West Seattle, Washington
23 Friday
No news release or e-mail announcement yet – it’s not even on the official Seattle Parks page so far – but a city postcard that turned up in the postal mailbox today announces the date for the 4th and final public meeting on the design for the 20 acres of new parkland atop West Seattle Reservoir: 10 am-noon June 26, Southwest Community Center. The postcard says the “final schematic design” for the 20 acres of new park land, adjacent to the current Westcrest Park, will be unveiled at the meeting. The parkland was created by covering half of the previously open reservoir and filling in the other half; as reported here last Thursday, the reservoir lid is complete, and Seattle Public Utilities says the newly undergrounded reservoir is already two-thirds full. P.S. If you haven’t seen the three “concepts” shown at the last meeting April 24, they’re in this short version of the presentation that was given.
Over the weekend, after local TV stations reported a teenager had been beaten up in Highland Park early Tuesday and had said his attackers made racist remarks, we promised to work to get the police report as soon as possible. Today’s the first day it’s available; even the SPD media officer who was on call over the weekend did not have access till now. But SPD has now provided the report narrative, and we have transcribed it below in its entirety. One new detail you’ll see in the narrative- an officer spoke with two potential suspects shortly after the victim was discovered:Read More
Thanks to the tipster who let us know that what looked on 911 like a simple “motor vehicle accident” call resulted in a spill that has the Highland Park Way hill (Holden to West Marginal) shut down right now. We just verified at the scene that it’s closed at the top, and people are being turned around. No details on the crash at this point – but the level of call on the 911 log suggests no serious injuries.
Several people have e-mailed to ask about a case that two TV stations are reporting: A 15-year-old says he was beaten up early Tuesday in Highland Park by attackers with a racist motive, near a staircase at 14th/Holden (map). This first appeared last night on Q13 (here’s their story). They reported that the boy was walking home at 2 am Tuesday when someone asked him for a light; he walked toward the person, and was jumped; the reports say the victim said his attackers told them they were beating him because he’s white. We have no independent information on this so far – police reports aren’t available over the weekend, this incident didn’t appear on the SPD Blotter log of noteworthy cases – so the best we can do, until we get more info (and we do have requests out), is point you to the TV stories: Q13 here, KOMO here.
(Cameraphone photo added 1:08 am – we & other media are of course not being allowed too close)
ORIGINAL 11:53 PM REPORT: We have no official info on this yet but multiple reports from neighbors: Police are reported to be negotiating with someone inside a home around 11th/Henderson (map). A neighbor tells WSB officers told her it had something to do with domestic violence. She also says she was advised to stay in her home, and that the officers are using megaphones (or something amplified) to try to talk the man out.
12:24 AM: The standoff is still under way; the man has not responded to police’s attempts to reach him, and – as commenters in the area have mentioned – they are trying other tactics. Also, per Twitter, police now have a public-information officer heading to the scene – they confirm it began as a domestic-violence-assault call. (Whether there was a victim, is not clear; there were no medic/aid calls on the 911 log in that area.) On the media hotline, Det. Mark Jamieson says there was concern the man may have access to weapons, and that’s the reason for the major response.
1:10 AM: Commenters from Highland Park are adding some incremental info on what they’re hearing; we’ve got someone at the scene but media is being kept way back, about half a block away (TV crews are there too).
1:14 AM: Commenter Julia says police “got him out.” Waiting for official confirmation of that.
1:21 AM: Police are definitely now inside, and saying on the scanner they haven’t found any guns.
1:29 AM: Det. Jamieson has talked to us and other media. The 40-year-old suspect is being taken to the precinct for processing. Officers are searching the house, including what’s apparently a detached garage where the man was holed up. We have the whole media briefing on video and that’ll be back here at HQ in a few minutes so we can upload.
2:22 AM: Here’s the entire 4-minute briefing. As you’ll hear Det. Jamieson explain – as SWAT vehicles depart in the background – it started with an assault report involving 2 people, though he says neither was seriously hurt.
8:34 AM: The summary on SPD Blotter has a few additional details about the victims in the initial assault call, describing the victims as his “juvenile nephew” and a friend of that boy, as well as noting that the home belongs to the suspect’s sister.
(All photos in this report are by Dina Johnson unless otherwise credited)
Billy Stauffer said he’d chain himself to a bulldozer before he let a jail get built anywhere near his Highland Park home. That was an oft-cited memory as the Highland Park Action Committee honored Stauffer and many others Wednesday night, while using part of its regular meeting to formally celebrate the end of a two-year fight against the possibility a new city jail would be built near their neighborhood – or anywhere else in the city. (If you missed the news, city and county leaders announced two weeks ago that various factors would eliminate the need for a new jail for at least 10 years, so the site-selection process was ending.) Every person singled out had a special contribution. One of those who shared the memory of Stauffer’s vow was Eddie Sherman of Pacific Plumbing Supply (close to the Highland Park Way/West Marginal Way site that was still on the jail-location list when the process shut down):
Sherman lauded HPAC for being a true “action committee,” persistently pursuing their goal. “If this fight hadn’t been taken up by your group,” he told chair Dan Mullins, “it never would have gone anywhere – I felt like I wasn’t alone. It was just a small group, able to make a big punch to stop this entire thing.” The 2008 forums at which Sherman and others spoke so passionately were recalled during the semi-ceremony. One of the honorees, local teacher Laura Drake, was ribbed a bit for the nationwide fame she gained because we and others put her fiery June 26, 2008, speech on video, where it was widely linked:
(video no longer available due to Blip.tv closure)
Drake’s outrage drew cheers and tears. But at Wednesday night’s meeting …Read More
“Much like the Fremont Sunday Market, in miniature.” That’s how Tiffany Silver-Brace describes the West Seattle Sunday Market she is organizing for the lot at the Highland Park Improvement Club, starting June 27th and continuing every Sunday, 9 am-1 pm, through the summer. She’s looking for interested vendors, explaining:
Items to be sold must be either locally grown or produced eggs/bread/flowers/fruit/veg, etc… Other items to be sold must be hand-crafted, and can be anything such as clothing, household items, art, health and beauty supplies, etc. Vendor tables will be $25.
I am really hoping that this will be successful, as it will be located on a street with high traffic volume and would be the only market of its kind in the area.
A Facebook page for the West Seattle Sunday Market is now up and running – you can see it here. If you are interested in selling at the market, Tiffany also can be contacted at 206-919-2758 or silverbrace@gmail.com.
Last night, we previewed the Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) project (with financial support from the Rotary Club of West Seattle) that was to be part of today’s “Rampathon” by volunteers around King/Snohomish Counties. Got to the worksite in Highland Park before 11 am, and the ramp was already all done! The residents told us the crews had left minutes earlier.
(5:17 pm update – substituted that photo just sent by Gary Potter, with not only the family who lives in the home, but also a crew sent by EZ Access, the Algona firm that made the aluminum ramp!) The new ramp means a woman who lives at the house will get to leave more often – without it, she couldn’t go out without two people helping her get up and down the stairs.
Tonight, the Highland Park Action Committee toasted the end of their intense two-year fight against a potential jail in West Seattle – that’s current HPAC chair Dan Mullins at left, with former chair Blair Johnson and photographer/webmaster/sign designer Dina Johnson, celebrating at Triangle Tavern. We had asked Mullins earlier for his thoughts on this morning’s announcement by King County Executive Dow Constantine (here’s our as-it-happened report – and here’s our previously unpublished clip of the start of the announcement):
Mullins’ reaction afterward: “As difficult as it has been fighting the prospect of a huge jail being built it our neighborhood, some good has come out of it. Our little neighborhood has become much more organized, people have a stronger sense of community and a better understanding of how our government works. And City Hall now knows who we are and where we are and that we are vocal.” (His e-mail to the Highland Park list was a little more exuberant, with the subject line NO NEW JAIL/GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY!)
So now what? There was some concern in the comment section following this morning’s story, regarding the language of the official announcements – suspended, proposed, etc. Toward the start of this short clip from this morning’s announcement, the mayor was a little more definite in the term he chose:
We spoke later with Katherine Schubert-Knapp and Catherine Cornwall, both of whom worked on the city of Seattle’s part of the jail project. The official announcement warned that if future projections suggest more capacity will be needed, jail planning could have to restart as soon as 2013. Could any of the work done this time around be reused, we asked? Answer: Basically, no. But they both stressed that the proposed regional cooperation brings the process to a whole new stage – if the need can truly be handled between a combination of county beds, plus beds from other facilities such as the south end jail that’s opening next year, and alternative sentencing. Regarding the “proposed” languaging, Schubert-Knapp notes that since so many governmental entities have been involved in this, the respective councils have to sign off on the plan – King County Council, Seattle City Council, etc. – but that’s not expected to be any kind of speed bump. Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata, who headed the council’s Public Safety Committee during much of the site-search process, also seemed vehement that it’s over:
A variety of documents are now linked to the North/East Cities Municipal Jail website, which also carries a stern notice that it will not be updated from this point forward. We asked Cornwall and Schubert-Knapp if any particular study or report had triggered today’s announcement; they say the county’s decision to offer a longer contract extension, coupled with a second year of data showing lower jail population, comprised the game-changer. And of course, the city and county both have new elected leadership, in McGinn and Constantine, this year; Constantine had declared in June that if he were elected, the jail project “will not happen”; McGinn also had voiced, during his campaign, opposition to the idea of a new jail.
But long before the campaigning, the Highland Park Action Committee was in action, with research as well as passion. If you missed our stories from the period in 2008 when Seattle was considering its own new jail, with two of the four proposed sites in West Seattle, this report (with video) from a June 2008 meeting tells virtually the whole story of how things were going in the heart of the fight. Even then, as we wrote, projections were showing jail populations dropping. And now, watching those populations is paramount, warns the summary document released today:
While this proposed approach creates additional time to plan for our region’s future jail needs, it is not a long-term solution for our region’s jail capacity needs. The county and cities will need to regularly track the region’s jail population trends and use of jail capacity and be prepared to resume planning for new capacity by 2013 or even sooner if trends indicate the need for additional capacity before 2020.
From last night’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting: Urban gardening was in the spotlight, and Aviva from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle (photo right) spoke to the group. She talked about CHoSS’s origins, with local fruit-tree gleaning, which gathered more than three tons of fruit for the White Center Food Bank last year. Now the organization’s added many other activities, including classes over the next few months, training gardeners to go out and work with neighbors over the summer to get more gardens started. The Edible Garden Tour‘s on the schedule again this year; Aviva says 4 gardens are signed up and they’re looking for more. You can contact Aviva through the CHoSS website at gleanit.org … ALSO AT HPAC: SDOT will soon start surveying traffic on the east leg of SW Holden in Highland Park (map); HPAC has requested traffic calming in the area and the survey is the next step … HPAC chair Dan Mullins recapped Saturday’s meeting about the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park project (the three design concepts are now posted on the project webpage); Kay Kirkpatrick and Monica Cavagnero talked about kinetic-sculpture artist David Boyer, who’s been chosen for the “1% for Art” feature at the site … And it was reported that last Saturday’s Highland Park Improvement Club wine event was a big hit.
Highland Park Action Committee meets the 4th Wednesday of each month, 7 pm, preceded by potluck/mingling, at the historic Highland Park Improvement Club building.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Holly:
Just sending in a quick note to alert the community of a car theft. My white 1990 Honda Civic DX hatchback (plate #774-MVS) was stolen from in front of my home sometime between 9:00 last night and 9:00 this morning. We live in the Highland Park neighborhood on 18th Ave SW between Thistle and Cloverdale [map]. Any information regarding my beloved “Lily White” would be much appreciated.
The agenda for this Thursday’s Seattle Design Commission meeting just arrived, and a West Seattle project is on the schedule: The West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park “concept design” is scheduled for review at 10:30 am Thursday. This will come nine days before the next scheduled public meeting on the project (that’s set for 10 am April 24 at Southwest Community Center). The new park is being built on what is in essence new land, created by the undergrounding of what was an open reservoir. Thursday’s Design Commission meeting is open to the public and will be in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall downtown.
(Easel display from February reservoir-park meeting; photo by Dina Johnson)
As reported here in February, the third city meeting about the new park at the West Seattle/Westcrest Reservoir is set for April 24. Today, the city is sending official reminders about that meeting (here’s the flyer), which like the last one will be at 10 am on a Saturday morning at Southwest Community Center. We covered the first two meetings – here’s our report from December, and our report from February.
Starting Feb. 2 and continuing through last Monday, five people have entered the race for 34th District State House Position 2. Call it the domino seat: It’s opening because Rep. Sharon Nelson is running for the State Senate seat that Sen. Joe McDermott is vacating to run for County Council (appointed Councilmember Jan Drago repeated recently that she will not run). All 5 State House #2 hopefuls showed up for the first major candidates’ forum of the campaign last night, organized by the Highland Park Action Committee. That wasn’t the only item on HPAC’s monthly meeting agenda, but it was the biggest one – after the jump, video clips of each candidate plus other meeting toplines :Read More
Two door-to-door alerts tonight – again, soliciting is not against the law and those who are reported may be perfectly legit, but those reporting the sightings wanted to be on the safe side and share the info – read on:Read More
In 1988, the Talking Heads sang, in “(Nothing But) Flowers,” about blacktop turned back into flowers and fields. A little bit of that is going on outside Highland Park Improvement Club right now, as its Spring Clean event continues till 5 pm. Becca Fong (above) and other volunteers are pulling away asphalt put over parking strips long ago, so they can plant trees (a few of which you can see at the left of this next picture):
Inside, Monica Cavagnaro and others are cleaning and sprucing up the historic HPIC building itself (just celebrated its 90th anniversary last November).
And a variety of other tasks are under way – including litter pickup in nearby greenbelt areas. Need incentive to drop by and help? Somebody mentioned “banana bread” while we were shooting pictures. Just show up any time before 5 pm, when this is scheduled to wrap up, at 1116 SW Holden (map). (And note that HPIC has some other cool events coming up too – like Wine For Our Times on April 24; the building’s also the scene of Highland Park Action Committee meetings, next one this Wednesday, March 24, 7 pm, including a candidates’ forum with those running for 34th District State House Position 2.)
This weekend and next, you have 4 special chances to help beautify and/or green up West Seattle neighborhoods. More details on the WSB Events calendar – but here’s the quick roundup – ALL could use extra hands, just show up!
SATURDAY, MARCH 20: It’s the Delridge Playfield playground sprucing-up event (maybe beyond if there’s a good turnout). 10 am-noon.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21: Highland Park Improvement Club plants trees, builds a new kiosk/sign, cleans tables/chairs/walls inside, and picks up neighborhood trash. 10 am-5 pm.
SATURDAY, MARCH 27: The city Clean ‘n’ Green event we mentioned previously is also a huge tree-planting event along Fauntleroy Way, with the West Seattle Rotary, local Scouts, and other neighbors/friends/community members. Starts at Fairmount Playground, 9 am-1 pm.
SUNDAY, MARCH 28: Sidewalks and planting strips along 35th SW between SW Holden and SW Roxbury get helping hands from the Westwood Neighborhood Council and Friends of the Southwest Library. Check in at the library. 10 am-1 pm.
We’ve received a couple notes about burglars hitting multiple times on one West Seattle street – read on for details:Read More
Dina Johnson was among the Highland Park Action Committee volunteers who visited HP Elementary today to help the students celebrate Dr. Seuss – whose work of course everyone knows is best read aloud. HPAC chair Dan Mullins issued a blanket invite to his group to join him in reading to the students during Dr. Seuss’s birthday (3/2) week, and drew a good turnout, posing here with a school staffer or two:
Thanks to Dina and Monica Cavagnero for sharing the photos!
At 8th/Roxbury, on the north side of Greenbridge, you can stand on the edge of White Center and look across the street at a “Welcome to Highland Park” sign. So HP has reason to pay close attention to the prospect of a November vote on whether Seattle should annex White Center and most of the rest of the unincorporated area that will remain when Burien completes its North Highline South annexation this spring. That’s why WC residents who support Seattle annexation addressed the Highland Park Action Committee meeting Wednesday night, briefly drawing audience reaction that hinted at some of the strong opinions over the area’s future. That was just part of a very busy HPAC agenda – read on for the toplines, starting with the community crime report:Read More
Thanks to WSB’er “westseattledood” for the Friday afternoon photo and report on West Seattle’s only off-leash area.
Cyndi, dog wrangler and owner of Petite Posse dog walking service, shared the shade with her exclusive pack of small dogs at Westcrest Dog Park. This bucolic patch of wood chips, about 50 yards in length, now includes two benches providing observation points toward the sloped embankment adjacent to the West Seattle Reservoir Park project. Hand removal, without any machinery, of yards of dense invasives revealed a prime location for sighting rabbits scurrying from burrows in the remaining berry brush on the slope. Sounds of chatty wrens co-exist with barking dogs, neighbors’ roosters, Boeing planes and the earth movers still grading the reservoir project. What was once an overgrown, impassable thatch of blackberries and invasives has been transformed by dedicated volunteers with a vision and time to give.
Haven’t been to Westcrest before? Here’s a map.
We’ve reported several student fundraisers but hadn’t heard about this one till this item appeared in Seattle Public Schools‘ newest School Beat e-newsletter:
Highland Park Elementary students raised $1,091.35 in four days to aide the earthquake victims in Haiti. More than 80 percent of the students at Highland Park receive free and reduced-price lunch. The school’s head secretary, Margaret Young, helped organize the fund-raiser by asking teachers to share information about the devastation in Haiti . After adding up the collections each morning, Principal Ann Gray and head teacher Rhonda Moore read the total contribution amounts to the students.
“We praised the compassion, understanding and generous nature of our students and parents to give to such a worthy cause. Our students continued to donate their coins, which consisted of mostly pennies. The students were excited and proud … and so were we, as a school,” Moore said.
Congratulations!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“Vibrant!” is the word Highland Park resident Kay Kirkpatrick offered to describe both the turnout and the discussion during Saturday’s second public design meeting for her neighborhood’s future park atop the under-construction West Seattle Reservoir lid.
Turnout for the first meeting at High Point Community Center two months ago was certainly good (here’s our story) – but this one was even better, despite the tantalizing sunshine outside. A long line stretched through the lower lobby at Southwest Community Center, even as the scheduled starting time came and went; the meeting didn’t start until about 10:20, when most finally were seated and signed in.
(All photos in this story courtesy Dina Johnson)
Parks Department project manager Susanne Friedman started by asking for a show of hands regarding attendees’ specific interests. One such show explained some of the turnout:
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