West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
For the first time in five years, Southwest Youth and Family Services‘ annual gala will feature a guest speaker who’s not only famous in his own right, but near and dear to SWYFS’s longtime leader Steve Daschle … his brother, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. The gala is 5:30-8:30 pm this Saturday at The Hall at Fauntleroy; tickets are still available here. In advance of his return to West Seattle, Sen. Daschle spent a few minutes chatting with WSB by phone from Washington, D.C. – read on:
That trailer is one of several signs suggesting that major work is imminent at the Equity Residential development site at California/Alaska/42nd. The former retail buildings on the site have been vacant for more than a year, with their previous tenants told to clear out by the end of July last year so the project could get going – then various dates for demolition slipped by, and the company finally stopped commenting publicly. Some wondered if it would somehow lie inactive and empty for years, something like a reverse version of Spruce, the former “Hole” (now well under way a few blocks east). But more of its permits have just been issued, like this one issued Friday, and a source close to another area development says they’ve been notified demolition is expected to start in the next two weeks. Here’s another sign:
On Saturday, Seattle Fire crews were working inside the west building, at California/Alaska; they told us they were holding drills, which is not uncommon for buildings on the brink of demolition (for which permits were issued last fall). The project, in case you’ve lost track, started under former owners Conner Homes, which sold the site to Chicago-based Equity Residential for $11 million in December 2011, after getting design approval and an (underground) alley vacation; it’s planned for two 7-story buildings totaling about 200 apartments, with ground-level retail and an underground parking garage with ~265 spaces. (Equity has not responded to our repeated requests for comment on the project’s status.)
In about two hours, Mayor Mike McGinn will be in West Seattle for a campaign forum with challenger State Sen. Ed Murray (details in our daily preview). Right now, he’s just wrapping up another announcement about what will be in his 2014 budget proposal, to be unveiled in its entirety next week. Here’s the news release, which also includes word of SPD’s new Code of Ethics:
Today at Atlantic Street Center, Mayor Mike McGinn announced funding for 15 new police officers in the 2014 Proposed Budget.
Be on the lookout for Karen‘s car – stolen again:
Stolen last night from front of house 7300 block of 29th SW, 1998 RED HONDA CRV with roof bike rack and bike rack (Thule) attached to back spare tire. Police report filed. This car was stolen almost a year ago and found 11 days later, 16 blocks away.
Karen’s car also is now on SPD’s @getyourcarback Twitter feed. As for current car-theft trends in West Seattle, here’s what’s on the city’s police-reports map for the past week:
Those seven thefts (the circle with a “2” in it denotes a car theft and a different crime) were reported between the 10th (last Tuesday) and 16th (yesterday). Car-theft details are not made available, so if it ever happens to you (we hope not!), please do what Karen did and send us the basics so we can help get the word out. One theft per day is average in this area, according to the past few months of online stats.
(Susana shared the photo husband Brian Meister took on Saturday)
Word of the day: Meetings – some that matter to West Seattle are not *IN* West Seattle. News will emerge from most if not all of them. All are open to the public, in case you are interested in hearing/seeing for yourself, firsthand. And we have a few other highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, starting with a side-by-side look at the mayoral-election rivals:
MAYORAL FORUM IN WEST SEATTLE: The McGinn-vs.-Murray battle comes to West Seattle this afternoon for the first (and only, so far as we have heard) time in the general-election campaign, with vote-counting just 7 weeks away, vote-casting starting sooner. Public’s welcome – 1 pm at West Seattle Senior Center. (California/Oregon)
BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP: 3:30 pm, Hope Lutheran – details in our calendar listing. (42nd/Oregon)
VIADUCT STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY GROUP: The community stakeholders groups that now have a joint meeting quarterly (or so) will get together today 4-6 pm at Safeco Field‘s Ellis Pavilion to hear the latest on topics including the about-to-resume tunnel-boring process.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES ETC.: Another not-in-West-Seattle-but-of-major-interest meeting is happening in downtown – at 4:30 pm, the Seattle School Board meets for a work session on the long-awaited “growth boundaries” draft, which will redraw some boundaries for next school year and – of particular interest here – either change or reaffirm the district’s previously voiced intent of making Fairmount Park Elementary a neighborhood school when it reopens, expanded, in fall 2014. The K-5 STEM community is waiting to hear results of its campaign to either move to FP (instead of the district-proposed Schmitz Park, when it is vacated in 2016) or stay at Boren with room to become a K-8. The district is offering an embargoed media briefing late this morning but saying it will not publicly release the proposal until the start of the board meeting. It’s open to the public, but does *not* include a public-comment period. 4:30 pm, district HQ. (3rd/Lander)
TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION MEETING: Will the State Legislature take action on transportation money before its next session – possibly helping Metro Transit avoid cuts? The Senate Transportation Committee is touring the state to see what people have to say, and the first metro-area meeting is tonight in Bellevue, 6-9 pm. (Stevenson Elementary, 14220 NE 8th)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, the third meeting of the relaunched community council for The Junction and The Triangle. Development-related topics – and how to make sense of processes like alley vacation – are on the agenda, which is detailed in our calendar listing. All welcome. (California/Oregon)
CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, the WSCPC is back from summer break. You’ll hear about crime trends, as well as hearing from tonight’s guests, the principals of adjoining Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School, and there is an opportunity to bring up your neighborhood concerns, too. (Delridge/Webster)
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Campfire OK performs at 7 pm, live, in-store, free, all ages. (California/Alaska)
ALAUDA BELLYDANCE SHOWCASE: Tonight marks its fourth anniversary at Skylark Café and Club, 7:30 pm, free/all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing out of the ordinary in this morning’s commute so far. Road work reminder – SW Orchard between Delridge and Sylvan is now closed westbound, as part of the main page for the Delridge Repaving Project. Later this week, the ramp from northbound I-5 to the West Seattle Bridge will be closed overnight Thursday night-Friday morning for expansion-joint work, and then all weekend, 7 pm Friday-early Monday.
7:52 AM: And if you will find yourself driving in or near downtown late tonight/early tomorrow, two not-far-from-here closures you might want to be aware of: Up to 3 lanes of northbound I-5 are closing at Mercer, 9 pm-5 am, per WSDOT; northbound 99 will be closed from the Battery Street Tunnel northward to Valley St, 10 pm-5 am.
9:07 AM: Thanks to those who tipped us to a crash at California/Oregon; Kelly tweeted a photo:
@westseattleblog – looked like people were ok. Fire and police on scene. In front of Shadowland in Jxn. pic.twitter.com/KyZcvejWwm
— Kelly Donovan (@kdbokay) September 17, 2013
California northbound was briefly blocked at the scene, per scanner traffic, but no serious injuries reported.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports: First, Toddy‘s home in Upper Morgan was burglarized, and she’s hoping to get one particular thing back:
We were burglarized on Friday sometime between 10 am and 12 noon. We were out and they jumped up on the back roof of our house, climbed up the roof to the second floor, and slit the screen and jumped in the window that was open. They took our iPad, iPhone, Dell laptop computer, my diamond engagement ring, other jewelry including both of our gold school rings, a sentimental gold lion charm from my mother, my husband’s wallet with credit cards and such, and many other things that they will realize do not mean anything to them but mean a lot to us. All of our photos and videos were on the laptop and are so very special to us.
The police came and basically spent 5 minutes and provided us paperwork and sort of made it seem like “join the club.” We just feel so violated and I hate that someone was in my family home rifling through our things. … (The stolen Dell laptop) has the only (un-backed up) short video of my 97-year-old grandmother saying how she met my grandfather – that is really the
only thing I want back. They can keep the rest.
Two other reports ahead:
(Weekend photo of ‘Polo’ by David Hutchinson)
Just one week after Seal Sitters‘ jubilant “Harbor Seal Day” event at Alki Beach, another situation underscoring the importance of their work: They’ve had to get help for another pup – the third one this year. This update is just in from Robin Lindsey:
We thought your readers would want to know that seal pup Polo (who hauled out numerous times near 53rd and Alki from Thursday through Saturday) was rescued from the beach early Sunday morning.
The pup was in serious distress and taken to PAWS. Polo did survive the night and we will be providing health updates on blubberblog as we receive them.
We want to thank the many people who oohed and ahhed over this beautiful little pup while he stretched and yawned and snoozed. While Polo was very much underweight, he didn’t display any obvious health issues and was coming and going from the beach with vigor. It was a surprise to us all. This just underscores the fact that all of the newly weaned pups are in a daily struggle to survive and their health can take a drastic turn for the worse in no time at all – and so many of them have underlying health concerns. Even more reason to make sure that they are able to rest undisturbed on our shores to gain strength!
And if you spot one (or any other beached marine mammal) – call 206-905-SEAL, so Seal Sitters can come out and keep watch.
(WSF Evergreen State class vessel Tillikum flying Seahawks-fan flags on Sunday; photo by Paul Brannan)
Next June, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry schedule will be revised for the first time in a decade. Its permanent boat assignments are changing because of the domino effect of new vessels joining the fleet, and that’s one big reason why Washington State Ferries is working on a revision: Instead of running with two 87-car Evergreen State class ferries and one 124-car Issaquah class ferry, the total capacity will upsize 37 cars, to two 124-car ferries and one 87-car ferry. A draft of the revised schedule is expected to be made public soon, according to WSF’s published timeline; community comments will then be sought to incorporate into a finalized plan available by January so that other transit agencies can make whatever changes they need to make before it takes effect in June 2014. The Fauntleroy Community Association has been engaged in the process through board member and ferry advisory committee member Gary Dawson, who has an update in this month’s FCA newsletter. We’ll publish an update when the proposed revision is out – since this will have traffic impacts on the roads used by vehicles, buses, and bikes coming off and to the dock as well as those who ride the ferries.
For the first time in 3 years, West Seattle will have at least one “park for a day” on PARKing Day, which is coming up this Friday. We’ve confirmed that one will be set up in front of Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) at Westwood Village. There also had been plans for one in The Junction, but West Seattle Bike Connections had to cancel it for lack of volunteer power. Anybody else planning one? We’re awaiting the official citywide map, which will be linked here sometime soon.
4:56 PM: Thanks for the tips on a new traffic trouble spot – Roxbury is backed up westbound, from 8th SW eastward.
The signal is flashing 4-way red and police are directing traffic. It seems to involve a Metro bus – we are here trying to find out more.
5:10 PM: Light is working again but situation isn’t clear yet.
Police are talking with someone they say reported the bus (pulled over) hit her, but it doesn’t appear she is hurt.
There’s the recycling you put out at the curb … and then, there’s the recycling you have to save up for either a run to the transfer station or … the twice-yearly Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church. When we put out a “save the date” announcement about the latter event coming up next Sunday (September 22), the list of what 1 Green Planet will accept wasn’t available yet, but now it is – so if you’ve been saving stuff in the basement/storage room, or planning to do some sorting/cleaning this week, go here to see what you’ll be able to drop off for free on Sunday, 9 am-3 pm at 9140 California SW (map).
2:34 PM: The backup on the eastbound bridge right now looks more like 8:30 am than 2:30 pm – and here’s why: A crash by the Highway 99 overpass, involving a tipped semitruck. We noticed the crash callout on the fire log but just found out from a caller (thanks!) that it involves a sideways semi, so that escalated the alert here.
3:19 PM: The backup has eased.
4:08 PM: As noted in comments, the truck was on a ramp rather than the bridge. Adding a photo from Chuck:
Another SDOT project update to share: Remember the proposal announced four months ago for an uphill bicycle lane between Olga and Spokane on Admiral Way? The city is putting it on hold and redesigning its proposal, after concerns about parking removal/changes. Here’s the letter sent to nearby residents by SDOT’s Sam Woods:
Dear SW Admiral Way Resident,
As you know, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has been studying how to make the uphill bicycle lane on SW Admiral Way a safer and more inviting facility by widening the bike lane and the buffer from SW City View Street to 80 feet south of 3508 SW Admiral Way.
Last May, we mailed a letter to you explaining the plan and inviting comments. The original proposal was to restrict on-street parking on the east side of SW Admiral Way within this section to allow for the improvement. A number of you voiced concerns about the loss of parking and about the proposed parking-time restrictions. After reviewing the comments, SDOT has decided to delay implementation of this project until 2014 and are working on an alternative that would preserve some on-street parking.
We will be in touch with you early next year when we have more information to share. Thanks for being engaged and we look forward to working with you. If you have additional questions please by e-mail walkandbike@seattle.gov or call 206-684-7583.
As shown on the map distributed with the May announcement, the now-scrapped plan would have removed street parking south of 3508 Admiral Way, and put a 4-hour limit on the shorter section northward from there to Olga. The city had said its repeated visits had shown few cars parked on the longer section, and that half of those that were parked there had been for sale.
(Click image to open full-size PDF with the map and its notations)
Hat tip to West Seattle Bike Connections for calling attention to this: Three months after announcing that its east West Seattle drainage/stormwater improvements would be paired with a “greenway” – a route targeted for walk/bike-friendly features – the city is circulating word it’s closer to identifying a route. From SDOT‘s update:
… After analyzing data and reviewing public input, the most-promising greenway route is 17th Avenue SW from Roxbury to SW Kenyon or Holden Streets. More studies will be done to see how to best make the connection north of Graham Street up to the West Seattle Bridge Trail. We will have a meeting this fall to get additional input from community members on this alignment. Potential east-west neighborhood greenway routes are also being considered for implementation in the future.
More details are in this letter sent to nearby residents; it also points out that the project, including the “natural drainage” features, might affect parking:
Natural drainage projects in the public right-of-way are likely to affect some on street parking. Seattle Public Utilities knows that parking and access from the street to the sidewalk is very important to residents and carefully considers and addresses the impacts on every block where a project would be built. Residents’ feedback about concerns regarding on-street parking is one of the pieces of input that help determine where to place natural drainage projects. If your block is identified for rain gardens, you will have opportunities next year to provide input about the design.
No date for the next public meeting, but we’ll publish an update when it’s announced. The project’s infopage on the city website is here.
The featured photo is from the weekend – some of the spectators who stopped to watch as the crane for 4730 California went up over the course of about eight hours on Saturday (WSB coverage here). One day later, another spectator event on the same stretch of street – the West Seattle Car Show (here’s our coverage of that, with the winners’ list added). But now, it’s a brand-new week, time to look ahead, so here are a few calendar highlights for today/tonight:
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: “I Heard the Owl Call My Name” by Margaret Craven is this month’s book; all welcome to join the group at Southwest Branch Library, 2 pm. (35th/Henderson)
BEATS AND EATS: After-school program for teens at Delridge Community Center, 3:30-4:30 pm on Mondays – learn cooking and DJing/music production! Details in our listing. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
MENTOR MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS: It’s something you’ll benefit from too – and you can find out how, at an informational session, tonight at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 6 pm. (2306 42nd SW)
HOW TO HELP PUGET SOUND: Sustainable West Seattle‘s community forum tonight focuses on what you can do to help Puget Sound – simple actions that can be incorporated into your daily life. Come learn about them, and share them with others. Presenters include “Diver Laura” James with the Tox-Ick.org project. Senior Center of West Seattle, 7 pm. (California/Oregon)
**NOTE NEW DATE**
Never too soon to start thinking about next year’s education opportunities for your child(ren) – and that’s the thought behind the West Seattle education fair set for 6:30 pm-8:30 pm Tuesday, October 1st, in the gym at Seattle Lutheran High School in The Junction, sponsored by WSB. Free to families who want to attend; nominal fee for schools who want to participate, open to any and all from pre-K through middle school. Registration’s open NOW – schools can sign up online by going here!
SEPTEMBER 29 UPDATE: As noted in comments, Seattle Lutheran has postponed the education fair to October 28th. Watch for an updated story tomorrow (9/30).
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:04 AM: No problems of note reported so far in the early going. As for this week’s road work, the closure on SW Orchard between Delridge and Sylvan is scheduled to shift today to the westbound side, as explained on the main page for the Delridge Repaving Project.
7:17 AM: Per the scanner, police are checking out a car blocking eastbound Edmunds at California that might be stalled or otherwise abandoned.
7:36 AM: Steve sends a warning about “flying foam peanuts” on the eastbound bridge – apparently somebody “lost a bag of them and it has broken open, swirling around roadway.”
8:01 AM: In comments, Susan says it’s even worse than that – westbound too and higher volume.
The newest video shared by “Diver Laura” James takes you 100 feet beneath the surface of the Sound, near Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), where a diving friend tipped her to, then guided her to, an octopus nest where the eggs were hatching late last Tuesday night.
The video stands on its own as a sight to see, but it’s timely because tomorrow night Laura and other advocates will be part of this month’s Sustainable West Seattle community forum, discussing and advising ways you can help protect Puget Sound. The Tox-Ick.org campaign, to help you do what you can to reduce toxic runoff, will be spotlighted along the way. You’re invited to come learn how to make a difference – in simple but powerful ways – 7 pm Monday (September 16th), Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).
(Can’t see the clip? Go here to view it on Instagram)
6:10 PM: How serious is the thunder/lightning that’s moving through our area, the second bout today? So serious, the Seahawks-49ers game at CenturyLink Field has just been temporarily suspended for safety reasons. The National Weather Service says “scattered” thunderstorms are expected through this evening – bringing with them cloudbursts like yet another one we’re seeing and hearing right now (and the one recorded earlier in our brief Instagram clip above). No power outages in West Seattle so far – just flickers – but the City Light map shows scattered small outages elsewhere in the city.
6:22 PM: NWS has issued a “short-term forecast” saying this wave of storms, with “frequent dangerous lightning,” is expected to continue until about 7 pm.
6:46 PM: Since pets unfortunately can get spooked and bolt during thunderstorms, we want to make sure you’re aware that WSB hosts the only West Seattle-specific page for lost-and-found pets. Just got word of two more reunions, in fact. E-mail info (and a photo if you have one) to editor@westseattleblog.com.
7:23 PM: The weather has quieted and the Seahawks game has resumed.
(UPDATED TUESDAY with entertainment lineup – scroll to story’s end)
(WSB photo from WestFest 2012)
Now that this weekend’s big events are (mostly) over, we’re looking ahead to a festival that’s just five days away – Holy Rosary’s WestFest, next Friday and Saturday (September 20-21). Here’s the official announcement:
Come one, come all! Holy Rosary’s annual fall festival is right around the corner! Located at 4142 42nd Avenue SW, we throw open our doors and welcome all Friday 9/20, from 6 pm to 10 pm, and Saturday, 9/21, from 10 am to 10 pm. We are gearing up to host the season’s premier event for the West Seattle community; come see great local music and talent, eat delicious food, dob a round of bingo, race down the rides, try your luck at the cake walk, play carnival-style games galore, and so much more. There’s a beer garden for adults too — there is truly something for all ages!
Bring your young children early Saturday morning, from 10 am to noon, for “Toddler Time” at WestFest. Avoid the crowds and lines! They’ll enjoy better access to the blow-up rides and games with kids close to their age and ability.
Wristbands for Blow-up Rides:
Hard to find comedy in West Seattle’s nightlife – but this Wednesday (September 18) will be an oasis of laughter at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) with six comics on one bill – headlined by West Seattle’s own Mona Concepcion. The “Fantasy Island” theme is inspired at least in part by Mona hailing from Saipan, the reason she describes herself as “the world’s only female Chamorro comedian.” Long before she became a standup comedian, she was a funny writer, and her blog-format website kirida.com was a mainstay on the old WSB “blogroll” page. Show’s free, and it starts at 8 pm Wednesday.
1:30 PM UPDATE: Man reported missing has been found and is safe.
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