Official name announced as DESC Delridge project nears opening

(WSB photo, added 2:56 pm)
The biggest nonprofit project under construction in West Seattle right now, DESC‘s 66-unit Delridge Supportive Housing building at 5444 Delridge Way SW (map), has an official name: Cottage Grove. It was announced at this week’s meeting of the project’s advisory committee, and was among the names suggested by community members; committee co-chair Pete Spalding notes that it’s the historic name of that area of North Delridge. We asked DESC’s Nicole Macri about the current timetable for the $14 million project’s completion:

We’re aiming to open the third week of December. We will host a daytime grand opening event and an early-evening open house one day prior to tenants moving in. Neighbors are welcome to attend either event, but the latter is specifically intended as an opportunity for neighbors to see the building and meet the staff.

The advisory committee also will meet again before the opening; the meeting is currently scheduled for November 20th. It’s been almost two and a half years since word of the project first emerged at a North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting; construction began just over a year ago. Our coverage along the way is all archived, newest-to-oldest, here.

Hoppy Daze November 1, 2013 (1:36 pm)

So let me get this straight, DESC has decided to hijack the name of the neighborhood that there facility is in and take it as their own without attaching a modifier, like house. As a resident of Cottage Grove, I find this is outright offensive. Do they have no shame?

This is as ridiculous as naming this building (or any other building in the neighborhood) Seattle, West Seattle or Delridge.

WSB November 1, 2013 (1:42 pm)

I did ask specifically, just Cottage Grove, not Cottage Grove Housing or Cottage Grove Center, etc.? and the reply was indeed, just Cottage Grove. – TR

Del Martini November 2, 2013 (2:30 pm)

They have no shame Happy Daze. They are angels, and as I recall, were going to be helping to stabilize the neighborhood. Yeah, right. I wonder if they will have an open bar and keg of beer at the open house? Can I pick up my heroin in the back? Do I go to the creek to get my meth? Mr. Singh at the Super TwoFour is excited as hell about the business he will be doing selling beer and wine to the tenants.

M. November 3, 2013 (12:03 am)

Agree with you, Hoppy.
What’s the point of naming that building?
More importantly, please make the address numbers large and easily readable from the street.
So many houses and buildings fail at this.

Hoppy Daze November 4, 2013 (11:43 am)

DESC decision to names its Delridge building Cottage Grove, the same name as the hosting community is very puzzling and I can’t shake my ill feelings about this. While I consider myself pretty well versed in social norms, I never realized this naming convention was acceptable. Does anyone know of any other examples of this? I would be interested to know.

Personally, I was hoping DESC would name the build the “Deodar House” after the lovely cedar tree that they protected from the bulldozer during construction and now is the centerpiece of the courtyard. It would be fitting; being what DESCs mission is and all. Guess that would have been too sensible.

WSB November 4, 2013 (11:56 am)

You probably know this already but their other facility names are listed here:
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http://www.desc.org/housing.html

Tanya Baer November 4, 2013 (12:55 pm)

At the DESC Advisory Committee mtg. last week, I requested that DESC modify the building’s name to Cottage Grove House. Most of their other buildings use the word house as a modifier.
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In our neighborhood, we have:
Cottage Grove Apartments
Cottage Grove Mart
Cottage Grove Park
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And what will be ‘The Second Annual Cottage Grove Solstice Parade’ this December.
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Cottage Grove is a neighborhood. We are working hard to build up community pride. Others have named their establishments accordingly. Hopefully DESC will do the same.
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I am waiting for a response to my request.
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Tanya Baer November 8, 2013 (11:34 pm)

DESC’s Executive Director told me he will present neighbors’ concern about the bldg. name to his board at their meeting next week.
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I am unclear if the DESC board understood that ‘Cottage Grove’ is the neighborhood name when they initially selected (and announced) the building’s name.
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It’s also worth mentioning that there is some confusion as to whether the Advisory Committee for this project was recommending the name “Cottage Grove” or “Cottage Grove House (or similar).” It is worth getting the recommendation clarified.
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I hope any discussion about this issue can be kept focused on the ‘naming of a community bldg.’ and not about ill feelings about the organization or the people served.
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