March 2025

Story Tellers: A Peninsula and its People

Southwest Seattle Historical Society gala is set for April 11 at Salty's on Alki

Join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for their Annual Spring Gala and Live Auction on Friday, April 11 from 6 to 8:30pm at Salty’s on Alki!

Enjoy live music from local West Seattle band The Potholes, delicious food, and a cash bar. Meet and mingle with neighbors, supporters, history makers, and those who collect and uplift the stories of the Duwamish Peninsula.

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White Center Vintage Market set to take you back March 29
30 plus vendors will have antiques, collectibles and more from noon to 6pm

A one-of-a-kind vintage shopping experience is set for March 29 as the White Center Vintage Marketplace takes over Seattle's White Center neighborhood.

From Noon to 6 PM this FREE event featuring over 30 vendors will be offering a curated selection of antiques, collectibles, and vintage treasures of all kinds.

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8 story apartment and retail building now underway in the Junction

Housing Diversity Corporation and STS Construction Services held a groundbreaking ceremony on March 8 for a new eight-story mixed-use development near the future California Ave SW Light Rail station in West Seattle. It is forecast to be completed in 21 months.

SEE THE FULL DESIGN PROPOSAL HERE

In Brief

  • Sponsored by Housing Diversity Corporation
  • Development Services by Housing Diversity Corp
  • Architecture by Atelier Drome
  • Construction by STS Construction Services

  • 58,378 SF gross

  • 3,211 SF retail

  • 9,718 SF lot

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Alki Playfield set for improvements

The Alki Playfield area is slated for improvements, focusing on enhancing play and gathering spaces. The project, located near Alki Elementary, Whale Tail Park, and Alki Beach Park, aims to create a more accessible and engaging environment for the community.

Key improvements include:

• New play equipment for different age groups.There will be play equipment for ages 5-12 and for ages 2-5. The play equipment area will have engineered wood fiber surfacing.

• Accessibility enhancements such as accessible ramps with handrails and new curb ramps. An ADA ramp will be added.

• Gathering spaces

• A bioretention planter with low plantings and trees.

• New site benches.

• A new basketball hoop and striping.

• Bike racks.

Additional features of the renovation are:

• Asphalt pavement with play striping.

• Seat walls.

• Low native shrubs, groundcover, and trees.

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Lumina Vascular Health & Laser Clinic Grand Opening set for March 29

Lumina Vascular Health & Laser Clinic is thrilled to announce its grand opening in the newly remodeled space at 6075 California Ave SW, formerly the Olympic Tax Building. Previously located on Fauntleroy Way SW, Lumina was founded by Sarah Whitehead, ARNP, to bring state-of-the-art vascular care and cutting-edge laser aesthetic treatments to the West Seattle community.

The celebration will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce at 4:30 PM.

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Ukrainian refugee fears deportation threat

In 2022, Westside Seattle brought you the story of Olga, a 21 year old Ukranian refugee whose harrowing story of escape from that war torn nation highlighted what many of her friends and family still face. She made her way to Seattle, where she found a job in West Seattle, began attending college, and has been in the process of building a new life. 

Now that life is under threat.

The Trump administration has announced it is planning to revoke the temporary legal status for approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia. This move could put them on a fast track to deportation. The decision is part of a broader effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants who entered the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched during the Biden administration.

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Pat's View: Why are we seeking Ukraine's rare earth minerals?

If you are wondering why the Trump Administration is holding Ukraine hostage in its war with Russia you should understand what is being asked. 

They are seeking an agreement for $55 billion in rare earth minerals and other elements. Here's why that matters.

The demand for rare earth minerals is expected to grow significantly over the next two decades, driven by their critical role in various high-tech applications.

Here are some key trends:

Electric Vehicles (EVs): The shift towards electric vehicles is a major driver of demand for rare earth minerals, particularly for neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium, which are used in the production of permanent magnets for EV motors.

Renewable Energy: Wind turbines and other renewable energy technologies also rely heavily on rare earth minerals. The global push for clean energy solutions will further boost demand.

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"Rat City" Art and Food Walk set for White Center March 20

The White Center Businesses Alliance is excited to announce the first Rat City Art Walk event of the spring on March 20!

WHAT: Rat City Art Walk

Rat city artwalkWHEN: Thursday, March 20, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (approximately - hours may vary by business/location)

WHERE: Participating businesses along the White Center Business Core (around 16th Avenue SW between SW Cambridge - SW 102th Streets)

COST: Free for everyone!

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Alki restrooms defaced, will be repainted

The much loved mural of whales painted by artist Dozfy on the Alki Beach rest rooms was defaced by taggers last Tuesday over night.

The artist said, "I got over 150 messages about it," and found the time on Friday to come out to fix it. 

"I'm going to repaint it. The community has spoken, they loved the work and they wanted it back so let's say it's a reunion tour, " he said with a laugh.

Weather permitting he should have it completely repaired by next week.

"It will be close sibling of it, but you never know," he explained. He will preserve as much of what's there as he can but may change it up a bit.

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Seattle to invest in North Delridge sidewalks and walkways

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is planning to build at least 10 blocks of new sidewalk and neighborhood walkways in North Delridge by 2029. This initiative is part of a larger commitment within the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy to construct 350 blocks of new sidewalks and walkways by the end of the levy, with 250 of those completed within the first four years.

SDOT utilizes the Seattle Transportation Plan’s Priority Investment Network to identify areas with the greatest need for sidewalk investments, focusing on access to public schools, parks, light rail, streetcar, frequent transit, safety, and equity. North Delridge was selected due to its high concentration of missing sidewalks that align with the Plan's priorities.

SDOT is inviting community members to participate in a neighborhood walk to provide input on where new sidewalks and walkways should be located. The walk is scheduled for:

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