Video: Homes torn down at West Seattle Junction development site

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Two days after the “no parking” signs went up and the construction fence was pushed out to the street – as reported here Tuesday – demolition has begun at the Junction site of the mixed-use development Oregon 42, along the east side of 42nd SW, south of SW Oregon. One of the three houses on the site was already down by the time Christopher Boffoli took his first photos today; two more will be demolished.

The site originally held a fourth home, but it was moved to a new location in a much-chronicled overnight operation two years ago (this development has been in the works for four years). When we talked to Oregon 42’s San Diego-based developers two weeks ago, after the first round of fencing went up, they told us they expected to move right into excavation and construction after demolition, with the building expected to take almost a year and a half to complete.

ADDED 11:40 AM: Christopher’s video from this morning:

The three homes, by the way, were almost a century old – King County records say the northernmost one was built in 1914, the house next door in 1915, and the one south of that, in 1913. Some materials had been salvaged before demolition; we saw a Second Use crew at the site before the fencing first went up in mid-May.

18 Replies to "Video: Homes torn down at West Seattle Junction development site"

  • CB May 31, 2012 (9:12 am)

    Cue the hater comments.

  • NotMe May 31, 2012 (9:51 am)

    Sweet. A new hole in the ground.

  • JSW May 31, 2012 (10:13 am)

    I hear the Rocksport is the next place to be demolished for “progress” sake…

    • WSB May 31, 2012 (10:42 am)

      It’s part of the Conner/Equity Residential site, and they told us in January that construction would start before the year’s out.
      .
      (note – this is in reference to the Rocksport comment – another comment appeared inbetween while I was writing it – TR)

  • A lover not a hater May 31, 2012 (10:24 am)

    Would I be a hater if I say I love that white house? A shame that houses with character like that have to come down….(please no comments on how poor of condition it is in. That would just ruin the image for me…)

  • Anne May 31, 2012 (10:45 am)

    Well-according to the last sentence in the story the developers plan to move right into excavation & construction as soon as the demolition ends. I think excavation usually includes a hole in the ground until construction starts. I will take the developers at their word-hopefully not regret it.

    • WSB May 31, 2012 (10:55 am)

      Anne – if you meant my preceding comment, it was in reference to the comment about the Rocksport – THAT site is owned by Equity (formerly owned by Conner Homes) and that is supposed to start before year’s end … thanks! – TR

  • Aman May 31, 2012 (11:11 am)

    I LIKE the fact jobs are being created. Want less crime & more prosperity? Put people to work.

  • Dave May 31, 2012 (12:38 pm)

    “Progress” is anything that changes for YOU. The fact that the entire city developed from a wild forest to a populated major city is OK because that happened BEFORE you were born. No one in Seattle just wants anything to change from when THEY were 13 years old. All changes before THAT were ok. The fact that old growth forest had to be plowed under to make room for these two nice “white houses” was ok I guess. Just don’t tear down these two white houses to build one apartment. That’s the kind of “progress” we just can’t stand. We want sprawl, endless environmentally degrading destructive damaging sprawl where everyone gets a McMansion and 3.5 acres. But putting 200 people in one building on .5 acre!? Crazy!! :)

  • Tony S May 31, 2012 (12:55 pm)

    I don’t stand in the way of reasonable, well thought and designed development. SO this is not a hater comment.

    I just find it very sad and poignent when “nice” houses like this finally reach the end of the line. At some point someone was proud and happy to own her, or the person that designed and built her must have looked at her when they completed the build and thought what a nice house she must be.

    This block almost screams for the kind of development that is going there, so once again, I get it. It’s still just a bit sad.

  • Kelly May 31, 2012 (1:02 pm)

    My 1913 home in Westwood was listed as a tear-down in 1943. I haven’t counted how many earthquakes it survived in that time but with a new structural upgrade two weeks ago she’ll be standing well past her 100th birthday.
    .
    Jobs are critical, but building salvage actually creates more jobs than demolition. Too bad all of the homes couldn’t have been moved/saved but at least Second Use got in there for a few things. I bet there’d be a lot of interest in a blog article about building materials salvage around the neighborhood. We could certainly use some good news.

  • WSratsinacage May 31, 2012 (1:39 pm)

    Thankfully one house was moved from this block to the Admiral area. Can’t recall all of the details but of course WSB covered it. It was quite a project a couple of years ago.

    • WSB May 31, 2012 (1:48 pm)

      Rats, that’s mentioned in the story, and the link goes to our coverage of the move.

  • Andrew May 31, 2012 (4:14 pm)

    Those were pretty neat looking houses :(

  • Sophista-tiki May 31, 2012 (4:16 pm)

    RIP the single family home, YAY cram more people into an already sufficently poplulated space. You think this kind of progress is great now, just wait until all those people start getting on each others nerves because they cant turn around without getting farted on!

  • cj May 31, 2012 (7:50 pm)

    Weird cause just about everything there is residential, rezoning? Nice homey street with families last time I saw it.

  • Diane May 31, 2012 (11:32 pm)

    such a shame to see these wonderful old homes destroyed; I go often to see the house that was moved; it’s gorgeous, and will now likely last another 100 yrs; too bad these other 3 homes could not also be saved

  • cathy June 3, 2012 (5:38 pm)

    I grew up in one of the houses that was destroyed. Very sad day for us to see the houses go. Lots of wonderful memories. My father was there watching, he’s at the beginining of the viedo taking pictures.

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