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Spotlight Stories

Delridge repaving project update: Closure this weekend; Phase 2 expected in 2 weeks
March 1, 2013 7:19 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Delridge repaving project, photographed earlier this week by Long Bach Nguyen)
As of minutes ago, the Delridge/Trenton intersection was scheduled to close for the weekend, as the Delridge repaving project continues. This means you’ll be detouring in both directions, as shown on this map:

According to project spokesperson Bob Derry, with whom we spoke when the work started on January 10th, the first phase, Trenton to Henderson, is on target to last about two months as expected. He told WSB today that SDOT is currently projecting that Phase 2 – between Trenton and Thistle – will start in about two weeks, around March 15th. The entire $6.7 million project, repaving a mile and a half of Delridge Way in phases between Roxbury and Orchard and improving the stormwater system beneath much of the road, is expected to last most of the year.

ADDED 7:19 PM: We just got a text asking about noise. This is the official “construction notice” for this weekend’s work with details of what’s happening and when. Looks like the noisiest work may go on till 10 pm.

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Marination ma kai: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
March 1, 2013 4:17 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

The weather’s warming, the days are lengthening, and one of our newest WSB sponsors is waiting for you at Seacrest on the West Seattle waterfront. Here’s what Marination ma kai proprietors Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison (L-R in the photo) want you to know about their restaurant/bar as they head toward their first spring and summer here:

“There are two things we hear about every single day: our service, and our food. People are a little surprised that a $2.50 taco can be so tasty, and that the gal who served it to them remembers their names from last time. I don’t know how we’re changing lives, but I do know that the world can be a tough place to navigate, and everyone can have a bad day, but when you come to Marination you can count on a friendly face saying nice things and genuinely caring about this one moment in time. It’s the one part of the day where people know they are going to have an overall good experience, even if it’s just for a few minutes. We hear about it a lot. It never gets old. It’s pretty humbling, actually.

“For us and our employees, we choose to keep coming back because no matter how gray and rainy Seattle gets it’s always warm and fuzzy at any one of our locations. And that’s including the truck! We’re a really happy crew, we love being around each other. That love and happiness is definitely reflected in our grub. We’re lucky because we’ve cultivated a really strong clientele of folks who are extremely comfortable telling us directly when our rice is undercooked, or something’s amiss with the pork, and we are all over it immediately. The two things we care about the most in our company are propping up our community through various involvements and donations, and keeping our menu fresh, tasty, and affordable. So I guess if someone asked ‘why you?’ we’d ask if they are down with building a strong community and with eating great food for cheap, and if so, then that’s why. West Seattle is such a strong and awesome neighborhood community. We can’t get enough.”

Find out more about Marination ma kai – including hours (which will change with the seasons) and menu – on the Web, here. Marination is on Facebook, too, and on Twitter. And/or just go to 1660 Harbor Avenue SW (map) and investigate the food, drink, view, and general aloha, firsthand.

We thank Marination ma kai 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.

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West Seattle schools: Chief Sealth students visit North Delridge rain gardens
March 1, 2013 3:44 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Environment | Gardening

(Photos courtesy Karrie Kohlhaas)
In the months ahead, rain gardens will be part of at least two government-led projects in West Seattle. A private project that’s already in place in North Delridge continues to draw interest – including a school field trip for which Karrie Kohlhaas was the neighborhood liaison today. She shared photos and this report:

This morning, Chief Sealth International High School brought 25 ninth-graders on a tour of the Rain Garden Demonstration Cluster on 25th Ave SW between Brandon and Findlay (10 rain gardens in the front yards of 10 neighbors on 25th).

The students have been learning about storm water and how it impacts the environment and nearby waterways. Students visited Longfellow Creek before walking 25th Avenue to learn about rain gardens for the first time.

I met with students and teachers to explain how a rain garden works and to show them the different types of plants in a rain garden. We talked about why someone might want to plant a rain garden — how it can both absorb excess water in the winter and be a low maintenance landscaping in the summer and most importantly how it filters toxic pollutants before the water makes its way to local waterways like nearby Longfellow Creek.

As expected, some of the students were more interested than others. I told them that this might not be so fascinating right now, but when they have a home one day, they may stop and think about planting a rain garden instead of grass, which is not beneficial to the environment. They are finding out about grass alternatives much earlier than I did. I only discovered rain gardens a couple years ago. I told them they are way ahead of the curve.

Since we installed 10 rain gardens on our block in 2011, we’ve had many visitors. Many gardeners, a local Muslim school, curious West Seattle and Delridge neighbors, and even people who heard about the project on NPR and PBS in other states have made our block part of their visit to Seattle. I’ve enjoyed spreading the word about rain gardens and the benefits to homeowners, the environment, and the community.

If anyone wants to come check out the gardens, they are welcome to walk the block. It’s a great example of neighbors and non-profits working together to improve the community. While here, you can also see the street improvement on our block, where we collaborated with SDOT and Stewardship Partners to augment a drainage solution in the street by adding, yep, more rain gardens as well as native plants in the planting strips up and down the block. This spring will be a great time to come and check it out when everything is blooming and budding.

Here’s a map to the neighborhood.

ADDED SATURDAY: Chief Sealth social-studies teacher Noah Zeichner tells WSB that this was one of 10 “field experiences” taken by ninth-graders on Friday as part of the multidisciplinary WEST Project (Water, Ecology, and Sustainability Team). The destinations also included:

• Renton Water Treatment
• Cedar River Water Shed
• Water 1st
• Seattle Biomed
• Duwamish Boat ride
• Solid Ground
• Rainier Urban Farms and Wetlands
• Urban Gardens with Composting
• Gates Foundation Visitor Center

Local and global water issues continue to be a focus at Sealth, and this year’s World Water Week is coming up – at which time, among many other activities, students will present their projects to students at adjacent Denny International Middle School. More on WWW coming up in another WSB story this weekend – meantime, here’s previous coverage, including a note about this year’s keynote address, to which the community’s invited.

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Speaking of cleanups: Final plan for tomorrow’s Beach Creeps sweep at Constellation Park
March 1, 2013 1:44 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(Styrofoam debris on the beach; photo by Beach Creeps’ Guy Olson)
Since last Saturday, when we first mentioned the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club‘s plan for a South Alki cleanup, the event tomorrow has drawn dozens of volunteers, more than a few local business sponsors donating treats and other support, and even Parks Department assistance with post-cleanup pickup. The Facebook event page for the cleanup has info on the final plan – so in case you’re interested in joining, but not a FB user, here are the key points:

*Optional bike ride to the cleanup starting point: Beach Creeps plan to leave El Chupacabra (2620 Alki SW) “no later than 11:30 am”

*Cleanup noon-3 pm (Saturday, March 2)

*Volunteers meet by the Constellation Park octopus sculpture (63rd SW/Beach Drive). Sign in and get your cleanup supplies (courtesy of Puget SoundKeeper Alliance)

*Treat donors include Pioneer Coffee on Alki and Christos On Alki (pizza)

*Seattle Parks plans to pick up the collected trash and debris (organizers are hoping to get a lot of styrofoam off the beach)

*Afterparty at Pioneer Coffee

If you haven’t been to Constellation Park – here’s a map.

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West Seattle’s mysterious Fairmount Ravine needs you – March 9th!
March 1, 2013 12:34 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

(Part of the 2010 Fairmount Ravine volunteer annual-cleanup crew)
Their 20th annual cleanup in 2012 netted a “vintage” 7-Up bottle – estimated to be half a century old. In 2008, discoveries included a car door. What will turn up in beautiful, mysterious Fairmount Ravine, beneath the Admiral Way bridge, during this year’s cleanup? Be part of the team that finds out – one week from tomorrow, Saturday, March 9th. Devoted neighbors, friends, and visiting volunteers will join forces over the course of two hours – also enjoying treats from Metropolitan Market and Zatz Bagels (both WSB sponsors) – 8:30 am to 10:30 am. From organizers:

Meet at the top of the hill at Fairmount and Forest – directly east of Hiawatha Park.

Please wear gloves, boots and old clothes as we remove garbage and invasive plants.

Here’s our coverage from past years – 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

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West Seattle Friday: Calendar highlights, from cookies to Clooney
March 1, 2013 9:54 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Baby duckies with mom.

(A Canada-goose family afloat, by Flickr member YLev, shared via WSB Flickr group)

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Public sales begin. Find places, dates, times with the Cookie Locator (just use your zip code).

FIRST FRIDAY: Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s monthly gathering – this time, 5 pm at Maharaja in The Junction. All welcome; they’re also saying farewell to departing member Ryan Larson.

FORECLOSURE VIGIL: West Seattle, White Center, and South Park activists are planning a vigil outside a SP home that’s been foreclosed on, to call attention to the ongoing issue. 725 S. Henderson, 5:30 pm, details here.

CORNER BAR: Highland Park’s monthly extravaganza is tonight! Starts at 6 pm, HP Improvement Club (12th/Holden), details in our calendar listing.

‘BOBCAT BOB’: A C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) favorite, tonight 6-8 pm, 5612 California SW.

FREE ROLLER SKATING! If registering for T-ball or softball at Alki Community Center, you get to skate free during tonight’s regular Friday night skating session, 6:45-8:45 pm. Details here.

TRIBUTE TO ROSEMARY CLOONEY: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW).

… and LOTS more on the calendar!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car stolen near Westwood
March 1, 2013 9:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Zach‘s day got off to an unpleasant start:

This morning at 6:00 am I walked out from my apartment on SW Trenton to where my car was parked on 25th near Westwood and discovered it was stolen. No broken glass on the scene but car was missing none the less. It is a White 1999 Honda Civic with Montana license plates.

Just wanted to get the word out for those living in the area, so if you see any suspicious activity make sure to report!

While Zach’s car theft isn’t on the map yet – it lags several hours – we checked the past week’s worth of theft reports, and here’s the screengrab – eight reported thefts in the past week:

For specific locations, you can check the map here (click on any icon for more info). And SPD continues to tweet reported thefts (minus locations) at @getyourcarback.

P.S. If you’re one of Zach’s fellow Westwood residents – or Arbor Heights, or Roxhill – public safety/crime is part of the agenda for the second meeting of the area’s new community council, next Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Branch Library (35th/Henderson); here’s the Facebook event page.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; 3 weekend closures
March 1, 2013 7:00 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7 AM: Good morning. Here are the West Seattle Bridge (above) and 99 (below) cams:

THREE CLOSURES THIS WEEKEND:
*Delridge/Trenton intersection closure starting 7 pm tonight (here’s the weekend Route 120 transit alert for this work)

*Viaduct/99 closed 6 am-5 pm Saturday, plus 6 am-noon Sunday – details here

*Ramp to southbound I-5 from eastbound West Seattle Bridge closed, starting late tonight; part of WSDOT’s Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project

8:30 AM TRAFFIC UPDATE: “Coffee” reports in comments that there’s a bus broken down in the southbound lanes at Delridge/Andover and a “mess” has ensued.

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The holiday gifts that keep giving: Holy Rosary Tree Lot donations presented
March 1, 2013 1:16 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

One final round of holiday giving, last night at Holy Rosary School – the Parents Club presented three local nonprofits with checks for donations from last year’s Holy Rosary Tree Lot. More than $2,000 each went to the West Seattle Food Bank (represented by Fran Yeatts) and the Salvation Army’s family shelter Hickman House (represented by Janet Sanders) as well as the West Seattle Helpline. The Tree Lot is an all-volunteer operation that traditionally gives a share of the proceeds to community charities.

Last night’s Parents Club meeting also included a discussion of LEGO Robotics:

The school’s annual auction, this year with the Kentucky Derby as its theme, is coming up April 20th.

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West Seattle scene: 3 Easy Street concerts in 6 nights, starting with Hey Marseilles
February 28, 2013 10:24 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

As our photo shows, Hey Marseilles drew a crowd to Easy Street Records in The Junction tonight, the first of three live in-store concerts in six nights. Here’s what’s coming up, per Easy Street online guru Rod:

Pickwick – March 4 – 7 pm
*Our #1 soul brothers Pickwick are celebrating the release of their first full-length, Can’t Talk Medicine at Easy Street West Seattle March 4 at 7 pm! We’ll be selling their record early too and who knows, they might even stick around to sign some copies. This one’s also free and all ages!

Cave Singers – March 5 – 7 pm
*Get out of your cave and come into ours when we host the release party for the Cave Singers‘ great new record, Naomi! Free and all ages at 4559 California Ave SW.

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West Seattle development: One more new listing of note
February 28, 2013 8:26 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

While researching some real-estate/development sites tonight, we happened onto a new listing that might be of interest, particularly to people in Gatewood/Sunrise Heights: On the northwest corner of 35th and Holden, the “Complete Auto Repair” site at 7617 35th SW is part of a parcel listed for $1,195,000, described as “Rare development opportunity with over 13,000 sq. ft. of level NC-2-40 land with excellent westerly views … Can be assembled with adjacent additional 6,870 sq. ft. of NC-2-40 (with great 35th SW frontage) for almost 20,000 sq. ft.” Here’s the listing.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspected burglar arrested twice in one week, allegedly confesses to more
February 28, 2013 4:01 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(UPDATED THURSDAY NIGHT with new charge filed)

(WSB photo of February 15th arrest scene at 48th/Findlay)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two recent burglary arrests reported here – exactly one week apart – involve the same suspect, WSB has learned. And court documents say he has confessed to more than 20 other break-ins.

The first arrest was at 48th and Findlay in Seaview, on February 15th. Police arrested 24-year-old Justin Wood for allegedly trying to break into a house there. Court documents say Wood told police that day that he had committed other burglaries, as noted in our two updates last week – in the February 20th WSBeat roundup and our February 21st report on last week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting.

We don’t know why Wood wasn’t booked into jail on February 15th. But we do know now that exactly one week later – last Friday, February 22nd – he was arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home near Camp Long (here’s our report from that day), caught after an alert neighbor called police. This time, Wood was booked into jail – after confessing to more burglaries, none of them, court documents say, covered in the previous confession.

Yesterday, after five days in jail, Wood appeared before King County Superior Court Judge Ronald Kessler, who agreed to set what by any account is an extraordinary bail amount for a property-crime case: Half a million dollars.

While Wood has not yet been charged in the recent burglaries, we are identifying him by name because of the report that he has confessed and because he already was charged in another case – a Morgan Junction burglary last October. Before that, according to court documents, Wood’s history included 2009 charges of theft and trafficking stolen property, which led to a conviction on a lesser charge. According to documents from the October case, Wood was tracked down via fingerprints, and arrested at a Genesee Hill residence in November. Jail records show that his bail was set at $5,000 and he got out less than 24 hours after he was booked.

Now, he’s jailed in lieu of a hundred times that. While charges haven’t been filed in connection with either of this month’s cases, we have a message out to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to find out if there’s an estimate on when that might happen; court records show that Wood was scheduled for a hearing today related to the October burglary, and we’re keeping an eye out for results of that.

Meantime, in case you are wondering – so far as we know, this has no relation to the case reported here on WSB last night, also expected to solve multiple burglaries, though we did come across the new information on this case while talking with police about the other one.

ADDED 9:21 PM: Checking the online case files one more time before they go offline for the night, we discovered that prosecutors charged Wood today with one count of attempted burglary for the 35th SW incident last Friday. They are asking that his bail remain set at half a million dollars, explaining in the charging document:

… the defendant is a serious threat to the West Seattle community and now faces significant jeopardy on numerous charges.

… On February 15, 2013, the defendant was arrested for another Residential Burglary. During the investigation of that case, the defendant confessed to 10 burglaries in West Seattle. The defendant was released from custody on the February 15, 2013, case, and only a week later, was arrested on February 22, 2013, for the Attempted Residential Burglary charged in (the document). During the investigation of that case, the defendant confessed to an additional 13 burglaries in West Seattle, none of which duplicated his earlier confession. The defendant showed officers the location of each burglary and provided specific details about each crime.

In total, Seattle PD is now investigating 24 residential burglaries that the defendant committed in West Seattle from September 2012 to present. At least three of those burglaries involved a theft of firearms. Seattle PD is in the process of investigating all of these cases and contacting the victims and will forward these cases to the prosecutor’s office for filing when the investigation is complete.

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3210 California SW: Preview the plan, 2 weeks before Design Review
February 28, 2013 1:27 pm
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(Renderings in this story are courtesy Nicholson Kovalchick Architects)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When we first reported last month about the five-story apartment building proposed for 3210 California SW – part of the south-of-Admiral block contentiously upzoned in a three-year process – we promised a followup with details.

At the time, we hoped to connect with the developers within a day or two. Didn’t work out that way, but this week, we sat down to talk with the architect, for a preview two weeks before the project’s March 14th Early Design Guidance session with the Southwest Design Review Board.

The 166-apartment building is planned for 400 feet of frontage along California SW – but the design proposed by West Seattleite-owned Nicholson Kovalchick Architects utilizes several means of breaking it up so it’s not, as NK’s Tom Steidl said, “a monolith.”

Read More

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Followup: Safety-curb work under way at California/Fauntleroy
February 28, 2013 11:22 am
|      58 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

With 100 comments on the original story, it’s the hottest WSB topic this week, so we just went down for a look at the safety-curb construction now under way on Fauntleroy Way west of California. As first reported Tuesday, this is being put in to prevent people from trying to pass buses while they’re stopped on the south side of Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor), since that passing puts westbound drivers in an east/northeastbound lane. While talking to an SDOT manager about a few topics late yesterday, we asked if this treatment was under consideration anywhere else; the reply was “no” – this is the only spot reported to have generated this type of concern, so far. Work is scheduled to continue through tomorrow.

ADDED 12:07 PM: Different angle, courtesy of Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker:

ADDED 12:49 PM: In case you miss it in comments – Chas Redmond, also from MoCA, reminds us that you have a unique opportunity to ask questions of/voice concerns to the head of SDOT, director Peter Hahn, here in West Seattle next week. He’s scheduled to be at the Southwest District Council meeting at 6:30 pm Wednesday, March 6, Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle, next to SW Pool).

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Alki’s Friedlander Court apartments up for sale for $3.8 million
February 28, 2013 10:12 am
|      35 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
A brand-new multi-million-dollar listing on Alki – the 87-year-old Friedlander Court courtyard apartments at 2246 Alki SW (map). The nine-unit complex on a 15,000-square-foot lot has just gone up for sale, listing price $3.8 million. County records say they were built in 1926 and have been under current ownership since 1996, with a purchase price reported as $850,000 that year. The new listing describes the property: “Classic brick 9-unit w/ big units and 5 garages provide immediate income to offset holding costs for future development. Zoning allows 20-unit apartment building or 10 townhomes with unobstructed views of Puget Sound and Olympics.” While the complex has never gone through historic review that we know of, it was held up as a notable example of “Bungalow Court” architecture five years ago when Charlestown Court was being reviewed; The now-dormant Vintage Seattle website took a closeup look at Friedlander Court a year later. (Thanks to Jonathan French for the tip.)

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West Seattle Thursday: Hey Marseilles at Easy Street, and more
February 28, 2013 10:01 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Laura McCabe, from the Leschi’s visit to Jack Block Park – land, too! – for training Sunday)
4 highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: Even if you don’t usually look at the daily traffic/transit tracker – there’s a lot going on today and throughout the weekend. See it here.

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Their monthly meeting is at lunchtime today at the West Seattle Golf Course, after the 10:30 am discussion group; registration starts at 11:15 am. Details here.

DREAM DINNERS ‘TASTE’ EVENT: Curious about how Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) works? Tonight’s a special “no-host taste event” at which you can sign up to make and take home three dinners – that’s three nights/days you won’t have to spend extra time dealing with the sometimes-dreaded question “what’s for dinner?” DD is on the outer east side of Jefferson Square; details (RSVP ASAP!) in our calendar listing.

BOOMERS AND BEYONDERS: Special event for baby boomers looking at the final third of life – with Pat Cashman and Mike Hearl, at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). 6 pm – details in the calendar listing.

HEY MARSEILLES AT EASY STREET: Live in-store concert tonight, at Easy Street Records in The Junction – as previewed:

Our West Seattle store is where the action will be tonight as Hey Marseilles performs songs from their new album, Lines We Trace, at 7 pm. If you don’t have a ticket for their sold-out Showbox show tomorrow night – or even if you do – this is where you wanna be. Bonus, you can snag an early copy of the album while you’re there! Free and all ages at 4559 California Ave SW!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday reports, including SW Trenton, Fauntleroy Way work
February 28, 2013 7:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
First, here are the West Seattle Bridge (above) and 99 (below) cams:

Now the reminders – the Delridge/Trenton weekend intersection closure is preceded by a block of Trenton closing for preparation work, starting right now – details here (here’s the weekend Route 120 transit alert for this work). Today is also the scheduled start of the safety-curb installation on Fauntleroy Way just west of California in Morgan Junction.

Then this weekend, the Viaduct/99 is closed all day Saturday plus Sunday morning – details here, and the ramp to southbound I-5 from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge will be closed this weekend too, starting late Friday night, as part of WSDOT’s Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project.

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College celebration: SSCC reception for Honor Roll students
February 27, 2013 11:43 pm
|    Comments Off on College celebration: SSCC reception for Honor Roll students
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(SSCC photos by Glenn Gauthier)
Big party at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) on Tuesday afternoon – the Fall Quarter Honor Roll Reception, with students inviting family and friends to help them celebrate their achievement. SSCC faculty and other staff joined the party too – SSCC president Gary Oertli (below, center) was part of a receiving line congratulating students at the reception’s end:

For fall quarter, 161 students were on the President’s list, 743 students on the Dean’s list.

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City to remove some SW Genesee parking to help Route 50 get by
February 27, 2013 9:45 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

Now that Metro Route 50 is running on SW Genesee, following the activation of the Genesee/Avalon stoplight, another change is in the works: SDOT has announced plans to remove some of the parking along Genesee on both sides of Avalon, after Metro told the city it needs more room on the road to operate safely. We talked today with Jonathan Dong from SDOT, who says the city sent notices a few days ago to Genesee property owners. The details are on this webpage (click on the link “SW Genesee St and SW Avalon Way Parking Removal” to reveal the text), including:

*Parking will be removed on the north side of SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon and Delridge Way SW

*Parking will be removed on the south side of SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Street and 30th Avenue SW

Though the online text says it will take effect “February 2013,” Dong tells WSB the changes are not happening immediately; the city is getting the word out right now, including the notices and, he adds, a briefing at the next meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council (March 11th, one week from Monday). Dong explains that the road is two feet too narrow to accommodate buses and parking – it’s 25 feet wide, but the minimum for buses and parking is 27 feet. The web page notes that you can reach him for comment at (206) 233-8564 or e-mail at jonathan.dong@seattle.gov.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 arrests might solve many burglaries
February 27, 2013 7:14 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:14 PM: Word tonight from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith that West Seattle officers have made a big bust that might solve numerous burglaries. Here’s what happened:

At a self-storage facility, victims confronted two suspects last Sunday who were reported to have “the (victims’) stolen items in another unit.” Those suspects “locked up and left” – but police had been called, and tracked down and arrested the suspects. Search warrants followed, for the suspects’ unit and a U-Haul van a block from their residence. The searches happened yesterday and “recovered massive amounts of stolen property from multiple crimes” – at least 119 line items of evidence, including boxes of recovered items worth thousands of dollars, even a safe.

Lt. Smith says the arrest and property recovery might solve “multiple commercial and residential burglaries.” We’re working to get more information – including the storage facility’s location.

8:16 PM UPDATE: Finally dug up the address to match to the case number, thanks to Tweets by Beat (which you can see on the WSB Crime Watch page any time – though take note, not all calls turn out to be the kind of violation they’re described as): 2900 block of SW Avalon Way, location of Public Storage.

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Power outage at Barton Pump Station next to Fauntleroy dock
February 27, 2013 4:51 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Utilities | West Seattle news

(Recent aerial of Barton Pump Station and project area, by Long Bach Nguyen)
The King County Wastewater Treatment Division says things might be noisier than usual at Barton Pump Station next to the Fauntleroy ferry dock right now, because a power outage has required them to use a generator:

Power was unexpectedly lost at the Barton Pump Station around 3:45 pm today. No overflows were reported, and crews are currently investigating the cause. A generator will be running onsite until power can be restored to the station.

The Barton Pump Station Upgrade includes an onsite generator, which will be housed in an underground vault, for unexpected power loss such as today’s occurrence.

The pump station also had a power outage last June (WSB coverage here) – and that one DID lead to an overflow.

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Next Design Review for ‘Whole Foods project’ tentatively set: March 28
February 27, 2013 3:57 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Two and a half months after Early Design Guidance approval for the 4755 Fauntleroy Way proposal – whose developers are calling it “the Whole Foods project” till it’s named – its next Design Review Board session has just been tentatively set for March 28. In addition to Whole Foods Market, the project includes a drugstore that a project spokesperson tells us they’re still not ready to announce, plus more than 370 apartments and almost 600 parking spaces, as well as some smaller retail spaces. While the design is being finalized, the city also is considering the alley vacation that the developers are requesting (here’s our February 12th story about the comment period on that). Meantime, online files include this document with some of the requests the city is making of the developers as the project proceeds. If the March 28th Design Review date holds, the meeting will be at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).

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Followup: Harbor West sewage leak fixed; 30,000 gallons estimated
February 27, 2013 1:44 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB reader photo taken under the building before the leak was fixed)
With warning signs still up on beaches south of Alki Point, we’re still getting questions about the status of the Harbor West condo-building sewage leak (3700 block of Beach Drive) blamed for the contamination, so we just followed up with Seattle Public Utilities. Spokesperson Ingrid Goodwin says they estimate the leak from pipes under the over-the-water building totaled “about 30,000 gallons over a nine-day period.” As for the status of repairs and contamination, she also tells WSB:

The repair was completed on Sunday, February 24, but bacteria levels at Cormorant Cove were slightly elevated on Monday. Therefore, the beach remains closed. SPU will continue to sample and work with Seattle King County Public Health to determine when the beaches can reopen. Per Seattle King County Public Health, we need two consecutive days of low bacteria levels to reopen the beach. We are hopeful that the beach can reopen by next week.

SPU is still investigating to determine if any penalties will be assessed or cost recovered.

The leak was reported to the city around the same time as the trimaran trouble on the beach south of Harbor West, but residents told WSB it predated the boat incident.

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