West Seattle, Washington
06 Friday
Thanks to “Diver Laura” James for sharing photos from today’s fall edition of Duwamish Alive! cleanup, more than half a dozen work parties on and around the waters of the Duwamish River.
If you missed the chance to help out today – the next Duwamish Alive! events will be in the spring, and you can watch the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for numerous community-cleanup opportunities between now and then.
The big tent went up this morning in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot, one of the three main venues for tomorrow afternoon’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival, 2-5:30 pm. This afternoon, we have the festival lineup, shared by Judy Pickens – from activities to live entertainment to food/drink:
For a larger view, the full-size PDF is here. Weather looks promising; the Seahawks already have played this week, so there’s no football distraction; no excuse not to come be part of it on Sunday afternoon, in and around the church/Y building and the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse across the street (9100 block California SW).
P.S. If you’re a cake-baker, there’s still time to create one for the Cake Walk (prizes!) – here’s how.
This time around in the day-by-day “Go Bag” building series – featured on WSB so you can do something meaningful during Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month – today’s bag-building step involves something you can’t buy at the store, though you might still have to spend a little money to make it happen if you don’t have anything to use to copy or scan. From West Seattle Be Prepared:
Make copies of your important papers and put them in a waterproof bag in your kit. Here’s a list of what to consider including: identification cards, insurance policies, birth certificates, passports, glasses prescriptions. Also include a picture of each family member and pet; these can be especially helpful should you get separated and have to search for each other later.
And in today’s reminder that our most common type of disaster – Wyoming, seldom hit by earthquakes according to US Geological Survey records, had one on Friday, magnitude 3.6; today, a magnitude 6.5 quake hit in the Gulf of California.
Catching up? Previous installments are archived in reverse-chronological order here.
As noted last night, Tuesday’s meeting of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network will focus on emergency preparedness; details here.
The stars of the show, the pumpkins – priced in small, medium, large – were arrayed as if they were the greeters when we stopped by the Lincoln Park P-Patch Pumpkin Festival about an hour ago. The P-Patch isn’t actually at the park – it’s at what was the Lincoln Park Annex before it was renamed Solstice Park, a little bit uphill from the tennis courts on the east side of Fauntleroy Way (look for the festively decorated sign before turning). Right across from the pumpkins, before you get to the plants, bulbs, and bake sale, is this quilt:
$2 gets you a raffle ticket, benefiting the P-Patch Trust. This is all continuing until 1 pm, so get there fast!
Back on Wednesday, the first day of the “soft launch” for the new ‘Zaw take-and-bake pizza shop at 35th and Fauntleroy, Jennifer shared that photo of her son Owen with pizza maker Aidan, as they picked up the first of dozens of free pizzas given away via RSVP. No more freebies, but today is the shop’s official opening day; hours are 2-9 pm Fridays and Saturdays, 2-8 pm Sundays-Thursdays. Here’s their menu, all takeout – pizza, salad, take-and-bake dessert, and beverages, including wine and beer. ‘Zaw is a local chain with eight other locations in Seattle and on the Eastside.
You’re never too young to volunteer, and here’s photographic proof: Students Lowen and Meah are working right now at Arbor Heights Elementary School‘s Fall Cleanup. The parent volunteer who shared the photo says they’re among at least 10 kids who are helping out; the work party continues around the AHES campus until noon.
ADDED 11:25 AM: More volunteers – Taytum, two-almost-three; Tiffany, parent; kindergarteners Derek and Kieran:
Any time you want to help out – browse the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, which is where we list community cleanups as well as a multitude of other events, from live music to neighborhood meetings to library programs and way beyond!
Thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing another excellent view of last night’s moonrise! It’ll be a while before we see the sun today, but there is MUCH to do, so get on out into the fog and check out some of the following:
TRAFFIC ALERT: No word if the fog is affecting this, but the weekly road-work “lookahead”listed lane closures on the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge this morning, until 1 pm, for inspections. The WSB Traffic page includes camera views from the bridge, if you want to check for backups.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, it’s an all-school open house at Westside School (WSB sponsor):
Prospective families will have an opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the campus as well as speak to teachers about their program. In addition, Westside School is offering weekly tours by reservation. The PreK-8th grade application deadline is January 14, 2014.
Westside is at 7740 34th SW.
LINCOLN PARK P-PATCH PUMPKIN FESTIVAL: Just uphill from the tennis courts across from northern Lincoln Park, you’ll find the Lincoln Park P-Patch and its Pumpkin Harvest Festival – with carving and pie pumpkins, a bake sale, seeds and bulbs, and more – details in our calendar listing. 10 am-1 pm. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
DUWAMISH ALIVE! You can volunteer at one of several sites along the Duwamish River and/or in its watershed, from West Seattle to South Park to Tukwila, for today’s 10 am-2 pm twice-yearly work party. Details here and in our preview, which includes a map of the sites.
GEAR SWAP: 10 am-6 pm today, come see what’s available at the winter gear swap presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters. But don’t go to the store – the swap is happening a few doors down at the American Legion Hall. (3618 SW Alaska)
PET ADOPTION EVENT: 10 am-2 pm at Umpqua Bank in the Admiral District – details here. (2620 California SW)
CASPAR BABYPANTS LIVE: The monthly Family Fun Series at High Point Community Center resumes with this morning’s 10:30 am performance by Caspar Babypants – details (including ticket prices) in our calendar listing. (6920 34th SW)
OPERA PREVIEW: The West Seattle chapter of the Seattle Opera Guild comes to The Kenney (WSB sponsor) for a preview of “Daughter of the Regiment.” They’ll also be selling the new “Entertainment” book as a benefit. 3:30 pm. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
‘WAG THE DOG’ – AND MORE: If the now-over government shutdown, the impending elections, or both have you in the mood to talk politics, start your night with the Admiral Theater‘s screening of this classic political satire, 4 pm.
Tickets are $8, OR you can see it as part of a $30 package with the 7:30 pm performance of ArtsWest‘s “The Taming” and a post-play discussion, as explained here. (The Admiral’s at 2343 California SW, ArtsWest is at 4711 California SW)
HULING BOWL: West Seattle High School is this year’s host for the crosstown football clash with a trophy at stake, and it’s starting things off with 5:30 pm tailgating at West Seattle Stadium before the 7 pm game against Chief Sealth International High School. (4432 35th SW)
UKULELES AT THE FEEDBACK: “Seattle’s loudest ukulele band” The Castaways‘ CD release party is tonight at 9:30 pm, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). (6451 California SW)
Exactly three weeks until the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Champagne Gala Lunch – perfect time to get your ticket. SWSHS has landed a well-known West Seattleite, broadcaster Dave Beck, as speaker; here’s the newest update on the November 9th event:
With an inspiring program featuring Dave Beck, a dessert dash, a silent auction full of intriguing items, good friends, great food, a historic West Seattle setting, and “the best view of Seattle in Seattle,” the annual Champagne Gala Lunch is a can’t-miss date.
In fact, it promises to be as fun as its centennial theme: “Tripping the Lighthouse Fantastic”!
The event, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 9th, at Salty’s on Alki, 1936 Harbor Ave. SW.
Tickets are $75 adults, $45 teens 13-18, $25 children 4-12, and children under 4 free. Order yours by visiting loghousemuseum.info and using the “Make a Donation” button toward the bottom of the home page, specifying that your donation is for ticket(s) to the gala.
Beck, the featured speaker, has been a genial fixture of Seattle’s public-radio airwaves and classical-music scene for 28 years, and he has deep roots in West Seattle.
His parents’ livelihood stemmed from Boeing, and from age 10, Dave grew up in Fauntleroy, attending Gatewood Elementary School, Denny Junior High School, and Chief Sealth High School before graduating in music from the University of Washington.
He has lived in West Seattle since 1996, first in Westwood and since 2006 in Admiral.
Best known for his award-winning, on-air conversations with local, national and international luminaries in all fields of culture, Dave is an accomplished and busy cellist who recently joined KING-FM as on-air classical-music host.
From 1985 through the summer of 2013, he carved an impressive career as producer, host and music director at KUOW-FM for insightful programs that included “Weekday,” “KUOW Presents,” and “The Beat.”
For the Champagne Gala Lunch, Dave will bring a constellation of stories from his interviews of well-known West Seattleites, as well as reflections on why he and his family chose – and continue to choose – West Seattle as their home.
You can also call 206-938-5293 to reserve seat(s) at the SWSHS gala, and if you’re still deciding, go here, where you’ll also find a video invitation by Beck, and a two-minute video history of event sponsor Nucor Steel. (WSB is a media sponsor for the gala – see you there!)
12:39 AM: Big Seattle Fire response now on the way to what was reported to be a possible townhouse fire in the 2600 block of SW Holden – but the first crew on scene was told it’s apparently out.
1:03 AM: The call is closed.
Three sights around West Seattle tonight:
We start with the mesmerizing moonrise, photographed by Carolyn Newman. (This means Saturday morning could bring a wonderful moonset IF the fog keeps its distance; you can check moonrise/moonset, and sunrise/sunset, times on the WSB Weather page.) Right before tonight’s moonrise/sunset, we were in The Junction, where we spotted firefighters from Junction-based Ladder 11 asking people to help them Fill The Boot for MDA:
(This photo & next one, by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Their donation collections at California/Alaska were just steps away from where Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) was celebrating Anniversary #9:
Proprietors Frances and John Smersh were there until 9 pm with snacks and sips for everyone who stopped in to help them celebrate. It’s been three years already since they moved the shop south from the Admiral District to its current home at 4540 California SW in The Junction.
Two weeks to go as we continue building a “Go Bag” one day at a time, with the help of West Seattle Be Prepared, as a meaningful way to observe Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month.
Today’s inspiration, if you need some – a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in Utah. Yes, they happen everywhere. But we have the advantage of knowing The Big One is expected here someday, so we can prepare.
So – about that bag. Next thing to put into it, according to WSBP – more food:
Today you should put cans of vegetables, beans, chili, or stew in, especially things that do not require heating or more water to prepare, just in case. Seriously, even SPAM is not a bad idea. The focus for today is to have veggies and proteins in your bag, so whatever you like, put it in!
If you’re falling behind, or still haven’t started, another weekend is hours away and that’s a great chance to catch up. This is something that could make a life-or-death difference in case of a disaster. So if you need to review, revisit, or get started – our previous installments are all archived in reverse-chronological order here.
P.S. We’ve just been reminded that next Tuesday’s meeting of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network will focus on emergency preparedness, in which many of the group’s members/leaders are involved. Details here.
7:29 PM: This means a strike could happen as soon as Monday night for union workers at Safeway, QFC, Albertsons, Fred Meyer. This does NOT involve all union grocery workers in our area – those chains have not reached a contract agreement; other stores have separate contracts in effect. The unions that just gave the chains 72 hours’ notice say they’ll brief the media at 9 pm; we’ll add more info to this story when that happens.
1 AM: The 9 pm briefing was at Westlake downtown, where the potential strikers unveiled a big countdown clock. Here’s an update from our partners at The Seattle Times.
(WSB video of Justin Wood being taken from courtroom post-sentencing)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In King County Superior Court this past hour, Judge Julie Spector has just given 25-year-old West Seattle serial burglar Justin Wood a sentence of less than 4 years under the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative law, after emotional pleas from several of his victims – and after giving him her own furious rebuke.
We published multiple reports about Wood’s crimes earlier this year. He is the burglar arrested twice in one week (one scene, at 48th/Findlay, is in the photo at right), as reported in February, at which time we learned he had confessed to numerous burglaries, and was already facing charges in a case from last fall. In August, we reported on the plea bargain that led to this afternoon’s sentencing.
Judge Spector mentioned before the hearing that she had received letters from many other victims in the two months since Wood pleaded guilty to seven burglaries as well as attempted burglary and two gun thefts. He has no felony history; the state had recommended the “high-end” sentence of about 7 years.
“This has been my case from the very beginning,” said deputy prosecuting attorney Darren Thompson. “We’re in an interesting situation because the defendant confessed to 28 residential burglaries” among other things. “Mr. Wood actually came forward… he drove around with (a detective) and showed him all the victims’ houses … to be fair, some of them would never have been solved (otherwise).”
He added that the state also left it open for the defense lawyer to request a “prison-based DOSA,” – Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative – since “Mr. Wood obviously suffered from a drug addiction when these crimes were committed.” But, “these are crimes that cannot be fixed… (if he) served the 44 months (that such a sentence would involve), it would not be enough.”
And that was clear, once the victims in the courtroom came forward to tell their stories, mostly through tears and/or anger.
The first victim to speak to the judge said he had a message directly for the criminal: “You should know that you violated my life in a very personal way. … My life has changed since the day you broke into my family’s home and you stole part of our lives. You didn’t just steal money and objects but part of our lives … Among the items … were a couple that really hurt … You stole my wedding ring. That can never be replaced. … not with the same one that I put on my finger the day I got married.” The man struggled with tears. “You stole $80 from my 7-year-old son’s wallet. Can you imagine …”
He broke down again and apologized for that to Judge Spector, who told him not to apologize. So he continued:
“Can you imagine my son, one of the happiest kids on earth … he worked really hard to save that money and was so proud … can you imagine how upset he was when I had to tell him someone broke into our house and took his money.”
Others in the courtroom were audibly crying by that point.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
This edition of the WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”
*On Wednesday the 9th, officers investigated an altercation between friends in the 6500 block of 44th SW. But it was quickly apparent that the real issue was the living conditions of the 64-year-old homeowner: Feces covered the bathroom floor and the kitchen was littered with dirty dishes. Paper goods piled on top of the stove were deemed a fire hazard. A cat was found in the basement; its litter box was a solid block (from “months of not being changed,” the officer speculated). And the officer saw no food or water available for the cat. Adult services has been requested to visit the man and evaluate his situation, and Animal Control has been requested to check on the cat’s welfare.
*On the 3rd, an officer on the Spokane St. Viaduct clocked a westbound car going 49 mph in the 35 mph zone. He caught up to the car and activated his lights, but the driver sped off at speeds up to 80 mph. She refused to yield and almost rear-ended a car at the intersection of 35th SW and Fauntleroy. The officer stopped the pursuit but later found the car in the 3800 block of Belvidere SW. The registered owner was driving with a suspended license and had multiple speeding tickets. The car was impounded.
Five more summaries ahead:Read More
For more than a week, we’ve been tracking demolition on the site of Equity Residential‘s two-building West Seattle Junction project. Above is the east half, at 42nd/Alaska, where final cleanup is under way. Susan Melrose of the WS Junction Association tells WSB they’ve been notified that demolition will begin Monday on the west-side building at California/Alaska:
Note the protective enclosures on the trees; Melrose also says that sidewalks around that building will be closed TEMPORARILY for next week’s demolition work.
First, she shares the notice from the general contractor, Andersen Construction:
Demolition of the West Building located at 4706 California Avenue SW will commence on Monday 10/21/13. The sidewalks and parking located along California Avenue and SW Alaska Street will be closed to pedestrians during this time. Demolition work will be complete by 10/25/13.
Next, Melrose’s update, stressing that this is a temporary closure:
The Junction Association is working with the construction company to minimize impacts to our neighborhood and to keep The Junction walkable. I would like to convey to the neighborhood that this will be the only time that the sidewalks on California Ave and Alaska St will be closed. The next 18 months might be noisy and at times inconvenient, but your loyal Junction businesses look forward to your continued patronage. The demolition of this building is a notable day in Junction history.
Some of that history was discussed in this WSB update, which included a half-century-old aerial photo of the area.
Project backstory: The Equity buildings are both planned at seven stories, totaling about 200 apartments, with more than 200 underground parking spaces and ground-floor retail (no tenants announced yet). The project went through the city approval process under its previous ownership, Bellevue-based Conner Homes, which put it up for sale in August 2011 (WSB coverage here) and closed the sale to Chicago-based Equity Residential in December 2011 (WSB coverage here). The businesses in the two buildings were cleared out in summer of last year, but construction was delayed – without explanation – until now.
From the latest edition of the city Land Use Information Bulletin, members are now being recruited for a committee that will review zoning “departures” – exceptions, basically – for the new Arbor Heights Elementary School. From the official notice, here’s what they want for the committee makeup:
1. A person residing within 600’ of the proposed site.
2. A person owning property or a business within 600’ of the proposed site.
3. Two representatives of the general neighborhood.
4. A representative-at-large to represent city-wide education issues.
5. Two representatives of the Arbor Heights PTSA.
6. A representative of the Seattle School District.
The proposed “departures,” according to the notice, involve “greater height, less-than-required parking and on-site bus loading.” If you’re interested in being part of the review committee, the notice explains how to apply; do it by the November 6th deadline. (Under the current construction schedule, this is Arbor Heights’ last year in the current, much-deteriorated building.)
We’re feeling the need for MORE sunshine imagery to make it through this foggy morning, so here’s a photo that Jeff Pond shared via Facebook, taken earlier this week – a Washington State Ferry on the Fauntleroy run, majestic Mount Rainier in the background. While awaiting the sun’s return, we present highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SCHMITZ PARK MOVE-A-THON: Happening until 2:30 pm – did you see the teachers’ music video showcased here last night? Schmitz Park Elementary School is celebrating fitness, and raising funds, all day. (50th/Spokane)
DROPOFFS FOR WINTER GEAR SWAP: Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle is having its annual gear swap, and you can drop off items to sell, all day today, until 7 pm. Drop it off at M2SO – more info (including swap location/times) in our calendar listing. (3602 SW Alaska)
HAPPY NINTH ANNIVERSARY, CLICK! In The Junction, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) is celebrating its ninth anniversary tonight. Come by for treats and sips (and of course shopping!), and offer your congratulations. 5-9 pm; here’s the Facebook event page. (4540 California SW)
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: Check to see if there are still openings in this benefit for the West Seattle High School sophomore class, a babysitting event 5:30-10 pm, details here. (3000 California SW)
RESTORATIVE YOGA: Unwind with this special workshop at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm, details here.
HALLOWED HUNT AND COSTUME CONTEST: Tweens and teens are invited to Hiawatha Community Center, 6:30-8:30 pm – go here to see what’s in store. (2700 California SW)
FREE MOVIE: It’s Movie Night at Highland Park Improvement Club – doors open 6:30 pm, movie at 7. Free admission; bring $ for concessions. Details including the movie hint are in our calendar listing. (12th/Holden)
MEGA-TUPPERWARE PARTY: As previewed here earlier this week, it’s Tupperware time, with Sylvia O’Stayformore and LaTrina Bidet – free to attend, but a big chunk of proceeds from sales will benefit seniors via the Senior Center of West Seattle, which is where the party is happening tonight at 7.
FULL MOON TREK IN LINCOLN PARK: Ages 8 and up, get out into the night air with nature’s own nightlight – the full moon – during a guided hike. Pre-registration requested – as explained in our calendar listing.
SCARY DUWAMISH STORIES: Get an early start on Halloween with scary Duwamish stories told by Johnny Moses at the Duwamish Longhouse, 7 pm. (Warning: “Scary and gory”!) Details in our calendar listing.
NELSON WRIGHT: Americana-style singer/songwriter Nelson Wright is live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
DENNY/SEALTH JAZZ CONCERT: As previewed here on Thursday, visiting jazz educator/musician Ron Carter is performing with the jazz bands from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School, 7:30 pm at the Sealth Auditorium. Admission is free; donations benefit the schools’ music programs. (2600 SW Thistle)
(WSB photo by Nick Adams, September 2012 at Lowman Beach)
We’ve been lucky enough to see a fair amount of sunshine lately – but winter is creeping ever closer, and even now, foggy mornings are the price we’re paying. So, going into the season when we just can’t rely on sunshine, West Seattle’s Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is getting ready to install what’s believed to be Seattle’s first “light bar,” with full-spectrum lights that mimic natural sunlight. Proprietor Lora Swift says she’ll call it the Helio Bar: “Basically, a place to get phototherapy during the dark days of winter.” The lights will be installed on November 3rd, after which time, Lora says, “You’ll be able to get your coffee and a 15-minute dose of vitamin D at Hotwire.”
Just two days until the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, 2-5:30 pm Sunday (weather looks good!). We’ve already previewed some of the activities, as well as the music lineup (see it here), and here’s another preview, from Kim Dinsmoor at Dance! West Seattle:
It’s here! Costumes are out, kids are ready! Fauntleroy Fall Festival is our annual kickoff of our “Mini Maker” schedule.
See Dance! West Seattle students perform at 4:30 pm in the fellowship hall at Fauntleroy Church this Sunday, October 20th!
Each year we prepare a mini version of our Christmas story “The Magical Doll Maker” to bring to our community! Other dates are:
Sunday, November 17th, 2 pm, at Providence Mt. St. Vincent
Sunday, December 1st, 11:30 am, Winterfest at Seattle Center
Sunday, December 8th, 2 pm, at The KenneyYou can purchase tickets for the full-length performance starting Saturday, November 2nd, at $22 each. For questions, call 206-938-3062.
Dance! West Seattle is headquartered at historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, one of the neighboring venues for the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, along with the church (where, as mentioned above, you’ll see the dancers on Sunday) and Y – here’s a map.
Family and friends will gather tomorrow in memory of Charles E. Brown, and are sharing this remembrance today:
Charles Edward Brown peacefully passed away early on the morning of Sunday October 6th 2013, surrounded by two of his grandsons, at the age of 73.
Charles was the oldest of six boys, born to Ed and Ellen Brown, on January 12 1940 in Billings, Montana. Hey joined the US Army in 1957 and served in Europe for 4 years. After serving in the military, he moved to Seattle along with his family. He began his long career working for Boeing in their Renton plant. He retired from Boeing in 1998 after 35 years of hard work and dedication.
Throughout his life Charles traveled all over the world to places such as New Zealand, Germany, Panama, and many other locations. He was very supportive to the plight of Native Americans, and donated generously to causes that supported better health and higher education for them. He was an avid mystery-novel reader and loved spaghetti western movies. He is survived by his two step-children Gregg & Gina Springer; his 4 grand-children Acacia, Aaron, Cameron, and Ethan Springer; and two great-grand-children Ayden and Addison; his brothers Bob, Pat, Gene, and Joe Brown. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 19th, at 10:00 am, Evergreen Washelli Memorial. He will be extremely missed.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge, all archived here. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@wsb.blackfin.biz)
(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Hoping for another relatively quiet day on the roads – so far, so good.
One reminder for the weekend: The two right lanes of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge will close tomorrow (Saturday) morning, 7:30 am-1 pm, for inspection.
At 10:17 this morning, our state marked Disaster Preparedness Month with the Great Washington Shake-Out earthquake drill. Were you part of it, at work, home, or school? If you were, consider writing a comment below to share how it went and why you did it (required to? wanted to? curious? etc.). Now, on to the next installment of our ongoing “pack your ‘Go Bag’ one day at a time” series – here’s what West Seattle Be Prepared advises this time:
Specialty items this time to mark the special Great Shakeout drill: Put either baby food and diapers or pet food and litter in your kit, enough for 3 days. If you are helping pack for a senior member, think about something unique they must have if evacuated. Women, think about sanitary supplies to add. If nothing above applies to you, you get to skip this turn!
It’s never too late to start getting the “Go Bag” together as a VERY basic step in preparedness. Our previous installments are all archived in reverse-chronological order here.
(WSB photo, April 2013)
Three months after dozens of Alki neighbors voiced their concerns about a rowhouse project, they have received word that the city has approved it. That’s the word from Marie McKinsey, who along with her neighbors on 55th SW sought and received a public meeting at which they spoke out. We first wrote in April about their petition for a hearing on the proposal for 11 units in three “rowhouse” buildings on the parcels currently known as 2414, 2418, and 2424 55th SW (map). In response, the city scheduled a July hearing at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge, and more than 25 people attended it, with about half of them speaking. They stressed that they weren’t opposed to development, but to the density of this particular proposal, and its potential effects on wildlife, stormwater runoff, traffic, and parking, all concerns voiced under the auspices of the State Environmental Policy Act review of the project. Here’s the decision (embedded below or read it here), dated October 10th, though the neighbors did not receive written notification until October 15th. As McKinsey points out, the approval includes a few conditions:
She hasn’t heard of any neighbor prepared to appeal the decision; the deadline for that would be October 24th. The city pages for the project are here.
8:17 PM: The project is getting some discussion at the Alki Community Council meeting that’s under way right now, including a mention of McKinsey’s website and its extensive documentation on the project, as well as a suggestion that ACC members might be able to assist with a possible challenge or a longer-term look at whether zoning could be re-examined in the general area.
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