West Seattle, Washington
10 Sunday
Over the course of today/tonight, we’re looking back at West Seattle’s 2010 in a few ways. Here’s the first. Christopher Boffoli photographed dozens of notable stories for WSB again this year; he went through his archives via Flickr and created this montage of memorable scenes. It’s not in order of importance – you’ll see a number of breaking-news scenes since Christopher is often first to arrive, but also wildlife, parade participants, sights at sea and in the sky … a great visual retrospective. Just click the “play” button and the images will automatically advance as you watch. Coming up later, our “top stories of the year” list, as well as year-end thanks. (But we’ll be here as usual covering today’s news all day, too!)
A few more updates this morning from the in-foreclosure commercial building at 16th/Holden: One day after confirming she would close once her current inventory ran out, which she thought might be early next week, JoJo’s Fine Espresso owner Jodi Robbins has closed the stand. This morning, reader Erik had sent a photo of a “pay rent or vacate” note he saw on the stand this morning; WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz says it’s gone now. Robbins confirmed the back-rent notice in a note to us and also just added a comment to our story from yesterday, noting the closure, saying she’s “being forced to shut the doors,” and concluding with well-wishes for Zippy’s Giant Burgers – now the last business open at what until one week ago was a three-business spot.
Deanie, meantime, has spoken again with Zippy’s owners, who say they are continuing to explore the possibility of financing to purchase the site. Yesterday, Deanie reports, reps from UniBank* including an assistant vice president, Alex Ko, were at the now-shuttered SeaMart – whose owners had also owned the building pre-foreclosure – and they put up this note on the store’s door:
The bank told Deanie they’ve already had bidders and that the building was appraised for $825,000 this fall.
*FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: We have corrected the name of the bank in the story – it’s UniBank, not Union.
Most government offices are closed today; city libraries close at 6 pm. Metro remains on a “reduced weekday” schedule. Trash (etc.) pickup is on a regular schedule today, but not tomorrow. Mail is delivered today but not tomorrow. Banks are open today but not tomorrow.
Been outside tonight? All we can say is, brrrr. It’s in the 20s and the car tops were icing over by 9 pm. On the other hand, great stargazing. And according to the National Weather Service, this is what you can expect tomorrow night, too – so if you’ll be outside watching the Space Needle fireworks from West Seattle shores, or anyplace else outdoors, make sure your NYE fashion choice includes major insulation. (And if you’re still looking around to see what’s happening, remember our list – ranging from bar parties to church services.)
ADDED 12:15 AM: Our partners at the Seattle Times have published a preview with some behind-the-scenes info about the eight-minute Needle fireworks.
Corporate headquarters told us the new 7-11 store/gas station at 35th/Barton in Westwood would be open December 31st “or sooner.” Turned out to be “sooner”; it opened today. Thanks to MargL for the first report, in the WSB Forums. This is West Seattle’s sixth eighth 7-11; it replaces an Exxon station/mini-mart that shut down 14 months ago.
6:05 PM: On our way to check out the call in Gatewood, 6900 block of 40th SW (map), “assault with weapons.” Fire and police crews are there. Scanner says a victim’s being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
6:18 PM UPDATE: Scanner traffic indicates the medic unit is transporting a 45-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the head. We have two people at the scene and they say police are looking around but there is no indication yet about the circumstances of the shooting.
6:44 PM UPDATE: While police are still at the scene, and won’t confirm officially that this is believed to be self-inflicted, they do say they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the shooting.
New information tonight about another change resulting from city budget cuts – how the city’s Neighborhood Service Centers and District Councils will be staffed. You might recall the mayor originally proposed closing the Southwest Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction. Outcry, led by the Southwest District Council, helped cancel that plan – but we now know that the district coordinator who’s been based there, Stan Lock, is moving elsewhere in the city, as the Department of Neighborhoods reorganizes the coordinators who remain after it cut three jobs elsewhere. Details ahead:Read More
(STORY UPDATED 7:15 PM, SCROLL TO END FOR PHOTO FROM CAFE’S PAST)
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Miranda Krone likes to think of her new restaurant as the next chapter in the longrunning story of a small dining spot. She has rented the former Jade West Café (6032 California SW) from owners Salina and Wah Wong and plans to open Meander’s, a breakfast and lunch café, in late January.
One month ago — nearly a year after a drunk driver hit and seriously injured her husband and son — Salina Wong had told WSB that the family was “looking for a chef capable of carrying on the legacy of Wah’s café,” a homey one-person operation. Looks like they found her.
As Miranda pulls up a short stool to sit on and props her feet onto one of the orange vinyl barstools, it’s clear she already feels at home in this cozy space. “It’s awesome about the kitchen (being a part of the dining area). I can interact with the customers while making food!” This, she says, is perfectly suited to her “tendency to mother people.”
With her 13-year-old daughter Chloe looking on, Miranda explains that this space was a perfect solution in many ways, “I’m in my neighborhood” — she lives four blocks away — “I can do what I love, take care of my daughter, and be with people I like.”
ORIGINAL 3:15 PM REPORT: Just spotted by WSB co-publisher Patrick, who was driving, solo, and unable to photograph, a coyote running down the middle of California SW, southbound, at SW Holden in Gatewood (map). (He reported it as more of a traffic alert – since more than a few drivers had to slow down.) We suspect it’s off the main route now, as we just looked in that direction from California/Thistle and no sign of anything four-footed but a dog out jogging with its person.
ADDED 5:24 PM: From Jake:
If we had time, we could create a collage with probably 100 photos this year of people helping the West Seattle Food Bank – from students to seniors to steelworkers, big donation drives and little ones. But just imagine it all as you read the message WS Food Bank executive director Fran Yeatts just asked us to share:
From all of us at the West Seattle Food Bank, we would like to offer a very sincere and heartfelt thank you to all who have helped us in our work to end hunger in this community. The demand for our services has been increasing and we are grateful that many neighbors in West Seattle have been there to help. Your support makes a big difference for many families, so especially on behalf of all the West Seattle Food Bank’s clients, thank you.
And of course you can help them out right now or any time – by going here.
The official “order of sale” is the newest development in the ongoing legal fight over “The Hole,” the two-years-excavated-and-idle site at 39th/Alaska/Fauntleroy that once held Schuck’s and Hancock Fabrics, demolished for a mixed-use project that was to include a Whole Foods Market and a new Hancock store before it all fell apart in legal/financial wrangling.
(Aerial view of “The Hole,” looking westward, September 2010)
In case you missed it, the first trial regarding the site concluded last month with King County Superior Court Judge Susan Craighead ruling that construction companies Aero and Ledcor are first in line to get liens paid off with proceeds from a foreclosure sale of the site. Since the verdict, she has rejected a motion for a new trial, as we noted two weeks ago, and has since rejected a challenge to Aero’s motion asking her to order that sale. Result: As of this past Monday, she has ordered the sale to take place within 60 days. You can see the sale order here.
So now what? Orders like this are handled through the courts and the King County Sheriff’s Office, as explained here. We’re got inquiries out to find out if any further challenges are planned that could hold it up. The two construction-company liens alone, which are first in line for any sale proceeds, total almost $4 million (not counting interest dating back to December 2008). Earlier in the saga, the site’s would-be new owner, an entity related to Madison Development calling itself 3922 SW Alaska LLC (that’s the site’s address of record), had tried to get foreclosure ordered without the liens taking priority. As part of its challenge to the judge’s ruling, 3922 SW Alaska claimed it discovered post-trial that original developer BlueStar had been talking with Aero about resuming the project. BlueStar boss Steve Hartley had told WSB this past spring that he still hoped to find a way to finish it, even though by that time they no longer had any official involvement in the project.
P.S. If you don’t drive through this section of West Seattle often, it’s worth noting, though technically unrelated, that the future Trader Joe’s site (latest update here) is just east of “The Hole.” The newly installed city-permit-notification sign would be in the lower right of our “aerial” photo if we sought the same shot today.
Joan has been noticing some apparent “guerrilla art” around town and e-mailed us twice in the past few weeks about them. We made no progress in divining their source otherwise, so we’re asking you. Above is the photo she took yesterday of the latest artwork to appear, this one on a utility pole near 45th SW/Fauntleroy (map), but she says today it’s since disappeared, and the wires from which it hung appear to have been cut. Joan says it recently replaced a similar artwork with the word FISH on it, a lot like the one she pointed us to earlier this month at California/Brandon (map):
Joan sums up, “I am curious as to who is doing this interesting art installation? Any ideas?”
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz, added 12:58 pm)
Another business is closing on the Highland Park site that is in foreclosure at 16th/Holden. First it was SeaMart, as reported here one week ago; the mini-market’s owner lost the property to foreclosure and shut the store after Christmas Eve. The other two businesses on the site, Zippy’s Giant Burgers and JoJo’s FIne Espresso, have been grappling with what the property’s uncertain future means to their businesses. Yesterday, shortly after publishing a followup focused on Zippy’s, the Seattle Weekly reported separately that JoJo’s owner Jodi Robbins had decided to close. Her stand was closed for the day when we subsequently went over to seek more details, but she confirms it in an online reply this morning: “Yes, it is true, I will be closing shop.” After the jump, her full reply explaining why she’s made the decision, and what she’ll miss:Read More
(Refresh for the latest “live” views from both directions of the West Seattle Bridge)
Though there’d been fears of lows in the 20s and potential ice trouble on the roads, it’s still above freezing (37 at the official Boeing Field gauge) as we write this just after 3:30 am, so things might not be so bad out there after all. Forecast looks pretty good through New Year’s Eve, too. You can check a few more cameras, and latest-traffic-update links, on the WSB Traffic page. Hope you have a safe drive/ride/walk to work.
8:15 AM UPDATE: Trouble-free commute by all accounts.
Two arts businesses in West Seattle are about to celebrate milestones:
TWILIGHT ARTIST COLLECTIVE TELLS ITS STORY: January will mark six years for Twilight Artist Collective. It didn’t begin in West Seattle – but this is now its only home (next to Easy Street Records in The Junction). Twilight’s Mary Enslow decided to celebrate early by recounting the “strange and cool” story of how she and her co-proprietors met – a story that spans half the globe, from Rome to Pike Place Market. Click to read “How The TwAC Did We Get Here?”.
ALKI ARTS’ SIX-MONTH-IVERSARY SALE: Diane Venti is proud to proclaim that Alki Arts has made it six months, and will celebrate with a sale and party this Sunday (January 2nd), noon-7 pm. Everything’s 10 percent off, and they’ll have dessert and refreshments. If you haven’t been to Alki Arts – it’s at 2820 Alki SW, next to Cactus.
If you’ve driven along Avalon tonight, you might have noticed people inside the street’s new namesake restaurant. No, Avalon is not open to the public yet – as reported two days ago, next Monday (January 3) is the big night – but tonight, it’s having what’s known as a “friends and family” night to work the bugs out. Stopping by for a few photos, we got co-owner Mary Palmer to pause for a photo, by the espresso machine:
Caffe Umbria is the coffee chosen by Avalon. Meantime, among the “friends and family” we found giving Avalon’s cuisine a try were two people already well-known in the local food world:
Justin Cline and Ann Magyar, who own White Center-headquartered Full Tilt Ice Cream, pronounced Avalon’s food “good.” Both of the desserts on tonight’s preview menu, by the way, included Full Tilt ice cream – salted caramel in the Chocolate Profiteroles, cinnamon with the Apple Pie Tartlet. (What else was on the menu, you ask? The appetizers offered were Duck Flat Bread with persimmons and fontina cream sauce, Mixed Green Salad with sherry vinaigrette, marinated cheese curds, pears and candied hazelnuts; Salad Trio of marinated winter vegetables; Crab and Cod Cakes. Entrees: Syrah Braised Short Ribs with root-vegetable gratin; Grilled Sturgeon with dandelion pesto, anchovy butter, caramelized cauliflower, fennel bulb and cavalo nero; Marinated Carleton Port Tenderloin with butternut squash, brussel leaves and pancetta; Braised Chicken Gremolata with mashed potatoes, sunchokes and lemon. Other potential menu items are on their website.)
A source close to West Seattle Nursery wanted to share this story because, they explained, WSN owner Mark Smith is not one for horn-blowing: Mark went to the Holy Rosary Christmas Tree Lot the Monday before Christmas, two days before the lot planned to close, and found out they still had 200 trees left – perhaps because of their new, off-the-beaten-path location. He offered to take some of the trees and sell them for the school; the source says WSN sold 26 trees and wrote HR a check for $607 – full proceeds from the sale, with WSN donating the labor not only to complete the sale but to give the trees a fresh cut and tie them onto buyers’ cars. HR donates 15 percent of its tree sales to charity, so that meant about $91 for charity, too. Concluded the source: “I just wanted to let you know this because it’s another story about why West Seattle is such a great place to live … the people.”
Two months after the would-be owner of West Seattle Pharmacy in the former Westside Pharmacy space at California/Brandon gave up his hopes of opening, the For Lease sign has gone away (thanks to Kathleen for that tip). WSB contributor Keri DeTore tracked down the new tenants who are taking over the space. While they don’t want to go fully public yet, they told Keri they are in the very preliminary stages of creating a “small, neighborhood restaurant and bar.” Though they haven’t even started seeking permits yet, they are hoping to open “a friendly place where people feel welcome,” sometime in the first half of next year. (P.S. Keri’s also writing today about the new tenant of the former Jade West Café – her story’s coming up.)
As pointed out by LB in a comment following Tuesday’s story about upcoming Alaskan Way Viaduct work, more Metro routes will be affected than the ones in the transit service’s original announcement. Today, they’re spelled out in a just-sent update – read on for details, as well as a reminder about previously mentioned February changes in downtown routes/stops:Read More
12:36 PM: Almost 12 hours after the only noteworthy snow shower – and it was a brief one, as we noted – there’s more falling right now, loud and sleety. (Five minutes later, the cars are covered in white – fleetingly.)
12:47 PM UPDATE: After about 10 minutes, down to flurry status. Added a video clip from the height of the shower. Newest forecast says we might see this off and on till midnight or so.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, before the icy bits all melted from atop cars)
1:06 PM UPDATE: The latest from SDOT, which notes we might have to worry about ice tonight (lows are projected in the 20s):
SDOT crews will continue patrolling and treating streets in the north end of Seattle today as needed although streets for the most part remain bare and wet.
Temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing early this evening with the possibility of up to one inch of snow or freezing rain. Crews will be out throughout the city to treat major arterial streets as needed and in preparation for the evening commute. Night crews will continue this work depending on conditions.
SDOT managers will closely monitor the weather throughout the evening and make changes if needed.
Drivers are advised to slow down this evening and tomorrow morning, and be prepared for ice, especially on bridges and other elevated structures.
2:09 PM UPDATE: And now it’s sunny! If we get any more showery weather, we’ll update this story rather than launching a new one. It’s clearly one of those days where the weather changes every five minutes and every five miles (if not less!).
The state Liquor Control Board is hoping to open a third liquor store in West Seattle. We have Andy to thank for the tip on this one – he discovered the “business opportunity” listing on the LCB site, seeking three new contract liquor stores in King County, including these criteria:
Successful applicants will be responsible for providing a suitable store location:
* At least 1.5 miles from other liquor stores
* 1,000 feet or more from schools and churches (RCW 66.24.010 – 9A)
* Located within a retail shopping hubWith preference given to:
* Stores at least 2,100 square feet
* West Seattle/Admiral area of King County
We followed up with the LCB media team. Spokesperson Anne Radford confirmed, “We hope to open one of the three new contract liquor stores in the Admiral area. This store would be in addition to the West Seattle Junction/Westwood Village stores.” The deadline for applications was December 23rd, so there’s no word yet about a possible location/operator. Meantime, we also asked about the search for a new location for the Junction store, and Radford had this update: “We’ve extended the lease at the current West Seattle Junction store until the end of June. We’re still working on a new location in the area. We may have additional details by the end of January.” The lease originally was set to expire in February, as we reported last May; a “for lease” sign’s been up at the location for two months.
(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
On Christmas Day, we published an update on Family Promise of Seattle, the West Seattle-based nonprofit that still needs to raise about $40,000 before it can start housing homeless families again – a service no one else in this area provides. Today, Family Promise board member Laura Bermes sends word they’re partnering with Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) during the upcoming “Amahl and the Night Visitors“:
Twelfth Night Productions, West Seattle’s own community theater, is partnering up with Family Promise of Seattle this holiday season to change the lives of homeless children and their families. West Seattleites are familiar with Twelfth Night’s productions and reputation of putting on quality theatrical productions, giving opportunity for local community members to shine on stage. But, did you know that the production company regularly partners up with local non-profits and community groups to make a difference right here in West Seattle?
This year, Twelfth Night will once again bring the holiday opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” to the stage. Amahl is a touching story about a poor young shepherd and his mother who receive a visit from the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem. This fully scored orchestrated production is a perfect way to cap off your holiday celebrations, and is appropriate for patrons of all ages! And while you attend the show, volunteers from Family Promise of Seattle will be in attendance talking about the shelter, selling baked goods, and taking donations.
Amahl and the Night Visitors will be playing at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
(4408 Delridge Way SW) Jan 7th and 8th at 7:30 pm and Jan 8th & 9th at 3 pm. Tickets
can be purchased online or by calling 206-937-1394. More information about Family Promise of Seattle can be found at www.familypromiseofseattle.org.
Tis the Season… come and top off your holiday with this beautiful show, and step up to help West Seattle’s only homeless shelter for families open its doors once again!
(New Year’s Eve 2009 photo, courtesy of Jillian)
Just wanted to note, with two days to go, that you can find a list of West Seattle New Year’s Eve/Day events on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page – not just restaurant/bar events, but also everything from New Year’s Eve bowling to the Highland Park parade to the Polar Bear Swim. Know of an event that’s not on the page? Please let us know so we can add it – thanks!
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