The sidewalks along Alki Avenue’s bustling "restaurant row" are looking a lot brighter this week following the installation of 18 new pedestrian-scale lights aimed at boosting public safety. The project, a primary focus for Alki Community Council President Charlotte Starck, was completed just in time for the busy summer tourism season.

The new fixtures are "down lights" equipped with dusk-to-dawn sensors, meaning they automatically activate as darkness falls. Unlike the high-intensity LED streetlights that tower over the road, these are mounted much lower on existing wooden posts on the business side of the street.

"The idea is to illuminate the sidewalks," Starck explained. "Not only can people see, but they can also be seen. ... There’s a lot of science around lighting being a crime deterrent and that’s what we were hoping for".

The push for better infrastructure followed a string of high-profile crimes in the area, including a series of "smash and grab" burglaries at local staples like Alki Coffee, Christos, and Fire Tacos, as well as two recent shootings on the avenue. Starck noted that business security cameras often struggled to capture clear footage because the area was simply too dark at night.

Faced with a city budget deficit, Starck sought a "low-hanging fruit" solution, one that was low cost and high impact. She sat down with Councilmember Rob Saka earlier this year to advocate for the change.

"I told him, 'It’s really dark here. I mean, can we at least work on better lighting?'" Starck recalled. Starck emphasized that while Alki is a neighborhood, it is also a premier tourism destination that sees its population explode on sunny days. "Everyone deserves to feel safe," she said.

The installation was remarkably efficient, taking only a day and a half to complete. The lights are spaced approximately every 100 feet, a distance designed to provide consistent coverage without creating excessive glare for nearby residents or drivers.

The response from the local business community has been overwhelmingly positive. Starck shared that even the staff at the local bike rental shop expressed relief, noting it had previously been "really dark" when closing up for the night.

"Not only does it help people to see better to walk themselves, but people can be seen better and that’s where behaviors can change," Starck said.

While the lighting is a significant "small step in infrastructure," Starck and the Alki Community Council continue to advocate for further safety measures, including increased summer beach patrols and potential pedestrian safety improvements to curb drag racing in the area.