West Seattle, Washington
17 Tuesday
EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier this year, WSB started a series of stories about independent local businesses and why they matter more to a community like ours than you might realize. Then, the “West Seattle: We Have That” campaign launched at midsummer. Now, we’re continuing to publish stories as part of the series – and inviting you into the conversation. Many of the reports, including this one and the one we published four weeks ago, are being underwritten by the West Seattle Junction Association, but not as ads – it’s their contribution to an issue of importance from Alki to Westwood, Fauntleroy to Highland Park, and all over WS.
By Keith Creighton
Special to West Seattle Blog
This past month, my wife and I moved from a hill atop Morgan to that same hill a mile south in Gatewood. One of the biggest considerations we faced was trading more space for less view and giving up the easy walk to the Morgan and Alaska Junctions.
We’re not the only family facing big changes in West Seattle.
How will the surge of demolition and construction (California/Alaska, above), store closures/moves (Sweetie, Coffee to a Tea, Alki Arts) and chain introductions (including Fatburger on Alki and plans for Whole Foods Market, LA Fitness) affect the values of your home and the quality of your life? I asked several Junction-area residents and real estate pros to share their expertise:
√ Dawn Leverett of Windermere Real Estate
√ Katie Hildebrand and Kirsten Donovan of The Usonia Group/Keller Williams Realty
√ Jill Campbell of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate
Can you put a price tag on the concept of walkability? What will happen if the big chains push mom and pop shops out of West Seattle? Is White Center becoming the new West Seattle? Read what the pros have to say and weigh in with your comments.
Another Veterans Day event in West Seattle, and you are invited. From Troop 375 Scoutmaster Mark Ufkes:
Boy Scout Troop 375, chartered by Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, will be holding an American flag retirement ceremony on Monday, Veterans Day, November 11, at 4 pm on Alki Beach in West Seattle (across from Duke’s restaurant).
We will provide a final color guard to an American flag that requires respectful retirement. Scouts will read statements about the history of our flag, honor attending veterans, play taps, and respectfully incinerate the flag in a proper and affirming manner. The public is welcome to attend. The ceremony will last about 15 minutes.
West Seattle, White Center and Burien families who have old American flags that need respectful retirement, are encouraged to bring their flags to the event and our scouts will collect them, and arrange a second ceremony later this winter to retire the collected flags. Families who bring worn or torn flags are asked to consider contributing $20 to our troop’s Scout Jamboree travel fund, but it is not mandatory. Respectfully retiring old and tattered flags is our priority.
HOTWIRE HISTORY, THE FOLLOWUP: Banish the gloom with the history-making “light bar” at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – now up and running. As first reported here last month, and shown in several citywide-media reports since then, Hotwire has installed full-spectrum lights, to set up the city’s first “light bar.” See them – and bask in the glow – next time you’re at the coffeehouse next to The Junction’s post office, 4410 California SW.
BANK CHANGEOVER DATE SET: Also in The Junction, the date is set for the official transition of AmericanWest Bank (4022 SW Alaska) to HomeStreet Bank. We reported back in July that the change was on the way; a company spokesperson tells us the bank’s first day as HomeStreet will be December 9th, and the signage will be changed a day or two beforehand.
EQUILIBRIUM FITNESS MOVE: This business is leaving The Junction; November 14 is the date that the fitness studio expects to open its new location at 3270 California. Signs are already up; the storefront was previously Cloud City Skateboard Shop, which closed quietly a few months ago.
CARTER’S COMING TO WESTWOOD? According to city-permit records, the Carter’s chain of children’s-clothing shops is planning a location at Westwood Village. No date or other information; we have an inquiry out to the company.
TONY’S PRODUCE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON: Also in Westwood, in case you hadn’t already noticed from passing by – Tony’s produce stand at 35th/Barton is closed for its fall break before reopening with Christmas trees later this month.
SPEAKING OF CHRISTMAS TREES: Son-in-Law Tree Farm, most recently in the former Charlestown Caf̩ parking lot, plans a new West Seattle location this year Рon Alki Beach, on the lot that holds Wheel Fun Rentals during the summer season, 2532 Alki SW, opening the day after Thanksgiving, November 29th. (Any other new tree lots/locations? Let us know for the WSB Holiday Guide, which is in the works right now.)
AND THE WINNERS ARE … Congratulations to local winners and runners-up in KING 5’s Best of Western Washington. The 200-plus-categories winners’ list is now online; reviewing it for locals, we see Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) as Best Gourmet Grocery, Salty’s (WSB sponsor) for Best Seafood, Best Brunch, and Best Outdoor Dining, Easy Street Records for Best Records/CDs, Bakery Nouveau as Best Bakery, and WSB, fourth year in a row – we never ask for votes, so we are especially grateful to get them. Congrats to all! P.S. West Seattle had one non-business winner too … Alki Beach was voted Best Pickup Place.
All 6th, 7th, and 8th graders – whether in public school, private school, or homeschooled/unschooled – are invited to join in a Reading Marathon next Saturday. It’s happening at six Seattle Public Library branches around the city, including the Southwest Branch here in West Seattle. Teen-services librarian Cheresse Thoeny shares the announcement:
What is the Reading Marathon? Your chance to read for six straight hours at a Seattle Public Library branch.
Why would I want to do that?
· For every hour you read, you’ll receive a prize. Read all six hours and you might win a fabulous grand prize!
· If students from your school read the most total hours, your school receives the Reading Marathon Champions banner—and bragging rights.
· There will be plenty of free snacks and pizza will be served.
· You can bring a pillow, bean bag, or anything else to make things comfy.
· You can read anything you want (book, e-book, magazine, comic, etc.) as long as you read it silently. (What about audiobooks? Check with a librarian ahead of time.)
To join in, just show up at the Southwest Branch Library (35th and Henderson) between 11 am and 5 pm next Saturday (November 16th).
(Hawk and crow in Lincoln Park, photographed recently by Trileigh Tucker)
ROXHILL BOG: Get over to the bog on the south side of Roxhill Park right now (Sunday morning) and join the work party; details in our calendar.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always, Sundays year-round – if you haven’t been lately, check out the ever-expanding variety. (44th/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: On the playfield at High Point, 11 am, just show up. (31st/Myrtle)
‘MEDICINE SONGS FROM THE TIME OF CHIEF SEATTLE’: Join native storyteller Johnny Moses at the Duwamish Longhouse, 1 pm; details in our calendar listing. (4705 West Marginal Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BOARD GAMES: Drop by the meetup 1-7 pm at Uptown Espresso in The Junction for “Intro to Euro Games”; details in our calendar listing. (Edmunds/Erskine/California)
ART PICKUP AT SOUTHWEST LIBRARY: The Community Art Showcase at Southwest Branch Library has ended and artists who participated are reminded to pick up their art today or Tuesday (the libraries are closed tomorrow for Veterans Day). And the library says THANK YOU!
The collage above is from the reception last weekend. (35th/Henderson)
THREE SHORT PLAYS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE: Second and final presentation of three 1-acts by the Seattle Lutheran High School Drama Club, 2:30 pm in Menashe Gym on campus; details in our calendar listing. (4100 SW Genesee)
FREE CONCERT: Ladies Musical Club performs vocal and piano music at the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library, 3 pm, more info here. (2306 42nd SW)
VETERANS DAY DINNER: 5-8 pm, free gourmet Italian dinner for those who have served or are serving – veterans, active duty, retired, National Guard, reserve, as noted on the official flyer. West Seattle Veterans’ Center in the historic American Legion Post 160. (3618 SW Alaska)
BINGO BENEFIT FOR WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: “Booze, Balls, and Bingo” at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7:30 tonight, is more than a bawdy round of drag bingo – it’s a benefit for the WS Food Bank, which is now more in need of your help than ever, with federal cuts to food stamps. Bring money, bring non-perishable food donations, have fun. (6451 California SW)
Congratulations to West Seattle High School sophomore Gabby Carufel, who qualified Saturday night for 3A state competition in the 100-yard backstroke. The report and photo are from Gabby’s proud mom Danette Carufel. The girls’ championships begin Friday night with preliminaries at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is adding another bachelor’s-degree program as of next year. Here’s the announcement:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges recently approved a new baccalaureate of applied science (BAS) degree in Sustainable Science Technology that will be offered at South Seattle Community College in the fall of 2014.
In response to industry demand, the primary purpose of this program is to provide students with the skills needed to run an energy-efficient facility.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A big year for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society culminated in a full house at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) today – celebrating and hearing about the past, and raising more than $37,000 to help continue the organization’s work into the future.
With executive director Clay Eals emceeing the event near the end of his first year leading SWSHS, the Champagne Gala Luncheon pulsed with attention-drawing events-within-an-event, from silent auction, to special guest speaker Dave Beck, to the inspirational speakers from the deep-rooted Hallberg family.
The nearly 200 people on hand included a long list of West Seattle luminaries, from entrepreneurs to civic activists to politicians present and past, including City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and former Mayor Greg Nickels – but you didn’t have to have a famous name to be part of the “tapestry.”
The fundraising total came from not only tickets to the event and the silent auction, but also from a raffle, dessert dash, and special Fund-a-Dream cash-donation round.
It was more than a party – it was also a chance to gain knowledge, including a surprise declaration regarding the fate of the Alki Homestead:
The state Legislature’s latest special session is over on its third day – and still no transportation-money deal, despite high-profile pleas like the one County Executive Dow Constantine headed south to make after warning again of the major Metro cuts that loom if funding isn’t found (Thursday WSB coverage here). The Legislature did approve breaks for Boeing meant to keep that company from building the 777X elsewhere; asked about transportation at a briefing minutes ago, the governor said he would call legislators back “if we have an agreement [on a transportation bill] by November 21st.” If not? Metro moves closer to setting the wheels in motion for making those cuts next year.
First came the scrawled comment on the signboard that wasn’t up yet when we first reported on a south Morgan Junction project that includes a 30-apartment, no-parking-space building:
Now there’s a printed, taped-up sheet with a more eloquent plea to the passerby, and a response to the scrawler, starting, “Sadly, they are not kidding”:
To be specific, as a commenter reminded readers on a separate development story published here last night, the deadline for commenting on the 6917 California SW proposal is five days away – Wednesday, November 13th (unless someone has asked the city for the two-week extension that’s usually available by request).
Since we broke the news of this proposed project in mid-October, most attention has been focused on the apartment building; as we noted then, six additional housing units are planned on the two lots north of the site, all of which have descriptions/preliminary listings online:
*Townhouse A at 6911 California SW
*Townhouse B at 6911 California SW
*Townhouse C at 6911 California SW
*Townhouse D at 6911 California SW
*Single-family home at 6913 California SW
*Single-family home at 6915 California SW
The 36 total units are proposed for three lots on which three old homes currently sit, the second, third, and fourth north of the northwest corner of California and Mills. To comment on the proposal, follow the instructions on the official notice; separate comments would be needed to mention the other parts of the project, including the lot-boundary adjustment proposed to outline the sites of the three components.
(More development updates later.)
An exciting celebration at Holy Rosary School on Friday – the prize presentation for its winning student billboard artist!
This all goes back to June, when we published the art created by the finalists in the Franciscan Health System (WSB sponsor; formerly Highline) contest after they invited local students to write and illustrate healthy-living tips, with the winner to be put up on a billboard alongside the West Seattle Bridge. The winner was Holy Rosary student Audrey Kline (at center in our photo above, with HR’s Father John Madigan and the other HR finalists in the contest). In case you missed seeing Audrey’s art on the billboard, here it is again:
Audrey’s win was announced in September (WSB coverage here); then on Friday, Franciscan Health System leaders came to Holy Rosary to present the other part of the prize – a $500 grant for health education at the school.
P.S. Back in September, after the event announcing the winning billboard, we had first word of Franciscan’s plan to move its Roxbury clinic to Westwood Village. We learned yesterday that they are aiming for an opening date in mid-December.
The first big weekend of bazaars means the holiday season is off and running in West Seattle! At historic Highland Park Improvement Club, the bazaar that’s under way until 3 pm includes artists and crafters including Deloris (above). Vendors’ tables are full of gift possibilities like these (who WOULDN’T want Darth Vader on their wallet?):
Among the vendors, historic HPIC itself – with the all-new Highland Park hoodies!
(Added: Found out post-publication, they’re screenprinted by local Rain City West!) Even if you’re not in the shopping mood, go learn more about raingardens:
At right in that photo is Jo Sullivan from King County Wastewater Treatment Division, which is in the early stages of a green-stormwater-infrastructure project for Highland Park and vicinity and, at left, Hannah Kett from Sustainable Seattle, which has been working on other raingarden projects in the area. (If you need new inspiration for considering/supporting raingardens – think of the Longfellow Creek coho salmon, often killed by polluted stormwater runoff. The more runoff you keep out of the system via raingardens (etc.), the more you keep out of local waterways.)
Haven’t been to HPIC? Find it at 12th/Holden (map).
(Looking across Elliott Bay to the snowy Cascades behind downtown; photo by Carolyn Newman)
Happy Saturday! Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar follow, but be sure to also check the calendar itself for the full list of options:
HOLIDAY BAZAAR AT HPIC: Support community arts/crafts vendors – everything is local! – during the 10 am-3 pm bazaar at Highland Park Improvement Club. (12th/Holden)
HOLIDAY BAZAAR AT THE MOUNT: 10 am-4 pm, it’s the second and final day of the fall bazaar at Providence Mount St. Vincent, with holiday decorations as well as potential gifts, plus a big bake sale! More in our calendar listing. (4831 35th SW)
HOLIDAY BAZAAR AT SHOREWOOD ELEMENTARY: 10 am-4 pm, another big bazaar, this time just south of West Seattle – details in the calendar listing. (2725 SW 116th)
DELRIDGE GROCERY CANVASSING: Volunteers are gathering at 10 am at Delridge’s Daily Dose coffee shop to head out into the neighborhood to talk to people about the future co-op grocery store – and invite you to join them. Details here. (Delridge/Brandon)
HIGH-SCHOOL PLAYOFFS: Games today include West Seattle High School volleyball vs. Blanchet at Chief Sealth International High School (update: 1 pm), WSHS soccer vs. Liberty High School at LHS in Renton at 3 pm, Chief Sealth International High School football in Gig Harbor at 7 pm. (Anybody else? Please let us know – editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – thanks!)
SWSHS GALA LUNCHEON/LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CLOSED: Today is the big day for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society Gala Luncheon/Silent Auction (for which WSB is a media sponsor) at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 11:30 am, details on the SWSHS website; this also means the Log House Museum is closed today because the big event takes a lot of volunteer power – go see the LHM tomorrow and other Thursdays-Sundays, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
FRIENDS OF MORGAN JUNCTION PARKS: The park’s Fall Renovation Work Party is this afternoon, 2-4 pm – Barry White from FoMJP says, “We’ll have two yards of mulch to apply to the beds and some new plants to put in the ground. Tools will be provided. Join us for all or part of the event.” The park is on California SW just north of Fauntleroy.
GREEN SPACE COALITION: As previewed here last night, the West Seattle Green Space Coalition invites you to its meeting at 3 pm at High Point Library for an update on the City Light ex-substations’ future and how to work toward more green space even as development in our area intensifies. (35th/Raymond)
OWLING AT LINCOLN PARK: West Seattle naturalist Stewart Wechsler leads a journey through the park, 7-9 pm – details in our calendar listing, including how to check if it’s still on, should the weather worsen.
CONCERT BENEFITING WEST SEATTLE VETERANS’ CENTER: At Pershing Hall, inside American Legion Post 160 (also home to the WSVC), Rainier Dust Squad and Hetch Hetchy perform tonight at 8 pm, with proceeds benefiting the facility’s renovations/programs. Details in our calendar listing. (3618 SW Alaska)
NOTE – FRATELLIS CANCELED: A band member is ailing so tonight’s in-store at Easy Street Records is NOT happening.
(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The blocked-off lane you see in the bridge-camera image is a reminder that this weekend’s planned Highway 99 closure is now in effect, both directions between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel, plus the northbound stretch from the tunnel to Valley Street (map), until early Monday. (As always, if the highway reopens early, we’ll publish an update.)
That’s Our Lady of Guadalupe first-grader Seville Stoll – seeing her dad 6,000 miles away via Skype just before his long-distance participation in the school’s Veterans Day assembly today. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kevin Stoll serves with the Army Corps of Engineers and is currently in Iraq. His wife Jen and OLG fourth-grader son Solden also were there for the long-distance reunion, as part of the family’s presentation during the assembly:
Students gathered for the assembly and prayer service heard Lt. Col. Stoll talk about why he serves and what it means to him; the online connection even enabled him to show them a slide presentation. Jen Stoll told the students about what it’s like to be a military family with a parent overseas. During the assembly and prayer service the middle-school choir sang the national anthem:
They also sang “Happy Birthday” to Seville, who turned 7 today. Also there, Lt. Col. Stoll’s parents Leonard and Sheila Stoll – both retired military, Air Force and Army respectively – shown with their grandson, holding photos of his dad:
OLG tells us the fourth graders led today’s gathering as part of the school’s stewardship tradition; they are working with the Veterans Administration and other organizations to support active-duty service personnel as well as veterans.
(VIDEO ADDED 11:08 PM: KCSO video of part of the operation)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 8:17 PM: If you’re seeing police in Highland Park, there’s a search on for possible car-theft suspects who were pursued northbound from the White Center area by King County Sheriff’s Office deputies. We understand Guardian One is on the way or there now. The search area includes 14th and Trenton, according to radio communications. One possible suspect is described as a white male about six feet tall, shaved head and black hoodie, last seen going eastbound on Trenton; the car apparently has been abandoned in the area.
8:36 PM: Our crew in the area says the helicopter is still assisting in the search.
8:44 PM: Added a photo. One person has been found and is being questioned, according to a commenter and our crew on the scene.
9:10 PM: Chopper has left. No other updates.
10:02 PM: KCSO’s Sgt. Cindi West tells us this all started in Burien, around 12th/136th. The car was indeed stolen; it first caught a deputy’s attention because it had plates with two different numbers. Followed to Highland Par, five people abandoned the car and ran; three are in custody, including the driver. She says most if not all are “known” from other cases. Seattle Police worked with deputies to make arrests, she says, including a K-9 team.
11:55 PM: Note that we have added video uploaded by the KCSO Air Support Team – a five-minute stretch of time during which suspects were found in Highland Park. The audio suggests a Taser was used on at least one.
The newly formed West Seattle Green Space Coalition invites you to its meeting tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. From Mary Fleck:
Tomorrow, 11/9/13 at 3 pm, West Seattle Green Space Coalition will meet at High Point Library. All are invited. Seattle City Light’s surplus substations have great potential benefits for West Seattle neighborhoods. WSGSC is working to find best solutions and to coordinate efforts of neighbors. Please join us! Bring a used book for our book exchange.
The library is at 35th/Raymond. We first reported on the coalition’s formation back in September; the surplus substations mentioned in the announcement include half a dozen in West Seattle, with the city currently formulating its plan for their future.
The old “utility-bill phone call” scam is targeting new victims and would-be victims, so we’re recirculating the alert. A WSB reader told us she was in a local business yesterday and found out the proprietor had been a victim of this; we’re not identifying the business, since we don’t have firsthand confirmation, but we do know an FBI alert is out about a similar scam in the north metro area. The scam basically involves someone calling a small business, saying their Seattle City Light bill is overdue and demanding money immediately to avoid shutoff. SCL issued an alert earlier this year, noting that for one thing, they won’t cut you off for just one overdue payment, and they won’t cut you off without at least two written warnings. If you think the scammers have hit you, or tried, contact police.
(Under-construction microhousing at 3266 Avalon Way SW)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Ten community groups from around the city, including West Seattle’s Morgan Community Association and SeattleNERD (Neighbors Encouraging Reasonable Development), are pursuing an appeal to a city decision regarding proposed new rules for microhousing.
The verbiage and details are about as bureaucratic as it gets, but here’s what it boils down to: What they’re appealing is the Department of Planning and Development‘s “determination of non-significance” (DNS) regarding effects of the new rules (which were reported here last month, weeks AFTER the DNS was issued).
A DNS generally means no environmental-impact review/report is required. Environment, when it comes to land use, includes factors such as traffic and noise – and the groups argue that microhousing brings plenty of both. The original appeal document lists 53 of what the appellants consider environmental impacts (#39, for example, is “Failure to have a reasonable, reality-based discussion of the impact on availability of affordable housing.” Here’s the full document (PDF), or read it embedded below:
Microhousing-rules-related appeal by neighborhood groups by WestSeattleBlog
(Other documents in the case are downloadable from links on this page.) Summarizing, the appellants write that they “object to the DPD’s audacious disregard of the requirements of SEPA [the State Environmental Policy Act] … Its conclusion that the 2,842 units created by the existing, under construction, and proposed micro-housing projects will have no significant environmental impacts … would be laughable, did it not have such tragic consequences for Seattle’s natural and built environments.”
The appeal document also includes a “concern that the current definition DPD is suggesting doesn’t accurately encompass all of the microhousing being built.”
The city’s Hearing Examiner will hear the appeal; if she upholds the DPD determination, the challengers would have the option to go to court. This is scheduled for a pre-hearing conference next Wednesday (November 13), and the actual appeal hearing is set for January 7th.
Separate from this, the proposed microhousing rules need City Council approval before taking effect; no hearing/vote dates are scheduled yet.
SIDEBAR: As noted in our October coverage of the proposed rules, here are the four known West Seattle microhousing projects:
*4548 Delridge (3 stories, 16 sleeping rooms, 2 “dwelling units,” close to completion)
*3266 Avalon Way (5 stories, 56 sleeping rooms, 7 “dwelling units,” top photo)
*3050 Avalon Way (5 stories, 110 sleeping rooms, 14 “dwelling units,” not yet under construction)
*5949 California SW (4 stories, 38 sleeping rooms, 5 “dwelling units,” not yet under construction)
Thanks to Lisa K for sharing that quick video clip of a coho salmon working on a leap in Longfellow Creek, one of six she saw today “working their way upstream, shortly before the fishbone bridge.” Conditions in the creek are a challenge to fish – particularly polluted stormwater runoff – but as we first showed you back on Tuesday night, spawners are there now and thrilling spectators. Lisa also notes some didn’t make it long enough to spawn, like this female that died before releasing her eggs (the ones in the photo, she explains, emerged with “gentle pressure” on the fish’s carcass):
Lisa adds a potential health warning: “May be worth mentioning, as there are lots of off-leash dog walkers on the creek – anadromous fish, like salmon, harbor pathogens that can make a dog very, very ill, so keep dogs away from the fish carcasses.” She points to this link for more info. To find out how to minimize your contribution to the runoff pollution, check out tox-ick.org.
P.S. Expert observers say (as a commenter pointed out following our Tuesday night item) these are hatchery-raised coho – a missing adipose fin is the telltale sign.
2:36 PM: Update from Lisa – she went back to the creek and discovered a Seattle Public Utilities crew “clearing up debris jams resulting from the storm with the specific purpose of aiding spawning salmon. Apparently if you see a jam, you can notify SPU and they’ll rectify the situation.”
ADDED 7:14 PM: From Jake Jaramillo of Seattle Stairway Walks, an under-the-bridge view of the spawners:
If you’re interested in a slice of life from the creek last year – we just happened to find this video during a search, narrated by a student who went out with experts studying the coho last year.
(ADDED 1:42 PM: Updated partial design for Fauntleroy ‘boulevard’ – click for full-size PDF)
The process of shaping next year’s city budget is into the final stretch now, and proposed changes are going before the City Council for discussion. This afternoon, potential transportation-budget changes will be considered, and two involve major roads in West Seattle:
First – City Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen, Sally Bagshaw, and Richard Conlin are proposing adding $1.8 million to the Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard project, which, the budget document says, would complete its design next year.
It’s been two years since the first council discussion of design funding for the project; the detailed budget document goes into other background (including mentions of Fauntleroy’s “gateway” status that date back to the ’90s), and then:
Currently, Fauntleroy Way SW is a poorly defined street that has numerous curb cuts and paved planting strips. Pedestrian and bicycle safety are cited as major concerns by residents and business owners. It is perceived as a difficult street for pedestrians to safely cross.
The Fauntleroy project will improve the pedestrian environment and crossings, access, traffic safety, lighting, and drainage on Fauntleroy Way SW between 35th Ave. SW and SW Alaska St. as well as implementing the boulevard concept for this section of roadway, as originally discussed in the West Seattle Streetscape Concepts Plan.
The project was first funded in 2012. Additional funding was provided in 2013. The base budget includes sufficient funding for work through July 2014 when SDOT expects to complete 60% design. SDOT reports that it could complete final design by December 2014 if Council added $1.8M to the project’s budget. Construction costs are currently estimated at $11.4M and could begin in early 2015, sixteen years after the adoption of the Neighborhood Plan.
The aforementioned “additional funding” emerged last July, the council added $200,000 more to the design budget, as reported here.
Where would the $1.8 million come from, you ask? More than half is from sidewalk work that the budget document says SDOT can’t do until 2015 anyway); half a million would be moved from “planning work on pedestrian amenities in the vicinity of the Northgate Link Light Rail Station, scheduled to open in 2021 (or potentially sooner). This is work that will have to be done, but it need not be done in 2014.”
Second – This afternoon’s presentations/discussions will also include Councilmembers Jean Godden, Sally Clark, and Rasmussen’s proposal to add $100,000 to the SDOT budget for Delridge Way “multi-modal corridor development” planning. Here’s the detailed budget document, which explains in part:
The Delridge corridor has increasing importance as a priority transit corridor, and funding for the corridor study will support the community’s intense desire to address a number of pedestrian safety, bicycle access and transit priority upgrades. By initiating planning in this corridor in 2014, SDOT can begin the public engagement phase with the community, as well as data collection and an inventory of existing conditions and potential improvements recommended in the relevant modal plans.
The transportation-budget proposals are on the agenda for the council’s 2 pm budget-discussion session today; you can watch via the Seattle Channel, online or cable. If you have comments for the council – e-mail council@seattle.gov. We’ll update later with the outcome on these items.
1:44 PM UPDATE: We have just obtained the newest rendering for Fauntleroy, added atop the story, and explained by SDOT spokesperson Rick Sheridan: “This represents the current design, which has not yet reached 60 percent. To incorporate the recommendations of the draft Bicycle Master Plan, a cycle track is part of this latest design. SDOT will return to West Seattle in early 2014 to collect feedback from residents and businesses on the design.” Cycle tracks are bike lanes separated from motorized-vehicle traffic for safety. They’re the brown-shaded areas in the rendering.
(Alki Point eagle at dawn, photographed earlier this week by Gary Jones)
Looking out over the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are some of the highlights we find for today/tonight (check out the calendar itself to find many more!):
BAZAAR: Ready to start holiday shopping? Along with visiting your favorite independent local retailers, bazaars aplenty are happening around West Seattle, and the next one starts today, 10 am-4 pm at Providence Mount St. Vincent, with holiday decorations as well as potential gift items, as detailed in our calendar listing. (4831 35th SW)
WINE TASTINGS: Three are on our calendar for today – Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm ; Admiral Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) with Thanksgiving-friendly wines as well as cheese and other food samples, 4-7 pm; Bin 41 in The Junction,
INTRO TO YOGA MEDITATION: Special class at 6:30 pm at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (5639 California SW)
THREE SHORT PLAYS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE: Unique presentation of three 1-acts by the Seattle Lutheran High School Drama Club, 7:30 pm in Menashe Gym on campus; details in our calendar listing. (4100 SW Genesee)
‘DIARY OF ANNE FRANK’: The West Seattle High School Drama Club production – previewed here before the run – closes tonight, 7:30 pm, at the WSHS Theater. Details in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
School libraries and public libraries would seem like natural partners – so that’s why it was cause to celebrate when Seattle Public Library reps visited the Sanislo Elementary School library this week to mark a pilot program funded by collaboration grant. At left, that’s Sanislo librarian Craig Seasholes. The grant, as explained by Seattle Public Schools, is “aimed at providing expanded library services to students, family, and staff” at Sanislo and Roxhill Elementaries.
It’s a yearlong pilot project, and as part of it, SPL is loaning books and materials that the district says “support Common Core State Standards,” along with other books that students can take home to read – above, the first batch is linked to Veterans Day Sanislo’s participation in the annual SPL Global Reading Challenge competition also will expand as part of the program.
Wednesday’s event not only included in-person visitors (among them, the district’s West Seattle executive director Israel Vela and local School Board member Marty McLaren) but also online guests who have expertise with this kind of collaboration.
P.S. There’s more background on librarian Seasholes’s website, here, and in last August’s announcement by SPL.
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