West Seattle, Washington
28 Tuesday
Haven’t bought that Valentine’s Day gift yet? Via the West Seattle Junction Association, here are two ideas (though the presents’ payoffs are delayed):
(WSB file photo)
FLOWERS: You can adopt a flower basket that’ll hang in The Junction all summer, with a plaque honoring your Valentine. $159 covers the entire season. Go here to get started.
WINE: The spring Wine Walk in The Junction isn’t until May 15th, but tickets sell out way in advance, so get yours now, and you’ll have a date night to anticipate all spring. Here’s how.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! One incident to report – a crash at Delridge/Findlay (no SFD dispatch, so apparently no serious injuries).
Reminders:
CLOSURES: Tonight/tomorrow morning, 10 pm-8 am, the southbound Highway 99 Tunnel will be closed for maintenance. Also overnight tonight, 9 pm-8 am, and again Saturday night-Sunday morning, 9 pm-8 am, the southbound 1st Ave. S. Bridge will be closed.
MONDAY: It’ll be Presidents Day, which means transit changes including no Water Taxi. and “reduced weekday” service for Metro.
Another postseason loss for the West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team, but they have another chance to keep going. At Franklin HS, the Wildcats lost to Rainier Beach HS, 62-43. Saturday night, in a must-win district-tournament opener, WSHS plays Interlake at home (3000 California SW), 7 pm.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Our area’s City Councilmember Lisa Herbold is now the council’s lead on crime/safety issues, as new chair of the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, and that’s where West Seattle Chamber of Commerce members focused their questions following her presentation to their lunch meeting today..
It was her first WSCC appearance since she won re-election in November, and the two-dozen-plus in attendance included her general-election opponent Phil Tavel as well as local entrepreneurs who actively campaigned for him.
Asked during the campaign about criticism from local businesses, she told us businesses from other parts of the city had reached out for help more than those here, but she offered optimism today for a fresh start, telling the lunch attendees that she has championed neighborhood chambers around the city and “I always hoped I could work more with the West Seattle Chamber. … I will do everything I can to be your champion.” Then she launched into an explanation of her current focuses and how the council works, noting regarding councilmembers’ oversight of city departments – “we don’t tell (them) what to do.” We recorded her presentation and most of the Q&A (minus an added few at the meeting’s very end):
If you don’t have time/inclination to watch, here’s how it went:
ORIGINAL REPORT: If you’re wondering about the sizable Seattle Fire “scenes of violence” response in the 6700 block of 36th SW in Gatewood: Police say one person who was “in crisis” is being taken to Harborview Medical Center. No word on his condition.
ADDED: The victim’s father says in the comment section below that he did not survive.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: As also noted below, a memorial service is planned next Saturday, and a crowdfunding page has been set up for the family.
ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Important information we neglected to include earlier: If you are considering self-harm, the local 24-hour crisis line is 866-427-4747..
5:59 PM; The Viscon Cellars tasting room (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is one of the places that’ll warm your heart on this Valentine’s Eve West Seattle Art Walk night. It’s open until 8 pm – and offering pairings with chocolate by Intrigue, with flavors including juniper and jasmine green tea:
Art too, of course, by Dot Lerch:
P.S. You can visit Viscon Cellars on Valentne’s night too – the regular Friday hours are 5 pm-9 pm.
6:49 PM: We’ve also been to Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW; WSB sponsor) where not only do they have chocolate – you can meet its maker!
That’s Chef Michael Poole of Hot Chocolat Artisan Firehouse Chocolates – featured here back in 2014.
He has had a career as a Seattle Fire Department lieutenant as well as a classically trained chef. Also at Verity, artist Christopher Kelleher:
He’s painting as well as creating 3-D art – free glasses with purchases!
8:05 PM: We also stopped by Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor),featuring Rachel Austin‘s adorable art this month:
Much of it incorporates local maps, including West Seattle, so it’s a very local gift – miniatures available as well as larger prints. Click! is open on Valentine’s Day (tomorrow!) 11 am-7 pm.
Own property? The King County Assessor’s Office sent word today that bills are about to go out, explaining why most will be higher:
Two changes in our state’s school funding formula will lead to a 13.7% increase in property tax collections in King County for the 2020 tax year. Overall property tax collections for the 2020 tax year are $6.3 billion, an increase of $767 million or 13.7% from the previous year of $5.7 billion. Total County value increased by 5.92%, from $ 606.6 to $642.5 billion.
The increase in taxes is primarily due to two changes in education funding made by the Legislature; an increase in the statewide education levy, and increased authority for school districts to collect local levies:
The State Legislature passed SHB 2242 in the 2017 legislative session to fully fund the state’s program for basic education (McCleary). The total state rate of $2.70/$1,000 was to be for tax years 2018 thru 2022. In 2018 the Legislature passed ESSB 6614 to temporarily lower the total state rate to $2.40/$1,000. Under the law, the 2020 State School Fund rate is now back to $2.70/$1,000 for the 2020 tax year,
In conjunction with the above, ESSB 5313 authorizes enhancement levies (aka maintenance and operation levies) to increase from the maximum $1.50/$1,000 to $2.50/$1,000 of assessed value, $2,500 per student enrollment ($3,000 for districts with 400,000 TE students or more), or the voter approved amount for the 2020 tax year, whichever is the lessor of the three amounts.King County Treasury will begin sending out the annual property tax bills February 14. King County collects property taxes on behalf of the state, the county, cities, and taxing districts (such as school and fire districts), and distributes the revenue to these local governments.
About 55 percent of property tax revenues collected in King County in 2019 pays for schools. Property taxes also fund voter-approved measures for veterans and seniors, fire protection, and parks. King County receives about 18 percent of your property tax payment for roads, police, criminal justice, public health, elections, and parks, among other services.
“Property tax policy remains in a state of flux,” said King County Assessor John Wilson. “It’s important to remember changes in the law, or approval of special levies, have much more impact on changes to your tax bill than does the changing value of your property.”
Property taxes vary depending upon location, the assessed value of the property, and the number of jurisdictions levying taxes (such as state, city, county, school district, port, fire district, etc).
A number of levies and other property tax measures were approved by voters in 2019 for collection in 2020. They include: [editor’s note – we’ve edited out mentions of the ones NOT affecting this area]
o King County: Renewal of the EMS regular property tax levy at a rate of $0.265/$1,000 for the first year of the six-year levy, an increase in rate of $0.04738/$1,000 from the previous year.
o King County: Renewal of Parks lid lift at a rate of $0.1832/$1,000 for the first year. Seniors/disabled taxpayers in the Senior Exemption Program are exempt from paying this lid lift.
o City of Seattle: Seattle Public Library seven-year regular property tax levy at a rate not to exceed $0.122/$1,000 in the first year. Seniors/disabled taxpayers in the Senior Exemption Program are exempt from paying this lid lift.
o Seattle Public Schools in King County passed an Enhancement levy.
o SPS passed a six-year Capital Projects levy.
Low-income seniors, veterans and disabled homeowners may qualify for a property-tax exemption offered by King County. Information on how to apply for an exemption, along with other property-assessment-related information, can be found at kingcounty.gov/assessor.
Property owners can find tax levy rates and more property related information by visiting the eReal Property Search on the King County Assessor’s website or by calling 206-296-7300.
(Added: WSB photo)
After losing some space in Seattle Public Schools facilities, the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) has been working to find more new preschool space – and is finally ready to announce it’s planning a new Early Learning Center at Westwood Village. Here’s the Y’s announcement:
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is expanding early learning programs in King County with a new center in West Seattle, expected to open in January 2021. The YMCA Early Learning Center at West Seattle, located at 2600 SW Barton Street in the Westwood Village Shopping Center, will serve 124 families from birth to five years.
For over 30 years, the Y’s values-based preschool program in West Seattle has helped kids learn essential cognitive, social, and physical skills that are the building blocks for successful adulthood. The Y is proud to build on their tradition of empowering our youngest learners.
The YMCA of Greater Seattle thanks the Washington State Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Department of Children Youth and Families for funding $800,000 of the construction costs through the Early Learning Facilities Program. The Early Learning Facilities program supports Washington’s commitment of developing high-quality early learning opportunities for children across the State of Washington.
“We already know the impact that quality early education can have on kids, it means they start reading earlier and begin to grasp math and science concepts before they start elementary school so they can hit the ground running.” said Loria Yeadon, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. “We believe that child care shouldn’t bankrupt families, and that child care can, and should be integrated into the family and community circles. By expanding child care in West Seattle, we’re expanding opportunities for kids for years to come.”
The Y is where everyone is welcome. The YMCA of Greater Seattle is committed to access for all kids regardless of financial circumstances and stands behind that by raising funds annually to bridge the gap for families. The Y accepts State of Washington Working Connections Child Care and City of Seattle subsidies with no enrollment caps.
The Y is a leader in youth development and in helping to ensure all kids have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. For more information on the new YMCA Early Learning Center at West Seattle or to sign up for the interest list, please visit seattleymca.org/ws-elc
The space they’re moving into is the two-story former eye-clinic space on the north end of the mall.
Big game tonight for the West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team – it’s not in WS but if you can go, they can use all the support they can get! 5:45 pm, they’re playing at Rainier Beach. The venue is Franklin High School, 3013 S. Mt. Baker Boulevard – here’s a map.
(WSB photos)
11:39 AM: The most-anticipated West Seattle restaurant opening of 2020 – so far – is today. Thanks to commenter MomOf3Boys for the tip; we’ve just been over to Grillbird Teriyaki at 6501 35th SW to verify that it’s opening at noon.
We first reported back in October that Matt Parker, a restaurant-industry veteran, planned to turn the ex-Pizza Hut into a teriyaki joint.
Though today’s start is at noon, hours will be 11 am-9 pm weekdays, noon-9 pm weekends. No paper menu when we stopped in, so this pic is the best we can do to share a menu with you for now.
1:31 PM: Updated the top photo (standalone sign wasn’t up earlier) and added a photo of proprietor Parker. They’re already busy, so give them some time and patience if you plan to try soon!
ADDED SATURDAY: An update from proprietor Matt Parker:
As we continue to fine tune our process, and in order to give our customers the best food and experience, we are closed for lunch this weekend, and opening at 5:00 pm to 9pm. Additionally we will be closed this Monday for Presidents Day and then be open Tuesday normal business hours.
At this time we will not be taking phone or online orders until we work out some of these normal supply and demand issues. Give us a few weeks and will be good to go on multiple ordering and delivery options, but for now we want to focus our attention on our in-store guests.
(Great Blue Heron photographed at Constellation Park by David Hutchinson)
Highlights for the rest of your Thursday:
CHOCOLATE! 1:30-3 pm, chocolate and food pairings at Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor). Call 206-937-6122 to see if a spot remains. (2615 SW Barton)
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: 5 pm to “late,” as previewed last night. Here’s the map/venue list:
Also tonight:
WINE AND MACARONS: Galentine’s Night tasting, 6-9 pm at Sound and Fog. (4735 40th SW)
WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: Love history? Don’t miss this talk by Philip Hoffman, author of “Town of Alki: Great Hopes & Fountainhead of Tears,” 6 pm at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), open to musicians and singers of all genres. (5612 California SW)
THE SANDBOX: Funk/jazz improv at Parliament Tavern with Bob Heinemann, Joe Doria, Ben Bloom, and Grant Schroff, 9 pm. $7 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
AND MORE … see all our calendar listings here!
10:20 AM: As we first reported last month, the 3417 Harbor SW apartment project is scheduled for its first Southwest Design Review Board meeting on March 5th, as confirmed by the city’s official announcement today. The description of the project has changed – now the city summarizes it as “an 8-story, 143-unit apartment building. Parking for 140 vehicles proposed.” That’s 3 more stories and twice the parking mentioned previously – we’re checking with the city on that, as the draft “packet” with the previous description is still the newest one on record. The meeting is at 6:30 pm March 5th at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon) in The Junction. The meeting will include a public-comment period, but if you can’t be there, you can also send in comments – today’s notice (PDF) explains how.
11:28 AM: The project’s assigned city planner Crystal Torres just replied to confirm the notice is wrong – “The description got mixed up with another project. The 5-story 140 units is still proposed. We are on it, and will re-notice.”
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning! No incidents/alerts so far. Reminders:
CLOSURES AHEAD: Friday night/Saturday morning, 10 pm-8 am, the southbound Highway 99 Tunnel will be closed for maintenance. Also overnight Friday into Saturday, 9 pm-8 am, and again Saturday night-Sunday morning, 9 pm-8 am, the southbound 1st Ave. S. Bridge will be closed.
Just in from Marcinmaps:
Earlier this evening around 7pm someone broke into my garage off my alley on the 4400 block of 47th Ave SW by opening an unlocked window. Luckily my neighbor was in her kitchen and must have scared them off quickly. The cops took a look around the house and didn’t see anything else amiss, but still best for people around to keep an eye out.
9:56 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a report of smoke from an apartment building at 53rd/Bonair (map). Updates to come.
9:59 PM: Another false alarm – first-arriving crew reports it was “steam from a dryer vent.”
Thursday night, you’re invited to enjoy the Valentine’s Eve West Seattle Art Walk – here’s the map and list of venues:
From the official preview, some highlights:
CHOCOLATE: The unofficial flavor of Valentine’s Day will pop up at several spots, including Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW; WSB sponsor) and Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), with wine/chocolate pairings – and no tasting fee if you’re there for the Art Walk!
ADMIRAL DISTRICT: Second month of Admiral participation! See the venue map/list for participants,
ARBOR HEIGHTS: Brace Point Gallery welcomes Art Walk-ers – details here.
RACHEL AUSTIN AT CLICK! An Art Walk favorite will bring new work to Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) 5-8 pm. See an example above!
The West Seattle Art Walk happens every second Thursday at venues around the peninsula, 5 pm “until late”!
Toplines from last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting:
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: The lineup’s not finalized yet, but coordinator Stephanie Jordan says the dates are – July 16, 23, and 30,and August 6, 13, and 20.
WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: ANA is looking at reviving the series; a committee is moving forward and hoping to show 6 movies on a schedule that would resemble the old one in July and August. Right now they have no set location and are looking at a few different places and studying each for logistics (adequate space, power supply, access). At this point no movies have been selected as the logistics are still being worked out.
BUSINESS SURVEY: The ANA’s planning another try at organizing local businesses. Rob Braby shared some numbers of note:
4:33 PM: Just in from the King County Water Taxi: The smaller Spirit of Kingston is handling today’s PM runs, in place of Doc Maynard. (We’re checking to see if that’s expected to continue tomorrow.)
5:04 PM: Spokesperson Torie Rynning tells WSB, “We are hoping to have Doc Maynard back in service tomorrow morning if we can untangle the line wrapped around the propeller tonight.”
8:01 PM: Fixed, so Doc Maynard will be back in service tomorrow.
P.S. Holiday reminder – no Water Taxi service Monday, which is Presidents Day.
The much-anticipated initial ruling on the Initiative 976 lawsuit is in – and King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson has rejected most of the arguments against the measure. But it’s not a full ruling, so the preliminary injunction keeping 976 on hold remains in effect. Here’s the ruling document (uploaded by independent city-focused news site SCC Insight), n which Ferguson writes, “To summarize, this order dismisses all but two of plaintiffs’ constitutional challenges to I-976.” The judge said, among other things, the plaintiffs didn’t meet the requirement of showing “beyond a reasonable doubt” that 976 violates the state constitution’s “single-subject rule” for initiatives. The plaintiffs include the city of Seattle. Here’s reaction from the mayor:
We respectfully disagree with the ruling today from Judge Ferguson and will continue to make our case about the unconstitutionality of I-976. Our residents have made it clear they support increasing transit, and voted overwhelmingly against this initiative.
— Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) February 12, 2020
She is also on the Sound Transit Board, which was briefed after the November election about potential effects of 976 if it were upheld and implemented. Here’s our coverage of that meeting. The board was told that projects through 2024 were likely safe; the West Seattle-Ballard Link Extension, however, is scheduled for 2030 completion, and under a worst-case scenario, ST might have to consider canceling or delaying some projects. ST itself is not a party to the lawsuit and has kept WS light-rail planning on track despite the legislation.
ADDED 4:26 PM: And that will continue, ST spokesperson David Jackson told WSB when we asked if the agency had a comment on today’s ruling: “Sound Transit will continue to monitor the ongoing litigation while we advance our work on the projects and services voters have asked us to deliver.”
3:32 PM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is arriving at the Delridge/Andover strip mall – home to Delridge Deli Mart, Subway, Uptown Espresso among other businesses – after dispatchers told them a caller reported “black smoke” from the building. First arrivals aren’t seeing it, though, so the response is downsizing.
3:37 PM: Apparently a complete false alarm – the call is now fully closed.
As promised, It’s BBQ Time in the Kitchen opened today in the space that was, briefly, Alki Chicken and Waffles. As we reported two weeks ago, this was described as a merger – note the “Homestead Fried Chicken” on the new menu. The restaurant also sells BBQ by the pound – here’s the smoker:
Cocktails, wine, and beer, too. Hours are 9 am-9 pm, Wednesdays through Sundays, at 2738 Alki SW. It’s a spinoff of Portland catering company It’s BBQ Time, whose proprietor Dan Dyrdahl says he’s relocated here, with his mom managing the Portland operation.
Went over to check on Alki Café after an early-morning incident in its building add found it closed, no note on the door. As mentioned here earlier, SFD was called to the Alki Shores building (2724 Alki SW) just after 4 am. SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells WSB, “There was white smoke observed in the basement of the building, with power dimming to the building. Seattle City Light was called out to the scene. No reports of an active fire.”
(Anna’s Hummingbird, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WINE WEDNESDAY: Special $5 tasting at the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 2-5 pm. (6000 16th SW)
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: 4-8 pm today, Chipotle in The Junction donates part of its proceeds to WSHS student government. (4730 California SW)
TRIANGLE MEGAPROJECT MEETING: 6 pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café, meet wth the project team for the future 2-building, ~500-apartment project near Fauntleroy/Avalon. (3770 SW Alaska)
GROUP RUN + SPECIAL POST-RUN CLASS: Tonight at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), the free weekly group run at 6:15 pm will be followed by a special 7 pm class with Tamara at BendmMove a few doors down, $10, register here. (2743 California SW)
DENNY IMS PTSA MEETS IN HIGH POINT: Food at 6:30 pm, meeting at 7 pm – the Denny International Middle School PTSA meets this month at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
MADISON MS PTSA MEETING + SEX AND TECH: 6:30 pm at Madison Middle School:
Following Madison’s brief PTSA general meeting on Wednesday, February 12th, Birds and Bees and Kids founder, author, and sexual health educator, Amy Lang, MA, will talk with parents about Sex and Technology. The meeting and talk will be from 6:30pm-8pm in the Madison library. All Madison families are welcome to attend. To learn more about Amy Lang and what she offers, read more on her birdsandbeesandkids website.
(3429 45th SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, with immigration in the spotlight this month – see the agenda here. (9131 California SW)
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