West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
9:45 AM MONDAY: For decades, the Highland Park community has been fighting for safety upgrades at Highland Park Way and Holden. Within a week of the West Seattle Bridge closure, a “temporary” signal was rushed into place, followed by a few other tweaks. But SDOT promised the full “safety project” would still happen, and has just officially unveiled an early-stage plan, outlined in a flyer that arrived in some HP mailboxes over the weekend (thanks for the tips!). It spans other streets too, despite the title, but HP Way/Holden is the heart of it. Here’s what the proposal looks like:
(You can see it larger here in PDF.) The plan includes a protected bike lane on the uphill side of Highland Park Way, from West Marginal Way SW at the bottom of the hill to Holden at the top. That is discussed further, along with other nearby plans, in the slide deck presented by project developer James Le in this video from the project website:
Here are two key slides showing potential side-street “traffic calming” (Monday afternoon update – the entire deck is now online):
Once you’ve considered all that, you can take the “early design survey” in which you’re asked to prioritize what you think the area needs. It’s open through May 31st. A few days before that, SDOT expects to be part of the next monthly HPAC meeting – 7 pm Wednesday, May 27th; watch for details at hpacws.org.
11:16 AM TUESDAY: We asked SDOT to clarify the channelization proposal for the Highland Park Way hill, and the reply, just in, confirms the interpretation that one lane is proposed for downhill motor-vehicle traffic:
Highland Park Way SW between SW Holden St and West Marginal Way currently has two southbound lanes and two northbound lanes. Creating a southbound uphill protected bike lane would provide a needed bike connection between the Duwamish Trail and the Highland Park neighborhood. Creating space for this bike lane would require removing one downhill, northbound car lane. This change would also have a safety benefit by reducing speeding toward West Marginal Way.
Traffic modeling and counts of the number of turning vehicles conducted prior to the West Seattle bridge closure indicated that removing the northbound car lane would have a minimal impact to traffic. However, we know that Highland Park Way SW is one of the most heavily used detour routes into and out of West Seattle. We have been listening closely to community comments and monitoring traffic since the bridge was closed and expect to make a decision on this proposed change in the coming weeks based on the community’s input and new traffic data.
It’s now been two months since the governor’s orders limited restaurants to take-out/delivery. Since the start, we’ve kept a long list of your West Seattle options – not just restaurants but also other businesses offering prepared-food and/or beverages. Two more additions to mention as the week begins; Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, well-known for its catering, is now offering take-and-bake Family Meals, for pickup at The Hall at Fauntleroy or for delivery – order by noon Mondays for pickup/delivery on Wednesdays. Menu and info here. … New in The Triangle is the fried-chicken food truck Swagg-n-Wagon at 4514 Fauntleroy Way SW, open Tuesday-Wednesdays 12-4 pm, Thursdays-Fridays 12-6 pm …And we keep updating the ongoing listings as we get word from proprietors and/or customers – email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 … thank you, and EAT/DRINK LOCAL!
6:03 AM: Good morning – the 56th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. Headed out? Here are the cameras for the 5-way intersection and the restricted-access low bridge (where SPD enforcement continues):
Since the main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map), that’s the next camera view:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the approach:
Both bridges open for marine traffic; check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about openings.
NEW CAMERAS: SDOT has added 6 more cameras, along 35th and Roxbury. Here are two:
16th/Roxbury:
35th/Morgan:
You can see all local traffic cams, including the new ones in West Seattle, here.
TRANSIT
Metro – Reduced schedule; reduced capacity; check here for next departure
Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues
During the stay-home order, we’re not live-monitoring morning traffic, so please let us know what you’re seeing – comment or text (but not if you’re drivingl!) 206-293-6302.
Two more West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
BIKE THIEF ON CAMERA: Ray reports his bicycle was stolen from his yard at 6:40 pm Saturday in a dead-end alley between 40th/41st SW and SW Genesee/Dakota.
He says, “The man had his face covered (which I doubt it was for social distancing), but his backpack and clothes may be familiar… Please be on the lookout for an abandoned bike.”
(UPDATE: Thanks to a WSB reader who spotted Ray’s bike, and let us know so we could let him know – Ray has it back!)
And just in – a stolen car:
STOLEN JEEP: Taken from Pigeon Point:
License Plate 166-XXK – Last night or early this morning (5/16 5 pm – 5/17 5 pm) someone has stolen my jeep. If anyone has seen it or has cameras on the 19th Ave SW between SW Andover and SW Dakota email the address below.
2000 Jeep Wrangler. Copper color. Chrome bumpers and tires. Black soft top (not seen in the picture). I’m really distraught and frustrated. I love this Jeep. I would really appreciate any information or any help in finding it. If seen, please contact: stolenjeep.westseattle@gmail.com
But first call 911.
Fairly quiet day, so just a few things in our nightly roundup:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*7,480 people have tested positive, up 40 from yesterday
*522 people have died, up 2 from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 7,046 and 498.
ONE MORE LOCAL DEATH: The toll in 98126 is now 12.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
FACE-COVERING DIRECTIVE: It officially takes effect tomorrow in King County. This is not a law – but you are “strongly urged” to wear one in public, especially indoors. Here’s the official summary; here’s the full directive. As we reported when it was first announced, a business, for example, CAN require you to wear one.
EVEN THE GATEWOOD DRAGON HAS ONE … as shown here.
WHAT DIDN’T HAPPEN TODAY: If not for the pandemic, ~1,000 people would have run/walked along Alki this morning.
SPEAKING OF WALKING: Never know what you’re going to see on your daily walk around the neighborhood. Laura Goodrich sent these photos from SW Genesee across from the West Seattle Golf Course – the fine print declares a section of sidewalk under “the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Silly Walks”:
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Too cute to wait until the nightly roundup! Lana sent the photo and update on the dragon we first featured four weeks ago:
A kind Gatewood neighbor has been making cloth masks. Today she dropped off one for the Gatewood Dragon. The Gatewood Dragon has several daily visitors. Our plan is to leave the Gatewood Dragon up until the quarantine has lifted. Don’t want any sad or worried faces when the Gatewood Dragon returns to work.
(WSB photo, Beach Drive “Stay Healthy Street” on Wednesday afternoon)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Pre-pandemic policy for the city usually featured what some deride as “the Seattle process” – propose something, talk about it a lot, finalize it.
In the case of the city’s new “Stay Healthy Streets” – 23 miles of streets now closed to through traffic, open to walking/riding/rolling, including three stretches in West Seattle – things happened in the opposite direction: Action, then talk.
The first public discussion of them, four weeks after the first ones were announced, happened this past Wednesday, when the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board met via videoconferencing/phone.
Most of the meeting was devoted to a hour-plus discussion of Stay Healthy Streets, bookended by two public-comment periods. The first one opened with West Seattle resident Loren Schwartz calling the newest West Seattle SHS, Alki Avenue and Beach Drive around Alki Point, “transformative,” “amazing … phenomenal … paradise.”
One of the things we’ll be missing during this season of pre-empted parades: Marching bands. So this made us smile when it arrived in the WSB inbox today. The school isn’t in West Seattle, but the band director points out his local tie:
My name is John Aguilar, Director of Bands at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School in Seattle, WA and a PROUD alumnus of Chief Sealth International High School (class of 2012).
I just wanted to share with you a virtual performance that my students did recently of “Juice” by Lizzo. As you know, we have been out of school for two months now, and along with that comes numerous concerts/festivals/competitions/parades that the students will no longer get to experience this school year. It is with that in mind that my students decided to come together “virtually” during these uncertain times, as we try to send the message that music truly is one of the best medicines for the soul and that we can still make music together, although physically apart. I am writing to see if you can help us share our message in hopes of inspiring the community through our music. I hope you enjoy!
Robert Eagle Staff MS is in North Seattle, and opened in fall 2017.
4:10 PM: Thanks to Eli Barlag for the photo. That’s the Ready Reserve Force cargo vessel M/V Cape Hudson, which arrived in Elliott Bay today after sailing up from Tacoma. It’s a 750-foot roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel, 41 years old, based in San Francisco and often chartered for military operations like Pacific Pathways. According to a Maritime Administration social-media post from earlier this year, Cape Hudson is still part of that”mobility exercise, taking on and discharging cargo at domestic and international ports … an annual operational deployment exercise designed to determine the best methods for planning, preparation, execution, and ordering of craft to move troops and equipment.”
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: Without docking in Seattle, Cape Hudson sailed on this morning, currently shown on MarineTraffic.com as northbound in Puget Sound.
(Photo sent by Vicki)
2:31 PM: Thanks to everybody who’s been asking about the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and vessel off west-facing West Seattle. We just talked with the duty officer at USCG District 13 public affairs and he says they don’t have anything search/rescue going on in this area, so as far as he knows, it’s training, which is common on Sundays “to get their hours in” when nothing else is going on.
3:21 PM: Over now. (We went down to see if we could catch a photo, but no luck.)
6:16 PM: Thanks to Jamie Kinney for the video.
Laura hopes you can help find her stolen car, a blue 2000 Subaru Impreza Outback:
Where: Stolen from the 9000 block of 13th Ave SW
When: It was stolen sometime between last night at around 6:30 PM, and 7:00 AM this morning.
She’s pretty beat up on the driver’s side front part of the car from a hit and run accident in 2017, but she still runs well. This pic is of the same make, model, and color as our Impreza. If anyone sees her or has any information that could help us re-connect, that would be most appreciated.
The plate is 296VQS. Call 911 if you see it.
If not for the pandemic, about 1,000 runners and walkers would be celebrating completion of the annual West Seattle 5K along Alki right about now. It’s a benefit for, and organized by, the West Seattle High School PTSA, which has a reminder for you:
We are missing you all and missing this wonderful community event! Please plan to participate and/or sponsor this event next year. Cancelling this and our other spring fundraiser has left us with a budget shortfall. If you are willing and able to donate to the WSHS PTSA, please make a donation on our website.
We’ve co-sponsored the WS5K every year since the first one in 2009. See you there in May 2021!
10:48 AM: Thanks for the tips. Seattle City Light is investigating an outage in the area shown on the map screengrab. 18 customers are affected, according to the SCL map, and have been without power for a bit over an hour.
11:54 AM: Outage over, reports Marc, who also sent that photo of a City Light truck wrapping up restoration work.
(Photo by Tyson Rowley)
Welcome to Sunday! As usual, our list of what’s happening starts with West Seattle churches’ online services:
ADMIRAL UCC: The video service is here. Also – follow that link for 11:15 am sermon talkback and 11:45 am coffee hour.
ALKI UCC: 10 am online service, via Zoom – info and link on church’s home page.
ALL SOULS SEATTLE (WSB sponsor): Online worship will be linked here at 10 am.
ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 10 am.
BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am, 7 pm.
CALVARY CHAPEL: Service is viewable here, plus 11 am fellowship via Zoom, 6 pm all-church prayer and 7 pm evening worship (info on home page).
EASTRIDGE CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 9 am and 11 am.
FAUNTLEROY UCC: Livestreaming on the church’s YouTube channel at 10 am.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE: Today’s online liturgy is here.
GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.
HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming in English at 8:30 am, en Español at 10 am, all here.
HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 9:30 am here.
HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service and children’s story are viewable here.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 10 am, both here.
PEACE LUTHERAN: Livestreaming at 10:30 am on YouTube.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Viewable on YouTube: All Ages Sunday School at 10 am, Morning Prayer at 10:15 am (here’s the bulletin), Kids’ Club at 11:30 am.
TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): The video service for today is viewable here.
TRINITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10 am.
WEST SEATTLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The video service is viewable here.
WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming here, 11 am.
WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN Livestreaming at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION: Livestreaming via Zoom, 10:30 am.
WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online worship at 11 am; info here.
Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Also today:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the third market after almost two months without one. Enter at California/Alaska; the line goes east on Alaska. Here’s the info on policies and procedures; here’s the vendor list for this week.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
FREE TO-GO DINNER: High Point Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near High Point Community Center. (6920 34th SW)
Maybe you can help find Bea‘s stolen mobility scooter:
Our rented battery operated Red and Black Mobility Scooter was stolen from our backyard driveway off alley between 60th and 61st and Admiral Way SW and SW Hinds last night.
It is transportable, Go-Go Pride 3-wheel with front black basket; rented from Scootaround. Also stolen were the battery and charger. but not the ignition key. Police report is 20-161656. If you know anything about this scooter, please report to police and send email to coachbea.hughes@gmail.com
No photo, but it would be similar to this.
As we start the 12th week of the coronavirus crisis in King County, here’s our roundup of today’s toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary data dashboard:
*7,440 people have tested positive, up 80 from yesterday
*520 people have died, up 4 from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 7,000 and 490.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: More than 4.6 million people have tested positive, 1.4 million of them in the U.S. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
PREVENTING PICNICS: In the ongoing “Keep It Moving” campaign in city parks, Stewart sent that photo, saying crews have just taped up the picnic tables at Don Armeni Boat Ramp:
The benches, Stewart notes, remain open.
GROCERY-STORE HOURS: Two more of the major chains that have stores in West Seattle have added back some of the hours they dropped early in the virus crisis. That’s part of today’s weekly-during-the-pandemic grocery-shopping update.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: For the third time since a 2-month mayor-mandated closure, the WSFM will be open tomorrow, 10 am-2 pm. The entrance remains at California/Alaska; line up along Alaska, and north up 42nd if necessary. This week’s vendor list is here.
SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES: Since we published this reminder today, we got word the West Seattle Small Business Relief Fund is almost up to $100,000 … but our area has hundreds of small businesses trying to hang on, so if you can contribute, anything helps.
SINCE WE DIDN’T GET SUNSET COLORS TONIGHT … here’s a vivid view from earlier this week, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
More south West Seattle redevelopment: That 99-year-old house at 9238 20th SW [map] is proposed to be replaced by an 8-unit rowhouse/townhouse project, with 8 offstreet-parking spaces. Nearby resident Colleen tipped us after an Early Design Review Community Outreach flyer arrived via mail. It points to this website, which includes the design packet by John Trieger Architects, as well as a survey.
Three notes related to the West Seattle Bridge closure:
BRIDGE BARRICADES: Not sure how long these have been up, since we haven’t looked recently and they’re all a ways down their respective ramps, but a tipster pointed out that the access points to the high bridge now all have chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. We photographed two today.
This is in addition to the movable barricades originally placed when the bridge was closed on March 23rd.
BUS SURVEY: A reader who’s been talking with Metro to advocate for a bus route from West Seattle to the University of Washington has set up a survey. It’s NOT official but its results will be shared with Metro. If you want to take it, go here.
HISTORY PRESENTATION TONIGHT: Retired civil engineer Bob Ortblad, who’s stirred some discussion for espousing an underwater “tube” solution for the bridge (and has previously suggested one cross-Sound too), has a free online presentation coming up at 6:30 tonight: an updated version of his 2017 “Who Built Seattle?” lecture, plus “the lurid history of the West Seattle Bridge,” its “current demise, and controversial future.” Register here. It’s free but you’re also welcome to make a donation to fight sarcoma, of which Ortblad is a 12-year survivor.
It’s Wildlife in the City Week! Great reason to showcase more West Seattle bird photos:
Twp from longtime contributor Mark Wangerin – above, those are Barred Owls in Fauntleroy Park; below, a Black-headed Grosbeak:
Next two are from Mark MacDonald – a Wilson’s Warbler at Lincoln Park:
And a (corrected) juvenile Bald Eagle over Alki:
From Ann Anderson, mom Crow feeding baby:
You can learn all about Crows’ nesting/mating/etc. in this recent post by a Seattle Animal Shelter naturalist.
Speaking of which, if you’re out doing yard work, be careful! Don’t accidentally bring down a nest. Kelly Howard was out working in her yard and noticed this:
Her research suggested it might be a Bushtit nest.
Thanks as always to everyone sharing photos, from birds to breaking news – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302!
Two months after the stay-home order shuttered many businesses, it continues to be a tough time even for those that have been allowed to offer pickup and delivery. Many generous West Seattleites have lent an extra hand through the Small Business Relief Fund. You can even choose a specific business to support, with 100 percent of your gift going directly to that business. The West Seattle Junction Association is coordinating the fund, but it’s not a Junction-only program – you can name any West Seattle small business(es) to target your donation. Also note, it may go further than the dollar amount alone – Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor), for example, pledged to match up to $10,000 worth of donations made starting May 5th. With the added mobility crisis caused by the high-bridge closure, a strong local business community has never been more important. You can donate online via credit card, via the Junction Venmo (@westseattlejunction), or send a check via: West Seattle Junction Association, 4210 SW Oregon St, Suite A, Seattle 98116. As of the last update a week ago, donations had totaled $78,000, but West Seattle has hundreds of small businesses, so they can use a lot more support.
(WSB photo, last December – Madison field seen thrugh south-side fence)
Last December, we reported on the levy-funded plan for upgrading the Madison Middle School athletic field with artificial turf and lighting. A comment period related to the project has just opened; nearby residents were sent a notice (thanks for the tips on this), which is replicated on the Seattle Public Schools website:
Draft SEPA Checklist for the Madison Middle School Athletic Field Lighting Project
Public Comment Period: May 11-June 10, 2020Seattle Public Schools has prepared a draft checklist in compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) regulations for the Madison Middle School Athletic Field Lighting Project. This document provides a site-specific environmental review of the project. The district seeks written comments on the draft SEPA checklist.
The “checklist” – a 113-page document – is here.. It includes project information, dated last month, including that the work is expected to be done this summer, lasting one to two months. (It also notes that an unrelated project is in the planning stage for Madison, a two-story, eight-classroom addition.) Here’s the key summary it contains:
SPS proposes to light the athletic field at Madison Middle School to allow for both SPS use and community use. The athletic field at Madison Middle School accommodates soccer and football activities, with a surrounding track. Light fixtures would be installed on six galvanized steel poles around the perimeter of the field. The poles would be 70 feet tall.
SPS and Parks propose to schedule events at the lighted field from dusk until 10 p.m. The proposal would not change the school enrollment or any other facilities on the site, but would allow increased use of the athletic fields for scholastic and non-scholastic recreational activities schedules to end by 9:45 p.m., with lights automatically turned off at 10:00 p.m.
Later in the document, this is noted: “No public address system would be used at the athletic fields, and SPS will prohibit the use of portable speakers on the athletic fields.” The document also includes detailed analysis of factors from traffic to noise to soil, and graphics/maps. If you’re interested in commenting, here’s how:
Email: SEPAcomments@seattleschools.org
Mail:
Fred Podesta, Chief Operations Officer
Seattle Public Schools
PO Box 34165, MS 22-183
Seattle, WA 98124
Again, the deadline is June 10th. SEPA, by the way, is the State Environmental Policy Act, explained here.
We start the weekend with our ninth Saturday-morning update on West Seattle’s standalone grocery stores:
QFC ADDS HOURS: Thanks to Jason for the tip on this. QFC stores (including the 2 in West Seattle) are now open 8 am to 10 pm.
SAFEWAY ADDS HOURS: Checking the websites for our area’s three Safeway stores, we see they’ve added hours too – now open 5 am to 1 am. In addition, the Tuesday/Thursday shopping times for seniors and others at elevated risk are now expanded to 6 am-9 am.
THRIFTWAY WINE & CHEESE TASTING: Next Friday, West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) plans a virtual rosé-and-cheese tasting. The store’s home page explains how to watch (4:30 pm May 22nd) and how to buy the wine and cheese in advance if you want to.
That’s the official info we’ve found; we’ve updated the hours on our original list. So, what are you seeing at local stores?
Three biznotes tonight:
FAMOUS SALMON ARRIVES: Thanks to Sacha for the photo! Copper River salmon has arrived at Seattle Fish Company in The Junction (4435 California SW) – that’s proprietor Jon holding the Alaskan arrival. ($49/pound filleted, per the SFC website – 12:49 pm update – we’re told that’s the “shippers” price, but the “in-store market price” currently is $5 less, $44.99/pound.)
REBELLYOUS FOODS GOES RETAIL: Back in November, we reported on Rebellyous Foods – a start-up that makes, and improves manufacturing technology for, plant-based “nuggets” moving into The Triangle. But its products were only available to food-service companies, like corporate cafeterias. Now – they’re going retail!
First two outlets – Leschi Market and Vegan Haven – are not in or near West Seattle, but Rebellyous tells us, “We’re hoping to be with some West Seattle retailers soon.”
PACIFIC ROOM CLOSES: Business closures and reopenings have been a little tougher to track during the coronavirus crisis, but the sign that went up outside the Pacific Room (2808 Alki SW) this week was rather emphatic:
We went there after getting tips that it appeared furniture was being moved out. The restaurant/music venue opened last June, then changed owners in February, and the new owners told us they planned to rebrand – then just a few weeks later, the pandemic struck. They had been open for takeout until recently, though.
12:48 PM UPDATE: We just got a call from Jisun Jackson, one of the new owners we interviewed in February, who says the “permanently closed” sign was put up by a business partner without authorization of the others, and they DO intend to reopen at a not-yet-determined date.
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