West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Alki Community Council met online last week for their September meeting, with an abbreviated agenda as the group winds up its summer activities and prepares for the fall.
The meeting was facilitated by president Charlotte Starck, and began with an introduction of the group’s two newest leaders: Kevin Kramer (Board Chair of Operations) and Robyn Fritz (Board Chair of Parks). Kramer has a background in technology and operations, and will help the council ramp up their efforts in those areas. Fritz will help foster the council’s partnerships with Seattle Parks, and she joked that she is best known for walking her dog in the area, and meeting people (including Parks representatives) in that way.
Next on the agenda was a police update from SPD’s Southwest Precinct, with Officer German Barreto and Captain Krista Bair (who became the precinct’s leader in June) both in attendance. They discussed recent events such as the RV sweeps near Westwood Village, the Alki shootout on September 6 and an incident on the 2100 block of Harbor SW. Barreto gave an overall update similar to what he presented at last week’s meeting at the Admiral Neighborhood Association, and emphasized that citizens should call 911 (not the SPD non-emergency number) if they see anything suspicious. Bair talked about the challenges related to “encampment sweeps” on the peninsula, and commended Barreto for his ongoing work on that. For Alki specifically, Bair also noted that she recently talked to a long-time Alki resident who said that while increased traffic and “cruising” has always caused added issues on Alki in the summertime, in recent years the activities have often been more “destructive” and invasive in the summer months, and Bair agreed that it takes a strong partnership between the community and the police in order to make things better.
The next portion of the regular meeting was an update from Sean Blackwell from the city’s CARE Department (Community Assisted Response and Engagement), which includes a team of community crisis responders as well as a 911 call center, as we’ve reported previously. The department’s leader, Chief Amy (Smith) Barden, had attended and participated in the Alki council’s May meeting, and Blackwell provided some additional context in last week’s meeting regarding the department’s mission. He said that the team has their own mobile units and can respond promptly to calls, and because team members have expertise in social work and community engagement, they can be a resource to free up time for SPD officers to handle more urgent calls. Blackwell said that in the time since the team launched in October 2023, it has handled 767 call events (with an average of 40 minutes per visit), with 37% of those resulting in the team transporting someone to get needed services. The team started with 6 officers, and based on current plans will be expanding to 18 officers and 9 response vehicles, eventually serving West Seattle (their current focus is downtown).
To close out the regular meeting, attendee and neighbor Barb Richter gave a quick update on the Alki Point Healthy Street revision that was installed last June, saying that it’s been successful in reducing speeding and other issues, giving residents and visitors “a safe place to walk, ride and roll.” She acknowledged that there have been some concerns about parking (some of which we reported on in August, as it relates to the northern portion of the street) but she said that in her observation, legal parking was readily available during the summer months.
Following some closing remarks, the ACC group then transitioned into a virtual “executive board working session” to discuss organizational growth, strategy and other updates.
The Alki Community Council can be contacted at hello@alkicommunitycouncil.org. The group meets on the third Thursday of each month, with upcoming meetings as follows:
Again this year, on the same day as the Seattle Walk to End Alzheimer’s downtown, West Seattle caregivers are organizing an informal walk here on the peninsula. Here’s the invitation!
Saturday…September 28…10:00 am…Holden and 39th
For those who don’t want to go to the big walk (at Seattle Center), the Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Support Group has a local walk and welcomes anyone affected by the disease. We will meet at 39th Ave SW and SW Holden and walk together…usually under an hour and at a very social pace.
It’s FREE and FRIENDLY…wear purple if you have it.
No need to RSVP – just show up! (Here’s a map to 39th/Holden.)
(WSB photo, Monster Dash’s mascot in 2023)
Fall’s fun costumed 5K, the West Seattle Monster Dash, is exactly one month away. Organizers just sent the announcement, and we notice that you have only a few more days to sign up at lower rates. The Monster Dash – set for Saturday, October 26, at Lincoln Park – is a fundraiser for West Seattle’s Cooperative Preschool program. As organizers describe it, “This event is a costumed 5k trail run/walk, Kids Dash, and Kids Zone featuring games, activities, and prizes. Paid registration includes a T-shirt featuring our iconic Monster (all races) and bib with timing chip (5K only).” The 5K starts at 9:30 am, and the Kids’ Dash at 10:30 am. Adult and youth 5K registration is at the lowest price if you sign up before next Tuesday (October 1) – to register, go here. The Monster Dash (in its lucky 13th year!) is also still welcoming sponsors – go here.
(Great Blue Heron, photographed near Salty’s by David Hutchinson)
If you haven’t already checked the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are the highlights for the rest of today/tonight:
SEATTLE PARKS CLOSURES: Many programs and facilities – including Southwest Pool – are closed today for staff training.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Shop fall plants at the center, open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Annuals, perennials, sun, shade, natives, edibles, ground covers … wide variety!
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open Thursdays-Saturdays 1 pm-6 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Food too – stop by to sip and nosh!
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: A presentation on the newly published West Seattle Link Final Environmental Impact Statement is on the agenda for the Sound Transit Board meeting at 1:30 pm, as is a motion addressing planning how to deal with the project’s ballooning costs. Here’s the agenda, with info on how to comment and how to watch online.
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm yoga class at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s C. Davis Texas BBQ making its last visit to HPCS – and bringing a jazz band!
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle!
HIGH-SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: One home contest on the schedule – the West Seattle High School Wildcats host Seattle Prep, JV and JVC at 5:30 pm, Varsity at 7. Fans are invited to dress in white. (3000 California SW)
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for a group walk in Lincoln Park – details in our calendar listing.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm weekly run from The Good Society (California & Lander).
GET READY! Free emergency-preparedness party with Just In Case – 6:30 pm at Whisky West (6451 California SW); our calendar listing has the RSVP link.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)
HOME-BUYING CLASS: As previewed here, West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) invites you to a free class tonight for prospective homebuyers. RSVP appreciated (info@westseattlerealty.com) but not required.
BOOK CLUB LAUNCH: Morbidly Curious Book Club‘s West Seattle chapter launches tonight at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW), 7 pm. .
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
‘GUARDS AT THE TAJ’: Third week for the “dark comedy” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 7:30 pm.
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Two notes related to the West Seattle Link Extension light-rail project:
BOARD MEETING: The routing/station-location decision is expected at next month’s Sound Transit Board meeting, but two related items are on the agenda for the board’s 1:30 pm meeting this afternoon. One is a presentation about the newly released Final Environmental Impact Statement. The other addresses its revelation that the projected cost is now as high as $7.1 billion; at last week’s Executive Committee meeting, board chair King County Executive Dow Constantine mentioned he’d be making a motion for a “workplan” to address that. The motion was available on the ST website yesterday but the list of documents for today’s board meeting seems to be temporarily unavailable, so we’re requesting the motion via email to link here in case that doesn’t get fixed quickly. (Update: Here it is.) The agenda explains how to attend this afternoon’s meeting, either in-person or online.
DROP-IN SESSION #1: We got to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in the final half-hour of last night’s two-hour drop-in session offered for people with questions about the Final EIS. ST says next Tuesday’s session in The Junction will offer the same components, so we made note of those during our visit. First, of course, easels:
Of the ~20 boards on easels and tabletops, only a few focus on specific segments of the route. Most are more big-picture, such as showing the West Seattle spur’s place in the regional network, both when it opens in 2032 and when the Ballard extension opens in 2039:
You can browse a hard copy of the Final EIS:
And if you have questions about the property-acquisition process, there was a table for that:
Since the release of the Final EIS did not trigger the same type of formal comment period as the Draft EIS in 2022, this meeting isn’t geared toward commenting, although ST’s Rachelle Cunningham told us whatever’s received will be shown to the board. We saw scattered sticky notes:
The two remaining drop-in sessions – no presentations, just the opportunity to view materials like these and ask questions one-on-one – are set for Tuesday, Oct. 1, 4:30-6:30 pm at Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW), with Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation available, and Wednesday, Oct. 2, 11 am-1 pm at Gallery B612 (1915 First Ave. S. in SODO).
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, September 26.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly sunny, chance of pm showers, high in the mid-60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:02 am, while sunset will be at 6:57 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT, AND OTHER ROAD WORK OF NOTE
*Work IS scheduled tonight on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project – the two left eastbound lanes are scheduled to close 7 pm tonight to 6 am Friday, with all eastbound offramps remaining open. (Then all three EB lanes are scheduled to close all weekend.)
*Speaking of the weekend, the 1st Avenue South Bridge has southbound lane closures both mornings.
Other projects:
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides next month; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
TRANSIT
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat,” now available on weekends too. Check for alerts here.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If anyone in the overflow crowd at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library tonight was just there hoping to hear new information from West Seattle/South Park school board director Gina Topp about the “retooling” of Seattle Public Schools’ closure proposals, they went home disappointed.
“Anyone who watched [last week’s] board meeting knows as much as I do,” Topp insisted, when asked if the district was still trying to come up with a plan that would take effect at the start of next school year. “The timeline is very confusing … I’m not sure what to expect at our next meeting.” (That’s two weeks away, on October 9.) She said she could only speculate that superintendent Dr. Brent Jones had heard the uproar and was “readjusting for us.”
Topp’s meeting lasted only 45 minutes due to library policy about ending events 15 minutes before closing time (today happened to be the first day of the fall-season 6 pm closing time for this branch on Wednesdays). But she spent almost all of it listening. Most of the parents, teachers, and students who spoke identified themselves as affiliated with one of the West Seattle schools facing possible closure/changes in at least one of the two “options” the superintendent had originally announced – Louisa Boren STEM K-8, Sanislo Elementary, Lafayette Elementary, Pathfinder K-8.
(Added: WSB photo)
3:57 PM: Police and fire are responding to a reported shooting in the 4600 block of 36th SW [vicinity map]. The victim is reported to be a man, with multiple gunshot wounds. The person who shot him is described as a Black man, late 20s to early 30s, all black clothing, white face mask, last seen running toward SW Snoqualmie. The victim is reported to be at the commissary kitchens across from the YMCA, though we don’t yet know if that’s where he was shot. Updates to come.
4:06 PM: The victim is reported to be in his (updated) 30s and conscious. SFD medics are treating him.
4:14 PM: He’ll be taken to Harborview Medical Center; medics say he was shot four times. The description of the shooter has been updated to add thin, tall, black hoodie and jeans, blue surgical mask.
4:25 PM: Our crew has confirmed the shooting happened inside the building at Distinguished Foods, which houses multiple small food businesses. We don’t know what if any relationship the victim has to any of them. Meantime, readers have pointed out that the West Seattle YMCA across the street went into lockdown as a precaution.
5:40 PM: Awaiting media briefing. SFD says the victim was in serious condition when transported.
7:11 PM: Finally just got media briefing. Sgt. Patrick Michaud says the victim has died. Description of his killer is the same as we mentioned above. The shooting happened in the building. We’ll upload full video of the briefing as soon as our crew is back at HQ.
7:41 PM: Here’s what else Sgt. Michaud told us (video added):
The (updated) 29-year-old victim was an employee of one of the businesses in the building, though he didn’t know which one. They’re not sure yet if this was random or targeted; there were other people in the room when the killer came in – entering through “the back kitchen door,” which was open – and shot the victim. The killer left on foot but as for whether he then got into a vehicle and left the area, they have “conflicting information,” with “several different car descriptions” – he said detectives are reviewing video from buildings in the area to find more clues. They have not found the gun that was used. If you have any information, call the SPD tipline at 206-233-5000.
12:36 AM: Thanks to the texter and commenter who report that the last police at the scene left before midnight and 36th reopened.
SIDE NOTE: This is the fourth homicide of 2024 in West Seattle, after 15-year-old Mobarak Adam‘s shooting death at Southwest Pool/Teen Center in January, 22-year-old Luis Solis Lara‘s shooting death on Duwamish Head in June, and 53-year-old William Tappe‘s beating death in the east Junction area in June. No arrests to date in either of the first two; in the third, as we first reported when the case came to light belatedly in July, 30-year-old Kyle Castillo is charged and out on $2 million bail.
THURSDAY 3:38 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identifies the victim as 32-year-old Laupule Talaga. (added) A commenter points out that one of the businesses that rents space at Distinguished Foods, Seattle Soul Kitchen, has posted on social media that the victim was an employee of theirs, a father of three, and that they believe he was targeted.
One week ago, we reported on the new baby born to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Baby L128 and mom L90 were still in the San Juans at last report. Today, a science team that recorded drone video of them, under research permit #21348, has made that video available to media, so we are publishing it. The team included SeaDoc Society, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and NOAA Fisheries, and the video is from September 15. The calf could have been as young as two days old, by estimate of the Center for Whale Research, when this was recorded.
3:20 PM: If you have to head to the eastbound bridge via Fauntleroy, wait a while or try a different access point further east; the Fauntleroy entrance is temporarily closed while SDOT crews rearrange barriers knocked into the eastbound lanes by an earlier westbound spinout. (The crash scene is clear, no injuries reported.)
3:26 PM: Crews got the job done quickly and the bridge entrance has reopened.
With another scheduled Spokane Street Viaduct half-closure this weekend, a newly announced plan for weekend lane closures on the 1st Avenue South Bridge could have extra impact, so we’re mentioning it today. This is a state-owned bridge, so the announcement comes from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) – routine bridge inspections are planned both mornings this weekend, Saturday, September 28, and Sunday, September 29. On Saturday, 6 am-noon, crews will close the two right southbound lanes of the 1st Ave. S. Bridge; on Sunday, also 6 am-noon, crews will close the left southbound lane. The weekend SSV closure is planned for eastbound lanes, so there shouldn’t be much overlap, but we’re sending out the early FYI just in case.
Two reader reports involving theft:
STOLEN MAIL FOUND: The report was sent by Peggy:
A pile of stolen, pilfered, destroyed mail was found on 28th Ave SW near Roxbury on Mon the 23rd, after PO hours, so was turned in to the Westwood PO [Tuesday]. All addresses were to 30th Ave SW. so if important mail hasn’t arrived, contact the PO.
STOLEN MOTORCYCLE STILL MISSING: Nine days after Mario‘s motorcycle was stolen, he’s hoping someone’s seen it:
Stolen 2023 Yamaha YZFR7 – plate 3K0469 – last seen in West Seattle (Fauntleroy/Alaska) on Sep. 17th around 7:30 am. Has rear fender delete, mirror eliminators, black brushed metallic wrap on most of the fairings as well as wind screen.
We’ll add the police report # when we get it.
Thanks to William for the photo of a crash scene on the east side of California/Findlay, blocking Findlay. No SFD dispatch so apparently no injuries. No other info about the circumstances but we’re publishing this in case you see the knocked-over hydrant and wonder what happened.
(WSB photo, seen Tuesday along California SW north of The Junction)
Big day ahead. Here’s our reminder list of what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can always preview the days and weeks ahead – we add to it frequently):
CITY BUDGET BRIEFING: Happening right now (started at 9:30), the City Council, meeting as the Select Budget Committee, is getting its first official briefing on Mayor Harrell‘s budget proposal. Documents are linked to the agenda here; live stream is via Seattle Channel.
NEW LIBRARY HOURS: The fall schedule begins today for Seattle Public Library branches.
TODDLER STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY: 3 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers can help K-12 students with their homework.
SOUND TRANSIT DROP-IN MEETING #1: 4:30 to 6:30 pm, Sound Transit reps will be at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) for the first of three drop-in meetings to answer questions about the West Seattle light-rail project, now that its Final Environmental Impact Statement is out and the ST Board has to finalize routing and station locations. ST tells us this is strictly drop-in, no presentation planned, no open-mic commenting, etc.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH SCHOOL BOARD REP GINA TOPP: Want to talk about the school-closure proposals that are now being “retooled”? Or something else related to Seattle Public Schools? Our area’s elected board director Gina Topp will be at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW) 5-6 pm for Q&A/conversation.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES’ ONLINE MEETING #2: Second and final chance for Q&A at the fall systemwide community meeting, held online at 6 pm. RSVP here to get the link. (Here’s our report on the first session Tuesday afternoon.)
WESTSIDE BABY ‘BEYOND THE BASICS’: The nonprofit’s White Center hub (10002 14th SW) is where you can attend tonight’s annual benefit to help WS Baby help local babies and children, 6 pm. Check for tickets here.
FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are welcome to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four trivia options tonight: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
DONAVON FRANKENREITER, LIVE: Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) hosts an in-store show and signing. Free but advance purchase of his new record is required. 7 pm.
PIANO NIGHT AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: All requests! 7 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MUSIC BINGO X 2: One night, two games! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo, hosted by Mingo Maniac, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: The spotlight is yours! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(File photo from another organization’s flamingo-flock fundraiser)
We’re spotlighting another school fundraiser this morning: Bridge School Cooperative Elementary is raising money via flamingo flocking through the end of October.
Surprise your loved ones with a bright pink family of flamingos to decorate their yard or door.
Our flamingo wranglers (aka volunteers) will ensure a flock of pink flamingoes flies sneakily to the home of your friend, family member, or Bridge School buddy!
Send one, or send many!
The flamingo averse amongst us can even pay to protect their home from an invasion of flamingos (insurance) or have them sent on their way sooner than their usual migration pattern (early removal).
More details about how it works – plus the link for sending a flock – can be found here.
8:53 AM: Crash reported at 42nd/106th in Arbor Heights – driver hit a utility pole. Intersection blocked westbound.
9:22 AM: Thanks to the reader who texted the photo. The driver is reported to have left the scene (though bleeding); the car checked out as “clear” (not stolen).
11:55 AM: However … checking the SPD X log, we now see the call classified as auto-theft-related.
1:13 PM: SPD confirms to us the car turned out to be stolen, and the driver hasn’t been found.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, September 25.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rainy, breezy, high in the mid-60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:01 am, while sunset will be at 6:59 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT, AND OTHER ROAD WORK OF NOTE
*No work tonight on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project – the next scheduled lane closures are Thursday night (September 26).
Other projects:
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides next month; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
TRANSIT
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat,” now available on weekends too. Check for alerts here.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
Two notes as Sound Transit moves toward finalizing the plan for West Seattle’s light-rail route and station locations:
DROP-IN MEETINGS: With the official release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Sound Transit announced three drop-in meetings, two in West Seattle. The first is tomorrow (Wednesday, September 25), 4:30-6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW); the second is next Tuesday (October 1), 4:30-6:30 pm at Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW). We verified two things today with ST spokesperson Rachelle Cunningham: First, no presentation is planned for these meetings – they are 100 percent drop-in and circulate around the room. Second, both will feature exactly the same material (we had wondered if the Delridge meeting would be focused on the Delridge station/segment, for example). If you can’t get to either of those, there’s also a drop-in session in SODO 11 am-1 pm October 2 (Studio B612, 1915 First Ave. S.).
PRO-LIGHT RAIL NEIGHBOR’S VISION: The board has to decide – perhaps in just one month – which of multiple routes the line would travel. Some community members are getting in one more push for their preferences. In our report on last week’s ST Executive Committee meeting, we mentioned that a West Seattle property owner told the committee she favored Delridge 6A over 6B. We didn’t get into why. The property owner, Beth Boomgard-Zagrodnik, has since provided us with a written version of the vision behind what she voiced:
I did say that Del-6A option makes more sense than the currently “preferred” Del-6B from an impacts comparison perspective; but the more relevant dimension of the comment is that Del-6B leaves a parcel of 12 single family homes materially impacted, but not acquired in the dregs our current neighborhood (on 85K combined sqft) at Andover and 32nd SW [map].
Here is the rendering from the FEIS of the view south on 32nd from Andover. My driveways are shown on the right next to my neighbor’s mailbox. (Marilyn Kennell‘s (of Rethink the Link) house is also not acquired and is next to the Monkey Puzzle tree on the opposite side of the tracks for reference.) This proposal does not relate to that south side of the proposed track.
Here is the view of the 12 parcels from the FEIS. I have augmented the picture with triangles (red are the homes owned by my neighbors and the blue ones owned by Joe and I / our small business). These homes are in a 5-min walkshed of the Avalon Station and I believe it is worth exploring if there is a better use for this land than keeping it as single-family homes, low-density, car-centric – particularly given how dramatically the neighborhood will change with construction / operation.
Here is the image from the FEIS with pink homes being acquired and empty parcels mapping to above triangles.
I reached out to Homestead Community Land Trust for over a year to begin exploring how I might advocate for a better outcome for my neighborhood and a more pragmatic development vision for the Avalon Station – starting with the two lots we own. We continue to jointly explore avenues to both advocate to Sound Transit, City of Seattle, County, State and community housing organizations and paint a vision for what could be on these parcels.
Specifically, Joe and I are advocating for:
-the timely delivery of the light rail extension to West Seattle (a unique perspective in the verbal public comments [at the committee meeting])
-for Sound Transit to consider acquiring some or all of the triangle lots as a part of the acquisition process should the prefered alternative (Del-6b) proceed.If acquired, we would encourage ST to then sell or transfer the combined parcels to the city / private affordable housing developers / community groups (like Homestead) as they have done with other parcels elsewhere in the system build out for transit-oriented affordable housing development.
OR
for the City to accelerate and increase the level of upzoning associated with these parcels to LR-2 and then working with a community land trust or similar organization to acquire some or all of the parcels to build transit-oriented affordable housing.
Should Sound Transit acquire the parcels, this land could be used for construction staging or immediately – instead of almost 20 years after the fact as was the case in the Rainier Valley – be transferred to transit-oriented affordable housing developers to redevelop the parcels, increasing the availability of affordable housing in the immediate walkshed of the Avalon Station in line with the construction timelines. This means Sound Transit would directly help increase the number of affordable housing units in the project vicinity – serving as a true development agency, not just one that provides transit. Moreover, should Mayor Harrell be bolder in the One Seattle Plan regarding zoning in the neighborhood, there is opportunity for tremendous transit-oriented, affordable density on this combined parcel.
Boomgard-Zagrodnik said her family and neighbors were scheduled to meet this week with Sound Transit. Time is running out to influence the board’s upcoming decision – a recommendation is expected to be presented to the System Expansion Committee on October 10, and the full board’s vote is penciled in for just two weeks after that, on October 24. Meantime, the board’s next meeting is 1:30-4:30 pm this Thursday (September 26), with a presentation on the West Seattle Final EIS, as well as a public comment periood; the agenda explains how to participate.
Three Crime Watch notes:
CARJACKING ATTEMPT REPORTED: If you noticed police in The Junction this past hour, they were investigating a reported carjacking attempt. According to police radio, it was reported near California/Oregon, where the victim was assaulted by two people who tried to steal his car. They eventually left without the car and walked toward a bus stop. One of the attackers was a woman, and police are questioning a possible suspect; they have not found the male attacker, described only as white, in his 30s, white shirt, blue jeans. We’ll follow up with police later, once this is all sorted out.
ADDED WEDNESDAY 1 PM: We’ve obtained the police summary:
On September 24 at about 7:00 p.m., Seattle police responded to the report of an attempted robbery. The victim, a 22-year-old man, was doing a delivery near California Ave SW/SW Oregon St. The victim returned to his vehicle and saw a male in the driver’s seat, and a female in the back seat. The victim got inside his vehicle and attempted to grab the keys out of the ignition. The male suspect punched the victim a couple of times trying to steal his vehicle. The suspects fled from the vehicle on foot. SPD arrived and contacted a possible suspect at California Ave SW/SW Alaska St, but the victim [could not identify her]. The male suspect wasn’t located.
GAS THEFT: Reported by Joanna:
39th and Admiral on 9/24/24 at approx 5 am according to Ring footage, vandals drilled a hole in the gas tank of an F-150 parked on the street and siphoned the gas out. Luckily gas was smelled and investigated by neighbors before the owners drove the truck. A homemade funnel was found discarded near the intersection at Admiral.
RELEASED: Back in mid-July, we reported on the arrest of a 33-year-old man suspected in Highland Park burglary attempts (including one caught on video). Tonight, the man who was arrested, Vernon Jackson, is out of jail after two and a half months. Court records show he eventually was charged in Municipal Court and pleaded guilty to trespassing and property destruction as part of a plea bargain in which three other misdemeanors were dismissed. With those pleas, today he was sentenced to time in jail equal to what he already had served, and was released after the hearing.
Washington State Ferries has been hosting two systemwide community meetings a year. This year, they added a third; if you missed the first session today, an identical session is set for 6 pm tomorrow.
We monitored the first one at noon today to get toplines from the WSF executives’ presentation and hear what people were asking about.
Toward the start, WSF’s Hadley Rodero, facilitating, polled the 125+ attendees to see what routes they generally use. Mukilteo-Clinton was the top response, at 29 percent, followed by Seattle-Bremerton at 18 percent, with Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth at only 8 percent, so there weren’t a lot of questions about the Triangle Route. But here’s what caught our attention otherwise:
STAFF SHORTAGE EBBING? System boss Steve Nevey decclared, “We’re well on our way to resolving our personnel issues.” Exactly how they’re doing that was described throughout the meeting in a variety of ways large and small, all the way to hosting high-school students to try to impress on them that it’s “cool” to work on a ferry. The system had 13 engine-room interns this year, noted WSF’s Nicole McIntosh, saying that 9 of them became employees.
VESSEL SHORTAGE: That will take longer to resolve, but they’re working toward finding a builder for new ferries, with about 12 companies around the country indicating initial interest, and the review of “pre-qualification” submissions imminent. Paying for them might become an issue if Initiative 2117 – repealing the state’s Climate Commitment Act – is passed in the general election; one attendee asked in Q&A if the CCA funded any of the new ferries and Nevey said about 25 percent of the cost was expected to come from that source. Another attendee asked about the “bonus boat” (aka “ghost boat”) on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth and asked why that “unscheduled” third boat couldn’t just be plugged into the full three-boat Triangle Route schedule. WSF’s John Vezina explained that the Triangle Route schedule is meant for three Issaquah-class boats, and the “bonus boat” is usually smaller, so it wouldn’t be able to keep up, and instead is being used – seven days a week as of last weekend – to help the other two stay on schedule.
FAUNTLEROY TERMINAL PROJECT: No new information, but WSF’s David Sowers briefly recapped where the project planning stands:
Once a preferred alternative is chosen early next year, the next stage of the planning/design process will take about a year and a half, he said.
RELIABILITY: Systemwide, reliability rose a bit January through August this year compared to last, reported Nevey (no route-by-route breakouts, though):
The presentations took just under half an hour, and the Q&A ran a full hour – mostly issues unrelated to the Triangle Route, so we aren’t noting them here, except for one point of interest: Asked when the ferries might offer wi-fi again, the answer was that they’re “investigating” it, after an unsuccessful test run long ago – Starlink is one of the systems they’re looking at.
Again, you have another chance to listen – and to ask questions – at 6 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, September 25); register here for the link.
Three West Seattle business notes this afternoon:
HOMEBUYING CLASS: Has the interest-rate cut put you in the real-estate market? West Seattle Realty (WSB sponsor) is offering a free class Thursday night (September 26) at 7 pm with what you need to know. Questions they’ll address will include: “How’s the market? When’s the right time to buy? Is it a Buyer’s or Seller’s market? I’ve heard Buyer’s Agency has changed. What does that mean for me? Do I need a buyer’s broker (agent)?” and more. It’s at their office/event space in Admiral, 2715 California SW. They’re requesting RSVPs at info@westseattlerealty.com – more info here.
FUTURE RESTAURANT’S NAME CHANGE: The former Taqueria Guaymas space at 4719 California SW has been vacant for three years, with its owners, the Virk family, saying they planned to open a restaurant there (Sam Virk owns Maharaja Cuisine of India a short distance north). They originally applied for a liquor license under the name Indochin Wok and confirmed to us more than two years ago that would be its name. This week there’s a new liquor-license application under the name Indio Fusion Restaurant and Bar. We have a message out to see if this means they’re planning to open soon.
COFFEE REOPENING: After two month of renovation work, the Starbucks drive-thru at Avalon/Fauntleroy reopened today.
Lots of regional chatter about fireballs in the sky overnight. West Seattle photographer Kevin Freitas caught one on his skywatching camera – here’s a screenshot, followed by video:
The American Meteor Society‘s outlook for this week suggests three prime sources of potential meteor activity right now.
(Reader photo after Harbor Avenue shootings in June)
“The lawlessness on Alki and Harbor Avenue … has to stop.”
District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka made that declaration at this morning’s meeting of the council’s Public Safety Committee, as he proposed an addition to the bill authorizing a Seattle Police surveillance-camera pilot program currently only intended for other areas of the city (explained here). Members of the committee – for which Saka serves as vice-chair – also heard from Alki/Harbor residents including Steve Pumphrey, who spoke of the “clear and present danger” of ongoing disorder in the beach area, including unsolved shooting deaths such as the killing of 22-year-old Luis Solis Lara in June; gunfire that night also pierced the walls and windows of nearby residences including his (photo above). Committee members unanimously approved Saka’s amendment, which added this language (updated 8:18 pm with second sentence added in final version of amendment):
The Seattle Police Department shall, as part of the planned outcome evaluation of the Closed-Circuit Television Camera Systems pilot project, conduct a study reporting on the appropriateness, feasibility, and cost of additional potential future Closed-Circuit Television Camera deployments in areas of the city beyond those in the current pilot project, including but not limited to the Alki and Harbor Avenue areas of West Seattle. This study shall also evaluate the potential use of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras for a range of public safety concerns beyond those specific crimes identified in the SIR for purposes of the pilot.
That potential camera program is different from the possible cameras discussed by the previous council in relation to street racing, authorized but to date not funded. Today’s amendment authorizes only a study, not (yet) cameras, which the pilot will only place in four areas – downtown, Aurora, Belltown, and Chinatown/ID. The proposal goes to the full council for final approval. (Seattle Channel has just posted video of this morning’s meeting here.)
BACKSTORY: The camera-study commitment comes three months after Saka hosted an Alki community meeting about the public-safety crisis; most of the action taken since then has involved speed-cushion installation.
Jane‘s e-bike was stolen overnight in the north Morgan Junction area:
My Rad Runner Plus was stolen from in front of my condo — 44th Ave between Juneau and Raymond St. My neighbor had this video of the thieves taking it at 4:18 am:
It was locked to itself and didn’t have the battery on it. My condo isn’t visible from the street. At any rate, it’s a silver Rad Runner Plus, with brown saddle bags, seats, handlebars.
It had a green rubber monster attached to the kid’s grab bar on the back for my son. I also just had hydraulic brakes installed for added safety. My son and I are heartbroken and would love any help the community can provide in locating our bike.
Police report # is 24-271836.
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