West Seattle development: Today’s teardown, and other updates

| Development | West Seattle news

Less than 24 hours after our last development roundup, we have more to tell you about. First, another example of the premise for our headline on Sunday’s story: Thanks to Jonathan French for the photo of today’s teardown, the 72-year-old multiplexes on the northwest corner of California/Andover. We’ve written about them before, most recently last July, when the demolition-permit application turned up; the city’s online files indicate they are to be replaced with a 4-unit rowhouse, 2-unit townhouse, and 3 single-family homes.

ALSO ON CALIFORNIA SW: As formally announced in today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, “streamlined design review” is ahead for two smaller-scale projects to replace 60+-year-old commercial buildings on the west side of the “upzoned” block of California SW between Hanford and Hinds. This means public comment is allowed but there won’t be public meetings. The first notice is for a “4-story building with 2 live/work units and 4 residential units [2, 2-unit townhouses] with 4 parking spaces” at 3219 California SW; the second notice, for 3221 California SW next door, is for “2, 4-story buildings, 1 containing 2 live/work units and 2 residential townhouse units and the other structure containing 4 residential townhouse units. Parking for 4 vehicles to be provided at grade.” Deadline for comments on either or both: January 18th.

LOT-SPLIT PROPOSED IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: This also is from the LUIB – 10030 31st SW is proposed to be split into two lots, with the city notation that the existing house will remain.

HOUSE PLANNED BY THISTLE STAIRWAY: A sloping lot on the south side of the top of the fabled SW Thistle stairway – second-longest in the city – has a new development proposal for a single-family house.

The plan for 4355 SW Thistle just emerged in the city system over the past week, with site photos added today. Those who exercise on the stairway might find it a busy spot at some point this year, since, as reported here back in October, there’s also a proposal right across the street to tear down one house and build two at 4316 SW Thistle, both with “accessory dwelling units.”

City files show the lot split enabling that proposal was approved a month ago. (Thistle photos added 4 pm)

NEXT PHASE FOR THE WHITTAKER: A quick note on West Seattle’s biggest development project – a spokesperson for The Whittaker says “mass excavation and drilling for the shoring piles will begin” at the 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW site this week.

Peter January 5, 2015 (3:48 pm)

Good news about the Whittaker. I’ve had enough of the decaying vacant lots dragging down my property value. There are also several othe sites in the Triangle area that are ripe for development. Hopefully the Spruce and Whittaker projects will attract more development in the area.

BOB January 5, 2015 (5:21 pm)

Let’s hope the new development is just as UGLY as all the other stuff they’ve been throwing up. We should at least have consistency!

Rika January 5, 2015 (7:05 pm)

Gross. Thank goodness im moving out of west Seattle. Congested with condos, and money hungry developers!

Cecil Duwammer January 5, 2015 (7:43 pm)

Keep griping, BOB. Whatever it looks like, it’ll be less UGLY than the vacant dump that sits there now! Let’s just hope someone is brave enough to develop the rest of the corridor!!! The whole strip from the bridge to the Whittaker is so run down, it pains me PHYSICALLY to look at it every day!

wsn00b January 5, 2015 (11:01 pm)

@Cecil: +1. From the weed-lined run up to the 35th/Fauntleroy intersection; broken/rutted/potholed road surfaces, sketchy teriyaki abandoned lot, and a whole bunch of run-down lots (except maybe 2 or 3 decent ones), this entrance to West Seattle is one of the least inspiring area portals. The city has some plans for the Fauntleroy “Boulevard” http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/fauntleroywyswblvd.htm
but the whole place needs some spiffing up with new buildings/businesses.

West Sea Neighbor January 6, 2015 (9:34 am)

Puget Sound Business Journal reported yesterday that the Whittaker project has been financed, which is why they are finally able to begin construction. Full article here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2015/01/with-financing-from-gid-construction-finally.html

JoAnne January 6, 2015 (11:11 am)

As if more density here is going to increase anyone’s property value. How about some full disclosure from those with a vested interested in development.

thistle stairs January 6, 2015 (12:30 pm)

The place where they want to build at the top of the stairs is an 8 foot by 8 foot square and a cliff. We laughed ourselves silly when we saw the real estate sign that said “land for sale” because what they have is “Air above landslide debris for sale”.

John January 6, 2015 (1:43 pm)

thistle stairs,
Yes, it is a challenging and costly parcel to build on.
But, laugh yourself silly again when a house appears there to take in the incredible views.
And please don’t dump on our hillsides.

Lori January 6, 2015 (2:03 pm)

When I left for work yesterday those duplexes were there and when I came back home at 3pm, they were gone! They went down quickly.

David January 6, 2015 (3:43 pm)

As a neighbor of that building I am happy to see it go – it was an eyesore – no matter what the new building looks like it will be better. I believe that one of the tenants of the building just torn down was storing used police cars all over the neighborhood which oddly enough seems to have stopped recently. Not often that we see two birds killed with one stone. Win-win.

wakeflood January 6, 2015 (4:14 pm)

People should be aware what the “accessory dwelling unit” designation can mean.

It means that the owner can house up to 8 non-relatives in any form or fashion (read boarding house) as long as the owners stay on the property 6 mos. of the year.

They could board folks as a halfway house, drug/alcohol rehab housing, etc.

This effectively bypasses the “single family” designation. It’s a loophole and the city seemingly isn’t interested in closing it.

Keep your eyes peeled for much more of this.

John January 6, 2015 (7:20 pm)

“Accessory dwelling unit” aka backyard cottage is not a boarding house.
“wakeflood” is extrapolating the ADU classification into something theoretically possible but highly unlikely.
The limitations on ownership are such that the owner must maintain primary residence at the location and cannot to sell to anyone without a similar agreement being passed down.
If it is a loophole please cite the type of misuse charged?