West Seattle, Washington
09 Thursday
Four months ago today, a three-alarm fire gutted one building at the Lam-Bow Apartments complex in Delridge. More than 40 people lost their homes; many stayed in a temporary shelter at Delridge Community Center until the Seattle Housing Authority found new places for them to live. The fire’s cause was never determined.
During her appearance at this week’s “State of Delridge” community-group meeting in Highland Park (WSB coverage here), Councilmember Lisa Herbold was asked about plans for the charred building. That reminded us we had not followed up on it lately, so we took the question to SHA spokesperson Kerry Coughlin, who told us, “The building has been deemed unsalvageable. We will have to take it down completely. That much has been decided. What hasn’t yet been determined is what happens after that and when. We are still looking at options.” As for the demolition timeline, “We have submitted all the paperwork and fees to the City for the permit and are just waiting on that. As soon as we get it we will begin the work.” City files show, in fact, that the demolition-permit application for the building at 6955 Delridge Way SW went in just yesterday.
5:21 PM: A main route between North Delridge and Puget Ridge, 22nd SW, is blocked right now because of a crash and what’s described as a resulting “spill” for which an SDOT cleanup crew is being called. That’s the route between Delridge/Oregon and 21st [map]. We’re on the way to check it out.
5:43 PM: Photo added. Police tell our crew at the scene that a driver headed uphill (south/eastbound) hit a utility pole. Wreckage and fluid spill ensued, but no injuries of note. The vehicle’s been towed, the spill dealt with, and the road is reopening.
In North Delridge, Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Seattle (WSB sponsor) is in the midst of its annual food drive, and hoping you can help. While the drive continues through January, two special events are planned tomorrow (Saturday, January 21st). Here are the updates from BJJ’s Sonia Sillan:
FOOD DRIVE FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK
We are doing our annual food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank from now until the end of January. As an added bonus, for every ten nonperishables or ten dollars, you will receive one raffle ticket (for example, $30 or 30 nonperishables = 3 tickets). You can enter for a chance to pie your favorite coach in the face. The drawing will be at the end of the month.
MIRIAM CARDOSO SEMINAR
In support of the food drive, we are putting on a community Brazilian Jiu-jitsu seminar by our founder and 5x-world champion, Miriam Cardoso. Entry for the seminar is a minimum of 25 nonperishable items or $25 for the WSFB. The seminar will take place January 21 from 2-4 pm. All levels, ages 10+, are welcome to attend. Please RSVP on the Facebook event by clicking “Going.”
PARENTS NIGHT OUT
Also in support of the food drive, we are sponsoring a Parents Night Out at the gym – Nerf Wars style. Children ages 5-13 are welcome to attend for fun, movies, and games. You provide the Nerf gun, we will provide the ammo! Entry fee is $30, payable through cash for the WSFB or through donations of nonperishable items. Each nonperishable item is worth $1 toward the fee (for example, 30 nonperishables = free entry). Please RSVP on the Facebook event by clicking “Going.”
(Dance Brazil performers – WSB photo from 2016 Delridge Day)
Do something different this year … delight your West Seattle neighbors by helping make a festival happen! The community members who have been making Delridge Day happen each summer are looking for a new planning coordinator:
2017 could be the twelfth Delridge Day celebration, but it needs you! Yes, YOU!
Do you have a passion for the neighborhoods along the Delridge corridor? Have you enjoyed the Delridge Day celebrations in the past? Can you step up to take on the leadership needed to help this growing festival continue?
It is expected that a new leader will bring their own vision of what Delridge Day can be … but there is help, too. For example, the music coordinator has committed to continuing this year. Past organizers have built a network of contacts and action item lists for organizing Delridge Day, so a blueprint is in place.
A new leader should have commitment; great organizational skills; time to contact and follow up with participants to organize music, food, booths, and equipment; and the ability to build a team of volunteers to assist with the event. You will work with Parks and the city for permitting. Planning begins in January for the August event.
We’ve been fortunate over the years to have dedicated people step up to make this fun and growing event happen. Community doesn’t happen by accident … it takes people willing to build. We are only as strong as our relationships to each other.
First step – contact Nancy, even if you just have a question. She’s at n_folsom@msn.com.
Thanks to the reader who just sent this photo and report: “I live on 24th and Graham and access to Delridge is blocked off by a stuck garbage truck. It appears to have encountered a tree.” No injuries, apparently, since this isn’t on the 911 fire/medic log.
(Image from project’s grant application, linked in announcement below)
If you live, work, shop, and/or travel through South Delridge, your help is sought for a community project to reclaim the “Triangle Bus Park” at Delridge/Barton, long plagued by problems including substance abuse and illegal dumping. Here’s the announcement from organizer Kim Barnes:
As part of a Roxhill / Westwood Find It, Fix It Community Project, the Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village community members, in partnership with the SDOT Office of Community Development, will host an informal two-hour community workshop to kick off the community-led goal to improve the safety and public usability of the public right of way, currently known as the “Triangle Bus Park” located at 9200 Delridge Way SW at SW Barton Street [map].
Please join us on Saturday, January 28th to learn about the best practices of urban design and contribute your thoughts about the untapped potential of this neglected and underutilized gathering place.
Reimagining The South Delridge “Triangle Bus Park” Workshop: Help Our Community Reclaim This Public Space
Date/Time: January 28th, from 10 am-12 noon, doors open 9:45 am
Location: Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 SW Holden Street· Street parking is available nearby
· Metro Routes 125 and 128 stop at 16th Ave. SW at Holden; walk east on Holden to 12th Street
· Light refreshments will be available
· Volunteer Spanish translator will be availableFor more information:
– Copy of full press release can be found on the WWRHAH site in English here and en Español here.
– See the original grant application that details the background, scope, desired outcomes and photos here (Dropbox link).
– Contact Kim Barnes, the project lead, at kim.barnes.la@gmail.com or subscribe for email updates.
If you’re renting, or planning to, and not sure about your rights – you might be interested in the “Rent Smart” workshop announced by Solid Ground for later this month:
Monday, January 23rd from 6:30 to 8 pm
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SWIn this FREE workshop for current and future renters and tenant advocates, Solid Ground Tenant Counselors will cover information to help consumers:
– Know and assert their rights as tenants
– Navigate the housing search and landlord screening process
– Protect themselves from eviction and housing loss
– Learn how to get deposits back and repairs madePlease note that while Solid Ground’s Tenant Counselors are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice, they are recognized leaders in tenant education and advocacy.
QUESTIONS? Contact our Tenant Services Workshops & Advocacy Line at 206.694.6748 or tenantwa@solid-ground.org.
P.S. Yes, there are landlord workshops, too. Seattle Neighborhood Group offers those. You can contact them to find out when they’re planning the next one – doesn’t seem to be online yet.
https://www.facebook.com/events/581281532071094/
Inquilinos Inteligentes (“Rent Smart” en Español) – Beacon Hill
Another Delridge Way SW redevelopment proposal has appeared in the city files today. Earlier this week, we featured one toward the south end of Delridge; this one is closer to the north end. The early-stage proposal would replace a 26-year-old single-family house at 4810 Delridge Way SW [map] with five townhouses. The 4,800-square-foot lot is zoned Lowrise 2; five open parking spots are planned between the townhouses and the alley behind the lot. The project will have to go through what the city calls Streamlined Design Review – which includes public comments, but no public meeting – so watch for the official comment period to eventually turn up on the twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin.
While the bigger development projects get more attention (like the new Triangle proposal we discovered last week), more of the day-in, day-out proposals in city files are like these two:
7716 DELRIDGE WAY SW: From today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, the 65-year-old house below is proposed to be replaced with six homes – four single-family houses and a two-unit townhouse building.
(Photos via King County Assessor’s Office)
County records show the house’s 9,500-square-foot site is on the books as three lots, zoned Lowrise 1. The notice published today is formal announcement of your chance to comment on the application (here’s how) – deadline January 9th.
5015-5017 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: These addresses are on one 8,200-square-foot lot zoned Lowrise 1, according to county records, currently housing a 67-year-old duplex to be replaced by seven 3-story homes:
The proposals for both sites are shown on the “site plan” in city files as a four-unit rowhouse building facing Fauntleroy, and three single-family houses behind it. The formal application is not on file yet – these are early-stage proposals.
He ordered coffee and a pastry … and then money.
That’s what police say happened when the Delridge Uptown Espresso was robbed last night around 6:30. After a reader tip, we just checked with SPD media relations to get details from the report. About 20 people were in the shop at the time; the report says the robber waited in line to get to the counter, ordered coffee and pastry; as the barista was putting the pastry in a bag, he asked for a bigger bag, and as that was handed to him, he told the barista to put the register money in the bag. His right hand was in his hoodie pocket, according to the report, and he said, “I have a gun – don’t make me use it.” Money was added to the bag; he walked out quickly, and vanished. Here’s the description: A white man around 30 years old, 6′ tall, “average build,” light facial hair, dark hoodie, dark jeans. Police searched the area but didn’t find the robber.
When SDOT announced late yesterday that the long-planned 30 mph speed limit would finally take effect on Delridge Way today, they promised a fast signage switch – and it’s indeed happening.
The new sign (left) just went up on the northbound side of Delridge at Hudson – an hour after we noted the old sign (right) still up. And three trailers with radar speed displays are in place:
That one is on the southbound side of Delridge at Oregon; the other two are at Findlay (also on the SB side) and at Myrtle (on the northbound side).
Thanks to the texter who tipped us that crews were already out first thing this morning!
4:47 PM: This has long been in the works, and the official announcement is just in from SDOT:
On Tuesday, December 20, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will lower the speed limit on Delridge Way SW as part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative to enhance transportation safety and save lives. Reducing the posted speed limit improves safety for everyone; especially people walking and biking.
The speed limit will be changed to 30 mph for a 3.5-mile stretch of Delridge Way SW between SW Henderson Street and the West Seattle Bridge. The speed limit is currently 35 mph on this segment of Delridge despite mainly single family homes and the presence of parks and schools adjacent to the corridor. This change will create a consistent 30 mph speed limit for the entire Delridge corridor.
Data collected on this section of Delridge shows most drivers are currently driving slower than the existing 35 mph speed limit. In fact, the 85th percentile speed at SW Trenton Street has been measured at exactly 30 mph so this should not be a significant change for people that drive this roadway often. The speed limit change will help reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions. This is especially true for vulnerable users like pedestrians since lower speeds significantly increase the survivability of crashes.
“The Delridge speed limit adjustment will help enhance safety on this corridor where more than 300 crashes have occurred in the last three years resulting in 148 injuries, six serious injuries and one death,” said SDOT Director Scott Kubly. “These changes will significantly help people walking and biking to schools, parks, transit and other destinations.”
Travelers on Delridge Way SW can expect to see new speed limit signs installed this week. SDOT will also deploy the Speed Watch Trailer to the corridor to provide feedback to drivers about their speed and highlight the new speed limit.
ADDED 5:49 PM: Some background links – the original announcement (now linked in the introductory line at the start of this story) was in February 2015, and even in November 2015, SDOT was saying it still hoped to implement the reduction by the end of that year. Last time we checked was this past September, when SDOT’s Jim Curtin said it would happen by year’s end, and mentioned some other features: “… edge lines, flexible posts for the existing bike lanes in the vicinity of SW Orchard St, and enhancing the existing crosswalk at SW Juneau Street with rapid flashing beacons (the work at Juneau may not occur until early 2017 due to equipment supply issues).” We’ve seen the posts by Orchard, but will be checking in on the other two (and if you see crews installing signs later this week, please let us know – we’ll be looking, too).
As first reported here three weeks ago, SDOT is circulating the “Delridge RapidRide Expansion Survey.” It’s set to close tomorrow (Monday). But it’s not only about buses – you’re asked for your thoughts on Delridge, featuring the graphics below, showing its current configuration:
The survey wants you to prioritize transportation options on each of those Delridge Way sections – including transit, walking, biking, and/or parking. It’s meant to look ahead to the RR route expected on Delridge within the next few years; the survey intro says, “Delridge Way SW is one of the corridors on which we’d like to make bus service better. We also have an opportunity to make it safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, driving, and delivering goods.” If you haven’t already taken the survey, go here ASAP.
Meet Nancy and Kristin. They e-mailed to let us know they have opened a new business at 5214 Delridge Way SW, the Community General Store, starting part time, expecting to go full time in February or March. No, it’s not a retail shop:
We are a community center and library of things to support members in living life with more joy and less waste. Membership allows you access to a collection of useful and beautiful things that are wonderful to use but hard to store: outdoor gear, things for raising young children, food dehydrators, mending kits, boot polish and simple repair, and also a collection of local, handmade art.
Additionally, any time our doors are open, we’re hosting events. Right now we’re really enjoying Make and Mend, where we share basic sewing tools and encourage each other’s various projects. When our kitchen opens up later this winter, we’re excited for Cook and Play, an event where you learn kitchen skills (we’ll explore fermentation, bread and snack making, local food, various low-impact eating plans and more!) while your kids hang out and play.
For starters, they are offering “family-friendly neighborhood events” on Tuesdays: “Make and mend, cook and play, walk and gather: 9 am-12:30 pm Tuesday mornings, 3 pm-4:35 pm Tuesday afternoons in November and December,” plus a Family Movie Night at 5:30 pm (updated) December 16th. Find out more about their plans and programs at thecommunitygeneralstore.com.
Just got word of this free seminar next Sunday at Elite Brazilian Jiu-jitsu of Seattle (WSB sponsor):
Join us for a free seminar introducing you to the fundamentals of Muay Thai, a martial art developed hundreds of years ago as a form of close-combat that utilizes the entire body as a weapon. It’s also known as the deadly art of 8 limbs (hands, elbows, knees, and feet).
This seminar is free to the public. Come get a great workout, and learn some basic techniques, while having fun.
Ages 10+ (under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian)
Space is limited so go here to register ASAP!
Although the seminar is free, we do suggest a donation to the following crowdfunding campaign: crowdrise.com/michelles-battle-with-lung-cancer
Elite BJJ is at 5050 Delridge Way SW.
(WSB photo, added 6:51 pm: At left, vehicle – being towed – that hit pole)
5:59 PM: Thanks for the tips: Power is out in parts of northeast West Seattle, and apparently it’s not all shown on the outage map, which now shows 15 customers out in Pigeon Point/North Delridge – at and near Delridge/Andover – but we’ve also heard from Victoria in Riverside, who says “we are out down here too,” on 16th and 17th SW. This is likely related to a crash in the 4500 block of West Marginal Way SW that another texter says involved a vehicle hitting a utility/light pole – we’re checking on that. If you’re also out of power but NOT on the City Light map, please let us know in comments (after you’ve called SCL to let them know your outage is not showing – 206-684-3000).
6:04 PM: Now the map is updated to 356 homes/businesses out of power. Adding a screengrab.
6:51 PM: Just back from the crash scene, which is on the east side of West Marginal Way SW – affecting the northbound lanes – just north of the Duwamish Longhouse. The pole was snapped in two and dangling; the vehicle that hit it was about to be towed. Adding photo. Meanwhile, some have the power back – the count is down to 288 on the SCL map. One crew was at the scene and reported to be calling for more help.
7:39 PM: As reminded by commenters, this is affecting some traffic signals too – if you arrive at one that’s not working, that makes it an all-way stop – do NOT go through without stopping.
9:23 PM: The SCL map has now recalibrated the restoration guesstimate to “pending,” which seems in line with what commenter Amy found out.
11:56 PM: The outage is now in its seventh hour, with the current potential restoration time estimated around (corrected) 4 am. (Let us know if you’re back sooner!)
1:52 AM: And after about eight hours, the outage is over.
11:21 AM: Thanks to everybody who’s sending tips on this Thanksgiving – our usual sources of traffic info are not at full speed today so info from the streets matters a lot. Just got a text that the eastbound bridge entrance at 35th/Fauntleroy was blocked off as of a few minutes ago. That could be related to a westbound bridge crash reported about half an hour ago. Also, a caller advises taking care toward the east end of the eastbound bridge, by the I-5 entrance, because of a protruding jersey barrier – we asked them to call 911, which is the best thing to do on a holiday or weekend *if something dangerous is in or affecting the road*. And then let us know – call or text 206-293-6302, 24/7/365.
12:45 PM: Another text – tree down on Delridge just north of Orchard (the Home Depot, etc., intersection). On our way to check.
12:59 PM: Our crew reports the tree is blocking the southbound and center lanes of Delridge by the Lam-Bow Apartments. SDOT has just arrived; police are on scene directing traffic, which is being allowed through, both ways. Close call for a car but it was spared and no one was hurt.
ORIGINAL REPORT, SUNDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Dina Lydia Johnson for the photo from today’s meeting of the relatively new South Delridge Neighborhood Group. We mentioned the SDNG twice this week – once in this announcement of the meeting, and again as the group was officially added to the voting membership of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council. Like most neighborhood groups, they’re on hiatus in December, so your next chance to check them out will be the third Sunday in January – 10 am January 15th, at 3.14 Bakery (9602 16th SW) – southdelridge@gmail.com is where to e-mail if you’re looking for info sooner.
MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE: SDNG co-chair Marianne McCord says the group decided on a change for January – they will join with Highland Park Action Committee to co-host a meeting on HPAC’s regular meeting date, time, and place, which is 7 pm, fourth Wednesday, at Highland Park Improvement Club, and after that, “SDCG will resume meeting on the 3rd Sundays at 3.14 Bakery at 10 am in February” – 9602 16th SW.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Even as the City Council gets closer to finalizing the city budget containing the resolution formalizing the mayor’s slashing of ties with neighborhood district councils, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council is charging forward, and even growing.
Here’s what happened at its meeting last night:
DISTRICT COUNCIL’S FUTURE: Chair Mat McBride says that so far, discussions have focused on having the group work more as a cooperative as it goes forward, centered on how the groups at the table can “assist each other” in meeting their goals for the Delridge community. Certainly the group might still seek the occasional city presentation, but those likely won’t be as common, as the focus will remain more intra-Delridge.
One member asked what engagement with the city will look like from now on. “What do you think it should look like?” asked Pete Spalding. “I think it’s up to us now.”
Other topics of discussion included where to meet – an issue now that the city will no longer be providing the ~$500 annual funding that covered costs of renting meeting venues. It was decided that at least for the first quarter of next year, the group will meet at Highland Park Improvement Club. The meetings will still be 7 pm on third Wednesdays. As per longstanding tradition, DNDC won’t meet in December, so its next meeting will be January 18th.
What about the area covered by the council? asked one member – should it be smaller? larger? Could be bigger, McBride acknowledged. Some wondered if South Park might be a good addition. In the meantime, the list of member groups/organizations/institutions grew by one last night: Read More
Live/work in the South Delridge area? The new South Delridge Community Group welcomes your participation. From co-chair Marianne McCord:
The South Delridge Community Group consists of concerned, motivated neighbors who have come together to create a vibrant community and provide a voice for the neighborhood within the city of Seattle. It will provide leadership in addressing community needs and communicate with governmental agencies in an effort to represent our interests. The South Delridge Community Group encourages neighbors to know one another and to participate within our community.
We meet the third Sunday of every month (except December and August) at 10 am. Right now, we are meeting at 3.14 Bakery, 9602 16th SW, just south of Roxbury. We hope to nail down a more-permanent space in the near future. We also sponsor monthly clean-up efforts within our neighborhood on the second Saturday of every month (except December) at 10 am. We have already logged in over 250 volunteer hours! We are very proud of our active participation and look forward to expanding our volunteer activities. Our group’s email address is: southdelridge@gmail.com.
If you haven’t already checked the calendar – this means the SDCG’s next meeting is THIS Sunday (November 20th), 10 am.
P.S. As we publish this, we’re covering the monthly meeting of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, which has just added the South Delridge Community Group as an official member organization. More on the DNDC meeting in a separate report later.
10:57 AM: Big Seattle Fire response for an “assault with weapons” call in the 9200 block of 17th SW [map]. According to the scanner, the weapon in question was a knife and the victim has a hand injury. We’re on the way to find out more.
11:09 AM: Our crew has arrived. All but one of the SFD units have been dismissed – the victim did not require a medic unit. Police, including a K-9 team, are looking for a suspect who is described in part as wearing all red and toting suitcases, last seen southbound on 17th SW.
11:15 AM: All we know about the circumstances: “Domestic-violence incident,” per police.
The photo and report are from Alex:
Maybe not news but first time I’ve seen them, two jostling for space just upstream of fishbone bridge if you walk into the woods a little, just now!
Woo hoo, said our toddler!
The bridge is a bit north of Dragonfly Pavilion.
SDOT is circulating what’s titled the “Delridge RapidRide Expansion Survey.” But it’s not just about buses. It asks you to take a look at Delridge, section by section, featuring the graphics you see below, which show how it’s configured now:
The survey asks about your priorities for each of those sections along Delridge Way – including transit, walking, biking, and/or parking. Here’s how the survey is introduced in e-mail from SDOT’s Dawn Schellenberg:
We’re working with our partners at King County Metro to deliver 7 new RapidRide corridors by 2024 to advance the Levy to Move Seattle’s promise of 72% of Seattle residents with 10-minute all-day transit service within a 10-minute walk of their homes.
Delridge Way SW is one of the corridors on which we’d like to make bus service better. We also have an opportunity to make it safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, driving and delivering goods. Please take a moment to fill out our survey and share your thoughts about how the street could be designed and potential related trade-offs. The survey replicates information shared at an October Delridge Workshop, in case you were unable to make it. Please complete the survey by December 4, 2016.
If you haven’t already received it – find the survey here. (P.S. We covered the “workshop” referenced by SDOT, here.)
| 5 COMMENTS