West Seattle, Washington
18 Tuesday
The city permit files say a pet-food store is in the works for Westwood Village. We can’t find a center blueprint to match WV “suite numbers” to specific stores, so we can’t tell if that’s what’s going into the laundromat space (below) that just emptied out north of QFC, but crews are certainly working fast and furious to convert it into something. Also, the permit files mention progress on the WV in-the-works Taco Del Mar.
One of the things we adore about West Seattle is that downtown is so close … yet it can be “out of sight, out of mind” until and unless you choose to stop for a view like this:
Hadn’t heard much about the case against the mayor’s son (who reportedly had been living at the family home here in WS) since it was announced last week, till the Daily Weekly unearthed this tidbit about the lawyers hired to defend him.
That “thank you” comes from Ercolini Park project organizers, who are working to transform a big beautiful empty lot west of The Junction into a real park. They say WSB readers have stepped up to commit dozens more volunteer hours to the project since our last update earlier this week. And they just got great news from the city — pending mayor and council approval, they’ll get a $90,000 grant, to complement $10,000 in “volunteer time and cash” that they will have to nail down by Halloween. They’ll also be teaming up with the folks working on Junction Plaza Park (on Alaska between Cali and 42nd) for fundraising efforts, with a joint meeting set for June 13.
As discussed at the community meeting regarding efforts to save the Charlestown Cafe and stop the site from being turned into Petco’s new location or any other “big box” development, plans are now in place for a picketing demonstration. According to the announcement just posted on the Our Town West Seattle Yahoo! group, it’ll happen 11 am-2 pm June 30, along California, in front of the restaurant.
Happy June! Lots to choose from in a full slate of WS weekend events, one click away.Read More
Fired assistant coaches are suing parents who spoke to the Times, says the paper.
… so fast, we can barely keep up. Now the lowest posted price we’re seeing (but not by much) is Fauntleroy/Alaska Shell, $3.24/gallon.
Starting today, you can register kids/teens ages 5-18 to be part of the West Seattle Soccer Club for its fall youth soccer season (mid-Sept. through mid-Nov. for most players). League officials (who provided the photo below, from a 4/29 visit to WSSC by Seattle Sounders players) say “the emphasis is on fun and soccer skills” — and a wide variety of playing environments are offered, including coed. You can learn more about WSSC, and you can register online, at their website, or click here to e-mail the league if you have questions. P.S. They’re offering soccer coaching clinics in June and summer soccer camps in July & August, too!
Supposedly next week brings the gray back, so we’re hoarding the beauty shots till then:
The ol’ Trader Joe’s rumor just keeps swishing around WS like a glass of Two-Buck Chuck in a Nisqually-length earthquake. An intrepid reader just e-mailed the company again, hoping perhaps for a pleasant surprise, and shared with us the following response. (Personally, we find the “check back in fall” rather intriguing!)
“At this time, we do not have any confirmed plans for Western Seattle. Feel free to check back sometime this fall for any updates.
Thanks for shopping with us,
Marci
Trader Joe’s Customer Relations”
Parents from the nonprofit Community School of West Seattle, which offers preschool through 2nd grade, say their little school is in danger of losing its building at 22nd/Roxbury (photo below). CSWS has been renting there since 2004 and has been raising money to try to buy the building since, according to one parent, the owner indicated last year it could be theirs for a reasonable price. Now, suddenly, events have accelerated — a developer has reportedly made an offer, and parents say that’s pushed the owner to set a deadline for the school to come up with the $. They have till August 31st to raise $88,000 more. They’re planning an intensive slate of summer fundraising events, including an auction, but also are hoping community donations (which are tax-deductible) will help save the day.
Call it a monstrous way to try to save the Sound. The “Mud Monster,” mascot of a new Puget Sound cleanup campaign (photo below), starred at a media kickoff event at Alki this morning. The campaign’s site says the “Mud Monster” is “designed and produced by the folks who brought us the Mariner Moose.” Couldn’t we just have somebody in, oh, say, a plush six-gill-shark suit?
TOMORROW: The West Seattle Community Resource Center at 35th/Morgan officially celebrates its grand opening (a few weeks after the WS Food Bank and Megawatt moved in) by opening the doors to all. An open house with tours, treats, and guest WS dignitaries (the press release promises Mayor Nickels and Councilmember Constantine) is set for 4-7 pm.
SATURDAY: Skylark celebrates its first anniversary with a day and night full of revelry: Brunch 9 am-3 pm, karaoke 5-8 pm, bands 9 pm-1 am (Electrochakra, Amy Stolzenbach, Brent Amaker & The Rodeo, The Delusions). Owner Jessie Summa-Kusiak also promises “prizes, and happy hour prices all day and night.” (She’s also put in air conditioning, quite visionary since summer heat arrived early!)
Taking a moment to more closely examine the land-use permit just granted for the burned-out Schuck’s site (second part of this post), we noted that what was originally described as approx. 5K square feet of “customer service office” has become approx. 5K square feet of “medical services.” (No change in the projected restaurant and retail space.)
First photo from Alki Beach. Second, about 15 minutes later from just south of Alki Point.
The Stranger finds a creative way to stir Kokoras and Ephesus into one review.
-Now we know why the “for sale” sign on Beach Drive’s “Painted Lady” (aka the Satterlee House) has moved all the way to the front of the house: The city just issued a permit for the short-plat that will allow three homes to be built in what’s currently the historic home’s front yard. We’re working to find out what happens next and when.
–A land-use permit’s also been issued to allow a new commercial development where the burned-out Schuck’s store shell now sits, kitty corner from Charlestown Cafe.
As in, screams from drivers fed up with bumpy Sylvan Way/Orchard between Delridge & High Point. We just noticed this addition to the warning sign along the westbound lane:
It’s another do-or-die moment for the folks working to make Ercolini Park (west of The Junction) a reality: They need more commitments of volunteer time (and $) to help show the city they deserve a grant to transform the parkland from grassy field (photo below) to fully equipped neighborhood park — for an area that’s long on families but short on park space. The grant-decision time is near so if you can chip in to help the project, you can click here to e-mail project organizer Bill Barna or check out the Ercolini Park Updates site.
Scroll to the end of this P-I story for map/stats: 6000 16th (SSCC) and 6900 Delridge.
Two updates on the violent vandalism mentioned here a week ago — first, neighbors are working to revive the Westwood Neighborhood Council, which apparently had gone dormant; second, the vandalism story was featured on tv last night.
Much as we love sun-behind-Olympics sunsets from Alki, Beach Drive, Lincoln Park, etc., we also are fond of the Mount Rainier sunset-time view from Arbor Heights:
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