West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
(Photo courtesy Tina D)
FIRST REPORT, 11:29 PM: Via the scanner, police say southbound 35th is closed at Dawson right now (by Camp Long) because of a crash – described as a hit-run. They say witnesses report the vehicle that took off after the crash was a black Jeep Liberty likely to have serious front-end damage. (Call 911 if you have any information on that.) No word of injuries so far; we’re off to check it out.
12:22 AM: Back from the scene. Thanks to Tina for sharing the photo added atop the story; WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli was already there when we arrived to check it out – the next three images are his:
Witnesses told us the driver of the mangled Mini, hit head-on, was taken to the hospital, but did not seem seriously hurt; the scene, however, was aptly described by Christopher as a “car-parts explosion.”
The Mini’s engine wound up on the west sidewalk of 35th; other pieces and parts were in the planting strip and the street, the full width of 35th. There was word a car on the other side might have been “nicked.” One tree on the west side was knocked down, and witnesses told us two others were damaged.
1:36 AM: Added photos from Christopher. The wrecked Mini has been taken away on a flatbed tow truck; a standard tow truck arrived fairly quickly, but the car was in no shape to roll away with that kind of truck, so a flatbed had to be brought in instead.
9:38 AM UPDATE: Just checked with SPD to ask if there was any news of the reported second car having been found. According to media liaison Det. Mark Jamieson, while the final report is not available yet, information in the system matches what we reported above; officers checked 35th as far south as Barton for any sign of the other vehicle (that’s the direction in which it was reported to be traveling) and found nothing. SDOT crews had to be called to help clean up the scene, since the debris (including the downed tree) had spread so widely.
Thanks to Jamie for sharing tonight’s moonset, photographed from Fauntleroy. Forecast looks good for the weekend, by the way – sunny Friday after some morning clouds, sunshine Saturday and Sunday too, highs projected in the 70s all three days.
Caspar Babypants drew the biggest crowd we’ve seen so far this summer at the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series. Tonight’s show also drew a big-name emcee, Mayor Mike McGinn, who worked the crowd while not onstage:
He’ll be back in West Seattle next Tuesday for a Town Hall meeting at Southwest Teen Life Center. Speaking of teens, cheerleaders from Hiawatha-neighboring West Seattle High School helped out with the benefit barbecue offered before and during the concert:
Some came with their own dinner instead. We couldn’t help but admire the bike-borne setup brought by Sean and Kelley:
Back to the music. Here’s Caspar Babypants on video with the tale of Harold the Horse:
Next Thursday night (August 30th) is this year’s final concert in the Hiawatha series (brought to you by sponsors including WSB) – Curtains for You performs on the community center’s east lawn at 6:30 pm.
More bike thefts top tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch reader-report roundup. From Imelda:
We are living on 61st and Spokane St. We forgot to close our garage last night and … our two bicycles and one of my kayaking booties were stolen (the other shoe was lying in the driveway). Our bicycles are unique, since they are from Germany, and have fixed lights, a baggage carrier in the back, and guard plates. Both look identical, one is for men, one for women. They were black, brand is Tallard. We are paying a reward, no question asked. We brought them all the way from Germany, and would really love to have them back. If you see them or know where they are please call 206 935 5839
Imelda says a neighbor had a lawn mower stolen last night, too.
And a Westwood resident says alert neighbors interrupted a car prowler:
If anyone had their car prowled in the 35th/36th & Barton/Cambridge corridor last night you may want to contact (police). Our dog alerted us to activity in the alley behind our house and then we heard neighbors yelling. A male in black pants, red tee-shirt and baseball cap was seen trying the door of the neighbors car parked in the driveway at the rear of their house. When alerted he tossed a box full of spoils and took off running up the alley toward Roxbury. A neighbor (me) followed him while other neighbors talked to a police car that had just pulled up and collected the belongings from the street. He was tracked going through back yards and up and down 36th until 3 squad cars descended and picked him up at 36th & Roxbury. Not sure if he was taken into custody or not.
(SDOT photo of the nearly complete offramp side of the new ramp, taken earlier this month)
Just announced by SDOT:
With the project approximately 95 percent finished, major elements of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project are nearing completion. The combination westbound on/off ramp at First Avenue S and S Spokane Street will open to motorists next Friday morning, August 31. The on-ramp provides the only westbound access to the viaduct and the West Seattle Bridge from SODO, and its opening will eliminate the need for SODO motorists to take the detour across the low level swing bridge.Â
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The old westbound off-ramp at Fourth Avenue S and on-ramp at First Avenue S had to be closed and demolished to make room for the widened viaduct structure.Â
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Construction activity on the upper viaduct deck is also nearing completion, with the permanent barrier between east and westbound traffic installed. Westbound motorists are now traveling in the final lane configurations, and the eastbound on-ramp from Harbor Island has reopened.
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The most significant and visible work yet to be completed is the repaving of the eastbound off-ramp at First Avenue and the intersection with S Spokane Street at the bottom of that ramp. As such, the off-ramp remains closed until late September.  North/south traffic on First Avenue in the construction area has been reduced to one lane in each direction, while the northbound lanes will be fully closed for three nights during the last week of August.
The old 1st Avenue South onramp closed for demolition in May 2010. Unlike that ramp, you won’t take 1st all the way to Spokane to get onto the bridge; the entrance to the new ramp is actually on 1st, more than a block north of Spokane.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: For those who asked about buses – yes, they will use this ramp too. The reply from Jeff Switzer at King County DOT:
This construction milestone will be good news for bus riders going to West Seattle. Starting Aug. 31, bus riders will have a faster and more reliable trip using the new First Avenue South ramp to the West Seattle Bridge, and buses will be less likely to face delays due to trains or when the lower Spokane Street bridge needs to open for marine traffic.
Metro buses have traveled a revised route since May 17, 2010, including Routes 21, 22, 35, 56, 57, 85, 116, 118 & 119 traveling East Marginal way to the lower level Spokane Street bridge to get to West Seattle. Opening the new First Avenue South/South Spokane Street on ramp will decrease travel times on these routes. We’re coordinating with the city so that we can revise our bus routes accordingly as soon as the ramp is officially open.
This week, the crane went up for the Oregon 42 project at 42nd and Oregon in The Junction (thanks to LB for the photo). And today came the notification that 4724 California has applied for its land-use permit (here’s the notice, including a link for public comments), along with a formal announcement of the 1st Design Review meeting for 3078 SW Avalon Way, as first reported here a week and a half ago.
With these and other projects under way, there’s always a commenter or two who asks “How many units are in the works, anyway?” We have finally taken an unofficial count, while making a Google Map of the ones we know about. If all these projects are built, they together total more than 1,500 new residential units (apartments, with a smattering of “live-work”) in West Seattle over the next few years:
A few caveats:
*Our list does not include a few sites for which projects were initiated a few years ago but seem to have stalled; these are the active, reactivated, or newly proposed sites on which we have reported in recent months
*There’s a chance we might have missed something, though we monitor a variety of sources, online and in the physical world. Click any marker for a short summary of what’s proposed – if you know of a major (20 units or more) project not on the map, please let us know!
*Even though it’s unlike any other project in the pipeline, we have included the DESC Delridge Supportive Housing project and its 66 units, as both the construction and operation of that facility will be significant to the community too.
As we did with a similar map in 2008 (we’re working on a “whatever happened to …” look at that), we’ll update this as things change, and revisit it as our comprehensive coverage of West Seattle development continues.
FIRST REPORT, 1:34 PM: That’s Husky Deli owner Jack Miller with visiting U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, there right now – as previewed here on Wednesday – to talk about the tax-cut-extension bill that’s cleared the Senate but not the U.S. House. We’ll add video later of what Sen. Murray, Miller, and others at the news conference had to say. (In case you are wondering, no, this is not a campaign visit – Sen. Murray won a new six-year term two years ago.)
ADDED 2:25 PM: Video of the event in its entirety (only 16 minutes):
Miller introduced Sen. Murray by talking about his 80-year-old family business and its 40 or so employees, and the challenges of competing against “big stores,” as well as the importance of tax breaks. Sen. Murray said that taxes will go up unless Senate Bill 3412 is passed to extend current tax cuts. In addition to those who you will see speaking in the video – Merryweather Books owner Mary Clark follows Sen. Murray – other local business reps were on hand:
From left with Miller, Junction-based attorney Jerome O. Cohen, West Seattle Junction Association‘s Liz Schroeder, and West 5 owner Dave Montoure (who also chairs the WS Chamber of Commerce board).
There were lighthearted moments too: The senator drew laughter by noting she was happy to be at Husky Deli even though she’s a Cougar. And before she left, she of course had some of the famous Husky ice cream:
In the background of that photo, by the way, you might recognize another Junction business proprietor – Jody Hall, owner of the Cupcake Royale stores here and around the city.
If you do business with the city online – or frequently use its online databases/websites – heads up: A $2 million maintenance/repair project is going to affect many of those services during several days surrounding Labor Day weekend, and in some cases even sooner, so if you have something important to do (including bill-paying, in person as well as online), take care of it as soon as you can. The city just published a detailed rundown of this outage’s effects – you can read it here.
More preparation today for the new school year that starts on September 5th, less than two weeks away: Chief Sealth International High School‘s new portable classrooms are being moved into place on the west edge of the campus. On Wednesday afternoon, we photographed the two that had just arrived (above); today, the other two are moving in.
As reported here in June, they will house 9th-grade language-arts and history classes, according to Sealth principal Chris Kinsey. He announced in June that 2012-2013 enrollment was projected to be more than 1,300, about 100 beyond last year, which was already above capacity (and according to a Seattle Public Schools report published this week, 115 students are on its waiting list [total for all grades/programs]).
(Photo by Don Brubeck, looking toward Harbor Island after last night’s sunset)
Belated edition of highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: The 1st Avenue S. water-main work is expected to continue into this evening (we’ll update this story if it’s done sooner). Again tonight, late-night/early-morning drivers need to be aware of two scheduled closures (from our weekly day-by-day/night-by-night list) – southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closed 9 pm-5 am, and eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct closed 10 pm-5 am.
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S POTLUCK PICNIC: Still time to pick something up to bring and go join WSDW‘s lunchtime event. 11:30 pm at Lincoln Park; details here, including what to bring.
TEENS – MAKE YOUR OWN JEWELRY: 1 pm at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson); info here.
WINE, MASSAGE, SNACKS: Siren Song Wines and Shanti Salon and Spa (both WSB sponsors) in the Admiral District are teaming up for an event tonight that involves everything from wine-tasting to massage. 6-8 pm; ticket info and full details here.
SHOP LATE IN THE JUNCTION: The special summer hours continue at participating Junction merchants (listed here) – including Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), which has a Sunshine Sale (summery items – check them out here) continuing through month’s end.
‘HIAWATHA HELPS’ BARBECUE, BEFORE AND DURING THE CONCERT: Benefit barbecue dinner 6-8 pm tonight at Hiawatha Community Center, before and during the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show. Menu/prices here.
CASPAR BABYPANTS AT SUMMER CONCERTS @ HIAWATHA: Our area’s biggest family-music star is tonight’s performer at the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented free concert (second-to-last show of the year), 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center.
Live music at local nightlife establishments too – part of what else you’ll find on the calendar!
Cancer is a relentless killer that has touched almost everyone’s life – and in addition to its primary effects, it leads to a sense of hopelessness, an agonizing wish for researchers to find a cure, to pinpoint a cause, anything to bring a cancer-free world closer. Next month, you can do something to help, beyond wishing and hoping. The American Cancer Society has launched a new round of its nationwide Cancer Prevention Study, a research program that dates back to the 1950s, to identify risk factors that can aid in prevention. Your participation now may save someone’s life someday. To make it easier to participate, the ACS will have an enrollment site here on September 22nd, 10 am-1:30 pm at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor); they’re getting the word out now so you can make an appointment for that day. Read on to see how:Read More
4:20 AM: Big response to 11200 block of Marine View Drive. Via the scanner, crews are saying it’s a “small fire in the garage” of a home.
4:45 AM: Added photo from our crew at the scene. Over the radio, the fire has been called as “tapped.” No report of injuries so far.
4:59 AM: According to SFD spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl at the scene, the smoke detector went off, awakening the homeowner, who called 911 and got everybody out safely. They don’t know yet what caused the fire, but she confirmed it was contained to the garage – lots of smoke, not a lot of flames. We’ll follow up later, after investigators have had a chance to figure out how it started.
5:28 AM: They figured it out fast. Lt. Stangl just tweeted that the fire has been ruled “accidental/electrical.”
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB; above, Bamboo bar manager Erika Pirzadeh, speaking)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tonight’s community meeting at Bamboo Bar and Grill was preceded by a completely different kind of meeting – one called by authorities and agencies because of what happened outside Bamboo early Sunday.
The Alki Beach establishment’s future depends on how it respond to both meetings.
The community meeting brought about 20 people, including several Bamboo managers and staffers, to the back of the restaurant/bar. Hours earlier, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had filed two assault charges against the man arrested following the Sunday fight that turned into a shooting (here’s our report).
During tonight’s meeting, Bamboo management insisted that while the establishment’s “new” owners (who weren’t present) have actually owned it for almost a year and a half, they have been making changes since a new general manager – longtime West Seattleite and hospitality-industry veteran John Theofelis (below center) – took over a month and a half ago, and will do more.
“We’ve been making changes, but nobody knows if they are too scared to come in here,” Theofelis told WSB before the meeting.
During the meeting, more than one attendee said security presence would make a difference, as Bamboo acknowledged they did not have a security guard on hand Saturday night because they felt that, without live entertainment that night, it wasn’t needed.
They also acknowledged that both groups involved in the clash – which, court documents revealed today, left one victim with a bullet lodged close to his heart – had been inside Bamboo earlier. Employees say the groups had been “cut off” but had not shown signs of trouble or conflict in time for them to make any sort of proactive call to police.
First: What the authorities are doing. While the Seattle Police Southwest Precinct had two representatives at tonight’s meeting – Operations Lt. Pierre Davis and Community Police Team Officer Ken Mazzuca – the major news came from the City Attorney Office’s precinct liaison, assistant city attorney (and West Seattleite) Melissa Chin.
Late in the meeting, she rose to discuss the Code Compliance Team meeting held at Bamboo earlier in the day, explaining that participants included police and fire representatives as well as the city’s Director of Nightlife and the state Liquor Control Board.
On August 31st, friends and family will gather to remember Ray Sargent, a longtime West Seattleite who died at home in Arbor Heights last week at age 84. They tell us he was known as “the Mayor of Luna Park Café,” where he was a regular, and where he made news in October 2011, saved after a heart attack. He recovered from that, but then was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer. The staff of Luna Park was part of a celebration of his life that he was able to attend before he died – that’s when the photo at right was taken. (And the family hopes that those touched by Ray or by the café’s support will go to Luna Park for a meal in his memory.) We have a formal obituary for him, followed by a few more thoughts from his daughter – read on:
With a community meeting at Alki’s Bamboo Bar and Grill less than two hours away, charges have been filed against the man arrested in connection with the fight and shooting outside Bamboo early Sunday (previous WSB coverage here and here). 27-year-old Michael Helmer of Kent is now charged with first-degree assault and fourth-degree assault – the former for shooting one man, the latter for attacking another. The court documents include the full narrative of what police believe happened – we will add that to this story shortly. (WSB photo from early Sunday)
UPDATED 4:32 PM: The full narrative, minus the names of witnesses and victims, is ahead:
Two theft reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon – if you have information on either, please call police. First, from Scott G:
I just wanted to get the word out that my 1990 Chevy Pickup was stolen from my driveway near 34th Ave SW and SW 108th St sometime last night between midnight and 8am.
It was dark red (I think Burgundy is the official color), is a full-size pickup with a king cab, and is distinctive in that the passenger side rear window sliding window is missing and is duct taped over with white plastic (not theft-related).
Plate # is B97040L.
There was a child’s car seat in the back seat, and the side and rear windows are tinted.
Also, the joke is on the thieves, in a sense, because it doesn’t run well at all. I think it is only running on 7 cylinders, and sounds really rough and is fairly loud (as most older 8-cylinder trucks are).
I’ve reported it to the police.
And from Shoshanna:
My husband and I are both public school teachers with two young kids and not a lot of extra money. Today we came home and saw that someone had stolen our double bike stroller from outside our apartment. It was parked under the stairs of our building and not visible from the sidewalk. We use it often and are very saddened that it was taken. It is a Schwinn double bike stroller, bright yellow color.
We live in a quad-plex on 44th and Alaska.
(Video and photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
New information today on the Genesee-area garage/pickup-truck fire last night covered by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli (here’s our original story). We heard today from homeowner Kristiana Lockman, who says, “We lost both the truck and the garage, which will have to be torn down and replaced.” Her husband owns WEdesign (WSB sponsor); she says the fire is believed to have been caused by “the spontaneous combustion of rags (in the back of the truck) that were used to stain a client’s deck,” and we have confirmed that with Seattle Fire spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl.
Kristiana adds, “We’re very relieved that we were home when it happened and that no one was hurt. And we’re immensely grateful to the two teams of firemen who responded quickly. They were efficient, kind and went out of their way to be helpful, even helping my husband board up the garage and the fence that was cut into before they left. … We’re grateful they do what they do so well.”
The city just sent an update on the water-main repairs that have kept northbound 1st Avenue South reduced to one lane south of the stadiums since early Tuesday. Repairs are now expected to last at last until tomorrow night. Read on for the update:Read More
Just in from Seattle Parks:
On Tuesday, August 28, Parks and Recreation’s Metal Shop will install a new pier ladder at Seacrest Park. Because a crane is needed to install it, Parks will need to close the parking lot from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or when the work is finished. During the closure, King County Metro buses will park on the street rather than loop through the parking lot, and crew will work between the water-taxi runs, which take place once an hour. Parks apologizes for the inconvenience, and thanks parking-lot users for their patience.
11:54 AM: King County has been working to get approval for higher capacity on its two Water Taxi vessels (as first mentioned in January) – and County Councilmember Joe McDermott says that permission has just been received. The West Seattle boat, Rachel Marie, and Vashon boat, Melissa Ann, had been certified to carry up to 150 people each; now, each is certified for up to 172. Councilmember McDermott says the 5:30 pm sailing to Vashon last night was the first to utilize the new capacity, carrying 163 people; the island trips, he says, “regularly sell out.” During all of last year, 130 trips sailed at the 150-passenger capacity, between the two runs, and without the capacity increase, McDermott says, this year would have beaten that.
7:11 PM NOTE: The county sent a news release about this late today – see it here.
Just in – U.S. Senator Patty Murray will be at Husky Deli in The Junction tomorrow afternoon to “join with local business owners to support extending tax cuts for middle class families,” according to a media advisory we just received. The advisory adds, “Senator Murray will be joined by local small business owners and middle-class families who will urge the House of Representatives to pass this bill so middle-class families and small-business owners can get the tax certainty they deserve.” The business owners listed in the news advisory include Husky owner Jack Miller and Merryweather (formerly Leisure) Books owner Mary Clark; the event is scheduled for 1:15 pm. You can read the text of the bill in question, S. 3412, here. This will be Sen. Murray’s third West Seattle visit in less than a year; she was here three months ago to speak during Civics Week at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), also the site of her October 2011 visit with fellow Sen. Maria Cantwell to discuss job training.
Seattle Public Schools‘ 2012-2013 school year begins exactly two weeks from today. As the year gets going, new Superintendent José Banda plans “regional meetings” to meet families and commnity members – and he is offering in-person meetings one day a month, too. Details on both, ahead:Read More
(Fishing from Seacrest at sunrise, photographed last Friday by Paul Swortz and shared via Flickr)
From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar listings for today and tonight:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: As mentioned earlier this morning, the 1st Avenue S. water-main work isn’t finished yet (we’ll update this story when it is), plus there’s a noontime Mariners game today, so SODO will be busy. Tonight, there are TWO scheduled closures (per our weekly day-by-day/night-by-night list) – southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closed 9 pm-5 am, and eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct closed 10 pm-5 am.
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Fresh-vegetable sales continue weekly at the stand alongside the organic mini-farm at 32nd and Juneau, 4-7 pm Wednesdays (through September). More info here.
COMMUNITY MEETING AT BAMBOO BAR AND GRILL: 5:30-7:30 pm, in the aftermath of the fight/shooting incident outside Bamboo (2806 Alki SW) last Sunday morning (WSB coverage here and followup here), its management/ownership is organizing a meeting “to share the steps that we have been taking to promote a safer environment and to hear any suggestions West Seattle locals may have to offer.”
LAFAYETTE KINDERGARTEN PLAYDATE: With exactly two weeks to go until school starts, families of new Lafayette Elementary kindergarteners are invited to a playdate 5:30-7 pm – more here.
OPEN HOUSE: Arbor Heights Co-Op Preschool is holding an open house 6 pm today at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church – details and map here (including an RSVP request).
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