West Seattle, Washington
30 Sunday
Seattle City Light has long had a power-outage map, but if your water was out, you had no way to check on the extent of it aside from checking with neighbors. Now, that’s changed: Seattle Public Utilities has launched a water-outage map. This one also shows planned outages. (The only event shown for West Seattle right now is a planned-then-canceled August outage on Harbor SW.) You can see the map by going here (note it has a tab displaying the information in list format too). The page is also a convenient place to find SPU’s emergency hotline, 206-386-1800.
6:16 AM: It’s Wednesday, the 121st morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.
CLOSURE
Tonight, it’s the fourth of 14 overnight closures scheduled for the northbound 1st Ave. S. Bridge, for deck work. 10 pm-5 am..
ROAD WORK
Major work continues on Delridge Way, with lane reductions, as road-rebuilding and utility work lead off the RapidRide H Line conversion project – here’s what crews are working on this week. Note that the 24th/Graham trench work is expected to start today.
TRAFFIC
Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Sppkane/Chelan):
Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). The camera is back:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed.
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Still reduced service and distancing – details here.
Water Taxi – Back to its “winter” schedule, with the 773 and 775 shuttles – see the schedule here.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Sports and food are part of tonight’s virus-crisis roundup. But first:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s the daily summary from Public Health, with cumulative totals:
*13,486 people have tested positive, up 147 from yesterday’s total
*635 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*1,818 people have been hospitalized, up 12 from yesterday’s total
*252,090 people have been tested, up 4,401 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 12,244/606/1,706/217,633.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
PANDEMIC-ERA SPORTS: The Washingon Interscholastic Athletics Association has come up with a plan for next school year’s sports. Among other things – spring football. Here’s tonight’s announcement.
RESTAURANT REOPENING: Grillbird Teriyaki, which closed almost two weeks ago after reporting an employee tested positive for COVID-19, says it will reopen this Friday (July 24th).
FREE FOOD: Food Lifeline is distributing emergency food boxes this week – sites and times are listed here, including tomorrow and Friday afternoons at FL HQ in South Park.
ALSO TOMORROW: The governor hasn’t given a briefing yet this week but his office and other state officials will present an update on the state’s COVID-19 response at 2 pm tomorrow. Livestream will be here.
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Another major Seattle Public Schools project is in the feedback phase for its environmental checklist – the levy-funded West Seattle Elementary School addition in High Point.
July 27 – next Monday – is the deadline or public comment on the project’s Draft SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) checklist. Documents like these are far more comprehensive than the term “checklist” would suggest. This is 218 pages long, as you can see here or below:
The document includes many project details, including that it’s planned for a site east of the current WSES building, and that if it stays on schedule, WSES would move to the former Schmitz Park Elementary for 2021-2022 (as we reported last January), while construction proceeds. The document says WSES’s existing capacity is 320 students, but enrollment this past year was 100+ more. The addition would create room for up to 130 students. The $22 million project’s funding includes a state grant as well as the SPS BEX V levy. The document adds, “As part of the project, existing recreation space on the campus would be expanded and renovated, including an expanded and renovated hard surface play area, new play structures, a new student garden area, and a renovated grass field area. The project also includes an option for an approximately 3,000 sq. ft. covered play area in the southwest corner of the campus.”
If you’re interested in commenting, this page on the SPS website explains how, via either email or postal mail.
It’s been almost two weeks since voting began in the West Seattle Bridge T-shirt contest. You have 10 more days to vote. As of Monday, West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford tells WSB, almost 5,000 people have voted. Here are the top 10 (from among the 70+ contenders):
From the scanner: A tree has fallen at 45th/Stevens, damaging at least one vehicle and blocking the road.
(Reader photo, Monday)
Want to watch live as the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meets tomorrow (Wednesday, July 22nd), noon-2:30 pm? We just obtained the info from SDOT. Note that, like last meeting, this one will have “breakouts” – and that means connecting to a different stream when that part of the meeting happens.
Below is the attendee information for the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force Meeting tomorrow from 12:00 – 2:00 PM. There will be break-out sessions from 2 – 2:30 PM. If attendees want to attend the breakout sessions they will need to close out of the main meeting completely before trying to join the new meeting. Also when joining WebEx meetings the attendee either uses the link below OR the call in, not both.
MAIN LINK: Here
BY PHONE: 408-418-9388, access code: 146 969 2178
LINK FOR BREAKOUT SESSION A: Here
BY PHONE: 408-418-9388, access code 146 993 5565
LINK FOR BREAKOUT SESSION B: Here
BY PHONE: 408-418-9388, access code 146 502 3787
We don’t have the agenda yet but topics are expected to include Reconnect West Seattle, low-bridge access, and Metro. This is the CTF’s fifth meeting; here’s our coverage of the fourth one two weeks ago.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip! She says transient orcas are off West Seattle again, this time headed northeast, between here and mid-Blake Island. Let us know if you see them!
Another big meeting Thursday- here’s the announcement from the West Seattle Transportation Coalition about their plans for 6:30 pm that night (July 23rd):
We have a great lineup of guests on tap this month:
King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Council Vice Chair Joe McDermott, Seattle Deputy Mayor Shefali Ranganathan, and representatives from Sound Transit will be joining us to discuss the current state of Sound Transit 3 to West Seattle.
Heather Marx from Seattle Department Of Transportation will also be on hand with a West Seattle Bridge update.
Zoom Meeting ID 831 5795 4582
On the web: us02web.zoom.us/j/83157954582
Via phone: +12532158782,,83157954582#
You can check out the past few meetings via the WSTC YouTube channel. You’re also invited to save the date for their August 27th meeting, with our area’s U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal scheduled to talk about federal funding for the West Seattle Bridge.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Jet City Beignet, part of the West Seattle Local Foods group that’s located near the YMCA.
JCB serves fresh-made beignets available for pickup on Saturdays and Sundays. Here’s what owners Tiffany and Greg would like you to know:
Jet City Beignet is Seattle’s exclusive beignet company, offering a refreshing take on the classic New Orleans favorite. We offer them by the half-dozen or dozen, and each order comes smothered in powdered sugar and with chocolate dipping sauce. Our signature beignets are made from scratch and always served hot and fresh. We collaborate with other local small businesses such as small-batch coffee roasters and West Seattle food artists to bring you a truly unique product you can’t get anywhere else. We are a two-person (married couple) operation, and we do every step of the process ourselves, which means the people who serve your beignets developed the recipe, went shopping for the ingredients, mixed up the dough, and fried ’em up personally. We take a lot of pride in being hands-on and we are extremely customer-oriented.
We initially started Jet City Beignet with the intention of running our beignet booth at markets and festivals this spring and summer, but when COVID-19 hit, all of our bookings were canceled and we had to get creative and adapt. We are operating in an unconventional way, but it seems to be working at the moment, and we hope to get a food truck or trailer in the not-so-distant future so that we can be open more regularly and more often.
We are so proud to be a part of the West Seattle community – we met here, we live here, and we operate here. We are also excited to be a part of West Seattle Local Foods, a group of small companies that produce and manufacture products in our shared commissary kitchen.
To order, go to the Jet City Beignet website for selections and pickup times.
We thank Jet City Beignet 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.
Thanks to the West Seattle Junction Association for the photo of the newest signal-box mural by West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen – this one is a sort of dual tribute, for women in trades as well as the West Seattle Bridge. WSJA also sent the photo that inspired it:
WSJA executive director Lora Radford was looking into the history; via an online image search, we note that it was featured at her former business Hotwire Online Coffeehouse in a collaboration with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society in 2014, the year the now-closed bridge marked its 30th anniversary.
P.S. The signal box is Hansen’s third in The Junction this summer, after Black Lives Matter at 42nd and Alaska and the Progress Flag at California/Oregon.
(WSB photo)
Those old houses in the 2800 block of SW Yancy are about to be demolished so construction can start on Yancy Street Permanent Supportive Housing. We first told you about West Seattle nonprofit Transitional Resources‘ plan almost two and a half years ago. Now the project near TR’s headquarters and other buildings is ready to start.
(Rendering by SMR Architects)
As summarized by TR:
The project will provide 44 independent studio units on three levels for adults living with mental illness who are either coming from homelessness or institutional settings.
Transitional Resources will provide 24/7 staffing to enable residents to live independently in a supportive community. The site is within a block of TR’s main offices and other housing developments, where residents can access additional mental health and other supportive services. Onsite amenities include a secure access, a community room and outdoor recreation areas, a common laundry, covered bike parking, and an office for onsite supportive services.
Public and private sources are covering the project’s $16 million cost. The project team includes SMR Architects and Buchanan General Contracting. Construction is expected to take about a year, TR tells us; demolition will start as soon as their street-use permits are approved..
Family and friends are remembering Dan DeSantis, and sharing this with the community:
Daniel Michael DeSantis passed away unexpectedly on July 14, 2020 at his favorite place, Hood Canal.
Dan was born on 1/23/45 in Seattle and kept his home here until recently; he currently resided in Palm Desert, California. He is survived by his wife of 19 years Jan DeSantis, his daughter Gina DeSantis Coats (son-in-law John, grandsons Alex and Anthony), son Dan (daughter-in-law Teresa), and former spouse and mother of his children, Ruth DeSantis.
He was raised in Seattle and had an extensive career in sales and 45+ years in Seattle Real Estate. Dan was a force of nature with an infectious laugh, big smile, sense of humor, and an unmatched love of life. It was essential for him to stay active every day, cycling, working out, and even walking lately (his “forced marches”). Everything was, of course, a social event.
Family and friends were his priority! He was so proud of his Italian heritage, children, and grandchildren. He idolized his grandsons and would do anything to be in their company — camping, white-water rafting, golfing, cheering at their sporting events, even dancing in nightclubs. He spoiled them whenever possible. He was their biggest fan!
It was important for him to stay connected to his friends, many of whom he had reconnected with recently. He lived life with gusto and wanted to continue traveling extensively. Dan would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need, not asking for anything in return. Everyone who knew him well loved him. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St.Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the American Cancer Society.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
8:21 AM: Thanks for the tip! Seattle City Light’s map shows power out since 5:30 am to 425 customers in The Junction. No cause listed yet; we are checking with SCL.
8:32 AM: Just drove through the area: One sign of outage, 42nd/Alaska signal is dark.
9:31 AM: The Senior Center of West Seattle is partially out.
10:44 AM: As noted by commenters and confirmed by the map, power’s back. Julie Moore of SCL tells WSB a crow apparently caused it.
6:12 AM: It’s Tuesday, the 120th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.
CLOSURE
Tonight, it’s the third of 14 overnight closures of the northbound 1st Ave. S. Bridge, for deck work. 10 pm-5 am..
ROAD WORK
Major work continues on Delridge Way, with lane reductions, as road-rebuilding and utility work lead off the RapidRide H Line conversion project – here’s what crews are working on this week.
TRAFFIC
Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Sppkane/Chelan):
Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). The camera is back:
P.S. Going through South Park? Don’t speed.
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Still reduced service and distancing – details here.
Water Taxi – Back to its “winter” schedule, with the 773 and 775 shuttles – see the schedule here.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
As we continue tracking the virus crisis, here’s what’s new:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*13,339 people have tested positive, 180 more than yesterday’s total
*635 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*1,806 people have been hospitalized, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*247,689 people have been tested, 4,829 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 12,099/604/1,698/214,388.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
SPENDING NEW TAX $ FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF: Today the City Council passed the spending plan for their recently approved “high earners” business tax. The first year goes to pandemic relief; here’s how they explain it.
NEED FOOD? Food Lifeline is back to emergency food-box distribution this week – sites and times are listed here, including Wednesday and Friday afternoons at FL HQ in South Park.
LIBRARIES TAKE A STEP TOWARD REOPENING: You won’t be able to go in before Phase 3 – and with phase advancement still on hold, we’re in Phase 2 TFN – but Seattle Public Libraries are taking a step forward: You’ll be able to return books starting tomorrow at 9 branches, including High Point and Southwest in West Seattle.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Three notes tonight:
(July 8)
ARSON SUSPECT CHARGED: A 35-year-old man is jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail, charged with arson and burglary, in the White Center fire that gutted a former funeral home almost two weeks ago. The full story is on our partner site White Center Now.
GUNFIRE INCIDENT: Several reports of “gunshots or fireworks?” over the weekend, but we found just one confirmed case of gunfire, early Sunday in South Delridge. Here’s the narrative we obtained from the police report:
The victim got into an argument at a local club with an acquaintance, the suspect. That suspect made a comment that the victim took as a threat. Later, on 7/19/2020 at about 0235 hours, the victim returned home (8600 block of Delridge Way SW) and was walking to her apartment. The victim observed a vehicle pull into the block being driven by the suspect. The suspect pointed a firearm at the victim and fired two shots before leaving the scene, then the victim called 911 to report the incident.
A spent shell casing was located in the street and collected as evidence. There were no reported injuries or property damage. The suspect was not located.
BICYCLE FOUND: Missing a green and black Specialized bicycle? Someone found one and posted in the WSB Community Forums.
Just in, the mayor has called another online “town hall” for West Seattle while hot topic from the bridge closure to police “defunding” continue to burn. Here’s the announcement we received:
Please join Mayor Jenny Durkan and City of Seattle department directors for a conversation with West Seattle residents about how we can work together to build safe and healthy communities.
Community members are the City’s most vital resource, and the best solutions often come from community which is why we’re working to bring City Hall to you.
During our community discussion, you can work directly with our City departments on resources and solutions that are important to you.
When: Thursday, July 23 at 5:00 p.m.
Who: West Seattle residents, Mayor’s Office representatives, and representatives from the following departments: Public Health – Seattle & King County, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department, Human Services Department, and Seattle Department of Transportation
You can RSVP here and send a question in advance; the meeting link will be here. The city’s last “virtual town hall” for West Seattle was two months ago; here’s our coverage.
P.S. No word yet if Councilmember Lisa Herbold will be participating; the announcement from the mayor’s office didn’t mention her, but the one for the May event didn’t either, and she did wind up being included.
After a trial run, some Seattle Public Library branches – including two in West Seattle – are about to start accepting returns. Here’s the announcement:
The Seattle Public Library announced today that it will accept book returns three days a week at nine locations starting Tuesday, July 21. The Library’s 27 locations have been closed since March 14, 2020, and continue to remain closed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Five Library locations have been offering limited public restroom access during the systemwide closure.
“Although the Library has added digital services while our buildings are closed, we know our patrons are very eager to access physical books and materials,” said Andrew Harbison, assistant director of collections and access at The Seattle Public Library. “Processing returns safely is the first step toward checking out books again.” Harbison added that when the Library closed its buildings in mid-March, more than 400,000 items were checked out.
HOW TO RETURN MATERIALS
The following locations will allow returns at outside book drops on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., or until book drops are full. Materials will not be accepted by staff.
· Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. NW
· Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N.
· Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way
· Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.
· High Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St.
· Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. NE
· Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. NE
· Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S.
· Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW
In accordance with the Library’s new COVID-19 protocols, returned materials will be quarantined for at least 72 hours before being checked in. Materials will remain checked out on your account while being quarantined.
Signage at each location will remind patrons where to return materials, and to maintain social distancing.
Please don’t rush to return materials, especially if these branches are not your home branch. Due dates for all checked-out materials have been extended until Aug. 15, and the Library does not charge overdue fines.
Patrons can help with the reopening process by checking your account for holds placed on physical items and deleting those that are no longer needed. Please note that the Library is not accepting book donations until it has had a chance to process returned materials first. Please hold on to your donations until further notice.
SPL’s announcement also says they hope to start no-contact curbside pickup in early August.
All from the WSB inbox (thank you!)
DISCUSSION – ’13TH’: If you’ve seen Ava DuVernay‘s film “13th,” or have time to watch it (above) before 8 pm tonight, Admiral Church is hosting an online discussion – get the link here.
DEMONSTRATIONS: Scott from Puget Ridge Cohousing, partnering with Hate-Free Delridge, is organizing two more streetcorner demonstrations this week, this time at 16th and Holden, 4-6 pm Tuesday and Thursday: “Come show support for BLM and ending systemic racism. Hold signs, meet neighbors and stand for racial justice. Signs available.”
BAKERS AGAINST RACISM: Baked in The Admiral District is selling a selection of treats to raise money for Black Lives Matter SKC and Creative Justice. Pre-order through tomorrow, curbside pickup (2604 California SW) Saturday. Go here to order.
DISCUSSION/PRESENTATION: From West Seattle Democratic Women chair Karen Chilcutt:
This Thursday July 23rd, West Seattle Democratic Women will hold its second in a series of three meetings on Racism. It’s an evening meeting via Zoom from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. We’ll complete our first day’s focus on Ijeoma Oluo‘s book, So You Want To Talk About Race, begin determining just what Institutional Racism is and how to recognize it, and thirdly, will have Dr. Theresa McCormick, WSDW member and Professor Emeritus of Iowa State University (where she taught for 20 years multicultural and gender studies) speaking on “Then and Now, The Ebb and Flow of the Social Justice Movement”.
If you wish to register for the Zoom meeting to obtain Zoom codes or should you have questions, please email wsdwomen@yahoo.com or call Karen 206-920-2231. The deadline for registering is Thursday, July 23rd at 4:00 pm.)
Even as the Reconnect West Seattle feedback process continues, Highland Park already has had some traffic-calming measures in the works. Last week, Cindy sent us a photo of a sign that’s already installed and waiting along 9th SW – though the speed bumps it mentions aren’t in place yet:
We checked with SDOT on the installation status, and they sent us the map above, saying, “We have completed installing all of the traffic calming measures everywhere except 9th Ave SW, which we are still working to schedule.” As noted on the map, the 9th SW installations are planned as “speed cushions” – here’s the difference, as explained by SDOT:
Speed humps are designed to slow traffic speeds on low volume, low speed streets. They are a solid hump across the travel lane and are installed near streetlights where they will be visible to people driving and biking.
Speed cushions are typically installed where average speeds are 5 mph higher than the speed limit. Speed cushions leave space for emergency vehicles to pass through quickly and are used on designated fire and emergency routes on residential streets.
This project also included the Highland Park Way/Holden traffic signal that was rush-installed right after the West Seattle Bridge closure, after local residents had worked for years to get safety upgrades at that intersection.
P.S. If you live/work/travel through the area, be sure to give your feedback on the neighborhood-specific list of more potential projects, before July 31st.
Running out of new ways to enjoy this eventless summer? Here’s an idea for having fun while supporting vital community work. The announcement:
Wondering how you can have some fun this summer, stay healthy and safe, AND help a great cause? Check out Loop the ‘Lupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe’s annual obstacle course fun run), because IT’S GOING VIRTUAL! Here’s what that means:
FIRST, GET SOME NEW SWAG: Not only will you get a cool tech T-shirt with your registration, but an awesome COVID face mask (a buff, which you can use as a handy headband or neck gaiter after we’re past the pandemic).
SECOND, SHOW YOUR STUFF: Come up with your own “racecourse” and post it on social media. Map out a run/walk in your backyard or neighborhood, put on your craziest running outfits, and… ACTION! To determine our prize winners this year, we’ll be reviewing your photos and videos on our Facebook page!
THIRD, HELP A GOOD CAUSE: This event is a major fundraiser for Our Lady of Guadalupe. The need for OLG’s social outreach work — meals for shut-ins, homeless services, and helping migrant communities — is greater now than ever. So get your friends and family involved, and have some fun while helping others!
IMPORTANT: REGISTER BEFORE JULY 31 TO ENSURE YOU GET A RACE T-SHIRT AND BUFF. You can complete the race any time and post your videos/photos between now and 11:59 p.m. on August 23 rd . Shirts and buffs will be distributed at West Seattle Runner from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, August 22 nd , and at OLG’s parking lot from noon-2 p.m. August 23 rd . Please send this information to your friends and family—we can mail out shirts and buffs, as needed. GET IN THE LOOP!
(WSB is a community co-sponsor of Loop the ‘Lupe again this year.)
(WSB photos)
A lot of the work that’s been happening toward stabilizing the West Seattle Bridge has been out of view – unless you have a view of the bridge deck. As of this morning, here’s something you can see from under the bridge too. We’ve been reporting that a platform would be hoisted from a barge for placement under the bridge, with SDOT saying last week that it would happen early this week – and here it is.
For perspective, here’s a view from the east Admiral slope:
This will give crews access for work detailed by SDOT here. As they’ve explained, the stabilization work (by contractor Kraemer North America) must be done regardless of whether the city decides to repair or replace the bridge.
P.S. The next West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meeting is this Wednesday, noon-2:30 pm. We’ll publish the link as soon as we get it. Also – have you answered the Reconnect West Seattle survey(s) yet?
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