West Seattle sunset: Weekend’s painted-sky start

(Photo by Lura Ercolano)
A show in the sky as we head into another big weekend of summer fun – with 90ish highs forecast to return.

(Photo by Greg)
Thanks for sharing the photos! (editor@westseattleblog.com)

West Seattle Grand Parade 2015: Getting ready to roll!

July 17, 2015 8:32 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Grand Parade 2015: Getting ready to roll!
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Just hours until the West Seattle Grand Parade, and that means it’s time for last-minute prep! One of the entries you’ll see features representatives of local community councils – among them, Morgan Community Association, whose leaders have been working on the hats they’ll wear – here’s one modeled by president Deb Barker:

Since the group is MoCA for short, therefore coffee cups – get it? Meantime, local businesses will roll down the parade route too, including Potter Construction (WSB sponsor):

Potter shared the photo of Fran and Karl Coy decorating the truck for tomorrow. (Any other parade-eve photos to share? E-mail us! editor@westseattleblog.com)

In all, more than 90 entries are set to walk, march, roll, and motor on down California. We have late word that kid-entertainment favorite Bubbleman will be among them – along with unicyclists, trampoline jumpers, cannon-firing pirates, marching bands, drill teams, all sorts of fun. New to West Seattle? Don’t miss it! Not new to West Seattle? Don’t miss it! A few reminders from our previous publication of the parade-daybasics:

WHEN: 11 am start from California and Lander, headed to California and Edmunds, about a mile and a half. (Bus reroutes, parking restrictions, and road closures are staggered.)

BUT FIRST: The Seattle Police and Vancouver (BC) Police Motorcycle Drill Teams are first. So if you’re going to watch from the north end of the route, be in place 10:30 or so.

GET OUT ON THE ROUTE, #1: Run the parade route before the parade by participating in the Float Dodger 5K, 9:30 am start from in front of West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 2743 California SW. If you’re not registered yet, you can sign up before the run.

GET OUT ON THE ROUTE, #2: Be in the Kiddie Parade! It leaves California/Genesee at 11 am, headed down the south end of the parade route.

REMEMBER THE ROUTE CLOSES: As early as 6 am in some spots – take a close look at your nearest NO PARKING sign – parking restrictions kick in on the bus-rerouting streets, as well as the route itself.

WHO’S WHO: Marty Riemer announces the parade in The Junction; County Executive Dow Constantine is Grand Marshal. Former West Seattle Big Band director Donn Weaver is the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community recipient. Judges are in various secret spots along the route, and award winners will be announced afterward. See you there!

Emergency repair work this weekend at Murray CSO Control Project

July 17, 2015 6:31 pm
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 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

The biggest piece of equipment at the site of the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project across from Lowman Beach needs emergency repairs, according to King County, so they’re going to work on it this weekend. That’s explained in the alert notice you can see above (or here, if you can’t see the Scribd embed). It means the site will be “busier and noisier” than it usually is on weekends, with work starting at 9 am tomorrow. The project involves a million-gallon storage tank that’ll reduce combined-sewer overflows into Puget Sound and is scheduled to be finished next year.

City seeks dismissal of developer’s lawsuit over assistance for tenants of to-be-demolished West Seattle Junction building

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A new development in the lawsuit filed by a West Seattle development firm over the city’s contention that it owes compensation to tenants of a Junction apartment building it plans to demolish: The city has filed a motion to dismiss the suit, saying that since it hasn’t even moved forward to enforce the compensation issue, it’s too soon for the developer to sue – first it would have to challenge the enforcement action, if that ever happens.

SeattlePI.com broke the story of the lawsuit last month; it was filed by an entity of West Seattle-based development firm Blueprint against the city and against the tenants of 4528 44th SW (King County Assessor’s Office photo, above).

As first reported here last November, that 8-unit building is proposed to be torn down and replaced by a building with about 60 apartments. (The microhousing project passed the first phase of Design Review in March.)

The city issued a Notice of Violation on June 5th against Blueprint 4528 LLC, saying that it was violating the city’s Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance by not obtaining a Tenant Relocation License, which could have enabled compensation to the seven tenants as required if demolition is displacing renters; the company replied that the tenants weren’t being displaced by demolition, because they all have leases that expire in December, and the project won’t start until after that. The city’s filing for dismissal says that the company should make that case if and when enforcement is sought, not before that: “Other than being frustrated that the city issued a NOV, Plaintiff is not harmed by the NOV, or for having to wait for the City to take enforcement action,” the filing says.

No response by Blueprint 4528 LLC is on file yet; the dismissal motion was just filed on Wednesday afternoon. A hearing on the motion is set for September 2nd.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Fauntleroy Way backups again today

(“Live” view from WSDOT camera looking northbound on Fauntleroy Way)
Thanks to SmokeyCretin and Erin for reports that southbound Fauntleroy Way has been backing up again this afternoon from the ferry dock as far as The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Various complicating factors today: As mentioned in our morning traffic/transit report, there’s a swim meet at Colman Pool again today (tomorrow too, so it’s closed to the public); also, the Vashon Island Strawberry Festival starts tonight, meaning more westbound traffic. So if you don’t absolutely have to use that stretch of road, don’t. Also keep in mind the WSF alert for next Monday and beyond, when they’ll be downsizing to a 2-boat schedule.

THIS WEEKEND: Mediterranean Fantasy Festival shakes up Hiawatha

July 17, 2015 3:06 pm
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 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo: Rachel George dancing at 2014 MedFest)

Once again this year, right about the same time the West Seattle Parade heads south from California/Lander, nearby Hiawatha Community Center starts shaking with this year’s Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, MedFest for short. It’s two days of dancing on outdoor (east lawn) and indoor (gym) stages, plus vendors and food, free admission – 11 am-7 pm Saturday and 11 am-5 pm Sunday. The list of who you’ll see and when starts here.

SATURDAY: Come celebrate Cove Park & Barton Pump Station

July 17, 2015 1:12 pm
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 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

More reminders about all the cool stuff happening in West Seattle this weekend – this one’s at the top of our list tomorrow afternoon between the West Seattle Grand Parade and West Seattle Outdoor Movies: Ribbon-cutting celebration for the restored pocket-beach Cove Park and upgraded Barton Pump Station, just north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. 2-4 pm, including tours of the pump station (wear closed-toe shoes if you’re interested in taking the tour). Thanks to Phil Sweetland for the photo of posters made by local kids to remind everyone about tomorrow’s celebration!

The WSBeat: Phone scam; mistaking Morgan for Tukwila; and more

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

This edition of The WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have NOT already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, and many are not crimes, but might at least answer a lingering question such as “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” Or on the bridge, or the beach, or …

*After hearing about a suspicious phone call that a senior-citizen customer received, a pharmacy employee took the initiative to call 911 to report a potential scam. The customer had been told to wire $850 in order to claim an $840,000 prize. Officers warned the would-be victim how to protect himself against such schemes. A records check showed that the man had been victimized this way in the past.

*Early on the morning of the 12th, a woman awoke to a crashing sound in her apartment in the 6000 block of California Ave. SW: A stranger was climbing in through the window and blinds. After stumbling around the room for a few moments, he took his leave by climbing back out thru the same window. As officers were taking the victim’s statement, the “incredibly intoxicated” suspect returned and explained that he thought this was his house in Tukwila. (He had spent the night drinking at an Alki Beach bar.) He was released pending possible charges and was transported to his home.

Ahead – nine more summaries, including the case of the naked man in the parking strip:

Read More

West Seattle Friday: Movie, music, games, Shakespeare … free!

July 17, 2015 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Movie, music, games, Shakespeare … free!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bewick’s Wren – photo courtesy Arlene Rubin Photography)

With a huge weekend of summer fun on the way – Friday is off and running in lower-key, but still fun, style. Here’s a sampling:

HANDS-ON WILD SCIENCE IN HIGHLAND PARK: 10:30 am, Highland Park Improvement Club, for kids 5-12 – details here. (12th/Holden)

LAST-MINUTE SIGNUPS & PACKET PICKUP FOR FLOAT DODGER 5K: Not registered yet for tomorrow’s fun (costumes encouraged!) Float Dodger 5K before the West Seattle Grand Parade? Do it at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) during this afternoon’s registration/packet-pickup event, 3-7 pm. (2743 California SW)

ALMA Y AZUCAR @ SALTY’S: Live music tonight with a spectacular view as the weekend gets going at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), Latin and Jazz favorites with Alma Villegas (Alma y Azucar), 6-8 pm. (1936 Harbor SW)

MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: Doors at 6 pm, movie at 7 pm, bring your family/friends/neighbors to Highland Park Improvement Club; free (but bring $ for concessions) – info here. (12th/Holden)

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: Greenstage presents “Macbeth” at High Point Commons Park, 7 pm. Free! (Lanham & Graham)

GERI’S ALL-AGES GAME NIGHT: 7:30 pm, go play – free! At Kenyon Hall; details here. (7904 35th SW)

SO MUCH MORE! Just take a hop over to our calendar.

Open house tomorrow to show off Fire Station 11’s million-dollar upgrade

July 17, 2015 8:37 am
|    Comments Off on Open house tomorrow to show off Fire Station 11’s million-dollar upgrade
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

Just announced by the Seattle Fire Department: You’re invited to an open house 11 am-1 pm tomorrow at Fire Station 11 in Highland Park (northeast corner of 16th/Holden) to see the results of its million-dollar safety upgrade. See the details here. (The time is concurrent with the West Seattle Grand Parade, but if you want to go to both, our tip – watch the parade from the start of the route at California/Lander.) SFD has two other projects under way in West Seattle – upgrades at FS 29 in Admiral and a complete rebuild of FS 32 in The Triangle; both are at interim locations as a result.

Highway 99 tunnel’s newest schedule: Digging again by year’s end?

(WSDOT-provided photo: Working on machine’s ‘main bearing’)

With a big reminder right in the middle of its announcement – “The state is not able to verify the contractor’s schedule” – WSDOT went public this morning with the newest projected schedule for the resumption of Highway 99 tunneling. It says contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners believes it will be digging again in late November, almost two years after its machine stopped, with a projected opening date of spring 2018. The schedule document made public by WSDOT is dated last month and goes through the tunnel-machine repairs piece by piece; WSDOT’s news release (read it in full here) quotes an STP executive as saying they couldn’t tell how long the repairs would take until they took the machine apart. It also says the cause of the damage discovered after the machine was shut down in December 2013 “has not been determined.” While the repair work continues, so does work on the tunnel’s portals, and WSDOT is showing off south-portal progress to media crews this morning.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend alerts including West Seattle Grand Parade, Float Dodger 5K

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Standard outbound commute so far, as Friday morning proceeds. Reminders for your Saturday:

GRAND PARADE & FLOAT DODGER 5K TOMORROW: On Saturday morning, California SW will close from The Admiral District to The Junction for the West Seattle Grand Parade, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, until the end of the parade in early afternoon. No-parking signs should be in place on side streets to be used for parade staging and for Metro rerouting (see those reroutes on the Metro website), starting as early as 6 am Saturday. (P.S. Hiawatha Community Center, at the start of the parade route, also hosts the Mediterranean Fantasy Festival all weekend – so be aware it’s a VERY busy, as well as fun, place!)

FARMERS’ MARKET ON SUNDAY: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market returns to California between Oregon and Alaska on Sunday, its home since mid-June; the market hours are 10 am-2 pm, while the road closure is set for 7 am-4 pm.

CITYWIDE WEEKEND ALERTS: If you’re wondering what else might affect you as you travel around the city this weekend – tonight, for example, there’s a big soccer match at the CLink – here’s the SDOT alert.

8:19 AM: If you’re going to Lincoln Park today – try the bus. A caller says that with a swim meet at Colman Pool today (it’s closed to the public as a result, and that will be in our daily preview later this morning), the parking lots are filling/filled. (We’ll be checking on this shortly.)

ONE MORE WEEKEND ALERT: In White Center, this weekend brings the Jubilee Days street festival on 17th SW south of Roxbury and, on Sunday, the parade (see the route here).

9:00 AM: Crash reported at 35th/Avalon. Don’t know the severity yet.

9:20 AM: We sent a crew to check it out, since SDOT cameras in the area are broken, but in the meantime, we’ve heard via scanner that the intersection IS OPEN.

ELECTION 2015: Voting begins; campaigning continues

Did you get your ballot today too?

Voting has begun for the August 4th primary. If you’re like many people and planning to leave your ballot unopened for a while as you decide what to do, here’s what you need to know:

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
You have three positions to vote on – technically, no incumbents, because these are all-new seats, seven districts and two at-large:
District 1 (this is the one we’ve been talking about the most, the first-ever West Seattle/South Park seat), with nine candidates)
Position 8 (this is one of the two at-large City Council seats, with four candidates)
Position 9 (the other at-large City Council seat with six candidates)

SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION
You’ll be voting on two spots
Position 2 (three candidates, including the incumbent)
Position 5 (nine candidates, no incumbent)

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
You’ll be voting on one board position
–District 6 (three candidates, including the incumbent)

KING COUNTY ELECTIONS DIRECTOR
–Three candidates, no incumbent

It’s been a busy primary season, with the first City Council District 1 candidates’ forum in February, the “First Look” forum we presented at Highland Park Improvement Club on February 5th. Four candidates were in the race; two of them are among the nine on your ballot now. Others jumped in (and in some cases jumped out) after that. The final forum was this past Wednesday night at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), presented by SSC and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. While it was in the “candi-dating” format, which means no way to record it in its entirety without a small army of videographers, we did get the opening statement by all participants:

(Those statements start at 5 minutes into the video; 8 of the candidates were there.) In the past week, we also have recorded interviews with each of the nine D-1 candidates, one at a time, in case you’re interested in a “Last Look” before you cast your vote. We will publish them simultaneously at some point in the next few days, as soon as the stories to accompany them are all ready. You can also review our coverage by scrolling through our West Seattle Politics archive, here. All this assumes you didn’t cast your vote the second the ballot showed up; if not, you have 2 1/2 weeks, so no rush. But do vote – this election is historic, with the council change to 7 district reps plus 2 at-large.

West Seattle Grand Parade 2015 countdown: Day after tomorrow!

(WSB photo: All-City Band in the 2014 West Seattle Grand Parade)

As we reported after the parade lineup meeting earlier this week, looks like 90+ entries will march and roll their way down California SW this Saturday morning in the West Seattle Grand Parade. The basics:

WHEN: 11 am start from California and Lander, headed to California and Edmunds, about a mile and a half.

CAVEAT: The Seattle Police and Vancouver (BC) Police Motorcycle Drill Teams go first. So if you’re going to watch from the north end of the route, don’t be later than 10:30 or so.

GET OUT ON THE ROUTE, #1: Run the parade route before the parade by participating in the Float Dodger 5K, 9:30 am start from in front of West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 2743 California SW. (Online registration just closed, but you can stop by WS Runner tomorrow 3-7 pm or sign up pre-race on Saturday.)

GET OUT ON THE ROUTE, #2: Be in the Kiddie Parade!

(WSB photo: 2014 Kiddie Parade participant)
It leaves California/Genesee at 11 am, headed down the south end of the parade route.

REMEMBER THE ROUTE CLOSES: As early as 6 am in some spots – take a close look at your nearest NO PARKING sign – parking restrictions kick in on the bus-rerouting streets, as well as the route itself.

WHAT’S NEW: New entries include a trampoline company whose owner plans to jump (dressed as a pirate!) as the trampoline travels down the route; giant “Cakewalk” puppets from Fremont; Pacific Northwest Drumline is back “after a 2-year hiatus”; and more …

WHO’S WHO: Marty Riemer announces the parade from the heart of The Junction; County Executive Dow Constantine is Grand Marshal. Former West Seattle Big Band director Donn Weaver is the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community recipient.

BIZFLOATS: Local businesses are fun to cheer for, and those you’ll see will include our flagship sponsor Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (with four-wheelers, two-wheelers, and, we’re told, bubbles), Luna Park Café, Spud, Little Gym, PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor), West Coast Entertainment (on Segways) …

Also …
*Community groups
*Nonprofits
*Visiting royalty
*Drill teams (including the famous Chinese Community Girls’ Drill Team)
*Marching Bands
*Churches
*Schools
*Visiting royalty
*Candidates
*Even a Metro bus

Pick your spot anywhere along the route (but remember there’s a lot of construction on California south of Admiral, so some traditional spots are construction zones now, especially on both sides of the 3800 block). If you are a fan of peeking behind-the-scenes on big events, be at the start of the parade and watch organizers coordinate getting everybody out onto the route; if you come down early enough, you can watch the arrivals, see visiting floats and performers get themselves organized. Whatever you choose to do, be part of a long-running tradition (and bring water – forecast calls for the return of warm weather).

Got diapers? WestSide Baby has the bus, ready for Stuff the Bus kickoff on Sunday

July 16, 2015 7:13 pm
|    Comments Off on Got diapers? WestSide Baby has the bus, ready for Stuff the Bus kickoff on Sunday
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

With three days to go until the big kickoff for WestSide Baby‘s annual “Stuff the Bus” mega-diaper drive, we spotted THE bus this afternoon at Fauntleroy/Alaska – and then learned from WS Baby’s executive director Nancy Woodland, it had just been unveiled:

Our new and exciting bus just arrived in West Seattle!! This afternoon it appeared in the parking lot at Les Schwab to kick off the weekend of diaper collecting in West Seattle. Les Schwab is holding drives all over Western Washington so this was the perfect place to unveil this year’s bus. We hope to see everyone on Sunday when we collect diapers at HomeStreet Bank (41st/Alaska) from 10-2 but feel free to drop off at a Les Schwab or a local Safeway if you can’t make it Sunday. Go, West Seattle, and let’s #Smile4Diapers!!!

P.S. Look for Stuff the Bus in Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade (11 am start at California/Lander, heading 1.5 miles south to California/Edmunds)!

P.P.S. You can also drop off diapers in advance – Friday’s a great day! – at the site of Sunday’s bus-stuffing, HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor).

TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on the westbound bridge

July 16, 2015 5:56 pm
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on the westbound bridge
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to the tipster who just let us know about a crash on the westbound bridge, right before the Fauntleroy end. Seattle Fire has been dispatched to check out those involved – reportedly including a motorcycle rider – the passerby said everybody “looked OK.” But this will cause some backup until sorted out. Updates to come.

FOLLOWUP: What’s next for SW Admiral Way Safety Project? Neighbors ask councilmember to get SDOT to work with them

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting tonight is scheduled to include an informational item about the Keep Alki Safe campaign opposing SDOT‘s planned changes to SW Admiral Way west of California SW.

With no date yet for SDOT’s next move, two months after the last meeting about the proposal, those with potential stakes in the proposal for lane-configuration changes on Admiral west of California are not just watching and waiting. At least two groups have met with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. One of them invited us to sit in.

The Keep Alki Safe group is primarily from the blocks where SDOT proposes consolidating parking on one side while removing about 200 spaces, to “encourage slower speeds and reduce collisions, as well as add a buffered bike along most of the corridor.” The meeting to which we were invited was held in a living room last week, in the 5700 block, where some of the yards held the signs they had designed and printed to let passersby know what is going on.

As much as opposing the details of the city plan, their primary concern seemed to be that SDOT wasn’t working with or even communicating with them. The agency “is blowing us off,” one neighbor declared. They asked Rasmussen to help them get a chance to voice their concerns; he promised to do what he can.

But first – he listened.

Read More

UPDATE: ‘Pianos in the Parks’ in West Seattle, White Center

ORIGINAL REPORT, 1:13 PM: Just announced: Where you’ll find “Pianos in the Parks” this summer.

(Pianos in the Parks photo: The piano destined for Seacrest)
Twenty-two of the “one-of-a-kind, artist-designed upright and grand pianos” are on their way to parks around the region, including one at West Seattle’s Seacrest Park (a change from last year) and one at White Center’s Steve Cox Memorial Park. But first – they’re starring this afternoon in a recital at Lake Union, with local students using all 22 pianos to perform a version of “I Love a Piano” by Irving Berlin. Once they get to their destinations (starting later today), they’re available for free public use through August 16th; then they’ll be auctioned. Bidding will start soon at pianosintheparks.com; that’s also where you will be able to enter a contest by making a video of yourself and/or your band performing with one of the pianos.

4:07 PM: Seacrest’s piano has arrived! Photo to come. (Added: Actually, our Instagram clip came out best, with a passerby giving the piano a try:)

The Steve Cox Park piano was scheduled to be delivered this afternoon, too.

Second 35th SW meeting, Design Review doubleheader, Alki development briefing, Delridge Grocery farmstand return, more ahead on your West Seattle Thursday!

(Bushtits taking a bath; photo by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Lots going on later today/tonight! Here’s your preview, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DELRIDGE FARMSTAND: 4-7 pm, buy fresh-from-the-farm produce and enjoy live local music, all to support the Delridge Grocery Coop as it gets closer to opening a store. In the Super 24 parking lot. See our preview for more info. (5455 Delridge Way SW)

35TH SW PLAN, ENCORE MEETING: 6 pm at Southwest Library – if you couldn’t make it to last night’s presentation of the 2-phase plan for 35th SW (WSB coverage, with video, here), starting with rechannelization and speed-limit reduction between Roxbury and Willow, go tonight and get your questions answered. (35th/Henderson)

MOVIE NIGHT: 6 pm, Sponge Bob: Sponge Out of Water” screens at Delridge Community Center. (4501 Delridge Way SW)

DESIGN REVIEW x 2: 6:30 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle, two project reviews – first up, 5415 Delridge Way SW (see the “packet” and more info here), a small mixed-use proposal. Then at 8 pm, the new plan for long-stalled 4532 42nd SW (see the “packet” and more info here), a larger mixed-use proposal. The board will hear public comment on both projects, as per SOP. (Oregon/California)

‘PERCH’ DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL @ ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, with an agenda including a briefing on the 1250 Alki SW “Perch” development proposal reported here back in May, plus announcements of the Keep Alki Safe” petition drive regarding SDOT’s SW Admiral Way Safety Project and a reminder that comments on Terminal 5 expansion are due soon. (6115 SW Hinds)

UNPLUGGED! Open-microphone event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

BELLY-DANCING SHOWCASE: 7:30 pm at The Skylark, it’s the monthly Alauda belly-dancing showcase. Free, freeform, all ages. (3803 Delridge SW)

WHAT ELSE? See everything, and then some, on the full calendar.

Want to follow the process as city pursues more housing via zoning changes? Here’s the next step

Following up on Monday’s much-discussed mayoral announcement (WSB coverage here) of proposals the city hopes will lead to more housing, particularly more affordable housing: Most if not all of the proposed changes have to go through the City Council. Its members now have a new set of hats to wear while considering those changes: The Select Committee on Housing Affordability. The agenda is now out for its first meeting, next Monday (July 20th) around 2:30 pm (after the regular afternoon council meeting). Linked in the agenda are several documents, most of which went public with Monday’s announcement; one you might want to take a close look at includes this list of proposed multifamily/commercial zoning changes:

While most of this has been widely described as “adding one floor” to current zoning, note what’s proposed for the zone currently known as NC-85 – much of the heart of The Junction is zoned that way, as is part of Avalon, and that generally allows up to 8 floors. If this part of the new proposals is approved, that zone would fold into NC-125 – meaning up to 12 floors, four more floors beyond what’s now allowed. (If you’re not familiar with the term FAR in the table, that is short for floor-to-area ratio, explained here.) This has NOT been written into proposed legislation yet, so public hearings, counterproposals, and votes are still some distance off.

Meantime, we’re working on a separate followup looking at some of the other proposals including (but not limited to!) all the confusion and conflicting statements regarding what’s proposed for single-family zoning.

West Seattle summer: Concerts at Hiawatha, one week away!

July 16, 2015 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle summer: Concerts at Hiawatha, one week away!
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

With huge events just days away, we have a lot of counting down to do today – and here’s the first reminder: The Admiral Way Viewpoint banner (thanks to Erik Walum for the photo) is a big reminder that Summer Concerts at Hiawatha start one week from tonight! It’s a free six-concert series, 6:30 pm Thursday nights from July 23rd through August 27th, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (with co-sponsors including WSB), on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (official address 2700 California SW, but the concerts are on the Walnut side). Next Thursday, Carrie Akre takes the stage to get this year’s concerts going; see the full season lineup (as announced last month) by going here. Bring neighbors, friends, family, chairs, blankets, picnic dinner, and have a great time – see you there!

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes; advance alerts for Grand Parade & Float Dodger 5K on Saturday

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing out of the ordinary reported for this morning’s outbound commute. So we launch again with reminders about Saturday:

GRAND PARADE & FLOAT DODGER 5K ON SATURDAY: California SW will close from The Admiral District to The Junction for the West Seattle Grand Parade, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, early morning until the end of the parade in early afternoon. By today, no-parking signs should be up on side streets that’ll be used for staging and for Metro rerouting (those reroutes are on the Metro website); parade organizers say Metro is making those changes earlier in the morning, so some no-parking signs will have times as early as 6 am Saturday.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 35TH SW PLAN? As reported here, SDOT has announced a two-phase plan for 35th SW, starting with rechannelization “within the next couple months” between Roxbury and Willow. Your first chance to ask questions following last night’s meeting is tonight’s second meeting – featuring the same presentation – 6 pm at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson).

West Seattle Crime Watch: Armed street robbery, burglary reported

Two overnight incidents:

12:01 AM: Police are searching in The Junction right now after a reported street robbery in the 4800 block of California SW. According to emergency-radio traffic, the victim reported being held up at gunpoint by two men who took his phone and fled. Only partial descriptions have been mentioned over the air – one black, one Hispanic, both in their early 20s, one with a red bandana over his face. We’ll add anything more we find out.

1:17 AM: Another police search, this time in Highland Park – a neighbor reported seeing burglars inside a house in the 8800 block of 10th SW. Police have just finished searching the house; the reported intruders are gone, and now they have to figure out if anything was taken.