West Seattle, Washington
18 Wednesday
(Photo courtesy Parie Hines)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Saturday’s “groundbreaking” for the Delridge Grocery Co-op‘s long-awaited store isn’t intended as simply a spectator event.
It’s also meant to be an invitation and a welcome for you to come into the organization and help shape the store.
The space on the ground floor of Cottage Grove Commons (5444 Delridge Way SW) has awaited the store since the supportive-housing building’s completion six years ago. But that building likely wouldn’t have a commercial space at all, if not for community clamor before CGC was built. At a meeting in June 2011 (WSB coverage here), someone suggested the building should have a ground-floor commercial space, perhaps for what was then the Delridge Produce Cooperative.
The suggestion took root.
The co-op itself had sprouted two years before that. In early 2009, we published a brief mention that founder Galena White was looking for people to help fulfill a longtime wish – making inexpensive fresh organic produce available in Delridge, long a “food desert.”
We checked out a “car fire” call at Delridge/Holden and discovered it was actually that Metro Route 120 bus. Not a major fire – the two dispatched engines that were dismissed from the call fairly quickly – but the riders on board had to transfer to another bus to complete their trip, and the coach is at the roadside awaiting attention.
The latest approvals for Delridge development/redevelopment are for the slope along the east side of 23rd SW: 13 houses in the 5200 block [map]. We first wrote about the proposal a year and a half ago. The city published notices today with the approvals, technically two separate (but adjacent) sites, one with seven 3-story houses planned, the other with six, each providing one offstreet-parking space per house. This opens a two-week appeal period, deadline November 7th. The 5232 23rd SW notice and decision documents are here; the 5244 23rd SW notice and decision are here.
Just two days until this opportunity to give your time along with volunteers from the Delridge Grocery Co-op:
Join our merry band of volunteers as we take it to the streets (well, Delridge Way SW) the weekend before for our Community Adopt-A-Street Trash Pick-Up event on Saturday, October 26. Trash bags, gloves, pickers, and other supplies will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own gloves and bags as well. This is a great family activity (as well as a great way for middle and high schoolers to get some community service time), and you can participate for as little or as much time as you have to spare.
*Meet at Youngstown Coffee Company starting at 9:30 am (5214 Delridge Way SW)
*Saturday, October 26, 10am to 12pm
*RSVP: See this Signup Genius page
The co-op will celebrate its grocery-store groundbreaking just one week later!
Salmon sightings to report:
FAUNTLEROY CREEK: One day after the annual gathering to call the coho home, the first one has made it to the creek’s spawning reach, reports Judy Pickens on behalf of the volunteers watching the creek. It did not want to pose for a clear photo, so the one above is the best available for now. Three others have turned up – one dead, two alive – by the creek’s mouth. Now that the salmon have shown up, watch for word of “open creek” time this Saturday when you can go try your luck at spotting one!
LONGFELLOW CREEK: Jacquelyn sent this sighting from Longfellow Creek by Dragonfly Park:
Here’s info on Longfellow salmon-seeking.
(Reader photo from Megan)
8:09 PM: Now SFD is sending a “rescue extrication” response to a flipped-car crash reported at Delridge/Holden.
8:11 PM: SDOT says the southbound lanes of Delridge are blocked. Via radio communication, SFD reports one person is injured but out of the vehicle, so the response is being downsized, no extrication needed.
8:18 PM: Reader photo added – thank you; Megan adds that this is between Holden and Kenyon. As shown, a second vehicle was damaged; it was parked, police have reported over the air. The medic unit originally assigned to the call has been dismissed, so no major injuries.
10:58 PM: SFD says the 42-year-old driver was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Thanks for the tip. We just checked out a big but short-lived emergency response on the northeast end of the Home Depot lot, which is also immediately north of the Southwest Precinct. Police told us there was a report of someone injured in a fight – possibly with a weapon, which is why SFD’s call was designated “Scenes of Violence/Aid” – but the purported victim declined treatment and the response was downsized quickly, wrapping up just as we arrived.
Fall isn’t just rainy season, it’s salmon-spawning season. Notes from two West Seattle creeks:
LONGFELLOW CREEK: Thanks to Tom for that photo from earlier this week. He reports, “I saw this lone salmon in Dragonfly Park about halfway up the stream to the Salmon bridge (Monday). The fun has begun.” Here’s info on looking for salmon along the creek, which runs through east West Seattle.
FAUNTLEROY CREEK: As spawning season begins here, you’re invited to the ceremonial start tomorrow:
(WSB photo from past drumming event)
Rain or shine, gather to drum and sing to welcome the coho home to the creek, 5 pm Sunday (Fauntleroy/Director). This is a special year – the silver anniversary of the first two spawners to return to Fauntleroy Creek in modern times, as explained in our preview. All ages!
12:20 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “rescue extrication”-level response to the 8800 block of Delridge, where a driver is reported to be trapped in her car after hitting two parked cars.
12:24 AM: No injuries, according to police arriving at the scene.
12:27 AM: Downsizing the response, canceling all but two SFD units.
The Seattle Planning Commission‘s meeting this past week in North Delridge was its first outside City Hall.
Commission members are appointed volunteers, comprising an advisory group that keeps watch on the big picture, including the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
But it’s currently devoid of West Seattleites, as attendees observed after chair Michael Austin – a Pioneer Square resident – led the round of introductions. He explained that along with being “stewards of the Comprehensive Plan” – with work starting next year on a major update planned for 2023 – the commission’s other current focuses include light-rail-extension planning and Neighborhoods for All, which proposes zoning changes including an end to single-family zoning.
Neighborhood/organization reps from east West Seattle were invited to introduce themselves and talk about their concern:
(WSB photo, January 2018)
ORIGINAL REPORT, SATURDAY NIGHT: Back in February, the Southwest Design Review Board gave its final OK to the plan for a 4-story storage facility to replace the auto-shop business at 9201 Delridge Way SW. But new documents in the city filing system suggest that plan’s been scrapped and a new one is in the works: A 5-story, 56-unit mixed-use building. The new early-stage site plan (PDF) shows that 51 units would be apartment, 5 would be ground-floor live-works, and that there will be offstreet parking spaces for 8 cars and 59 bicycles. The building would also have retail space with an entry from Delridge; its main residential entrance would be off SW Barton. So why the change? A docket notation regarding the withdrawal of permit requests for the storage project says, “New zoning does not allow what was proposed for this permit application.” This site, like several others we’ve reported on lately, was upzoned by HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability and is now zoned NC3-55.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: Department of Construction and Inspections spokesperson Bryan Stevens says the aforementioned docket notation is accurate: “Zoning changed from a Commercial 1 zone with a 40′ height limit to a Neighborhood Commercial 3 zone with a 55′ height limit. The new zoning placed a 25,000 sq. ft. limit on mini-storage uses. The previous proposal included 34,000 sq. ft. of mini-storage. A revision to the design would have been required to limit the size of this type of business, while the added height provided with MHA may have also played a role in reconsidering the project.”
As mentioned in our West Seattle Saturday highlight list, Meat The Live Butcher (9432 16th SW) has something new – a walk-up window outside for dogs to get bones. It’s the latest community-spirited idea from proprietor Tom Salle.
It’s the grand opening celebration for the window until 3 pm today.
You’ll find the animal advocates from West Seattle’s own Furry Faces Foundation there too.
1:16 PM: Another stolen car to watch for – reported by Sarah:
My friend’s car was stolen some time after 9:30 (pm Friday) when she was staying with me. It was stolen out of the Delridge Library parking lot. It is a silver 1998 Honda Civic DX 4-door with a back window broken out. It was reported to the Seattle Police. If seen, you can email me at sarah_e_fry@yahoo.com
(added) License AQS9052.
SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Sarah reports the car’s been found.
ADDED 3:03 PM: And another auto-theft report, this one from Chris:
My vehicle (was) stolen overnight off Thistle and Delridge. It is a Silver 2014 Ford Fushion stolen some time after 8 pm last night, October 4th. No distinguishing features, although the bottom of the right from bumper is hanging a little loose. Inside there is a seat protector covering the entire back seats. License plate; ARU3618. Any information will be appreciated and can be sent to cmontero777@gmail.com.
But first – if you find or see any known stolen car – call 911.
The Seattle Planning Commission is the most influential advisory group you’ve (probably) never heard of. Its discussions look at policies and proposals long before they hit centerstage. One example: The commission’s Neighborhoods For All report, which suggests an end to single-family zoning. The commission’s next meeting will be held in North Delridge, 4 pm October 10th at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, centered on a discussion with east West Seattle community groups. From the draft agenda:
Discussion with Community and Neighborhood Organizations 4:30 – 5:20 PM
Representatives of community and neighborhood organizations will introduce themselves and share their organization’s respective mission, issues, projects, and concerns. Organizations include:
• Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association
• Delridge Neighborhoods District Council
• Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council
• Puget Ridge Neighborhood Council
• High Point Community
• LD Arch Design
That’ll be followed by a public-comment period. The meeting will be held in the Movement Studio at Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way SW) and is open to all.
If you’re heading through North Delridge shortly, heads-up about a crash at Delridge/Dakota. A caller says a Seattle City Light truck is involved, but traffic is getting by. No SFD callout, which suggests no injuries.
Even more grocery news! Four weeks after signing the lease for their store space, Delridge Grocery Co-op has just announced what’s next:
With the Delridge Grocery Co-op and the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) officially signing off on the lease for the retail space at Cottage Grove Commons, construction will be starting this autumn. And that means it’s time for a party!
Come join fellow member-owners from our diverse Delridge and West Seattle community on November 2 as we say thanks for your help in getting us to this point and look toward the future opening of the Delridge Grocery Co-op in 2020.
We’ll have an old-fashioned groundbreaking ceremony with local dignitaries, delicious treats, and you’ll get a peek into the retail space. DGC members will also receive a special gift as well as a yard sign to help us spread the word.
(If you’re not a member yet, you can sign up during the Groundbreaking Party, or join today.)
After the Groundbreaking Party winds down, you’re invited to the Delridge Grocery Co-op 2019 Annual Meeting, which will be held inside the new Cottage Grove Commons retail space. Get more details on the progress we made this year, meet the current Board and other key volunteers working to open the DGC, hear about upcoming Board openings, and more.
Where: Cottage Grove Commons, 5444 Delridge Way SW
When: Saturday, November 2; 11 am to 1 pm for Groundbreaking Party; 1 pm to 2 pm for Annual Meeting
This has been 10 years in the making. It started as Delridge Produce Co-op and evolved to Delridge Grocery in 2013.
October is Fire Safety Month, and that means teaching everyone what they need to know to stay safe. For toddlers and preschoolers, the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Public Library team up for Firefighter Story Times, like the one we photographed tonight at Delridge Library. The readers included Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. The book was (as usual) “No Dragons for Tea”, written by Jean E. Pendziwol and illustrated by Martine Gourbault:
While the book was for the kids, the chief had homework for the parents.
He asked them to test their smoke detectors at home – not just to be sure they still work, but so the kids will know what they sound like. He also told parents to show their kids where NOT to go in case of fire (in the closet, under the bed) and to have a family plan for where to meet outside if everybody has to evacuate. And of course, Firefighter Story Time also featured a chance to see a firefighter in full gear:
That’s Steve Ericson from Station 36 in North Delridge. Missed tonight’s story time? Four more in the city this month – nearest one is tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:15 am at South Park Library (8604 8th Ave. S.)
(King County Assessor photo)
For the second day in a row, a proposal to replace a West Seattle church building with townhouses has appeared in city files – yesterday, in Admiral; today, in North Delridge. This early-stage proposal would replace the Full Gospel Pentecostal Federated Church building at 5071 Delridge Way SW and a church-owned house to the north at 5061 Delridge, according to the site plan filed today (PDF), with 16 townhouses. Each would include a garage. (We don’t know the church’s status; its phone number went to voicemail.)
For the second time in a week, Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best were in West Seattle this afternoon. They chose Delridge Community Center as the location for a wide-ranging budget announcement involving everything from police retention to human services. Above, our video; the event was followed by two news releases published on the city website. This one is about plans to improve police retention/hiring (based on recommendations in this report), this one is about money to be spent on “new investments in community safety and building opportunity for young people (to) focus on alternatives to arrest and incarceration at every step of the system, from interactions with law enforcement, to diversion programs before a court filing, to reentry assistance after involvement in the criminal legal system.”
So why make these announcements in West Seattle (as you can hear in our video, we asked the chief what’s in the plans for the Southwest Precinct, and the reply was not ultra-specific)? Some community members were invited to be there in support, including Lora Radford from the West Seattle Junction Association, which has launched the city’s first Business Block Watch.
Meantime, the chief and mayor are continuing their budget-announcement tour tomorrow, when they’ll be joined by Fire Chief Harold Scoggins at Fire Station 2 downtown.
The Vietnamese Cultural Center welcomed visitors of all ages this afternoon for the Chlldren’s Moonlight Festival, a traditional end-of-summer celebration. The lantern parade (above) was part of the fun:
So was a lion dance:
In addition to community events like this, the center (2234 SW Orchard) is open to visitors most Saturdays, noon-3 pm.
(Photo courtesy DGC. From left, Agen Schmitz, Christie Anderson, Lara Anderson, Ranette Iding, Brent Curtis, Grace Curtis, Doris Rahmig, Bob Poor)
Years of work are finally bearing fruit for the Delridge Grocery Cooperative. Just announced:
The Delridge Grocery Co-op (DGC) today signed their portion of the lease with Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) for the retail space in Cottage Grove Commons. (DESC will sign their portion of the lease early next week.) DGC Board president Ranette Iding and board members Doris Rahmig, Bob Poor, and Brent Curtis were joined by DGC project manager Lara Anderson and DGC volunteer coordinator Agen Schmitz to celebrate the signing with a cup of coffee at the Youngstown Coffee Company in Delridge. Keeping it all in the family, Lara’s mother Christie Anderson notarized the signing and super volunteer Grace Curtis helped amp up the festivity.
Once the lease is signed by DESC, construction of the retail space (designed by Parie Hines of West Seattle Blog sponsor LD Arch Design) will be scheduled to begin in the October/November timeframe, with an initial opening planned for the first quarter of 2020.
The DGC is starting to ramp up plans for outreach and fundraising efforts in the coming weeks. In addition to planning a groundbreaking ceremony that will happen in November (date still TBD at this time), we are looking for volunteers who are interested in helping make calls to current members regarding member loans and neighborhood outreach to get the word out.
Join the DGC next Saturday for a volunteer kickoff gathering at Ounces Taproom and Beer Garden from 3 pm to 5 pm, where you can learn more how you can help these initiatives and more. Simply drop by, or email either Agen Schmitz (volunteer@delridgegrocery.coop) or Brent Curtis (events@delridgegrocery.coop) with any questions. Ounces is located at 3809 Delridge Way SW.
ADDED: Backstory – the Delridge Grocery Cooperative goes back more than a decade, founded as the Delridge Produce Coop. The DESC space was promised to the future grocery store event before the complex (5444 Delridge Way SW) was built and has been vacant for the 5+ years since the complex, which provides permanent supportive housing, opened.
The family affected by Thursday morning’s house fire in North Delridge included a Pathfinder K-8 student, and Robin sends word today of a community crowdfunding effort for the student and their family. As noted in our coverage, SFD determined the fire was accidental, sparked by a malfunctioning power strip and extension cord. The crowdfunding page is here.
With the Seahawks‘ season starting Sunday, it’s time for fans to show support – including the fans at West Seattle Corporate Center at Delridge/Andover. Thanks to Tom Scott at Bartell Drugs (headquartered at WSCC) for sending the pics from earlier this afternoon as the big 12 flag was “raised by Bartell Drugs and Building Management.”
The flag first went up back in 2014.
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