DEVELOPMENT: See 4508 California SW design proposal before next week’s review

That’s the packet now available for preview before the third and potentially final Southwest Design Review Board look at 4508 California SW, the mixed-use building planned for the site of Kamei, Lee’s Asian, and Naked Crepe. It’s been a year and a half since we first reported on the plan, which initially had a bigger footprint, but was downscaled before its first SWDRB meeting in August 2018. The proposal is for a 70-foot building – 25 feet below what the site was upzoned to by HALA MHA – with ground-floor commercial beneath 12 lodging units and 58 residential units, mostly studios and 1-bedrooms.

(Rendering by Caron Architecture)

No offstreet vehicle parking is required; the proposal has 17 spaces, plus 69 stalls for bicycles. The project goes before the board at 6:30 pm Thursday, November 7th, at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon). P.S. Here’s our report on the board’s previous review a year ago.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mailboxes broken into

Manager Chris at the Westview Plaza Apartments in Morgan Junction wants to alert others to what happened at his building:

At some point late (Saturday) night or early (Sunday) morning, someone pried open all of our mailboxes (see attached – they had all been pried open, but when I took the photo some tenants had re-locked theirs)).

The building is in between Morgan Junction Park and The Bridge pub. Just thought others in this area might want to be made aware of that. A police report has been filed online but has not yet been assigned a case number.

FOLLOWUP: Tasty take for West Seattle Food Bank after Harvest Festival Chili Cookoff

In our as-it-happened West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival coverage on Sunday, we mentioned the winners of the Chili Cookoff but promised a followup – and courtesy of Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank, here it is:

WOW, this year’s Chili Cook-off at the West Seattle Junction’s Harvest Festival was bigger and better than last year for the West Seattle Food Bank. Thank you to all that purchased their tastings and ate some fabulous chili. We sold 405 tastings before the chili ran out, which was 65 more than last year, and raised $4,087 including donations.

A huge thank you to the Junction Association for allowing us to participate and to the generosity of chili & time that the nine participating businesses donated. Thank you to Duos Catering, Easy Street Cafe, Elliott Bay Brewery, Girls Gone BBQ, Husky Deli, Ma’ono, Pecos Pit BBQ, Shadowland, & The Westy. A big congratulations to Ben & Josh at Duos Catering for winning coveted bragging rights for a 3rd year in a row! And to Easy Street Café for 2nd place & Elliott Bay Brewery for 3rd place.

Each cookoff participant made and donated 5 gallons of chili as well as server time! (Photo by WSFB board member Jan Roberts)

BIZNOTE: Coastal Boutique moving to bigger new location ‘up the hill’

Another West Seattle business is moving. Received from Anne Marie @ Coastal Surf Boutique:

We have something exciting to announce. It’s been the best 16 summers on Alki and the fun isn’t stopping here.

Coastal is moving! We can’t wait to show off our new space just up the hill.

With this move, we will be able to embrace the West Seattle community even more. Our dream to host more events and offer all seasons is coming alive. We’re still your beach shop and will always have your vacation and summer needs.

Our last day on Alki will be Halloween; stop by for a treat for the kiddos and adults. We will pack up and announce doors opening on our Instagram (@coastalsurfboutique) so keep an eye out :) Planning ahead, you can shop small with us soon and come have a drink to celebrate the holidays on November 30th.

We followed up with Anne Marie by phone. The new space “up the hill” is in South Admiral, next to Alair (3270 California SW). It’s bigger, which helps with the fact that Coastal has been “busting at the seams.” It’ll enable them to run it as more of a “community space,” too.

WEST SEATTLE HALLOWEEN: Teal Pumpkin Project – who’s in?

(2015 photo by Jason Enevoldsen)

Our West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide has been missing something – a Teal Pumpkin Project mention! We got this gentle reminder this morning from Bethany in Seaview:

I was adding my house to the Teal Pumpkin Project map this morning and noticed that our lovely peninsula is a lot more sparse on food allergy free trick or treating spots than in previous years.

Does it fit anywhere in your Halloweek/Halloween reminders to let our neighbors know the map resets each year, so an address must be added again if non-food treats are continuing to be offered?

Thanks, Bethany! For a detailed TPP explanation, check out this 2018 story contributed to WSB by Alice Enevoldsen.

FOLLOWUP: What the city plans for temporary off-leash area at Westcrest Park

October 28, 2019 11:07 am
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: What the city plans for temporary off-leash area at Westcrest Park
 |   Highland Park | Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The temporary off-leash area planned at Westcrest Park next year will be the city’s first, according to Seattle Parks.

That’s part of what the project briefing at HPAC‘s October meeting revealed.

As first reported here in August, West Seattle’s only off-leash area will be closed for months next year while a persistent drainage problem is fixed. Earlier this month, Parks announced a plan to set up a temporary off-leash area north of the Westcrest P-Patch.

Parks’ Emily Griffith was at the HPAC meeting to talk about the plan and listen to community comments.

She said that the drainage project is important because “Westcrest floods pretty regularly” and that’s led to problems including erosion. Regrading will be part of the half-million-dollar project, as will fencing repairs and, while they’re there, accessibility improvements in the north parking lot.

As originally promised, the current “small/shy dog area” will remain open in addition to the planned temporary area, which is “open lawn” right now but will get temporary fencing. It will be restored to “lawn” after the six-months-or-so construction is complete and the regular off-leash area is reopened.

Questions and comments started with one attendee wondering whether the project will include lighting improvements. Answer: No.

What about using another area of Westcrest? Explanation: Much of the big grassy space atop the park is the lid of the underground reservoir (buried 10 years ago – here’s what it looked like, underground too, before that), a Seattle Public Utilities facility, and that can’t be used for an off-leash area. They can’t use trails, because those would have to be fenced.

Did you consider the city-owned Myers Way Parcels? asked HPAC chair Gunner Scott, especially if Camp Second Chance leaves that space in March? No, they hadn’t.

Dates aren’t finalized yet but the Westcrest construction is expected to last about half a year, “spring through fall” of 2020. The project webpage is here.

ADDED: Here’s what the city showed at the meeting, to pinpoint what’ll happen where:

7 for your West Seattle Monday!

(Anna’s Hummingbird, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Welcome to October’s last Monday! First, from the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide, one listing for tonight:

JACK O’LANTERNS APLENTY: ~100 carved pumpkins on display! (5230 SW Dakota)

And from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LINCOLN PARK WALK: 10 am with Sound Steps. Meet in the center of the north parking lot. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

PUZZLE ROOM CHALLENGE: 4-7 pm, drop-in activity at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

COLLEGE & RESOURCE FAIR: 4:30-7:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point:

The general public, including teens and adults 18 and older, are welcome. Meet with college and university representatives from Seattle and around Washington. The event includes mini-workshops, including learning how to apply and pay for college, information sessions include information on SAT/ACT, Essay Writing, FAFSA.

(6400 Sylvan Way SW)

3 TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHTS: Listings for these three Monday night options!
*Best of Hands Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW), 7 pm, $2/person, 21+
*The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm, free, all ages
*Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Oregon), 8 pm, $2/person, 21+

MORE AS ALWAYS …. for all ages; see our complete calendar!

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:02 AM: Good morning. Transit alerts to report – Metro says the 7:05 and 7:30 am Route 55 departures “will not operate this morning” and also just sent an after-the-fact message that the 6:05 am Route 56 did not run.

WATER TAXI: Reminder that the West Seattle route is now on its fall/winter schedule.

FERRIES: Reminder that the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on a 2-boat schedule this week.

8:55 AM: From the scanner, “a concrete truck” is blocking NB traffic at 48th/Erskine.

WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Last Sunday of Daylight Saving Time, with sub-freezing nights on the way

(Photo by Chris Frankovich)

Thanks for the photos from tonight’s sunset! One West Seattleite even sent an aerial view:

Two things worth noting:

-This was the last Sunday of Daylight Saving Time this year; 2 am next Sunday (November 3rd), we “fall back” an hour and move into Pacific Standard Time.

-If you have a vehicle parked outdoors, you might need your ice scraper. Tonight’s low is forecast in the 30s, then possibly into the 20s Monday and Tuesday nights.

(Photo by Marc Milrod)

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: More Sound Transit testing this week

October 27, 2019 7:22 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: More Sound Transit testing this week
 |   Sound Transit | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Pigeon Point, July 2018)

As Sound Transit‘s environmental studies for West Seattle light rail continue, it’s announced the next round of drilling for soii tests:

Starting as early as Thursday, Oct. 31, Sound Transit plans to begin drilling to collect soil samples for analysis near the 19th Ave SW and SW Charlestown St intersection … This work will inform our analysis of the alternatives along the north slope of Pigeon Point that we are studying in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Additional borings in this area will occur in the coming months; we will keep you informed as that work is scheduled.

See the full flyer here (PDF) or below:

Sound Transit has already done some testing on Pigeon Point.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Apartment-building search

ORIGINAL REPORT, SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Thanks for the texted tip about the big police response at The Huxley (4754 Fauntleroy Way SW). We went over to ask. Police told us they got a report of a possible burglary in the building, and the suspect may still be in the building, so they are searching with a K(. No other details.

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: Still some details we haven’t been able to get, but we did confirm with SPD that one man was arrested. The 49-year-old suspect is in jail right now, held for investigation of drug violations as well as on a warrant related to a prior case.

PHOTOS: Fauntleroy Fall Festival 2019

2:53 PM: We’ve been talking for more than a week about Fauntleroy Creek salmon. This afternoon, you can celebrate them by making a salmon hat at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival. Or if you’re more interested in birds – don’t miss the raptors behind The Hall at Fauntleroy!

Also a petting zoo:

And pony rides:

Maybe you’d rather sit and listen to music. That’s happening indoors as well as outdoors:

(That’s the Hilltop Jazz Project.) From Seattle Fire and Police, Engine 37 and the Mobile Precinct are visiting:

They’re in the church parking lot, as are opportunities to bounce and climb:

Inside the church/Y building, other attractions – cakes!

The decorated-cake contest judging is concluding, while the cakewalk is about to begin. The West Seattle Community Orchestras “instrument petting zoo” is inside Fauntleroy Church too:

This festival’s on until 5 pm – here’s info, including a map. More photos later.

ADDED 7:52 PM: More of what made the festival educational as well as fun – you could talk with Fauntleroy Watershed Council members:

Or learn about preparedness:

We almost forgot to talk about the food – from Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering squash soup to the famous Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) sliders:

The festival is presented by a coalition of Fauntleroy organizations and businesses.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen silver CR-V

October 27, 2019 1:50 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen silver CR-V
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

From Kate:

My friend’s 1999 Honda CRV was stolen last night in front of his house 3200 block of 44th Ave SW between midnight and 10 am. WA License BMA6382. Police report was made. These are pictures of the year/model/color of his car (but not his actual car.) Please call police if you see it. It has this decal on the driver’s side rear window.

AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival 2019!

October 27, 2019 10:03 am
|    Comments Off on AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival 2019!
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(Festival info/map here … Bus reroute info here …)

10:03 AM: Not only is the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on in The Junction as always … so is the Harvest Festival, with a bonus block of activities on California south to Edmunds … both until 2 pm! Our as-it-happens coverage starts now.

The Chili Cookoff is on, at the KeyBank corner – $10 gets you 9 tastes and a vote, and the money goes to the West Seattle Food Bankthe contenders are right behind the booth:

The weather is clear but chilly so bundle up! The sun will be a little higher in the sky by Costume Parade time at 11:30. We’re already seeing lots of costumes:

We’re in the Info Booth at California/Alaska – right across from us at the south end of the Farmers’ Market block, you’ll find the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, who would be happy to sell you advance tickets to their December 7th pancake breakfast!

11:12 AM: Lots of people here enjoying the festival. If you are here for the parade, gather at Junction Plaza Park, where the West Seattle High School Band is warming up. Meantime, activities continue on the block south of Alaska throughout the festival:

Above, Titans Lacrosse; below, Mode Music Studios.

Above, Westside School (which is a WSB sponsor as are the Titans and Mode); below, West City Rope Ninjas. 50 businesses, schools, and organizations are here with activities:

11:54 PM: The parade, which circles the Farmers’ Market block, has just wrapped up. The band had an appropriate song:

Now it’s trick-or-treat time – businesses as well as booths! P.S. If you’re looking for something more savory, chili’s still available last time we checked the cookoff booth. Right next to it on the west side of California/Alaska is the Cider/Cocoa Garden, $2 for either.

Festival and Market both continue until 2 pm.

12:51 PM: Costume-watching continues, as does trick-or-treating – visit your Junction merchants too – they sponsor the festival through the Junction Association!

Above, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor); below, Curious Kidstuff:

Along with the merchants, thanks to the many volunteers here today too! Events coming up: Around 1:30 pm, the chili vote winner will be announced; that’s also when the kids’ pie-eating contest (all spots filled, we’re told) will be happening here at the Info Booth (California/Alaska).

1:23 PM: Lots of costumed pets as well as people. CJ sent these photos of “Pope Leo” and “Stuart Little”:

1:34 PM: The Chili Cookoff vote results are in:
Duos #1
Easy Street #2
Elliott Bay #3

(Matt from Easy Street and Ben from Duos, with Judi from WSFB)

Almost 400 ballots cast — great support for the WS Food Bank (official tally later)!

1:54 PM: Festival’s almost over – here’s a bit of how the pie-eating contest went:

(added) Here’s Chris with winners Connor, Seth, and Arthur:

8:10 PM: A few photos added inline above, and below:

Above – name that costume! Below, from the WSHS Band leading the parade:

The littlest kids’ costumes were some of the cutest:

Thanks to everybody for coming down and being part of the festival!

2 big festivals and more for your West Seattle Sunday!

(Golden-crowned Kinglet, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Again today, we start the highlight list with what’s in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide:

HARVEST FESTIVAL: West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm. Held concurrently with the Farmers’ Market, adding an extra block to the usual street closure on California SW, plus SW Alaska on both sides of California. Kids’ activities (arts, crafts, games), Chili Cookoff, Cider/Cocoa Garden, 11:30 am costume parade led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band, noon trick-or-treating. Full preview here.

SEASONAL GLASS ART: Art Glass Pumpkin Patch at Avalon Glassworks in Luna Park: Hundreds of handmade glass pumpkins. 10 am-5 pm; watch live glass-blowing starting at 11 am! (2914 SW Avalon Way)

FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: 2 pm-5 pm, pumpkin-painting, birdhouse-making, other kids’ activities, pony rides, raptor education, petting zoo, cakewalk, food and drink, music, more. In and around the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse/Church/Y. Full preview here. (9100 block of California SW)

WHITE CENTER TRICK-OR-TREATING: Trick-or-treat in downtown White Center, at participating businesses, 2-5 pm. (16th SW south of Roxbury, and vicinity)

Also happening today/tonight:

DROP-OFF FOOD DRIVE FOR PEOPLE & PETS: Joseph Meats‘ food drive continues today – drop off donations outside his house in Arbor Heights! (9910 34th SW)

CASPAR BABYPANTS: First show in new Sunday concert series at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 1 pm. (9131 California SW)

OPEN BLUEGRASS JAM: 6 pm monthly jam at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

JAZZ: 8 pm at The Alley, music with The Triangular Jazztet. 21+. (4509 California SW)

SUNDAY PREVIEW: Fauntleroy Fall Festival highlights

October 26, 2019 9:09 pm
|    Comments Off on SUNDAY PREVIEW: Fauntleroy Fall Festival highlights
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Second half of Sunday’s festival doubleheader is in Fauntleroy:

2-5 pm tomorrow, that’s where you’ll find fun for all ages at the >Fauntleroy Fall Festival, which we’ve also been previewing. One last look at toplines:

Where – 9100 block of California SW [map]
Venues – In and around Fauntleroy Church and YMCA on the east side of the street, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse/The Hall at Fauntleroy
Road closures? No. Crossing guard will stop traffic for festivalgoers going between venues
Bus – The C Line stops right at the festival site
Pre-festival concert – Not part of the festival but reminder that Caspar Babypants is performing at 1 pm at the schoolhouse
Cake dropoffs – Entering a decorated cake in the contest, and/or donating to the cakewalk? Info’s here
Schedules – Performance and activity lists, with times, are here
Salmon – Learn about Fauntleroy Creek from Fauntleroy Watershed Council volunteers

All free, except concessions (and the pre-festival concert).

SUNDAY PREVIEW: What you need to know about going to the 2019 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival

October 26, 2019 8:05 pm
|    Comments Off on SUNDAY PREVIEW: What you need to know about going to the 2019 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Festival doubleheader tomorrow, so we have one last round of previews tonight.

First up on Sunday is the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm, concurrent with the Farmers’ Market. The highlights:

Street closure – California between Oregon and Edmunds, Alaska between 42nd and 44th
Bus reroutesListed here
Activities – Businesses, schools, and organizations’ booths are mostly on California south of Alaska. 10 am-2 pm
Chili cookoff – $10 (benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank) for a flight of nine tastes and a ballot, California/Alaska, starting at 10 am
Applepalooza – Taste and vote at the Market, starting at 10 am
Cocoa/cider garden – $2, on Alaska west of California
Family costume parade – Everyone welcome! West Seattle High School Marching Band leads the way. Meet at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska); starts at 11:30 am
Trick-or-treating – Noon, at participating Junction businesses + festival Info Booth
Kids’ pie-eating contest – 1:30 pm, Info Booth

We’ll be in the Info Booth with as-it-happens coverage, so check WSB for festival updates. See you in The Junction!

HIGHWAY 99: Tolling in 2 weeks; Viaduct remainders

Two Highway 99 notes tonight:

(That’s about to change! WSB photo from August)

TUNNEL TOLLING IN 2 WEEKS: Saturday, November 9th, is now just two weeks away, and that’s the day WSDOT plans to start tolling the tunnel, nine months after it opened. Toll rates are here – extra charges if you don’t have a Good To Go! sticker pass and account, as explained here. There’s still time to get the sticker free by going here.

VIADUCT REMAINDERS: If you thought the Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition was complete – not so, explains WSDOT here. [corrected link]

WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: That’s not rain, it’s seaspray

Thanks to Ron for tweeting the video from Alki as this afternoon’s high tide approached, with wind out of the north. Good news – the clear weather is forecast to continue tomorrow (West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival and Fauntleroy Fall Festival day) and maybe even on through Halloween!

4:37 PM: Thanks to JayDee for the photo:

VIDEO: West Seattle Monster Dash 2019 launches Hallo-weekend

October 26, 2019 3:01 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: West Seattle Monster Dash 2019 launches Hallo-weekend
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos/video)

Something new at the West Seattle Monster Dash this year – the addition of a Family Fun Zone meant this morning’s event in Lincoln Park was about more than dashing. The 5K, however, was still the main event:

This year’s turnout to support West Seattle Cooperative Preschools was more than 430, bigger than last year. Here are some of the costumes we noticed:

This was the eighth West Seattle Monster Dash – first one was back in 2012.

WEEKEND SCENE: Visiting Fauntleroy Creek for a chance to see salmon

In the week since the annual gathering by Fauntleroy Creek to call the coho home, 13 have responded. You might see one or more of them at the “open creek” happening until 3 pm today. We stopped by and saw one.

Volunteer creek-watchers report one pair has spawned so far in this season of celebrating 25 years since “Harry and Louise,” the creek’s first modern-day spawners following a major restoration project. For today’s open creek, follow the driveway along SW Director just east of upper Fauntleroy [map], and look for the sign pointing you to the stairway down. Whether you get there or not, you can talk with Fauntleroy Watershed Council volunteers during tomorrow’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival (9100 block of California SW), 2-5 pm.

ALL WEEKEND: Help this young West Seattleite stop hunger

Five years ago, we told you about then-8-year-old Joseph Meats going door to door collecting donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. Now he’s a teenager and still working to stop hunger – and this weekend, you can help. His family sent the photo and word that he’s set up outside 9910 34th SW in Arbor Heights [map] collecting drop-off donations of food for people and pets. Here’s the list of what’s most needed:

WEEKEND SCENE: West Seattle Thriftway Kids’ Halloween Party

October 26, 2019 11:15 am
|    Comments Off on WEEKEND SCENE: West Seattle Thriftway Kids’ Halloween Party
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Young shoppers at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) are invited to the annual Kids’ Halloween Party, now until 1 pm. Look for the table on the north side of the store, where mini-pumpkin decorating is happening, and treat bags await. Thriftway is at California/Fauntleroy/Morgan.