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West Seattle

Coordinates:47°33′40″N122°23′12″W/ 47.56111°N 122.38667°W/47.56111; -122.38667
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(Redirected fromHigh Point, Seattle)
West Seattle

West Seattleis a conglomeration ofneighborhoodsinSeattle,Washington,United States. It comprises two of thethirteen districts,Delridgeand Southwest, and encompasses all of Seattle west of theDuwamish River.It was incorporated as an independent town in 1902 before being annexed by Seattle five years later. Among the area's attractions are its saltwater beach parks alongElliott BayandPuget Sound,includingAlki Beach ParkandLincoln Park.The area is also known for its views of theOlympic Mountainsto the west and theCascade Rangeto the east. One-third of Seattle's green space andurban forestis located in West Seattle, much of it in the West Duwamish Greenbelt.

History

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West Seattle is the oldest neighborhood in the city and considered the birthplace of Seattle proper. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society maintains the Log House Museum atAlki Point.

Neighborhoods

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High Point

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View of downtown Seattle from one of several common greenspaces

High Pointis a neighborhood in theDelridgedistrict. It is so named because it contains the highest point in the city of Seattle: the intersection of 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street, which is 520 feet (160 m) abovesea level.The neighborhood is located on the east side of 35th Ave SW, with approximate north and south boundaries at SW Juneau Street and SW Myrtle Street.

The hill is dominated by two largewater towers;it is also the location of Our Lady of Guadalupe School and Parish, on the peak of the highest hill in West Seattle. It is also known for the High Point Projects which were torn down in 2005 to make way for newmixed-income housing.High Point is one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods, with a substantial immigrant population fromSoutheast AsiaandEast Africa.

Redevelopment

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Community garden and open play field with typical house variety in background.

The neighborhood was originally developed duringWorld War IIto provide government housing, and it remained a district of predominantly low-income housing through the 1990s. In 2003, theSeattle Housing Authoritybegan work on the first phase of a six-year project to redevelop High Point into a mixed-income community. The redevelopment removed all existing housing, roads, and utilities. In their place, new roads, underground infrastructure, about 1,600 new housing units, and community facilities were built.[1][2][3]

Houses are built close to the street.Bioretentionswales orrain gardenstreat and control stormwater from the streets with plants.

The redevelopment embraced manysustainable developmentprinciples. The site and rental housing are certified at the highest BuiltGreen levels; most housing isEnergy Star rated.The site makes extensive use ofpermeable paving,including porous sidewalks, parking areas, and the only porous pavement street in the state of Washington. Some houses were built to reduce symptoms for people withasthma.The neighborhood redevelopment plan has been recognized with some of the most prestigious land use and development awards, among them the 2007ULI Global Award of Excellence,the 2007 EPA National Award for Smart Growth, and the 2007Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.[4]

Alki

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Duwamish Head,between eastern coast and Alki Beach

Alki Pointis traditionally credited as the point where theDenny Partyfounded Seattle before moving across Elliott Bay to what is nowDowntown.A similar landing at Alki has been reenacted annually since 1950 as part of the week-longSeafaircelebration of Seattle's marine and boating heritage. Seafair coincides with West Seattle festivities including Hi-Yu and the West Seattle Summer Fest street festival held each July. Along with its historical significance, Alki is also home to the most popular beach in the Seattle area. Fittingly named Alki Beach, it features a long strip of sandy beach full of driftwood, seashells, and fire pits. Low tides offer West Seattleites an opportunity to explore marine life in tidepools. Alki also hosts a flat bike and running trail from which visitors can view the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, and the Olympic mountains.

The Junction

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West Seattle High School,in the Admiral District

The Junctionis the name used for the commercial district that centers on the intersection of California Avenue S.W. and S.W. Alaska Street. It is sometimes called "West Seattle Junction" or "Alaska Junction" by residents.

West Seattle also has two other intersections of note: the Admiral Junction in the northern part of the peninsula where California Avenue S.W. and S.W. Admiral Way meet, and the Morgan Street Junction at the southern end where Fauntleroy Way S.W., S.W. Morgan Street, and California Avenue S.W. intersect.

The West Seattle Summer Fest, a multi-daystreet festivalat the Junction, is hosted annually in July. It includeslive music,shopping, art galleries, and other events in the neighborhood.[5]The festival was established in 1982 and was cancelled for 2020 and 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Other neighborhoods

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The Westwood Village shopping center, between S.W. Trenton and S.W. Barton Streets in the south end of West Seattle, has undergone several makeovers and now provides a mall-like shopping experience, including a Target and a Marshall's. However, it is unlikely that a movie theater will be allowed here because of restricted parking.

Before the annexation of West Seattle, the neighborhood of White Center radiated north and south of Roxbury, but now with the city line going down the middle of the old neighborhood is it unclear whether the northern part of the area should still be referred to as part of the White Center neighborhood.

West Seattle also includes suburban neighborhoods in the southwest end, including Gatewood, Fauntleroy, Arbor Heights, and Arroyo Heights in the southernmost section of West Seattle.

Transportation

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TheKing County Water Taxiconnects West Seattle to Downtown Seattle

West Seattle has three bridges over theDuwamish Riverthat connect the peninsula toSODOandDowntown Seattle.The high-levelWest Seattle Bridge,opened in 1984 and carries seven lanes of traffic on a short freeway that continues towardsInterstate 5on theSpokane Street Viaduct.[7][8]The bridge was closed from 2020 to 2022 for extensive repairs after the rapid growth of cracks in the concrete was discovered.[9]The parallel, low-levelSpokane Street Bridgeis aswing bridgethat opened in 1991 and also carries amulti-use trailacross Harbor Island.[10]To the southeast is theFirst Avenue South Bridge,a pair of movable bridges onState Route 99.[11]

The peninsula's major north–south streets include California Avenue, which runs from Hamilton Viewpoint to Thistle Strete; Fauntleroy Way, which connects theFauntleroy ferry terminalto the West Seattle Bridge; 35th Avenue Southwest; and Delridge Way.[12]Alki Avenue and Harbor Avenue form a continuous ring along the north shore of the peninsula and have a parallel multi-use trail.[13]

West Seattle is served by bus service fromKing County Metro,the county'spublic transitsystem, with connections to Downtown Seattle and other nearby destinations. These routes include theRapidRide C Lineon California Avenue and Fauntleroy Way andRapidRide H Lineon Delridge Way; both lines havebus rapid transitfeatures and continue across the West Seattle Bridge to Downtown Seattle.[14][15]Washington State Ferriesoperates automobile ferries from the Fauntleroy terminal toVashon IslandandSouthworthon theKitsap Peninsula.[16]The passenger-onlyKing County Water Taxialso runs betweenSeacrest Parkand Downtown Seattle; it was upgraded to year-round all-day service in 2022. King County Metro operates shuttle buses that connect West Seattle Junction, Alki, and theAdmiral Districtwith water taxi runs from Seacrest Park.[17]

Sound Transit,the regional public transit agency of theSeattle metropolitan area,plans to build aLink light railextension between Downtown Seattle and West Seattle. The project was approved in the 2016Sound Transit 3ballot measure as one of two in-city corridors and is estimated to cost at least $6.7 billion to construct. The extension will be part of the3 Lineand is scheduled to open in 2032 with three stations in West Seattle, a new bridge over the Duwamish River, and a temporary terminus atSODO station.The remainder of the 3 Line toSnohomish Countywould open later in the decade after the completion of theBallard Link Extension.[18][19]The three stations in West Seattle are expected to be an underground station at Alaska Junction on the site of the Jefferson Square shopping center; a retained cut station at Avalon Way; and an elevated station at Delridge Way near Andover Street.[20][21]

Media

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The community is served by theWest Seattle Herald,which published aweekly newspaperuntil 2021 and was later replaced byWestside Seattleafter a merger with theBallard News-Tribune.[22]A hyperlocalblogwebsite named theWest Seattle Blogwas established in December 2005[23]and has remained independently owned and operated.[24][25]

Education

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Alki Point,seen fromQueen Anne

West Seattle is home toSouth Seattle College,West Seattle High School,Chief Sealth International High School,Seattle Lutheran High School,Gatewood Elementary School, Madison Middle School,Denny International Middle School,Roxhill Elementary School, K-5 STEM at Boren, Alki Elementary School, Lafayette Elementary School, Highland Park Elementary School, Sanislo Elementary School, Pathfinder K-8, Holy Family School Seattle, Holy Rosary West Seattle, Genesee Hill Elementary School, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hope Lutheran School, Arbor Heights Elementary School, and Fairmount Park Elementary School.

Parks and recreation

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Aerial view of West Seattle from the east, with thePuget Sound,Bainbridge Island,and theOlympic Mountainsto the west

West Seattle has many parks along the waterfront, including Lincoln Park and the Emma Schmitz Overlook to Jack Block Park facing the port. The West Seattle Golf Course, West Seattle Stadium, and Camp Long Outdoor Learning Center are found in the middle of the peninsula with unique opportunities to recreate outdoors including overnight camping in rustic cabins. In addition, Seattle Parks and Recreation maintains Community Centers (Alki, Delridge, and Hiawatha), Coleman Pool, SouthWest Pool, and the SouthWest Teen Life Center. There is a historic bath house on Alki Beach as well as the Dakota Place Park with its restored light station.[26]

List of neighborhoods

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Notable residents

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Among West Seattle's current and former notable residents arePearl Jamlead singerEddie Vedder;Pearl JambassistJeff Ament;actressDyan Cannon;actorSteven Hill;nature photographerArt Wolfe;writer and journalistAmanda Knox;actress and burlesque performerGypsy Rose Lee;restaurateur, folk singer, and former Seattle City Council memberIvar Haglund;fantasy authorTerry Brooks;mountain climbersJim WhittakerandLou Whittaker;authorTobias Wolff;astronautGregory C. Johnson;SoundgardensingerChris Cornell;The Flying Karamazov BrothersmemberSam Williams;author, journalist, and screenwriterJeff Jensen;former Seattle mayorGreg Nickels;mountain climber and guideScott Fischer;science fiction and fantasy authorCat Rambo;actressFrances Farmer;actressMeg Tilly;musicianBill Rieflin;artistFrancesca Sundsten;former Pittsburgh Pirates playerEd Bahr;NFL and Canadian Football League playerByron Bailey;author Nicholas Johnson; singer/songwriterBrandi Carlile;U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal;theatre directorDouglas Hughes;TV & Radio talent/writer Cindi Rinehart.

References

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  1. ^Official High Point neighborhood website
  2. ^High Point Neighborhood House
  3. ^Seattle Housing - High Point
  4. ^"Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence".Bruner Foundation.Retrieved3 September2013.
  5. ^Phair, Vonnai (July 14, 2022)."Check out this multiday West Seattle festival, and more fun around Seattle".The Seattle Times.RetrievedJune 24,2024.
  6. ^"West Seattle Junction says no Summerfest again this year".Westside Seattle.April 13, 2021.RetrievedJune 24,2024.
  7. ^Dougherty, Phil (September 27, 2022)."West Seattle Bridge closes because of failing support structure on March 23, 2020; reopens on September 17, 2022".HistoryLink.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  8. ^"Repaving to start on Spokane St. Viaduct".Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.July 24, 2024.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  9. ^Kroman, David (August 11, 2022)."West Seattle Bridge reopening date announced".The Seattle Times.RetrievedAugust 11,2022.
  10. ^Lindblom, Mike (April 19, 2024)."West Seattle swing bridge shutdown to bring slowdowns, truck detours, free rides".The Seattle Times.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  11. ^Lindblom, Mike (March 1, 2021)."First Avenue South Bridge repairs will snarl traffic on key route to West Seattle; here's what to expect".The Seattle Times.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  12. ^Seattle Roadway Classification(Map). Seattle Department of Transportation.RetrievedNovember 3,2024– viaArcGIS.
  13. ^Deshais, Nicholas (August 9, 2024)."Seattle slows Alki in bid to stop speeding and street racing".The Seattle Times.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  14. ^Metro Transit System: Central Area(Map).King County Metro.September 2024.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  15. ^"RapidRide H Line launch date set".West Seattle Blog.January 25, 2023.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  16. ^Gutman, David (January 24, 2018)."Study: Half-empty ferries leave Fauntleroy as cars wait in line".The Seattle Times.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  17. ^Kroman, David (September 18, 2023)."West Seattle water taxi to keep all-day, weekend service through winter".The Seattle Times.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  18. ^Lindblom, Mike (September 18, 2024)."West Seattle's light rail estimate soars past $6 billion".The Seattle Times.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  19. ^"West Seattle Link Extension Final Environmental Impact Statement"(PDF).Sound Transit.September 20, 2024. p. ES-2.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  20. ^Lindblom, Mike (November 12, 2023)."West Seattle's light-rail path finally takes shape, at a price".The Seattle Times.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  21. ^"Sound Transit Board selects final West Seattle Link Extension route and stations"(Press release). Sound Transit. October 24, 2024.RetrievedNovember 3,2024.
  22. ^Westneat, Danny (April 24, 2021)."Stopping the presses, again: The story ends for 2 more century-old Seattle newspapers".The Seattle Times.RetrievedJune 24,2024.
  23. ^Grubisich, Tom (September 8, 2016)."As 10-Year Mark Approaches, West Seattle Blog Sticks to Profitable Basics".Street Fight.RetrievedFebruary 13,2019.
  24. ^Shilling, Erik (September 29, 2011)."West Seattle Blog".Columbia Journalism Review.RetrievedJune 24,2024.
  25. ^Cassidy, Benjamin (June 4, 2021)."Tracy Record's West Seattle Blog Has the Neighborhood Covered".Seattle Met.RetrievedJune 24,2024.
  26. ^Lori, Hinton (2005),West Seattle 101: a hundred and one things to do: an insider's guide to recreation, dining, entertainment & enrichment,Seattle: Adventure Press
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Wikimedia Commons has media related toWest Seattle, Seattle, Washington.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide forSeattle/West.

47°33′40″N122°23′12″W/ 47.56111°N 122.38667°W/47.56111; -122.38667

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