West Seattle, Washington

10 Friday

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month : 06/2015 320 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday alerts; West Marginal/Delridge Way protesters
June 5, 2015 6:39 am
|      34 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SCROLL DOWN for updates on protest near T-5)

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:39 AM: Good morning. We start the day with word that the entrance to the bridge on Delridge Way is or has been affected by anti-Shell protesters (thanks for the text). We had mentioned here earlier this week that “land blockades” were promised starting today; one subsequent update had said protesters would be gathering at Delridge Community Center Park this morning and heading toward Terminal 5 right about now. Per what we’re hearing on the scanner, police are with them. We’re on our way to find out more.

6:58 AM UPDATE: We’re on scene; about 30 protesters are blocking West Marginal on the north side of Spokane, the side that leads to Terminal 5, not in the eastbound direction.

This is NOT currently affecting travel unless you are T-5 bound. Note that you are likely to see/hear TV helicopters in the area as they get word of this.

(Also note, looking ahead, as we reported on Wednesday, a nighttime demonstration flotilla is planned off Don Armeni tonight.)

7:22 AM UPDATE: We’re continuing to monitor the rest of the commute, too, and it’s quiet so far. Meantime, the West Marginal protest on the north side of Spokane St. (east of Chelan Café) continues. Organizers had said this weekend is pivotal because the Shell vessels could leave for the Arctic as soon as next week. They also have protests scheduled Saturday and Monday.

7:47 AM: The five-way intersection there is important as a bicycle route to the low bridge.

Our crew confirms that bicycle riders are getting through just fine, too (photo added, above).

8:15 AM: The group is now heading BACK south onto Delridge; bicycle and motorcycle police are accompanying them to try to keep roads from being blocked. So if you’re heading toward the bridge via Delridge, you might consider waiting a bit.

8:43 AM: All clear now. Potential repeat this afternoon according to this Facebook event page.

4:01 PM: Protesters were planning to gather near the west end of the low bridge to strategize about possibly trying to blockade Terminal 5 before a shift that they say starts at 4:30 pm. Police on bicycles were spotted heading that way about an hour ago. We’ll have a separate story IF anything happens affecting general traffic. Otherwise, check back here.

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West Seattle writers: Five events ahead for local readers
June 5, 2015 4:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Five notes about West Seattle writers – starting with an event tonight:

Words, Writers & West Seattle presents … from Avenue Collection on Vimeo.

SARAH FOX @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: First Friday of the month means it’s the night that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society presents WWWS at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble. 5-7 pm, meet and hear from Sarah Fox, who’ll read from her book “Downwind: A People’s History of the Nuclear West.” (The clip above is her video invitation.)

ARLEEN WILLIAMS AT BPP: 3-6 pm Saturday (June 6th), stop by Beveridge Place Pub to join in the celebration of Arleen Williams‘ completion of her Alki Trilogy, explained on the second page of the event flyer:

BPP is at 6413 California SW.

WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES – KIDS’ NIGHT! 6 pm Wednesday, June 17th, at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), the next WordsWest Literary Series event will help young readers put together their summer reading list. And it’ll feature authors whose work they’ll want to read if they haven’t already – Sundee T. Frazier and father/daughter team Dr. Charles Johnson and Elisheba Johnson.

MEET AUTHORS AT MORGAN JUNCTION FESTIVAL: 10:30 am-6 pm on Saturday, June 20th, one of the new features at this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival: Meet local authors! It’s a long list already, and you can see it in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLEITE’S COOKBOOK: Ron Merlin e-mailed to let us know he’s published a cookbook and has a signing event set for August 1st. Not in West Seattle, but this is enough lead time to plan! The signing will be at Victrola Coffee Roasters, 411 15th Avenue East. Merlin says, “I’m hoping folks will come and I would love to meet them, and provide them with a signed copy of my effort over the last six years.”

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Changes at West Seattle (Admiral) Library during upgrade work
June 4, 2015 10:19 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Heads up if you use the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch of the Seattle Public Library – it’ll have some work going on throughout the summer, with a two-week closure in September. Here’s the SPL announcement of what’s going to happen:

Exterior construction work to improve access to the West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. SW, is scheduled to start Monday, June 15 and continue for about 14 weeks. The branch will be open during most of the project.

The parking stalls on the north end of the lot will close Monday, June 15 and be unavailable throughout the project. One stall on the south end will be designated for use by people with disabilities and a temporary ramp will be installed from the lot to the main entrance. The ramp to the lower-level meeting room will be unavailable from Saturday, July 4 through Friday, July 17 while it is being replaced.

The branch and the book drop are expected to close for about two weeks in early to mid-September while the front steps are being replaced. A specific closure date for the branch and book drop will be set after construction is underway. …

Improvements include:

· Redo the ramp from the rear parking lot to the main front entrance
· Redo the ramp from the rear parking lot to the lower-level meeting room
· Resurface parking stalls on the north end of the lot
· Rebuild the front steps
· Add lighted handrails to the ramp and steps

The project is expected to be completed in late September.

The library, more than a century old, is a city landmark.

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‘All we can promise you is effort’: Neighbors, police, other city reps talk South Delridge troubles @ WWRHAH
June 4, 2015 7:26 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It’s the neighborhood where West Seattle’s most-recent murder happened, the still-unsolved shooting death of Stephen Jeffries Jr. on New Year’s Eve 2013:

(WSB photo from April 2014 vigil)
It’s the neighborhood where drive-by gunfire hit at least one car during a rampage two months ago:

(WSB reader photo from April 2015)
And – as a result of those cases and more – South Delridge is a neighborhood where people are pleading for more police presence.

Residents from South Delridge made their case face-to-face with Southwest Precinct police on Tuesday night at this month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting. While they’re not in the boundaries that semi-new council has been serving, that was part of the point – since they are not affiliated with an existing community group, their area doesn’t have its own “micro-policing plan” … yet, though WWRHAH co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick pointed out she had added it as a priority in theirs.

More than two dozen people were in the upstairs meeting room at Southwest Library as neighbors told their stories and heard what police and other city representatives can and can’t do.

(From left, CPT Officers Kiehn and Flores, City Attorney’s Office liaison York, CPT Officer Nicholson)
SPD had four reps, including Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and three of his four Community Police Team members, Officers Jon Flores, Jonathan Kiehn, and Erin Nicholson. Also there: Matthew York, SW and South Precincts’ liaison from the City Attorney’s Office, plus a representative from the city Department of Planning and Development.

Helmick opened by introducing a resident who brought a list of eight properties that he described as problematic for the neighborhood, with problems from squatters to drug use, and worse.

Read More

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West Seattle rezoning: South Morgan Junction, Pier 1 potentially back in play
June 4, 2015 4:11 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

From the city files, two potential West Seattle rezones, both on sites where rezone proposals have come up before but not gone through for various reasons:

7001 CALIFORNIA AVENUE SW: City records show an early-stage proposal for rezoning this almost-one-block business district in south Morgan Junction in 2008 was eventually canceled. Now we’ve found a new early-stage proposal in online files. This time they’re looking at rezoning from LR2-NC (lowrise 2/neighborhood commercial, explained here) – to NC3-30 (neighborhood commercial, explained here). No formal application yet, but the property owners have met with the city. If they do apply for and get the rezone, the documents say, the owner would pursue an unspecified plan involving “green building and affordability.” Rezones need City Council approval, so if this goes ahead, watch for commenting opportunities; the land Use file to watch is 3020646.

PIER 1 ‘COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT’: This is actually a potential prelude to rezoning, and it’s a retry, having been rejected by councilmembers last year. The owners of an industrial-zoned strip of land between Salty’s (WSB sponsor) and Jack Block Park, whose future has long been in play, say it’s a “hole in the continuity of the business and residential environment along Harbor Avenue” and want to change its designation in the city’s Future Land Use Map. The proposal is one of eight Comprehensive Plan amendments that the City Council will consider for next year. From the notice in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin:

Proposal from AnMarCo to amend the FLUM to remove an area waterward of Harbor Avenue Southwest and south of SW Bronson Way known as Pier 1 from the Duwamish Manufacturing/ Industrial Center and to change the designation of that area from industrial to commercial/mixed-use.

You can read the full document about the proposal here. Rezoning the land would be a two-part process; the comprehensive plan would have to be amended, and then a rezone could be sought.

As a first step, the council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee will have a formal public hearing on this and seven other CP amendments (none from West Seattle) at 2 pm July 7th, City Hall downtown. If you can’t be there, today’s notice explains how to send a written comment. More backstory on the site is in this WSB story from 2012.

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Morgan Junction Community Festival: Dog parade, contests back!
June 4, 2015 2:43 pm
|    Comments Off on Morgan Junction Community Festival: Dog parade, contests back!
 |   Pets | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy MoCA, from last year’s Bark of Morgan)
If you weren’t already planning to come to the 10th annual Morgan Junction Community Festival at and around Morgan Junction Park on Saturday, June 20th – here’s some motivation: You have multiple chances to show off your dog(s)! The official announcement:

The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) is pleased to announce the return of the “Bark of Morgan” Dog Show at the June 20, 2015 Morgan Junction Community Festival. This is the 10th year of the popular Community Festival held at the intersection of California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW in West Seattle.

The “Bark of Morgan” starts with the Parade of Pooches through the Festival Grounds. Costumes are encouraged. Canine contests are held after the Parade. There are six categories this year, with judging by audience applause. Here are the details:

1:30 pm – Pooch Parade: Leashed dogs and their human should line up by 1:30 pm north of Morgan Junction Park in SW Eddy Street. The parade will go through the Festival Grounds back to Eddy Street.

1:45 pm – Canine Contests: In SW Eddy Street after the Parade. Categories are:

* Cutest Puppy (under one year)
* Loudest Bark
* Smallest Dog
* Best Trick
* Best Costume
* Best Owner/Dog Look Alike

Contest winners are based on the ‘audience applause meter’ as monitored by the MC.

The “Bark of Morgan” will occur rain or shine!

WSB is a festival co-sponsor. See you there on June 20th, two weeks from Saturday!

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Graduation season! Congratulations, MCHS HP grads; plus, dates for WSHS, SLHS, CSIHS ceremonies
June 4, 2015 1:13 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

June is graduation season, and one of West Seattle’s four high schools celebrated last night:

MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AT HIGH POINT: Thanks to teacher Alonzo Ybarra for permission to use a photo from the report on the website for MCHS – HP, which, as we’ve reported here and here, is facing closure. The celebration was last night at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, where the school’s held classes for three years.

Three more graduations ahead in West Seattle – here are the dates/times/locations:

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: 6 pm Tuesday, June 9th, Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) P.S. We’ve been asked to mention that leis are available for WSHS grads as part of a music-program fundraiser – full details here.

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm Thursday, June 11th, Menashe Family Gym on campus (4100 SW Genesee)

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: 2 pm Saturday, June 13th, Southwest Athletic Complex

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From wine to workouts, 4 highlights for your West Seattle Thursday
June 4, 2015 12:01 pm
|    Comments Off on From wine to workouts, 4 highlights for your West Seattle Thursday
 |   West Seattle news

Last weekend, while walking in Jack Block Park, we noticed several simple and nicely done chalk drawings of sea life, including that one. Don’t know whose work it was, but in case you missed it when we shared it on Instagram, we’re featuring it today. Speaking of sea life – the second-lowest tide of the month tops our look ahead to the rest of your Thursday:

TODAY’S LOW TIDE, 12:47 PM: It’ll be out to -2.4 feet. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are already out at Constellation and Lincoln Park beaches, and will be there until 2 pm.

SPRING WINE RELEASE: The Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a three-day celebration of the spring wine release, starting today. 3-8 pm, north end of campus. (6000 16th SW)

HELP PLAN ‘FITNESS ZONE’ AT HIAWATHA: A new “Fitness Zone” free-to-use outdoor gym is coming to Hiawatha Community Center – and, as previewed here, you can help plan where it goes, among other aspects of the installation. Bring your ideas to Hiawatha at 6:30 tonight. (2700 California SW)

NEW THURSDAY NIGHT BOOT CAMP: New WSB sponsor Fitness for Vitality is launching a new series at 7 pm tonight at Jack Block Park – get the details and sign up online here.

FIND EVEN MORE … on the calendar (including how to get your event listed)!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Anybody missing this car? Plus, burglary & scam call
June 4, 2015 11:36 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning:

ANYBODY MISSING THAT CAR? M says it was abandoned “in the alley between 32nd & 34th St SW and Henderson and Barton. Black 4-door Toyota… I’ve reported it etc, but in case anyone is missing their car and reading the blog…”

BREAK-IN REPORTED: Taylor says this happened sometime between 8:30 pm and 11 pm on Tuesday night near 45th and Dakota. When a resident came home, the front door was “wide open and our living room trashed … (a) bedroom door had been kicked in, clothes thrown everywhere, jewelry boxes on the floor empty change jars thrown around.” Police took two items for prints but found no sign of forced entry; later, Taylor found spots of “bent and messed up” grass in the yard, suggesting three suspects, and then “footprints in our garden windows,” and a 3-prong garden tool turned up on a bed. The burglars did not steal any electronics but did know the difference between costume and real jewelry and left the former behind, too. Taylor concludes, “I just felt like we should inform you that these people are in our neighborhood and that they are dangerous and to look out for any suspicious people and keep the kids and all others safe.”

SCAM CALL: The “IRS lawsuit” scam call continues making the rounds. David is the latest to report it: “Just a quick note to inform you that I got the ‘IRS Lawsuit’ phone scam call this morning at 6:15am. It was a robocall instructing me to phone an area code 360 number. Unfortunately, I did not get the entire number.” It was also reported in the WSB Forums earlier this week. Here’s the official IRS scam-info page, with alerts and advice.

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Flourish Dance Project: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
June 4, 2015 10:03 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Flourish Dance Project, which envisions a neighborhood where children and youth of diverse background, skill, and ability can experience dance in an environment that cultivates their growth as artists and young minds. Here’s what else they’d like you to know:

Beginning this September, we are excited to offer after-school dance classes to preschool through high-school-age students at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, one of the neighborhood’s liveliest arts hubs. Our classes vary in style and draw from classical and urban influences, including ballet, creative movement, modern and street jazz. We understand that youth thrive when given the opportunity to express themselves artistically, experience a sense of belonging, and engage in physical activity. Accordingly, our instruction emphasizes more than technique. We strive to expose youth to dance in a relevant, thoughtful, and dynamic manner that nurtures their development as both dancers and vital members of our community.

The Flourish Dance Project staff, accomplished Seattle-area dancers who bring extensive and varied teaching and performance experience, believe that dance instruction should point kids toward something greater than pretty, pointed toes. It can nurture joy, artistry and community. It is with this value in mind that Flourish Dance Project distinguishes itself from other dance offerings. We seek to engage dancers in the creative process, embrace a flexible dress code, and have attempted to set our tuition dues equitably to encourage participation.

Flourish Dance Project desires to share dance in a way that inspires a lasting sense of creativity, strength, and confidence in our students’ lives. The Grow Girl workshop embodies this mission and is a dynamic extension of our Modern dance class offerings. Dancers ages 11 and older who participate in Grow Girl will have the opportunity to explore and confront some of the unique issues young women face – media, academics, relationships, body image, and more – through dance. Classes will follow a typical Modern dance class structure, but will also include community-building activities and extended opportunities for students to develop original choreography.

Although classes begin in September, dancers are signing up now! You may enroll in classes online at: flourishdanceproject.com/enroll or by contacting Flourish Dance Project Founder/Director Megan Snow at: flourishdanceproject@gmail.com. Additionally, Megan will be at Youngstown every Tuesday afternoon from 4-5 pm between now and August to meet with families who are interested in getting to know more.

Megan spent much of the first two decades of her life gliding, leaping, and grooving across dance floors. As a student herself, and then later as a teacher and choreographer working with a variety of dance organizations in the Seattle area and Bellingham, she developed a lifelong reverence for the art form. She temporarily tucked away her dance shoes to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English and Master in Teaching, dedicating the next handful of years to working with children, youth and families primarily in public education and ministry settings, which included teaching for a year at Chief Sealth International High School. With a specialization in supporting academically and social-emotionally at-risk students, she was continually reminded of how the arts — dance specifically — could contribute to students’ thriving. Flourish Dance Project was conceptualized in response to the complex needs youth have and a love for this city. Believing that dance instruction can support the whole child and positively impact the community, Megan is honored to serve West Seattle, the neighborhood she calls home, through this work.

We thank Flourish Dance Project for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Local swimmer Andrew Malinak hoping to become 2nd person to swim between Tacoma and West Seattle
June 4, 2015 9:04 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

You’ve probably seen him in the water off Alki – and this Saturday, you’ll see Andrew Malinak off Lincoln Park (and points south) if he’s successful in the swim he’s just announced:

On Saturday, 6 June 2015, Seattle resident Andrew Malinak will attempt to swim from Tacoma to West Seattle. This swim, between Old Town Dock and Lincoln Park, covers over 18.8 miles and will follow Marathon Swimming Federation rules for unassisted swims (no wetsuit or outside assistance). The swim is expected to take between seven and nine hours with water temperatures between 52F and 55F.

Tacoma native Bert Thomas swam from West Seattle to Tacoma in 1956, and remains the only person to have ever done so. A year prior, Thomas was the first person to successfully swim the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a swim Malinak attempted in 2013 and will attempt again later this year. The reverse of Thomas’s original route has not been attempted before.

To prepare for the cold water and long distance, Malinak has been training at Alki Beach, West Seattle throughout the winter and spring. He has previously completed a circumnavigation of Manhattan (2012, 28.5 miles), a crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar (2010, 10 miles), and most recently 8 Bridges, a seven-stage swim down the Hudson River in New York (2014, 120 miles). He will be supported on this swim by Peter Ray, local swimmers Wendy Van De Sompele, Melissa Nordquist, Dan Robinson, and Erika Norris, Boston marathon swimmer Elaine Howley, and Citizens for a Healthy Bay of Tacoma.

If all goes according to plan, Malinak expects to arrive at Lincoln Park around 4:30; Twitter updates are planned at twitter.com/andrewswims.

(Photo courtesy Andrew Malinak)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday on the roads, trails, seas…
June 4, 2015 6:21 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Two reminders as we start this morning’s watch:

IF YOU’RE BICYCLING TODAY … take a few minutes to stop at the weekly West Seattle Cyclery Tent just west of the low bridge, where you’ll find not only Brad from WSC with coffee and support but also Mike from AAA (WSB sponsor) with info about the American Lung Association-benefiting Ride Around the Sound, 6:30-9:30 am.

IF YOU USE METRO … a reminder that big changes kick in on Saturday; here’s our breakdown of how West Seattle routes will be affected.

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SATURDAY! 3-in-1 way to plug into Delridge neighborhood’s future
June 3, 2015 9:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

Saturday’s approaching, so you’re days away from a three-in-one way to share ideas for, and get information about, eastern West Seattle projects and plans. From the city:

Join us at the event to join your neighbors to:

*Provide direction on the North Delridge Action Plan (North of SW Elmgrove St.)
*Help design future multimodal improvements to Delridge Way
*Learn about Longfellow Creek Basin Natural Drainage Systems

Here’s what we have heard at previous Delridge meetings:

*Create more community and cultural gathering places
*More places to shop and eat
*Improve walking, biking, and transit connections
*Create more recreation and cultural programs

The Delridge Projects Workshop – which we mentioned 2 weeks ago along with a survey you should answer if you haven’t already – is set for 9:30 am-noon Saturday (June 6th) at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle). Lots of background info, here.

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West Seattle Car Show is saved! New community-suggested location
June 3, 2015 4:33 pm
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2014 West Seattle Car Show)
When the new presenters of the West Seattle Car Show had to regretfully announce one month ago that it wouldn’t happen this year, because the streets in The Junction wouldn’t be available, community commenters suggested South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) as an alternative. And now – it’s happening! Just in:

Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks are pleased to announce that the 2015 car show will happen on Sunday, September 13th, at South Seattle College! We are excited about this new collaboration with the college and thank the West Seattle Community for the idea. Registration and more information to follow soon!

WSAW and Swedish (both WSB sponsors) took over the show after its founder and longtime organizer Michael Hoffman died suddenly last year at age 47, and last September’s show was the biggest one yet.

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Next lineup: See who’s playing 2015 Summer Concerts at Hiawatha!
June 3, 2015 3:29 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo from 2012 Hiawatha performance by Caspar Babypants, who’s back this year)
Today’s second big summer outdoor-entertainment lineup announcement: The Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha lineup for 2015! From Katy Walum – who’s organized the series from the start – here are the six acts booked for six consecutive Thursday nights, 6:30-8 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center:

July 23rd – Carrie Akre

July 30th – Naomi Wachira

August 6th – Star Anna

August 13th – Modern Relics

August 20th – Ayron Jones and the Way

August 27th – Caspar Babypants

The concerts are free – bring your own chair, blanket, picnic dinner, family, friends, neighbors, and have a great time. (We’re proud to have co-sponsored Summer Concerts at Hiawatha every year since its start in 2009; this is the series’ seventh year!)

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West Seattle restaurants: The Lodge Sports Grille coming to opening-soon Junction 47
June 3, 2015 12:54 pm
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(UPDATED 3:15 PM with added information including the restaurant’s exact location in the project)

We now know the identity of the second commercial tenant at Junction 47, the almost-complete two-building apartments/retail project at California/Alaska/42nd. The first, reported here in February, is Starbucks. The second, announced today: The Lodge Sports Grille. It’s “a family owned, locally based restaurant known for its wide selection of craft beers and innovative American-style menu,” according to the official announcement. The Lodge already has five locations in the region – SODO, downtown, Kirkland, Mill Creek, and Mukilteo, with a sixth planned in Greenwood. For its seventh, here, it’s leased 4,200 square feet, about a fifth of Junction 47’s retail space. Proprietor Shawn Roten says the Junction hours will be 11 am to midnight Sundays-Tuesdays, 11 am-2 am Wednesdays-Saturdays, adding, “We open for breakfast during the football season at 9 am.” (Preview their current beer list and menus on the left sidebar here). Read on for the full news release (plus, 3:15 pm update, answers to two questions):

Read More

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West Seattle development: Ex-Charlestown Café demolition day
June 3, 2015 11:06 am
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   Charlestown Cafe | Development | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)
FIRST REPORT, 11:06 AM: We’ve been following the final run-up to the demolition of the former Charlestown Café – and contrary to our most recent information from Intracorp, which plans to build 27 live-work and townhouse units on the site, the teardown is happening now. Just started – thanks to the person who tipped us; the heavy equipment wasn’t there when we drove by around 9 am.

The Charlestown Café closed in April 2011, after its final few years brought a variety of challenges:

Less than three years before it closed forever, it was shut down for five months following a fire in February 2008. That fire happened just days after the café ownership found out a retail-development proposal that had threatened to cost them their lease had fallen through, giving them a reprieve; first word of that proposal had brought a groundswell of public support via a community campaign in early 2007 (in our early days of covering news on WSB). After the restaurant closed in April 2011, a mixed-use-development proposal surfaced but didn’t go far; two years later, the Intracorp plan appeared, and that’s what’s going forward now.

ADDED 12:57 PM: The aforementioned community campaign eight years ago was spearheaded by Mark Wainwright, a former Admiral Neighborhood Association president who has been involved in other community-advocacy efforts along the way too. We asked him today for some thoughts on the end of the line for what was the Charlestown Café:

Was walking the dog last night and decided to wander by… I walked up the not-so-good alley (which I believe is being improved – yea!) and gazed over the old and beaten remains of the Charlestown Cafe.

Its easy to look forward to the demolition, as the building is a mess, but I do remember those breakfasts…

And how important a place it was when people in the surrounding blocks needed a warm place with food and coffee during that big winter storm and power outage we had years ago.

When Petco proposed a store on that site, I wasn’t too excited. I wasn’t a dog owner back then (am now), but regardless I wasn’t excited.

Lot’s of people weren’t excited – for lots of reasons. People wanted the Charlestown Cafe to stay exactly as it had been. People didn’t like the idea of a national retailer. People though a big store and big parking lot was a waste of space for housing. People thought lots of things.

But we managed to come together as a group – and not make it about Petco or other stuff. We came together out of a desire to support our neighborhood, to support our “Mickey Mouse pancakes,” and to show everybody involved in that whole thing that we gave a damn. And Petco walked away.

I learned a lot – about organizing people, about our neighborhood, about Larry Mellum (Charlestown Cafe owner), about the property owner (the name escapes me, but I think they own a ton of Seattle lots and live up in Edmonds). Most of all, I learned that people can make a difference.

I’m not down on this new development – it was going to happen sooner or later, and I’m looking forward to what comes of it. I’ll freely admit that I’m all for building more housing, because I believe that our current high prices (rent and for sale) are (at least partially) a result of high demand and low supply.

But really, I’m excited about the future. Maybe my daughter’s next best friend will live there. Maybe a teacher will live there. And maybe we can all make some new memories together there in the future.

Good memories, tho. And good Mickey Mouse pancakes.

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West Seattle Outdoor Movies: Here’s the 2015 lineup! Also recruiting opening acts, raffle beneficiaries
June 3, 2015 10:40 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

(WSB photo from past WSOM season)
Thanks to everyone who answered the call for suggestions for this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies series, six summer Saturday nights featuring free films at dusk in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor), now just a month and a half away, with co-sponsors including WSB. The lineup is set – and the leader of the movie pack, Hotwire’s Lora Swift, has two requests. But first, the movies!

Sat, July 18th: “Zoolander,” 2001 (trailer above; PG-13)

Sat, July 25th: “Singles,” 1992 (PG-13)

Sat, Aug 1st: “Raising Arizona,” 1987 (PG-13)

Sat, Aug 8th: “Big Hero 6,” 2014 (PG)

Sat, Aug 15th: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” 2014 (PG-13)

Sat, Aug 22nd: “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” 1975 (R)

(“Rocky” ended its monthly Admiral Theater run last fall, so this will be its first screening in West Seattle in almost a year.) Now, the requests:

NONPROFITS WANTED: Every movie night includes a raffle to raise money for local nonprofits. If yours is interested, please apply now! You’ll have to contribute a few items for the raffle and have a rep there on your movie night as well as two volunteers. By the way, sponsors contribute cool raffle items too, all season long, so the raffle items aren’t ONLY from the beneficiaries.

PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT WANTED: Lora is recruiting variety acts to perform in the courtyard before the movie (times TBA, since the movie starts at dusk and that gets earlier as the summer goes on) – go to this link (CL) to find out more.

The e-mail address for charities and pre-show entertainment is the same: westseattlemovies@gmail.com

ALSO: This year’s concessions will benefit, and be run by, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. For more about the series, check out the official website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Parkgoer’s warning; stolen chairs
June 3, 2015 8:55 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this morning:

PARKGOER’S WARNING: Police were in Highland Park Tuesday afternoon looking for what was dispatched as a man asking women for hugs. Then overnight, a reader e-mailed us to say that the man “groped” her while she was at Westcrest Park playing with her child “and attending to the garden.” She added, “This same man also appeared at the park next to the Highland Park Elementary playground, which I happened to be at after the P Patch. I informed the other parents and then called the Police.” She says he is known to him, is developmentally disabled, and apparently “tends to run away from his foster parents and go to the parks where he asks for hugs from girls. If you ever see him, he is about 6’3″ about late teens with blondish hair, call the police and let them know.”

HAMMOCK CHAIR THEFT: Also in Highland Park, a case of chair theft:

Our hammock chairs were stolen off our front patio Monday morning between 5:30 and 8 am. We live on the corner of 11th and Holden Street. Chairs are rare (made in Hawaii, available only [online]) and we have never seen anything like them. Any and all help relocating them is much appreciated.

Please call police if you’ve seen them.

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West Seattle Wednesday: From the beach to the SSC Arboretum…
June 3, 2015 8:35 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: From the beach to the SSC Arboretum…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(June bug photographed in West Seattle by Janet Pliske)

Midway to the weekend, here’s what’s ahead for the rest of today/tonight. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Lincoln and Constellation Parks again today, 9:45 am-1 pm, with low tide out to -2.2 feet at 12:06 pm.

WEEKLY ENTREPRENEUR/HOME-WORKER MEETUP: At West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), the area’s only co-working center, it’s the weekly “informal brown bag lunch for freelancers, independent business professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs working from home or coffee shops.” Noon-1:15 pm. (6040 California SW)

LANDMARK STATUS FOR EC HUGHES SCHOOL? 3:30 pm today at the Muni Tower downtown, the city Landmarks Preservation Board considers whether the former EC Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights (built in 1926, leased by Westside School [WSB sponsor] until its move to a new campus this fall) merits landmark status. Find background documents here. (700 5th Ave., 40th floor)

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL, LOCATION CHANGE: 6:30 pm, the Southwest District Council meets but not at its usual location. They’ll gather at, and tour, the Arboretum on the north side of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). All welcome – meet at the main entrance; the tour will last about an hour, and then SWDC will move into a classroom for its business meeting. (6000 16th SW)

WEST SEATTLE KIWANIS: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, it’s the regular meeting of the Kiwanis, who tonight will be assembling care kits for homeless people. Join them and check out the club! (Oregon/California)

FREE BIKE-COMMUTING WORKSHOP: Thinking about commuting by bike? Get your Q & A on first with this free workshop at Cycle U, 6:30 pm. (3418 Harbor SW)

JIM PAGE AT C & P: Live music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) with singer/songwriter Jim Page, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

MORE NIGHTLIFE … check the listings on our calendar. (And if you see something missing, please let us know! editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – thank you.)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: June’s first Wednesday
June 3, 2015 7:14 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: June’s first Wednesday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:14 AM: Good morning! Another routine commute so far. One note for later: It’s an early-dismissal day for Seattle Public Schools – students will be out two hours earlier than usual.

7:41 AM: If you use 4th Avenue to get into downtown – SDOT reports “police activity” has blocked a lane at Main in Pioneer Square.

8:08 AM: SDOT says that’s clear. No other problems between here and downtown right now.

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QUESTION FOR DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES: Annex White Center and the rest of unincorporated North Highline, or not?
June 2, 2015 10:47 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | White Center

(Looking southward over the heart of White Center. Photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, as reported here Monday, the issue of White Center/North Highline annexation comes up for another briefing before the City Council’s Education and Governance Committee. Last December, that committee voted to take a step that it stressed just kept the city’s options open for potentially seeking an annexation vote in time to use a state tax credit considered vital for covering some of the costs. Now, another step has to be taken to keep that option open, councilmembers will be told tomorrow. But another vote would be required to actually pursue a vote by residents of the potential annexation area, and if that vote happens, it might not be until after the November election. As a prelude to tomorrow’s briefing – we asked the nine candidates for City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) whether, and why, they do or do not support annexing WC/NH. We sent the questions to their official e-mail addresses just before noon Monday, with a deadline of midnight. Seven candidates replied; we’ve published their responses in the order received and as received, unedited:

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West Seattle development updates: New projects along California SW and Delridge Way, plus a Design Review doubleheader
June 2, 2015 9:31 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Eight development notes plus a photo:

EARLY DESIGN GUIDANCE SET FOR REVIVED JUNCTION PROJECT: Three months after we reported that 4532 42nd SW was active again, six years after demolition of the biggest building on the site, its new plan is on the Southwest Design Review Board schedule. As noted here in March, that new plan is for a six-story building with 84 apartments and 70 underground parking spaces, along with 3,350 square feet of commercial space. It’s set to go to the SWDRB at 8 pm July 2nd, Senior Center of West Seattle, right after this next project …

DESIGN REVIEW UPDATE FOR AEGIS LIVING: A week ago, we reported that the online files for Aegis Living‘s 80-unit memory-care/assisted-living center at 4700 SW Admiral Way showed it would go through Administrative Design Review – no public meeting. Since then, a listing showed up for a 6:30 pm July 2nd public meeting with the SW Design Review Board. We sought clarification from the city planner on the project, Holly Godard, who replied that the project WILL go before the board. The error/dual listing is unexplained, though, and even resulted in this apparently erroneous notice in the city Land Use Information Bulletin. The July 2nd public meeting seems to be for real, so if you’re interested in this project, mark your calendar. And send e-mail comments to holly.godard@seattle.gov.

Now, updates from two arterials. First, California SW:

NEW CALIFORNIA SW PROJECT: A mostly empty lot – just a storage building on its alley side – at 5431 California SW is proposed for three live-work units fronting California, with a two-unit townhouse building behind them, and two single-family houses behind that.

THIRD DEMOLITION IN TWO BLOCKS IN TWO WEEKS: The house at 4031 California SW came down last week, less than two blocks south of the 3811 California SW and 3829 California SW teardowns days earlier:

Thanks to Bryce for that photo. A two-unit townhouse and one single-family house are planned on the site.

CALIFORNIA/CHARLESTOWN FOLLOWUP: We reported last Friday night that Intracorp said it was about to get going on the ex-Charlestown Café site. The announcement didn’t have specifics on the exact demolition timetable, though; project spokesperson Dan Swallow has since told WSB that it’s expected one week from today (June 9th). **UPDATE, WEDNESDAY MORNING** As we’re covering in a separate story, the teardown is under way NOW.

Lots of redevelopment along Delridge Way, too. From north to south, three projects to mention:

4107-4111 DELRIDGE WAY SW: These two addresses are proposed for a three-unit rowhouse fronting Delridge and two single-family houses behind. (Side note: Records show that in 2008, this site was proposed for a six-unit “cottage housing” redevelopment.)

5013 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Land-use proposal for a five-townhouse building, with ground-level carports, on a vacant lot; the site plan shows the entrance will be via one curb cut on Delridge.

8139 DELRIDGE WAY SW: This house will be demolished, with four single-family houses scheduled to replace it.

FINALLY – THE WHITTAKER, FROM THE SKY: Local pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen, who often generously shares images via WSB, just sent this new aerial looking southward over the construction site at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW:

We pinged a project spokesperson today to see if there’s anything new on this project (future home of 400 apartments, Whole Foods Market, other TBA retail, and 600 underground parking spaces), but haven’t heard back yet.

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