West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
(ADDED WEDNESDAY AM: Our video of SDOT director Scott Kubly’s hour-long Q/A)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the second time in a week, SDOT’s new director (confirmation pending) Scott Kubly was in West Seattle to answer questions – this time, from the West Seattle Transportation Coalition.
Among other things, Kubly said that one of the best ways his department can serve this area and others is to be clear about prioritization – what it can do, what it can’t do.
The 2 1/2-hour meeting ranged across a wide variety of other topics as well, including the two transportation-related measures on the November ballot, and a citizen proposal for the currently idle Terminal 5 site.
First, Kubly: After a brief introduction, he said that at any Department of Transportation, “safety’s going to be the first priority,” yet there have been five fatalities in the first three weeks he’s been on the job. “Where I come from is … wanting to protect the most vulnerable users of the transportation system. … I also think the city is growing tremendously quickly … it reminds me a lot of DC in that regard, similar sizes, similar growth rates.” Growth means the opportunity for more-walkable communities, he said, “but not without challenges … it stresses the transportation system, so what we need to do is .. how to make our transportation system work more efficiently.”
That means “giving people choices in how they get around the city.” People who walk to work, for example, have been shown in research to be the happiest people, Kubly said, but when in a car, he said, people somehow feel safe behaving aggressively, and he feels that’s because they don’t have a choice, so if they have a choice, they’ll feel happier. But he also recognizes that “most people are at one time or another going to have to drive someplace … it’s very rare that you can do everything (without driving).”
DC, he said, has more people but fewer cars than it used to have, he points out. And he talks again about options, enabling people to, for example, perhaps have one car instead of two. Regarding why people get frustrated with government services: “A lot of it comes down to choice.”
(WSB photo)
The new fence around the eight-months-vacant ex-Beni Hoshi Teriyaki site at 35th/Fauntleroy is NOT a sign of imminent change, according to the property owner, Seattle City Light. We noticed the fence last night, checked city development files but found nothing, then inquired with SCL today. Spokesperson Scott Thomsen tells WSB:
The land where the teriyaki restaurant had been located is a former substation site that we still own, but are not using. In addition to recent trouble with graffiti, a neighborhood group contacted the city with concerns about people who were parking on the site. The fencing was put up to deter additional graffiti and respond to the neighbors’ complaints about the parking.
(WSB photo)
We do not have any plans for the property at this time. It is one of the properties that is now considered surplus. As you are aware, we have been reviewing those properties a few at a time for possible sale.
(It’s not included in the current round of surplus properties under review, just to be clear.) Thomsen didn’t name the neighborhood group but unauthorized parking there was mentioned in a recent note to the city by SeattleNERD (Neighbors Encouraging Reasonable Development), which is based in the neighborhood north of upper Avalon Way. We were among the CC’s on a note from SeattleNERD’s Paul Haury that included a photo of vehicles parking in the ex-Beni Hoshi lot and attributed it to residents of nearby apartment buildings such as the recently opened no-offstreet-parking microhousing building at 3266 Avalon. The note focused on concerns about another microhousing building planned next door, 56 units at 3268 Avalon as reported here in March (a temporary power pole is at the site, suggesting work might start soon, though no other permits have been issued).
ADDED 9:44 PM: In a comment, SeattleNERD has published its full letter to the city and elaborates further on the resulting exchange. As noted above, the parking wasn’t the main topic of the group’s note to the city about the second microhousing project in the works nearby.
Side note about microhousing: New rules continue working their way through the City Council (next step is a possible committee vote on September 16th). They would not affect the 3268 Avalon Way project, though, because it’s already in the system.
@westseattleblog 5000 block of 35th sve sw pic.twitter.com/Ls0CLqVzQG
— Clark Gilbert (@coachclarkruns) September 9, 2014
Thanks to Clark for the photo from a reported car/motorcycle collision near Camp Long, in the 5000 block of 35th SW, northbound side. He says traffic is getting through, with only the outside northbound lane blocked. The SFD dispatch was for an “aid response,” lowest level of medic callout, so that likely means no major injuries; we’re checking.
(2010 WSB photo)
In addition to the meetings and events highlighted earlier in our West Seattle Tuesday preview, we just got word of this from Mike (thank you!) – relating to the area in the photo above, from WSB storm coverage in December 2010:
Learn about drainage in your neighborhood.
Tuesday, Sept. 9th at 6 PM
Meet at corner of 30th Ave SW and SW 104th, on west side of Seola Pond.Seattle Public Utilities has made commitments to improve drainage in the Arbor Heights area near Seola Pond.
Debbie Harris is project manager: debbie.harris@seattle.gov
Two updates on West Seattle demolition sites:
GENESEE HILL SCHOOL: After a tip last Friday, we noted that some deconstruction was under way at the former Genesee Hill Elementary campus, where the current Schmitz Park Elementary program will move in 2016. Today, building teardown is under way in a big way, starting with the classrooms north/northeast of the main structure. That’s about one day behind the start of a similar phase at Arbor Heights Elementary, where Seattle Public Schools is also tearing down an old school to build a new one.
4535 44TH SW: While in The Junction a short time ago, we noticed the backhoe has arrived at 4535 44th SW, future home of a four-story, 36+-unit, no-offstreet-parking apartment building; we’d noted last week that its demolition permit was granted.
While it was described as “microapartments” when we first reported on the plan early last year, this is NOT microhousing – the units will be full-fledged studios with kitchens. (We’ll check back in a bit to see if the backhoe has started work yet.)
The topic comes up at meetings … in online discussions (including here) … mayors past and present have been asked about them: Should/could Seattle charge “impact fees” in connection with development projects? Tomorrow, the City Council Transportation Committee plans a lunchtime discussion:
Impact Fees 101 — An opportunity for discussion related to impact fees in the City of Seattle. An examination of the different types of impact fees that exist, the history of impact fees in Washington State, how they are utilized by other cities in the region, their limitations, and other relevant information relating to impact fees.
It’s scheduled as an hourlong briefing starting at noon Wednesday (September 10th), followed by ~20 minutes of public comment, in the council chambers at City Hall downtown. At least one advocacy group says it’s hoping for a big turnout (while noting it hadn’t heard about this till the other day; we didn’t get an announcement until this morning).
Fall = fungi! Nobody knows that better than West Seattle photographer Machel Spence, who shared the photo you see above. And speaking of the calendar … here’s some of what’s popping up from ours today:
MANDATORY FOOD-WASTE RECYCLING? As reported earlier this morning, the City Council’s Public Utilities and Neighborhoods Committee will take up the proposal this afternoon, 2 pm at City Hall downtown. Live on Seattle Channel, online and on cable, if you can’t be there in person.
http://clerk.seattle.gov/~public/meetingrecords/2014/spunc20140909_1a.pdf
TIMEBANK PICNIC: Members of the West Seattle Timebank and others in nearby communities will gather at Lincoln Park 5-9 pm – details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: Here’s the agenda for tonight’s WSTC meeting, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House‘s High Point Center:
*6:30-6:40: *Welcome, Introductions, Community news, Updates, New Business from the membership.
*6:40-6:45:* Public Comment
*6:45-7:00:* Melanie Mayock, Field Director of Yes For Seattle Transit, will present to the WSTC about the upcoming November 2014 in-city ballot funding measure to save Metro service on the city level.
*7:00-8:00:* A discussion with new SDOT Director Scott Kubly about the state of West Seattle’s transportation situation.
*8:00-8:25:* A discussion with Thomas Linde about a proposed idea for utilizing the area around Terminal 5 of the Port of Seattle.
*8:25-8:30:* Last call for any new business.
Here’s our coverage of Kubly’s first West Seattle appearance at last week’s Southwest District Council meeting. (6700 Sylvan Way SW)
LAND SWAP NEAR PUGET PARK? Last month, the city announced a public meeting related to a proposed “land swap” involving parcels of Seattle Parks land near Puget Park, ultimately so that a nearby piece of private land would no longer have to have a driveway through public land. We researched the proposal beyond what was in the announcement and published this report. Tonight’s the meeting, 6:30 pm at Delridge Community Center, for anyone and everyone interested. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm meeting, The Sanctuary at Admiral. Agenda:
Seattle Department of Transportation will be on hand to present and answer questions about the final design of the pedestrian-safety improvements and new traffic signal for the intersection of 47th Avenue SW and SW Admiral Way.
Construction is expected to begin before the end of this year and last about 12 weeks. During construction, there will be pedestrian and bicycle detours, and for motor vehicles, lane reductions or partial closures on 47th SW, SW Admiral, and SW Waite. We will also debrief our successful summer-concert series.
Here’s our August update on the signal plan. (42nd/Lander)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm business meeting, all welcome, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse conference room. (9131 California SW)
LOTS MORE ON THE CALENDAR! See the full list here.
The City Council is considering a change to the recycling rules – instead of just enabling food-waste recycling, they’re looking at requiring it. The next discussion of this proposal is on the agenda for the Public Utilities and Neighborhoods Committee meeting this afternoon at City Hall at 2 pm (here’s the agenda). The slide-deck presentation accompanying the agenda item (see it here or above) says the city will take too long to get to its recycling goal of 60 percent of all waste, without a requirement like this, because food waste and compostable (but not otherwise recyclable) paper are “the largest component of readily divertible material” in what both residences and businesses throw away. If the proposal is finalized by the council, the new rules would start next year, with warnings at first, and then in July, a residential violation would cost you $1, a dumpster violation $50 after 2 warnings.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! We’re watching traffic as always, and keeping track of what you need to know in the hours/days ahead:
*Lane closures are scheduled to continue on Highway 99 nightly through Thursday night (and that night, the West Seattle Bridge ramp to NB 99 is set to close too)
*West Seattle Car Show next Sunday in The Junction (closing California between Edmunds and Oregon to traffic, opening it to pedestrians and show participants – open to ALL vehicles!)
One more note: Wondering what’s up with the tunnel-machine-repairing project? WSDOT posted an update Monday.
(Added: WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
9:57 PM: A crash on the eastbound bridge parallel with Admiral has police blocking the Fauntleroy/35th entrance – if you head that way, you’ll be diverted to the Avalon entrance down the hill instead.
10:08 PM: The entrance has reopened, per scanner-monitored discussion.
10:41 PM: While the wreckage is cleared, the westbound bridge is now temporarily closed at the scene (parallel to Nucor, we’ve since learned), following a brief eastbound closure.
Got a set of wheels (two or four, maybe even five) that’s your pride and joy? Are you signed up for Sunday’s seventh annual West Seattle Car Show yet? In our previous preview, we invited prospective participants to share photos – editor@westseattleblog.com – and this is the first one in – Abby shared the photo of her husband’s 1973 Jeep CJ-5. The weather is still looking great for Sunday, when show entries will line the temporarily-closed-to-traffic streets in the heart of The Junction, 10 am-4 pm. Come down, have breakfast/brunch/lunch/coffee, shop, admire the cars (and trucks, and motorcycles, all models/years welcome). And/or be part of it – here’s where to sign up online right now – check out the cool locally designed/made trophies. See you in The Junction on Sunday!
(Photo courtesy Cori Roed)
Again this year, AFTER Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club closes its pool for the season, before it’s cleaned, dogs are invited to go swimming! The pool at 11003 31st Avenue SW plans five sessions:
Tuesday, Sept. 16th 5-7 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 17th 5-7 pm
Thursday, Sept. 18th 5-7pm
Friday, Sept. 19th 5-7 pm
Saturday, Sept. 20th 10 am-1 pm
No people, just dogs (again, this is AFTER the human swims end for the season) but dog owners must stay at the club while their pets are in the pool. $10/donation per dog or $25/pass for the full five-day run. Complete details are on the official flyer.
Two notes from California/Charlestown – the northeast and southeast corners, to be specific:
EX-DENTAL BUILDING FOR LEASE: On the northeast corner, the former Implant Dentistry of Washington building is for lease. Dr. R. Michael Keenan has retired “after 37 years in West Seattle,” according to a note on the door. (Thanks to Debbie for the tip!)
APPLICATION IN FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT EX-CAFE SITE: On the southeast corner, Intracorp has officially applied for its master-use permit for 3824 California SW, according to today’s Land Use Information Bulletin. The company plans to build 28 residential and live-work units on the site of the former Charlestown Café, which closed three years ago.
(Rendering from Design Review meeting in July)
It passed the first phase of Design Review on its third try two months ago but still has at least one more meeting to go; the city has not yet set a date. The official notice of the permit application includes a link you can use for comments.
Police are investigating a new report of a man exposing himself outside a local school. This one was reported within the past hour near Holy Rosary School; police arrived quickly and were told that a child said a man described only as white, heavyset, and in his 30s “exposed himself to kids on the playground behind the school.” He was said to have been leaning against a vehicle described as a silver minivan. No suspects found yet, according to our followup conversation with SPD spokesperson Det. Drew Fowler. Holy Rosary already has sent an alert to parents; three have forwarded it to us (thank you):
Students reported that a man was seen in a parked silver vehicle (maybe a van). He stepped out and did not have any clothing on the bottom part of his body. He was not on our property. He was near the sidewalk by the big toy—— outside the fence. The police were immediately notified. Three squad cars and three other officers were here within six minutes of the report. Staff have circled the area a number of times. Staff will be out at the end of school, patrolling the area.
We did ask police, and so far they don’t have any further descriptive details such as hair or clothing color/style.
(Side note: No one’s ever been arrested in the two incidents there last September.)
ORIGINAL MONDAY REPORT: Another stolen car to watch for – this report arrived this morning from Patricia:
I would like to report that my car, a red Subaru station wagon plate number ARD 1430, was stolen sometime early Friday morning, September 5th. If anyone sees it, please call Seattle Police with incident number 14-296238. I was told that Subaru steals have been on the rise lately. I hope to find my car as I do a lot of volunteer work that requires me to haul things around. Police said it will probably be abandoned somewhere in West Seattle the next two weeks. It is red, with racing rims on it and might still have a cross hanging from the mirror. Thanks, West Seattle Blog, I have often seen cars returned through the good hearts and eagle eyes of the people who read this.
Indeed, thanks to everyone who keeps an eye out – one of the recent “reunions,” for example, was a car mentioned here and spotted by a reader in an odd spot in a large parking lot. Patricia’s car was taken from the 7900 block of 17th SW (map).
TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Found!
My red Subaru that was stolen and reported on the blog yesterday was found. An hour and 1/2 after it was reported on the blog it was dropped off at a business in White Center. We tracked the time their truck vacated the spot and when they returned and the car was there. Could they have seen it on the blog? I like to think so; you and the people of West Seattle are making a difference in the amount of cars being returned.
While demolition crews did a bit of work at the old Arbor Heights Elementary School site on the Friday before Labor Day, they didn’t start tearing down its buildings in earnest until this morning, starting on the south side of the campus. (Thanks to Elise and Joe for the tips.)
Arbor Heights students and staff are spending this year and next at the Boren Building, shared with K-5 STEM, while the new school is built. Renderings were shown at a community meeting in June, including these:
That same meeting (WSB coverage here) included the project’s two-part timeline; this site work is expected to continue through November, and then a stopdown is planned until the Phase 2 bid is awarded, with the rest of the work to begin in spring.
(Young Steller’s Jay, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Happy Monday! Here are highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: Twice-monthly Alzheimer’s Association-organized support group meets today, 1:30 pm, at Providence Mount St. Vincent. No charge to participate. Details in our calendar listing. (4831 35th SW)
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AT THE FEEDBACK: On the big screen at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), you’ll find Monday Night Football tonight. (6451 California SW)
MONSTER DASH TRAINING RUNS: Not a runner? No problem! These programs will get you ready for next month’s third annual West Seattle Monster Dash. First one starts 6:30 tonight at Lincoln Park – details in our calendar listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 6:30 pm, back to the regular location, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Agenda includes discussion of North Delridge Policing Plan. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP AT WEST SEATTLE LIBRARY: The branch in Admiral hosts this month’s Evening Book Group, reading “The Bonesetter’s Daughter” by Amy Tan, 6:45 pm. (2306 42nd SW)
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU MEETING: 7 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, with the agenda including:
*Election of the 2014-15 board members
*Plans for the upcoming year, including recruitment for the Junior Court
What to bring:
*a pen because we might have a ballot election
*your checkbook, so you can sign up for your 2014-15 membership
*a great attitude and your clever ideas for the new year.If you love parades, people, community service and fun, come join and share your ideas. All are welcome – be part of long tradition in West Seattle.
(California/Hanford)
DENNY INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA: 7 pm, first general meeting of the year at Denny International Middle School. (2601 SW Kenyon)
NIGHTLIFE: Trivia and karaoke at multiple venues – go directly to our calendar!
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
It’s the first full week of school, and traffic patterns are still getting settled, so keep that in mind this morning and beyond. Otherwise, a few notes for starters:
*Lane closures on Highway 99 the next four nights (plus a West Seattle Bridge ramp closure Thursday night)
*Utility work on I-5 south of the West Seattle Bridge again late tonight/early tomorrow
*West Seattle Car Show next Sunday in The Junction (closing California between Edmunds and Oregon to traffic, opening it to pedestrians and show participants – here’s our newest preview)
10:37 AM UPDATE: City Light has canceled the aforementioned utility work, after completing its project ahead of time, so no south-of-here I-5 closures tonight after all.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Starting with an all-staff meeting tonight, the West Seattle YMCA is pulling the wraps off plans for a major expansion project at its headquarters in The Triangle.
The Y (a WSB sponsor) will be officially filing for permits with the city this week, but has been quietly fundraising for a while. Its Board of Managers has a goal of raising half the cost of the $11 million project, with the Greater Seattle Y board raising money for the other half.
“We’re excited!” exclaimed regional executive Josh Sutton, during our conversation about the plan.
Another Morgan Junction-area public space is in better shape tonight because of hard work by community volunteers. Thanks to Barry for the photos and report:
A delegation from Peace Lutheran Church again joined Friends of Morgan Junction Parks on a neighborhood cleanup effort. The two groups put in a solid shift on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the SDOT property on the corner of Fauntleroy and Juneau, where restoration work was begun last fall. The two groups have also been restoring the triangle property next to the Thriftway in Morgan Junction.
Tall, thick weeds had taken over the parking strip at the Juneau site. These were removed, in addition to a lot of dead wood on trees and plants in the interior. We’ll return later in the fall to add some new plants to the parking strip area.
You can connect with Friends of Morgan Junction Parks via its Facebook page.
If you expect to be using I-5 south of West Seattle in the late-night/early-morning hours tonight and/or tomorrow – heads-up about some Seattle City Light work that will bring lane/ramp closures:
City Light is working to increase the electrical capacity and reliability to the Duwamish Valley with the H-Frame Replacement and Feeder Installation Project. This project will impact traffic on I-5 with intermittent ramp closures, lane closures, rolling slowdowns and traffic detours and surface street closures between the West Seattle Bridge and S 188th St as workers remove transmission cable currently spanning across the highway.
That’s Athena and her UW Huskies fan banner. Brand new … and, now, stolen from her yard in the 5900 block of Beach Drive SW (map). “If anyone sees it, I would appreciate getting it back. … It’s about 8.5 ft tall and slender, looks exactly like this, still brand new.” Let police know if you have an idea about what happened to it.
One week until the seventh annual West Seattle Car Show – an “open-class” show for the first time – and we have a sneak peek at some of the trophies! Local artist Mindi Katzman (below left) designed them, Brian Walker (below right) fabricated them, and Mindi shared a few photos:
The show will again be in the heart of The Junction, 10 am-4 pm on September 14th, with California SW closed to traffic between Oregon and Edmunds. Organizers had almost 100 cars signed up when we checked a few days ago, and there’s room for more – any year of car, truck, or motorcycle – ten trophies are up for grabs!
You can sign up online right now – if you don’t make your decision until the last minute, there will probably be room if you show up first thing next Sunday morning, but why risk it? Register in advance . If you’re planning to be a spectator, admission is free as always, thanks to the support of community businesses/organizations, including presenters West Seattle Autoworks and Swedish Automotive (both WSB sponsors) and sponsors (including WSB, proud to have been part of this every year since its launch in 2008). See you in The Junction next Sunday!
P.S. Are YOU participating in the show? If so, consider sending us a pic of your entry so we can include it in one of our previews in the days ahead – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
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