan and the Seacrest dock renovations for the Elliott Bay Water Taxi (which starts its season April 5). Briefing papers are all linked from the Parks Board page.
SNAP AT WEST SEATTLE LIBRARY: Find out how to make sure your family and neighborhood are ready for anything. Seattle Neighbors Actively Prepare has a free how-to at West Seattle Library (Admiral) at 6:30 tonight.
GENEALOGY AT SOUTHWEST LIBRARY: A genealogy librarian is coming to Southwest Library at 5:30 tonight to show you how to use the Internet to find out more about your family history. It’s free but you have to call to register; number, and more info, all here.
HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY MEETING: 6 pm at Elizabeth House, 3201 SW Graham. The theme: “Doing more with less impact on the environment,” according to HPNA president Andrew Mead‘s meeting announcement on the HPNA site.
CHIEF SEALTH HIGH SCHOOL MULTICULTURAL NIGHT: Food, performances, silent auction, and more, all presented by the CSHS PTSA, 6 pm.
A signature quilt, and a memorable evening
That one-of-a-kind quilt is hanging near the door of the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church – but it’s in the market for a new owner. Your WSB co-publishers got the story behind it Wednesday night while talking to Little Pilgrim School director Lorrie Cook after our guest appearance in the church’s “Re-creating Community in Our Day” series:
Thanks to Kevin McClintic for the photo, and thanks to everybody who came out to share in the chat, and to Rev. David Kratz and his church for inviting us; next Wednesday at 7 pm, Diane Shiner speaks on “The Interplay of Environment and Community.” Now back to that quilt: School parent Krista Withers designed and crafted it, and it has a square for each student in Little Pilgrim School, designed in consultation with the students – each one met with her to choose fabric, designate an animal, and apply their “signature.” It’s in the tradition of signature/friendship quilts dating as far back as the Civil War, created as raffle items to raise money for soldiers — now, it’s being raffled to raise money for the school, and the raffle happens May 3rd at the Little Pilgrim Spring Parent Workshop. Tickets are just $1 each, six for $5, and if you don’t have friends/family at the school from whom you can buy ’em, contact Lorrie Cook at lorrie@fauntleroyucc.org or 932-5600.
34th District Democrats endorse Constantine, bridge name
From Wednesday night’s 34th District Democrats meeting, Bill Schrier sent that photo with word that West Seattle’s largest political organization “overwhelmingly endorsed” King County Council Chair Dow Constantine in his run for King County Executive (which is now officially a nonpartisan position), and contributed $3,434.34 to his campaign. Earlier in his political career, Constantine served as 34th District State Senator and Representative. We interviewed him the day he announced his Executive candidacy (see the story here); we have since interviewed his major opponent (so far), County Councilmember Larry Phillips, and plan to publish that story later today. P.S. from tonight’s 34th DDs’ meeting: They also heard from two other West Seattleites who you’ll see on the ballot this fall, City Council candidates David Ginsberg and Dorsol Plants. And the group endorsed a resolution to rename the West Seattle Bridge in honor of former City Councilmember Jeanette Williams (we first told you about the naming campaign back in January).
Date set for Alki Point sidewalk work to start: Next Monday
(WSB photo from February 13 SDOT-led tour of Alki Point sidewalk-project site)
We broke the news last Thursday that the Alki Point sidewalk/traffic-calming project would definitely start this month. Now SDOT has just sent word that Monday, March 16, is the official start date. As the city’s project page notes, no-parking signs will be in place as needed with minimum three days’ notice, so if they’re not up already, area residents should be on the lookout. As shown on the final plans (see them here) and discussed during the SDOT-led tour we covered a month ago, the city is routing the sidewalk completion along Alki Ave between 65th SW and Beach Drive so that most of the existing residential parking will remain; raised crosswalks will be installed at both ends of the project, as well as other “traffic calming” measures at 63rd/Alki to maximize the number of vehicles that head southbound on 63rd from northbound Alki – especially important since the sidewalk addition will narrow the non-arterial westernmost stretch of Alki Ave.
Sound Transit drops proposal to cancel West Seattle 560 service
Last night at the Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, board members expressed concern about the possibility Sound Transit might be dropping the West Seattle leg of its Route 560 bus service (as discussed in a recent WS open house). Even before we could write our wrapup of last night’s meeting, we got word from FCA president Bruce Butterfield of a new development – and Bruce Gray from Sound Transit just confirmed it to WSB:
The idea of removing all West Seattle service from the 560 route is off the table.
During the course of our usual public outreach process that’s been going on since early January we’ve heard loud and clear that there are many in the area who value this route and its service to/from West Seattle.
Right now we’re taking a close look at which times this route has the highest use. Eliminating some of the runs with very low ridership could be an option we would recommend to our Board. None of these would be during rush-hour trips.
We encourage riders to contact us at fastride@soundtransit.org or 866-940-4387 to let us know their thoughts about proposed changes to the 560. We will also host a public hearing in the Sound Transit Board room on Thursday, April 2, at noon to hear feedback on proposed service changes. The full Board is expected to take up the matter at their April 23 meeting.
Gray encourages everyone interested in Sound Transit to take an online survey about the 560 and other proposed service changes ST has been considering – find that survey here.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Recognize this loot? Call police
Just in from Detective Brian Ballew at the Southwest Precinct: “Could you please post the attached photos … and see if anyone recognizes the property. The items were recovered during a burglary investigation in the West Seattle area.” Here are the photos:
If you have any idea whose these are/where they are from, please call Detective Ballew at 206-233-7836.
Congratulations to Elliott Bay Brewery: “Business of the Year”
Patti Mullen of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce tells us it’s OK to share the just-revealed news that Elliott Bay Brewery has been chosen the Chamber’s Business of the Year – so, congratulations, EBB! The award will be presented at a special breakfast event at Salty’s on Alki at 7:30 am April 8th, at which time Robinson Newspapers founder Jerry Robinson also will be honored with the Chamber’s Community Service Award. For tickets , contact the Chamber – 932-5685 (and wschamber.com) – and be sure to look out for copies of the shiny new Chamber-published West Seattle Community Resource Guide!
West Seattle Crime Watch: Cars targeted, again
As was reiterated again last night by Lt. Steve Paulsen in the crime update at the JuNO meeting (WSB report here), car-related crime is one of the worst West Seattle problems at the moment, even with crime down overall. That photo came from Scott, who says:
This morning I woke up to discover that thieves had stolen the front of my Honda Civic. I live on 37th between Dakota and Andover [map] and the car was parked in the alley behind our house. They took the hood, lights, front bumper and the front side panels. They also broke a small triangular window towards the back of the car for some reason. It didn’t seem like got inside the car, there was nothing in there to take. Whoever did this knew what they were doing – other than the window there wasn’t any other damage.
We also have a short note from yesterday regarding a window-smash situation – this report was from Michale, who saw it while driving by:
I just wanted to report a car break=in (Tuesday) morning on the corner of 40th Ave SW and Holly [map]. I live just a block away and on my way to work, I noticed a car with a smashed-out window and glass all over the street. From what I could tell, the thieves only hit the one vehicle. This is the first time I have seen a smash and grab in the neighborhood. I would like to just put the word out there for people in the area to be on the lookout.
West Seattle scene: “Lion King” roars out of town – from here
Thanks to Anne at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) for e-mailing to ask “what’s up with all those cars and car carriers?” at the vacant ex-Huling lot south of the 76 station. We went over to check it out and here’s the deal: The traveling cast and crew of “The Lion King” are about to move on to their next stop, and they needed a place to rendezvous, so the vehicles that the cast and crew have been driving can be transported to the next stop (Michigan, they said). Why here? “Big empty lots are hard to come by!” was the reply.
West Seattle woman with aid/peace delegation in Gaza
If you follow what’s happening in the Middle East, you may have heard about an international aid delegation, sponsored by the women’s peace group Code Pink, that made it into Gaza from a long-closed Egyptian border crossing. Turns out a West Seattle woman is with the group. Dr. 
Amal Sedky Winter‘s daughter, Miriam Yovetich, e-mailed to share her mother’s story. In e-mail to family and friends, Dr. Winter described the delegation as “almost 60 women with sleeping bags and tents” as they camped out hoping the border crossing would open so they could fulfill an invitation from the United Nations Refugee Agency to be in Gaza for International Women’s Day last weekend. (Her e-mail can be read in its entirety on this website.) Dr. Winter is an Egyptian-born psychologist who has been in the U.S. since her teen years, and has long advocated on behalf of Arab women’s rights. The delegation’s visit is scheduled to end today, according to this story about a B.C. woman who also is with the group. Dr. Winter’s daughter also tells us her mother has been developing this website to share information about Egypt.
Junction crime update, including latest on Steve Bushaw murder
(2/1/09 photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)
An update on the unsolved murder of Steve Bushaw was part of what the Junction Neighborhood Organization heard during tonight’s lightly attended meeting – the many who have voiced concern about recent Junction crime, but didn’t attend the meeting, missed a chance for candid Q/A with the #2 boss from the Southwest Precinct, Lt. Steve Paulsen. One big question came from JuNO president Erica Karlovits: What if anything could he say about the Bushaw case, 5 1/2 weeks after the 26-year-old was shot and killed on Super Bowl night? Lt. Paulsen said, “This was not a random attack … homicide detectives have a lot of good leads and it’s progressing. Sometimes these take a lot of time, even if you know who a suspect is, to develop probable cause …” And he reiterated that there’s no evidence it was random: “Every indication is that these people knew each other.” The absence of stranger-on-stranger violence was a theme in his general discussion, and the Q/A, about Junction-area crime. Car prowls continue to be the top problem, but he said they were down in February – just under 90, compared to just under 130 in January, and the March rate is even lower so far, with just two reported to police in the past few weeks. He mentioned a couple of recent arrests may have played a part in getting the worst offenders off the street.
He also was asked about trouble with “night establishments” and drunk driving, especially given what happened last night:
(Monday evening photo by Mark Ammann)
Lt. Paulsen reiterated that DUI is suspected in last night’s crash, in which the 35-year-old driver of that pickup hit 13 other cars (mostly parked) along the east side of California SW in the heart of The Junction’s business district (previous WSB coverage here). It was also mentioned that a suspected drunk driver hit a pole on that same side of California just north of Oregon several hours later (911 logs confirm a motor-vehicle accident call at that location at 1:52 am today). More of tonight’s discussion about Junction crime, just ahead:Read More
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