West Seattle Blog…

Goodbye, Gee

November 30, 2007 at 9:41 am | In West Seattle businesses, West Seattle news | 10 Comments

Right on schedule, this truck was spotted this morning at one of the ex-Gee/Huling lots, picking up remaining vehicles; today is the day by which the Gees agreed to completely clear out, as per the agreement reached in the Hulings’ lawsuit to evict them for not paying rent. The Gees’ suit against the Hulings, meantime, goes on; most recent development reported here was a judge’s denial of the Hulings’ motion to force the Gees into arbitration, promptly appealed by the Hulings.

10 Comments

1. Not in a million years did I ever expect to see these lots empty. I truly hope we’ll never see another car dealership in West Seattle. This is an extraordinary opportunity to redevelop this area into something better.

   Comment by CB — November 30, 07 10:13 am #

2. Finally West Seattle can begin the long overdue redevelopment of the entree to West Seattle. Highest and best use of the land is certainly not paved lots with chainlink fences topped with razor wire. Not only the Gee sites but a substantial number of the triangle business district it being privately shopped. Would love to see the YMCA in a position to expand their facility during this process. Very exciting times lay ahead for our community.

   Comment by elevated concern — November 30, 07 2:18 pm #

3. Yes, but are condos/apartments something better? Wake up, the “highest and best use” is exactly that, or would you like a Walmart? That will certainly drive out any WS Merchants.

   Think, before you offer proposals, and also think about the future of your proposals.

   Comment by willow — November 30, 07 3:32 pm #

4. Goodbye GEE….and don’t let the door hit your a$$ on the way out!

   Comment by JenV — November 30, 07 6:31 pm #

5. How about a movie theater?

   Comment by Near Alki — November 30, 07 7:14 pm #

6. How about a new home for the Sonics?

   (ducks)

   Comment by Bob Loblaw — November 30, 07 9:19 pm #

7. Yeah! Let’s build more overpriced condo units that no one can afford…I mean, really, does Seattle really *need* an affordable neighborhood?!? If you can’t see the direction West Seattle is going in, you must be blind. It’s just going to be the next neighborhood/area in Seattle to fall victim to high-priced over-development. I’m sorry, but I’d much rather have a car dealership (a dealership, I might add, that was a WS institution for many decades – it was a *local* business before Gee took over, and regardless of ownership it would always have its local roots/heritage) instead of bloated, overpriced condo towers and traffic-causing shopping/lifestyle “centers.” I don’t see this as a good move. All I can say is be careful what you wish for…you might just get it.

   Comment by Andy — November 30, 07 9:28 pm #

8. Maybe the property can go full circle…it can become the Y again like it was when I was a kid..at least the lot on faunleroy and alaska..I agree the lots are ugly, but I hate the idea of another condo..maybe another Merrill Gardens or retirement, it has great bus stop location.

   Comment by Mags — November 30, 07 10:34 pm #

9. Yeah, the last thing I want to see is YET MORE condos/apartments. However, the question now is: How much are we willing to cough up to pay Huling to see the land developed “our way” instead of the highest & best use?

   I doubt that the Hulings are going to seriously consider anything less than the most valuable use (to them) for the land. And there’s a reason why there have been so many condos popping up around here – up until now those developers were far & away the biggest pockets bidding for the land.

   I guess, realistically, the best we can hope for is for the softness in the condo market to worsen into a real crash for a year or two, just to make it more affordable for these more diverse uses to bid on the land, like they would’ve been able to back in more normal times.

   Comment by Jenny — December 1, 07 1:30 pm #

10. Jenny – The affordable neighborhood is Highpoint. Ask your city Coucil people, the neighborhood councils, and Holly Park, THIS IS, WIIL BE, AND IS, affordable.

    Sorry, they lied to you. Your city and county government, is here to serve you. (Unless, you don’t have the money). Better move back to Kansas, Arkansas, North/and/or/South Carolina/North Carolina/ or anywhere you are from.

    By County/City decree, IF you can’t afford it, don’t come here. WE eliminated ALL housing that poor people can afford. Sorry, Budget cuts and all that stuff.

    Comment by willow — December 1, 07 3:33 pm #

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