Originally published Saturday, July 17, 1999

By BILL VIRGIN and TRICIA DURYEE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTERS

SKYWAY RESIDENTS sometimes bristle about suggestions that crime is worse in the area than in other communities.

"We want it to be known as a nice place," says JoAnn Galloway, who works at JJ's Java. Adds her sister Doreen, who works next door at Skyway Park Bowl: "Everybody wants to think it's a bad area, but there's nice, friendly people."

But they also watch closely for signs crime might be on the rise. Helping in that effort is a storefront office of the King County police, sandwiched between a laundry and a religious store on Renton Avenue in Penn Centre.

The storefront office, which shares desk space with the West Hill Community Group, does far more than answering regular calls. Deputy Alex Quirit works with block-watch groups, the commercial group and schools, and issues regular reports and advisories to the community about crime trends.

Quirit says Skyway and West Hill could use more programs for young people, particularly teens. Organizers of the community's summer street fair have included a three-on-three basketball tournament to appeal to kids.

One other need had been access to social services. Sally Porter, recently named to a new post as county youth services coordinator, says residents had no social services on the hill other than those available through schools.

Now there's a new community center and the West Hill Family Enrichment Center, with such programs as parenting classes and youth mentoring. "There's so much more going on in West Hill," says Porter, who had managed the Skyway library branch for five years.

There's even been some growth; a number of new homes have gone in on vacant lots throughout West Hill.

P-I reporter Bill Virgin can be reached at 206-448-8319 or billvirgin@seattle-pi.com.

P-I reporter Tricia Duryee can be reached at 206-448-8022 or triciaduryee@seattle-pi.com