Today/tonight: Admiral Safeway, neighborhood plans, HS sports

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ADMIRAL SAFEWAY ALLEY VACATION: If you’re proposing a street or alley “vacation” – in which the public right-of-way is relinquished, for development or another reason – the Seattle Design Commission has to review your plan, including the “public benefits” you’re offering to make up for it. That’s why it’ll be looking at the Admiral Safeway redevelopment plan (here’s the most recent public presentation) today, 2 pm, Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall downtown.

NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING – BE THERE! West Seattle’s 5 areas with official plans – Admiral, Delridge, Morgan Junction, The Junction, Westwood/Highland Park – did a stellar job of representing at the neighborhood plan status/update meeting on that sizzling July day at Youngstown. Tonight’s the next step – a meeting to review how that information was processed, whether you agree the “status check” represents where things stand in your neighborhood, and what happens next. The WS neighborhoods are sharing a meeting place with a few others, so this meeting is on Beacon Hill, 6 pm, Mercer Middle School (directions). You’re also invited to participate in this online questionnaire.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TONIGHT: In girls’ soccer, West Seattle High School is in the Metro third-place game vs. Lakeside, 5 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown; in varsity football, *Seattle Lutheran High School plays Evergreen Lutheran, 7 pm at West Seattle Stadium.

JAT November 5, 2009 (9:53 am)

It’s easy to be dazzled by architect’s drawings, but this is my neighborhood, and I have to ask: is this Safeway monstrosity what my neighborhood needs? I kind of don’t think so.

How does this project fit in with the problems we have right now? how does it address the frequent gridlock at Calif and Admiral? I think it makes it worse.

Could we mandate they make paking available for patrons of businesses outside of their private complex in exchange for eliminationg the gridlock enhancing spots on Admiral outside of the dry cleanser and the Atomic Boys store? Probably not. Development doesn’t exist for the betterment of the community; it exists to line the developer’s pockets.

How would it fit in with a potential extension of light rail to W.Sea? Where will I get my Christmas tree when this development in in place? Will the businesses I currently enjoy (Bike and Board, Evergreen Tang Soo Do, Revolution Coffee, Atomic Boys, etc) be priced out of the neighborhood?

Heaven forefend we stand in the way of a developer’s property rights, but Oy! – sometimes enough’s enough, no?

admiralgirl November 5, 2009 (10:10 am)

JAT – As someone who lives across the street from that Safeway, I can definitely agree with you. It is going to make the traffic in the neighborhood WAY WORSE than it already is and I’m not sure plopping down a mega-development in that seemingly small space is a great idea. That being said, that may be the crappiest Safeway I have been to in quite a long time and it most definitely needs a big revamp.

mark November 5, 2009 (11:01 am)

I also live close to and shop at (when I have to) the Safeway. I love what they are doing to an otherwise wasted space. I think anytime you improve a neighborhood you are adding value. Are there negatives? Of course there are, but the positives will far outweigh the negatives over time. I only wish in the meantime they were better partners with the community. When I walk to the store there is just a ton of trash (I suspect from the HS kids walking to and from) on and around the property. Oh, and please, anything but another Starbucks……

big gulps,eh? well, see ya later. November 5, 2009 (11:21 am)

It doesn’t seem too mega to me, and I actually think the scale fits the neighborhood. I didn’t actually realize there was an alley to vacate. I guess they are talking the strip of blacktop between the other two strips of blacktop on the south side?
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I don’t think traffic will increase much considering they are putting in 40ish apartments. I guess there could be some traffic increase because folks might come because the experience will be better. Doesn’t the rooftop parking adequately address the parking issue?
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Overall, the current site is terrible. It is an expanse of unused blacktop to the south (unless you count the 3 weeks of Christmas tree sales). The California facing wall looks like the outside of a prison. The north parking lot is another expanse of heat sink with no pedestrian corridor. I see this project as benefit to our community vs. the current site, and I commend Safeway for making the investment given the current financial climate. I don’t think they actually need to do anything to retain their current customer base.

Diane November 5, 2009 (11:22 am)

JAT and admiralgirl; have you attended any of the design reviews to share your comments, and/or send them to dept planning/devel, where they can make a difference?
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the 2nd design review for Safeway was about 2 weeks ago, public comments were acknowledged by design review board as highly valuable and appreciated; if you did not attend, watch wsblog for next design review, show up, see the entire picture, and make comments
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too few actually show up during design process to offer commentary; then many complain later about not liking what is built; participate and make a difference!
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some of us do not like the parking on the roof, want more green on roof, and most of us want more pedestrian activity, with doors opening onto California, and we have said so at the reviews; so now Safeway has to come back for another review

admiralgirl November 5, 2009 (11:33 am)

I wasn’t “complaining” per se, I was just saying I see what they meant about this big thing landing in our neighborhood. I’m honestly looking forward to seeing how it turns out and am interested in the new apartments that will be there. I’m not in any way an avid reader of this site, so I didn’t know about design review board meetings.

Diane November 5, 2009 (12:23 pm)

hi admiralgirl; your comments are valid and welcomed, but may have more impact if you take them to the design review board where they are heard directly
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I’ve been in WS 10 yrs and just learned about these DRB meetings 2 yrs ago; it’s a great way to be involved, make a difference, especially if you care, as you do, about how our communities are built
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TR/westseattleblog makes it super easy to follow, get all the info about meetings; they always give us ample notice, and excellent detailed reports after, so when you go, you can fully pay attention

big gulps,eh? well, see ya later. November 5, 2009 (1:32 pm)

A green roof incorporated into an awning type structure over the parking seems like a great idea.

sun*e November 6, 2009 (10:22 am)

I think the design/development looks great and as far as creating green space on the roof, I like big gulps idea.

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It always really irritates me when people complain after the fact. If the design/development is important to you then get involved and make yourself heard, otherwise try to see the positive in what you weren’t willing to change.

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This Safeway is my favorite store to do most of my grocery shopping. Everyone there is helpful and friendly. I’m so glad that they are updating it… it really obviously needs it and I’m sure the employees will appreciate it as well.

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Can’t wait to shop at the new digs… thanks Safeway!

jellyfish November 19, 2009 (4:18 pm)

It seems like a great way to use up the current wasted space. The Safeway now there is ugly, and the Chase has an unwieldy parking area; the parking lot could very well be under a new Safeway building. An upscaled Safeway will bring more customer exposure to the surrounding small businesses. West Seattle needs this kind of improvement, in my opinion.

Sorry, comment time is over.