West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
(Panorama from Harbor Island, by Jim Edwards)
Interested in development? Two local meetings might interest you. Lots of entertainment tonight too. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
DESIGN REVIEW X 2: Two Alki projects are on the agenda for the Southwest Design Review Board tonight – 6:30 pm, second review for the 1307 Harbor SW mixed-use project that includes the ex-Alki Tavern site, details and project packet linked here; 8 pm, 1250 Alki SW, the ~100-apartment project known as Perch, as previewed here on Wednesday. Both meetings have public-comment opportunities; both are upstairs at the Sisson Building, home of the Senior Center of West Seattle. (California SW/SW Oregon)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Earlier meeting time tonight so that members can get to the aforementioned Design Review Board meeting for Perch. ACC starts at 6:30 pm in the parlor at Alki UCC, with topics including Statue of Liberty Plaza maintenance plus a discussion with the VP of real estate for West Coast Self-Storage, regarding a “new development that will involve a street vacation for 29th SW, east of Harbor and north of ActivSpace,” according to ACC president Tony Fragada. (6115 SW Hinds)
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: 6:30 pm potluck, 7 pm meeting at the Senior Center of West Seattle – perfect time to get involved with the West Seattle Timebank – details in our calendar listing. (California/Oregon)
DENNY/SEALTH CONCERT: 7 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium, free concert featuring the Denny Junior Bands, Denny Junior Orchestra, Beginning Orchestra, Denny Jazz, and Mariachi. (2600 SW Thistle)
OPEN MIC – UNPLUGGED! At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. (5612 California SW)
BELLY DANCING: Monthly free, all-ages Alauda showcase at The Skylark, 7:30 pm. (3803 California SW)
OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘REALLY REALLY’: Official opening night at ArtsWest Playhouse for “Really Really” – details in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)
‘GEEKS WHO DRINK’ TRIVIA NIGHT: 8 pm at Treehouse Lounge in The Admiral District – details in our calendar listing. (2206 California SW)
LOTS MORE ON THE CALENDAR – see it all here.
Thanks to Patricia for the heads-up on this – SFD confirms that an open house 11 am-1 pm on Saturday, January 30th, is planned at Fire Station 29 (2139 Ferry SW), now that firefighters have moved back in after 9 months of seismic and other upgrades. (See before/after views here.) Patricia also reports the temporary structures are now gone from the triangle of city-owned land used as the temporary FS29.
6:21 AM: Good morning! Give yourself extra time today – no incidents so far but the rain’s been heavy at times.
3 ROAD-WORK ALERTS: Here’s new information about the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway work … ongoing nighttime work on SW Alaska west of Fauntleroy … and the lane closures on Highway 99 north of downtown continue.
7:04 AM: Northbound 99 is slowing because of what SDOT says is a stall south of the Seneca exit.
7:14 AM: SDOT says that stall has now cleared, but “residual backups” remain a factor.
7:47 AM: SDOT now reports a crash at W. Marginal and Highland Park Way.
8:10 AM: Now, bridge trouble: SPD has just been dispatched to a stalled vehicle on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, “at the high rise.”
Stall: Eastbound W Seattle Bridge mid span, center lane blocked. Use caution & expect delays pic.twitter.com/JucgBkGOSL
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 21, 2016
8:29 AM: Mike says via Twitter that things are “backed up to The Junction.” MJR in comments says police are with the stalled vehicle and the bridge is “wide open” once you pass it.
9:31 AM: That stall, by the way, cleared before 9 am, per SDOT. As noted in comments, though, the bridge is still very slow going. And now a commenter reports a new stall.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the first time since the mayor’s announcement of a “safe lot” in Highland Park for people living in their RVs and cars, a community organization talked about it tonight with District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold.
She arrived at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s regularly scheduled meeting just in time for a discussion of the issue – a late add to the DNDC agenda, given that news of the plan for “safe lots” here and in Ballard was just announced Tuesday afternoon.
The City Council meets tomorrow (3:30 pm Thursday) to vote on the mayor’s emergency order paving the way for the lots, as well as three emergency sites (none in West Seattle). Introducing Herbold, DNDC chair Mat McBride said he understood the site would host 20 to 25 RVs. He also noted that Department of Neighborhoods director Kathy Nyland was on hand too. Herbold said she had asked for someone from the city Human Services Department to attend and was disappointed that no one was available.
Herbold said she “(felt) uncomfortable making a presentation on behalf of the executive (mayor)” because there still wasn’t much information on this sudden proposal. She said she didn’t initially realize the mayor’s office was talking about the lot adjacent to the former encampment site in Highland Park (at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way). She thought the plan sounded at first as if RVs that have been at the heart of an uproar in Magnolia were going to be moved here . “I’m interested in serving the community of folks who are already here” – meaning RV campers around West Seattle and South Park – “and getting THEM services. So that was one of the first things I asked.” She said the mayor’s order is “just a shell” and there’s a lot she wants to see worked out “so the nuts and bolts can be worked out in that 30-day period” (before the lot opens).
Tomorrow’s council vote is not required for the mayor’s order to take effect, she says, but “by voting on it, we have a chance to amend it.” She is hoping to see some language written into it regarding restroom access and other key things the people who use the lot will need.
A representative of Highland Park Improvement Club – directly up the hill from the site – wondered about the location given the unreliability, as she put it, of the Route 131 bus, and how people at the lot would be able to use it to get to water and food. Herbold said she expressed an interest in a route change toward that goal.
McBride said he would like to see from the city, “if we are going to host this – and I’m not saying I’m opposed – I would like the city to double down on the amount of services it’s providing; we’re talking about an area that historically has been underserved, and we need to correct that, particularly if we’re inviting a group of people who themselves are underserved … I would like the city to really acknowledge the fact that yes, yes, we’re doing this, and in doing this, we’re also going to do the following.”
One attendee said she is concerned that this lot will only serve people coming to the area and various unauthorized parking areas will remain around West Seattle.
Six notes/updates about West Seattle development:
PERCH PREVIEW BEFORE DESIGN REVIEW: Tomorrow night, the proposed 1250 Alki SW apartment building Perch goes back to the Southwest Design Review Board for a second round of Early Design Guidance. Here’s the packet (or view it embedded below):
The first meeting (official city report here) had a big turnout, with a large group of neighbors that’s been watching the ~100-unit project and voicing concerns. We talked earlier this week with developer SolTerra‘s president Brian Heather about changes that have been made and other key points.
SolTerra started as an energy company and then went into the development business; this is not only a design-build project, but the company plans to keep it and manage it after construction. “Our whole business model is predicated on the ability to hold onto the buildings,” said Heather. “We want to build a brand around sustainability.”
They’re going for LEED Platinum, one of a handful of multi-family mid-rise residential buildings with that designation. They’re using planted walls, dubbed “living walls,” for which they have a patent, to “break up” the massing (size and shape). They’ve also moved the courtyard space up to street level and into the center of the complex, and it will have seating open to anyone, more of a “public amenity,” said Heather. The total length of the building has as a result been reduced by about 30 feet, and more setbacks are included, which affects the sightlines. SolTerra makes its own heating and refrigeration units with a “heat-recovery system” that transfers energy between units as needed. And it will flush the toilets with graywater, storing rainwater on site.
They’re still planning some commercial space, “probably focused on micro-retail,” Heather said, perhaps a café, some small artists’ booths. And residents will have online profiles and ways to connect with others. They’ll also have access to SolTerra buildings elsewhere in Seattle and other cities. “If you live in one building, you live in all the buildings,” said Melissa Milburn of SolTerra.
Depending on what happens as the Design Review process and other reviews continue, SolTerra might break ground by year’s end, with Perch opening in early 2018. The Thursday night meeting is at 8 pm at the Sisson Building (home of the Senior Center of West Seattle), California/Oregon.
Other West Seattle development notes:
ANOTHER ALKI PROJECT: Alki is a construction hotspot these days, although nothing as big as Perch is on the drawing board otherwise. But projects like this keep turning up: The newest early-stage proposal for 2116 Alki Avenue SW is a six-unit condominium building with nine offstreet parking spaces.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS SOUGHT FOR HOLDEN SUBDIVISION: City files show 15 construction-permit applications accepted for review, related to the planned subdivision of 18 single-family houses at 2646 SW Holden. It’s been a year since we noted a demolition permit was being sought for the vacant, vandalized house on the site. Other reviews remain in the works. Last August, the property went back on the market; the listing still appears to be active, at $2.4 million.
3050 AVALON FOR SALE: Speaking of listings – while working on this roundup, we found a new listing for 3050 SW Avalon Way (mis-listed as SE), planned site of a 104-unit microhousing project that’s gone through multiple rounds of controversy.
ALSO ON AVALON – 3039 TO DESIGN REVIEW: First Early Design Guidance meeting of the Southwest Design Review Board is planned for 3039 SW Avalon Way – seven stories, 71 apartments, 21 offstreet parking spaces – which we first mentioned back in October. The meeting is at 8 pm February 18th at the Senior Center.
DESIGN REVIEW ALSO SCHEDULED FOR 4801 FAUNTLEROY: That same night, February 18th, at 6:30 pm, the SWDRB will have the second and possibly final review for this four-story mixed-use building at Fauntleroy and Edmunds, including 53 apartments and about 2,500 square feet of retail.
ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY NOTE: If you’re anywhere within earshot of West Seattle’s Terminal 5 on Friday – you might hear this. The alert is from Peter McGraw at the Port of Seattle:
As you know, the Port of Seattle is in the process of making Terminal 5 ‘big ship ready.’ This includes a number of steps, including dredging and strengthening the dock for larger cranes, which requires installing new piles while we undergo our environmental impact statement (EIS).
Before any of this happens, we need to run a number of tests, which includes using what is called a rapid load test.
The first rapid load testing of piles as part of the design and permitting process for the Terminal 5 Improvements Project is expected to occur around mid-day on Friday, Jan. 22. An additional test may take place on Monday, Jan. 26.
The tests sound like a half-second cannon shot. The sound can be as loud as 145 decibels. A total of nine rapid load tests will occur between January and the end of March, with no more than one test occurring per day.
The test results may help reduce the number of piles required and the depth of pile installation, which in-turn would reduce noise associated with pile-driving during construction.
All tests will take place Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in compliance with the City of Seattle Noise Ordinance.
How loud is 145 decibels? On this list of “decibel equivalents,” that’s just below “Formula 1 race car full-throttle drive-by.”
FRIDAY UPDATE: We asked port spokesperson Peter McGraw if they have a time estimate – he says the latest is “between 12 and 12:30 pm.”
FOLLOWUP: New update, 12:50ish.
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with good news:
STOLEN CAR FOUND: Brent reported his car stolen in The Junction six days ago. Today, Kathleen posted this comment that she spotted it in her neighborhood off Beach Drive. And Brent has just confirmed, they got the car back!
CAR PROWLS: Again last night, at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (full report to come), Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis acknowledged that car prowling is at the top of the crime list in this area right now. And more happened last night, according to Janet, whose car was broken into on the 5000 block of 36th SW, with unique items taken:
GLASSES SAMPLES STOLEN
INVU Sunglasses (35 styles, 3 colors each)
Scott Harris, Michael Ryen, Cinzia,
Côte d’Azur , and DB4k ophthalmics.Keep an eye out, please. … I can replace things with insurance but I would love to help stop this repeat offender. I’m asking optical shops to ask for receipts when filling RXs for frames they didn’t sell.
She’s sure it’s a repeat offender because she wasn’t the only victim last night – she was at a local auto-glass shop for repairs this morning when two other break-in victims came in, and she saw another car on her street with broken glass this morning.
(WSB photo from Tuesday)
Just in from the team working on the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway, updates on what they’re doing now and plan to do next:
21st Ave SW between 22nd Ave SW and SW Dawson St
Crews recently completed drainage improvements just south of where 22nd Ave SW merges with 21st Ave SW. Crews will return next week to repair the curb on the west side of the merge and pave the remaining gravel areas north and south of the landing on the east side of 21st Ave SW.
Installation of the sidewalk on the west side of 21st Ave SW between 22nd Ave SW and SW Dawson St is currently underway and, weather permitting, should be complete by January 29.
17th Ave SW cul-de-sac between SW Myrtle and SW Webster streets
Once work on 21st Ave SW is complete, construction will continue on a pedestrian and bicycle pathway at the cul-de-sac on 17th Ave SW between SW Myrtle and SW Webster streets. This work will require water shut-offs while crews install steel casing to create the pathway. Seattle Public Utilities will provide advance notification of these shut-offs.
For information regarding water shut-offs, please call the SPU Residential Customer Service hotline at (206) 684-3000.
Click here to view the construction notice
15th Ave SW and SW Holden St
The south side of the intersection at SW Holden St and 15th Ave SW will be closed until Friday, January 22, while crews complete installation of curb ramps and sidewalk. Those needing local access to 15th Ave SW are encouraged to use SW Kenyon St to the south.
Click here to view construction notice
The Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway will connect West Seattle to White Center, running generally along 21st Ave SW in the north and 17th Ave SW in the south. Construction started in late August 2015 and will take approximately 6 months to complete, weather permitting.
One of the many twists and turns of the first-ever Seattle City Council District 1 race was the case of the signature-gathering candidate who fell just short of making it onto the ballot. 
Instead of paying the $1,200 fee to get onto the ballot, Amanda Kay Helmick, you’ll recall, decided to circulate petitions to get 1,200 signatures. We accompanied her to King County Elections HQ the day she turned them in (photo at right). When all were counted – and recounted – she was nine names short. It was an all-or-nothing situation – $1,200 or 1,200 names – period. So her seven-month campaign ended. But she vowed to fight for a better process. And now a bill has been introduced in the State Legislature … House Bill 2477, with sponsors including our area’s state Reps. Joe Fitzgibbon and Eileen Cody. If a candidate gathered at least 95 percent of the required number of valid signatures, s/he would have two weeks to cover the shortfall either with signatures or a dollar in lieu of each missing name. After a hearing Tuesday in the House Committee on State Government, that same committee is scheduled to consider the bill in executive session tomorrow.
Joe McDermott has made his decision: He’s in the race to succeed Jim McDermott.
Two weeks ago, after Congressmember McDermott announced he wasn’t running again, County Councilmember McDermott said he was thinking about it and would decide soon. This morning, he’s made the announcement via news release:
Third-generation resident of West Seattle, Chair of the King County Council and strong progressive Joe McDermott announced today his bid for Congress to represent Washington’s seventh congressional district (WA-07), which includes most of Seattle, Vashon Island, Burien, Normandy Park, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Woodway and Edmonds.
McDermott, who has the most experience of any candidate running for Congress, also announced his “Repeal Citizens United” pledge rejecting any dark money independent expenditure spending on his behalf.
“As the son of schoolteachers, I am running for Congress to ensure that middle class Washingtonians continue to have a strong voice in Washington, D.C. and that’s why overturning Citizens United and preventing dark money from destroying our politics will be my priority from my first day in office – so we can finally achieve the progressive results our families need.”
McDermott also pledged to make cracking down on gun violence a top priority. As Chair of the Seattle King County Board of Health, McDermott has led efforts to classify gun violence as a public health crisis – resulting in a program that has saved lives and has become a model for both state and federal governments.
“For too long, politicians in Washington DC have kowtowed to the National Rifle Association. It is past time that we pass tough background checks, ban military style assault weapons plaguing our communities and once and for all hold gun manufacturers liable for the over thirty thousand deaths they cause in our country every year,” said McDermott.
McDermott has served on the King County Council for the last five years and from 2001 through 2010, McDermott represented the 34th Legislative District in the Washington State Legislature.
Thanks to Don Brubeck for the view of the Duwamish from the Spokane Street fishing pier, photographed during what he describes as a “misty ride to work” today. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LAFAYETTE KINDERGARTEN TOURS: 9:30-10:10 am today. If you don’t see this until it’s too late, note that Lafayette Elementary is also having tours on February 4th, 1:15 pm-2:15 pm. (California/Lander)
LAST DAY FOR GENERAL STORE SEATTLE’S CLOSING SALE: 10 am-6 pm today, it’s the final day of the closing sale for the all-local-merchandise The General Store Seattle (WSB sponsor) – 40 percent off everything, both in-store and online. (3400 Harbor SW)
SWEET PEA COTTAGE OPEN HOUSE: 4-6 pm at Sweet Pea Cottage preschool/kindergarten; kids and parents welcome. (7141 California SW)
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 4:15 pm at district HQ in SODO. Agenda includes vote to authorize possible closure of before-/after-school child-care programs around the district to make room for more school homerooms, as discussed at local board rep Leslie Harris‘s community-conversation meeting last weekend. (3rd S./S. Lander)
MoCA’S QUARTERLY MEETING: Special time, 6 pm, for the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, so it’ll be done in time for the HALA discussion to follow (see next item). Agenda details here. At The Kenney (WSB sponsor), lower-level meeting rooms. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
ALL ABOUT HALA: The Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda is one of the biggest topics in the city right now and will be for a long time. What’s it really about, and what do you need to know? A West Seattle-wide briefing will be presented tonight after the Morgan Community Association‘s regular quarterly meeting. The HALA discussion starts at 7 pm – details here. At The Kenney. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
CYBERBULLYING: Parents from all over West Seattle are invited to tonight’s special presentation by the Madison Middle School PTSA with important information for families, 7 pm, as previewed here. (45th/Spokane)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Discussion topics are expected to include the newly announced plan for a “safe parking” lot in Highland Park for people who live in their vehicles, and a discussion about the city’s forthcoming People, Dogs, and Parks Plan, with Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) providing a guest. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
LOTS MORE … on our full calendar.
MoCA HALA
MADISON CYBERBULLYING
BALLOTS GO OUT
6:38 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from our area in the early going. Road-work notes:
*Lane closures on Highway 99 north of downtown continue. During the first full day, on Tuesday, most of the reported effects were in the southbound direction.
*Delridge/Highland Park Greenway work continues on multiple streets.
*If you’ve happened onto the nighttime closure of one block of Alaska west of Fauntleroy, here’s what it’s about.
8:12 AM: If you ride Sound Transit 560 – ST has just sent an alert that riders “should anticipate delays” on the route because of trouble on SB I-405.
(WSB photos – click to open larger view)
It was a basketball battle at West Seattle High School on Tuesday night as the WSHS boys-varsity team faced Rainier Beach. Though halftime arrived with a 30-30 tie, the second half did not go the Wildcats’ way, and they finished with a 75-59 loss. Scoring was led by #1, Nate Pryor, with 14 points:
Right behind, #22 Yusuf Mohamed with 13.
The WSHS boys play at Ballard on Friday night, 8 pm scheduled tipoff.
Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School social-studies teacher Noah Zeichner for the report and photos:
A group of 12 Brazilian high school students and 1 teacher visited Chief Sealth today for a few hours. They ate lunch in the cafeteria with ASB student leaders and went on campus tours. They attended my Global Leadership class where they worked in small groups with CSI students. They are here as part of the Youth Ambassadors Program for South America. Two Chief Sealth students and one teacher have participated in the program in past years and two CSI students have applied to travel to Brazil this summer.
The Youth Ambassadors (YA) Program is a three-week exchange for high school youth (ages 15-18) and adult educators focused on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development. Subthemes include human rights, multiculturalism, social justice, and social transformation.
Participants engage in a variety of activities such as workshops on leadership and service, community site visits, interactive training, presentations, visits to high schools, local cultural activities, homestays, civic education programming in Washington, D.C. or the capital city of the partner country, and more.
Follow-on activities with the participants are an integral part of the program, as the students apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired by planning service projects in their home communities.
Program Goals, as defined by the Department of State:
. Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of South America;
. Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities;
. Influence the attitudes of the leaders of a new generation; and
. Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, racial, religious, and national groups and create hemispheric networks of youth leaders, both within the participating countries and internationally.
Read more about the program here.
We’re using that photo with permission of NOAA Fisheries–West Coast, which just reported late today that its researchers found another baby with J-Pod in Puget Sound: “Using photos taken by the researchers, the Center for Whale Research confirmed this is a new calf, designated J55. The calf was in close proximity to both J14 and J37, so we don’t know who the mother is just yet, and it may take a few encounters before we know. The calf seems to be just a few days old and in good condition.” NOAA had sad news too – what appeared to be a dead newborn calf spotted with J31, a 20-year-old female they say “has never successfully calved … It is estimated that at least 50% of calves do not reach their first birthday, so unfortunately this sad event is not unusual.” Before J55, the last orca-baby announcement was five weeks ago, when we got word of J54. This one is the ninth calf for the Southern Resident Killer Whales in a little more than a year.
Joe McDermott, who’s represented West Seattle and vicinity – from White Center to Vashon – in the King County Council since 2010, is now its chair. He spent a decade in the state Legislature before joining the council, to which he was re-elected without opposition last fall. Here’s the full news release. He hasn’t yet announced, though, if he’s still considering running to succeed the area’s “other” McDermott (U.S. House Rep. Jim).
4:19 PM: If you’re headed to or from Morgan Junction, the California/Fauntleroy intersection has trouble in just about every direction because of a crash. No word yet on injuries. More to come.
4:27 PM UPDATE: We’ve added a photo of one of the two cars involved – it’s still facing the wrong way in the northbound lanes and police tell us a tow truck might still be half an hour away. The other car is north of the bus stop. Vehicles are getting through in part by using the center lane.
WSDOT wants to be sure you know about emergency road work tonight on southbound I-5 right before the West Seattle Bridge exit. From 9 pm to 5 am tonight (Tuesday night into Wednesday morning), they’ll close up to three left lanes for expansion-joint-repair work. The exit lane for the bridge and one through lane will remain open, but you could find unexpected backups, so WSDOT is sounding the alarm.
1:35 PM: Just announced by Mayor Ed Murray: One of the “safe parking” lots that will be opened for RVs is the former site of the encampment that still, in other locations, calls itself “Nickelsville” – in Highland Park, at the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way intersection.
We went down to check the site, where the parking lot – which appears to have been recently cleaned up – still holds signage from the last encampment closure, September 2013. In addition to our photo above, here’s an aerial photo from the city’s announcement:
We’d been working to confirm this since hearing that citywide reporters had mentioned this morning that a “Delridge” site would be announced, but without any information on the location. (The city refers to all of eastern West Seattle as the “Delridge” district.)
Unofficial RV parking zones have turned up in West Seattle recently – including the one mentioned here in mid-December, along SW Andover adjacent to the Nucor plant. But they haven’t generated the furor that had been reported in some north-end neighborhoods.
From the city’s news release, which says the lot is expected to be open within a month:
In response to the continued crisis of homelessness on the streets of Seattle, Mayor Ed Murray issued an emergency order to expedite the siting of two safe lots in Ballard and Delridge for homeless individuals and families living in recreational vehicles and cars.
“These are not long term solutions to end homelessness, but temporary locations that can be managed to provide a safer environment for those living on our streets and have less impact on our neighborhoods,” said Murray. “The City’s active case management services will reach out to those experiencing homelessness and living in their vehicles, with the goal to help move them to permanent housing as quickly as possible. These safe lots will also help reduce the public health issues currently impacting several of our neighborhoods.”
The new safe lots are part of the City’s overall actions under Mayor Murray’s Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness that has spurred the opening and expansion of new shelters and authorized tent encampments, and increased investments in services and outreach. Opening the new safe lots will occur along with additional trash pickups in neighborhoods, as well as renewed enforcement of the City’s existing parking rules and addressing public safety issues that have arisen in recent months.
“When Mayor Murray declared the state of emergency, the direction given to us was to take significant steps to immediately help those in need living on our streets and address underlying causes of homelessness. Since then, Seattle has expanded outreach services, opened up space for nearly 300 individuals in new shelters or authorized tent encampments and we have invested more in prevention services. Today’s announcement of new safe lots is another part of this larger effort under the state of emergency to provide immediate, short term assistance,” said Catherine Lester, Director of Seattle’s Human Services Department. “In addition to the authority under the Mayor’s emergency orders, we will be able to stand up these safe lots quickly thanks to the fast work of our partners including local service providers, other City departments and WSDOT.”
To expedite the siting and permitting of the safe lots, Mayor Murray is exercising powers invoked under his Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness issued on Nov. 2, 2015. The mayor will send the emergency order to the City Council today, where it can be approved, rejected or amended.
Expected to begin operations in 30 days, the two safe lots can hold up to an estimated 50 vehicles. Each site will have sanitation and garbage service, as well as case management assistance for those experiencing homelessness in order to build pathways to permanent housing. All residents must abide by a code of conduct policy that will prohibit drugs and violence, and require residents to be good neighbors.
The Ballard site, the Yankee Diner parking lot at Shilshole Ave. NW and 24th Ave. NW, is owned by Seattle Public Utilities. The Seattle Department of Transportation has been in negotiations with the Washington State Department of Transportation to acquire the Glass Yard lot at West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way SW for the Delridge site. The City and WSDOT are discussing the terms of the sale of the property and will likely require future legislation to finalize the purchase and sale agreement. But to accommodate the Mayor’s emergency order, WSDOT has agreed to allow the City to use the site as a safe lot in the intervening period during these negotiations. …
Read the entire news release here. We’ll continue to update, and we’re told this is expected to be on the agenda for the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at 7 pm tomorrow (Wednesday) night at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
5:27 PM: The Highland Park Action Committee has confirmed that Councilmember Lisa Herbold – who led a council briefing about the city’s policy on encampment sweeps shortly before this announcement – will be at HPAC’s next meeting, 7 pm Wednesday, January 27th, at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th SW/SW Holden).
10:44 PM: Councilmember Herbold has written about the RV-lot decision, briefly, at the end of a report on her concerns about the recent sweeps and this morning’s briefing about them – read it in its entirety here.
(WSB photos)
12:49 PM: Thanks for the tips – a natural-gas leak in The Triangle is reported to have led to the evacuation of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – early word is that it’s not believed to be at the Y itself, but Seattle Fire is at the scene and making sure everybody’s safe. We’re en route and will have an update.
12:58 PM: Fire and police vehicles are blocking eastbound Avalon just west of 35th, so avoid the area.
1:11 PM: Seattle Fire is leaving. They tell us they’ve done some safety checks, and Puget Sound Energy is on the scene, and it’s been determined it’s safe for those evacuated to go back in. Per comments, Alki Lumber was among those evacuated, and firefighters tell us the Luna construction site was too – we saw hard-hat workers standing on the north side of Avalon. Josh Sutton from the Y says it’s reopening at 1:30 pm.
TWO STOLEN CARS: First report is from Jenica:
My car was stolen from in front of my house. It is a 1999 2-door white Honda Civic, it has Acura rims, a spoiler and a moon roof. License plate number ALF0062; there is some paint missing on the passenger side rear bumper. I’m a single mom with a really tiny income, I can’t afford to buy another car. The police said cars are often found within a few miles from the owner’s home. I need all the eyes I can get out there as I have no way to go out looking for it very far.
(update) That theft happened on Pigeon Point; we don’t yet have a location for the next theft, reported by Austin: “My car was stolen this past weekend and I would really appreciate it if people kept an eye out for it. Last I saw it didn’t have any bumper stickers or distinguishing marks other than a couple scrapes on the rear right bumper. Honda Accord LX 1991 – White. License Plate: 515-ZRH.”
BURGLARY: Jim says his neighbors’ home was broken into on Monday morning:
They are on the corner of Spokane and 56th. The burglar entered the home when no one was there, but (one resident) returned home while one person was still inside the house. They were looking for valuables and did get away with their daughter’s laptop. … There was a new white 4 door sedan parked across the street on 56th that must have been waiting. It drove up the dead end and down (Spokane), and the SPU driver (who was helping [the victim]) saw someone limp up 56th (southbound) the same direction the car went.
WATER-TOWER GRAFFITI VANDALISM: Two people messaged us about graffiti vandalism on the Charlestown water tower. We went over; it’s entirely obscene/vulgar and showing you a blurred photo wouldn’t do much, but we did contact Seattle Public Utilities to ask how soon they planned to remove it. Obscene/hate graffiti vandalism is priority for removal, spokesperson Andy Ryan says, and also reminds you of the ways to report graffiti vandalism as soon as you see it:
·Use the city’s “Find It, Fix It” smartphone app.
·Call Seattle’s Graffiti Report Line to report graffiti on public or private property, 206-684-7587—or use the online Graffiti Report Form.
·Call the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011 to file a police report when graffiti appears on your property.
·Call 911 to report graffiti in progress. (Graffiti vandals must be caught in the act to be prosecuted.)Private property with graffiti that has not been removed in a reasonable amount of time may be subject to fines under the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance. Graffiti is typically removed:
·Within 10 business days for public property, within 45 to 60 days for private property.
And if you haven’t seen our earlier mentions – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight, all welcome, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BLOOD DRIVE: Can you donate? Consider going to the Clock Tower at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 10:30 am-4:30 pm, with a 12:30-1:30 pm break. (6000 16th SW)
ENCOURAGING BACKYARD COTTAGES: Not in West Seattle, but of interest: 6 pm at the Filipino Community Center, a city-presented gathering ” to get public input on potential land use code changes that would encourage greater production of backyard cottages (also called detached accessory dwelling units or DADUs).” More info here. (5740 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S.)
LIVE MUSIC AT SALTY’S: 5-8 pm, Justin Kausal-Hayes performs at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) – more info here. (1936 Harbor SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:30 pm at High Point Library; this month’s title is “Kindred” by Octavia Butler. All welcome. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Come hear from and talk with local police, and hear from an insurance-industry expert on the latest tactics used by car prowlers/thieves. 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, all welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
TRIVIA NIGHT TO BENEFIT THE SENIOR CENTER: As previewed here on Monday, you’re invited to play trivia with host Phillip Tavel (the longtime Talarico’s trivia host) at, and to benefit, the Senior Center of West Seattle. Doors open at 7 pm, play starts at 7:30 pm. Here’s how to sign up in advance. (California SW & SW Oregon)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: 7:30 pm, the West Seattle HS boys-varsity team hosts Rainier Beach. (3000 California SW)
STARLIGHT SINGER/SONGWRITER NIGHT: 9-11 pm at Shadowland. (California/Oregon)
AND THERE’S MORE ... on our complete calendar!
If you’re inviting people to come see your school this winter as families make decisions about next school year – please let us know about your tours/open houses so we can include them in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and daily highlight lists! We’ve already heard from some schools, and would like to feature more. Just send the where/when/what basics to editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – along with who (are the prospective students welcome too, or is this adults-only, etc.) – in the body of your e-mail, with as much advance notice as possible, as is our request for all potential calendar events. Thank you!
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