West Seattle, Washington
16 Monday
(SDOT photo, Delridge/Orchard)
As the weekend comes to a close, it’s time to look ahead to where the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project will be focused this week. From SDOT, the key sites:
*Intersection upgrades at SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW to continue for several weeks. Travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction on both Delridge Way SW and SW Orchard St, and a uniformed police officer will be present to direct traffic through the area.
*Roadway upgrades on SW Hudson St between Delridge Way SW and 25th Ave SW continue
*Intersection upgrades at SW Kenyon St scheduled to resume next week and will last approximately one week. A uniformed police officer will be stationed at the intersection to help direct traffic.
*Roadway upgrades at 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW continue. Upcoming work includes rebuilding the intersection, which will include a full closure of 21st Ave SW.
And here’s a week-in-advance warning of the northernmost section of repaving:
*Beginning as early as May 3, we will begin upgrading the roadway between the West Seattle Bridge and SW Dakota St via mill and overlay, which is less noisy than traditional demolition and paving
The full work plan for the week ahead is here.
(Photos courtesy Weary Stone Farm)
After years of community involvement with other local-food endeavors, a Delridge family has launched Weary Stone Farm. Here’s their announcement:
Interest in vegetable gardening and urban farming skyrocketed during the pandemic, but as we transition to a more normal state, many West Seattleites are finding less inspiration, motivation, and time to tend to this spring’s garden. Weary Stone Farm provides solutions to these problems. Whether it is our offering of one-on-one consultations in your space, classes at the Weary Stone Farm retail space, inspiration in the form of DIY solutions, or our crew of gardeners to tend your garden, we are there to help.
Weary Stone Farm exclusively services the West Seattle area and exclusively hires West Seattle residents for their crews. The business has been a long-time dream of Delridge residents Brent Curtis and Katie Kadwell and their daughters Willow and Grace.
Covid and at-home schooling forced Katie to take several months away from her day job to focus on home life. A Gardener Lead on the beautiful UW Seattle Campus and a Master Gardener and Native Plant Steward, Katie began transforming their home into an urban farm with multiple beds, trellises, an herb spiral and more. Alongside her day job, Katie has long volunteered as a garden teacher focusing on West Seattle in gardens at West Seattle Elementary, Pathfinder K-8, and as Program Manager for the Little Red Hen Project at the Delridge Community Center. She also taught classes at West Seattle Nursery and volunteered with Marra Farm in South Park, Cesar Chavez Garden in Beacon Hill, and Seattle Tilth in Wallingford.
Growing their own food was further inspired by Brent’s involvement as Board President of the Delridge Grocery Co-op, a position he held during the final build-out of the store through last November. The co-op, located across the street from Weary Stone Farm, had just finished building out their retail space when COVID struck and the long-awaited plans for a Grand Opening were delayed. While Brent and their daughters help deliver DGC Essential Boxes around West Seattle on Saturdays, and a store opening is slated for the end of this summer, the excitement over fresh produce in the neighborhood simply shifted as the family began to grow their own veggies. Brent brings a background in events to the business as former Executive Director of a non-profit art center in the Central District and Events Manager at the UW.
Capitalizing on his events background, this summer Weary Stone Farm will be opening a gallery and performance space – The Grange at Weary Stone Farm.
The next three classes Weary Stone Farm is offering at their space (5435 Delridge Way SW) are this Saturday (April 24th), starting lettuces, greens, and annual herbs; May 1st, starting a pollinator garden; and May 8th, “Introduction to Natives for Your Edible Oasis.” They’re also offering a discount on half-hour in-person garden consultations in their service area if you fill out this survey.
P.S. If you’re wondering, “Where does the name Weary Stone Farm come from?” here’s the backstory:
When Machu Picchu’s (Peru) builders couldn’t move a heavy stone all the way to the site, they abandoned it in the field and called it a saycuscai (weary stone). Brent and Katie named their urban farm Weary Stone Farm because, though they abandoned many stones along the way, it didn’t stop them from realizing the dream of growing their own food. For their own health, for the environment, and for their community. They hope to support others in moving past their own weary stones and build their dreams.
(Added: WSB photo)
9:12 PM: Big emergency response to Delridge/Andover after a report of an injured person and possible ‘gunfire in the area,’ per emergency radio. Avoid the area. Updates to come.
9:17 PM: Emergency crews are asking to block traffic from getting onto the eastbound low bridge – which would be open to all at this time of night – so they have a clear path for transporting the victim.
9:23 PM: Per radio communication, one man, about 18 years old, is going to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the neck, after someone shot into the vehicle he was in.
9:32 PM: Northbound Delridge is reported to be blocked at Genesee.
9:40 PM: The gunfire may have happened at some point north of Delridge/Andover; police plan to search along SW Spokane. They say they have no suspect description yet. Our crew has arrived in the area and confirms NB traffic on Delridge is blocked north of Genesee.
10:08 PM: In both a tweet and SPD Blotter post, police have used the 2000 block of SW Charlestown – uphill/east of Delridge/Andover – as a location for the shooting. They also say the victim’s wound is not believed to be life-threatening, and they ask for anyone with information to “call the tip line at 206-233-5000.”
11:59 PM: One more note on location – the preliminary summary from the Southwest Precinct says, “SPD 911 began receiving reports of gunshots near Spokane St and Delridge Way SW. Shortly afterward a victim of gunfire was located in the 3800 block of Delridge Way SW.”
Just opened this week at 5214 Delridge Way SW – a new self-serve pet-wash business, Pawsitively Kleen. Co-proprietors Mario and Keith tell WSB that they “moved to West Seattle close to 7 years ago and we have always wanted to open a business related to pets.” They of course have their own: “We have had 5 different types of dogs in the last 20 years. Currently we have a Mastiff and a Pit Bull.” Though Pawsitively Kleen is self-serve, they explain, “We will be there most of the time walking customers through the process. We are very excited to be able to serve the West Seattle community.” Hours are 10 am-8 pm.
1:42 PM: The Delridge Way repaving/utilities/more project has sent its weekly update a day early because major work is about to start at Delridge/Orchard – where crews will be demolishing and rebuilding the intersection a quadrant at a time. Here’s the announcement;
The upgrades at SW Orchard St are planned to start as early as tomorrow (Friday, April 16 at 7 AM). Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction on both Delridge Way SW and SW Orchard St. The intersection will be divided into four quadrants: SW, SE, NE, and NW. We will upgrade those quadrants one at a time. We phased our work to allow people traveling through this area to continue having access to West Seattle during this time through maintaining one lane of travel in all directions. A uniformed police officer will be on-site to help navigate traffic.
Look at the second page of this design rendering to see what the intersection plan is, once it’s done.
Meantime – the full update for the week ahead, covering all three project zones, is here.
4:06 PM: We asked how long the Delridge/Orchard work is expected to last. Answer: 4 to 5 weeks.
With a week of sunshine ahead, road work will be in high gear. That includes the Delridge repaving/utilities project preparing for next year’s launch of the RapidRide H Line. SDOT‘s weekly update on the work ahead (and beyond) includes these key points:
*Later this month, we’ll demolish and upgrade the intersection at SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW in phases. We’re working to finalize the details of this work and will provide an update and detour map next week.
*Bus stop upgrades continue throughout the corridor. King County Metro will notify riders of all bus stop changes and relocations via their rider alert system.
*Roadway upgrades on SW Hudson St between Delridge Way SW and 25th Ave SW are scheduled to begin the week of April 19
*Intersection upgrades at Sylvan Way SW will be completed soon. This intersection will be reopened before the upgrades at SW Orchard St begin.
*Potholing for duct bank work will resume next week on Delridge Way SW
*Most of the utility work will occur in the roadway, with some trenching through driveways as needed. Residents may experience intermittent access restrictions when we are working near them
*Roadway, sidewalk, and curb ramp demolition on the west side of Delridge Way SW near SW Thistle St to begin next week
Of note, SW Cloverdale has reopened at Delridge. The full preview for the week ahead is here
If you thought you heard gunfire in North Delridge around 7 pm Saturday – police confirmed it. The initial police summary says calls came in from the 4700 block of 26th SW, where officers found multiple shell casings and a “bullet-riddled vehicle” in an alley between 26th SW and Delridge. No one was in the car and no one was hurt. When they found the vehicle’s owner, she told them, the report says, that “she had just purchased the vehicle and would not know who would have wanted to do this to her car.” The incident remains under investigation by Gun Violence Reduction Unit detectives,
(WSB photo, October 15, 2020)
Almost six months have passed since a tip led investigators to what the Seattle Animal Shelter‘s executive director called the “worst case of animal cruelty and neglect” she had ever seen – more than 200 neglected animals and 100+ dead ones in and near a Delridge house. The man arrested there, Matthew A. Hazelbrook, is awaiting trial on 17 counts of felony animal cruelty. In the meantime, SAS says some of the surviving animals were finally surrendered and are now up for adoption. In its announcement, SAS says it’s looking for “forever homes” after the animals have spent months either at the shelter or in foster homes. We asked for details on the 200+ animals originally seized, and here’s what SAS spokesperson Melissq Mixon sent:
We have 19 guinea pigs and 6 rabbits from the case still available for adoption.
We transferred 125 guinea pigs and 58 rabbits to other organizations.
The rest of the animals (~90) either had ownership claims and were reclaimed or have already been adopted.
As noted in its post, SAS is also trying to find homes for 70 cats from an unrelated case – found in a downtown studio apartment. Mixon tells WSB, “We’ve had an incredible response to both this case and the latest one. Our teams are working as quickly as possible to review and process adoption applications …” Adoptable animals, and information on how to adopt, can be found here. Hazelbrook’s trial, meantime, is tentatively set for July.
9:48 PM: A two-vehicle crash at Delridge/Sylvan has drawn a “rescue extrication” response, with people reported trapped in the vehicles. At least two people are reported to be seriously injured. At least part of that intersection is blocked.
10 PM: Added photo sent by Lori. The response was upsized to a “major rescue” because people needed to be extricated from both vehicles. As you can see from Lori’s photo above, firefighters had to remove the roof from one vehicle.
10:14 PM: Another photo above from Lori. Meantime, the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is arriving. Sylvan is blocked up the hill and this will be closed for several hours while they investigate. Two people have been taken to the hospital.
10:35 PM: Above is our photo of the wrecked cars. That’s the north side of Home Depot in the background. Waiting for SFD info on the conditions of the two people taken to the hospital.
19:49 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says a man in his mid-20s was transported in serious condition, and a man in his early 20s was transported in stable condition.
11:00 PM: Police now say the two were the vehicles’ drivers and no one else was in either car and that one driver is being investigated for DUI. Sylvaan Way remains closed between High Point Drive and Delridge.
12:24 AM: Still closed.
9:13 AM: Additional information from police this morning – they now say the male driver of the red Chevrolet was westbound and “crossed the center line in the 7200 block of Sylvan Way and struck a blue Hyundai, driven by an adult female, which was coming down the hill.” The male driver is under investigation for suspected DUI.
ADDED MONDAY: In this comment, a family member says the blue Hyundai’s driver is actually a man in his mid-30s and is in stable condition.
The new start date for closing Sylvan Way’s east end is part of the weekly preview for the Delridge repaving-and-more project. Here are the main points, from SDOT:
*The Sylvan Way SW intersection closure has been rescheduled to begin as early as April 6. Local access will remain available for Home Depot, Sherwin-Williams, and ampm via the Sylvan Way SW and SW Orchard St intersection.
*Bus stop upgrades are happening throughout the corridor including at SW Hudson St, SW Holly St, SW Myrtle St, SW Graham St, and SW Holden St
*Roadway upgrades on SW Hudson St between Delridge Way SW and 25th Ave SW beginning soon
*The west side of SW Hudson St will be closed as a part of this work
‘*Roadway demolition on the west side of Delridge Way SW between the Longfellow Creek Green Space and SW Graham St is beginning next week
*Potholing for duct bank work resumes next week on the east side of Delridge Way SW between SW Holden St and SW Thistle St
See the full preview of next week’s work by going here. For project backstory and info on contacting the team, go here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tonight the five-story mixed-use proposal for 9218 18th SW won first-stage Design Review approval on the second try.
In the Southwest Design Review Board‘s first meeting of the year, present were the board’s new chair Scott Rosenstock and members John Cheng and Alan Grainger, along with the project’s assigned city planner David Sachs, and Design Review program manager Lisa Rutzick. The board had told the project team last October to give the Early Design Guidance phase a second try.
ARCHITECT’S PRESENTATION: Presenting from Caron Architecture was principal Radim Blazej, who brought a team including project manager Andrew Kluess. They described the 5-story project as apartments – about 56, with 28 offstreet parking spaces (though none is required) – over commercial space fronting both Delridge and 18th.
If you were dreading the plan to close the east end of Sylvan Way, between Orchard and Delridge, “as soon as today,” here’s a bit of a reprieve – it’s been postponed. SDOT now says the closure, which was announced last week, won’t start until next week. They promise more info in the weekly update on the preparing-for-RapidRide H Line project, which usually is sent on Fridays.
That’s the Caron Architecture design packet (also viewable here) for 9218 18th SW [map], a South Delridge mixed-use project that goes back before the Southwest Design Review Board in an online meeting this Thursday (April 1st). The project is described as a 5-story, 58-unit apartment building with commercial space, plus offstreet parking for 28 vehicles and 63 bicycles. This is the second Early Design Guidance meeting for the project, after the board told the project team in October to try again. Thursday’s meeting is at 5 pm, with viewing/listening info here; here’s how to comment on the proposal before, during, and/or after the meeting.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Two high-profile topics filled the agenda as HPAC – the community council for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – met online this past week: Public safety and public art.
To talk about public safety, HPAC invited a neighbor, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who chairs the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, which was back in the spotlight again this week for a proposed cut in the police budget. (We explained her compromise proposal here; the committee agreed the next day to substitute it for the previous version.) “We wanted to hear your thinking” on the big picture, explained HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick. “How can we make meaningful change, while staying safe?”
A new road closure is part of the weekly update on the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project preparing for the RapidRide H Line launch. Sylvan Way between Orchard and Delridge “will be closed as early as March 31 for roadway demolition and paving,” SDOT says, adding that the closure will continue “into April.” The somewhat parallel leg of Orchard will be the recommended detour to get to and from the rest of Sylvan Way. Other key points for the week ahead:
*SW Trenton St on the east side of Delridge Way SW is closed and will remain closed for several weeks to complete roadway, sidewalk, and curb ramp paving in the area. SW Thistle St has temporarily re-opened during this closure.
*Landscaping is beginning throughout the corridor and will continue into April
*Roadway and electrical upgrades on SW Hudson St between Delridge Way SW and Puget Blvd SW have been rescheduled
*Roadway demolition on Delridge Way SW near the SW Findlay St intersection will flip to the west side beginning as early as March 29
*Intersection upgrades continue at SW Kenyon St and SW Holden St
The full weekly work-plan preview is here. The work is scheduled to continue into fall, with the Route 120/RapidRide H conversion expected next year.
(SDOT graphic from last fall)
Last year, after reader tips, we reported on neighbors’ concern about a seemingly sudden SDOT plan to install “diverters’ to restrict 26th SW traffic at two intersections, Genesee and Brandon. While SDOT saw it as a way to lower traffic on the 26th SW Delridge Neighborhood Greenway, neighbors noted that it would create chokepoints at two of the few east-west connections between North Delridge and the rest of the peninsula. After saying the idea was shelved last summer, SDOT revived it last fall; a community meeting ensued in October, with SDOT suggesting options, and a offering a survey online.
Today, half a year later, SDOT has announced a decision, though it’s still not the final word: No diverters … for at least another year and a half or so. The email announcement notes that “a majority of the comments and survey responses want(ed) to maintain the current access at the two intersections and not install the diverters.” Today’s announcement continues:
We also gathered traffic counts along 26th Ave SW and the surrounding streets where we were planning to evaluate several traffic management and street calming options, including the traffic diverters at the intersections with SW Genesee St and SW Brandon St. The data from these counts showed that traffic volumes and speeds were lower since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge in 2020.
We have decided to hold off on this work and will begin reevaluating these potential traffic-calming measures again after traffic returns to the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge some time in 2022.
In the meantime, the Delridge Neighborhood Greenway will still see upgrades as part of the Delridge RapidRide H Line project. This includes:
Building additional speed humps
Refreshing the pavement markings with new paint
Updating directional signs
Upgrades to neighborhood greenway connections from Delridge Way SW on SW Andover St, SW Hudson St, and SW Findlay St, including making signal updates, refreshing the pedestrian crossings, and improving ADA accessibility.
SDOT also cited reduced traffic when dropping the plan the first time last summer, but revived it anyway; The diverters were not part of the original corridor plan.
The new office/warehouse building that Bee’s Plumbing plans for its new HQ at 2216 SW Orchard [map] has arrived at “early design guidance” feedback time. The project at the ex-Tug Inn site is proposed for 3-4 stories (the site is zoned for up to 5), with about 7,000 square feet of office space, 5,000 sf of warehouse/office space, and offstreet parking for more than 40 vehicles. The project is going through the Administrative Design Review process, which means no community meetings, though community feedback is invited. Here’s architect Andrew Finch‘s design packet for this stage of the process, focused on massing (size and shape). The notice published today sets March 31st as the early-design feedback deadline and explains how to send yours.
Here’s a seasonal way you can help with the Delridge Grocery Cooperative‘s ongoing work to ramp up into their store space: In addition to ongoing weekly produce boxes, they’re selling the “Spring Thing,” a basket full of “Pacific Northwest foodie delights” and a $5 discount coupon from West Seattle Nursery,” all in a cute reusable metal tub. It’s $48 and on sale online through March 31 for pickup/delivery April 3rd. See the full list of what’s in the Spring Thing, and how to order yours, by going here. Says DGC Produce Box Team member Agen Schmitz, “Our DGC team has a lot of fun putting together these baskets and bags and tubs, and we love introducing our customers to new PNW-based products and connecting them with other West Seattle businesses. But these basket bundles are also key to helping us pay our ongoing expenses while we work behind the scenes to move forward with opening the Co-op as a full store.”
Looking at the week ahead: Here are the key places where you’ll see crews working on the road/utilities project to prepare Delridge Way for the RapidRide H Line:
Side street closures on Delridge Way SW during demolition and paving
SW Findlay St (east side)
SW Thistle St
21st Ave SW at Delridge Way SW
SW Hudson St (east side full closure happening soon)Zone A (West Seattle Bridge to SW Findlay St)
Demolition and electrical upgrades on SW Hudson St between Delridge Way SW and Puget Blvd SW (east side)Zone B (SW Findlay St to north of SW Orchard St)
Demolition and electrical upgrades between the intersection of SW Findlay St and SW Juneau St began this week and will continue into next week (east side)
Roadway demolition between SW Juneau St and SW Graham St near Louisa Boren STEM K-8 to begin as early as March 15Zone C (SW Orchard St to SW Roxbury St)
Upgrades at 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW continue
Intersection upgrades continue at SW Kenyon and SW Holden St
Paving on the east side of Delridge Way SW between SW Thistle St and SW Cloverdale St beginning as early as March 15 (east side)
Full details, zone by zone, are in the project team’s email bulletin for the week ahead (see it here). If you have questions/concerns about the work, the project team promises responses via DelridgeTransit@Seattle.gov or 206-775-8739.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than 70 locations for speed humps/cushions are part of the final plans for “Home Zone” traffic-calming in Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge neighborhoods besieged by detouring drivers since the West Seattle Bridge closed a year ago.
The plans were presented last night – along with side notes about a new stretch of greenway and the bridge itself – at an online meeting led by SDOT and Department of Neighborhoods reps.
THE PLANS: First, the definition of Home Zone:
SDOT did traffic counts at more than 39 locations and took three walking tours while coming up with the draft plan presented in January. They also offered a survey that brought 542 responses. 59 percent of respondents felt the draft plan was missing something that would make them feel safer – 300 suggestions came in. “About 30 percent were things we can accommodate in the Home Zone plan or look into further,” said SDOT’s David Burgesser. The rest were too general, not feasible, too expensive, or put aside for future consideration.
SOUTH AREA HOME ZONE PLAN
Two stolen Hondas to watch for:
STOLEN CIVIC: Liza emailed the photo and report:
My car was stolen last night from our driveway on 21st Ave SW near the Juneau staircase. Please keep an eye out for it! Red Honda Civic Hatchback 1997. License plate # ABL0186.
STOLEN CR-V: Posted in the WSB Community Forums by Jgarcia, word of a stolen silver/gray ’98 Honda CR-V, taken near Delridge/Genesee, license plate # BPE9312. The post has details on interior and exterior decorations.
If you see either of these, or any other known stolen vehicles, call 911.
Two meetings about transportation projects in the week ahead:
(SDOT photo)
‘HOME ZONE’ PLAN: In the almost-a-year period since the West Seattle Bridge closed, neighborhoods including Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge have been deluged with detour traffic. The SDOT “Home Zone” plan for side-street traffic-calming will be unveiled during an online meeting at 6 pm Monday (March 8th). We reported in January on the draft plan, featuring added speed humps, flashing beacons, painted curb bulbs, and more. You’ll find information on watching/participating tomorrow, or calling in, by going to this SDOT webpage.
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE UPDATES: The monthly meeting of the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force is usually packed with updates, from the bridge’s status to low-bridge access issues to Reconnect West Seattle projects. This month’s meeting is at noon Wednesday (March 10th). We don’t have the agenda yet, but the link for watching the livestream is up – find it here. If you have a question or comment to send in advance, westseattlebridge@seattle.gov is the address to use.
(SDOT photo)
More sidewalk, repaving, and utility work is planned this week as the RapidRide H Line corridor preparation project continues on and near Delridge Way SW. The project team lists these as key points for the week ahead:
*Curbs and sidewalks continue to be installed throughout Zones A and B
*Demolition between SW Trenton St and SW Henderson St to begin next week, work will include roadway, sidewalk, and curb ramp upgrades
*Roadway and sidewalk demolition in Zone C rescheduled to begin this week, with sidewalk and electrical utility upgrades to be completed in the coming weeks
*21st Ave SW at Delridge Way SW remains closed to local access only
*Intersection demolition and restoration at SW Holden St and SW Kenyon St continues
The full bulletin for this week’s work is here.
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