West Seattle, Washington
17 Tuesday
3:32 PM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is arriving at the Delridge/Andover strip mall – home to Delridge Deli Mart, Subway, Uptown Espresso among other businesses – after dispatchers told them a caller reported “black smoke” from the building. First arrivals aren’t seeing it, though, so the response is downsizing.
3:37 PM: Apparently a complete false alarm – the call is now fully closed.
3:31 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to the 7500 block of 24th SW [map] for what’s described as a car fire inside a multifamily building’s garage. Updates to come.
3:37 PM: Per radio exchange, SPD is closing Holden just east of Delridge because of the fire response. The fire so far is reported to be confined to the garage.
3:44 PM: Adding photos. The response is being downsized.
3:50 PM: Firefighters told us at the scene that the fire was largely confined to the car – it didn’t spread to the building. No injuries reported. Right now they’re working on ventilation.
4:21 PM: Holden is open again.
From Kristin:
Our car was broken into some time Tuesday night/Wednesday morning between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am. We were parked in front of the Salvation Army White Center Corps on 16th Ave between Henderson & Barton. Our passenger-side window was smashed and a backpack was stolen containing various electronics worth over $400.
A new playground at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 would benefit the Delridge neighborhood beyond the school community – and you can help make it happen. Here’s an update:
Louisa Boren’s Friends of a New Playground needs a show of community support and engagement to be eligible for a $50,000 grant that will be used to create a master plan for a school and community playground.
Currently, there are 20 volunteers that have pledged time and we need pledge support from at least 100 people. Volunteering, for this phase of the project, looks like attending meetings, providing feedback on designs, and donating supplies for meetings.
Children are encouraged to be a part of this process and they can be included in the volunteer pledge portion of the application, adding to the total hours that we need to reach to be considered for grant approval (and can count as volunteer hours for them as well!).
If you know of community members that want to see improvements to the Delridge Neighborhood, please share the link with them and get them to support our playground.
Please take a minute to fill out the online form to pledge volunteer time and support.
1. Sign up!
2. Share!
3. Show up!
For more information: louisaborenplaygroundcommittee@gmail.com
(WSB photo)
That’s the Dragonfly Pavilion in North Delridge, and it’s one of nine spots around the city on a new Seattle Parks list of locations where an incentive is offered for performance-based art – here’s the announcement:
Beginning this year, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is offering to waive fees for community members or groups to host performance-based art in select Seattle parks. Performances can consist of an array of styles, including theatrical, comedic, spoken word, toast masters, acoustical concert, and more.
This opportunity is open to new permittees that host their event in one of nine Seattle parks near or around the park’s amphitheater. Parks include: 6th Ave. NW Pocket Park, A.B. Ernst Park, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights Memorial Park, Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Dragonfly Pavilion in Longfellow Creek Greenspace, Greenwood Park, Jimi Hendrix Park, Magnuson Park, and Othello Park.
Applications are based on a first come, first served basis on a rolling calendar. To qualify, applicants must be willing to meet the requirements for the fees to be waived. Requirements include the following: events must be open to the public, no amplified sound and no money collection is allowed, and selected applicants must provide event insurance, and commit to do outreach to the neighborhood where the event will take place.
Interested in applying? You can apply by visiting seattle.gov/parks/reserve/park-use-permits and downloading a Park Use Application. Application forms must be turned in to Seattle Parks and Recreation staff at the Event Scheduling Office or e-mailed to parkusepermits@seattle.gov. Approval can take 5-10 business days.
Outreach can include publication of an announcement – so if you decide to have a show there, let us know too!
8:32 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo of the pole fire that’s caused some trouble near Delridge Playfield tonight. More than 70 customers have lost power, according to the City Light map. And Metro has diverted buses off the Oregon/22nd route uphill from Delridge Way.
8:59 PM: Another texter says Oregon is taped off at Delridge and that the Delridge/Oregon light is out.
We received multiple reports – and police dispatchers reported multiple calls – of possible gunfire near 16th/Roxbury, Police are checking the area but so far haven’t found any evidence (casings, witnesses, etc.).
Dates are now set for feedback meetings on two more Delridge projects we’ve covered:
7035 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Last month, we noted the plan to replace an almost-century-old house with 9 townhouses and 9 offstreet-parking spaces. It’s in the Early Community Outreach for Design Review process, and a site tour for anyone and everyone interested is set for 10 am next Saturday (February 1st). You also can comment via a form linked at the bottom of this project webpage.
9201 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Last month, the revised proposal for this site had an Early Community Outreach meeting (unattended except for us).
(2018 WSB photo of project site)
The ex-auto-shop site was once proposed for a self-storage building but zoning changes disallowed that, so now the plan is for a 5-story building with 46 apartments, 3 live-work units, 2,000 square feet of retail space, and about 20 offstreet-parking spaces. It’s now going to the Southwest Design Review Board, with the first of at least two reviews tentatively set for 6:30 pm March 19th (Senior Center/Sisson Building, 4217 SW Oregon).
(Rendering by Sazei Design Group)
After three meetings in 2+ years, the mixed-use project at 8854 Delridge Way SW has won final Southwest Design Review Board approval. Toplines from last night’s review meeting:
The architects began with how they had addressed the issues highlighted in the previous review last September. The revised design has a more toned-down look; the types of materials and colors have been reduced in number, with a focus on more earthy tones.
While board members were OK with the new plan overall, questions about the ground-floor “commercial” space took up most of the meeting. Early on, the project team was asked what the space would be; architect Hamid Korasani from Sazei Design Group‘s reply – it was intended as office space for the building’s management and leasing agents. They said the owner had no plans for a café or coffee shop, so no ventilation or other required food-service-related elements were included.
Public comment centered around the open space proposed for the area right in front of the office space. The plan called for furniture outside it; people living nearby were concerned it might be a magnet for loitering. Board members pointed out that the outdoor space faces onto two very busy streets (Delridge and Henderson), so it really didn’t make sense to have outdoor seating in such a busy, noisy space, especially if the commercial space wasn’t going to hold a cafe or something similar.
So the plan was approved 5-0 with the provision that there be no outdoor furniture and that the street-front area outside the office space use more landscaping and generally be rearranged to bring more attention to the office entrance.
Even if you missed the meeting, you can still comment on the project by emailing the assigned city planner, Wayne Farrens, at wayne.farrens@seattle.gov, who will be writing the final report over the next few weeks.
Also meeting this week for the first time since October: HPAC (which now encompasses Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge). For one, the group voted on a new logo, created by Dina Lydia of Digital Genie:
:
Other topics:
DISCUSSION WITH POLICE: Southwest Precinct operations commander Lt. Steve Strand was there, and encampment-related issues were a big topic, as was traffic.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Back in early December, we reported on the preliminary ideas for renovating the Cottage Grove Park playground (aka Puget Boulevard Commons Park) at 5206 26th SW, to make the play area more appealing and usable for younger children.
This week, Seattle Parks project manager Pam Kliment provided an email update to neighbors who attended that December forum: The team now has a detailed plan for the park layout (see the PDF here or below), as well as an end-of-April timeframe for completion (8 weeks to get the new play equipment, then a couple of weeks to install it).
Kliment noted that some work on the project has already been done, including the removal of problematic play equipment such as “the rocker,” which was cited by neighbors as being difficult and dangerous for younger children to use.
The Cottage Grove project was chosen by the public as part of the Your Voice, Your Choice program in partnership with the Department of Neighborhoods, Department of Transportation, and Seattle Parks.
Questions about the Cottage Grove Park project can be sent to Pam Kliment at pamela.kliment@seattle.gov or 206-684-7556.
9:12 PM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is headed to the 9400 block of 18th SW [map]. More as we get it.
9:15 PM: The first firefighters on scene say it’s a shed fire in a backyard. Avoid 18th/Cambridge, as roads are blocked.
9:22 PM: The response is being downsized, as the fire is apparently confined to the shed, described as 20 x 20. SFD say a downed wire is complicating things, though, so Seattle City Light is responding.
9:32 PM: Shed fire is out, per SFD radio.
If you live, work, shop, and/or study in Highland Park, Riverview, and/or South Delridge, Wednesday’s the big night – the next meeting of HPAC, which spans all three of those eastern West Seattle communities. Get updates on big projects including the Highland Park Way/Holden safety improvements; discuss where HPAC’s energy is best focused; and vote on a new logo. See the full plan here. All that and more awaits you if you are at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden) next Wednesday (January 22nd).
(Rendering by Sazei Design Group)
This Thursday (January 23), the proposed Delridge Heights mixed-use building at 8854 Delridge Way SW – a vacant site that previously held a fire-damaged auto shop – goes to the Southwest Design Review Board for the third time. Below (and here), you can see the new “packet” detailing the revised design that board members will review. The meeting includes a public-comment period, so it’s published for your review too.
The plan by Sazei Design Group calls for what the city website summarizes as a “4-story apartment building with 18 small efficiency dwelling units, 14 apartments (32 units total), and office space. Parking for 14 vehicles proposed.” The packet says the “office space” is 1,150 square feet of commercial space that will include “retail.” Here’s our coverage of the previous two reviews – last September and August 2017. Thursday’s meeting is at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building in The Junction (4217 SW Oregon).
Police are at and around the South Delridge 7-11, looking for a robber. According to radio dispatch, the robber was armed with a handgun and got away with cash. The preliminary description broadcast so far: Black, male, 5’10”, thin, black clothing, masked, last seen leaving on foot northbound on 20th SW. A K-9 team is joining the search. We’ll update if we hear anything more.
From the city’s twice-weekly bulletin, applications are in for three West Seattle projects, opening two-week comment periods:
(Rendering by Cone Architecture)
5616 CALIFORNIA SW: This is the site immediately south of C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor). 8 townhouses are planned, in 3 buildings, with 5 offstreet-parking spaces. The notice, linked here, explains how to comment. It’s not the first public-comment period for this proposal.
9224 20th SW: The city describes this as a “cottage-housing development,” five 2-story houses with six offstreet-parking spaces. Here’s the location. The notice is linked here.
(corrected address) 9020 15th SW: This too is planned as a group of single-family houses, six 2-story houses with six offstreet-parking spaces. Here’s the location. The notice is linked here.
Two restaurant biznotes this afternoon:
PHORALE LOCATION CONFIRMED: That sight in the window at 9418 Delridge Way SW connects the dots on two things. The closure of the Vietnamese restaurant Hoang Kim last week (as reported here) and the announcement that Phorale – known for its food truck since closing in South Park – was opening “in White Center.” The Eater report that broke the latter news did not specify a location, nor did Phorale respond to our followup, but we went to South Delridge to check on our suspicions and indeed, the windows are now papered over with Phorale’s distinctive logo.
WESTWOOD VILLAGE MOD PIZZA: On our way back from that run, we went through Westwood Village and noticed this:
The signage for West Seattle’s second MOD Pizza is up. We first reported last March that city permit files showed MOD would move into the ex-Baja Taco and ex-Giannoni’s Pizzeria spaces. MOD declined comment as recently as August, saying they were still negotiating the lease; we’re checking back with them now to see if they have a projected opening date.
ADDED 4:50 PM: They’re hoping to open “end of March.”
(WSB photos)
Thanks to the texter who sent word that the Vietnamese restaurant Hoang Kim (9418 Delridge Way SW) has closed. We went over for a look – here’s the note on the window:
Hoang Kim had been there for about two years, taking over what had been 88 Restarant. In a social media post about its closure, Hoang Kim said, “Hope to see you all again at a new better location!”
Records indicate that 94-year-old house at 8447 Delridge Way SW has been vacant for a while. New today in the city’s online files, a plan to replace it with eight townhouses. The site plan shows two 4-unit buildings, with five offstreet-parking spaces on the alley behind them. The 6,700-square-foot property was sold earlier this month for $450,000.
The next three West Seattle safety projects in the Neighborhood Street Fund program are in the planning phase and ready for your comments, SDOT says. Each has its own webpage with project info and an explanation of how to comment:
South Delridge Pedestrian Safety Enhancements
*New walk and bike signal at the intersection of Delridge Way SW and SW Barton St
*New marked crosswalk at the intersection of Delridge Way SW and SW Barton St
SW Barton St Pedestrian Safety Enhancements
New curb ramps and crosswalks at the intersections of SW Barton St & 25th Ave S and SW Barton St & 24th Ave SW.
New left turn arrows for eastbound and westbound movements at SW Barton St and 26th Ave SW to separate pedestrian movements from left turning vehicles
Install new pedestrian activated flashing beacon at the intersection of SW Barton St and 25th Ave SW.
Delridge Neighborhood Greenway Safe Connections
This project is a combination of two community proposals to enhance the connection between the Delridge Neighborhood Greenway and the West Seattle Bridge Trail:
Improvements to SW Andover St between 26th Ave SW (Delridge Neighborhood Greenway) and Delridge Way SW, as well as the intersection of SW Andover St & Delridge Way SW. These include protected bike lanes, green pavement markings, a new left turn pocket for people riding bikes, right turn on red restrictions, and other changes.
A new railing on the onramp from the Delridge Way SW to the West Seattle Bridge. This on-ramp hosts a multiuse trail that links to the West Seattle Bridge Trail, but it currently lacks a railing between the trail and traffic using the onramp. This project will include a new railing, trimming overgrown plants to increase the usable width of the trail, and spot pavement repairs.
You have until the end of January to send your thoughts on any or all of the projects.
After 3+ inches of rain today alone, you might be saying it’s weather fit for a fish. Or – a mermaid! Just in time for Garland the Holiday Mermaid‘s scheduled appearance tomorrow in West Seattle, 2-5 pm Saturday (December 21st) at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW). From the announcement:
Come meet Garland, pose for pictures, share your holiday wishes, and enjoy a delectable craft beer while you wait. Kids and pets are welcome.
Professional photography available, with digital images delivered to your inbox ($15 for 2 images). Suggested donation of $10, for images taken on your own smart device.
Garland is appearing via Seattle Mermaids.
Just north of the Orchard business node on Delridge, more redevelopment – a project to replace that 93-year-old house with nine townhouses is proceeding through the system, a year after an early-stage proposal appeared. The townhouses at 7035 Delridge Way SW would have one off-street-parking spot per unit. The 9,600-square-foot site, sold this past June for $690,000, is just a couple doors down from the site where the Lam Bow Apartments are to be rebuilt.
Hadn’t heard about this until Lisa texted this morning – thank you! Louisa Boren STEM K-8 is hosting a big regional robotics tournament all day. You’re welcome to stop by and watch the action in the school gym.
It’s a VEX IQ Challenge tournament, qualifying competitors to advance to state, as explained here.
Special guest while we were there, the Seattle Police bomb-squad robot:
We’re told teams from as far away as Olympia are participating; finals are at 3:15 pm. Boren STEM K-8 is at 5950 Delridge Way SW.
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