West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
Southwest Design Review Board members’ final meeting of the year was their third look at 9218 18th SW, a mixed-use proposal for a triangular site in South Delridge.
The meeting carried on despite the four participating board members – all West Seattleites – dealing with power flickers related to that night’s big outage. Board chair Scott Rosenstock was joined by members John Cheng, Alan Grainger, and Johanna Lirman. From Caron Architecture, Radim Blazej gave the presentation, explaining that they’re planning a “very lively street-level” commercial aspect on the ground floor, fronting both streets. Changes made during the Design Review process cut the number of units from 56 to the current 48. He said that they received a last-minute “zoning correction” that changed how the entry will work. He also listed changes made in response to board feedback in the previous meeting (WSB coverage here), including window additions to the east and south facades to lessen “blank facade” problems. No parking is required, but they’re providing underground parking – 28 spaces. He also noted the new public-art installation that’s adjacent to the project site, saying it’s sort of a “mini-park.”
Most of the board discussion focused on the entrance revision, and agreeing that if it led to a requirement for a zoning exception, they would support that. They also wanted to ensure there’s differentiation between the residential and commercial entry spaces, perhaps some combination of plantings and lights. No public comments were offered, either before or during the meeting. But if you have something to say about the project – not just design, but any other aspects – you still have time to email comments to assigned city planner David Sachs, at david.sachs@seattle.gov.
(Along Andover, 4 pm today)
The “RV remediation” along SW Andover was over by mid-afternoon today, according to the lead agency, Seattle Public Utilities. We reported on the plan last Monday, after “no parking” signs went up just before the Thanksgiving holiday in the streetside zone where RV residents have long camped along the south side of the Nucor Steel plant. We checked the area multiple times since Tuesday morning and received a few reader reports on activity seen, including the removal of at least one RV.
(Reader photo, Wednesday)
We saw city contractors’ junk trucks there Tuesday and Wednesday, but no other activity at the times we went by. We asked Register for an update, and received this today:
SPU has completed the remediation on Andover SW. We collected and disposed of 7,600 pounds of garbage and debris. As previously mentioned, RVs that are abandoned, derelict or pose a public health risk may be towed on a case-by-case basis. We will continue to engage with RV occupants prior to cleans to voluntarily move their vehicles so crews can best address any public health and safety impacts.
We didn’t get a baseline count of RVs and trailers before the remediation but noted 12 Wednesday and yesterday, on Andover and on 28th north of Yancy, and the same number there just before sunset today.
Delridge Grocery Cooperative has a deal for you – help them get a new fridge, by buying this year’s holiday basket! Here are the details:
Bring home the flavors of Washington state this holiday season with the Delridge Grocery Co-op’s second annual holiday collection of sweet and savory treats.
In addition to bringing you a specially curated selection of Pacific Northwest delights, the DGC 2021 Holiday Gift Basket is also a fundraiser — helping our growing neighborhood Co-op afford the purchase of an additional refrigeration unit.
We currently have a single, small older refrigerator that chills our locally sourced cheeses, eggs, milk, hummus, krauts, and kombucha, but its size definitely limits the amount and variety of perishable products we can carry. Adding a second, more modern refrigerator will allow us to expand our offerings and better serve our customers as we look to expand the days and hours that we’re open in the coming months.
Great for treating yourself or sharing with friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and loved ones, the DGC 2021 Holiday Gift Basket includes:
Salted Caramel Espresso Bark (Joe Chocolate Co.)
Madrona Smoked Salt (San Juan Sea Salt)
Loose Leaf Herbal Tea + Infuser (Beach House Teas)
Honey Thyme Mustard (Mustard & Co.)
Pickled Spicy Green Beans. (Seattle Pickle Co.)
Apple Cider Vinegar (Apple State Vinegar)
Raw Honeycomb (Georgetown Pantry Supply)The DGC 2021 Holiday Gift Basket is priced at $65 for both pickup and free delivery to addresses on our West Seattle peninsula. Baskets will be available for pickup starting Friday, December 17 at the Delridge Grocery Co-op retail store – we’ll be open from 3–7. Pickups can also be made on Saturday, December 18 (9:30 am–1:30 pm) and Sunday, December 19 (11–3). Deliveries will be made on that Friday and Saturday.
Go here to order.
(Rendering by Caron Architecture)
The South Delridge mixed-use proposal for 9218 18th SW [map] goes back to the Southwest Design Review Board tomorrow (Thursday, December 2nd) for the third and potentially final time. The design packet for the meeting finally became available today for previewing – see it here or below:
The 5-story building is proposed for 48 residential units with 28 offstreet-parking spaces and 4,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Here’s our coverage of the most-recent review back in April. Tomorrow’s online meeting is at 5 pm, open to public viewing and commenting; the links for that are here.
Police have just told dispatch they’re finding shell casings and a “shot-up vehicle” near 16th/Cambridge [map]. So far, 14 casings, they report. No word of anyone hurt,
Three months after Tacos y Mariscos El Tiburón closed at 17th/Roxbury, the sign’s up for its successor. MexiCuban has opened a takeout/delivery operation as the first phase of its plan for the space, with a sit-down restaurant to follow. Until now, MexiCuban, founded by Chef Octavio Ortega, has been truck-based, but has now added this bricks-and-mortar space in South Delridge. Their food is as the name describes, a Mexican/Cuban fusion – here’s the menu (or, here’s a photo that Therese sent – thank you! – after happening onto Mexicuban’s takeout opening last Sunday), from “fluffy tacos” to Cubano sandwiches and bowls. Via email, MexiCuban tells WSB they’re now open for business Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 am-8 pm (but will be closed this Thursday for the holiday): “We are currently just doing online orders for pickup and delivery. We have a dedicated quick-pickup window on 9448 17th Ave SW. We expect to be open for dine-in by February 1st, with a full-service bar. Orders online can currently be placed at MexiCuban.online for pickup and delivery.”
(SDOT photo)
Noticed the new art installations in South Delridge? It’s part of the RapidRide H Line project. It’s been almost four years since the announcement that artists had been chosen – and now the results are in place. From SDOT:
This month, the Office of Arts and Culture and the Wowhaus artist team worked with our crews to install some new public art at the intersections of Delridge Way SW at SW Henderson St and 18th Ave SW.
The artwork titled “Know How” was created by Wowhaus artist team Ene Osteraas-Constable and Scott Constable. The area will be restored with groundcover later this year.
In the development of the artwork, the artist team attended several community meetings, held impromptu focus-group meetings while riding the 120 Metro Bus, hosted a site walkthrough with elementary students from Roxbury Elementary School, and delved deep into the history of the area through resources at the Seattle Public Library and Museum of History and Industry. From this engagement work, the idea for the artwork Know How was developed.
This project is funded through SDOT’s 1% for Art funding.
ADDED: Here’s a city post with more backstory on the new art.
MONDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Jacquelyn Crumpler for sending the video! Jacquelyn wrote, “Look what I found trying to figure out the dam by Dragonfly Park! This seemed to be the only one, but I only watched for 5 or so minutes.” A short guide to Longfellow Creek salmon-watching (including a map) is here; this creek has been less hospitable to salmon survival than Fauntleroy Creek because of factors including toxic urban runoff.
ADDED TUESDAY: John McIntyre also sends word of a salmon sighting and suggests the footbridge at Yancy Street (east of 28th) as a viewing spot.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
SDOT has proposed a permanent route for the Delridge/Highland Park “Stay Healthy Streets,” with some current blocks to be dropped – but keeping the stretch that’s been the source of the loudest community concerns. They’re nonetheless asking for opinions, and hosting an outdoor “open house” today on 11th SW by Highland Park Elementary, 2-4 pm. In advance of that, SDOT reps were at Wednesday night’s HPAC meeting to talk about the Stay Healthy Streets as well as traffic-mitigation/calming events elsewhere.
STAY HEALTHY STREETS: first, a little backstory. These streets are closed to through-traffic, open to drivers who live, work, study, or otherwise have business on them, and open to people walking/running/riding/rolling in the street. The city launched the SHS concept early in the pandemic as a way to get around with more social distancing, but has expanded the mission beyond the pandemic, and is now making many of them permanent. The Delridge-Highland Park SHS network (designated in May of last year) would be the second in the city (after Greenwood) to be made permanent, SDOT’s Madison Linkenmeyer told HPAC.
She recapped what they’ve heard from the community:
(Rendering by Atelier Drome Architects)
Almost four months after the Southwest Design Review Board gave its final approval to the 9208 20th SW project, city planners have given it a key land-use approval. This is the former auto-shop site that originally was proposed – as 9201 Delridge Way SW – for a self-storage facility, but then zoning thwarted that, and a new development team pivoted the project to mixed-use. The city summarizes it as “a 5-story, 76-unit apartment building with 71 apartments, 5 small efficiency dwelling units, retail and office, (and n)o parking proposed.” The notice in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin opens an appeal period through November 12th (and explains how that works).
Two news bites from the Delridge Grocery Co-op (5444 Delridge Way SW):
DGC Annual Meeting on November 13, Special Dog Treat Pop-up on October 30
The Delridge Grocery Co-op annual meeting is going virtual again this year — taking place on Saturday, November 13 at 3 pm. Please consider spending some time with us that Saturday as we’ve got a lot of news to share about our volunteer-run, community-focused co-op. It’s open to everyone in our community — from owner-members who have paid their ownership share to West Seattle neighbors near and far.
We’ll be looking back on the last year, when we began to be open for limited market hours on weekends while continuing to offer our weekly Essentials produce box. We’ll also provide updates on some of our food access initiatives, including working with the West Seattle Food Bank on a new voucher program, our continuing partnership with Fresh Bucks Seattle, and our gifted produce box program (funded through kind donations from our community).
Turning our eyes to the next year, we’ll talk about the challenges and opportunities we have with opening the store more fully — from more volunteer staffing to funding for more equipment like refrigerators.
DGC owner-members who have paid a full $100 ownership share can also vote on up to three Board of Director positions.
Reserve your spot for the DGC’s annual meeting on Zoom by signing up on our Signup Genius page.
We’re also excited to start a series of pop-up events at our store, where we’ll be highlighting a variety of local producers and focusing on women- and BIPOC-owned businesses. Our first pop-up will bring Puddles Barkery to the DGC on Saturday, October 30, from 9:30–1:30. Head chef and owner Kari Kalway and her pup Kora will be showcasing her handmade, natural dog treats, including biscuit treats, pupcakes, and creamy doggy cannolis!
You can reserve your Puddles Barkery order to pick up next weekend (Oct. 30-31), or place an order for an Essentials produce box delivery and the dog treats will be included.
Questions? info@delridgegrocery.coop
On October 16th, we reported briefly on a street robbery in South Delridge. Today police are releasing more details of the case, including a description of the robber, in hopes of finding him. From SPD Blotter:
Detectives are seeking assistance identifying a man who robbed a woman at knifepoint in the Delridge neighborhood.
Around 10:30 PM on October 16th, the victim had gotten out of her car in an alley in the 8800 block of Delridge Way Southwest when a man came up behind her, grabbed her by the throat, and held a knife to her ribs. The suspect then grabbed the woman’s purse, punched her in the face, and fled. The woman called 911 a short time later. Officers and a K9 team searched the area but were unable to find the suspect.
The woman told police the suspect was a Black man in his late 30s, 5’10, wearing a black jacket, white shoes, a black mask with three white stripes on it, and sunglasses. While police do not yet have photos or video related to this case, detectives are hoping the description of the distinctive mask will help lead them to the suspect.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact SPD’s Robbery Unit at 206-684-5535.
This week, SDOT plans two Highland Park appearances – online Wednesday, in person Friday – to talk about the potential future of Delridge/Highland Park “Stay Healthy Streets.”
Join us Friday, October 29, to kick off your Halloween and Día de Muertos weekend!
We are evaluating making your Delridge-Highland Park Stay Healthy Street a permanent community feature and need your feedback on ways to create a space that reflects your community values and needs.Enjoy kids’ activities, giveaways, treats, and more!
Location: Stay Healthy Street on 11th Ave SW, next to Highland Park Elementary (between SW Cloverdale and SW Trenton streets)
Date: Friday, October 29
Time: 2 to 4 PM
Learn more about this Stay Healthy Street on our website.
Proposed permanent route
Above is a map of the proposed permanent route of the Delridge-Highland Park Stay Healthy Street. We hope to see you on Friday, October 29 or hear from you by calling 206-727-3565 or emailing delridgestayhealthystreet@seattle.gov.We will also be attending the virtual Highland Park Action Coalition meeting on Wednesday, October 27 from 7 to 8:30 PM if a virtual event works better for you.
The SHS stretch that’s drawn the most opposition over the months is on SW Trenton, but that doesn’t appear to be proposed for removal – we’re doublechecking on that with SDOT.
ADDED TUESDAY: SDOT’s Madison Linkenmeyer responded to our followup: “Right now we are proposing keeping that section of SW Trenton St. This is based on the speed data, traffic volumes, bicycling and pedestrian data, and focused outreach to the people living on SW Trenton St. We’ll also bring more detail on this at the HPAC meeting. In addition to input on the proposed route, we’d like to hear from the community what education and engineering strategies might work to encourage people passing through the neighborhood to stay on arterial streets, such as S Henderson St, instead of diverting onto neighborhood streets like SW Trenton St.”
One year after the Seattle Animal Shelter seized more than 200 pets from a house in Delridge, one last rescuee is still seeking a home. We heard from SAS this morning calling our attention to their search for someone who will adopt Miss Starla the guinea pig:
SAS says that of the seized animals, “175 were transferred to other shelters (and) SAS managed adoptions for 59 pets, including five chickens, eight rabbits, 40 guinea pigs, two chinchillas, and one dog.” SAS has details about Miss Starla here (and of course has many other pets you can adopt, too).
P.S. After SAS’s note about Miss Starla, we looked up the status of the criminal case against Matthew Hazelbrook, charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty in the case. Court records show his trial is set to start November 29th.
Omie from Afella Jollof Catering – serving chicken dibi with yellow rice – is one of the vendors you’ll find today at the South Delridge Farmers Market, on the grounds of Hope Academy at 9421 18th SW until 3 pm. Produce sellers include Regeneration Farm from Woodinville:
In the booth are Antoine and Andrew. And we found much more than food at today’s market – until 2:30 pm, you can get vaccinated:
They have all three vaccines available (including Pfizer boosters). Also at the market today, Miss Bea and Luis from the Seattle Public Library:
If you’re interested in adopting your nearest storm drain(s), come to the market to get a free kit from Seattle Public Utilities:
You’ll even find Sound Transit reps there to talk about future West Seattle light rail:
Last market of the first-ever season is November 13th; market managers tell us they’re hoping to offer this more frequently next year!
10:37 PM: Avoid the 4700 block of Delridge Way SW [map] for a while – SFD is sending a “rescue extrication” response for a crash with one person reported trapped in a car.
10:50 PM: Firefighters have freed the driver, a man, from the car. He’ll be taken to the hospital by SFC medics.
11:01 PM: Firefighters have also reported a second injured person who will be transported by private ambulance.
11:19 PM: Police just told dispatch that southbound Delridge is reopening.
ADDED SATURDAY: This is being investigated as suspected DUI.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Metro‘s conversion of Route 120 to RapidRide H Line is still a year away, but “major construction” is complete on SDOT‘s share of the preparations along Delridge Way.
As the year-plus of work wraps up, many questions have arisen. So we spent an hour talking with SDOT reps CJ Holt – the project manager (with whom we talked multiple times during the planning phase) – and Madison Linkenmeyer from the communications team.
First, the backstory: The H Line plan has been in the works for 5+ years (our archives include this 2016 survey floating same early rechannelization concepts, and some street changes – like the medians – have been advocated by community leaders for even longer).
WHAT’S LEFT TO DO? They’re in the “punch list” phase right now, identifying whether there are issues to address. A little work remains on signals, streetlights, and signage. The biggest “body of work” still left to do involves the landscaping – 140 trees will be planted, in the medians and elsewhere.
ABOUT THE LANDSCAPING: They’re trying to get the 140 trees planted “in the next month or two,” but there’s no specific start date yet – they’re working right now on procuring the trees.
Regarding landscape maintenance:
Thanks to Rose for the photo and report: “On Delridge on-ramp a tree has fallen. It is completely blocking. A crew is working on it right now but bike commuters will likely have to head towards Chelan Cafe and head south from there.”
3:40 PM: Rose sends word that SDOT has finished clearing the path.
Many bars/beer gardens celebrate Oktoberfest, but Ounces in North Delridge is going the extra mile in its weekend-long celebration that started last night – with live music! In our video above, the Bonnie Birch Trio played last night; today, the Smilin’ Scandinavians are scheduled, 5-8 pm. Whenever you stop in, proprietors Laurel Trujillo and Andrew Trujillo invite you to raise a stein:
At 4 pm today, you can even participate in a stein-raising competition. The full Oktoberfest lineup is online. Ounces is open at 3809 Delridge Way SW noon-10 pm today, 11 am-8 pm tomorrow.
(WSB photo, southbound view of Delridge/Holden)
Major work is done on the repaving/utilities project along Delridge Way to prepare for next year’s conversion of Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line. In addition to the new concrete pavement, some sections have seen major changes – medians, striping, signals, sidewalks … Questions have popped up in comment threads over recent weeks, so we’re talking with SDOT tomorrow morning to get some answers. But in case more questions about this project are out there, we’re inviting you to either post yours below or email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to get answers. (Just the Delridge RapidRide-related project, please, as we’re talking specifically to people on that project – thank you.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Changes in the traffic-safety plan for 16th SW were part of what HPAC – the community council for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – heard about at its September meeting.
This was HPAC’s first meeting after summer break, led by co-chairs Kay Kirkpatrick and Craig Rankin. Before the updates from SDOT, a port team presented an update:
TERMINAL 5 & PORT OF SEATTLE: From the Northwest Seaport Alliance and/or Port of Seattle, Lindsay Wolpa, Peaches Thomas, Steve Balaski, T-5 program manager Emma Del Vento, and Curtis Stahlecker were all at the meeting. Wolpa gave a presentation, starting with an overview of the NWSA (the ports of Seattle and Tacoma) – 3 million cargo containers each year, 58,000 jobs – then recapped the T-5 project toplines. Balaski explained what the port’s trying to do to help with the worldwide supply-chain jam:
They are “feverishly working” on how to address this, and how to keep their export clients’ goods flowing.
HPAC – the community organization for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – resumes monthly meetings this week with hot topics including traffic and crime. Here’s the announcement:
Finally, we will be hosting Home Zone and Reconnect West Seattle team members from SDOT for a report out on the projects they are working on. There have been some changes in direction, particularly for residents on 16th Avenue SW, we’ll have them explained at the meeting with opportunities for suggestions and comments.
If you are noticing new detour route incursions of vehicles, or other traffic pattern changes to report, your voice is needed!
See you at 7 PM on Sept. 22 – virtually on Zoom during the HPIC rebuilding process.
You can find the meeting link (and call-in number) on HPAC’s website. The group also has opened a survey to ask neighbors what they would like future meetings to address – go here to participate.
SDOT‘s share of the work to prepare Delridge Way SW for the RapidRide H Line – repaving, utilities, and more – is almost done, after 15+ months. That’s the headline in the weekly preview of what’s ahead:
*Major construction is nearly complete. Minor repairs and adjustments to curbs, curb ramps, lights, and other utilities will begin soon. These are often referred to as our “punch list” items, which you may have heard about on other SDOT projects.
*Sidewalk and water utility adjustments continue in Zone A
*Upgrades in Zone B are now complete
*In Zone C, traffic signal upgrades and curb ramp adjustments continue at SW Thistle St. We expect to complete this work soon.
The full look ahead to next week is here. Meantime, King County’s share of the project continues, including 26th SW between Barton and Roxbury, and several areas in White Center
| 6 COMMENTS