August 2009

The Alaskan Way Viaduct Program has posted two video simulations to show the proposed replacements for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The simulations show the current design concept for the proposed SR 99 bored tunnel and the new Alaskan Way surface street on the Seattle waterfront.

See the simulations here.

The first video shows the current design concept for the proposed SR 99 bored tunnel. The drive-through starts at the tunnel’s south portal, which is near the stadium district and the Port of Seattle’s terminals, and takes you to the exit in the north, onto Aurora Avenue North.

Along the way, there are ramps at either end of the tunnel that will allow drivers to access the downtown street grid from SR 99, as well as the new street connections that will be built over the tunnel’s portals.



The the second video shows what the waterfront would look like. The state plans to build a new Alaskan Way boulevard in the footprint of the current viaduct.

After a final briefing that would grant concept approval and waivers for the reconstruction of Greenwood Fire Station 21, the Seattle City Council Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee approved the design for the new facility, which will also undergo major upgrades.

Rebecca Herzfeld, with council central staff, presented the proposal to the committee at the committee meeting this morning, Aug. 12. The approved redesign is scheduled to go to full council vote on Monday, Aug. 17.

She said that the fire station was in a neighborhood commercial zone with a pedestrian designation. She explained that most of the waivers for the reconstruction was due to the pedestrian designation.

“The waivers would allow it (Fire Station 21) to be located there,” she said. “It’s not unusual to have a fire station in a commercial zone.”

A waiver requested increasing the curb cut width to 40 feet.

A long-time vacant lot west of the Ballard Bridge will be put to use in the near future as a materials exchange site.

The lot, located at 1515 N.W. Leary Way, is being fixed up by 5th Avenue Excavation, a Seattle-area excavation and demolition service.

Gary Ard, with 5th Avenue Excavation, said his company will use the lot to dump dirt, gravel and other materials they excavate, and people will be able to acquire those materials from the lot.

The excavation company is installing a perimeter wall of concrete blocks around the property and will be putting up signs in the near future.

Ard said a challenge right now is figuring out how to keep graffiti off the new wall. It hadn't been up long before it was already tagged. He said he may look at planting ivy and turning it into a green wall.

The lot had been recently used for storage by nearby businesses, but Lee Noble, owner of the lot, told the Ballard News-Tribune in December 2008 that the property hadn't had a tenant in five years.

On Aug. 6, Navos, formerly Highline West Seattle Mental Health, celebrated the grand opening of its Burien Heights Residences.
The apartments, which are located at 1115 S.W. 134th St. in Burien, offer 22 units of safe and affordable housing and support services for low-income adults with serious and persistent mental illness.
In addition to 15 units of new construction are seven neighboring units purchased and renovated by Navos, expanding the location’s capacity to 36 individuals in the one- and two-bedroom units.  Included in the available housing are three beds reserved for veterans.
“Navos is so proud to celebrate the completion of new housing designed for low-income adults, including veterans, who are resilient despite the challenges of mental illness,” said David Johnson, CEO of Navos. 
“We are very grateful to the city of Burien and to Burien Mayor Joan McGilton for having embraced this project, and for their great competence and professionalism in working with Navos through the planning, permitting and zoning processes.

The man suspected of killing 39-year-old Teresa Butz, Isaiah Kalebu, 23, has entered a plea of not guilty in King County Superior Court on charges aggravated murder, first-degree attempted murder, first-degree rape and first-degree burglary.

He remains in King County Jail on $10 million bail.

Kalebu is accused of entering the house of Butz and her 36-year-old parter through an open window at a home in the South Park neighborhood on July 19. The other woman was seriously injured but is recovering.

The King County Prosecutor's office said they are considering whether or not to seek the death penalty for Kalebu and will make that decision upon further review of the case during the next few months.

It's suspected that the suspect may have a form of undiagnosed bi-polar disorder and manic depression, though that has not yet been determined. It is unknown whether that played a role in the July 19 assault and murder.

The suspect is also a suspect in the deaths of his aunt and her tenant, Rachel Kalebu, 62, and John Jones, 57, in a July 9 fire at the aunt's University Place home.

Kalebu was questioned at the scene of the blaze but was released by police.

While attention is focused on the decision over south North Highline’s annexation to Burien, the Aug. 18 primary will also winnow some candidates off the Nov. general election ballot.
In Des Moines, incumbent council members Susan White and Dave Kaplan are both running for Position 7.
Also on the primary ballot for Position 7 is real estate agent Chris Alexander.
In his voters’ pamphlet statement, Alexander wrote, “When you vote for me, you get a hardworking, passionate advocate who thinks outside the box and has the experience to find unseen efficiencies.”
Alexander listed as his priorities keeping the Mount Rainier Pool open, adding police officers and bringing more businesses to town.
Kaplan withdrew his filing for his old current council position and filed against White.
In his voters’ statement, Kaplan declared, “I don’t believe in government by gut instinct or emotion. Sound, thoughtful and reasoned analysis and debate are my style.”

After years of controversy, voters in the south portion of North Highline have less than one more week to decide if they want to become part of Burien.
Ballots must be mailed in by Tuesday, Aug. 18. Only residents in the annexation area may vote on the measure.
There are approximately 6,100 registered voters among the 14,100 people in the proposed annexation area. The area covers 1,700 acres.
If annexation is approved, Burien’s population would increase by 44 percent to 46,000 residents. It would move from 31st largest Washington city to 21st, about the size of Olympia.
The proposed annexation would extend Burien’s northern border to Southwest 112th Street in Shorewood, except the area around the North Highline fire station at 12th Avenue Southwest.
Burien’s city limits would then go south to Southwest 116th Street, avoiding Evergreen High School and Pool as well as the Top Hat area.
The line would then head back north to South 112th Street in Beverly Park, extend to South 107th Street in Boulevard Park--taking in the Rainier Golf and Country Club, and end at Tukwila’s western border.

An agreement has been announced for pollution testing at a site along the heavily contaminated Duwamish River.

The state Ecology Department announced the deal with Crowley Maritime Corp. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, which calls for soil, groundwater and sediment tests.

It is the first step toward long-term cleanup of the 16-acre site near the Georgetown neighborhood.

Beginning in the 1920s, the site was been used for manufacturing pipes, chains, lumber, treated poles, aluminum windows and other industrial parts.

Investigations since the late 1980s have shown traces of arsenic, copper, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls.

The work is part of a state, federal and local effort to remove pollution along the lower Duwamish Waterway.

West Seattle residents David and Rebecca Makuen think they have created the world's greatest burger, but they aren't settling for a mere restaurant to house their creation. They've taken their meat national.

The Makuens are the founders of BuiltBurger, a Web-based company that creates and freezes gourmet burgers, ready to be shipped out to customers around the country.

David Makuen said the idea for BuiltBurger was formed about a year ago, springing from a passion for grilling and an inability to find a truly great burger.

"We believe that food is in its most delicious state when grilled," he said. "We were really intrigued by being able to make the world's greatest burger."

The Makuens moved from New York five years ago and have so far found Seattle much more accommodating to grilling due to the milder weather, he said.

"In New York you can grill four to five months a year," Makuen said. "You can grill pretty much year round in Seattle."

Makuen said BuiltBurger burgers stand apart because they are infused with flavor, rather than just flavored on top.

Taproot Theatre’s Acting Studio brings students back to school--not the classroom, but on stage.

The Acting Studio features classes for all ages and experience levels, for children as young as 4 to adults. This fall, the Acting Studio provides opportunities for students to build their toolbox of acting skills and experience the production process from beginning to end. New this season, students interested in musical theatre can learn from professionals in a small, intimate environment with Sing, Sing, Sing!, a class with sessions for all age groups.

Fall quarter runs Sept. 21 through Dec. 8. Registration is open now. Classes are held at Taproot Theatre (204 N. 85th St.) and Grace Fellowship Church (410 N.W. 62nd St.) in Ballard.

Registration forms and class descriptions are available online at www.taproottheatre.org, or contact Taproot’s Acting Studio at (206) 529-3668 or studio@taproottheatre.org.

YOUTH CLASSES
 
Dramatic Adventures – Class Code: 09CFDA