West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
Low-low tides are back this week – not as low as earlier this summer, but low enough to get out and explore the shore, with some expert help. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists were out at Lincoln Park and Constellation Park; the latter is where Susan Romanenghi photographed some of the turnout. For the three wildlife photos below, Michael Ostrogorsky was nearby, in the Alki Point vicinity:
Tomorrow’s low-low tide will be -3.0 feet at 11:41 am; the naturalists will be at Constellation (60th/Beach) and Lincoln (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) 10:15 am-1:15 pm tomorrow, and 11 am-1:30 pm Saturday – their last scheduled day this summer.
Three development notes tonight:
TOWER CRANE: For the first time in more than 14 months, West Seattle has a tower crane. The last one to come down was for the 1250 Alki SW Infinity Shore Club (WSB sponsor) condo project; as of this week, this one is up for the 4508 California 7-story mixed-use project. Work at the site has been under way for almost three months.
DESIGN REVIEW: A little more than one block west, the 4515 44th SW project is going into the next phase of Design Review, though without a public meeting, as it’s going through Administrative DR. It’s a four-story building with 43 microapartments and no offstreet parking. The design packet is linked from this city webpage; you can comment to the city’s assigned planner at theresa.neyton@seattle.gov.
AEGIS LIVING PROJECT: We reported last month that Aegis Living is buying and planning to develop the long-idle, much-vandalized 5242-5258 California SW site. Now it’s appeared in the city’s Early Outreach for Design Review pipeline, with a few more details via this description:
Construction of a 95-100 unit, five level Assisted Living Community. In-building parking for 40-50 cars. Project will pursue living building challenge environmental certification.
Aegis already has a location in West Seattle, at 4700 SW Admiral Way. The new site holds a former strip mall/office bulding and two former restaurants.
5:22 PM: We didn’t get a chance to publish an event list today – but it’s time now to get out and enjoy the night’s biggest event, this month’s West Seattle Art Walk. Here’s the venue list:
And here’s the list of restaurants/bars offering food/drink specials for Art Walk-ers:
To see who’s hosting artists, and who’s where, scroll through this month’s update on the official Art Walk website. For places staying open late and/or having artist receptions, hours will vary but most generally run until about 8 pm. Tonight also features two live performances for The Art of Music, 6-7:45 pm in The Junction and Admiral – here are the details on those. We’re headed out soon to make some stops and will add updates!
ADDED 6:22 PM: At Mystery Made in The Junction, you can create art:
Buy a T-shirt and tie-dye it outside!
ADDED 6:50 PM: We stopped at California/Alaska to enjoy the music:
Roz & Nathan in @WSJA for @WSArtWalk until 7:45 pic.twitter.com/lcRZl5nfUD
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 12, 2022
ADDED 7:20 PM: At Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), Rodolfo Rios Garza is tonight’s featured artist, with work focusing on trees:
ADDED 7:35 PM: One more stop for us – Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW; WSB sponsor) is hosting photographer Julija Naskova, who’s showing images of Buddhist temples in Asia:
Even if you didn’t get out tonight, many businesses keep the art up throughout the month, so you can still see it – and in many cases, the artwork is for sale, too. Art Walk is always the second Thursday, so next one is September 15th.
Four items in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GUNFIRE: From today’s police summaries – just before quarter till 10 this morning, an officer checked out a report of damage in the 3200 block of Harbor SW. The summary says, “The officer saw damaged windows and a damaged wall” and collected evidence of gunfire. Two businesses were affected, SPD says – but the incidents happened 5 nights apart, with the second one last night/this morning.
‘PROLIFIC SHOPLIFTER’ ARRESTED: Also from today’s summaries, a suspect described by police as a “prolific shoplifter” was booked into jail after two West Seattle incidents this morning. In the first one, he’s accused of trying to steal $50 worth of beer and swinging a bottle at people who tried to stop him, turning the incident into a robbery. Later in the morning, an officer who had investigated that incident was flagged down about a theft at the Marshalls store in Westwood Village. The summary says, “The officer recognized the suspect from the earlier robbery and placed him in custody for both crimes.”
Also today, two reader reports:
CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT: From Lyn:
Reporting another catalytic converter theft in the neighborhood. My CR-V was parked off 45th and Glenn overnight and had the catalytic stolen, along with subsequent damage to the underside of my car.
BIKE BATTERY THEFT: From Ryan, a report with a warning:
I wanted to give you all a heads up that our Rad Powerwagon bike battery was stolen last night. It was locked to the bike but there was no sign of damage. Apparently there is a way to get the battery off without the key or with a different key. I know there are a lot of Rad Bikes around West Seattle so everyone should be aware and cautious. The person who stole my battery did it very quickly and I have no doubt they are living in the area. It was stolen near Alaska Junction on California ave. You may want to keep an eye on your bike battery or take it with you. A replacement is $500.
Tonight, you might want to visit Bin 41 at 4707 California SW during this month’s West Seattle Art Walk. Not only is proprietor T. Frick the featured artist, she’s just made a big announcement: After 12 years, she’s closing her wine shop. Sunday, August 28th, will be the last day. In the meantime, she’s having a sale, and also mentioned to us in a brief phone conversation that if you have a gift certificate for Bin 41, now’s the time to use it. Store fixtures will be available too. For now, the shop remains open its regular hours, 1-6 pm Thursdays (open until 8 tonight for Art Walk) and Fridays, noon-5 pm Saturdays and Sundays. Providing inventory isn’t sold out sooner, the shop will be open daily its last week (starting August 22nd), 1 pm-6 pm Monday-Friday, noon-5 pm Saturday and Sunday. Any late-breaking changes, Frick says, will be announced via social media.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE SPACE: Before Bin 41, the space held children’s-clothing store Georgia Blu for 2 1/2 years. We noted here last year that the building was purchased last August by owners associated with the Maharaja restaurant/bar, who also had purchased the building a few doors south that formerly held Taqueria Guaymas. We spoke briefly today with Sam Virk from the ownership group; he said he hasn’t started seeking a new tenant yet, but said there are no plans to redevelop the building. (We also asked Virk about the status of the ex-Guaymas space, where a new restaurant, Indochin Wok, is planned. He told us they had more work to do inside the space than expected, but it’s still on the way.)
(WSB photo, Tuesday, looking west at part of the bridge repair-work zone)
Two months ago, SDOT announced it expected to reopen the West Seattle Bridge “the week of September 12th.” (That was a revision from the previous “midyear” estimate, first cited in early 2021.) Since the “week of September 12th” announcement, they’ve stuck to that projected timeframe, with a promise that they’d get specific with about a month’s notice.
This morning, they’ve finally announced a specific date: Sunday, September 18th, which will be five days short of exactly 2 1/2 years since the bridge’s sudden closure on March 23, 2020 because of growing cracks. Today’s announcement was foreshadowed two days ago, when we toured the repair-work zone atop the bridge with SDOT and learned from project director Heather Marx that this would be the day they’d announce a date. Today’s announcement also contains this caveat regarding the September 18th reopening date: “This will depend on the successful completion of remaining work, including finishing epoxy injections, carbon fiber wrapping, paving, safety inspection platform installation, and robust safety testing.”
(Photo by Mike Burns, looking north from Andover foot/bike overpass)
(Our Tuesday report includes details of what’s happening now and what’s yet to come.) Today’s announcement (read it in full here) also notes, as has been reported multiple times, “All restrictions on the Spokane St. Swing Bridge (also known as the West Seattle low bridge) will end on the same day” that the high bridge reopens.
This weekend’s biggest event is just two days away – the ninth annual Alki Beach Pride celebration, spanning both Saturday and Sunday, at multiple locations. Each day features a slate of live music and DJs, Saturday (August 13th) at Blue Moon Burgers (2504 Alki SW) and Sunday (August 14th) at Marination Ma Kai (1660 Harbor SW) – you can see the slates on the ABP website. Those are the two locations where wristbands will be available for discounts at participating venues. Other planned events include: Drag brunch at Arthur’s in The Admiral District, 11 am-3 pm Sunday; a wheels parade (skating, bicycling, etc.) from Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza at 1 pm Sunday; yoga at the beach at 6 pm Sunday; and an outdoor movie at Alki Playground – “The Birdcage” – at 7 pm Sunday. Organizers again this year are Stacy and Jolie Bass-Walden and they’re excited to get the party started.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, August 11th.
WEATHER
Today’s forecast is for sunshine and a high around 80.
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF remains on the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
And if you see this boat –
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
That’s the new Des Moines passenger ferry to/from downtown Seattle.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
872nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 31 days until the week SDOT hopes to reopen it. (The exact reopening date is expected to be announced today.)
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use until the high bridge reopens; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – camera malfunctioning, as are a few others in eastern West Seattle (still no estimate on when they’ll be fixed)
Highland Park Way/2nd SW (one of four recently installed cameras):
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here, many with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
If you follow the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and/or the daily preview lists we compile from it, you know West Seattle nightlife brings many chances to play games in West Seattle – trivia, bingo, Scrabble, more. Now, get ready for a different kind of contest – an adult spelling bee! It’s on the way to The Skylark in North Delridge next month – here’s the announcement:
Skylark, West Seattle’s most intimate live entertainment & dining venue, is pleased to announce the launch of Spelldown After Dark (TM), an adult-only spelling bee to take place every Friday night in September and that will pay cash prizes to nightly winners and to the final 2022 Spelldown Champion.
Says Skylark owner and Spelldown co-founder Matt Larson: “Spelldown has been developed over many months, has been tested with live players who left wanting more, and is now primed to bring a game show-like competition to greater Seattle. We expect players to feel the rush of competition in their veins, but there is a limited number of seats per Friday night and we encourage players of all levels to sign up quickly. Spelling has never been this much fun … both to play and to watch, so bring your friends!”
Sign-up for players is now open! The games will begin on Friday, September 2nd at 8:00 pm and will repeat each Friday in September starting at the same time. Players, who we call Spelldowners, will be limited to 12 per Friday night. For the first four Friday nights, all players will be new, so in total for all of Seattle, we are limited to 48 players for Spelldown 2022. There is a one-time sign-up fee of just $15, one winner per night, and the first four winners plus 2 runners-up will play in the thrilling championship finale on Friday, September 30th.
Sign-up for audience members is also now open! To maximize the fun of being in the live audience, audience members will be limited to 65 per Friday night. There is a small cover charge of $10 per audience member and there will be opportunities for audience participation! Given limited availability, Spelldowners, invite your friends and followers to support you in this game show-like experience before space runs out on the night you have selected.
For Spelldowners, more information and sign up here:
simpletix.com/e/spelldown-after-dark-contestant-slot-ticke-tickets-111813For audience members, sign up here:
simpletix.com/e/spelldown-after-dark-an-adult-spelling-bee-tickets-111812
Three months after the last meeting of the Community Advisory Group for Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy terminal-replacement project, the next one is scheduled. If you’re interested in the project, set your calendar for 6 pm Wednesday, September 21st. The meeting will be online, and you can register to attend by going here. The project is still at least three years away from construction, and many decisions remain to be made. At the May meeting, WSF said it had ruled out building the new terminal/dock at a different location, so that’s settled. Here are the basic options they’re studying:
If you need to catch up on other points of discussion, here’s our coverage of an online community meeting held in June.
4:29 PM: A Seattle Fire “hazmat response” is arriving at the Admiral building shared by PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) and the Luna Apartments. Firefighters have told dispatch they’re evacuating the building. SFD says they’re investigating “reports of a hazardous-materials spill.” Updates to come.
(Added: This photo and next by Christopher Boffoli)
4:33 PM: They’re asking police to close California SW while they continue investigating. They’ve just told dispatch that one worker reported hearing “a loud boom in the room that supplies the refrigerant system.”
4:46 PM: Incident command has told dispatch that a team is getting “suited up” to go inside, which should take about 15 minutes. … In the meantime, in case you’re wondering, the zone of concern has NOT spread to Hiawatha/WSHS. SFD is staging Stevens, by the McDonald’s. Note that the California SW closure is rerouting buses for now.
(Added: Photo by Patrick Sand)
5:06 PM: A two-person “entry team” is going in. SFD confirms to our crew at the scene that the initial report was of a carbon-dioxide problem in the refrigeration area.
5:11 PM: They’ve just told dispatch they’ve confirmed it’s a CO2 problem and they’re working on a shutoff plan.
5:14 PM: And now they report verifying “very low levels” of CO2, and will start working on a “demobilization” plan.
5:25 PM: Our crew at the scene reports they’re also checking the garage to be sure the air is safe there. Meantime, the street likely will remain closed at least another hour, we’re told.
5:29 PM: Incident command has just reported SFD has “mitigated the source” and the apartment residents are being allowed back in. We don’t yet know the store’s status.
5:50 PM: SFD confirms the entire building has been deemed safe. No injuries. And SFD has just given the clear for California to be reopened.
6:05 PM: Metro says buses have resumed. PCC is open but not currently selling refrigerated items.
(Texted photo)
Last week, signage and caution tape went up around a play structure at Alki Playground, one day after readers told us the structure had been fenced off without explanation. When we inquired with Seattle Parks , they said only that the closure followed a “recent play-area safety check.” On followup, they’ve offered a bit more of an explanation:
The safety inspection revealed a major structural issue with the wood decking. This play structure is long overdue for replacement. We plan to remove the wooden structure prior to this school year. We are working with Seattle Public Schools on a replacement plan.
The playground is a Seattle Parks facility but used by students at adjacent Alki Elementary, which is scheduled close in one year for a reconstruction project.
Via email:
Stolen from 32nd Ave SW. Truck is a maroon-red 1997 F150 with spare on driver’s-side back
License plate : C98438M
Has black toolbox on back window
Police report 2022-209762
UPDATE: Per a comment, and a call from the owner, it’s been found.
Today is the last day of “participatory budgeting” voting for $3.6 million that King County has set aside for projects in unincorporated White Center/North Highline. You don’t have to live in that area to vote – it’s open to anyone 12 and older who “lives/plays/works/worships” there. It’s a two-part vote – ranking proposals for $3.1 million in spending here, and ranking proposals for $540,000 in cannabis-tax revenue here. Some of the money could wind up in West Seattle – the first list includes money for the impending move of the White Center Food Bank (which also serves south WS) and the second list includes the Nepantla Cultural Arts Center, which is based in South Delridge.
11:53 AM: We’ve heard from multiple people mentioning a Comcast/Xfinity outage in Arbor Heights. Not weather-related – this started before the thunder/lightning/downpour moved through. One person says the Comcast website shows up to 500 customers affected. We’re checking with the company.
1:23 PM: This doesn’t explain the timetable for the outage but Comcast tells us, “We had some equipment in the node damaged in the storm this morning. Techs are actively replacing, and it should be back online by 2 pm.”
3:36 PM: Comcast said they had it fixed by 1:42 pm – so if you’re still out, let them know (try a reboot first).
If it’s not already on your calendar for tomorrow night – consider the August West Seattle Art Walk, featuring two free live musical performances as The Art of Music returns:
The Art Walk itself starts around 5 pm and includes venues all around the peninsula – you can preview who’s participating by going here. The Art of Music features an hour and a half of live music – with a 15-minute midpoint break – at two venues. As shown on the poster above, Nathan and Roz Duo will be at KeyBank Plaza (California/Alaska in The Junction), promising a “musical getaway across the US, the Caribbean, and South America,” while Epiphany of Time will be at Antico Soprano’s (2348 California SW) in The Admiral District, offering “pop-modern blues, dreamy originals, and funky tunes.” Deciding who to go see? Video previews are on the Art Walk website.
(Photo from this morning, by Mike Burns)
Thunder, lightning, rain as we write this – but it’s expected to pass, so here’s what’s currently planned for the hours ahead, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODAY’S BLOCK DROP: Until 6 pm, DIY cleanup equipment is available at Cormorant Cove (3700 block of Beach Drive SW).
WADING POOLS OPEN: Despite the current weather, the city says its wading pools will open, since sunbreaks and a high of 70+ are expected later. In West Seattle today, the pools scheduled to be open are Delridge (noon-5:30 pm) and Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm). (Also, Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale is open 11 am-8 pm.)
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor pool at Lincoln Park will be open today as its 7-days-a-week schedule continues, noon-7 pm.
NETWORKING: Wind Down Weekly networking at Junction Plaza Park, presented by Work and Play Lounge, 6-8 pm. (42nd/Alaska)
LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl Barley & Vine (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.
MUSIC BINGO: Now weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
KUNDALINI YOGA, MEDITATION, SOUND BATH: New night and location – Inner Alchemy now presents this at Solstice Park, 7 pm Wednesdays. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA x 4: At 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.
THEATER: The musical ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) production, “Here There Be Dragons,” has a performance at 7:30 pm. (4711 California SW)
Calendar event to add? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:10 AM: A “full response” from Seattle Fire is headed to a possible house fire – “smoke reported from a garage” in the 4000 block of 46th SW. Updates to come.
9:13 AM: First units to arrive weren’t seeing smoke; one says it may just be a “super-minor wall fire.” They’re reducing the response (though they’ve since noted “light smoke” in the garage).
9:19 AM: Final determination “no fire,” all units will be dismissed from the scene.
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, August 10th.
WEATHER
Today’s forecast starts off partly sunny but moves on to a chance of showers, and a high around 70. (9:49 AM: Thunder and lightning right now – but the radar suggests it won’t last too long.)
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF is on the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
ROAD WORK
Paving work on SW Andover by at the ex-encampment site between 26th and 28th is likely to continue today.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
871st morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 32 days until the week SDOT hopes to reopen it. (The exact date is expected to be announced tomorrow.)
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – camera malfunctioning, as are a few others in eastern West Seattle (still no estimate on when they’ll be fixed)
Highland Park Way/2nd SW (one of four recently installed cameras):
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here, many with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
(Photos on the bridge deck by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the West Seattle Bridge reopens, you’ll notice some changes.
That’s part of what we talked about with project leaders from SDOT, repair contractor Kraemer North America, and repair designers/consultants WSP during a visit to the the bridge today.
As we reported earlier today, SDOT expects to announce the reopening date this Thursday. In the meantime, the bridge is full of activity and materials that are part of the final stages of work. As we concluded our visit this afternoon and traveled back to the west entrance, we recorded this video to show you part of what we saw:
Along with the final phase of strengthening – applying more carbon-fiber wrap now that the post-tensioning steel cables are in and tightened – work includes getting the bridge back to a service-suitable state after almost two and a half years of closure. That includes signage, like what’s shown above, and what’s coming to new overhead structures like this:
On the bridge’s deck, new concrete panels have been poured in dozens of spots to improve the bridge surface. On the so-called Nucor curve near the west end, a micro-silica overlay is being installed, with grooves atop it, to prevent the slipping and sliding so common in that spot in the past. A subcontractor crew was working toward the west end today to seal some of the bridge joints, and to set up a rail for a machine that’ll be used as the paving continues. All along the bridge, equipment, materials, and access points were in evidence.
In a few weeks, demobilization work will include bringing down the two platforms that have been used for work on the underside of the bridge – tentatively scheduled for removal the weekends of August 20th and August 27th, according to Kraemer’s project manager Adam Dour (who delivered this detailed briefing last December).
Scaffolding atop the bridge marks those platforms’ sites, and notches in the bridge deck that have been part of the platform operation remain to be filled in.
Along with the signs, another difference you’ll notice when the bridge reopens – the inside westbound shoulder is widening to 12 feet, so the westbound lanes will shift toward the outside. No changes in number of, or uses of, the bridge lanes – just that shoulder widening. Toward the edge of the westbound lanes today, meantime, crew members were replacing cables in the bridge’s streetlights, frequently plagued by outages pre-closure:
Another material also on view today – stacks of yellow fiberglass girders:
These will be used to build inspection platforms inside the bridge. And the final run-up to reopening will include a lot of inspection and observation, particularly during the load testing, when trucks – like a double-trailer dump truck, filled with gravel – will be driven and parked on the bridge at strategic spots to ensure it responds as expected.
Here’s what it looked like inside the bridge today (thanks to Tim Durkan for the interior photos) – including some of the 45 miles of steel cables now in place to strengthen the bridge:
Crews are working inside and out, two shifts a day, six days a week. Other notes from our visit:
Last month, we reported that SDOT was planning a community celebration to say thanks. Today, Marx told us that idea has been scrapped – in recent outreach, she said, SDOT reps heard over and over that all community members wanted was for the bridge to be reopened. They do plan a news-media briefing “a couple days before the bridge reopens” -that event will not be on the bridge, but on a port site with the bridge as a backdrop. First, we expect to hear the reopening date Thursday – and when that day arrives, SDOT has said, they expect to open the bridge fully, not incrementally. And as we’ve reported multiple times before, the low-bridge restrictions will end once the high bridge is open – that was reiterated today too.
(WSB photo: Looking east on SW Andover late this afternoon)
We reported Monday on the removal of dozens of eco-blocks that had been placed along SW Andover and 28th SW after the city swept the longrunning RV encampment there in June. This afternoon, we finally have the full SDOT explanation of what happened and what’s planned for the area:
The eco-blocks were removed by the business that placed them. Following protocol, SDOT sent a warning notice after the concrete blocks were placed due to the lack of an approved street permit. The correspondence led to a productive conversation in which the business took responsibility for setting them and agreed to remove the eco-blocks at their own expense. During discussions, we shared plans for paving the street and discussed how the curb space and right of way currently work for businesses in the area.
New pavement being added on the north side of SW Andover Street creates space for a westbound protected bike lane, the option to leverage the paving project, and fill a gap in our bicycle network. This concept resonated with those with whom we spoke. Crews are also making drainage and landscaping improvements, which is why you noticed dirt removal. The paving of SW Andover St between 26th Ave SW and 28th Ave SW is currently scheduled for August 8-11. The paving repairs damage that may have occurred due to increased traffic during the West Seattle Bridge closure.
The bike lanes will be on both sides of SW Andover St, between 26th Ave SW and 28th Ave SW, and bike enhancements could be potentially added to SW Yancy St. The design is at about 50%, and we expect installation to be this fall. There will be no impacts to travel lanes. However, some parking and loading zones will be impacted and removed. The Bike Master Plan recommends a Neighborhood Greenway treatment. Due to the industrial nature of the area and for the comfort and enhanced safety of those biking, we are installing a protected bike lane (PBL). The Levy to Move Seattle is funding the bike lane design.
SDOT says the paving will be complete this week; the schedule for building the bike lane is not yet finalized.
From Josiah:
One of my family’s cars was stolen on the morning of August 9th at around 6:00 AM near the corner of 37th Ave SW and SW Olga St. It is a white 2018 KIA Forte LX with tinted windows. The right rear window was removed and left in our front yard. There is no license plate on the car because my family purchased it just a few days ago.
The police-report # is 22-208946.
Since the house fire in the 2600 block of 39th SW early Sunday, we’ve been asking SFD about their determination of how it started. Today spokesperson David Cuerpo told WSB, “Fire investigators ruled the fire as intentionally set (incendiary). SPD is conducting a follow-up investigation.” No details were provided on why that determination was made; we have followup questions out to SPD and have not heard anything back. If you have any information, there’s a statewide tipline – 800-55-ARSON.
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