West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
6:03=4 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
More stormy weather in today’s forecast – south wind that could gust to 40 mph, and intermittent rain.
CLOSURE
As noted last night, the South Park Bridge and a stretch of East Marginal Way, between 14th Ave South and South 86th Place, are closed for power line/pole repairs, and might remain closed until tonight. Here’s the nearest camera:
OTHER BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
583rd 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:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
Are movable bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed is down again. But 1st Ave. South Bridge openings are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
ROAD WORK – TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND
26th SW – Ongoing closure between Roxbury and Barton for RapidRide H Line prep work. We checked on Wednesday – about another month to go. (They’ve had a procurement delay in signal loops.)
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Regular Metro schedule, except for the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones – on 26th and 15th SW in particular. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.
For ferries and Water Taxi: WSF is back to two-boat service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi remains on its new schedule (no weekend or off-peak shuttle buses).
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
One lingering problem from this afternoon’s wind: Downed wires/poles have closed East Marginal Way South between 14th Ave South and South 86th Place, and that means the South Park Bridge is closed too. Seattle City Light says, “We expect we can clear the road by tomorrow evening at the latest.”
Every week on Sunday night, we update local pandemic stats and recqp ihe week’s news.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS (through Friday – they’re not updated on weekends):
*161,406 cases – 2,813 more than a week ago (5,769 total in West Seattle, up 84)
*8,344 hospitalizations – 95 more than a week ago (245 total from West Seattle, up 3)
*1,970 people have died – 28 more than a week ago (73 total in West Seattle, unchanged)
VACCINATION RATE
82.4% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .5% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 84.2%
98116 – 88%
98126 – 79.9%
98136 – 89.7%
98146 – 79.9%
(Find more COVID-related King County stats here)
VACCINATION VERIFICATION
Tomorrow’s the day the new King County requirements take effect for:
*Restaurants/bars (if you’re dining/drinking indoors)
*Indoor recreational events or establishments (that includes many Seattle Parks facilities/programs)
*Outdoor events with 500 people or more
Details, and how to show your vaccination status (or a negative test result), are here.
NOT VACCINATED YET?
Go here to see where you can change that. Otherwise, for everybody waiting for the city to announce its promised West Seattle vaccination hub – no word yet; the last update was that they hoped to have it in operation by “early November.”
NEED TO GET TESTED IN WEST SEATTLE?
The UW Medicine testing service in the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate; you can make an appointment here, though readers report walk-ups have been accepted. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also still operating. In addition, both West Seattle Walgreens stores are offering drive-up testing (35th/Morgan and 16th/Roxbury) – more info here.
THE WEEK’S PANDEMIC HEADLINES
Boosters – After this update from the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, they’re now recommended in our state for all J&J recipients and certain Moderna recipients, plus the previously recommended Pfizer recipients. See the newest details here.
Grants – This week, the city announced a new round of small-business-stabilization grants.
Thanks to Brandy for the top photo – part of the haul from this year’s drive-up/ride-up/walk-up Fauntleroy Fall Festival. It went on as planned despite the stormy weather that swept through this afternoon. Volunteers were at stations to offer some traditional festival favorites – with the salmon hats, Jeff and Chantille from John L. Scott Real Estate-Westwood (WSB sponsor):
(WSB photos from here down)
With hot chocolate and cider, the Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering team:
With puzzles and pencils for kids, Ginger and Shellie from HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor):
Mike from the Fauntleroy Community Association offered takeaways including street-safety signs:
Music, too! Organizers asked festival visitors to sign up in advance for a time slot to go through, to avoid a traffic jam. They’d hosted more than 150 visitors by the time we stopped by around the end of the first of three hours. The festival is always free, powered by donations and volunteers.
Thanks for the tips. Kamei Japanese Restaurant in The Junction (4512 California SW) has confirmed via its website what it’s been telling customers for a while – that it’s closing after the end of the year. The announcement notes that the restaurant’s been there for more than 20 years and adds, “We’ve been lucky and honored to be part of this West Seattle community and will miss seeing the faces of our friends and family that come by to eat sushi and be merry. We’ll still only be open for pickup until we close in early 2022.” Though this wasn’t cited in Kamei’s message, it should be noted that the site’s long been planned for redevelopment – the proposed project finished Design Review two years ago.
1:40 PM: Another power outage as this blustery weather continues, and this time it’s even bigger: 4,440 customers, according to the Seattle City Light map, including High Point, South Delridge, Westwood, Sunrise Heights, and part of South Park.
1:52 PM: SCL is blaming this one on a tree. … Note that this outage is affecting more signalized intersections – if the light is out, it’s an all-ways stop. … So far readers have texted about signals out including 35th/Webster and 1st/Cloverdale; (added) Delridge from “at least Orchard to Henderson” … 16th at Holden and Austin, too.
2:57 PM: Trees are causing other trouble on West Seattle streets. Just got this photo from the Admiral Way hill:
We’ve also heard emergency-radio discussion of trees down on southbound Myers Way south of Olson, and 45th/Roxbury.
3:03 PM: If you’re in the South Alki area, a neighbor just called to say that a woman is wandering in the rain calling for help and police are trying to catch up with her but haven’t found her yet – if you see her, please call 911 with the location.
4:09 PM: The weather’s calmed but City Light has a lot of work to do – 43,000+ out around its service area, including the 4,400+ here.
4:11 PM: Water-rescue response headed to Lincoln Park for possible kite-surfer in trouble.
4:22 PM: SFD reports the kite-surfer made it safely to shore, so the response has been canceled.
4:55 PM: Theresa notes via Twitter that the 16th/Holden 7-11 is closed because of the outage. Let us know if you’ve found other businesses closed. … Also just in via text: Best of Hands Barrelhouse is closed for the rest of the day (open tomorrow 3-9) …
5:45 PM: Thanks for the updates! Most got their power back after about four hours – about 50 customers in a half-dozen-plus West Seattle spots are shown as still out.
6:24 PM: Just went down Admiral Way. Note the outer southbound lane is blocked in TWO places – not just the one by the SDOT vehicle.
6:42 PM: Spot outages continue. Just noticed a new one on the map – eight customers near 24th/Graham/Delridge, out as of just after 6 pm. And while it’s relatively calm outside now, the forecast says more gusty wind is likely tonight/tomorrow.
11:11 AM: We missed these in real time and no one texted, but we’ve confirmed with SFD that two early morning “scenes of violence” responses in West Seattle were both shootings. Neither victim is reported to have had life-threatening wounds, but both were taken to the hospital. The first was in the 1700 block of SW Barton at 1:51 am; SFD says the victim was a 36-year-old man; the second was in the 7800 block of Detroit SW at 3:05 am, and SFD says the victim was a 27-year-old man. No information on the circumstances in either but we’re seeking that from SPD.
2:07 PM: SPD has released a few details on these as part of a roundup of five weekend shootings in the city. In the Barton incident, police say they “were dispatched to investigate a man who had been shot in the abdomen … Officers spoke with witnesses who said they heard the shot come form the street or sidewalk and found the victim laying on the ground. Police searched the area and found a single shell casing but were unable to find anyone who could describe a possible suspect.” Regarding the other incident, police say officers got a call that a man had been shot, then “found the victim with a gunshot to the groin. The victim was able to tell officers that the suspect was last seen in a white Ford Fusion fleeing the area. Police searched the area but were unable to locate any additional witnesses or evidence.”
8:47 AM: Thanks for the tip. Almost 1,000 customers have lost power – the map shows they’re mostly in Highland Park, South Delridge, Riverview, and South Park.
9:08 AM: The map shows another 29 customers added to the outage total, now 1,023.
9:54 AM: After an hour and a half, all but 30 customers are back on, according to the map. Wherever you are, keep your devices charged today – it’s still intermittently blustery.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON: We’re covering the new, bigger outage separately here.
(Saturday rainbow – photo by Chi K Photography)
Highlights of what’s happening today/tonight:
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS: We’ve added more to the list in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide.
CHURCHES: Most are still streaming, along with offering in-person services. Here are this week’s links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Still lots of fresh produce even as we get deeper into fall. Shop 10 am-2 pm on California between Oregon and Alaska. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
PAINTED PUMPKINS ON SALE: During the market, Chief Sealth International High School Key Club members will be at the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle booth (west side, near the north end) selling painted pumpkins.
KINDIE WEST CONCERT SERIES: Dani & The Bee opens the series at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), 10 am doors, 10:30 am show. Series passes available online.
FLU-SHOT CLINIC: 10 am-4 pm at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW), all welcome – info here.
ADMIRAL CHURCH SHELTER MEETING: Noon at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), an info meeting about the church’s new partnership with Operation Nightwatch to shelter up to 10 men nightly in the sanctuary.
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: 2-5 pm, a drive-through/ride-through/walk-through event in the parking lot at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) – go here to sign up for a time slot to take your turn!
GRAND OPENING FOR GOOD SISTER: 2-6 pm, this new beauty/skin-care shop focused on BIPOC-owned/made brands and sustainability has its opening on the southeast corner of California and Juneau.
MUSIC AT C&P COFFEE: 3-5 pm, Alan Sobel and Sid Law perform at the coffeehouse (5612 California SW).
TRICK-OR-TREATING @ COMBAT ARTS ACADEMY: 4-6 pm, indoor trick-or-treating at CAA (5050 Delridge Way SW) – sign up each child for a time slot to guarantee access.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Got an event for listing in our calendar and previews? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Five years after demolition of the old commercial building at the Morgan Junction Park Addition site, partial development is on the way, the Morgan Community Association was told during its quarterly meeting.
That was one of several topics at the online meeting this past Wednesday night, led by MoCA president Deb Barker.
MORGAN JUNCTION PARK ADDITION: Kelly Goold from Seattle Parks was back with an update. Part of the funding for developing this park site was ‘redirected,” he recapped (as we’ve reported previously). Next year’s city-budget proposal would include $3.5 million toward 14 landbanked parks including this one (and two others in West Seattle), but that’s “not a lot of money.”
(Harbor Avenue photo by Jerry Simmons)
Though you’ve probably been hearing/seeing a lot about stormy weather headed this way, note that our area is NOT in the warning zone. The forecast for tomorrow is windy, but not extraordinarily so – biggest effect is more likely to be more of those fall-color leaves coming off the trees. From the National Weather Service, here’s the city forecast:
SUNDAY…Windy. Rain at times in the morning, then rain likely late in the morning. Rain at times in the afternoon. Rainfall amounts a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible. Highs in the 50s to lower 60s. East wind 15 to 25 mph becoming south 15 to 30 mph in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT…Rain likely in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a chance of rain after midnight. Rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch likely. Lows near 50. South wind 10 to 20 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Gusts to 30 mph.
You can check the map here to see what areas of the state ARE under weather alerts.
You can help West Seattle’s past continue being stewarded into the future by supporting the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual fundraiser. Here’s the announcement:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce that this year our annual fundraising auction will be held as a silent auction online from Tuesday, November 2, through Friday, November 5. We will miss seeing you at Salty’s on Alki for the second straight year, but hope that you’ll support the Historical Society’s efforts to be present and engaged as a friend to the community.
We’ve been through a lot together over the last year as friends and neighbors on the Duwamish Peninsula. And what we’ve learned as we’ve leaned on each other is how important it is to create and honor meaningful connections, through our unique stories and our shared history. With that in mind, your support will help us realize our goals of increasing our programming for youth and schools, broadening the range of subjects explored in our exhibits and adult programs, collecting more of your stories to preserve for posterity, and so much more.
Please check the Historical Society’s website HERE for updates, including instructions on how to register for bidding. Bidding opens on November 2!
You can follow that same link for early “Raise the Paddle” donations, which are being accepted now. You can also support SWSHS by visiting the Log House Museum, open noon-4 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 61st/Stevens.
If you’re still making up your mind, with 10 days left to vote, you might be interested in two local online candidate forums, both coming up next Thursday night. 5-6 pm, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition is co-presenting a forum with the six people running for three Seattle Port Commission seats; each race is countywide, and has for this election a challenger and incumbent – Norman Sigler and Ryan Calkins (Position 1), Hamdi Mohamed and Stephanie Bowman (Position 3), and Toshiko Hasegawa and Peter Steinbrueck (Position 4). You can register here to get the viewing/listening information. Then at 6:30 pm Thursday, this month’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting will feature a forum with the two West Seattleites who are in the running for King County Executive – State Senator Joe Nguyen and incumbent Executive Dow Constantine. This job has a tremendous influence on local transportation, since King County runs Metro buses and the Water Taxi, and the Executive sits on the Sound Transit board. Watch here for viewing/listening info when it’s available – we’ll have it in the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar as well as that day’s daily preview. (Ready to vote now? Dropboxes are open – here’s the list/map – or send your ballot via USPS, no stamp needed.)
Just three days after our first coyote-sighting report in a long time, we received another one today, from Ann: “I wanted to let you know that my husband was up late last night and spotted a coyote in our yard around midnight. We live in the Fauntlee Hills neighborhood. He did not get a photo but we are not far from the sighting last week.” We’ve long published coyote sightings not as warnings, but as FYIs that we share our peninsula with them – learn about coexisting with coyotes here.
12:14 PM: Thanks for the tip! The signal at ever-busy 16th/Holden is flashing red, and that’s jammed things up in the area, especially eastbound Dumar/Austin.
12:34 PM: Texter says it’s fixed. We published the alert immediately after verifying the problem firsthand, and didn’t see a crew in the area, but we’ll head back to check.
12:59 PM: Verified – normal now.
Though the full West Seattle Monster Dash 5K is “virtual” again this year, the in-person Kids’ Dash/Family Fun Event is happening right now, until 1 pm. We were at the White Center Cooperative Preschool play area (10806 12th Ave SW) for the first of several “dashes” they planned to run today.
This is a chance to show off your costume. Parents too!
There’s a registration fee, which benefits the nonprofit West Seattle Cooperative Preschools, and includes a Monster Dash T-shirt.
Follow the signs to the back of the school and you can’t miss the canopies. Kids can do crafts as well as participate in the dash (five laps around the sport court).
P.S. As noted in our morning preview, there’s still time – through Halloween – to register for the virtual 5K and enter the drawing for a jersey that the Sounders fan in your life would love. (Here’s how.)
(Lincoln Park photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
The weekend’s here! So is our daily list:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: SDOT plans work early this morning – done “as soon as 8 am” – to install “a small island using paint and white posts near SW Front St in the center turn lane on West Marginal Way SW [map]. We will close one lane in both directions, including the center turn lane, to complete this work.” Later in the morning, they plan to “install missing posts on West Marginal Way S and S Holden St [map]. These posts help limit the number of last-minute lane changes to get into the right turn only lane that people use to drive north over the 1st Ave S Bridge. We will be closing one of the three southbound lanes and will keep the right turn only lane open during this work. We anticipate this work to conclude as early as 12 pm.”
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS: The list in our West Seattle Halloween Guide keeps growing!
(added) SALTY HALF-MARATHON: We didn’t get advance word of this but just in case you saw the runners and wondered, this is a “small” half-marathon from Don Armeni to Lincoln Park and back, 8:30-11:30 am.
WEST SEATTLE MONSTER DASH FAMILY FUN EVENT/KIDS DASH: 10 am-1 pm, it’s the Monster Dash Kids’ Dash and Family Fun Event, at White Center Co-op Preschool (10806 12th Ave SW). “Join us for a staggered-start dash (for ages 12 and under, beginning roughly every 20 minutes), kids’crafts, and prize drawings. Have a costumed family photo taken by Life as a Voyager Photography in front of our themed backdrop. Your $15 entrance fee at the event includes a 10th anniversary Monster Dash t-shirt.” Monster Dash also reminds you, “Don’t forget, you have until October 31st to enter to win a 2016 Seattle Sounders Jersey signed by Gustav Svensson! To be eligible to win 1.) Donate to or register for the Monster Dash AND 2.) email westseattlemonsterdash@gmail.com answering the question: ‘What would winning this jersey mean to you or the special Sounders fan in your life?’.”
ART/HISTORY/PHOTO EXHIBITS: “Spirit Returns 2.0: A Duwamish and Settler Story” continues at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center (4705 W. Marginal Way SW, 10 am-5 pm) and the Log House Museum (3003 61st SW, noon-4 pm) and for two companion Tom Reese photo exhibits at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW, noon-4 pm).
HOLIDAY BAZAAR: First of the season! 10 am-6 pm at the White Center Eagles‘ HQ (10452 15th SW). All welcome.
HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL ONLINE OPEN HOUSE: 10:30 am-noon. Go here to register and get the link for attending.
Canceled AT C & P COFFEE: Live music with Marco de Carvalho, Hans Teuber, and Jeff Busch, 10:30 am-noon, outdoors. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLINE OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-12:30 pm – “Our re-imagined virtual events have been created to offer you an in-depth look at our school, including a teacher panel, current schedule, and curriculum. You will meet our faculty, administration, students, families, and alumni.” Go here to get the link for attending.
LAST CHANCE FOR DOG SWIM: 11 am-1 pm, final session for this year’s “Dog Days” at Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club (11003 31st SW), opening the pool to dogs (only) before it’s closed for winter maintenance.
BOOK SIGNING: Mike Hipple signs “Lived Through That” – as previewed here – starting at 1 pm at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: 4-7 pm, all welcome – info’s in our calendar listing.
OPEN MIC NIGHT: At The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 6 pm.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Now or Ever, plus Blooming Fire and Russian Blue, 7 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE BEACH: 8 pm at J&J Public House (2808 Alki SW), live music led by Grammy winner Andrew Gouché. $10 cover.
LIVE MUSIC AT DRUNKY’S: 8 pm tonight, it’s Aaron Crawford & Kitty Mae at Drunky Two Shoes’ BBQ (98th/16th in White Center). $10 cover.
WEST SEATTLE DRAG SHOW: 9 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), see Dolly Madison and The DJ.
Something today/tonight we’re missing? Please text us – 206-293-6302 – and if you have a listing for something coming up another day/night, email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The photo’s from Mary, one of the latest contributors to the list of decorated houses in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide. Going into what you might call Hallo-weekend #1, we’ve got places to do and things to see. We’ve added more events as well as decoration locations. This weekend’s events include:
SATURDAY
Monster Dash Family Fun Event/Kids’ Dash
Our Lady of Guadalupe Halloween Carnival
SUNDAY
Fauntleroy Fall Festival (RSVP required)
Trick-or-treating at Combat Arts Academy (RSVP required)
We’re still adding events and decoration locations as we hear about them – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
That’s a new rendering of the concept for 4406 36th SW and 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW, the properties that the Sweeney family is planning to redevelop on and near the site of their legacy business Alki Lumber. Family spokesperson Lynn Sweeney sent the rendering today, as architects Ankrom Moisan sent the city the full design “packet” for 4406 36th SW, which will go back to the Southwest Design Review Board on November 4th (as reported here previously) The building is proposed for 8 stories, 284 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and 162 offstreet-parking spaces. Here’s the packet:
You’ll also find it on the city website. ]Sweeney says regarding the 2-building plan, “Our design team has been hard at work responding to the Design Review Board guidance and collaborating with the city to develop an outstanding project for the West Seattle Triangle Neighborhood. The focus of this project is to create a unique and engaging streetscape experience for the community while providing housing for more than 500 new residents. The project is well positioned with proximity to the proposed Avalon light rail station. We are excited to go before the board on November 4th (East Block) and November 18th (West Block).” Both are 5 pm online meetings; viewing/listening/comment info for the November 4th meeting is here. The Sweeneys have said they’ll look for a new location for their lumberyard; Sweeney told us today there’s no update on that yet, nor do they have a target date for groundbreaking.
Another of the new businesses in the brick building on the southeast corner of California/Juneau is about to celebrate its grand opening. Ennjoili Fleck, proprietor of Good Sister, told the Morgan Community Association about her business this week. She said that Good Sister features beauty and self-care products that “put our planet and put people first.” BIPOC-owned/-made brands are highlighted, as are products that focus on sustainability, witht organic and other natural ingredients. “Sixty percent of what you put into your body does absorb into your skin … no nasty chemicals here,” promised Fleck. They’ll carry items for all genders, all ages. Towels, soaps, textiles, plants too.
Fleck told MoCA that she and her husband live in Gatewood with their daughters. They bought what had been his grandfather’s home eight years ago – on a street where his parents still live – and moved here from Fremont. She moved to the Northwest as a teenager after growing up in Okinawa. Her previous work background was largely in finance, which she found “very boring” but also managed a large hair salon, directed a beauty school, and was in management at a spa on Capitol Hill. As for her new business, Good Sister is soft-opening this Sunday (October 24), 2-6 pm; regular days/hours will be Wednesday-Sunday for starters, 12-6 pm (probably closing a little earlier on Sundays, Fleck said).
P.S. The rest of our MoCA meeting report will be published tonight or tomorrow.
3:46 PM: Two days ago, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas moved from Pier 90 at the Port of Seattle‘s Smith Cove terminal and dropped anchor in the middle of Elliott Bay. Earlier this year, cruise ships were at anchor when all the docks were full. Right now, that’s not the case. So we’ve received a few questions. The ship’s future schedule appears to be in flux; its Australia cruise season for 2021-2022 was recently canceled because travel restrictions Down Under remain tight. As for its continued stay in Seattle, we asked Port of Seattle spokesperson Peter McGraw, who says, “It will be hanging around in the near future, after our last passenger cruise vessel NCL Encore departs on Saturday afternoon. It may be conducting operations around the Sound or even berthed at Pier 66.” (That’s the cruise-ship dock on the downtown waterfront.) It had to leave Pier 91 because the space was needed for other vessels: “When we need our facilities for other tenants, like fishing vessels back from Alaska or other needs outside the cruise season, they have to go elsewhere until there’s an opening, like at 66 later next week.”
7:10 PM: Since we photographed it at mid-afternoon, the ship has in fact headed out on “operations around the Sound” – MarineTraffic.com shows it off Whidbey Island right now, northbound.
Thanks to everyone who tipped us that Sound Transit has sent letters to owners of properties that ST might have to acquire for developing the West Seattle light rail line. (See the letter here.) While researching this, we asked ST about the status of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the West Seattle-Ballard extension – most recently expected to be released before year’s end – and learned it’s been delayed again.
ST spokesperson Geoff Patrick tells WSB, “Given ongoing coordination needs and the upcoming holidays, Sound Transit now expects to publish the Draft EIS for public review and comment in early 2022. While we have not yet identified a specific date for publication of the DEIS, it was a priority for Sound Transit to send out the notifications in advance to ensure property owners have the opportunity to learn about the project, how to engage, and how and when project decisions are made.”
As for who got notices and why, Patrick says the DEIS “identifies potential property acquisition needs associated with each of the project alignment options that is under consideration. We have sent letters to owners of approximately 1,400 potentially affected properties. This notification of potential impact does not mean a decision has been made to purchase property. It should be noted that while we’re studying multiple routes, in the end we’ll just build one. So, ultimately, many of those properties we are currently notifying won’t need to be acquired to build the project.”
All the routing possibilities that are being studied for the DEIS are shown on this website. The final routing decision will be up to the Sound Transit Board to make, after the final Environmental Impact Statement is published, currently expected in 2023. Patrick says there’s more information for potentially affected property owners on this ST webpage. The letter received by property owners invites them to participate in virtual briefings, with dates offered in November and December.
It was only this past June that the Draft EIS release was announced as delayed until fall. At the end of last year, the projected timeline was “mid-(2021).” As a result of the recent “realignment” decision, the expected opening date for the West Seattle extension is likely 2032, two years later than what was originally planned when voters approved the ST3 ballot measure five years ago.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
SHED BREAK-IN ATTEMPT: Scott reports that a storage shed break-in was “interrupted at South Seattle CrossFit (2653 SW Yancy) around 8 pm Thursday night. Police responded within a few minutes. Including catalytic converter theft and other vehicle damage this is the third incident/report filed in 18 months for this location.” You can see the suspect in video here and here. We’re awaiting the police-incident number.
CAR PROWL: From Ray:
Last night between 10 PM and 5 AM, my car on 17th and Thistle was ransacked. They took the toolbox but dropped it after 100 feet realizing that it’s old tools only. The only thing missing is my University of Georgia lanyard with my work keys on it.
BULLET DAMAGE: Police say a semi-truck driver reported that their truck “had been struck with one round in the rear passenger side of the vehicle” between 2 pm Wednesday and 10:50 am Thursday. It happened while the truck was parked in the 7100 block of West Marginal Way SW. The “fired bullet fragment” was found in the truck; police collected it as evidence.
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