West Seattle, Washington
20 Thursday
We’re at the Senior Center of West Seattle, where more than 50 people are gathered as The Kenney‘s 
$150 million redevelopment project is back before the Southwest Design Review Board. Architect Gene Guszkowski has just announced that the cupola-topped Seaview building was formally nominated today for landmark status (not listed yet on this page, though), which triggers a separate city process that, as he noted, will proceed in parallel. Much of this presentation should duplicate what was shown at the community meeting we covered last week (here’s our report; here’s the official presentation packet), but we will add to this report with anything else new that’s disclosed tonight, as well as first word of the SWDRB’s decision – whether the project will advance to the next step in the process – once it’s in (not likely to be before 8 pm). 6:44 PM UPDATE: Guszkowski just announced the long-requested (and ultimately required) tree survey will be done at the site next Monday. 8:09 PM UPDATE: The board has unanimously agreed to let the project move on to the next phase of Design Review, which could be the final phase. Most public concerns involved the massing of the large square “donut” shaped building at the heart of the project – board members suggested perhaps “eroding” its western side and building up its eastern side, to allow more sunshine in the courtyard. They’re also asking architects to look at whether they really want the potentially relocated Seaview building to be the complex’s main entry – they’re asking to see entryway options when the project comes back for the “recommendations” round.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Susan Rosenthal was all smiles this afternoon at City Hall as she was recognized and honored as Seattle’s first woman firefighter to rise to the rank of assistant chief (first reported here yesterday).
She called it “the best day of my life.”
Rosenthal, who recently bought a house and moved to West Seattle after years of living in Wallingford, was one of the first few women hired by the Seattle Fire Department in the 1970s. (On the card in the photo atop this story, she is the firefighter in the front, with the hose.) “We were told it would require strength and stamina. Now I know that meant more than just muscles,” she said.
We promised a followup on the hot-dog cart controversy: As reported here yesterday, we had learned that the Hot Dog Joes cart which set up outside Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction in late February didn’t just go away because its trial period ran out, HDJ’s Joe Jeannot told WSB he’d been cited by the city twice and was having trouble working the situation out. Part of the problem is a city ordinance saying vendors aren’t allowed within 200 feet of parks, but as we noted yesterday, Jeannot acknowledged there was more to the story, though he declined to discuss details. Today, SDOT has some details in this statement sent to us by communications director Rick Sheridan:
The cart’s operator, Hot Dog Joes, was cited by SDOT for vending without a permit in the right of way. They did not have a health certificate or insurance to serve at that location. While cited for being within 200 feet of a park, the health and safety issues were the overriding reasons for the citations. The permit, health certificate and insurance are common requirements for food vendors, to prevent folks from getting sick or being injured, and can be easily obtained.
We tried to work with the cart operator so they would be in compliance with the law. Our Street Use inspector, who helps regulate right of way areas like sidewalks, warned the onsite vendor in person and sent a follow-up e-mail about the violations well before writing the citations.
Hot Dog Joes was aware of the requirements as they started the permit application process but never completed it. Given that they had received several warnings and refused to follow the law, the department was forced to write the citations. However, we are happy to work with Hot Dog Joes and help bring their hot dogs and bratwursts back to West Seattle.
So will they be able to work it out? Jeannot is a West Seattleite and told us in our initial conversation that whether it’s outside BPP or elsewhere, he would love to have a cart here. We’ll be contacting him for an update on whether there’s progress in working out the situation with the city. Meantime, we also contacted Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s office regarding the 200-foot rule, since he runs the Parks Committee, and he promised to look into the rationale for it, and to see if it might merit changing.
WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli got that photo of Taku River salmon at Seattle Fish Company in The Junction this morning – he says that while everybody’s talking about the Copper River season right now, Taku has already arrived and is “not as well-known but is less expensive and has a fat content similar to the famed Copper River salmon. This fish comes from Southeast Alaska’s largest salmon producing river with up to 2 million salmon returning annually.” Meantime, if you haven’t already heard, bacon fans have a new reason for Westside pride — we somehow missed this earlier in the week (thanks to MargL for alerting us today): Seems the storied Swinery is apparently now going to be based in West Seattle, per this Slog report.
That’s one of your two State House members, Rep. Sharon Nelson, briefing last night’s 34th District Democrats meeting about the legislative session just concluded – note that she explained she is expecting word sometime today about the ultimate fate of her “payday lending” legislation. With her, the 34th District’s other two legislators – State Sen. Joe McDermott gave the longest briefing, including updates on education-related legislation:
And since health care issues are a focus for Rep. Eileen Cody, that’s where her briefing focused:
The 34th DDs also heard last night from a long list of people running for local office this year, primarily Seattle City Council candidates (all of whom we will be profiling here on WSB in the weeks ahead) – although mayoral candidate James Donaldson was there too. The meeting ran nearly three hours and included a somewhat contentious vote (background here) on the group’s rules for candidate endorsements – which they plan to make at their meeting in July. Announcements at the meeting included a reminder of the June 1st King County Executive candidates’ forum, sponsored by inSPIRE, to be held at Fauntleroy Church (more info here).
From e-mail just sent out by King County Sheriff Sue Rahr:
During the past several months we have seen an increase in the number of
burglaries throughout King County. … Despite having to cut many property crime detective positions this year due to our budget being reduced, I am still doing everything I can to keep you safe. I am teaming up with other local law enforcement jurisdictions, crime analysis teams and representatives from the King County Prosecutor’s Office to form a burglary task force. Much like the very successful task force created to reduce auto theft, we will be focusing on the most serious repeat offenders. We reduced auto theft by more than 30% through this coordination and focus. It is my hope we will achieve the same results with burglaries.
KCSO does not have jurisdiction in West Seattle, of course (but does, in unincorporated White Center) – however, we hadn’t heard of this task force before, so we’re checking to see if SPD is part of it. (And of course, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office handles cases for the entire county, cities as well as unincorporated areas – we covered PA Dan Satterberg touting the auto-theft task force during his recent Rotary Club of West Seattle speech – and who could forget the video he showed?)
From today’s edition of the twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin: The city has approved “administrative design review” for the seven-unit project across the alley from Cactus at 3008 63rd SW (map). The decision can be read here; the deadline for appeals is May 28, and the online notice explains how they can be filed.
Not far away, AT&T Wireless is seeking approval to replace two rooftop antennas at 6609 Admiral Way (map), the apartment building overlooking Bar-S Playfield, which has been the site of fights over other antennas (including last year’s appeal of a different application) and has long been the site of other installations. The city is accepting comments on this application; the link is at the top of this notice page.
It’s been a few weeks since Earth Day, but in the “EVERY day is Earth Day” spirit, we have one more story to share, this one — accompanied by the art shown above — from students at West Seattle’s Tilden School:
As is our tradition, Tilden School students spent time on Earth Day cleaning up garbage around the neighborhood. This year, all classes together gathered about 15 large garbage bags full of trash. Several students found it encouraging that this was less than they found last Earth Day! Students who collected near the Junction reported cigarette butts as the most common item; students who collected north on California reported more candy wrappers and beer bottles. Some of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders wanted to share their reflections on the experience:
Adrian: When my class and I went to pick up trash … it was horrible! There was garbage everywhere!!…
Mallih: … On Earth Day, Tilden School went out and about to the post office, and oh, my, there was so much trash in one little parking lot!…
Sam: It was a dim day, and the sky was full of gray clouds. We mostly picked up cigarette butts and pieces of paper. I mainly collected plastic and rubber. This year there wasn’t as much garbage as last year. In my opinion, people are thinking more about the environment…
All three of our area’s state legislators are speaking here tonight, so we’re opening a post to add any news nuggets pending further coverage later. First reminder – June 1st King County Executive candidates’ forum sponsored by Inspire, happening at Fauntleroy Church (right across the street from where the 34th DDs are meeting right now at The Hall at Fauntleroy) – here are full details. More to come as it happens. 7:44 PM UPDATE: The legislators have just given their briefings – most interesting tidbit, Rep. Sharon Nelson says she’ll know by tomorrow night if a major part of her payday-lending bill is going to be stricken before it’s signed. (She didn’t elaborate further, will be checking into that.) She also had the most notable behind-the-scenes tidbit, about the “underground” group of Dems called the “Blue Greens.” 8:05 PM UPDATE: Nobody asked about the viaduct/tunnel bill. LATER NOTE: We’ll publish a separate item in the morning including video of the legislators’ remarks, plus a few other news notes from the meeting.
Just got a note asking why a Coast Guard helicopter is circling near Alki Point. Quickly found this, thanks to the local USCG Twitter feed – search/rescue demonstration:
A Coast Guard search and rescue demonstration is scheduled for Elliott Bay, here, Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Astoria, Ore., MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Port Angeles, Wash., and a small boat crew from Station Seattle will conduct hoists and drop rescue equipment during the exercise. This demonstration will include low flying aircraft along the Seattle waterfront.
Attendees will get a look at some of the techniques used by the Coast Guard to rescue persons in distress.
Just received that invite to share, on behalf of Cooper Elementary, whose program is closing at the end of this school year, after the School Board voted to move Pathfinder K-8 into the building so its longtime “temporary” location on Genesee Hill could be shuttered. Cooper students are going to several schools, including Gatewood Elementary, which is reaching out in this invite (which also applies to the entire community) to a festival coming up later this month:
I’d just like to share with the W. Seattle Community that Gatewood Elementary is holding their annual Family Fun Fair, Saturday May 30th from 12-3pm.
Address: 4320 SW Myrtle ST. Most events in parking lot off of California Ave SW & SW Frontenac ST.
Inflatables, Carnival Games with prizes, Food, Pie Toss and Cake Walk (supports 4th & 5th Grade end of year camp to Warm Springs) Above events had a nominal charge. Free activities include: Bubbles, Face Painting and Sidewalk Art.
Please join us for this wonderful community event. We would like to especially extend an invitation to the Cooper Families that will be joining us next school year. Come and check out what a fabulous place Gatewood Elementary is!!
The Seattle Fire Department‘s newest Assistant Chief is not only the first woman to achieve that rank in the department, but also a West Seattle resident. A reception tomorrow will honor Assistant Chief Susan P. Rosenthal – read on for the official SFD announcement about her promotion and what she’s accountable for:Read More
Back in late February (original WSB story here), a Hot Dog Joes cart set up shop outside Beveridge Place Pub. Within weeks, it was gone. A few people e-mailed us wondering why; we recalled hearing that the cart was set up for a trial period, so didn’t look further until a recent tip that led us to get in touch with Hot Dog Joes proprietor Joe Jeannot (not pictured – photo shows the staffer on duty when we took the pic in Feb.). In a phone conversation, Jeannot told WSB, there is indeed more to the story. He says they folded up after two city-issued citations ($500 each): “City ordinances are making it tough for us to be there.” Street vendors usually deal with the Seattle Department of Transportation, but in this case, there’s a complicating factor – the new park next door. Vendors aren’t allowed to be within 200 feet of parks (here’s the specific Seattle Municipal Code section), and Jeannot says that rule puzzles him: “You can have bars next to a park, but hot-dog carts can’t be there?” He says that’s not the only problem, though, claiming a “lack of communication” from the city but not wanting to disclose full details. “We thought we’d resolve it quickly – I’ve opened carts all over Seattle and this is the first time it’s become this serious … I’ve been doing this with the city for 11 years, but this time it’s been a very long process,” said Jeannot – who by the way lives here in West Seattle, where he says he’s been trying to acquire a location for a long time: “I can’t believe I can’t get a hot dog cart in my own neighborhood.” We’ll keep following up on this to let you know what happens next. (And if you have another idea for what might be a hospitable West Seattle location without conflicts such as park proximity, Jeannot says he might be interested, observing that street vending would seem to be right in line with the Seattle philosophy of trying to encourage more walking, less driving.)
ADDED 1:35 PM: Side note from a discussion in comments – The city did issue a “request for proposals” this year for vendors INSIDE several of the city’s largest parks; in West Seattle, that included only Alki and Lincoln Park (Colman Pool), but no provision for vendors in OR near all the other parks. On a side note to the side note, we asked Parks who won the Alki/Lincoln vending contracts; Dewey Potter says both went to “The Cowboys, who will provide soft-serve ice cream, snacks, and drinks.”
Another update from last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting: Almost a month after the third and final “design workshop” for potential changes to 
California Place Park, ANA heard the latest from a leader of Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral, the group that obtained a city grant to develop design ideas for the small park next to Admiral Church. Ann Limbaugh said landscape architect Karen Kiest is still working on her “final report” but that’s expected by month’s end. Meantime, FANNA is continuing to meet to discuss “what the right next steps are … for moving the project forward.” (The $15,000 city grant only paid for design work; more fundraising would be needed for any work to actually be done to the park – even the cheapest change envisioned in what was shown at last month’s meeting – as reported here – could cost $80,000.) According to Limbaugh, the current consensus is to “take a bit of a break … and let things settle in the neighborhood a little bit” before resuming discussions “in a month or two.” Park-change opponent Dennis Ross, also at last night’s meeting, asked Limbaugh, “How do the 700 people opposed to (park changes) figure into your plans?” (That number refers to signatures on a petition circulated by park-change opponents – here’s our archived coverage of the controversy, newest to oldest.) She replied, “There are a lot of people who think it’s a great idea – and worth moving forward,” and he countered, “And we have 700 people who don’t,” before the discussion moved on. Limbaugh also mentioned that FANNA is continuing to plan a celebration, to be held in the next month or so, in honor of everyone who participated in the process so far.
(April photo of Genesee P-Patch site courtesy Aaron Hernandez)
Also discussed at last night’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting, the plan for the new Genesee P-Patch (photo above) to be spotlighted as headquarters for a June 20th city Clean and Green event. As Aaron Hernandez from the P-Patch recently told WSB, “There will be some fun events capped off by a day filled with volunteers putting the final touches on the garden. Mayor Nickels will be present and will be introduced by Minh Chau Le, P-Patch Program West Seattle Coordinator, and Pastor Dan Jacobs from West Seattle Christian Church.” (WSCC provided the land for the P-Patch.) You can read more about the Clean and Green program here; last September’s Gateway cleanup along the Fauntleroy Way end of The Bridge was described as the biggest C&G ever!
Photos and story by Jonathan Stumpf
For West Seattle Blog
West Seattle, you should be proud.
Nine middle-school students from four local schools were honored by Mayor Nickels and hosts Ken and Marleen Alhadeff at City Hall last night during the 10th annual Mayor’s Scholars Awards Ceremony (as previewed here in March).
All were there to accept their awards, as you’ll see ahead:Read More
Ken e-mailed to say that the profane anti-gay phrase which has appeared repeatedly on the garage door of a Morgan Junction couple – and elsewhere, according to comments posted after our previous story about it – has now turned up on an area bus shelter, at Fauntleroy/Holly. He says, “I’ve reported it to SPD and Metro.” (WEEKEND UPDATE: Channel 13 also followed up on this.)
Three toplines to share from Tuesday night’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting at Ginomai (a stop on Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk, by the way) — read on:Read More
Last time the Admiral Neighborhood Association met, we brought you first word of plans for a summer outdoor-concert series at Hiawatha Community Center. Tonight, as ANA gathered for its monthly meeting at Admiral Church, concert series organizer Katy Walum provided updates – read on for what’s in the works, dates and times, and how you can help:Read More
We got a tip earlier today saying some teachers at West Seattle High School had received layoff notices today – this tip came after the end of the school day, so we checked with Seattle Public Schools‘ communications staff to see if this was a districtwide occurrence. While spokesperson Patti Spencer won’t confirm specifics about WSHS or any other school, she did just confirm to WSB that “Seattle Public Schools is implementing a reduction in force of certificated staff … we had very much hoped to avoid that; however, with the level of budget reductions from the state, we couldn’t. Individuals are being informed by principals – we can share total numbers and more details tomorrow.” 8:08 PM UPDATE: The Seattle teachers’ union tells seattlepi.com they expect up to 170 teachers will lose their jobs. 10:50 PM UPDATE: This comment was just added, from Laura Turner:
Ten teachers at WSHS got RIF’d (I’m one of them). Five of us are Language Arts teachers. That is over half the department. We are currently teaching all the 9th grade LA sections well as teaching other levels including 11th, 12th (senior project), 10th grade honors, College Prep Writing, and Pathways reading. I am the Yearbook adviser, another RIF’d teacher is the Newspaper adviser, and one is the department head. This RIF is devastating news for the LA department, in particular, and the entire school community at WSHS.
ORIGINAL 3:37 PM REPORT: We’re checking on reports of police activity in The Junction – one tipster says scanner traffic indicates a man was held up at gunpoint:
Just heard on scanner, citizen reported being held up at gun point in parking lot at Jefferson Square – he was getting out of his car when a man came up, pointed gun at him and robbed him of his cellphone and (I think) wallet.
Dispatcher reported suspect description: 5’10-6″, blue jeans, baseball cap, armed with small handgun. … Listening now to cop try to locate the caller/victim who might be inside the Safeway.
Working to verify. Another e-mail says at least one chopper, possibly a news helicopter, is overhead. Steph subsequently e-mailed to say her husband …
… just had a freakin’ foot cop jump in his car and ask him for a ride to track down some creep! The cop had his gun and badge out and (he) whipped him around and then the creep came out of some bushes and the cop says, “that’s the guy!” and (he) hits the brakes and the cop jumps out and takes the creep down! The cop jumped in his car around the shell station at Fauntleroy SW & SW Alaska. The cop instructed him to about 41st where he jumped out and met another cop chasing the creep too. Go West Seattlites!
We’ve just arrived in the Jefferson Square vicinity (and 41st, east of there) and are NOT seeing any current police activity. Checking with SPD now by phone to see if this is something that’s wrapped up.
4:48 PM UPDATE: Just talked to Detective Jeff Kappel in the SPD Media Unit. He says a man reported getting held up at gunpoint at Jefferson Square – then changed his mind about cooperating with police, saying he didn’t want to file a report and didn’t want help, so police at that point had no choice but to chalk it down as a “provided assistance” call.
(looking through the aquarium’s front hall, back at the crowd gathering to watch)
ORIGINAL 2 PM REPORT: We’re at the Seattle Aquarium along with a few hundred political, business and community leaders to watch Governor Gregoire sign the Alaskan Way Viaduct deep-bored tunnel bill into law. The event’s scheduled to start in a few minutes; West Seattle-residing political leaders scheduled to be here include King County Council Chair Dow Constantine (who we’ve already seen) and Mayor Nickels; political theater outside included anti-tunnel mayoral challenger Michael McGinn talking with reporters, calling this a multibillion-dollar boondoggle and saying it’s not too late for the city to pull out. More as it happens.
2:23 PM UPDATE: The speeches are under way before the actual signing. After the mayor spoke (iPhone photo above), the governor said it took “guts” for legislators to approve this. To those who say it can’t be done, she said bluntly — “Watch us.” She opened by declaring, the era of The Viaduct “is over.” For emphasis, she repeated it: “It’s over. It’s over.” And she went on to say it would have been hard to anticipate a year ago that this history-making day would arrive. She stood at a podium next to the aquarium’s fish-filled wall, with about 20 political leaders surrounding her, and acknowledged many others, including members of the Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee who reviewed options over more than a year (though ultimately, their process ended with a recommendation different than the one proceeding now, West Seattle’s SAC reps Vlad Oustimovitch and Pete Spalding both support the deep-bored tunnel).
(WSB video of the bill-signing, added 2:46 pm)
2:31 PM UPDATE: The governor just signed SB 5768 – the tunnel bill – into law. A long round of applause followed. Everyone here has just been invited to a champagne reception – as for us, we’re catching the 3:20 King County Water Taxi back to West Seattle. Looks like more bill signings are ensuing here at the Aquarium as well. Meantime, the state hopes to start building the tunnel next year – to finish it in 2015 – and to keep The Viaduct up, as long as it’s deemed safe, until after the tunnel opens, at which time it would be torn down.
3:02 PM UPDATE: Official statement from Council Chair Constantine, just e-mailed (note he’s in our video):
“I was honored to join Governor Chris Gregoire for today’s signing of Senate Bill 5768, the legislation to fund the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bore tunnel and surface roadway improvements.
“First, I think we have crafted a creative solution to a longstanding problem. A new elevated freeway would not have been an acceptable solution. I am glad we have moved beyond the antiquated practice of forcing freeways through cities. The Alaskan Way Viaduct has long been an ugly, noisy wall separating downtown from the waterfront. Its removal is a first, necessary step in reconnecting our central city.
“Secondly, I am proud to have been involved in helping to negotiate this solution. I made many trips to Olympia over the last year to meet with Governor Gregoire, former County Executive Ron Sims, Mayor Greg Nickels and legislative leaders as part of the Viaduct Oversight Committee. The deep-bore tunnel and a surface boulevard—combined with improvements to the Spokane Street Viaduct and the creation of a new stadium interchange for State Route 99—will maintain access for West Seattle and South King County residents to and through downtown Seattle. And, critically, because the tunnel will not share the alignment of the old viaduct structure, we also have the opportunity to maintain traffic on the SR 99 corridor during construction.
“I support this solution and will work to implement it.
“The challenge to Seattle and King County is to provide the other surface and transit improvements needed to make local transportation work. We now must consider how this work will be funded, how quickly it can be implemented, and how we will be able to sustain the needed transit service in the future.”
Adding one other clip from the event – the governor’s message to tunnel skeptics – may still be processing so please be patient:
One such skeptic, mayoral candidate Michael McGinn – we talked with him outside the event – will add that later.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Amber:
I just wanted to let you know about a hit & run near 16 th Avenue & SW Dawson St [map]. A drunk driver (assumedly) plowed into my father in law’s car that was parked in front of our house sometime early Monday morning (possibly around 4:00 or 5:00 am). The car is totaled and there were no skid marks on the street so they didn’t even try to stop. The police stated that they do not come out for a non-moving violation, just write up a report based on the call. It’s a long shot but if anyone knows anything it would really help. Thanks!
The non-emergency number, if you have any information, is 206-625-5011 (you can find that highlighted on the WSB Crime Watch page if you ever need to find it fast).
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