West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
9:54 AM: We’re in the gym at Southwest Teen Life Center, where the Delridge Projects Workshop is just getting under way – and if you’re not here yet, it’s not at all too late. Until about 10 am, people are wandering around checking out info-easels on the three “projects” in question – involving transportation, neighborhood planning, and “natural drainage” (raingardens and more). Then the agenda says about 15 minutes of introductions will follow, and then people who are here will get to spend 30 minutes finding out and talking about each of the “projects” – whenever you get here, just drop in on one of the sessions, which are scattered around the gym. It’s slated to wrap up at 11:45 am with entertainment – a performance by local youth. We’re checking out the transportation project first and will add some notes as this goes along.
10:09 AM: “The fact that you’re here shows that Delridge is on the move,” said Willard Brown of Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, co-emceeing the introduction, including acknowledging members of a community advisory team that’s been working on all this. This gathering itself is another in the city’s series of experiments with different formats of “community engagement” – city officials have been heard to acknowledge that it’s hard to draw people to a standard-format community meeting, so they’re trying a variety of formats (and a lot of surveys!) to see what works. We talked with one rep here who said that they’ve reached out by sending someone door-to-door to personally talk with residents, and in another area of the city, attendees at a meeting like this almost invariably said they’d heard about it from the person who showed up at their doors.
10:25 AM: We’re sitting in on the “Delridge Multi-Modal Corridor” presentation first with SDOT’s Sara Zora, who reminds everyone that the speed limit on Delridge will change to 30 mph this year. A table in this corner is making the presentation simultaneously in Vietnamese (as seen in part of our Instagram clip above). Timeline for this project: “Conceptual designs and evaluation of alternatives” August-December, another phase of “public engagement” starting in January, and design stretching over most of 2016. Then it’s on to small-table discussions; here, one group is offering suggestions as well as critiques of current conditions along and just off Delridge.
10:42 AM UPDATE: The format might not be allowing as much time as these discussions need – it seems this table is just getting going, barely 10 minutes of talking, when bells are ringing and announcements are declaring everyone needs to wrap it up and move to another “station.” Acoustics in here are a challenge. We’re moving over to the “Natural Drainage Systems” station – raingardens, bioswales, Combined Sewer Overflow-reduction projects have been talked about a lot in West Seattle in the past five-plus years, and here the specific focus is to reduce pollution (much of which comes from rainwater runoff) in Longfellow Creek. … Update: The map here has marked streets that might be good candidates for “natural drainage” but the city reps are hoping participants will help them identify the best candidates – maybe synergizing with other priority projects, for example. People have asked about other projects – the CSO work at Delridge/Orchard, the RainWise offerings in the county’s project areas – and the city reps have explained those too.
11:11 AM: A lot of what the “natural drainage” team is hearing so far has to do with concerns about lack of sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities in the area – one woman is telling them it’s “unconscionable” for the city to be spending money on raingardens instead of installing sidewalks in areas where they’re missing. On the positive side, side conversations are starting between neighbors who might not have met before – one involved community gardening, for example. Now it’s on to the third “station,” which for us is the North Delridge Action Plan.
11:51 AM: The Action Plan station consisted entirely of small conversations – two, three people – near the easels about specific “nodes” in North Delridge (the Brandon Node business district-let, the Campus Node in the Delridge Community Center/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center area, the Sylvan/Orchard Node area, etc.). Now the event is wrapping with the preview of the Rec-Tech program youth-media-program-produced video about Delridge; the full version will be shown during the Delridge Day festival in August.
(Seattle Chinese Garden from the air, by Long Bach Nguyen. Open today, 11:30 am-5 pm!)
We start today’s preview with a transportation reminder:
METRO TRANSIT SCHEDULE CHANGES TODAY: That includes service addition/restoration from what you’re paying via voter-approved Prop. 1. Our West Seattle breakdown is here.
Now, the highlights of what else is happening, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE LIONS PANCAKE BREAKFAST: 8 am-11 am at the Senior Center of West Seattle, $6/person at the door, no advance tickets required; details here.
TLC FOR LINCOLN PARK: 9 am, meet Friends of Lincoln Park in the main lot; wear long sleeves/pants and sturdy shoes/boots. (Fauntleroy & Rose)
DELRIDGE PROJECTS WORKSHOP: 3-in-1 way to talk about how you’d like to see eastern West Seattle improve, explained here. 9:30-noon at Southwest Teen Life Center. (2801 SW Thistle)
CAR WASH: 9:30 am-3:30 pm at the West Seattle Eagles lot in The Junction, $10 car washes to benefit the Seattle Lutheran High School cheer squad. (4426 California SW)
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING GIVEAWAY: 10 am-2 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center; details in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way)
BE A SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUNTEER: 11 am-1 pm, be at the Log House Museum to find out why you can help without having to be a history expert. Lots of ways to help the volunteer-powered Southwest Seattle Historical Society. (61st/Stevens)
BARBECUE COOKOFF BENEFIT FOR FOOD BANKS: 11:30 am-2:30 pm at Daystar Retirement Village, come have a barbecue lunch and help the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. Everybody welcome! Info here. (2615 SW Barton)
KITTY HARBOR’S FIRST WEEKEND: West Seattle’s nonprofit cat/kitten adoption center is officially open for the season, noon-5 pm; details here. (3422 Harbor SW)
COLMAN POOL: Another pre-season weekend starts today at the outdoor pool on the shore of Lincoln Park – noon-7 pm; see the schedule here.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: First free tour at 1, last at 3:40, with U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. (3201 Alki SW)
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL ALL-SCHOOL REUNION: 2 pm, sign in at WSHS; 3-5:30 pm, gather with your fellow WSHS alums, as detailed in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA: If you notice the sailboats in the bay this afternoon – the fundraising Leukemia Cup Regatta starts from Magnolia at 2 pm.
FOR WINE LOVERS: 3-8 pm at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), last of three days for the Northwest Wine Academy‘s spring-release event. North end of campus. (6000 16th SW)
MEET AUTHOR ARLEEN WILLIAMS: 3-6 pm, she’ll be at Beveridge Place Pub, as previewed in our Friday look at upcoming author events. (6413 California SW)
FUNDRAISER FOR CSWS: The Community School of West Seattle‘s scholarship fund is the beneficiary of a night of fun at Emerald City Trapeze Arts, starting at 6 pm – details here. (2702 6th Ave. S.)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: Doors at 6:30 pm for “Do the Math,” movie at 7 followed by discussion and community announcements; details in our calendar listing. Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
BON-FULTON @ C & P: 7-9 pm, C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) hosts live music, no cover. (5612 California SW)
AND OF COURSE THERE’S EVEN MORE … if you check our calendar.
One last set of scenes from Friday night before we move on to Saturday – lanterns and lights in a variety of forms, on the shore and the bay.
This was from the “illuminated flotilla” procession marking World Environment Day, following a concert presented by the Vashon-based Backbone Campaign on the protest barge “Solar Pioneer” off Don Armeni. We counted about 30 kayaks as well as the sailboat above.
Seattle Police Harbor Patrol was in evidence throughout (and we saw the Coast Guard’s smaller vessels in the early going)
On shore, lights included giant tulips as well as these salmon:
The kayaks eventually paddled past Seacrest, toward Jack Block, then turned around.
For those who’ve been asking about the concerts and events on the barge, which apparently have been audible all the way up the hill into Admiral, the ShellNo website lists a “jazz band” for tonight, no further details.
When we previewed the four-month “Duwamish Revealed” art project last weekend, our introduction happened to be signs that were turning heads at Jack Block Park. But what’s “revealed” in this exploration is so much more, as shown off during opening night Friday, not in West Seattle but right across the water at T-108 Park – a triple-digit crowd came to see the cargo-container sculpture called Estuary, by Christian French.
We stopped by for a quick look just before sunset, as showgoers were getting ready for live performances at the site (which will be home to many – next one in two weeks). This is just one of the installations you can check out, at sites from West Seattle to Tukwila – explore the official website to consider where to go and what to see in the megaproject coordinated by artistic directors Nicole Kistler and Sarah Kavage.
Such a busy Friday night, we didn’t get to stop by the West Seattle Tool Library for this visit of a past and potentially future presidential candidate – but thanks to Chas Redmond for sharing the photo of Dr. Jill Stein. He says about 25 people were there to hear from and talk with her in the North Delridge evening sunshine. Dr. Stein was the Green Party‘s candidate in 2012 and with 456,169 votes became “the most successful female presidential candidate in U.S. history.” She formed an exploratory committee earlier this year to consider seeking the Green Party nomination again for 2016.
(Added: Photos by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
10:54 PM: Don’t know yet what they’re looking for, but police are searching the Broadstone Sky construction site at 40th/Edmunds right now – thanks to the people who texted us that tip. And we’re mentioning it because you are likely to see/hear the Guardian One helicopter in the area shortly if you’re not already – they happened to be up and available, so they offered to help. If/when we find out more, we’ll update.
11:42 PM UPDATE: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli went over to see what more he could find out. Police told him they started searching the site after neighbors called to say they were hearing noises – they were still looking when he left. Guardian One didn’t spot anyone but the police officers at the site.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
ADMIRAL GUNFIRE: What sounded like gunshots just before midnight last night in the 2600 block of 45th SW (map) did turn out to be gunshots – but neighbors didn’t know for about 18 hours.
A neighbor who heard them texted us after calling police. Via scanner, we heard officers dispatched to check them out, but heard nothing more, until seeing an SPD auto-tweet this afternoon mentioning “property damage” in that same block. We texted our original tipster to ask if they’d ever found evidence of gunshots. She went out to check – and discovered shell casings had turned up in the street. We were in the area so we stopped by the neighborhood to photograph the shell casings in the street and planting strip as neighbors waited for police to return. Turned out, they told us, the “property damage” was a shot-out car window down the block (no photo, as we couldn’t find it), close to the far southwestern corner of the back playground at Lafayette Elementary. Silver lining to the non-silver bullets: Neighbors who hadn’t met before were out in the street getting acquainted.
UPDATE: We have since heard from the owner of the car window hit by a bullet, who sent this photo:
While the windshield wasn’t technically “shot out,” they pointed out, it still has to be replaced.
(back to original report) 18TH/BARTON ROBBERY: Also early this morning, an e-mail question came in about a SPD tweet logged as “armed street robbery” on Thursday evening in the same area that was the topic of a discussion by neighbors and police at a community-council meeting this week. We hadn’t heard anything about it at the time but have since procured the report from SPD. The robbery was reported to have happened around 4:15 pm; officers finally found the victim a few blocks from the scene around 5:30 pm and reported that he seemed intoxicated and did not want to file a report. Nonetheless, they wrote one from what few details he had given – that two people described only as “Hispanic males” had held him up at knifepoint and taken a gold ring and glasses from him. They asked the victim repeatedly if he felt safe staying in the area, and said he would not answer.
CAR PROWL IN NEW GARAGE: First Crime Watch reader report since the Spruce/LA Fitness underground garage at 39th/Alaska opened recently: Jim e-mailed to say, “My Subaru Outback was broken into on Thursday evening between 8 and 8:30 pm June 4. I was on the p1 level under the new LA Fitness club in West Seattle. Two windows were broken out and a backpack stolen.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
What’s happening on a lot in the 8400 block of 41st/42nd SW in Upper Fauntleroy isn’t your standard case of one house down, two bigger houses go up, neighbors get upset. Even a city spokesperson calls it “egregious” – a house going up without a permit, on a site first approved just for a larger garage.
We hadn’t heard anything about this site since mentioning it here one year ago, until neighbors contacted us earlier this week.
After the site and its old brick house were sold last year, a lot split was sought. The new owner built a house on the south side, at 8437 41st SW. For the north side, the owner filed an application in October for a permit granted in January to build a “2,258-square-foot, 35-foot-tall detached underground garage,” at 8454 42nd SW.
A neighbor wrote in e-mail, “In January 2015, the construction began. The 35-foot detached garage was striking in this neighborhood of single-family homes. However, once the garage was completed, the building continued first with one level of living space, followed by a second, and then a week ago, on May 27, 2015, yet a third level of living space was added to this structure. Now this structure, permitted as a detached garage, is a four-story, 10,000 square foot monstrosity. Additionally, the property has 42nd Ave on the westside and 41st Ave on the eastside. On both streets, the structure has clearly marked garages.” Atop this story is the 42nd SW side; here’s the 41st side:
Neighbors complained to the city Department of Planning and Development, which confirms it posted a “stop-work order” on Tuesday.
Whirlwind round of five quick West Seattle biznotes:
SOUND CREDIT UNION TO THE JUNCTION: Discovered via city online files that one of the retail spaces at 4730 California (WSB sponsor) is set for Sound Credit Union. No details from SCU yet but they acknowledged our request for info. The first retail space leased at 4730, you might recall, is going to house Chipotle Mexican Grill.
JUNCTION STARBUCKS UPDATE: Diane asked in a comment when the new shop set for Junction 47 at California/Alaska (first reported here in February) will open. “Later this summer,” a Starbucks spokesperson tells us. They’re going to start the build-out week after next – tentatively set for June 15th – so you might finally see some “coming soon” signs (in fact, they’ve just applied for sign-installation permits). She could not tell us anything more about the plan, yet. The store will cover more than 2,000 square feet.
SPEAKING OF COFFEE … that’s part of what’s new as West Seattle Brewing Company at 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW in The Triangle reopens today (3 pm) after more than 2 months. Owner Drew Locke had told us back in March that espresso was on the way as well as wine, cider, and food.
ALSO NEW – NIBBLES FOOD TRUCK: Thanks to Eddie for the photo of Nibbles, the new West Seattleite-owned trailer-style food truck that’s planning to be in the West Seattle Eagles parking lot a few days a week:
Here’s the Nibbles menu. They’ve already closed for the day in WS but they’re traveling around the South King County area – having opened in Burien yesterday and going to the Des Moines Farmers’ Market tomorrow.
BEEHIVE SALON: The second retail tenant in Oregon 42 at 42nd/Oregon, Beehive Salon, south of/next to Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor), is now open. We first reported back in March that this “Aveda-concept salon” had leased the space for its second location (first one is in Wallingford).
Thanks to Brice for pointing this out – the next step as Sound Transit works toward its next money-raising ballot measure, dubbed “Sound Transit 3,” includes a survey just made public. If you’re interested in seeing Sound Transit prioritize light rail for West Seattle – or if you’d rather see something else – tell them! The survey starts here.
BACKSTORY: While ST designated West Seattle as a “potential light-rail corridor” when updating its Long-Range Plan last December (WSB coverage here), that didn’t come with any guarantees – the agency would have to settle on a plan and on funding to make it happen, and this is far from the only area it’s considering including in the 2016 ballot measure.
(Substituted Friday night: Jean Sherrard‘s panorama, courtesy SWSHS – see WSB view at story’s end)
ORIGINAL 11:13 AM REPORT: We’re on the lawn at the Alki Homestead / Fir Lodge, where a short ceremony and photo op has just wrapped up, to mark the start of the Homestead’s restoration.
(WSB Instagram clip as students arrived at the Homestead; more visuals on IG)
Students from Alki and Schmitz Park Elementaries walked over here to be part of a “group hug for the Homestead” photo coordinated by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
Joining them were two West Seattleites serving in county and city government, County Executive Dow Constantine and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.
The Homestead’s new owner, Dennis Schilling, was here too, and SWSHS executive director Clay Eals (with Rasmussen and Constantine in the photo added above) emceed.
From the two schools’ leadership: SPES assistant principal Liora Minkin and Alki principal Shannon Stanton:
P.S. This was also an anniversary of sorts – one year ago tomorrow, these same two schools gathered a half-block away outside the Log House Museum – home to SWSHS and the Homestead/Fir Lodge’s former carriage house – to celebrate the unveiling of the restored Admiral Way totem pole that now stands on the east side of the LHM’s grounds.
ADDED 1:30 PM: Adding photos, and our video of the quick speeches will follow (about 15 minutes total – added 7:21 pm, below).
(Added Saturday – the SWSHS version, shot from above)
Councilmember Rasmussen led the crowd in a chant about bringing back the Homestead’s famous fried chicken (new owner Schilling has said he’s not sure yet what kind of business the restored lodge will be home to); Executive Constantine told the kids to be sure to smile, since the photo will be part of history, and noted that while he’s a Schmitz Park alum, he’s not sure where his daughter Sabrina will be going in four years, since his house is on the Alki/Lafayette line.
(Constellation Park photo by Lynn Hall)
Good morning! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for the rest of today/tonight:
MORNING FYI: Students from two local elementaries are walking to Alki this morning for a Southwest Seattle Historical Society photo-op at the Homestead. Watch for photos here later (and/or check out the WSB Instagram feed for sneak peeks)!
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.3 feet at 1:30 pm.
SARAH FOX @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble – as previewed in our early-morning roundup of local authors’ upcoming events – Sarah Fox will read from her book “Downwind: A People’s History of the Nuclear West.” Full details on the series-presenting Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s website. (2800 SW Barton)
CORNER BAR AT HPIC: The monthly pop-up bar at the Highland Park Improvement Club is tonight, featuring McTuff and DJ Rich – details on the HPIC website. (12th/Holden)
‘DUWAMISH REVEALED’ OPENING: Not in West Seattle, but the 4-month, multiple-location “Duwamish Revealed” art project – previewed here last weekend – has its grand opening tonight at 7 pm with a sound and sculpture show at the site dubbed The Estuary. (4651 Diagonal Ave. S.)
FLOTILLA & CONCERT: 6-10 pm tonight, this webpage says organizers of the ongoing anti-Shell demonstrations will present a concert on the “Solar Pioneer/People’s Platform” barge off Don Armeni Boat Ramp, and a demonstration flotilla with kayakers carrying lanterns. (1222 Harbor SW)
POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE’S VISIT: 7 pm at West Seattle Tool Library, Dr. Jill Stein, described as the Green Party‘s potential presidential candidate (she was its nominee in 2012), will visit for a meet-and-greet. If you can’t be there for the entire event, her presentation is scheduled at around 7:30 pm, with dessert potluck at 8:15, Q/A at 8:30. WSTL is on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
MORE … just check our calendar!
After almost six years, the verdict is in for the killer of Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton, a West Seattle High School graduate. KIRO TV reports (as do other regional news organizations) that a King County Superior Court jury has found Christopher Monfort guilty of murdering Officer Brenton, 39, in Leschi on Halloween night 2009. Monfort was also found guilty of attempted murder and arson; the latter charge is from a firebombing at a city facility downtown that damaged/destroyed vehicles including a mobile command unit that had been used in this area (and is just now finally being replaced). (added) Our partners at The Seattle Times report that a jury will next decide whether Monfort’s sentence will be life in prison, or death.
(SCROLL DOWN for updates on protest near T-5)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:39 AM: Good morning. We start the day with word that the entrance to the bridge on Delridge Way is or has been affected by anti-Shell protesters (thanks for the text). We had mentioned here earlier this week that “land blockades” were promised starting today; one subsequent update had said protesters would be gathering at Delridge Community Center Park this morning and heading toward Terminal 5 right about now. Per what we’re hearing on the scanner, police are with them. We’re on our way to find out more.
6:58 AM UPDATE: We’re on scene; about 30 protesters are blocking West Marginal on the north side of Spokane, the side that leads to Terminal 5, not in the eastbound direction.
This is NOT currently affecting travel unless you are T-5 bound. Note that you are likely to see/hear TV helicopters in the area as they get word of this.
(Also note, looking ahead, as we reported on Wednesday, a nighttime demonstration flotilla is planned off Don Armeni tonight.)
7:22 AM UPDATE: We’re continuing to monitor the rest of the commute, too, and it’s quiet so far. Meantime, the West Marginal protest on the north side of Spokane St. (east of Chelan Café) continues. Organizers had said this weekend is pivotal because the Shell vessels could leave for the Arctic as soon as next week. They also have protests scheduled Saturday and Monday.
7:47 AM: The five-way intersection there is important as a bicycle route to the low bridge.
Our crew confirms that bicycle riders are getting through just fine, too (photo added, above).
8:15 AM: The group is now heading BACK south onto Delridge; bicycle and motorcycle police are accompanying them to try to keep roads from being blocked. So if you’re heading toward the bridge via Delridge, you might consider waiting a bit.
8:43 AM: All clear now. Potential repeat this afternoon according to this Facebook event page.
4:01 PM: Protesters were planning to gather near the west end of the low bridge to strategize about possibly trying to blockade Terminal 5 before a shift that they say starts at 4:30 pm. Police on bicycles were spotted heading that way about an hour ago. We’ll have a separate story IF anything happens affecting general traffic. Otherwise, check back here.
Five notes about West Seattle writers – starting with an event tonight:
Words, Writers & West Seattle presents … from Avenue Collection on Vimeo.
SARAH FOX @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: First Friday of the month means it’s the night that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society presents WWWS at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble. 5-7 pm, meet and hear from Sarah Fox, who’ll read from her book “Downwind: A People’s History of the Nuclear West.” (The clip above is her video invitation.)
ARLEEN WILLIAMS AT BPP: 3-6 pm Saturday (June 6th), stop by Beveridge Place Pub to join in the celebration of Arleen Williams‘ completion of her Alki Trilogy, explained on the second page of the event flyer:
BPP is at 6413 California SW.
WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES – KIDS’ NIGHT! 6 pm Wednesday, June 17th, at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), the next WordsWest Literary Series event will help young readers put together their summer reading list. And it’ll feature authors whose work they’ll want to read if they haven’t already – Sundee T. Frazier and father/daughter team Dr. Charles Johnson and Elisheba Johnson.
MEET AUTHORS AT MORGAN JUNCTION FESTIVAL: 10:30 am-6 pm on Saturday, June 20th, one of the new features at this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival: Meet local authors! It’s a long list already, and you can see it in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLEITE’S COOKBOOK: Ron Merlin e-mailed to let us know he’s published a cookbook and has a signing event set for August 1st. Not in West Seattle, but this is enough lead time to plan! The signing will be at Victrola Coffee Roasters, 411 15th Avenue East. Merlin says, “I’m hoping folks will come and I would love to meet them, and provide them with a signed copy of my effort over the last six years.”
Heads up if you use the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch of the Seattle Public Library – it’ll have some work going on throughout the summer, with a two-week closure in September. Here’s the SPL announcement of what’s going to happen:
Exterior construction work to improve access to the West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. SW, is scheduled to start Monday, June 15 and continue for about 14 weeks. The branch will be open during most of the project.
The parking stalls on the north end of the lot will close Monday, June 15 and be unavailable throughout the project. One stall on the south end will be designated for use by people with disabilities and a temporary ramp will be installed from the lot to the main entrance. The ramp to the lower-level meeting room will be unavailable from Saturday, July 4 through Friday, July 17 while it is being replaced.
The branch and the book drop are expected to close for about two weeks in early to mid-September while the front steps are being replaced. A specific closure date for the branch and book drop will be set after construction is underway. …
Improvements include:
· Redo the ramp from the rear parking lot to the main front entrance
· Redo the ramp from the rear parking lot to the lower-level meeting room
· Resurface parking stalls on the north end of the lot
· Rebuild the front steps
· Add lighted handrails to the ramp and stepsThe project is expected to be completed in late September.
The library, more than a century old, is a city landmark.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It’s the neighborhood where West Seattle’s most-recent murder happened, the still-unsolved shooting death of Stephen Jeffries Jr. on New Year’s Eve 2013:
(WSB photo from April 2014 vigil)
It’s the neighborhood where drive-by gunfire hit at least one car during a rampage two months ago:
(WSB reader photo from April 2015)
And – as a result of those cases and more – South Delridge is a neighborhood where people are pleading for more police presence.
Residents from South Delridge made their case face-to-face with Southwest Precinct police on Tuesday night at this month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting. While they’re not in the boundaries that semi-new council has been serving, that was part of the point – since they are not affiliated with an existing community group, their area doesn’t have its own “micro-policing plan” … yet, though WWRHAH co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick pointed out she had added it as a priority in theirs.
More than two dozen people were in the upstairs meeting room at Southwest Library as neighbors told their stories and heard what police and other city representatives can and can’t do.
(From left, CPT Officers Kiehn and Flores, City Attorney’s Office liaison York, CPT Officer Nicholson)
SPD had four reps, including Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and three of his four Community Police Team members, Officers Jon Flores, Jonathan Kiehn, and Erin Nicholson. Also there: Matthew York, SW and South Precincts’ liaison from the City Attorney’s Office, plus a representative from the city Department of Planning and Development.
Helmick opened by introducing a resident who brought a list of eight properties that he described as problematic for the neighborhood, with problems from squatters to drug use, and worse.
From the city files, two potential West Seattle rezones, both on sites where rezone proposals have come up before but not gone through for various reasons:
7001 CALIFORNIA AVENUE SW: City records show an early-stage proposal for rezoning this almost-one-block business district in south Morgan Junction in 2008 was eventually canceled. Now we’ve found a new early-stage proposal in online files. This time they’re looking at rezoning from LR2-NC (lowrise 2/neighborhood commercial, explained here) – to NC3-30 (neighborhood commercial, explained here). No formal application yet, but the property owners have met with the city. If they do apply for and get the rezone, the documents say, the owner would pursue an unspecified plan involving “green building and affordability.” Rezones need City Council approval, so if this goes ahead, watch for commenting opportunities; the land Use file to watch is 3020646.
PIER 1 ‘COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT’: This is actually a potential prelude to rezoning, and it’s a retry, having been rejected by councilmembers last year. The owners of an industrial-zoned strip of land between Salty’s (WSB sponsor) and Jack Block Park, whose future has long been in play, say it’s a “hole in the continuity of the business and residential environment along Harbor Avenue” and want to change its designation in the city’s Future Land Use Map. The proposal is one of eight Comprehensive Plan amendments that the City Council will consider for next year. From the notice in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin:
Proposal from AnMarCo to amend the FLUM to remove an area waterward of Harbor Avenue Southwest and south of SW Bronson Way known as Pier 1 from the Duwamish Manufacturing/ Industrial Center and to change the designation of that area from industrial to commercial/mixed-use.
You can read the full document about the proposal here. Rezoning the land would be a two-part process; the comprehensive plan would have to be amended, and then a rezone could be sought.
As a first step, the council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee will have a formal public hearing on this and seven other CP amendments (none from West Seattle) at 2 pm July 7th, City Hall downtown. If you can’t be there, today’s notice explains how to send a written comment. More backstory on the site is in this WSB story from 2012.
(Photo courtesy MoCA, from last year’s Bark of Morgan)
If you weren’t already planning to come to the 10th annual Morgan Junction Community Festival at and around Morgan Junction Park on Saturday, June 20th – here’s some motivation: You have multiple chances to show off your dog(s)! The official announcement:
The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) is pleased to announce the return of the “Bark of Morgan” Dog Show at the June 20, 2015 Morgan Junction Community Festival. This is the 10th year of the popular Community Festival held at the intersection of California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW in West Seattle.
The “Bark of Morgan” starts with the Parade of Pooches through the Festival Grounds. Costumes are encouraged. Canine contests are held after the Parade. There are six categories this year, with judging by audience applause. Here are the details:
1:30 pm – Pooch Parade: Leashed dogs and their human should line up by 1:30 pm north of Morgan Junction Park in SW Eddy Street. The parade will go through the Festival Grounds back to Eddy Street.
1:45 pm – Canine Contests: In SW Eddy Street after the Parade. Categories are:
* Cutest Puppy (under one year)
* Loudest Bark
* Smallest Dog
* Best Trick
* Best Costume
* Best Owner/Dog Look AlikeContest winners are based on the ‘audience applause meter’ as monitored by the MC.
The “Bark of Morgan” will occur rain or shine!
WSB is a festival co-sponsor. See you there on June 20th, two weeks from Saturday!
June is graduation season, and one of West Seattle’s four high schools celebrated last night:
MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AT HIGH POINT: Thanks to teacher Alonzo Ybarra for permission to use a photo from the report on the website for MCHS – HP, which, as we’ve reported here and here, is facing closure. The celebration was last night at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, where the school’s held classes for three years.
Three more graduations ahead in West Seattle – here are the dates/times/locations:
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: 6 pm Tuesday, June 9th, Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) P.S. We’ve been asked to mention that leis are available for WSHS grads as part of a music-program fundraiser – full details here.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm Thursday, June 11th, Menashe Family Gym on campus (4100 SW Genesee)
CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: 2 pm Saturday, June 13th, Southwest Athletic Complex
Last weekend, while walking in Jack Block Park, we noticed several simple and nicely done chalk drawings of sea life, including that one. Don’t know whose work it was, but in case you missed it when we shared it on Instagram, we’re featuring it today. Speaking of sea life – the second-lowest tide of the month tops our look ahead to the rest of your Thursday:
TODAY’S LOW TIDE, 12:47 PM: It’ll be out to -2.4 feet. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are already out at Constellation and Lincoln Park beaches, and will be there until 2 pm.
SPRING WINE RELEASE: The Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a three-day celebration of the spring wine release, starting today. 3-8 pm, north end of campus. (6000 16th SW)
HELP PLAN ‘FITNESS ZONE’ AT HIAWATHA: A new “Fitness Zone” free-to-use outdoor gym is coming to Hiawatha Community Center – and, as previewed here, you can help plan where it goes, among other aspects of the installation. Bring your ideas to Hiawatha at 6:30 tonight. (2700 California SW)
NEW THURSDAY NIGHT BOOT CAMP: New WSB sponsor Fitness for Vitality is launching a new series at 7 pm tonight at Jack Block Park – get the details and sign up online here.
FIND EVEN MORE … on the calendar (including how to get your event listed)!
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning:
ANYBODY MISSING THAT CAR? M says it was abandoned “in the alley between 32nd & 34th St SW and Henderson and Barton. Black 4-door Toyota… I’ve reported it etc, but in case anyone is missing their car and reading the blog…”
BREAK-IN REPORTED: Taylor says this happened sometime between 8:30 pm and 11 pm on Tuesday night near 45th and Dakota. When a resident came home, the front door was “wide open and our living room trashed … (a) bedroom door had been kicked in, clothes thrown everywhere, jewelry boxes on the floor empty change jars thrown around.” Police took two items for prints but found no sign of forced entry; later, Taylor found spots of “bent and messed up” grass in the yard, suggesting three suspects, and then “footprints in our garden windows,” and a 3-prong garden tool turned up on a bed. The burglars did not steal any electronics but did know the difference between costume and real jewelry and left the former behind, too. Taylor concludes, “I just felt like we should inform you that these people are in our neighborhood and that they are dangerous and to look out for any suspicious people and keep the kids and all others safe.”
SCAM CALL: The “IRS lawsuit” scam call continues making the rounds. David is the latest to report it: “Just a quick note to inform you that I got the ‘IRS Lawsuit’ phone scam call this morning at 6:15am. It was a robocall instructing me to phone an area code 360 number. Unfortunately, I did not get the entire number.” It was also reported in the WSB Forums earlier this week. Here’s the official IRS scam-info page, with alerts and advice.
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Flourish Dance Project, which envisions a neighborhood where children and youth of diverse background, skill, and ability can experience dance in an environment that cultivates their growth as artists and young minds. Here’s what else they’d like you to know:
Beginning this September, we are excited to offer after-school dance classes to preschool through high-school-age students at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, one of the neighborhood’s liveliest arts hubs. Our classes vary in style and draw from classical and urban influences, including ballet, creative movement, modern and street jazz. We understand that youth thrive when given the opportunity to express themselves artistically, experience a sense of belonging, and engage in physical activity. Accordingly, our instruction emphasizes more than technique. We strive to expose youth to dance in a relevant, thoughtful, and dynamic manner that nurtures their development as both dancers and vital members of our community.
The Flourish Dance Project staff, accomplished Seattle-area dancers who bring extensive and varied teaching and performance experience, believe that dance instruction should point kids toward something greater than pretty, pointed toes. It can nurture joy, artistry and community. It is with this value in mind that Flourish Dance Project distinguishes itself from other dance offerings. We seek to engage dancers in the creative process, embrace a flexible dress code, and have attempted to set our tuition dues equitably to encourage participation.
Flourish Dance Project desires to share dance in a way that inspires a lasting sense of creativity, strength, and confidence in our students’ lives. The Grow Girl workshop embodies this mission and is a dynamic extension of our Modern dance class offerings. Dancers ages 11 and older who participate in Grow Girl will have the opportunity to explore and confront some of the unique issues young women face – media, academics, relationships, body image, and more – through dance. Classes will follow a typical Modern dance class structure, but will also include community-building activities and extended opportunities for students to develop original choreography.
Although classes begin in September, dancers are signing up now! You may enroll in classes online at: flourishdanceproject.com/enroll or by contacting Flourish Dance Project Founder/Director Megan Snow at: 
flourishdanceproject@gmail.com. Additionally, Megan will be at Youngstown every Tuesday afternoon from 4-5 pm between now and August to meet with families who are interested in getting to know more.
Megan spent much of the first two decades of her life gliding, leaping, and grooving across dance floors. As a student herself, and then later as a teacher and choreographer working with a variety of dance organizations in the Seattle area and Bellingham, she developed a lifelong reverence for the art form. She temporarily tucked away her dance shoes to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English and Master in Teaching, dedicating the next handful of years to working with children, youth and families primarily in public education and ministry settings, which included teaching for a year at Chief Sealth International High School. With a specialization in supporting academically and social-emotionally at-risk students, she was continually reminded of how the arts — dance specifically — could contribute to students’ thriving. Flourish Dance Project was conceptualized in response to the complex needs youth have and a love for this city. Believing that dance instruction can support the whole child and positively impact the community, Megan is honored to serve West Seattle, the neighborhood she calls home, through this work.
We thank Flourish Dance Project for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
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