West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
Coming up at online meetings of the Southwest Design Review Board, 2 South Delridge projects less than a block apart:
(Sketch from 9201 Delridge meeting packet by Atelier Drome)
9201 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Four months ago, we reported on the latest changes for this site – a new developer, new architect, and new plan. The current plan, described as “a 5-story, 71-unit apartment building with retail” and no offstreet vehicle parking, will go before the SWDRB at 4 pm Thursday, October 1st. This is the Early Design Guidance phase, so discussion will focus on the “massing” (size/shape) and other basic comments. The meeting packet is already online, here; details on how to attend the meeting (and how to comment) are here.
(Rendering from 9218 18th SW draft meeting packet by Caron Architecture)
9218 18TH SW: Two weeks later – at 4 pm Thursday, October 15th – the board will get its first look at this similar-size project, described as “a 5-story, 59-unit apartment building with [~5.242 square feet of] retail” and 25 offstreet vehicle-parking spaces. We first mentioned the plan for this site six months ago. The draft meeting packet is already online. Connection information for the meeting will appear here within a few weeks.
Two reader reports:
ROCK INCIDENT: We got multiple reports from Gatewood about someone in a car throwing a rock at a letter carrier on Saturday, as shown toward the end of the short video above, sent by Keith. One of the other witnesses, Carter, reported retrieving the rock afterward and saying it “could have done major damage.” So far as we know, the letter carrier was not hurt.
ABANDONED MOTORCYCLE: We’ve received word of two sightings in the past three days of this motorcycle near Longfellow Creek, which suggests it’s been dumped there:
That photo is from Jeff; there’s a plate on the motorcycle, starting with 2E. We’ve already checked with the person who emailed about a similar motorcycle stolen in Top Hat recently; not theirs. Police also have been notified.
As the Delridge project to pave the way for RapidRide H Line – launching this time next year – continues, here’s what’s ahead. SDOT‘s project staff says these are the highlights for the next week:
On Monday, September 14 we are returning to the Longfellow Creek Green Space neighborhood near 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St to complete some utility work. This will cause some temporary access restrictions to the neighborhood for approximately one week.
On Monday and Tuesday, we will be working overnight with Seattle Public Utilities at SW Brandon St and Delridge Way SW to complete some pipe work. Night work will occur on both nights and working hours are between 7 PM and 6 AM.
We have an upcoming major roadway closure at SW Oregon St and Delridge Way SW. Beginning as early as the morning of Friday, September 18 we will be closing SW Oregon St to thru-traffic for the weekend. People wishing to access Delridge Way SW from Pigeon Point will need to detour to SW Andover St via 21st Ave SW.
This closure is also scheduled to occur the following weekend between Friday, September 25 and Monday, September 28
This work is weather-dependent and may change.
Those are just the highlights – here’s the full list of what’s planned in the week ahead.
9:07 AM: Just got two reports of an unannounced water outage near Delridge/Hudson. If you’re affected, be sure to notify Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800; we’re checking with SPU too.
9:17 AM: Remember that the city now has a water-outage map, similar to its long-running power-outage map, as reported here in July. The map says 82 customers are affected.
4:11 PM: From SPU: “Our crews were able to get water restored for customers about 12:30 today after working to repair an 8-inch water main that was damaged this morning at a construction site.”
The Delridge project paving the way for the RapidRide H Line conversion continues, and SDOT has just sent highlights of what’s ahead in the next week:
In general, roadway demolition and paving will continue in Zone A of the project. We are also preparing for some overnight work at SW Brandon St and SW Juneau St beginning as early as the week of September 14. We are planning this work now and a more solidified date will be shared next week.
In addition to that work, we will resume active construction near the Longfellow Creek Green Space again (near the 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St area on Delridge Way SW) next week.
We’ve also recently reopened SW Hudson St to through traffic.
We will not be working on September 7 in observance of Labor Day.
For zone-by-zone specifics on the week ahead, see the full update here.
ORIGINAL SUNDAY MORNING REPORT: Just got word from SDOT Traffic Operations that the south Delridge Way closure is now NOT expected to end tonight as planned. The closure between 18th and Barton is now expected to last through Monday, reopening by 5 am Tuesday. The utility work, involving installing a catch basin, has proven to be more complicated than expected, so they need extra time. The map above shows the detour; in addition to the work zone with the full road closure, Delridge is “local access only” between Roxbury and Henderson.
7:53 AM MONDAY: SDOT spokesperson Adonis Ducksworth tells WSB the crew worked late into the night and was able to reopen Delridge early today after all.
Along with the south Delridge Way closure we’ve been talking about, the intersection of Delridge and Orchard is also going to be a chokepoint this weekend, SDOT warns in the newest update on the project paving the way for the RapidRide H Line:
o We will be working through the weekend to install a catch basin near the middle of the intersection
o There will be flaggers helping to redirect traffic around the work zone. Please plan accordingly and expect heavy traffic and delays.
Catch-basin work is also the reason for this weekend’s closure of part of Delridge:
We will be closing all lanes of Delridge Way SW from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW beginning tomorrow, August 29. The work will continue through August 30 to allow time for Seattle Public Utilities to complete additional work in the area. Please expect:
• Delridge Way SW to be fully closed from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW
• Local access only to be allowed from SW Henderson St to SW Barton St and 18th Ave to SW Roxbury St
• Restricted turns from side streets onto Delridge Way SW while the closure is in place
• Access to businesses to be maintained at all times
As for the rest of the project zone along Delridge, here’s the plan for the week ahead.
That video is part of an update today in Monday’s hit-run homicide near Longfellow Creek:
SPD Homicide detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in locating two vehicles believed to be connected to this homicide. Both vehicles were captured on a surveillance camera near the scene. Detectives have asked anyone who might have known the victim – identified as Derrick Lacomb – or have information about the incident to call the Violent Crimes Tipline at 206-233-5000.
Here’s another look at the two vehicles:
As first reported here Monday evening, Mr. Lacomb’s body was found near 24th/25th SW; police said on Tuesday that they believe he was hit and killed by a driver who then left the scene.
(WSB photo, Monday night: Evidence markers placed during investigation)
We first told you last night about an investigation near Longfellow Creek after a man was found dead. Today, we followed up with police, and they’ve just released this update:
SPD Homicide and Traffic Collision investigators were called to West Seattle Monday evening after a 34-year-old man was struck and killed by a driver.
Around 6 pm, a resident in the 6500 block of 25th Avenue Southwest called 911 and reported a possibly deceased person in some bushes on the street. Police arrived, located the 34-year-old man, confirmed he was deceased, and contacted witnesses in the area.
At this point in the investigation, detectives believe the driver intentionally struck the victim, killing him. The driver then fled the scene.
If you have any information about this incident, please call 206-233-5000.
This happened near where 24th/25th meet, west of Delridge Way – here’s a map.
ADDED 12:30 PM: The not-yet-publicly-identified man is West Seattle’s second homicide victim of the year (not counting the suitcase-bodies victims, who were killed in Burien); the first was 41-year-old Jana Layman, whose roommate is awaiting trial in her January murder.
Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found near 24th/25th SW [map], by Longfellow Creek. We just went to the scene after a tip from a neighbor (thank you) about a big police response.
SPD at the scene included Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman, who told WSB that this all started with an investigation after a report of a hit-run crash in the area earlier today; near some debris left behind, the body was found. Capt. Grossman said they don’t know yet if the hit-run and death are connected; detectives are at the scene to see what they can find.
In addition to the 44th SW road work this weekend that we’ve already previewed multiple times, SDOT has three more alerts:
ROADSIDE TREE TRIMMING: This may be happening along two stretches:
We are continuing our tree trimming work on West Seattle Bridge closure reroutes this weekend. This work is important to increase visibility and enhance safety. This Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23, we’ll work to complete tree trimming on SW Orchard St between Delridge Way SW and Dumar Way SW heading eastbound. If we’re able to finish that project, there is also some much-needed tree trimming to accomplish at the 6700 block of W Marginal Way SW, near Highland Park Way SW.
ALSO THIS WEEKEND, IN SOUTH PARK: This is along the main route to/from the South Park Bridge – note that it’ll continue next weekend, too:
Starting this weekend, August 22-23, a private contractor will begin working on S Cloverdale St between 10th Ave S and 12th Ave S to replace two large utility cuts in the road that are currently patched with asphalt. This work will continue for two consecutive weekends.
During this work, traffic will be down to a single lane. The contractor’s crews will be directing traffic in alternate directions. Crews will be at the site 24/7 during these weekends and people should expect delays. This work is weather dependent. The paving crews will use fast-setting concrete, which means that if all goes well, the road should be open for Monday morning traffic each week.
DELRIDGE CLOSURE NEXT WEEKEND: Early heads-up:
As a part of the Delridge Way SW RapidRide H Line project, all lanes of Delridge Way SW will be closed from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW for up to 2 days beginning on Saturday, August 29. Delridge Way SW will be restricted to local access only from SW Henderson St to SW Roxbury St, but access to businesses in this area will be maintained. This closure will allow our team to connect a catch basin in the roadway. Please follow posted detour routes to 16th Ave SW. If you have any questions about this work, please contact DelridgeTransit@seattle.gov or 206-775-8739
10:04 AM: You can’t get to southbound Delridge Way SW from the five-way intersection right now because of a broken-down truck. Metro Routes 50, 120, and 125 are rerouted, too. Police are directing traffic. (added) The SDOT camera shows a tow truck has arrived.
11:21 AM: Traffic cam shows that the truck has been towed and the lane is open again.
Just announced by the county:
King County provided $2 million in one-time grants to science, arts and culture organizations, and independent live music venues disrupted by COVID-19 across the region. The program is tailored to organizations that draw tourists and is designed to ease the economic burden of the pandemic while also increasing public health measures.
Story
With $2 million of funding backed by the federal CARES Act, King County awarded a total of 62 grants in three categories:• Music venues (35 awards)
• Arts, culture and science educations organizations (21 awards)
• Science organizations (6 awards)The grant funds will improve compliance with public health safety measures as these organizations reopen to support the county’s economic recovery and enhance residents’ quality of life.
Grants may be used to reimburse a variety of costs between March 1 and December, such as payroll, rent, mortgage payments (excluding property taxes), healthcare insurance for employees, and utility expenses necessary to sustain the business during and after the public health emergency.
In addition, the grants may also be used for public health measures necessary to prepare for safe reopening, including, for example, plastic barriers and floor markings or public outreach and education materials.
The list of recipients includes two in West Seattle, both in North Delridge – The Skylark ($19,500) and Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association ($10,000).
Thanks to a crowdfunding campaign and lots of hard work, 2 Fingers Social in South Delridge has a brand-new covered patio.
Not only is it shelter from the blazing late-in-the-day sun, but 2 Fingers (9211 Delridge Way SW) also notes it’ll allow them to stay healthier outside during the fall and winter.
That billboard just north of the South Delridge 7-11 [map] features art by Madison O’Neal, who was a Denny International Middle School 8th-grader when her work was chosen as a winner of the Champions Together Hope & Resilience contest. The contest was citywide, asking youth to create art or poetry with a message of hope and resilience to get through the pandemic. The Southwest Seattle Youth Alliance provided the photo; Denny principal Jeff Clark tells WSB, “We are very proud of her and the many other Denny scholars who are stepping up to lead for positive change in many different ways! Go Dolphins!”
If not for the pandemic, this year’s Delridge Day would be happening in the park outside Delridge Community Center today. The organizers – VieWS (Visualizing increased engagement in West Seattle) decided to put together a “virtual” version – here’s the announcement!
As the date for this year’s Delridge Day festival approached, we the VieWS organizers were a little sad not to be preparing for another great day of community-building with you… and we quickly realized we weren’t the only ones missing out on this year’s festival. So we decided to try something just a little different!
While we will be happy to sleep in, we’re sad we couldn’t be up early at Delridge Community Center preparing to welcome you and all of our great performers, community groups, and musicians for another great Delridge Day neighborhood festival. But if you tune in when the Festival would normally begin at 11:00 am, we will have a few video messages to share with you along with some memories from previous festivals.
We invited some of our longtime sponsoring organizations and volunteers to tell us what they miss about not attending the Delridge Day Festival this year, and how they and their organizations have been adapting to the challenges of the pandemic.
Are you excited to check them out? Visit our temporary YouTube channel to check out the playlist now!
We also wanted to let you know that the festival may have gone virtual this year, but our sponsors helped us to ensure that our annual support of the community didn’t also go virtual.
Thanks to generous support, VieWS was able to donate $1,200 each to Southwest Youth & Family Services, the West Seattle Food Bank, and the White Center Food Bank to support our neighbors in need – which we all know is especially critical especially this year! If you have the means, take a moment to visit one of their websites – or all three – and make a donation right now in honor of Delridge Day and our community!
Stay tuned in the coming months. We have a few more virtual ideas in mind before we mark our calendars for the next Delridge Day – Saturday, August 14, 2021!
See our coverage of last year’s festival here.
We start Saturday – a busy day for road work – with a reminder that SW Genesee is closed all weekend between Delridge and 25th SW as part of the big RapidRide-readiness project. It’s scheduled to reopen by 5 am Monday, with another closure next Friday-Sunday. SDOT says its contractor is expected to wrap up work by 10 each night (but has a noise-variance permit if they miss that cutoff – note that you might hear nighttime noise from unrelated private construction). SW Alaska – temporarily reopened – and SW Andover are west-east detour routes. Metro Route 50 is being rerouted.
Also closed this weekend, and several other upcoming weekends – the Delridge Community Center parking-lot entrance. Road-rebuilding work is happening on that side:
Starting next Wednesday (August 12), paving operations will move to the east side of Delridge in that area, between Genesee and Alaska. SDOT says it will “connect with residents in this area to share information on how to access their driveways during this work” – but if you have any concerns/questions, you can reach the project team at DelridgeTransit@seattle.gov or 206-775-8739.
For the full rundown on what’s happening with the Delridge project during the coming week, read this.
A major closure is coming up as part of the Delridge Way work paving the way for converting Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line – and SDOT has clarified the hours: SW Genesee St will be closed between 25th Ave SW and Delridge Way SW, 9 am Friday (August 7) until 5 am Monday (August 10). During the weekend closure, crews might work as late as 10 pm, SDOT says. The Delridge Community Center parking lot entrance on Delridge south of SW Genesee will also be closed to vehicle access for what SDOT describes as “several weekends,” starting this Friday night. It will be accessible on weekdays.
The Delridge road work to pave the way for RapidRide H Line continues. Here’s what SOOT says is ahead this week, in all three zones:
Upcoming closures
Temporary weekend street closure at SW Genesee St and Delridge Way SW
For the weekends of August 7-9 and August 14-16, please expect no through access to Delridge Way SW from
SW Genesee St while crews reconstruct half of the intersectionSW Genesee St will be closed between 25th Ave SW and Delridge Way SW
The closure will be from Friday at 9 PM to Monday at 5 AM and work hours will not be past 10 PM
Local access to SW Genesee St will be maintained from SW Avalon Way, drivers will not be able to cut through to Delridge Way SWDrivers will need to detour at SW Andover St or SW Findlay St to get to and from Delridge Way SW
Route 50 will detour from Delridge Way SW to SW Avalon Way. Please visit King County Metro’s website for more information on rider alerts.
Sidewalk closures and detours between SW Orchard St and Sylvan Way SW
The sidewalk on the west side of Delridge Way SW is closed for construction. Please follow posted detour signs.
People walking will need to cross at the marked intersections at SW Myrtle St or SW Holden St
Access to some driveways at or near the SW Orchard St intersection may be impacted. Businesses will be open during construction and access will maintained at other driveways.
Rescheduled to the weekend of August 7 – August 9
Driveway closure for the northern parking lot at the Delridge Community Center
Next weekend, we will begin demolishing and rebuilding the driveway into the parking lot entrance between SW Genesee St and SW Oregon St
People driving will not be able to access the parking lot for several weekends starting August 8. You will be able to access the parking lot on weekdays.
Please plan to park in the southern parking lot near SW Alaska St during our closure
You may access this parking lot by taking 26th Ave SW to SW Alaska St
Overnight waterline improvements at SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St
We will work overnight in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities to connect pipes at the SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St intersections on Delridge Way SW from Thursday, August 6 to Saturday, August 8
You can expect pipe cutting, steel plates, and trucks near SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St
Ongoing closures
Temporary driveway closures near 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW
Expect intermittent delays to driveway access. Driveways will be covered with a steel plate when work is not occurring.
We will work our way south towards SW Thistle St in the next few weeks. Properties will be notified in advance of this work occurring.
Temporary access restrictions at 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St near the Longfellow Creek Greenspace
We are excavating a trench across 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St to complete utility work in the roadway
Access to 24th Ave SW, 25th Ave SW and SW Graham St will be interrupted during this work
If you need to exit at 24th Ave SW onto Delridge Way SW, please plan for delays of up to 30 minutes to exit and enter your street during working hours
You can coordinate with crews onsite to have a steel plate placed over the work area as needed to allow access
New work by zone
Zone A (West Seattle Bridge to SW Findlay St)
Paving work from SW Charlestown St to SW Dakota St
Foundation and sidewalk work will begin Monday August 8Demolition work from SW Alaska St to SW Genesee St
Starting next week, we will be paving the roadway on the west side of Delridge Way SW between SW Alaska St, SW Oregon St, and SW Genesee StDriveways between SW Alaska St to SW Genesee St will be temporarily impacted while we complete this work
Zone B (SW Findlay St to north of SW Orchard St)We will be demolishing the sidewalk between SW Orchard and SW Sylvan St on the west side of the street. Please follow posted detour signs at SW Myrtle St
Questions or concerns? The project team is at DelridgeTransit@Seattle.gov or 206-775-8739.. You can also sign up for texts about last-minute changes, especially night work and closures – text DELRIDGE to 33222.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
While the major road project under way along much of Delridge Way right now is officially the RapidRide H Line conversion project, that doesn’t quite cover what’s happening – rebuilding miles of street in concrete, replacing old water pipes and other utility connections … and, eventually, installing high-tech bus stops.
The work began in June and has more than a year to go. We met with SDOT project-team members online Wednesday to talk about major work coming up.
But first – the story of what’s not happening, thanks to neighbors’ pushback. It’s a reason to pay close attention to what shows up in your mailbox or on your doorknob. Residents were surprised last week to get flyers like this about a plan for “diverters” on 26th at Genesee and at Brandon:
(Reader photo by Erica, July 10th)
Talking to the SDOT team on the Delridge repaving-and-more project for an upcoming update, we got followup information about those two gas leaks/breaks in four days in the northern work zone. Both, SDOT says, were unmapped lines. The first one, at Delridge/Andover on July 10th, was an abandoned/capped half-inch line that was for private property but protruded into the public right of way and incurred a “saddle break” because of the weight of machinery over it. The second, on July 13th at Delridge/Oregon, was an unmarked line broken during excavation. SDOT sat down with PSE to figure out how to prevent any additional problems, so they’ve been “potholing” to check for other shallow surprise utilities, and relocating anything they find. They also changed the design for one project section to increase the distance from one line. Bottom line, SDOT says PSE will be paying for the repairs since the unmapped lines were their responsibility.
SIDE NOTE: If you suspect a gas leak – since natural gas is odorized to prevent it going undetected – call 888-225-5773, or 911.
P.S. The general project update from the rest of our conversation is coming up later.
Some additional closures – including a parking-lot entrance – and overnight work are part of what’s ahead next week in the Delridge road-work megaproject paving the way for the RapidRide H Line. Here’s what the project team just sent. Note that they are continuing to work in all three project “zones” simultaneously.
What’s new
Temporary weekend street closure at SW Genesee St and Delridge Way SW
*For the weekends of August 7-9 and August 14-16, please expect no through access to or from Delridge Way SW from SW Genesee St-SW Genesee St will be closed between 25th Ave SW to Delridge Way SW during this work
-Local access to SW Genesee St will be maintained from SW Avalon Way
-Route 50 will detour from Delridge Way SW to SW Avalon Way.Sidewalk closures and detours between SW Orchard St and Sylvan Way SW
*The sidewalk on the west side of Delridge Way SW are closed during construction. Please follow posted detour signs.
*People walking will need to cross at the marked intersections at SW Myrtle St or SW Holden St
*Access to some driveways at or near the SW Orchard St intersection may be impacted. Businesses will be open during construction and access will maintained at other driveways.Driveway closure for the northern parking lot at the Delridge Playfield
*We are planning to demolish and rebuild the driveway into the parking lot entrance between SW Genesee St and SW Oregon St as early as Wednesday, July 29
*People driving will not be able to access the parking lot at this time
*Please plan to park in the southern parking lot near SW Alaska St during construction You may access this parking lot by taking 26th Ave SW to SW Alaska StWhat’s continuing
*Temporary driveway closures near 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW
*Expect intermittent delays to driveway access. Driveways will be covered with a steel plate when work is not occurring.
*We will work our way south towards SW Thistle St in the next few weeks. Properties will be notified in advance of this work occurring.Temporary access restrictions at 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St near the Longfellow Creek Greenspace
*This week, we began excavating a trench across 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St to complete utility work in the roadway
*Access to 24th Ave SW, 25th Ave SW and SW Graham St will be interrupted during this work
*If you need to exit at 24th Ave SW onto Delridge Way SW, please plan for delays of up to 30 minutes to exit and enter your street during working hours
*You can coordinate with crews onsite to have a steel plate placed over the work area as needed to allow access
Ahead, next week’s planned work, zone by zone: Read More
Three notes tonight:
(July 8)
ARSON SUSPECT CHARGED: A 35-year-old man is jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail, charged with arson and burglary, in the White Center fire that gutted a former funeral home almost two weeks ago. The full story is on our partner site White Center Now.
GUNFIRE INCIDENT: Several reports of “gunshots or fireworks?” over the weekend, but we found just one confirmed case of gunfire, early Sunday in South Delridge. Here’s the narrative we obtained from the police report:
The victim got into an argument at a local club with an acquaintance, the suspect. That suspect made a comment that the victim took as a threat. Later, on 7/19/2020 at about 0235 hours, the victim returned home (8600 block of Delridge Way SW) and was walking to her apartment. The victim observed a vehicle pull into the block being driven by the suspect. The suspect pointed a firearm at the victim and fired two shots before leaving the scene, then the victim called 911 to report the incident.
A spent shell casing was located in the street and collected as evidence. There were no reported injuries or property damage. The suspect was not located.
BICYCLE FOUND: Missing a green and black Specialized bicycle? Someone found one and posted in the WSB Community Forums.
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