West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
11:31 PM: If you hear the Guardian One helicopter in southeast West Seattle, near Westcrest Park – it’s being called in to help with what scanner traffic indicates is a search for two people described as auto-theft suspects. There’s a ground search with K-9, too. The suspects are described so far as male, white, one in a camouflage jacket, ponytail and goatee, the other in a black shirt or jacket and “slightly unshaven.” If you have any information, call 911.
12:54 AM: Sounds as if police detained one person. We’ll be following up later this morning to see what else we can find out about how this started and shook out.
(WSB photo from tonight’s meeting)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Here’s where the rubber meets the road – or the trains meet the rail – as the accelerated process of getting to a “preferred alternative” for Sound Transit‘s West Seattle/Ballard light-rail extensions moves forward.
ST has now refined the “themes” that emerged in early comments into early “alternatives” for routing/station locations that were shown, explained, and discussed at tonight’s Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting downtown. When the group meets again in a week, they’re expected to decide on the first-level recommendations they’ll forward to the Elected Leadership Group and Sound Transit Board.
Five “level 1 alternatives” were shown for the West Seattle segment – but a disclaimer, these are not the “finalists” necessarily. “Level 1” refers to which stage of the review process this is in, not their ranking. And a reminder – the SAG members are looking at the entirety of West Seattle to Ballard, and while we know the rest of the line is of interest to many here, especially SODO and Downtown, we are just focusing on the WS end. Here’s the full slide deck for everything covered in the meeting, including all the “level 1 alternatives” and the criteria used to rate them:
(Here it is in PDF on the ST site.) You’ll also see slides in which the criteria are explained, as well as each alternative’s ratings using those criteria – the darker the dot, the better. (We’ve broken the pairings down one by one below.)
(WSB photos)
The city-supported Ready-to-Work program has just expanded into West Seattle, and the city councilmember who pushed for it, District 1’s Lisa Herbold, visited its local classrooms on Monday. RTW is a program overseen by the city’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, which explains that it “combines English as a Second Language classes with computer literacy instruction and case management to help immigrants gain job readiness skills and take steps toward economic self-sufficiency.”
The West Seattle classes are at Neighborhood House‘s center in High Point, now one of three locations around the city where RTW is offered. Spring classes started earlier this month. You can find out more about RTW by going here.
It’s National Volunteer Week – and WestSide Baby has an announcement reinforcing that it’s never too soon to start volunteering:
WestSide Baby’s mission is to provide essential items to local children in need by collecting and distributing essentials such as diapers, clothing, equipment and more. Current youth leadership is looking for founding youth board members who are between the ages of 15 and 23, who are passionate about the cause, and who represent the diversity of King County. This opportunity is a call-out to energized individuals with a passion to help others in your community. Applicants need not have ANY prior leadership experience and those who may have experienced adversity or poverty are especially encouraged to apply.
In 2018, WestSide Baby is intentionally working to incorporate the voices of the families we serve with children’s basic needs items into our decision making, planning, and program execution.
We are asking youth mentors, caregivers or school personnel to consider sharing this announcement with youth and encourage them to consider participating in this youth-led action on behalf of WestSide Baby. Applications are available here and will be accepted at youthboard@westsidebaby.org. The organizing leader is a 17 year-old girl attending Garfield High School.
The monthly time commitment is a minimum of 2 hours but the board planning will occur in a teamwork setting to accommodate various availability. Child care is likely to be provided if needed.
Deadline is May 5th, 2018 but interested youth are encouraged to apply early or reach out with questions.
All applications are welcome for the available 10 slots. We are committed to ensuring this board equitably includes broad, diverse community perspectives that will help us bring the youth voice to WestSide Baby. Again, no previous leadership experience is required and membership decisions will be made by the youth leadership and advisors with a primary focus on ensuring geographic, cultural, economic and situational variety in membership
Please consider this chance to engage directly in volunteer work at a leadership level.
Please contact McInnis Woodland with questions at youthboard@westsidebaby.org.
Meantime, one more reminder that WestSide Baby’s annual CommuniTea is now just days away – next Sunday, 2 pm, at a new downtown location – all the info’s here.
The WSB inbox has been full of update requests lately, regarding various projects (thank you!), and we’re working on a bunch. First the most-asked question of the week: When is the West Seattle Whole Foods Market opening?
First the backstory: You’ll recall that a year ago, Whole Foods was shelving its plans for The Whittaker (WSB sponsor), second time it had canceled a West Seattle plan – but then six months later, we discovered last September that it was back on, and got confirmation.
Since then, we’ve had one update on timeline, when Whittaker reps told the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce in January that “late spring 2019” was the newest projection.
So this week, we went directly to WFM. A regional spokesperson’s reply:
We are grateful for the community’s excitement for this Whole Foods Market, and look forward to opening during the latter part of 2019.
As for other questions, such as how the chain’s evolution and experiments since Amazon’s takeover will affect the West Seattle plan … no specifics are public yet.
The map is from SDOT’s Ching Chan, who has been out going door to door and also e-mailed us to be sure everyone knows about a community meeting one week from tonight for the Arbor Heights sidewalk (and more) project along 35th SW between SW 100th and SW 106th. As we reported a month ago, it’s starting this spring – likely next month, Chan says, with completion projected by Labor Day. And SDOT now confirms the south end of the project, which includes drainage work, will close 35th SW between SW 104th and SW 106th for “up to four weeks.” Here’s the newest flyer/postcard. Get the details, and answers to your questions, at the community meeting 6-8 pm Tuesday, April 24th, at Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th).
Thanks to Andrea for the tip about a sign on the door at Zaw Pizza announcing its closure – we went over to check, and that indeed is what we found, as you can see above. The take-and-bake pizza shop opened its West Seattle location in the 35th/Fauntleroy strip mall in October 2013.
(High Point Pond Park, photographed by Flickr member alextutu1821)
Tuesday highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Guests always welcome at the noon lunch meeting at the Masonic Center – check here for speaker/presentation info. (4736 40th SW)
LIGHT RAIL STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY GROUP: 5-8 pm, it’s the next meeting of the Sound Transit-convened Stakeholder Advisory Group, part of the process to plan the West Seattle and Ballard light-rail lines. Here’s the agenda. Meeting’s in the ST Ruth Fisher Boardroom; public welcome. (401 S. Jackson)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. This month’s title is “Sweet Tooth” by Ian McEwan. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
PODCAST PIZZA CHAMPIONSHIP: As previewed here, West Seattle podcaster Andrew Stuckey invites you to stop by Beveridge Place Pub 5-6 pm to try pizza samples to decide the winner of the “pizza tournament” featured in his latest edition. 21+. (6413 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, your monthly chance to hear about crime trends from local police and ask them questions about neighborhood concerns. Plus, special guest Det. Beth Wareing from the SPD Bias Crimes Unit. (2300 SW Webster)
UNPLUGGED – A MUSICAL GATHERING: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), acoustic musicians and singers welcome! (5612 California SW)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP … by browsing our complete calendar!
Another of our quick reminders: We’re now in the second half of the registration period for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2018, and the clock’s ticking. The deadline is April 26th, one week from Thursday, so if you’re planning a sale and haven’t signed up yet, go here now to get it done. Sale day is Saturday, May 12th – always the second Saturday in May – and official hours are 9 am-3 pm, but if you want to start early and/or end late, just be sure to include that info in the up-to-20-words “ad” that you’ll be including in your registration. Once we close signups, we get going with the map and list so that the downloadable and clickable versions are available one week in advance. Thanks to everyone who’s signed up so far – 140 sales of all sizes, in all West Seattle neighborhoods, all kinds of stuff ready for what we call the year’s biggest day of person-to-person recycling – the 14th annual WSCGSD, which started back in 2005 (coordinated by WSB since 2008).
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! So far – no incidents in/from West Seattle; no transit alerts.
7:47 AM: After-the-fact alert from Metro: “Route 55 to downtown Seattle due to leave SW Atlantic St & 44 Av SW at 7:40 AM did not operate this morning.”
Toplines from this past week’s monthly meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association board:
(WSB photo from March 20th Fauntleroy Food Fest – Washington State Ferries table)
FOOD FEST WENT WELL: The annual membership meeting on March 20th at The Hall at Fauntleroy, the Food Fest, was a big success – big turnout and many membership renewals (WSB coverage here). Board member David Haggerty said more than 160 people attended, and for the first time in a few years, the barrel collecting donations for the West Seattle Food Bank was filled to the brim.
BUT ONE THING DIDN’T: Many of the A-boards used to promote the event (and other Fauntleroy happenings) were vandalized, their hinges broken, the board faces spray-painted black. The only ones spared were the three closest to The Hall. Replacements will be sought before future events, especially the Fauntleroy Fall Festival.
(WSB file photo, Fauntleroy Fall Festival)
SPEAKING OF WHICH: The festival’s new chair is David’s son Reed Haggerty, who has served on its board for the past four years. He’s looking at trying some new things during this year’s free afternoon festival (usually held in October) and he’s excited to get going. The annual Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) fundraiser for the Fall Festival, by the way, is coming up on Tuesday, April 24th – dine at Joe’s (9261 45th SW) that day/night and part of the proceeds will go toward helping keep the festival free and fun. (Look for raffles at the restaurant, too.)
9250 45TH SW: FCA continues to watch the site that, as we first reported last October, has an early-stage proposal for rezoning and redevelopment, but so far, nothing new’s been filed, and no formal application yet. FCA has registered with the city as a party of interest, so whenever something does happen, they’ll be notified.
UPCOMING: Events of note that were mentioned include the Washington State Ferries Long-Range Plan meeting, 6-8 pm May 17th at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) and the District 1 HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability public hearing, 6 pm June 5th at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle).
The FCA board meets second Tuesdays most months, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW).
Thanks to Bruce for the tip about that crash at 35th SW/SW Holden. Police tell us they were trying to pull over the driver of the white car, but the driver wouldn’t stop – until hitting the parked car. No injuries, according to police; they told us the pullover attempt was related to an investigation of someone reported to have shoplifted at Home Depot. They were still questioning a possible suspect at last report.
Thanks to West Seattle High School track and field head coach Will Harrison for the report:
For West Seattle track athletes, it was another successful trip to Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium in Pasco for the nation’s largest single-day high-school track meet: the Pasco Invitational. Over 1,500 athletes from over 100 schools were represented this past Saturday, April 14th.
As they did last year, Junior Chloe Cunliffe (pole vault) and Senior Cass Elliott (300 meter hurdles) picked up big wins.
Cunliffe cleared 13 foot, 3 inches to win over Taylen Langin of Rocky Mountain (Idaho), who cleared 13 feet even. Elliott clocked 38.70 to win over Mead’s Joseph Heitman by 1.25 seconds. Cunliffe and Elliott now hold the top marks in the state this season, in any classification, in their respective events, according to athletic.net. Cunliffe’s mark is tied for No. 3 in the nation.
Other highlights of the meet included: Junior Rylee Farrison (ranked No. 2 in Metro) clocked at 23.40 seconds for 12th in the 200, the Distance Medley relay (1200-400-800-1600) of Evelyn Hootman, Madison Kipley, Melody Potratz, and Sonya Chin clocked 14:02 for a school best mark and 18th place finish, the 4×100 meter relay of Cunliffe, Symmone Davis, Katherine Long, and Sierrah Bettin ran 52.29 (Metro League No. 5 this season), and the 4x 400 meter relays of Hootman, Potratz, Bettin, and Long ran 4:27.08 (Metro No. 7).
Full results can be found here.
The Wildcats are back in action this Thursday at Northwest Athletic Complex to see Ingraham, Eastside Catholic, and Garfield.
Three Sound Transit light-rail-planning updates this afternoon:
FULL ‘EARLY SCOPING’ REPORT RELEASED: Want to see Sound Transit‘s full summary of comments from the “early scoping” period for the West Seattle and Ballard extensions? There is it above, and here (PDF), all 226 pages of it. Here’s a paragraph from the opening summary:
In West Seattle, most of the comments suggested a tunnel from at least the western edge of the Delridge valley to the Alaska Junction (the intersection of California Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street), with an underground station within a few blocks of the junction. Several comments requested an alignment through the West Seattle Golf Course, while others requested alignments farther north. Many comments suggested removing the Avalon Station or consolidating it with the Alaska Junction Station in a more central location. Several other comments requested keeping the Avalon Station as an important bus transfer location. Most comments about the Delridge Station suggested moving it farther south. Many comments also requested consideration of future extensions to the south on Fauntleroy Way SW, 35th Avenue SW, or Delridge Way SW. Several others also called for providing service farther south to Westwood Village or White Center now, while others suggested just improving bus service if a tunnel could not be built.
Shortcuts, if you’re interested, include:
Page 191 – Photos of some comments written on easel displays at West Seattle open house on February 13th
Page 202 – Transcription of comments from West Seattle open house
The report also includes the feedback from a variety of groups with interests in various sections of the route, as well as government agencies (which start at page 62).
‘FIRST ALTERNATIVES’ TO BE SHOWN TO STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY GROUP: The next two Tuesdays (April 17 and 24) bring the next two meetings of the Stakeholder Advisory Group, and ST says they will be shown the first set of potential alternatives to the original “representative project” (draft routing). Both meetings are open to the public (there’s no spoken-comment period, though, just observation) and both are 5-8 pm at the Sound Transit Ruth Fisher Boardroom downtown, 401 S. Jackson.
HERBOLD LETTER: At this morning’s City Council briefing meeting, it was mentioned that City Councilmember Lisa Herbold was planning to circulate for her colleagues’ signatures a letter that would ask various city commissions and boards to provide feedback for the light-rail planning process. We’ve requested a copy of the letter but her office tells us that at the mayor’s request, they’re holding off on the letter for a week. So look for that next week.
(added) P.S. A reminder that the next major chance for feedback is at the first round of ST-convened “neighborhood forums” – one is in West Seattle, 10 am-12:30 pm Saturday, May 5th, Masonic Center, 40th/Edmunds.
1:59 PM: We have finally heard back from SDOT about the incomplete repaving project on Beach Drive. A little over two weeks ago, we reported on the notices promising that work April 2nd-6th would include not just the repair of the bumpiest patch at Beach/Carroll, but also resurfacing between Andover and Douglas. But by the end of the week, as shown above, only the Beach/Carroll repairs had been done. We inquired with SDOT, and spokesperson Karen Westing has replied to explain, “Latest from our Maintenance Ops team is that bad weather prevented crews from completing the work on schedule but once this latest round of fronts clears, they will be out there to complete the project. They are working now on rescheduling.”
TUESDAY UPDATE: “No parking” signs are back up in the area, for today through Friday, though there’s no sign of work yet.
(WSB photo)
With all the recent rain, the National Weather Service has a region-wide alert up about landslide risk – and here’s a reminder that the same conditions are perilous for trees, too. The one in our photo is blocking the SW Juneau stairway between Delridge and Puget Ridge [map], on the hillside just east of Louisa Boren STEM K-8, to/from 21st SW. We talked with an SDOT crew that was just about to leave after assessing the situation, and they told us it won’t be cleared today, because they don’t have a tree crew available.
11:58 AM: These ducks seem to be taking Urban Wildlife Week very seriously. The photo is from Cindi Barker, who is worried about their safety but hasn’t gotten any help/ideas so far – she has tried Seattle Animal Shelter and SPD’s non-emergency line. They are currently in the area behind O’Neill Plumbing (WSB sponsor) on California north of Fauntleroy.
12:13 PM: Update from Cindi: “They got away from me under fences . Last seen northbound 6000 block 42nd and possibly along alley. Godspeed!” So – beware of ducks.
P.S. It really is Urban Wildlife Week (here, Seattle Wildlife Week).
Three development notes as the week gets going:
SEE THE PACKETS FOR 2-PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW MEETING: This Thursday at 6:30 pm, the 2-building project at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW/4721 38th SW takes up the entirety of the Southwest Design Review Board’s meeting. Above is the packet for the 7-story building (retail plus 231 apartments, 25 small efficiency dwelling units, 16 live-work units, 241 offstreet parking spaces); below, the one for the 4-story building (51 apartments, 1 live-work, 23 offstreet parking spaces) on 38th.
Both are by Encore Architects for developer Legacy Partners. The Thursday meeting at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon) will be the second and potentially final review for the project (here’s our coverage of the first one back in July 2017).
CALIFORNIA/WILLOW ROWHOUSE APPROVAL: From today’s Land Use Information Bulletin, the decision approving a seven-rowhouse project at the site of this century-old house in south Morgan Junction, at 4300 SW Willow.
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
When we first wrote about this plan last September, it had five offstreet-parking spaces, but the notice today says that’s changed to one. The approval notice opens a two-week appeal period.
COMMENT PERIOD FOR 48TH SW ROWHOUSES: Also in today’s LUIB, the official two-week comment period has opened for the two-building Admiral rowhouse project that we reported on last week, thanks to a tip and photo from Graham.
The proposal for the site of that 59-year-old house has two addresses – here’s the notice for 2329 48th SW (five units) and here’s the one for 2331 48th SW (two units).
(Dunlin, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE YOUTH ALLIANCE: Noon-1 pm meeting at Neighborhood House High Point for this group of community members involved in youth drug/alcohol-abuse prevention. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm at Southwest Library. This month’s title is “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. All welcome! (9010 35th SW)
PUGET RIDGE PLAYGROUND: This is one of the local playgrounds getting an overhaul, and you are invited to the first community meeting 5-6:30 pm at Sanislo Elementary to tell Seattle Parks what you’d like to see. Bring the kids! (1812 SW Myrtle)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library – for kids of all ages. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
QUIZ NIGHT: Monday quiz night at The Skylark, 7:30 pm, all ages, prizes! (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LOOK AHEAD … any time, via the complete calendar!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning. No incidents in our area so far but lots of commute challenges outside it and depending on where you’re going, you may experience delays. Spring break is over for Seattle Public Schools and others, too.
FAUNTLEROY WORK RESUMES: The second week of nighttime paving/walkway work at the Fauntleroy ferry dock is scheduled to start tonight.
SPEAKING OF FERRIES … today the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route has some vessel-shuffling.
Another stolen car to be on the lookout for:
Wade reports, “My daughter’s car was stolen last night from the street by our house at Delridge and Cloverdale. It is a 1993 Army Green Jeep Cherokee 4 door. The car’s name is Oscar. A police report has been filed.” (We don’t have the plate number but will add when we hear back. Meantime, call 911 if you think you see the stolen vehicle.)
UPDATE: Plate number BGX9092.
Next move in the community-powered plan for Roxhill Park is yours! Here’s the announcement from one of your West Seattle neighbors, Kim Barnes:
Bring your ideas for Spring and Summer activities in Roxhill Park this Wednesday, April 18th.
The hint of warmer weather, longer days, birds singing, and those dependable tulips waking up from the winter makes it easier to get up and emerge out of the house, as if we have been hibernating since November.
Roxhill Park is starting to wake up as well!
The Roxhill Park Development Program has partnered with the Seattle Parks Commons Program to plan activities and promote use of the park, including the wetlands, play/picnic area and sports fields.
Those who have ideas and passion for our local park to make it a vibrant recreational and meeting place are invited to help build our events calendar for Spring/Summer 2018. We need YOU!
We are looking for volunteers with all sorts of skills and experience to bring their ideas.
Anyone interested in learning more is welcome to join us April 18th at 6:00 pm-7:30 pm at Daystar Retirement Village. For the meeting location details or to contact the group, go here.
West Seattle’s young BMX (bicycle motocross) star Colton Fukano is on the move again. We received the photo and update this weekend from his mom Shawnda Fukano:
Colton competed in the Great Northwest Nationals BMX race in Redmond, Oregon (last) weekend. He placed 4th on Saturday and 1st on Sunday in the 6 year old intermediate class. The race brought kids together from five different states. Colton races for Sonic BMX and practices at North Seatac BMX track. A big thanks to coach Jamie Stenson and team sponsor Sprocketts Recycled Bicycles shop.
As first reported here almost two years ago, Colton has been riding since he was three, and won a championship at four!
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