West Seattle, Washington
15 Wednesday
One more sports report from the second-to-last week of school before winter break: Chief Sealth International High School hosted Bainbridge in Friday night basketball. The girls-varsity team lost 53-43; stats are here, with Samantha Scroggins leading the Katie Jo Maris-coached Seahawks’ scoring, 16 points. She and teammate O’Shae Walker are in the photo above, flanking Bainbridge’s Maddie Ketcheside.
In the boys-varsity game, Bainbridge also left with the win, 48-41 despite a run by the Colin Slingsby-coached Seahawks in the last few minutes.
Stats are up now (also via our partners at The Seattle Times). Alluney Burris was top Sealth scorer with 12; in our photo is the Seahawks’ Ahmed Mohamed, who had 7 points Friday night.
Next up for Sealth – road trips to Rainier Beach High School, where the boys’ teams play Tuesday, the girls on Wednesday.
The southwest corner of California/Alaska is the West Seattle Junction holiday epicenter today. As West Seattle Farmers’ Market shoppers bustle past, the carolers raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank are back (above), and it’s the first of two Sundays with Belgian Draft Mule-drawn carriage rides (as part of WS Junction’s Hometown Holidays) that start and end at the same corner.
All of the above is under way until 3 pm; the Farmers’ Market continues until 2 – and we were reminded while there, mark your calendar for next Sunday, when an extra-festive winter-solstice edition of the market is planned, including lights and decorations on vendors’ booths. P.S. Pathfinder K-8‘s wreath-selling fundraiser is happening now at the same corner.
Trileigh Tucker shares that image from Saturday’s orca sightings – click it for a larger view, in which you’ll see people crowding the outside deck to watch the orcas clearly in view right alongside the state ferry Issaquah on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. No word of any local sightings so far today – any time you see one (or more), please let us know so we can help share the news.
4:15 PM: Received this photo from Barbara Bonner, taken from Lincoln Park on Saturday:
You can also click that photo for a larger view.
P.S. Fascinating video by Meg McDonald shows the orcas at rest off Vashon – hat tip to Donna from The Whale Trail, who shared the link.
(Photo by Monty)
(updated) Eighteen Sunday highlights, from both the WSB Holiday Events/Info Guide and year-round calendar:
FEEDBACK FOOTBALL: The Seahawks play back east this morning, and Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is opening its doors early so you can come watch the game and enjoy breakfast specials. (6451 California SW)
HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT’S FINAL DAY: No Christmas tree yet? Planning to get one today? It’s the final scheduled day for the Holy Rosary Tree Lot (WSB sponsor), north of the school. Part of this lot’s proceeds benefit West Seattle Helpline, Hickman House (domestic-violence shelter), and West Seattle Food Bank. (41st/Dakota)
MULE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES: West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays brings back the tradition today and next Sunday, 11 am-4 pm. Belgian Draft Mules pull the carriages around The Junction; you ride for free. Look for the pickup/dropoff spot. (California/Alaska)
CAROLING TO BENEFIT FOOD BANKS: We 3 Carolers, joined by members of the SSCC Choir, will sing in The Junction to raise money for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. We will be caroling on the corner in front of Key Bank from 11:30 am until 3 pm. “Stop by, give generously, and if the holiday spirit moves you, sing along!” (California/Alaska)
TRANSPORTATION TALK: Second day of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition “listening tour,” with a visit this time to Cupcake Royale in The Junction, 11 am-1 pm. Stop by and tell WSTC reps what you think the priorities should be, as explained here. (California/Alaska)
HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORS’ WORK PARTY: Noon-3 pm, come help move mulch to spruce up the slope in the Kenyon/14th/15th vicinity, as previewed here.
STUDIO SALE: Noon-5 pm, fine photography and art sale at Gregor Jamroski’s studio, details here. (10823 36th SW)
SANTA AT DAKOTA PLACE PARK: 1-4 pm at Dakota Place Park, with a food-bank fundraiser/foodraiser, sponsored by My Seattle Realty, which is donating one digital photo free – 2-can West Seattle Food Bank (or $) requested – others available for purchase from photographer Gail Ann. Reservations requested: Specify 1-2, 2-3 or 3-4 pm in e-mail to office@myseattlerealty.com. (California Ave SW and SW Dakota St)
SANTA AT CAPERS: DIY photos with “Ex-Westwood” Santa at CAPERS continue this Saturday/Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Suggested donation per sitting $10; all donations benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
‘WRAP IT UP’: Gift-wrapping fundraiser for Furry Faces and AARF Foundations’ animal-advocacy work, by donation. First session today, 2-7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. (6413 California SW)
‘LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL’: Matinee today – 3 pm, ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. (4711 California SW)
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH’ FINALE: 3 pm matinee is your last chance to join Twelfth Night Productions for “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play.”
(Photo by Gary Wigle)
Show’s at Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)
FAUNTLEROY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Christmas Concert at Fauntleroy Church: 4 pm in the sanctuary, with reception to follow. Choristers from Peace Lutheran Church will join the Fauntleroy choir to bring nearly 60 voices to bear on a varied program, including Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria” and Morten Lauridson’s “O Magnum Mysterium.” Seattle Symphony alumnus Mannfried Funk will play cello. Free. (9140 California SW)
‘COCOA CRIS CRINGLE’ SANTA AT EASY STREET: Meet Easy Street Records‘ Santa for photos/donation drive benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. 4-7 pm. $20, or $15 with donation of 1 nonperishable food item or toy, includes 3 photos sent to you and 1 printed on site. (California/Alaska)
CARTOONING SANTA AT LUNA PARK CAFE: 5-8 pm, meet Cartooning Santa at Luna Park Café, drawing free cartoons for the kids, with drink specials for all ages. (2918 SW Avalon Way)
BOOZE, BALLS, BINGO HOLIDAY EDITION: 5:30 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) with Tru St. James and Mama Tits, guest appearance by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – including a winter-coat drive for Treehouse. (6451 California SW)
CARMINA ANGELORUM CONCERT: 7:30-9 pm at Holy Rosary Church, an evening concert of elegant music celebrating winter and the holiday season, featuring harpist Juliet Stratton and the young women of Prime Voci and Cantamus. Works by Benjamin Britten, John Rutter, Bernard Hughes, Paul Carey, R. Murray Shafer, and Bob Chilcott. Sponsored by the Seattle Girls’ Choir. Tickets: $12, $8/Senior & Students – buy tickets at the door or at BrownPaperTickets.com. (42nd/Genesee)
FINAL DAY FOR VILLAGE GREEN GIVING TREE: At the Christmas Tree Lot at Village Green Perennial Nursery, it’s the last day to participate in a giving tree with wish-list tags to sponsor 31 special people through Jubilee Women’s Center, which support women experiencing poverty to build stable and fulfilling futures! All unwrapped gifts are due back today, so they are ready to be wrapped by the staff at Jubilee the next day. (10223 26th SW)
Other giving opportunities are listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Event/Info Guide.
Reader report via texts: “Our car was stolen out of the garage at The Residences at 3295 (SW Avalon Way) between 6 pm Saturday and midnight. Red Honda Civic, license plate 096 WDU, 2-door 1995 with spoiler.” As the SPD tweet advises, if you see it, call 911.
In Friday morning traffic coverage, we mentioned a bicycle incident at Admiral Way/City View on the hill north of the bridge. It cleared relatively quickly, and turned out to have been a fall rather than a collision, so we didn’t follow up. But then we received this note from Elisabeth, saying the rider is her mom and she’s looking for the person who helped her:
(Friday) morning around 6:50/7:00 am, a good Samaritan helped my mom after she crashed her bike on Admiral. My mom was on the west side of street headed towards WS bridge. The good Samaritan pulled over and I believe she called the medics. I was actually driving to work right around the same time and got there shortly after the medics had my mom on the stretcher.
First, we would really like to thank the good Samaritan because my mom hit her head pretty hard and based on her injuries hit the pavement (or her bike) hard, so we think the fast response was critical, and second, we are wondering if the good Samaritan saw the accident. We are trying to piece together what happened as my mom does not remember any of it. She took quite a spill and has some internal injuries and some fractured bones, but we think she is going to be ok.
Was it you, or someone you know? You can comment, or e-mail us.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:46 PM: Police at the scene of an investigation at a home on High Point Drive are not commenting on what they are investigating. We went to the scene after neighbors messaged us about crime scene tape and CSI detectives. One source tells us a “suspicious death” is being checked out – we are working to confirm that.
5:26 PM UPDATE: Police now confirm it’s a homicide investigation:
Homicide detectives are on scene in West Seattle where a woman was found dead in her home early this afternoon.
At approximately 12:27 p.m. officers responded to the 5900 block of High Point Drive SW to check the welfare of a homeowner. Upon arrival officers located a deceased woman in her 40′s inside the home. There was nobody else inside the residence upon the arrival of officers.
Homicide and CSI detectives responded to process the scene and continue to actively investigate.
The suspect(s) remain at large.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Seattle Police Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. Anonymous tips are welcome.
This remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation.
This is the first West Seattle homicide investigation since the still-unsolved murder of Greggette Guy more than a year and a half ago.
12:37 AM UPDATE: A few more details from police via SPD Blotter: They say the victim was 46 years old and describe her as the homeowner for the address where she was found. According to police, the call that led them to the residence was made by “a relative.” They are not saying how she died but “foul play is suspected.” TV reports quote family members as saying the victim had been stabbed to death.
Just in via SPD Blotter, an arrest early this morning:
Officers located and arrested a young male burglar inside a woman’s home early this morning in West Seattle. At approximately 3:31 a.m. officers responded to the 3200 block of 59th Avenue SW for the report of an occupied residential burglary. Preliminary investigation indicates that the female homeowner was inside her house and heard multiple voices. She called 911.
Officers arrived on scene and found the home’s doors unlocked. Officers entered the house and located one male suspect inside. There were no signs of forced entry.
The 14-year-old male suspect was arrested and booked into juvenile detention for Investigation of Burglary. The woman homeowner was not injured.
Thanks to Thomas for the photo. We finally have a tidbit of information regarding what the police search near Delridge and Brandon was about – it’s related to an auto-theft case, according to radio communications. No other details at this point, but we’ve received enough questions about this that we’re mentioning it.
Three arts/crafts sales in our daily preview are all happening now. First, one that just started at 1 pm, presented by Nepenthe but one house north of the storefront at 6010-6016 California SW, continuing until 9 pm:
That’s Nepenthe proprietor Naomi Rivera at right, with Santa. Two other bazaars are on until 3 pm:
That’s the scene inside Diva Espresso (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW) in The Triangle. We noticed Lovey’s Gloveys:
Diva is at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW. Meantime, among the vendors at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) is Alexia Cortes-Johnson, with Mexican folk art as well as religious/primitive art:
C&P has such a big turnout, a few vendors have their tables out on the front patio. (Good thing today’s temperature is about double what it was this time LAST Saturday!) Other arts/crafts sales still to come are listed in the WSB Holiday Guide – if yours isn’t, be sure to send info (plain text, please, not a flyer; thanks!) – we’re continuing to list open houses and other special business events, too.
Seattle Lutheran High School‘s basketball teams hosted Mount Vernon Christian last night. Top photo is from the boys-varsity game, which SLHS won, 54-41; that’s Abijah Smith, who was the team’s top scorer with 20 (next was Ben Sanders with 14). Next, the girls’ game:
Abbi Sanders is in that photo, bringing the ball upcourt; she had 14 points in the Saints’ 53-30 loss. Also during the busy night of basketball at Seattle Lutheran, there was a bonus game:
Third- and fourth-graders from nearby Hope Lutheran School hit the court.
(Jen @ C&P fair – photo courtesy Machel Spence, who is there too)
Two craft fairs are under way already and that’s just the start of a busy holiday Saturday, with Santa visits and much more … so most (but not all) of the following is from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info Guide, with listings and lists running all the way through New Year’s Day:
ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET CLEANUP: Not too late to scoot over to Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral and get geared up to help clean up Admiral District streets with the Admiral Neighborhood Association until noon. (41st/42nd/Admiral)
C & P FAIR: C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, under way until 3 pm, “featuring unique, local arts and crafts for sale at the coffee shop. Jewelry, toys, clothing, prints, paintings, furniture, and more.” (5612 California SW)
DIVA FAIR: Diva Espresso‘s annual arts/crafts fair, also under way until 3 pm. (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW)
(Photo added: Cara with collection barrel outside Thriftway)
FOOD DRIVE: Donate to the West Seattle Food Bank at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), 10 am-**4** pm. (Fauntleroy/California/Morgan; updated end time)
SANTA PAWS … Pet photos today, 11 am-2 pm, at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Northwest Real Estate (WSB sponsor) offices at Jefferson Square, 11 am-2 pm. Please sign up ahead of time by going here. (4700 42nd SW, Suite 600)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION ‘LISTENING TOUR’: Something to say about West Seattle transportation? (Who DOESN’T have something to say about it?) Stop by Barnes & Noble’s coffee shop at Westwood Village noon-2 pm today and talk with the WSTC. (2600 SW Barton)
KITTY HARBOR: Second-to-last weekend of the year at the adoption center near the West Seattle Bridge – and dozens of cats/kittens are looking for homes, like this one:
Thanks to Chaucer Wells Photography for sharing that pic. Noon-6 today @ KH. (3422 Harbor SW)
NEPENTHE BAZAAR: Nepenthe Holiday Bazaar, 1-9 pm: “A venue open to creators of all kinds!” (6010 & 6016-A California SW)
SANTA AT CAPERS: DIY photos with “Ex-Westwood” Santa at CAPERS continue this Saturday/Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Suggested donation per sitting $10; all donations benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
CHAMPAGNE TASTING: Annual grower Champagne tasting at West Seattle Cellars. 1-5 pm Note, there will be a $10 fee for this tasting, refundable with purchase of a bottle of Champagne. (6026 California SW)
‘COCOA CRIS CRINGLE’ AT EASY STREET: Saturday and Sunday evenings, come meet Easy Street Records‘ Santa for photos/donation drive benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank.
4-9 pm. $20, or $15 with donation of 1 nonperishable food item or toy, includes 3 photos sent to you and 1 printed on site. (California/Alaska)
SANTA AT THE MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: 6-10 pm tonight, “Santa Al” is available for DIY photos at the legendary light show; bring a can of food to donate for Northwest Harvest. (5605 Beach Drive SW)
‘LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL’: The curtain rises at 7:30 tonight, ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. (4711 California SW)
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH’: Twelfth Night Productions presents “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play,” in the style of a live 1940s radio broadcast. 7:30 tonight at Kenyon Hall. Tickets can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com/event/509548 or an hour before showtime at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)
NIGHTLIFE: Our regular calendar includes listings tonight for music and more at The Cask, Duos Lounge, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), Shadowland, Skylark Café and Club, Twilight Gallery. Mouse over the right side of any line in the calendar to click the “plus” sign and expand it for a preview. And if your West Seattle show isn’t there – did you e-mail us the info, plain text, week in advance? Listings are free – editor@westseattleblog.com. Thanks!
9:03 AM: Orcas are back in our waters again today – Claire reports a sighting from the Lincoln Park shoreline, with the whales heading south, as of about 15 minutes ago. (Please let us know if you spot them, even with a text (or voice call if you prefer) to 206-293-6302. Thanks! (P.S. Wildlife watcher/advocate Trileigh Tucker tells us she’s heard a report too.)
1:02 PM: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail called a short time ago and said orcas are southNORTHbound, likely visible soon from Alki Point area. She’ll be in the area with binoculars.
1:46 AM: It’s one of those things that can make you wonder if it was just a flicker at your place … but no, shortly after 1 am, per social-media discussion, it seems a brief power interruption was fairly widespread in West Seattle. A few people report hearing a “boom,” which suggests a transformer problem somewhere; as we write this, the City Light outage map is showing 77 residences out around and above the Me-Kwa-Mooks area of Beach Drive.
2:07 AM: The map has now bumped the number up to 181.
2:22 AM: .. and it’s back to 77, along with the notation that the cause is blamed on “bird/animal.” Restoration is estimated to be up to two hours away.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The developer planning to build a 30-unit, no-offstreet-parking building in Morgan Junction says it will be a duplicate of a 30-unit, no-offstreet-parking building the same architect designed for a North Seattle site.
After Mark Knoll explained that last night to about 30 people who came to hear from and talk with him about 6917 California SW (map) – the plan first reported here two months ago – we took a field trip today for a firsthand look at the “duplicate” building.
Ironically, we discovered, that building (same architect but different owner/developer) in Roosevelt is directly across the street from a big parking lot.
The lot has more than 150 spaces open to the public (but not free), and its streetfront is in turn lined with free public parking (mostly diagonal). The Roosevelt building also is a few blocks from a planned station for Sound Transit light rail, something West Seattle currently can only dream of.
More on that building and its context later in this story. First, what Knoll told, and heard from, those in attendance last night at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center:
Our coverage of this week’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition board meeting included word that WSTC members planned a tour of sorts to meet with interested community members. Just found out it starts tomorrow! Here’s the announcement and schedule:
Got a rant about transportation in West Seattle or maybe a rave to share? If so, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition (WSTC) wants to hear from you. They plan to begin a series of “Listening Tours” to learn about transportation and mobility issues that affect the West Seattle Peninsula. The first of the ‘tours’ starts this weekend.
At each ‘Tour Stop,’ Coalition members will take your comments about transportation and the peninsula. “We’d like you to tell us what works and what doesn’t work about transportation in West Seattle; what do you think can be improved, or what do you think is needed,” said WSTC Outreach Chairperson Deb Barker. Transportation methods such as car, bike, bus, ferry, scooter, skateboard, rollerblade, wheelchair, or walking are included. As a newly formed grassroots group dedicated to advancing and improving all transportation modes in order to benefit the West Seattle Peninsula, the WSTC will tabulate all of the comments they receive to determine ongoing transportation goals and objectives for all of the people of the peninsula.
The “Listening Tour” schedule is:
December 14, 2013 from 12-2pm at Barnes & Noble Coffee Shop, Westwood Village, 2600 SW Barton
December 15, 2013 from 11-1pm at Cupcake Royale, 4556 California Ave SW
December 21, 2013 from 12-2 at The Feedback Lounge, 6451 California Ave SW
December 22, 2013 from 12-2 at Zatz a Better Bagel, 2348 California Ave SW
December 29, 2013 from 12-2 at Uptown Espresso, 3845 Delridge Way SWIf you can’t make it to one of the “Listening Tour” dates, send your comments to the WSTC at their website westseattletc.org. Additional “Listening Tours” dates will be announced in January 2014.
Most years, we’ve featured locally created Christmas music. Tonight – a song with a bit of a story. We heard from Ian Fetterer, who is lead vocalist/keyboardist and audio engineer for a band called Faintly. They are living in a West Seattle house while writing and recording an album they hope to finish by next year. He sent us the link to a Christmas song that he explains was written “a few years back, and somehow it has now become one of my traditions every year to remix the song to see if I can get it sounding better than the year before, and I’m really excited about this mix!” If you like the song – which you can preview above – Ian invites you to download it here – for free, or “pay what you’d like.”
(2012 photo – Santa at the Menashe Family Lights)
Santa Claus is truly magical. He can be in many places at once – that’s really the only way you can explain all that worldwide present-delivering on Christmas Eve. This weekend, you’ll find him making some special stops around West Seattle; they’re all in our all-season-long Holiday Events/Info Guide – here are highlights, including one-time-only visits:
SANTA PAWS … as in, pet photos! Saturday, 11 am-2 pm, at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Northwest Real Estate (WSB sponsor) offices at Jefferson Square, 11 am-2 pm. Please sign up ahead of time by going here. (4700 42nd SW, Suite 600)
SANTA AT CAPERS: DIY photos with “Ex-Westwood” Santa at CAPERS continue this Saturday/Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Suggested donation per sitting $10; all donations benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
‘COCOA CRIS CRINGLE’ SANTA AT EASY STREET: Saturday and Sunday evenings, come meet Easy Street Records‘ Santa for photos/donation drive benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank.
(2012 photo)
Saturday 4-9 pm; Sunday 4-7 pm. $20, or $15 with donation of 1 nonperishable food item or toy, includes 3 photos sent to you and 1 printed on site. (California/Alaska)
SANTA AT THE MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: 6-10 pm Saturday, “Santa Al” is available for DIY photos at the legendary light show; bring a can of food to donate for Northwest Harvest. (5605 Beach Drive SW)
SANTA AT DAKOTA PLACE PARK: Sunday 1-4 pm at Dakota Place Park, with a food-bank fundraiser/foodraiser, sponsored by My Seattle Realty, which is donating one digital photo free – 2-can West Seattle Food Bank (or $) requested – others available for purchase from photographer Gail Ann. Reservations requested: Specify 1-2, 2-3 or 3-4 pm in e-mail to office@myseattlerealty.com. (California Ave SW and SW Dakota St)
CARTOONING SANTA AT LUNA PARK CAFE: 5-8 pm Sunday, come meet Cartooning Santa at Luna Park Café, 5 to 8 pm, drawing free cartoons for the kids, with drink specials for all ages. (2918 SW Avalon Way)
That’s just part of the Santa-visit lineup for this weekend – for more details and Santa appearances beyond this weekend, not to mention a long list of other West Seattle holiday events and info, go here!
Thanks to Trileigh Tucker, wildlife-watcher/photographer extraordinaire, for a note about what apparently are two groups of orcas headed northbound past, and approaching, our shores – parallel with Southworth and with Seahurst. Please let us know if you see/have seen them!
(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, FASTSIGNS West Seattle, now open. Here’s what they would like you to know about their business:
(FASTSIGNS’ James Pike, Christine Greene, Steve Sharp)
We are excited to be part of the FASTSIGNS® family, which is a multi-national franchise and recognized as a leader in the industry. After researching several business options, the owners, James Pike and Jessica Lee, determined that FASTSIGNS® would be a great addition to the business community, serving West Seattle, Burien, and the surrounding area.
At FASTSIGNS® West Seattle, we care about our customers and we make it as easy as possible for the customer to achieve all of their visual communication goals, needs, and desires. With over 50 years of collective experience in graphics, production, sales and business development and architecture, our team is ready and excited to serve the community and build relationships with our customers. Every business has a story to tell, and we look forward to having the opportunity to help tell your story.
As residents of West Seattle, the owners of FASTSIGNS® West Seattle are very involved within the West Seattle community as members of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Jessica, who grew up in West Seattle, is the Treasurer of the West Seattle Food Bank. She is also an alumnus of Seattle Lutheran High School as well as Seattle University and the University of Washington. James, originally from London, UK, is active in various soccer leagues and also a diehard Chelsea football supporter!
FASTSIGNS® West Seattle is located at 6323 35th SW and online at FASTSIGNS West Seattle. Please call 206-577-4077, or request a quote online.
We thank FASTSIGNS® West Seattle 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.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: In mid-January, the 1/23 Design Review meeting was pushed back to 1/30)
Four more projects have been added to the Southwest Design Review Board‘s calendar for early next year.
Most notably, January 23rd 30th is tentatively scheduled for the board’s first look at 3824 California SW, 
the 30-unit project proposed for the two-and-a-half-years-vacant Charlestown Café site, first reported here six months ago. The 30 units are now described on the city website is now outlined as 17 live-work units and 13 townhouses. The tentative date for this review is 6:30 pm January 23 30, followed by, at 8 pm, the first look at 4505 42nd SW (here’s a map), 50 apartments over 4,500 square feet of retail and 16 parking spaces. That’s a change from our first report back in October.
Then, tentatively set for 6:30 pm February 6th, 4400 SW Alaska (map) goes back to the SWDRB; it is now described as 36 residential units, 4 live-work units, and 5 parking spaces. (Here’s our report on its July review.)
We’ve already mentioned that 3078 SW Avalon Way (map) is on the calendar to go back before the board at 6:30 pm January 16th; now a second project is added for 8 pm that night, 4433 42nd SW (here’s a map), 78 residential units, 2 live-work units, and a 52-space underground parking garage. It’s been reviewed twice previously.
All of the aforementioned reviews are penciled in for the Senior Center of West Seattle, which is where all the board’s meetings have been held for some months now, after several years of bouncing between various community-meeting rooms.
P.S. The city’s page explaining the Design Review program is here.
It’s an even-more-frequent question than usual during the holiday season – “how can I help?” Here’s the latest answer: The White Center Food Bank, which also serves southern West Seattle, needs volunteers and donations. Specifically, according to WCFB’s Audrey Zemke, they need help passing out holiday food next Thursday (December 19th), 3:30-6:30 pm. If you can volunteer for that time – please contact Audrey, 206-762-2848 or audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org. Meantime, there’s one type of holiday food they especially need – turkeys and hams for larger households. You can take them to the WCFB at 10829 8th SW during its regular hours 8:30 am-5 pm Mondays-Fridays, or other times by arrangement.
(WSB photo, taken – from the passenger seat – midday Friday)
One year after the city officially marked the end of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, a speed-limit change has just been announced by SDOT:
This weekend the speed limit on the Spokane Street Viaduct is increasing to 40 miles per hour (mph) between I-5 and First Avenue South. While the speed limit was 35 mph based on the structure’s original design, the Spokane Street Viaduct Project widened the roadway, which allows for a 40 mph speed. The project officially concluded last December, but the lower speed limit remained in place while the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) monitored operations. SDOT has concluded the Spokane Street Viaduct is functioning well and that the speed limit can be safely increased.
Last weekend SDOT replaced aging and worn overhead signs on the structure. The new signs are made of a reflective material that works so well the electric lighting associated with overhead signs is not needed. The Washington State Department of Transportation currently uses this material and we are taking this opportunity to review its use in Seattle.
The Spokane Street Viaduct Project doubled the viaduct’s width, and refurbished and seismically reinforced the older portion. The additional width allowed for wider travel lanes, shoulders and deceleration and merge lanes to be installed. The project also added a new eastbound off-ramp at Fourth Avenue S and fully reconstructed the lower S Spokane Street in concrete, including a sidewalk on the south side and multi-use trail on the north side. Finally, artwork was added to enliven the area below the viaduct with color and images that recollect the natural and cultural history of the location.
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