West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
That backhoe, recorded on video by neighbor Sara, brought the final chapter today to what once was Fraker’s Grocery at 4808 SW Alaska, vacant and slumping for years, but the source of many warm memories, as discussed in comments on past stories:
We first reported last December that it was slated for demolition so a single-family home could be built.
The lot was split off from the house next door a few years back. Former proprietor Dean Fraker died in 2009 at the age of 87.
Just a week and a half until your chance to enjoy student artists’ work – performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts – in the third annual West Seattle High School “Taste of the Arts” benefit. It’s set for Saturday, April 5th, with the visual and culinary arts awaiting you 6-7:30 pm that night in the St. John’s Episcopal Church hall next to WSHS, and then the Westside Drama performance of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at 8 pm in the school theater. See the official flyer here for full details; meantime, you can buy tickets online now, here.
After cutting trees as part of a soil cleanup at two of West Seattle’s six “surplus” ex-substations, over the objections of community advocates including the WS Green Space Coalition, City Light said it would try a different technique at the Fauntleroy and Genesee Hill sites – “vactoring” contaminated soil in a way that WSGSC was told should make cleanup possible without destroying the trees. Thanks to a reader tip, we learned this work is happening at the Fauntleroy site (just around the corner from the Endolyne business district-let) right now. Meantime, as noted in our most recent report, the Green Space Coalition is continuing to advocate for a larger community role in determining the sites’ future – rather than what has been the usual past path of seeing them sold for housing development. City Light has said it could send disposition-plan legislation to the City Council – which has the final say – as soon as the third quarter of this year.
You might have noticed preparation for this work – and now we have details: SDOT is putting in curb ramps at two spots on Harbor Avenue SW:
Starting the week of March 31, Seattle Department of Transportation crews will be installing curb ramps at two locations with marked crosswalks on the Alki Trail in West Seattle. The curb ramps will improve safety and accessibility for everyone using these crosswalks.
One of the crosswalks is located at Harbor Avenue Southwest and California Way Southwest. The other is a midblock crosswalk on Harbor Avenue Southwest near the Don Armeni Boat Ramp. The crews expect to complete the work by the middle of April.
The city’s announcement continues ahead: Read More
World Water Week continues at Chief Sealth International High School – teacher Noah Zeichner shares that photo from an art project that is part of today’s student conference on plastic pollution, this year’s theme (“Don’t Throw the World Away”). No public events today, but what the students are learning will certainly reverberate in our community in the years ahead.
Meantime, some of what’s happening elsewhere in West Seattle today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HIGH POINT SUMMER RESOURCE FAIR: Early-release day at school is the occasion for this 2-4 pm event with info on options for what youth can do this summer. Details in our calendar listing. At Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
SUPERSUCKERS @ EASY STREET: 6 pm, live in-store performance at Easy Street Records by Seattle’s own Supersuckers. (California/Alaska)
LASER OPEN HOUSE: Well Medical Arts (WSB sponsor) invites you to visit for an open house about SmartSkin (CO2) Laser rejuvenation. 6-8 pm. (9025 35th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Tonight’s agenda – 7 pm meeting after 6:30 pm potluck – shared by co-chair Carolyn Stauffer:
*Homestead Community Land Trust:* We’ve been getting inquiries about properties for sale around the neighborhood with “Homestead” signs, so we’ve invited a guest speaker from Homestead Community Land Trust to come tell us what they do (www.homesteadclt.org).
*Neighborhood Park and Street Fund:* overview the projects submitted for grants in our district
*Highland Park Playground:* A Seattle Parks representative will be present to update us on the schedule for the Opportunity Fund Grant awarded to the park to create better access from 10th Ave and Thistle Street.
*HPIC Courtyard*: come hear and see what’s going on…. and help us name the new space!
We’ll also have some folks speaking about the *Tree Ambassador Program*, and the *Green Home Tour* coming up in April.
The meeting is at Highland Park Improvement Club. (12th/Holden)
POETRY & STORYTELLING: The monthly event is back at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:19 AM: Starting today, Amante Pizza and Pasta is operating temporarily out of Bamboo Grill on Alki, according to the two establishments’ owner. We first reported in December that 3239 California SW, home to Amante and U-Frame-It, was slated for demolition to make way for townhouses/single-family houses on the site; one month ago, U-Frame-It announced it was seeking a new location, and now we’ve heard for the first time about Amante’s plans. Owner Plamen Stoyanov says, “We will continue to serve our customers regular hours (11 am-11 pm) every day. The phone number stays the same, 206-933-7555. This is just temporary and we are looking for a new place!”
ADDED 2:49 PM: After publishing this, we went over to check with U-Frame-It. They say they have found a new location, at Jefferson Square, but they don’t have a moving date set yet.
Brand-new in the city’s building-permit application file: A microhousing building proposed for 3268 SW Avalon Way, next to the one that is being finished at 3266 Avalon, with the 35th/Avalon 7-11 on its other side. There’s a four-plex on the site now (top photo); documents available online say it will be replaced with what is described as a “new 7-unit apartment building with 56 sleeping suites.” The “7-unit” description would refer to shared kitchens – 8 sleeping rooms for every kitchen. A site plan on file adds one more line of description – a five-story building atop a “pedestal story.” At least one of the people listed on the documents visible so far, Randall Spaan, has been involved with other microhousing developments – including the one next door.
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:12 AM: Welcome to Wednesday; our traffic/transit watch is on.
EARLY DISMISSAL FOR SPS: Two-hour early dismissal today for Seattle Public Schools.
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: Thanks to Carolyn Newman for this view of the WSWT under the Tuesday afternoon rainbow:
The WSWT will be back to seven-day-a-week operation in just a week and a half, starting Monday, April 7th. You can preview the schedule toward the bottom of this page.
8:26 AM: Steve reports in comments, “There is a disabled SUV in the right lane on the Spokane ST Viaduct right at the I-5 North exit. Not causing problems when I passed it.” Your editor here is about to catch a ride downtown for today’s court proceedings so we’ll see firsthand if any trouble has ensued.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Between the start and finish of proceedings on Tuesday, five witnesses had spent time testifying for the defense at the murder trial of Lovett “Cid” Chambers – one of his friends, one of his relatives, a bartender, a DNA analyst, and a police officer.
Tuesday began with cross-examination resuming for the defendant’s older sister Betty Wynne. Prosecutor Mari Isaacson first offered something of an apology for the concluding moments on Monday, when Wynne seemed distressed and confused by the questioning.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she offered.
Wynne, for her part, again contended she hadn’t opened up to the prosecution during an earlier phone interview “because I didn’t know you and I don’t usually talk about family things over the phone, and I really didn’t know who I was talking to …”
Regardless, Isaacson had to press on, so she did, somewhat gently, while Wynne replied somewhat more testily than the day before.
(1st photo from scene, by Patrick Sand for WSB)
9:36 PM: Seattle Fire is responding to a reported house fire in the 10000 block of 51st SW (map). It’s on a dead-end street in Brace Point. More to come.
(This photo & next 2, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
9:45 PM UPDATE: Via scanner, firefighters report they have the fire “knocked down.” Our crew has just arrived and sees some flames from a corner of the roof on the 3-story house. Strong smell of smoke even here in upper Fauntleroy more than a mile north.
10:12 PM UPDATE: Nobody was home when this started, our crew at the scene has been told. Flames are out now. (Added: Video of firefighters on the roof – note the smoke and also the water rushing down the driveway:)
SFD’s investigator is there to try to figure out how it started.
11:53 PM UPDATE: No cause announced yet; the investigation is still under way, per SFD.
WEDNESDAY 10:06 AM: Police have announced they believe this was arson – finding a gas can inside the house – and a resident of the home has been arrested. Details on SPD Blotter.
10:23 AM UPDATE: We’ve checked the background of the 54-year-old woman who is in jail for investigation of arson; she does not appear to have a criminal record.
12:32 PM UPDATE: Since she wasn’t booked until this morning, her bail hearing won’t be until tomorrow, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE: Her bail was set today at $100,000, according to the jail register. We won’t have other details from prosecutors until Friday.
That’s a sketch just released by King County Sheriff’s Office detectives, in their search for the man who beat and raped a woman earlier this month along SW Roxbury. We reported the attack the day it happened, March 7th; here is the latest from detectives:
On Friday, March 7th, just after midnight the victim was walking eastbound on the south side of Roxbury near 24th Ave. She was approached by a black male who asked her for a cigarette. The victim gave the man a cigarette when he suddenly dragged her to a nearby lot where he punched her repeatedly then sexually assaulted her.
After the assault the man fled, taking the victim’s purse with him. The purse was never located and may have been discarded nearby or possibly given to an associate of the suspect. The purse is very distinctive:
The attacker was described as a younger black male, early 20’s, about 5’9″, medium build, wearing a dark-colored hoodie and jeans. The suspect may have injuries to his hands due to the violent assault on the victim.
If you have information about this man or the missing purse, please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours). You can also be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Must have been some rainbow! Thanks to everybody who has shared photos. We start with three – above, from Babs, who says her friendly neighborhood crow Buddy didn’t mind posing. Next, from Buzz Shaw:
From 15-year-old Samantha:
And via the WSB Facebook page, from Debbie:
Now … back to the rain. And wind.
ADDED 9:24 PM: Thanks for sharing more rainbow photos! From David Hutchinson:
A few more to come.
Continuing coverage of on our one-on-one Q-and-A with Mayor Ed Murray, one topic at a time: Two weeks from today, the requested “alley vacation” for the 4755 Fauntleroy Way project – aka The Whittaker, and/or the Whole Foods project – goes back to the City Council Transportation Committee, which held a public hearing two weeks ago (WSB coverage here). Last summer, the mayor’s predecessor had told SDOT to recommend rejection of the request. After Mayor Murray took office, we asked for his comment on the situation, and his spokesperson had told us he wasn’t commenting. So we asked during our one-on-one interview Friday; here’s his reply:
The proposal to grant the project’s developers the opportunity to buy the alley land for not-yet-specified “fair market value” ultimately goes to the full City Council for a final vote, possibly as soon as April 14th, depending on what happens at the committee meeting April 8th.
Our next question for/answer from the mayor is also a development issue – his thoughts on the relatively new city rules allowing housing without off-street parking if it’s a certain distance from what’s considered frequent transit, though the city can’t guarantee the ongoing availability of said transit.
Previously:
Question #1 – West Seattle Bridge traffic
Question #2 – SPD’s not-yet-activated surveillance cameras
Police say three intruders found at Alki Elementary School were caught red-handed … with a frozen pizza. Just go read the tale as told by SPD Blotter writer Jonah Spangenthal-Lee.
One neighbor reported that it looks like demolition is near at the old Genesee Hill Elementary – slated for replacement with a brand-new school – but it’s not happening yet, according to Seattle Public Schools‘ Tom Redman. He explained what IS happening right now:
We are not beginning demolition yet. We are currently abating/removing hazardous material from the existing building. We are also doing an archeological survey, based on the State Dept. of Archeological and Historical Preservation maps.
Also, per City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development, we are doing required testing for pin pile foundation load test, which means we are driving a test pile into the soil and checking subsurface load capacity. This will give us an idea of what the planned foundation pilings can support beyond standard loads.
Background information about the new school is here. The old building has been closed for almost five years.
After almost two years in North Delridge, during which they added promotional merchandise to their original embroidery/sewing business, PB&J Textiles is moving to a new, much-larger location – the former South End Florist storefront at 10728 16th SW in White Center. Co-proprietor Paul Binder tells WSB, “We are excited about our new location as we will double-plus our space. This will allow for more product offerings, better retail space, and easy parking!” They’ve expanded their offerings yet again in preparation for the move and now offer paper printing, banners, promotional products, embroidery, and screen printing, as well as copiers if you need to make quick photocopies. They’re planning to move Friday, April 4th, through Sunday, April 6th, reopening in the new space on Monday, April 7th, and will be tracking the move via Tumblr.
We might not see the sun again for a few days, so we’re glad to be able to share David Hutchinson‘s photo from one of last week’s spectacular sunsets. Five highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CHRIS JORDAN @ SEALTH’S WORLD WATER WEEK: Plastic pollution is the focus of this year’s World Water Week events at Chief Sealth International High School – as previewed here – and tonight, you are invited to come to campus for a resource fair 6-7 pm and keynoter Chris Jordan‘s presentation about “The Plight of the Albatross,” at 7 pm – free. (2600 SW Thistle)
‘PARENTS, TEENS, AND SEX: THE TALK, PART 2’: 6 pm tonight at Southwest Branch Library, health educator Katie Acker from the Neighborcare school-based health centers at two local high schools will present information on “the state of sexual health and activity among teens,” as well as strategies for parents to use in “initiating and continuing ‘the talk’,” while reiterating “the critical role parents play in teens’ lives, decisionmaking, and health-seeking behaviors.” (35th/Henderson)
WHAT HAPPENS TO STOLEN PROPERTY? Bring your questions to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meeting tonight and find out from a Seattle Police detective who works on pawn-shop detail. New precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske also is expected to be in attendance. 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct. (Delridge/Webster)
‘BLUES TO DO’: 8 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), tonight’s Blues To Do extravaganza features the Seth Freeman All-Star Session with Chris Leighton and Scott E. Lind. (6451 California SW)
BABY KETTEN KARAOKE: A unique take on karaoke, 9 pm at Skylark Café and Club. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(WSB photo from March 15 cleanup)
After the 22nd annual Fairmount Ravine volunteer cleanup a week and a half ago, coordinator Sarah Schieron mentioned a followup event might be organized to get more of the invasive ivy out of the forested area. The date is set and your help would be welcome:
A group of neighbors is planning a second workday in the Fairmount Ravine. Our trash clean-up (weekend before last) was very successful but we did not make the impact with ivy cutting we wanted.
On Saturday, April 5th, at 9 am, we will meet at the top of the Fairmount ravine just south of the roundabout once again. Wear hardy clothes and bring pruning shears or loppers, if you have them. Work takes place rain or shine.
Before the 5th, I’ll be meeting with a city of Seattle plant ecologist to figure out what is the biggest priority and how to best leverage other plant restoration work taking place in the ravine.
We hope more community members will join us. It will be just as hard and dirty work and the more help we have the greater our impact.
The meeting spot is at Fairmount and Forest, less than a block east of Hiawatha.
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: And we’re off! Thanks in advance for traffic-trouble sightings, whenever you can safely report them (after getting to where you’re going, if you’re driving solo) – our text/voice number is 206-293-6302.
7:18 AM: The rain is picking up, so allow yourself a few extra minutes as we all get used to it again.
8:11 AM: Downtown early for a pre-court meeting. Sluggish but nothing unusual.
(Graham French‘s late-inning hit propelled WSHS to victory)
The first win of 2014 is in the books for the West Seattle High School Wildcats. The photos and summary are courtesy of Greg Slader (thank you!):
A wild “come from behind” game helps West Seattle get its first win of the season.
Lakeside ace pitcher and Stanford commit Andrew Summerville held the Wildcats to no hits thru Five innings as the Lions piled up four runs. But a sixth-inning walk and a failed pickle play got the Wildcats their first run. Things only got crazier from there as West Seattle scored two runs in the sixth inning and three runs in the bottom of the seventh for the improbable come-from-behind Victory.
(Kevin Cuddy held Lakeside to one run through three innings)
An excited assistant coach Brian Tupper had this to say: “Crazy game, but that’s the way baseball is. You know you just got to keep grinding. That’s why we play all seven innings; it’s never over till it’s over.”West Seattle is on the road for the next three games; next home game is April 4th vs. Rainier Beach.
Come support the team @ our Spaghetti Dinner April 5th at West Side Presbyterian Church – meet the players – free autographs and more!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Morgan Junction murder-trial defendant Lovett Chambers, known to friends as “Cid,” has another nickname that emerged in court Monday: “Cookie.”
The second witness for the defense, the 69-year-old defendant’s 73-year-old sister Betty Wynne, said that’s how she has always known him, since their grandmother dubbed him that for a purported love of sweets.
Her testimony – which will continue Tuesday, in what became an awkward cross-examination today – followed the conclusion of the appearance of the first defense witness, forensic psychologist Dr. Mark Cunningham. He had testified that his time examining the defendant, talking to others, and doing extra research led him to believe Chambers had post-traumatic stress disorder from what he saw and what happened to him during his years in juvenile facilities, jail, and prisons, and that it affected his perception of the encounter that preceded the shooting for which he is on trial.
Prosecutor Margaret Nave was cross-examining Dr. Cunningham as last week’s sessions before King County Superior Court Judge Theresa B. Doyle wrapped up, and that’s where she picked up Monday.
What used to be a springtime late-night fashion-shopping event in The Junction has morphed this year into a wider definition of style – possibilities for your home, as well as for your clothes, shoes, and accessories. So on Thursday night (March 27th), you’re invited to the Spring Fling – Visit CAPERS, Carmilia’s, Clementine, and Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) between 6 and 9:30 pm and get a punch card entitling you to a free glass of bubbly at West 5 or Shadowland. They’re all within a block of each other, on California SW from just north of Oregon to midblock between Oregon and Alaska.
Two success stories tonight from this weekend’s “Scouting for Food” collections, door-to-door, drop-off, and outside grocery stores. From Troop 282:
Regina Arceo-Schulz shared the photos, reporting the troop collected more than 600 pounds of food and wanted to say, “Thank you, West Seattle!”
And from Pack 793:
Committee chair Brian Christenson shared the photo and message: “Pack 793 would like to thank the West Seattle Families that contributed to this event. Our Pack alone collected 391 pounds of food that went to the West Seattle Food Bank on Saturday.”
REMEMBER … Through the end of next month, donations to local food banks count for more, because of the Feinstein Challenge. You can give online – WS Food Bank here, WC Food Bank here. Next door-to-door drive will be Stamp Out Hunger, same day as West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day as usual, second Saturday in May (this year, May 10th) – leave a bag of non-perishable food by your door/mailbox and your letter carrier will handle it, that day only.
| 7 COMMENTS