West Seattle, Washington
21 Monday
(WSB photo)
Walking on the Lincoln Park waterfront path Thursday evening, we spotted the tape and signage that Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network puts up when they’re guarding a visitor on the shore. They explained a harbor-seal pup – first one they’ve seen on a West Seattle beach this pupping season – was resting among the driftwood. We couldn’t see the pup from the path, but SSMMSN’s David Hutchinson got a long-lens photo and sent it to us early today:
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
He says it’s a “very young harbor seal pup, nicknamed ‘Xico’ by one of our new volunteers – pronounced Chico.” Reminder that if you see a marine mammal on shore – or one offshore that seems in distress – please notify SSMMSN at 206-905-SEAL.
6:07 AM: Good morning. Cloudy, cooler forecast for today.
ROAD WORK
(Metro photo, 26th south of Barton)
26th SW– Northbound closure continues between Roxbury and Barton. (P.S. The King County-led portion of the RapidRide H Line preparations will also bring some major work to White Center starting next week – details here.)
Delridge project – Pending the weekly update later today, here’s the current plan.
WEEKEND ALERTS
Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection – This project continues with Saturday and Sunday work scheduled for 3 am-1 pm both days.
SW Alaska – Work this weekend and next week, announced by SDOT:
As part of Reconnect West Seattle and following our recent paving work on SW Alaska St, crews will be applying new pavement markings, including red lanes and “bus only” markings on the existing bus lanes. Red bus lanes help to improve compliance with bus-only restrictions and keep buses moving. Here is what is planned:
This weekend, August 21 and 22, SDOT crews will be updating the bus lane signs and remarking lane striping.The red bus lane material and the green cross bike markings will be installed starting the evening of the 24th and will last approximately 2-3 nights. Efforts will be in place to minimize traffic disruption. Most work will be happening at night. Drivers might be asked to hold for a short time while staging equipment or directed to shift lanes around the work area.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the 26th rerouting. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
515th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
After Wednesday’s announcement of a statewide indoor mask mandate starting next Monday, some wondered about the specifics, such as – would musicians be expected to wear one? WSB reader Jessica points us to the document subsequently released with the details. (People “actively engaged in a performing-arts performance,” for example, are exempt.) Read it here or below:
7:25 PM: Thanks for the tip! 166 Seattle City Light customers lost power around 5:45, along Alki Avenue, on the west side of Duwamish Head [map].
MIDNIGHT: The outage map shows a few have their power back – the customer count is now 148. The cause, meantime, is labeled as “equipment failure.”
2:37 AM: Not fixed yet.
10:15 AM: Down to 54 customers now. City Light is working in the 1400 block:
We’re waiting to hear back from SCL’s media team about the outage’s cause.
1:42 PM: SCL spokesperson Jenny Levesque says the cause was “a failed underground cable.” She also says everyone’s back on, though the map shows those last 54 customers – but also says its last update was 4+ hours ago.]
1:54 PM: After we asked a followup question, she clarified those 54 are indeed still out.
3 PM: SCL says everybody’s back on.
(Part of the site, which also includes 2 ex-restaurants to the south)
We’re continuing to check on stalled development sites. Today, an update on 5242-5258 California SW, the site that includes a former strip mall plus two former restaurants (most recently Papa John’s, closed since 2017, and Thaitan, closed since 2019) north of Brandon. The site is listed for sale again, this time as a “permitted development site” approved for 32 townhouses. The asking price: $7.7 million.
The land is owned by entities traceable to Memphis-based Lexington Asset Management, which bought it in 2018 and 2019 purchases totaling $4.6 million, according to King County Assessor’s Office records. Development proposals for the site went through the city process in stages going back to 2017. The sales flyer for the site calls it “the largest permitted townhome opportunity in the heart of West Seattle in over 20 years,” though Rally – the townhome development at the former Charlestown Café site – isn’t far behind, at 27 units. The flyer also makes note of the closed bridge, observing that “West Seattle Bridge reopens in 2022, which will accelerate home value and rent growth (work is already underway).”
Meantime, the graffiti and trash at the site has led to complaints filed with the city, most recently early this year (we noted a crew placing new plywood over the windows in mid-March, but as our photo above shows, the tagging has been re-accumulating since then).
Early Wednesday, more than 8,000 Seattle City Light customers from Highland Park to Burien lost power. The image above, from SCL’s outage map, shows the outage zone at its peak; half the affected homes/businesses got power back after about three hours, and less than an hour after that, the outage was down to 585 customers. But the problem affected thousands more people because it happened along a highway, closed all lanes, and jammed traffic through much of the morning commute. So what exactly happened? We asked SCL’s Julie Moore, who responded today, explaining the cause resembled what took out ~2,000 customers last Friday/Saturday:
The outage cause was similar to the one last Friday. While doing a planned maintenance project, a piece of equipment failed and the overhead pulling rope dropped down on to our primary voltage electrical system, causing the lines to fault. We again needed a clearance – when we intentionally cut power to a particular area –for the electrical workers to safely remove the pulling rope from the primary lines and then we were able to restore the system to its normal configuration.
It is unusual for this piece of equipment to fail and we are looking into why it failed. The work being done is designed to replace and upgrade older static wire and replace with a new wire that has an optic cable capability. This work is still ongoing and the targeted completion date is the end of August.
One more theft to report today – this time, Derek‘s motorcycle:
My white 2000 Harley Davidson Road King police motorcycle was stolen at 1 am this morning on 11th Ave. SW and SW Holden St. Neighbors say they heard it take off around 1 am so I assume ignition was busted. I am offering a cash reward for information leading to my bikes recovery and/or an arrest.
Plate is WA 8G1755; police incident # is 21-215522.
P.S. Motorcycle theft is technically “auto theft” by state law, and that’s one of the categories of crime addressed in this month’s newsletter sent today by Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner:
As noted in our rwport last night about a visit to the West Seattle Bridge by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, their travels included a stop at under-construction Terminal 5. There, port and maritime reps touted their environmental efforts – from sea-noise reduction to shore power to trucking electrification – and pitched for more federal funding to help them make more progress. As a reminder of what’s at stake, Seattle Port Commissioner Fred Felleman presented Trottenberg with a framed orca photo of his:
(We talked with Felleman earlier this summer about orcas and T-5.) At right in the photo above is Edward DeNike of SSA Marine, the tenant for Terminal 5’s first modernized berth and operator of many other terminals. His remarks included a mention of what’s the most striking feature of T-5 right now:
DeNike said T-5 is now a holding zone for more than 8,000 containers. That’s up from the 6,000 we reported earlier this month. They’ve been trucked over from Terminals 30 and 18, which are already maxed out. Once T-5’s first berth opens early next year, they’re hoping it’ll take some of the pressure off. After the briefing, we asked DeNike about the status of a decision on which shipping line(s) will be first to use T-5. He said they’re talking with a few now and should have a decision within about a month.
Christina’s stroller was stolen Sunday afternoon in Gatewood and a security camera caught this photo of the thieves:
(Here’s the theft on video.) In case you find an abandoned stroller – here’s what it looks like:
Police reoport # is 21-213914.
(WSB file photo)
After skipping a year because of the pandemic, the Great Cross-Sound Race, to/from Alki is back this Saturday (August 21st). The Sound Rowers and Paddlers club organizes the race from Alki to Blakely Rock off Bainbridge, and back (seven miles). The course is far enough offshore that you’ll need binoculars to watch the start and finish, but the organizers and spectators are usually along the promenade by Alki Bathhouse. Racing begins around 9 am. The course record – which has stood for 15 years – is 49:44.
(American Goldfinch, photographed in July by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s happening today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE: Local broker Patrice Lewis is at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) 11 am-1 pm for consultations; call to check if there’s any last-minute availability.
BENEFIT CONCERT: 6 pm at White Center Heights Park (7th/102nd), enjoy family music from Dani & the Bee, by donation to help the Community School of West Seattle – ticket link’s in our calendar listing.
ULTIMATE FRISBEE PICKUP: 6 pm at Fairmount Playfield (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW) – just show up and play!
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: Join Timebank members at Puget Ridge Edible Park (5265 18th SW) 6:30 pm-8 pm tonight, or even show up early and helo at PREP! Info’s in our calendar listing.
BINGO: 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
6:05 AM: Good morning. Mild forecast for today.
ROAD WORK
26th SW– Northbound closure continues between Roxbury and Barton.
Delridge project – Here’s the plan for this week.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the 26th rerouting. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
514th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Thanks for the photos from tonight’s sunset! Above, the view from Upper Fauntleroy, by Gabby (who’s 10!); below, a photo from James Bratsanos:
The forecast suggests change is on the way before the weekend – “chance of showers” returns to the forecast for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
(WSB photos/video except for bridge-interior photos)
By Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
For the first time since the West Seattle Bridge’s sudden, shocking shutdown almost a year and a half ago, we were back on the bridge, briefly, today. The reason: Reporters and photographers were invited to accompany a delegation from D.C., Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. The feds are contributing to the funding for repairs, so the tour was touted as a chance to see where the money’s going.
The bridge visit was part of a morning tour that started at Terminal 5 in West Seattle (a separate story is coming about that). The cars and vans carrying the dignitaries and media left from Terminal 46 on the downtown waterfront and crossed the high bridge to get to T-5, seeing this work on the way (slow going because it’s a 10 mph construction zone):
That crane, we learned later, was lowering fiber-optic cable into the bridge, part of relocating monitoring equipment in preparation for the repair work this fall. (We reported recently that this kind of advance work is happening now, while the repair design and schedule are being finalized.) The crew was done and the crane was gone by the time we returned and were able to get out onto the bridge, but here’s what else we saw:
SDOT recently reiterated that one reason it’s not safe to even partly reopen the bridge is that there are holes in the deck. The ones above line the outer edge of the south side of the center span – they were cut for those platforms suspended from the bridge during the stabilization work last year, as SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe explained in a quick briefing setting the scene for visitors:
We took note of other openings in the bridge deck – such as this hole used for ventilation:
That ensure safe breathing conditions for people inside the bridge, explained SDOT’s roadway-structures division director Matt Donahue – sometimes the air that comes in from openings on the underside can be overwhelmed otherwise with, for example, diesel fumes from trains passing below (he was wearing a monitoring device just in case). In the westbound lanes, there’s a covered hatch with the warning NO DRIVE written all around it:
But the main access for workers – and visitors – is surrounded by this repurposed shipping container:
Donahue accompanied Sen. Cantwell, Dep. Sec. Trottenberg, and interested media crews down into the heart of the centerspan. We chose not to make the climb down, but obtained photos from SDOT:
In that last photo are the steel cables added to stabilize the bridge (with more planned as part of the final repairs).
After everyone emerged, Cantwell and Trottenberg took questions for a few minutes, calling the bridge “incredibly important”:
By then, they were running behind on a packed schedule that sent them to I-90 this afternoon to visit the Sound Transit light-rail expansion project. We and the rest of the media crews were shuttled back to Terminal 46, after another look at a view that we used to take for granted:
(SDOT photo)
Along with the closed-early Andover foot bridge, SDOT has been planning seismic reinforcement for the 60-year-old Delridge Pedestrian Bridge, which spans Delridge Way between Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and Delridge Playfield. But now there’s a new proposal: Remove it instead. Here’s the SDOT announcement – including ways for you to comment:
As part of the Delridge Way SW – RapidRide H Line project, we are installing a new, accessible crossing on Delridge Way SW at the intersection with SW Oregon St. With this new crossing, we are currently evaluating removing or repairing the pedestrian bridge connecting the Youngstown Cultural Center and the Delridge Playfield. Before planning any potential changes to the bridge, we want to hear from the community and create a plan for this area that will best fit the needs of the Delridge neighbors by learning from the community about how they use and value this bridge. We will make a decision based on data collection and the community’s feedback later in 2021. Construction for repair or removal would begin as early as spring 2022.
As part of the outreach, we’d like to invite community members to visit us at the Delridge Community Center these dates and times to talk about the project.
Friday, August 27 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Sunday, August 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.Location: Delridge Playfield near the Community Center entrance
Below are more project details:
REPAIR OPTION
As part of the Levy to Move Seattle, the Delridge Way SW Pedestrian Bridge was identified as a high priority for seismic reinforcement, which makes the bridge more resistant to ground activity, like earthquakes. This option means the bridge will meet updated seismic standards for pedestrian bridges and people could still use the bridge to cross Delridge Way SW.
Repairing the bridge will not bring the bridge to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, but people with ADA accessibility needs wishing to cross Delridge Way SW will instead be able to use the crossing on the street at SW Oregon St.
REMOVE OPTION
Removing the bridge will help support SDOT’s policies focused on people walking. The need for regular maintenance and expensive, complicated seismic reinforcement would also be eliminated. Additionally, removing the bridge may improve sightlines for people driving southbound on Delridge Way SW as they approach the signalized intersection at SW Oregon St. The ADA-compliant crossing on the street will be the only method to cross Delridge Way SW at this intersection if the bridge is removed.
In addition to the info sessions mentioned above, an online survey has just opened – it’s open through August 30. Find it here.
2:38 PM: Two weeks from today, it’s the first day of school for many students in our state, including most Seattle Public Schools students. But while summer vacation is almost over, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. So today Gov. Inslee is having a media briefing about the pandemic response, joined by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, You can watch it above; we’ll add notes here as it goes.
2:42 PM: He’s expanding vaccination requirements among (updated) education employees.
K -12 educators, staff, coaches, bus drivers, volunteers and others working in school facilities will have until Oct. 18 to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. This includes public, private and charter schools. This does not impact students, regardless of age.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) August 18, 2021
He’s also ordering mask-wearing in indoor public settings, statewide, regardless of vaccination status, starting Monday, for Washington residents age 5+. This is because, Inslee declares, not enough people are getting vaccinated.
2:51 PM: Superintendent Reykdal says the vaccination requirements are necessary because they want to keep schools open. “If we do not do this and we have to shut schools down again this year … students are impacted and jobs are impacted.”
3:09 PM: In Q&A, Reykdal says yes, the vaccine requirement will apply to substitutes as well. And he reiterates that what’s making this necessary is the rapid spread of the Delta variant (now responsible for 98 percent of WA cases): “We’ve got to up our game … and we can’t have 30 percent of our team unvaccinated.”
3:12 PM: Here are full details of what the governor has just announced. He also warns, “This may not be the end of our efforts if this pandemic continues.” But: “We are hopeful that these measures will restrain the pandemic.”
3:17 PM: Secretary Shah adds that while there’s no outdoor-masking order, it’s “strongly recommended” to wear one if you are in a CROWDED outdoor setting.
In case you haven’t seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – tomorrow night you have the chance to help a local nonprofit school while enjoying an outdoor family-music concert. Dani & the Bee are performing as a fundraiser Thursday night (August 19th) for the Community School of West Seattle. The concert is at 6 pm in White Center Heights Park (7th SW and SW 102nd). It’s free to attend but “donations are greatly appreciated,” says CSWS board president Whitney Young. You can donate/RSVP by going here..
We are on the West Seattle Bridge right now for the first time in a year and a half. Two federal government reps are touring it today – Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg and US Senator Maria Cantwell – to see what federal dollars will help fund.
This followed a visit to Terminal 5. Full coverage later!
(Rufous Hummingbird, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Four notes for the hours ahead:
SEATTLE AUTO LICENSING: The new vehicle/vessel licensing office at Westwood Village is going to start accepting credit cards today,
GOVERNOR’S PANDEMIC BRIEFING: 2:30 pm today, Gov. Inslee plans a briefing with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. You can watch the stream here.
WSHS FOOTBALL: Football team meeting at 4 pm today as part of preparations for fall sports.
MASTERCREEP THEATER: 6:30 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), join Old Witch for “Troll 2” – explained in our calendar listing.
6:39 AM: Good morning. The big overnight power outage continues for some, mostly south of West Seattle – remember that a nonworking signal means it’s an all-way stop. There are two freeway problems that WSDOT says are “power-related” – southbound 509 at Cloverdale is fully blocked, and not far south, 599 is fully blocked at its beginning (MP 1) just south of 99 “due to power lines on road.”
8:35 AM UPDATE: WSDOT says those highways have reopened.
——
WEATHER
The morning clouds are expected to make way later for sunshine.
ROAD WORK
26th SW– Northbound closure continues between Roxbury and Barton.
Delridge project – Miscellaneous work this week.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the 26th rerouting. One exception: The highway closure mentioned above is affecting Sound Transit Route 560. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
513rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
3:13 AM: Thanks for the tips. Power is out for more than 8,000 customers in south West Seattle, White Center, and beyond. Updates to come.
3:40 AM: City Light says the cause is “under investigation.” Some of the affected customers lost power in outages just last Friday/Saturday (here’s our Monday followup on those causes).
4:54 AM: Via Twitter, SCL says, “They know the cause and are working to get power restored safely and quickly.” (Please let us know when you’re back on, since the map lags – thanks!)
6:10 AM: Thanks to everyone who just texted that their power’s back. SCL says the cause was “Transformer wire fell on a distribution wire.”
6:23 AM: SCL map has updated and shows about half the customers are back, half still out.
6:50 AM: Now the outage is down to 585 customers, mostly south of South Park, though the Myers Way pockets are still shown as out.
12:22 AM: The next big chapter in the Stone Cottage‘s history is being written tonight, with the little stone-studded house getting moved off its soon-to-be-redeveloped site at 1123 Harbor Avenue SW. Destination: Port of Seattle land about a mile southeast, until a permanent home is found.
A crowd is here to watch renowned structural movers Nickel Bros take the house to its interim home; we’ll be updating as it goes. (Added: Among those present were family members of Eva Falk, the cottage’s creator.) First, shown above, the truck is moving into position.
1:03 AM: At least another 20 minutes until they start pulling the Stone Cottage off the site – which’ll be tricky, with a power pole close to its east side, a hydrant close to its west side.
1:51 AM: The moving has begun – in short bursts for starters as they carefully maneuver off the site.
2:35 AM: Still maneuvering. Some lines/cables are the newest hurdle to clear. … Ten minutes later, inching around the hydrant.
2:54 AM: Off the site! Now dealing with hydraulics to get under road-spanning wires.
3:06 AM: It’s now rolling down the road.
4 AN: Back at HQ, adding photos and video above. Plus – the next two, sent by Rachel, with a view from over Harbor Avenue as the Stone Cottage rolled by Don Armeni:
And here’s a pic from the pre-move wait – group photo of Save The Stone Cottage volunteers, whose many months of work (along with community support) made this happen:
(They were the ones cheering loudest toward the end of our video clip above.) We’ll be following up to see what’s next.
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo of the Stone Cottage after arrival at its temporary home:
Mike Shaughnessy of Save The Stone Cottage tells WSB that the Stone Cottage reached its interim site at 4:45 am – 15 minutes shy of when their street-use permit expired. “It was touch and go … threading the needle between cars, and we almost got stuck near 7-Eleven.”
And talk about touch and go … hours after the Stone Cottage was gone, the developers who own its former site demolished the remaining structures:
(That photo also is from Stewart L.)
Two readers – including John B, who sent the photo – noticed Monday that a longstanding encampment in the city-owned triangle at Delridge.Barton/18th had cleared out. City departments are responsible these days for prioritizing encampment responses, and we knew this was SDOT land from all the talk of a potential park there someday, so that’s where we started our inquiry about whether this site had been “swept.” Here’s the SDOT response:
We are planning scheduled maintenance on this site, which includes updating landscape and fixing the irrigation systems. That encampment has been there for so long and has grown so large that the area needs some weeding done, cleaning up and restoring damaged branches and smashed plant material. In these situations, we work directly with the Human Services Department’s HOPE (Homelessness Outreach and Provider Ecosystem) team to engage with unsheltered people living in area where we need to perform necessary maintenance and ask them to voluntarily relocate. In this case, the individual living in the area was receptive, understanding and willing to relocate.
Whether that means they relocated to another campsite or to shelter/housing, we don’t know but will be following up. You might recall that the sidewalk encampment not far from there, at Delridge/Roxbury, was also cleared without being formally “swept” – outreach workers from the JustCARE program worked with people there for weeks and they left for housing.
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