White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog

Three years after the national chain Rite Aid acquired Seattle-founded regional chain Bartell Drugs, it’s closing some Bartell stores. And employees of the White Center Bartell store (9600 15th SW) are telling customers theirs will soon be among them. We’ve heard from multiple readers who say they’ve been told in recent days that the store will close at the end of the month, and a visit to the store reveals many items on sale at deep discounts. We have inquired with both Rite Aid and Bartell corporate spokespeople via email and phone, but have yet to receive a reply or acknowledgment either confirming or denying. As we reported here last year, the White Center store’s building changed ownership a year and a half ago, purchased for $5.1 million by an LLC associated with a California electrical contractor (we have an inquiry out to the owner as well). King County permit records show nothing on file for the sizable site. When the 4th Avenue Bartell store in downtown Seattle closed in July, The Seattle Times reported that was the fifth Bartell closure in less than a year; since then, one more has been announced. All this is unfolding against a backdrop of financial challenges for parent company Rite Aid.

A growing number of cities have their own minimum wages, and now one county councilmember proposes the same for unincorporated King County. At an event tomorrow (Thursday, September 7th) in Skyway, County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay plans to announce “a proposal to raise the minimum wage across unincorporated King County to up to $18.99 per hour.” The event announcement says, “If passed, the proposal would bring unincorporated King County’s minimum wage to be more in line with cities like Seattle ($18.69) and SeaTac ($19.06) It would also set annual increases for the wage as well as lower tiers for businesses with few employees.” Full details will be made public at tomorrow’s event, with attendees listed as including our area’s County Councilmember Joe McDermott.

Our area’s community council, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, has just announced its first meeting of fall – on Thursday, October 5th. Here’s the announcement:

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Will Not Be Holding a September 2023 Meeting

Hope everyone had a wonderful, restful Labor Day weekend. It is always hard to say goodbye to our beautiful NW summer. Fortunately, there are plenty of long days and good weather to enjoy as we move into fall.

NHUAC will not be holding a September meeting. Our meetings will resume on Thursday, October 5th at 7pm when we host a Candidates Forum with Teresa Mosqueda and Sofia Aragon, who are running for the King County Council’s District 8 seat. Joe McDermott, who has held this seat since first elected in 2010, did not run for re-election.

If you have attended any of our past forums, you know there will be plenty of time for attendees to address questions to the candidates (see links below to their websites).

Mark your calendars and plan to attend on Thursday, October 5th, 7 pm, over Zoom.

Hope to see you then!

Here’s our coverage of NHUAC’s most-recent meeting, in June.

(First published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

(July photo courtesy Diane Radischat)

WSDOT has just announced that the long-in-the-works clearing of the encampment on the east side of Myers Way is imminent:

After two months of state partners actively working with service providers, local partners, law enforcement and neighbors, WSDOT crews posted a notice to vacate the encampment at Myers Way this morning. Service providers with KCRHA (REACH and PDA/CoLEAD) have offered services and housing that would reasonably match the needs of the people on site. Over 80% of those who were staying at the site have been matched with shelter or housing that will work for them; many have already moved to those accommodations. Outreach workers will continue to help everyone who has accepted housing to move off site over the next several days. Next week, WSDOT will begin cleaning and repairing the site, removing excess vegetation and making other modifications at the site to help prevent resettlement.

Two weeks ago, in its previous update, WSDOT had said that one-third of the known 50+ people on the site had moved into housing. The last community meeting about the situation was in July, around the same time WSDOT said RVs and other vehicles needed to be removed before they blocked off access. (As is clearly visible to passers-by, some remain.) Three months have passed since West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold said the city and state – both of which are property owners in the area – were working on “resolution” of the encampment situation, following incidents including a murder. Even before that, Arrowhead Gardens residents across the street had been pleading for something to be done, citing crime and safety concerns at their senior-living complex.

If you’ve skated at Southgate Roller Rink, you might know manager Katie. She’s fighting cancer, and the rink is hosting a benefit 8:30-11 pm Thursday night (August 31st) to help her win that fight:

Let’s raise some money to help our good friend and manager Katie! This is a 21+ fundraising event. There will be A RAFFLE featuring donations by local businesses and artists! Music by DJ Josh and a special live music performance by MAN PLUS! The admission is $25 and free skate rental. 100% of the admission will go to Katie and will be matched by Southgate.

Katie has been taking care of everyone else and always puts their needs before herself. She will beat cancer and in the meantime let’s raise some money to cover her rent, living expenses, and medical bills!

If you are unable to attend, this is the link to the gofundme: gofundme.com/f/r9kgn-help-katie-beat-cancer

The burger mini-chain with a White Center outpost is offering you a free burger next Monday:

It’ll be 2-5 pm on September 4th, with these ground (beef) rules:

*No other sandwiches
*Extras cost extra
*Limit 1 burger per customer
*Online and phone orders will be off during this time

Li’l Woody’s is right next to Beer Star on the southwest corner of 16th and 98th.

Early heads-up to save a few hours on your calendar for this:

Here’s the direct link for registration.

(WCN photos unless otherwise credited)

Been to downtown White Center yet? This year’s WC Block Party is hopping! You can browse booths with local businesses such as Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery:

The DubSea Fish Sticks‘ season may be over but they’re still pitching merch and awareness:

Entertainment continues until late tonight!

(added) Two more photos, courtesy Jason Grotelueschen:

The festival zone is on 16th between Roxbury and 100th.

The “no parking” signs we saw on 16th SW tonight are reminders that the White Center Block Party is happening tomorrow (Saturday, August 26th). 16th will be closed to traffic and open to fun between Roxbury and 100th – live music, live wrestling, and more! Here’s the detailed preview we published earlier this month. Festival hours are 11 am to midnight, starting with a “sensory hour.” Have tons of fun and support your White Center businesses!

That security-camera image is from a theft in which Drew says he lost $10,000 worth of guitars and bicycles. It happened in his storage unit at 125 SW 112th and he’s hoping someone might spot some of the items. Here’s a full list – with more photos – of what was stolen, including contact info for Drew and for investigators, if you have any information.

Friday’s the deadline for this survey, if you haven’t responded to it already:

King County Local Services is asking people who live in unincorporated areas (areas that lie outside city limits) what would make their communities better places to live.

Local Services will work with communities to make a Community Needs List—a list of desired services, programs, facilities, and capital improvements—for each area. The county will use these lists to help make budget decisions next year.

► Online at PublicInput.com/CommunityNeeds
► By phone at 206-477-3800
► Questions? AskLocalServices@kingcounty.gov

UPDATE: Willie’s been found – info removed.

(WCN/WSB photo, Thursday)

It’s been a year and a half since Chase Bank closed its White Center location in that distinctive round building at 1616 SW 100th. At the time, we reported here that Chase planned to put the half-acre site up for sale. This week, a reader asked us about fencing that has gone up around the site, and whether that indicated the building’s future had been determined. Our subsequent research revealed that the site has been purchased by the owner of West Seattle’s Evergreen Learning Center, a preschool and day care. ELC’s current location at 6007 California SW has long had a redevelopment plan – mixed use with ~50 apartments – so the center needed a new home. Contacted by email, ELC owner Cassie Ragsdale confirmed that the former bank building is ELC’s future home: “I just recently closed on this location to move Evergreen Learning Center to, since the location that we are currently in will be redeveloped. We are in the permitting stage but are hoping to begin construction this fall. We’re excited to be bringing our school to the White Center community!”

This area was already under a Stage 1 burn ban – now it’s been raised to Stage 2. This announcement explains what that means:

King County Fire Marshal Chris Ricketts has issued a Stage 2 burn ban for unincorporated King County (areas outside city limits), which were already under a Stage 1 burn ban.

The ban goes into effect immediately and is extended into cities through coordination with the King County Fire Chiefs Association and Fire Marshals.

The forecast for the next few days calls for temperatures in the 90s for much of King County, where the fuel load in vegetation has been significantly increased by the dry summer and high temperatures. The winds that have created red flag warnings and an increase in recent brush fires warrant additional safety measures for our community—especially given that Washington has already stretched its wildfire fighting resources throughout the region.

During a Stage 2 burn ban, all outdoor fires, such as those in backyard fire pits or campfires that use chopped firewood or charcoal, are prohibited. Under the ban, any person with a recreational fire who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or otherwise discontinue such burning when ordered or notified to do so can be charged with a misdemeanor.

The use of manufactured portable outdoor devices is allowed, including barbeques and patio warmers that are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Approved fuel devices—including those that rely on charcoal, natural gas, or propane gas—are also allowed. Please use caution when disposing of charcoal remains. People who smoke should exercise extreme caution with their ashes and when they’re extinguishing cigarettes.

The county asks residents to be diligent and respectful of their neighbors, and to remember that this is a demanding time for first responders.

“During this time of the year—when there’s high temperatures and dry conditions—residents need to exercise extreme caution to not start a fire,” Ricketts said. “Something as simple starting an outdoor recreational fire or flicking a cigarette on the ground could result in something bigger and much more dangerous.”

Sent by King County:

Free Heating and Cooling Systems from King County!

Registration is now open for King County’s new Energize! Heat Pump pilot program, which will install 120 to 150 free or discounted heat pumps in the White Center and Skyway-West Hill unincorporated areas. Heat pumps are an energy efficient way to heat AND cool your home – and can help reduce your fossil fuel use and save on energy bills!

The program is open to single-family homeowners and renters; income-qualified residents may qualify for 80% to 100% cost-coverage.

Register to attend a one-hour workshop to learn more at www.EnergizeKingCounty.org.

Not Sure if You’re Eligible?

Look up your address and income limits here: www.kingcounty.gov/energize.