White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Just announced by Highline Public Schools: Because of the weather – as all that snow turns to slush – all schools will be on a 2-hour delay tomorrow (Monday, January 3rd). From the district website:

Buses will stop at regular stops – two hours later than normal.

There will be no breakfast, no morning or afternoon classes for preschool and ECEAP, and no morning classes for PSSC. Afternoon classes for PSSC will be on time. All before-school programs are canceled, including clubs, activities and in-school daycare. No transportation will be provided to schools outside of our district.

Schools will dismiss at regular times.

Staff Instructions
Staff are expected to report to work as close to on time as possible. Please use your judgement on whether it is safe for you to travel to work. See an outline of expectations for employees for inclement weather on the Staff Hub.

(Seen in West Seattle this afternoon)

Metro has announced it’ll begin on Sunday the process of getting transit service back to normal:

Metro will deactivate the Emergency Snow Network (ESN) at 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2. All Metro bus routes active on weekends will operate on their regular schedules starting Jan. 2 where road conditions allow.

Metro vehicle maintenance crews have shifted away from chaining and retrieving stuck buses and have started repairs to damaged buses that operated during the winter storm. Metro is assessing the number of available buses and whether any routes may need to remain temporarily suspended on Monday, Jan. 3, as additional repairs are completed.

“Our transit professionals kept the region moving safely during the recent snowstorms,” said King County Metro General Manager Terry White. “Now we turn our attention to repairing buses damaged over the past week and again operating the broader all-day transit network that riders rely on.”

Riders traveling on Saturday, Jan. 1, should review what routes are operating on the Emergency Snow Network before traveling. On Sunday, Jan. 2, online resources will be updated to reflect any lingering snow routes where road conditions continue to be difficult for transit service. Masks are required on all public transportation.

(Thanks to Gill Loring for sending the photos!)

It’s New Year’s Eve-Eve, and day 5 of significant snow on the ground … and the streets, and the decks, and the porches …

The official snow total for last night/today, at Sea-Tac, was just over 2″, and the snow total for December is now up to 8″. The National Weather Service does not forecast much more, and says that by Sunday, we’ll finally be back in the 40s.

Until then, be careful – side streets look like the ones in the photos above, while the arterials have been addressed – five White Center traffic cams are on the “south” tab of this page.

(King County traffic cam, 16th/100th, 3 pm)

The National Weather Service’s “winter storm warning” for our area has expired, and the snow has mostly stopped, but now we’re facing three-plus days of very cold weather. First, a few resources – checking for plowed roads? Go here. Checking the forecast/weather conditions? Go here. Now, as for the weather – it’s not expected to get above freezing until Thursday.

(Metro photo: Crews digging utility trenches along 15th Avenue SW)

The ongoing concrete-drivers strike has put some RapidRide H Line-related construction work on pause in White Center, as well as West Seattle and Burien. From a Metro advisory:

Due to regional concrete supply issues, construction at the following locations have been paused temporarily:

15th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street
15th Avenue SW and SW 102nd Street
15th Avenue SW and SW 107th Street
26th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street
Ambaum Boulevard SW and SW 112th Street
Ambaum Boulevard SW, between SW 116th Street and SW 122nd Street
Ambaum Boulevard SW and SW 128th Street
Ambaum Boulevard SW and SW 136th Street
Ambaum Boulevard SW and SW 142nd Street

We are adjusting our schedule and plans to manage delays and impacts. Construction will resume once the supply issues are resolved. Once construction restarts, we expect work to last approximately 4 weeks as crews complete the remaining activities.

Metro Route 120 is scheduled to become the H Line in September 2022. See the entire advisory by going here.

Peyton sent this report and photo in hopes someone has seen her dad’s work truck:

*STOLEN VEHICLE**
White Ford box truck with 2 LED lights on back and extendable ladder on the side
License plate- C95272L

My dad Sean Sullivan woke up yesterday morning 12/16 to an unimaginable nightmare – his work truck was gone. It was parked in White Center off 14th and 100th in front of the old La Mexicana building. One unit south of WestSide Baby. It was holding an estimated 50-100k worth of tools and equipment. My father started his company about 7 years ago and has worked extremely hard to grow both his company and the tools he had stored in his truck. This is his daily work truck so it had an extensive amount of his important tools as well as his daily working tools, excess parts, extra wire, hundreds of breakers, just about anything you can imagine you would need as an electrical contractor was in this truck. We are hoping someone may have seen or heard something. I can only imagine the heartache my father is feeling having lost what seems like his livelihood..especially with the holiday season right around the corner! If you have any leads or think you may have seen or heard something, please reach out to myself or my father! The police were (alerted) and there is an open case C-21040633 with King County Sheriffs.

Sullivan Electric LLC
Peyton- 425-312-4461
Sean- 206-419-8884

If you see it, also call 911.

2-5 pm Friday (December 17th), the White Center Community Development Association and King County Public health have another COVID-19 vaccination clinic in WC. It’s at the Bethaday Community Learning Space building (605 SW 108th).

Thanks to Richard for the tip. King County has published a “notice of application” for the White Center Hub project. That opens a formal comment period until January 3rd. Most of the documents are linked here. Here’s one of them, the site plan:

Project toplines are the same as discussed at last May’s presentation (WCN coverage here). The main application number is CDUP21-0002. Contact info for the permitting division, if you have a question or comment, is here.

48 customers on both sides of the city-limit line are out of power in White Center/South Delridge. The Seattle City Light map says it started around 7:42 am and attributes it to “equipment failure.”

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s December meeting coincided with a sad anniversary – 15 years since the murder of King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox, who was also NHUAC president at the time. NHUAC’s Liz Giba dedicated the meeting to Deputy Cox: “Please keep him and his family in your thoughts.”

Here’s what else happened:

DISCUSSION WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS: Three people who have long represented North Highline in local and state government (though all three live in West Seattle) were the first guests. County Councilmember Joe McDermott was first of the guests to describe what he’s working on, including economic help for White Center in the wake of the recent fires. The anti-displacement report` and Subarea Plan are coming to the council soon, too.

State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon – who noted that he lives in Highland Park, close to WC – has been working on issues including fireworks. He’s been trying to repeal the state law that requires a waiting period before a fireworks ban takes effect (though it’s too late to make a difference for the unincorporated King County ban). The capital budget passed last session includes money for the relocation of the White Center Food Bank as well as for the operation of the Evergreen Aquatic Center.

State Rep. Eileen Cody continues her focus on health care and said a big issue right now is keeping people working in the health-care industry. “Health care always has a million things but that’s the big one right now.” Giba asked her about the training situation. Cody said there are now “simulation labs … like computerized dummies” but RN programs haven’t used them as much as LPN, so she’s working to expand training/education capacity.

Asked about the Growth Management Act and how it factors into White Center’s future, Rep. Fitzgibbon explained that it stipulates various elements that need to go into future planning. But “the state doesn’t approve or disapprove a local land-use plan” like the ones King County is working on, It was created as “more of a bottom-up system.” He explained that the accountability comes from the ability for citizens to be able to file appeals.

A discussion ensued on how and when to comment on the plans. Do it now, urged McDermott.

Jacqueline Reid, who is now handling the Subarea Plan for the county, provided some information about how to access a “reader’s guide” and other components.

Also discussed: Regional growth and densification – more of it has happened north of Roxbury than south, Fitzgibbon and Cody noted. Giba stressed concerns about an unequal number of low-income units planned in White Center rather than mixed-income “vibrant and diverse communities.” NHUAC’s Barbara Dobkin added that low-income units are “needed everywhere” but disproportionately built in White Center because it’s “easy to build.” Fitzgibbon said a law passed in the Legislature this past year might help with that, requiring communities to plan for housing “at all income levels.” He added, “I think that’s relevant to a concern we’ve heard from this community for a long time.” Plans incorporating this will have to be adopted by 2024, he said.

In closing, McDermott reminded everyone that the comment period on the North Highline Subarea Plan continues until December 19th – he said that Chapter 4 in particular addresses housing and human services. Cody said North Highline “needs to figure out where it’s going to annex to … I don’t think it can last much longer” without that. Giba noted that Seattle has never put an annexation vote forward. Fitzgibbon simply said thanks to the community advocates in the (virtual) room.

Another big topic:

WHITE CENTER POND/BOG: It’s being redesigned, according to a team from King County stormwater services.

It’s historically a wetland but is used as a stormwater facility.

There’s access for public use but it’s not used a lot. It has a variety of issues they hope to address:

They hope to enlarge the ponds for more holding capacity, and to have them hold water year-round. The southernmost pond by Steve Cox Memorial Park was redesigned recently and is seen as successful. She said they’ll try to preserve the large trees in and around the pond while they’re digging. They hope to expand the “Cell 2” pond area to put water in a somewhat hidden area that is currently known for unsavory activities.

They’re looking for feedback on redeveloping the ponds so they can increase recreation opportunities and greenspace access in the area. They hope to have a preliminary design by summer, maybe to show off at Jubilee Days, with construction not until the summer of 2024. So currently they want to hear ideas for the site.

They are also looking for more people/organizations to talk to abut this. A Greenbridge resident spoke up and expressed interest in connecting his neighbors with the county team. Another local resident spoke about environmental concerns and the pond’s importance to migratory birds.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Deputy Bill Kennamer had some “very good news – our burglary numbers are down significantly, because we finally caught our prolific burglar” – someone arrested during a burglary in Burien. We have since reported separately on the suspect, Nicholas Pierce, charged in four burglaries. Meantime, Deputy Kennamer said, Vehicle thefts/recoveries are “way up” – most of the recoveries are close to the Beverly Park house mentioned earlier. The owner has been working hard to evict the troublemakers but this may be about to break. The category of crime including car prowls is up. Aggravated assaults are down. “Simple assaults” are up. The 16th/107th parcel is under development as a combination apartment complex and storage facility, he added. Asked by Dobkin about emphasis patrols, Kennamer said those are happening “primarily in the downtown business corridor” but also stretching as far west as Roxbury Lanes.

Various topics were then discussed, including the status of vandalized business. Dobkin wondered about all the graffiti on the former Northmart on 16th. There’s no county law requiring the cleanup of graffiti on private property, Kennamer noted. He also noted that the former Taradise Café is being remodeled to be what he was told will be “another restaurant.” The LCB officer in attendance said he hasn’t been notified of any new application for the building. The day after the meeting, one was filed, and we talked with the proprietor for this report.

A few quick mentions:

PARKS SAFETY: They’re having listening sessions with community members regarding safety in parks, especially people who live near the newly acquired Glendale Forest.

WHITE CENTER KIWANIS: Mark your calendar for the January 20th baked potato and taco fundraiser for New Start High School.

NEXT MEETING: NHUAC is skipping January, so the next meeting will be Thursday, February 3rd.

At last week’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting (full report to come), King County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Kennamer noted that burglaries were decreasing, and mentioned a possible reason: The arrest of someone believed responsible for multiple burglaries. While he didn’t identify the suspect, we believe we’ve found him via court documents: 34-year-old Nicholas E. Pierce is in King County Jail, charged in four burglaries, all but one in White Center.

The first one happened at a real-estate office near 17th/98th on June 21st. The business had the break-in on video, from which deputies recognized Pierce, because, the documents say, they “have dealt with Pierce for several years.” They arrested him the next day – but a judge released him from jail one day later. A charge of second-degree burglary was filed in August, but Pierce didn’t show up for arraignment. Jail records show he was arrested November 17th and released again after one day, then arrested days later – November 22nd – and has been behind bars ever since. In the meantime, he’s been charged with three more burglaries. On August 20th, he allegedly broke into the burned-out building in the 9600 block of 16th SW and was caught walking out with toolboxes, the owner trailing him recording video until Pierce allegedly threatened to stab him. Then on October 20th he is accused of breaking into Patrick’s Bakery and Café in White Center, also recorded on video, in which he allegedly used some of the restaurant’s knives to pry open the register, though the report says he got away empty-handed. And he is charged with burglarizing the Burien business where he was caught on November 22nd, Mai’s Hair Salon, whose owner saw the burglary on video and called 911. Deputies found him hiding inside, and their report describes him as a “prolific burglar.”

In each of these four cases, Pierce is charged with second-degree burglary, a felony. His past convictions are mostly for domestic violence. He is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail, and is scheduled to be arraigned next week.

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The former Taradise Café, closed since last June – weeks before its proprietor’s untimely death – has a new tenant. A restaurant/bar called Que Chevere – “it’s awesome” – will open at 9808 16th SW, possibly as soon as next month.

We talked tonight with entrepreneur Felipe Maqueda, who says this will be his first restaurant. And he’s adamant that while it will include a bar, the food will be the focus, not the drinks. He says Que Chevere will serve “Latino fusion” cuisine, and will be open for lunch as well as dinner, with an international menu created by a chef with experience around the world. The atmosphere will be family-friendly, he promises.

Maqueda – who lives on Beacon Hill – wants Que Chevere to be not simply a restaurant, but also a true community asset. He explains that he has a community-advocacy background, including co-founding the Fiestas Patrias celebration at Seattle Center, and running a soccer program that helps players advance in their education. He also works on Sounders FC’s Spanish-language broadcasts.

He also mentioned a love for music, so we asked if he planned live performances at Que Chevere. Maybe, he said, but they would be more on the “cultural” side – folklorico, for example. He can also envision using the site’s big lot for community events like block parties.

But for now, they’re focusing on remodeling, and getting ready to open. “Hopefully we can bring something good to the community.”

(Before Taradise, the future Que Chevere was the site of Marv’s Broiler for almost 40 years.)

That’s the 2021 White Center Christmas tree in all its splendor, in the mini-park outside Mac’s Triangle Pub at Delridge/16th/Roxbury. Mr. and Ms. Claus were there for the occasion:

So were some excited kids:

The actual lighting – before dark – had a few stops and starts, but good cheer all around:

For the icing on the cake, the pub was showing the Seahawks game, and they were on the bring of their 30-23 win over the FortyNiners.

P.S. The tree is sponsored by not only Mac’s but also Center Tool Rental and Meat The Live Butcher.

10:47 AM: We’re at the Edgewater Hotel on the downtown Seattle waterfront, where the owner of the former Highline Bears has just announced the team’s new name: Dub Sea Fish Sticks. After a process that involved fans proposing more than 200 possible new names, followed by 5,400+ votes between this name and one alternative (Dub Sea Seal Slingers), this morning brought the official unveiling. Owner Justin Moser says they’ll also start calling Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park – the team’s home stadium – “The Fryer.” Temporary mascot, as seen above, but another contest will engage people soon in naming the official mascot. The team didn’t play the past two summers because of the pandemic but they’re planning games this year, starting June 4th. The team’s website is now at gofishsticks.com.

ADDED 11:54 AM: Here’s our video of the big reveal:

That’s the White Center Christmas Tree in 2019. What will it look like this year? Be the first to see by attending the tree lighting this Sunday (December 5th), 4:20 pm outside Mac’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW).

The White Center Community Development Association invites you to show support Saturday for WC’s struggling small businesses. Here’s the announcement:

We are inviting all White Center community members and storefront supporters to this Remembrance Walk Action Against Commercial Displacement on Saturday, December 4th from 3-5 pm starting on 16th Ave SW and SW 98th St.

We will highlight memories of our beloved storefront businesses and stories of resilience and resistance. We are welcoming people to write fond memories they have with the businesses or any supporting thoughts. While you walk, you will be hearing Evergreen High musicians perform pieces that are inspired by this event.

Following up on our report of the Chase Bank White Center closure in February, we asked the company today what’ll become of the building. The regional spokesperson for Chase replied, ““Following the branch closure, the building will be decommissioned and marketed for sale through an outside real-estate brokerage firm.” The half-acre site is zoned for commercial/business use, according to the King County Assessor’s Office website.

First Thursdays usually bring the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s monthly meeting, and tonight we know what NHUAC is planning for December 2nd:

The Opportunity to Be Informed, Be Involved and Be Heard!

Where? North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting
When? Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 7 pm
Join Via Zoom:
us02web.zoom.us/j/86882502547?pwd=T1oya2VTVUFsV2FHY0VFWlB0OFcxZz09
Meeting ID: 868 8250 2547
Passcode: NHUAC2021 (case sensitive)

Or Call: 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 868 8250 2547
Passcode: 361212590

Please join NHUAC’s last meeting of 2021 on Thursday, December 2nd at 7 pm. 2020 has been a tough year for the North Highline / White Center community. As painful as it has been, trauma is not new to our community. This meeting marks 15 years since Deputy Steve Cox was killed in the line of duty. The next day, the Seattle Times headline read:

Slain deputy had become White Center’s “Superman”

It was not an exaggeration. Deputy Cox grew up playing ball in the park which now bears his name and a memorial in his honor. He learned that knowledge and education are power, so he got a good education, became an attorney, and worked as a prosecutor in Eastern Washington. That didn’t last too long.

Deputy Cox came back to White Center because he wanted to make it a better place for everyone. He joined the Sheriff’s Office and became White Center’s Store Front Deputy. Steve cared about our White Center community and believed in all of us. “Don’t Quit” was his favorite poem. It sums up the way Deputy Cox lived his life and is his lasting message to all of us. Although Steve was a family man with a new baby, he volunteered to help whenever he could. Steve was NHUAC’s president when he died. Those of us who knew him could not help but learn from him. He still leads the way in NHUAC’s efforts to support a heathy community of opportunity that does not back away from its struggles.

With that goal in mind, the focus of this meeting will be: Our Community: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Please join the conversations with State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, Marta Olson of King County’s Department of Natural Resources & Parks, and, of course, our Community Deputy Bill Kennamer.

Knowledge is power.

Learn, share, and help make North Highline a better place.
December 2, 2021 at 7 pm – Invite a Neighbor!

ADDED: Here’s the agenda.

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

The Chase Bank branch at 1616 SW 100th is closing in February. That’s what the bank announced in a letter to customers, including Marcus, who tipped us about it. The letter says the banking giant will be “permanently closing” the branch as of February 10, 2022. The letter suggests customers use ATMs or the Westwood Village branch in West Seattle once this branch closes. Property records show Chase owns the building; we’ll be asking them after the holiday what their plans are for the site. Chase closed a branch in West Seattle almost a year ago, in a Morgan Junction supermarket, but still has three freestanding branches there, as well as a branch in Burien, at 222 SW 150th. Meantime, White Center’s bank options are shriveling – you’ll recall the Bank of America branch on 17th SW closed not that long ago.

(WCN photo from September 13th fire)

A month and a half ago, White Center community members launched a petition drive demanding King County do more to address the economic devastation caused by the recent business fires. Among the demands: “$2M emergency relief funding outside of (Department of Local Services) grants to assist fire victims and stabilize the White Center Business District’s rebuilding efforts in collaboration with community.” $2 million in help is on the way after a King County Council supplemental-budget vote today that included approval of the proposal by County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Here’s his post-vote announcement:

Following passage of a $672 million supplemental budget Tuesday, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott applauded the inclusion of $2 million for economic recovery in White Center following a string of fires and burglaries there. McDermott brough the funding as an amendment to the budget legislation.

“This investment in economic recovery will have a tangible impact on how the County can support the White Center community in the year ahead,” McDermott said. “From the pandemic to long-standing challenges for legacy businesses, this economic emergency brought on by the fires this year only heightened the need to ensure White Center can maintain an equitable, thriving community in the years ahead. I greatly appreciate my colleagues’ support for this community that, while struggling now, has incredible potential.”

The budget also included $175,000 for King County Sheriff’s Office overtime to help increase patrols in the area and funding for a new economic development staffer dedicated to the White Center community.

Multiple property fires this year damaged beloved businesses in White Center like the Locker Room Bar and Grill, Huong Xua Deli and others while subsequent window smashings and burglaries put the community on edge.

Local business owners submitted a petition to county officials, seeking direct aid to fire victims, funding for additional security in the community, a more transparent relationship with the King County Sheriff’s Office and local fire departments, and staffing for one-on-one support for local businesses not only for recovery but going forward to help avoid displacement in the area.

The $2 million in funding will be directed by the Department of Local Services to additional business grants and other economic recovery strategies to be developed in conversation and collaboration with the community.