West Seattle development: First look at proposed CVS drugstore, with Design Review debut set next month

| Development | West Seattle news

The first Design Review date is set for the CVS drugstore project at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW. We broke the news of the proposal a year and a half ago; after the initial “site plan” filing, it sat dormant for a while. Then back in December, we talked to a CVS rep who said the project was proceeding but not expected to open this year. Now, it’s on the way to Design Review – tentatively set for a March 19th meeting – and the packet just turned up online. Above is the site layout described as the one preferred by the project team (while not labeled as such, the top square labeled “parking” is the Les Schwab lot, not part of the CVS plan). The project now has two numbers and addresses in the city system, one for the building and west parking at 4722 Fauntleroy Way, one for additional parking off the alley, at 4721 38th SW. Here’s the packet currently in the city system (keep in mind, it might be revised before the meeting next month):

The packet put together by architects Schemata Workshop describes the proposal as “a single-story CVS retail building with a pharmacy and a loading mezzanine. The project will include parking and a drive-through for the pharmacy. Loading will be accommodated in the alley.” That’s the alley east of the 4700 block of Fauntleroy, where the drugstore is planned to replace the building that currently houses West Seattle Produce and the consignment store Suite Arrangements. While the site is primarily zoned for development up to 85 feet high, the packet notes that there is a covenant for no building higher than 30 feet. It also notes that the land is being leased, not bought. The Design Review schedule says this project will take up both potential meeting slots on March 19th, starting at 6:30 pm.

SIDE NOTE: If you missed the earlier coverage, the West Seattle plan is part of CVS’s expansion into this state; it has stores open now in Burien and Renton, and others planned in Seattle including Wallingford and lower Queen Anne – some of those designs are shown in the packet you can browse above.

Joe Szilagyi February 5, 2015 (3:04 pm)

Maybe it’s time we fight like hell for MINIMUM height requirements in some areas. You don’t want this? Appeal to City Council TODAY for emergency legislation to ban single or double story commercial construction in important areas like this. When you fight against density it opens the door to garbage like this.

SecretSuperHeroGrrrl February 5, 2015 (3:11 pm)

Has anyone heard the plan for West Seattle Produce?

quiz February 5, 2015 (3:16 pm)

What a waste of space.

AmandaKH February 5, 2015 (3:17 pm)

Wondering about all the parking space. Is that really necessary?

ws gal February 5, 2015 (3:21 pm)

Joe is right! This is awful and this goes completely against what the WS triangle plan called for! Did they even read it? No, not this.

Tiffany February 5, 2015 (3:22 pm)

So the CVS is taking over the building that houses West Seattle Produce and the Consignment place? :( I love that produce place and since I don’t, and wont, shop at Trader Joes or the Whole Foods when its built, that possibility makes me so sad.

S February 5, 2015 (4:00 pm)

Don’t like it? Then don’t shop there and it will go away. That’s my plan anyway.

Seattlite February 5, 2015 (4:05 pm)

The surface parking lots are on prime real estate. Seems like WS is getting slammed with one overdevelopment debacle after another.

Lonnie February 5, 2015 (4:06 pm)

Enough is enough!!!!!!!!!!

Toby Thaler February 5, 2015 (4:12 pm)

“When you fight against density it opens the door to garbage like this.”

Please don’t demonize. I don’t know anyone who opposes requiring minimum heights in urban villages. Far better to put new housing on top of these suburban style buildings than spreading it out into the lower density, further from transit neighborhoods. Go even further; prohibit acres of open parking in urban villages; it has to be built over with commercial or residential space. And if it’s not in an urban village, add it as part of comp plan update.

Peter L. February 5, 2015 (4:17 pm)

This is absolutely terrible. I live one block from away from this site. What we need and want is a dense, walkable neighborhood. What they’re offering is a sea of surface parking and a drive through that encourages pollution and endangers pedestrians. This is wrong for my neighborhood. This is wrong for West Seattle. This is wrong for the environment and the planet. This is not at all acceptable.

The big irony is that CVS stopped selling tobacco because they’re a “health” company. Well now this “health” company is promoting sedentary lifestyles, increased pollution, and a hazard to walking. Sheer hypocrisy. Shame on CVS. Be assured that if this is built (and I will fight it) and I need to go to a drugstore, I’ll be walking right past this piece of filth on my way to Bartell’s.

Sue February 5, 2015 (4:17 pm)

So, when developments go up with no parking, everyone gets upset that there’s no plan for parking and that there’s not enough street parking to accommodate everyone. But when this development makes plans for parking, now people are upset that they’re taking up space for parking. ???

flimflam February 5, 2015 (4:20 pm)

it seems a planned CVS venture in Wallingford isn’t being met by much enthusiasm from the community either…

WSB February 5, 2015 (4:34 pm)

FlimFlam, we noted this in the early going but there was a lot of community pushback to original plans for the lower Queen Anne & Wallingford stores, with some dramatic changes made. In this case, the developers have been meeting with members of the Junction Neighborhood Organization – we mentioned this in our last update; the packet notes 3 meetings and more ahead – so even in advance of the Design Review meeting, anyone interested/concerned could plug in with them. I don’t have the date for JuNO’s next meeting but the general mailbox is wsjuno@yahoo.com – TR

JayDee February 5, 2015 (4:24 pm)

Isn’t this underdevelopment? A single story bldg, or close to it? First, I hate it because I love West Seattle Produce. Second, I hate it because do we really need another drugstore/pharmacy (QFC, Safeway, Bartells, Pharmaca,and Rite Aid) in the same general area. Does Whole Foods have pharmacies?

HungryKids February 5, 2015 (4:46 pm)

It looks like they are projecting that pedestrians will cross mid-block between their building and the Whole Foods building. Isn’t this just about where Fauntleroy starts narrowing down from two lanes to one southbound? That already causes driver confusion and near misses. Now throw in some pedestrians trying to cross traffic and I fear we have a recipe for future tragedy.

WSB February 5, 2015 (4:53 pm)

Hungry, please look at the “packet” – that’s not a crossing, but rather described as something like an interaction of facades. Sorry, I should have anticipated that.

mtnpeak February 5, 2015 (5:16 pm)

WSB, I’m looking at page 26 in the packet, and it seems to me that the red arrows indicate “pedestrian circulation”, not an interaction of facades. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Oh now I see — the purple dashed arrow is the interaction of facades, but the red arrows do seem to indicate a pedestrian crossing in the middle of the block as HungryKids mentioned.

buttercup February 5, 2015 (5:16 pm)

I agree with Sue. No parkig,high buildings everyone complains. Now theres parking,less people and still people complain. West Seattle people are not the same as they were years 20 years ago.I’m more concerned about the mayor’s possibility of putting a homeless camp next to Westwood Village,High School and private homes.Ever been in a homeless camp? Go check some out and you might stop whining and look at the real dangers heading our way. Lots of places to put these camps rather than residential areas.

Paul G February 5, 2015 (5:20 pm)

Living in Burien now. We just got a CVS down the street from us on 160th and 1st ave.
We already have all the other drug store operations in very close proximity already so the last thing we needed was yet another drugstore. The site did need something new. They took out an old legacy tree that they could have worked around. They put in a huge barely being used parking lot in front. Probably 3/4 of the large lot is for parking and at most there is 8 or 10 cars at any one time. It is nuts. Make them justify the ridiculous oversized parking lot. I thought we were planning for more transit and less cars. We let developers put in housing with little or no parking, but a drug store with parking for at least 100 cars (Burien one)….the logic escapes me.

JeffK February 5, 2015 (5:29 pm)

This is a terrible use of the property on the main arterial in to WS.

morgan February 5, 2015 (5:46 pm)

Prediction: CVS makes Nice addition to the Whittaker area complex. Finally forces the Ride Aid on California to close. Then the former Ride Aid location is developed with something better. We progress, we improve as a West Seattle Community.

ws shopper February 5, 2015 (6:05 pm)

I like it. I hope CVS begins construction soon on that under-utilized lot. The paucity of parking does seem to hurt Trader Joes. Although once LA Fitness opens, parking there will be more difficult.

NW February 5, 2015 (6:28 pm)

Lets not forget another major national aswell as international retailer that opened near West Seattle along Delridge next to Home Depot within the last two years. I happen to shop there.

Julie February 5, 2015 (7:29 pm)

This will be my chosen drugstore until any of the others stops selling tobacco.

Vincent Dakotah Langley February 5, 2015 (8:35 pm)

…I guess that, at this point in time, I just don’t much care what the real estate developers do with either side of Fauntleroy Way, S.W. anymore, between Alaska Street, S.W. and Edmunds Street, S.W. We’ve lived immediately to the sough of this one-block stretch of Fauntleroy Way, S.W. for 15 years now. And — especially as physically-challenged people in the first place — we are basically afraid to even go outside, anywhere near to Fauntleroy Way, S.W. !!! This is because the traffic out there on that street, particularly the southbound traffic, comes by our place just off from the southwest corner of Fauntleroy Way, S.W. and S.W. Edmunds Street at about 50MPH to maybe 75MPH or so!!! It’s all of the people in their motor vehicles who are headed on down to catch that ferry from West Seattle over to Vashon Island, at the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock. There are NEVER police out here on Fauntleroy Way, S.W., patrolling for speeders. People in all of that motor vehicle traffic speeding down the above-mentioned block of Fauntleroy Way, S.W. are simply going way, way too fast as they pass by this area, for it to matter at all, as to WHAT goes into this one block’s distance of Fauntleroy Way, S.W. It DOESN’T matter whether it is The Whittaker, the Whole Foods grocery store inside of The Whittaker complex, the CVS drug store planned for across the street from The Whittaker, Etc., etc., etc., simply because all of that motor vehicle traffic out here on the street, Fauntleroy Way, S.W., is all going by way, way too fast — as I just said, above — for ANYBODY driving ANY ONE OF TOSE MOTOR VEHICLES to actually stop, FOR ANYTHING AT ALL, be it a Whole Foods grocery store, a CVS drug store, or, WHATEVER!!!!!!! This would be A REALLY BAD PLACE TO TRY, ANYWAY, TO DO ANY BUSINESS AT ALL, along that one block section of Fauntleroy Way, S.W. mentioned above — period!!! Oh, and, we have been pedestrians for all of our lives, as neither one of us can operate a motor vehicle for medical reasons. (We’ve never even owned a motor vehicle.) As for any talk about a crosswalk for pedestrians to get back-and-forth, across Fauntleroy Way, S.W., between S.W. Alaska Street to the north or S.W. Edmunds Street to the south, I’d say, FORGET IT!!! I think that really very unfortunate and also really very sad incidences have happened down on Delridge Way, S.W., that prove that people driving motor vehicles basically just DO NOT slow down or stop for ANYTHING when they are driving out on the public roads — and that INCLUDES, unfortunately-but-of-course, pedestrians who are in crosswalks, walking across the street — NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE!!!!!!! If that proposed crosswalk is EVER put up here on Fauntleroy Way, S.W. as there is new real estate development on both sides of this street, all that we are going to have up here on Fauntleroy Way, S.W., then, is the same very unfortunate and very sad set of circumstances, (pedestrian(s) vs. motor vehicle(s), that unfortunately occur elsewhere — in every town and city in America!!! …As we ALL know, in this day and age, most-all of those motor vehicle drivers who hit a pedestrian with their motor vehicle out on the public roads, they DON’T even stop, they just keep going, instead! Thus, yes, t becomes a “hit-and-run” situation — but, worse than that, they did not even stop to possibly render and aid to the person or persons that they hit!!! The first thing that NEEDS to be done up here on this stretch of Fauntleroy Way, S.W. is that ALL of the motor vehicle traffic that runs up-and-down this public roadway out here HAS TO BE SLOWED WAY, WAY DOWN!!!!!!! –(If that, in itself, could EVER actually be done!!! LOL HaHaHaHa!!!)

trickycoolj February 5, 2015 (8:53 pm)

Here’s hoping for a drugstore that I won’t get mugged at (Walgreens), that doesn’t have a layer of dust on everything suggesting its near or past expiration (Rite Aid), and isn’t so over capacity that it takes more than a day for a prescription refill (Bartell). I actually heard the pharmacist at Bartell’s tell a woman it would be the next day before a woman’s prescription would be filled the neighborhood population has grown so much. Like it or not we need more pharmacy capacity. And create some freaking incentive for Walgreens and Rite Aid to clean up.

wetone February 5, 2015 (8:57 pm)

Why should property owners be denied for underbuilding one’s own property ? Residential area behind project does not mind as they will still have sunlight to enjoy and grow things, how about you ? or maybe you don’t have time or space and want to deny them of doing so ? Seattle’s not looking so green anymore when one looks out their window and see’s one looking back from 25′ or spends 2hrs a day for a 5 mile commute. How many of you people complaining own property in WS or any other place? Why don’t you people complaining about this project focus on transportation and infrastructure issues first or is that to much common sense…….Funny how nobody complains about the single story building there now.

WSince86 February 5, 2015 (9:57 pm)

Buttercup and Wetone – I couldn’t agree with you more! Enough with the complaining, people. Make up your mind about SOMETHING and stick to it. Is it really so terrible to have a one story building WITH parking? OMG!!! Another pharmacy ??? That’s the worst thing happening around here?
I happen to like Rite Aid. I get my prescription filled quickly and truly, I like being able to park and shop without having to drive in circles to find a place to park or deal with that gawd awful Jefferson Square lot. Give it a try, the time you save may be enough for you to ponder and enjoy the greater things in life.

G February 5, 2015 (10:21 pm)

When it comes to drugstores, choice is a very good thing.

MH February 5, 2015 (10:30 pm)

The Wallingford neighborhood fought like hell to get CVS to increase density at the former Tully’s coffee space they took over on 45th. The city council tried to enact emergency legislation to ensure the best interest of Urban Villages. Here is Link: http://council.seattle.gov/2013/11/07/cvs-redesigning-pharmacies-in-uptown-and-wallingford/

I can’t understand why the owner of this property would basically turn their back on the West Seattle community and put in crappy use like this. Another corner Pharmacy is the last thing we need/want and moves WS further toward suburban chains abound – Yuck. CVS sorry, but go back to Midwest you’re eroding our beloved neighborhood character.

Eddie February 5, 2015 (10:40 pm)

Move to Shorewood.

K February 6, 2015 (1:06 am)

The last thing West Seattle needs is ANOTHER drug store. I am baffled– we have a Rite Aid, Walgreens, and two Bartells, all in the neighborhood. How much of the crap in those stores do we really need anyhow?

I would love to see the space used for something to either create more of a community, or to just add more character to the neighborhood. A CVS is totally lame.

Diane February 6, 2015 (1:58 am)

don’t forget the pharmacies also inside QFC & Safeways

Wsrez February 6, 2015 (6:07 am)

CVS is the best pharmacy around! It was my family drugstore on the east coast, Im delighted. Great sales, excellent choices for environment conscious consumers (they are the only retailer who sells my biodegradable diapers which I have to purchase online) and their pharmacy rocks. People are never happy with any decision- Fauntleroy looks like hell now, any change is good in my opinion.

CandrewB February 6, 2015 (7:44 am)

The Rite Aid is not my favorite but I go there all the time. Cheapest prices on every-day beer and wine as well as the best parking lot in West Seattle; plenty of spots and easy-in/easy-out. Even has a view of the Sound. I know I am not alone in this.

datamuse February 6, 2015 (8:04 am)

Never thought I’d see West Seattleites complaining about too MUCH parking.

Rick February 6, 2015 (8:11 am)

Well, at least it’s not ANOTHER pizza place. They don’t sell pizza, do they?

Roger February 6, 2015 (8:42 am)

Really need West Seattle Produce to stay open, even if they have to move. That place is a godsend.

McFail February 6, 2015 (8:43 am)

Well if the self crowned “Getting it Right of West Seattle” group hasn’t responded then CVS must be getting it right…

schwaggy February 6, 2015 (9:16 am)

I don’t think most of you are ‘getting’ what the major complaints are for this CVS. I think for most, the CVS itself is fine. What we don’t want to see is a SINGLE STORY business take up such a prime piece of real estate. Yes, it may seem contradictory to the mainstream complaints about development in other parts of West Seattle, but for this particular location build tall! Put condos or apartments or more retail above this space and it would be better. Why waste a good lot on one short, single-tennant space.

Tom February 6, 2015 (11:46 am)

Put the CVS parking underground and expand the plaza area to include many shade trees and benches.
Maybe a pizza concession? (just kidding)!
Anyway, a pocket park or some green space would be nice for a change.

Les February 6, 2015 (12:43 pm)

Welcome CVS I for one want you in West Seattle and I will be one of your new customer as soon as you open.I love lots of free parking just please don’t make all the parking space small like Jefferson Square where I refuse to shop because of the poor design and small parking spaces.

D February 6, 2015 (12:48 pm)

@Tom I completely agree about the pocket park idea! I think they should really look to beautify the area more so. Even better how about a pocket dog park for all the pet friendly buildings? I’m sure that would be much appreciated!
So I take it the pawn shop still gets to stay then? It’s always an interesting place of comings and goings.
Nothing against the CVS but this does look just plain ugly. The community and local government spent so much time back and forth about the design and entrance to “the triangle” that I can’t believe that they would want to have such a simplistic building and parking lot right across the street. Does not make any community planning sense in my opinion.

natinstl February 6, 2015 (1:04 pm)

CandrewB-I like Rite Aid too, I find myself running in there all the time. I like the employees there and it is great for picking up wine. Being on California it’s one of the easier pharmacies to get in and out of. I could care less about CVS one way or the other, I’m just sad to see the produce and consignment store both displaced.

ely February 6, 2015 (1:06 pm)

More impervious surface is NOT what we need – it runs into our already overflowing CSO’s and into Puget Sound – usually untreated. And I do not want the Rite Aid to close on California – it will just become another shadowy high rise condo only the rich can afford blocking the remaining PUBLIC views of the Sound and Olympics. I enjoy walking around our neighborhood and being able to see the sites. If that Rite Aid did close THAT would be a great place for park! It’s an amazing spot and could be a small oasis on that stretch of California that is so depressing right now (except for WS Nursery – love them). In any event, all of these developments should think about making the spaces people-friendly – inviting architecture, large, wide sidewalks, keeping views for EVERYONE, installing trees, green spaces, using pervious surfaces, bioswales, etc. They could do this WHILE maximizing profits if they took the time and hired decent designers AND consulted the neighborhood. Hope the Junction association does not back down and is thinking about these issues…

patrick February 6, 2015 (1:08 pm)

Not sure how I feel abou this project but there sure are a number of commentors who do. One point, there are a lot of complaints about “under-development” but in the article, there is mention of a covenant. Can WSB give us a bit more on this? Sounds like there is a limit of 30 feet (essentially 2-3 stories max). Going for 85′ probably would make the project profitable but 2-3 stories? Probably not. As for all that parking, I guess I could see the point even when you take out the Les Schwab parking (probably would have helped if that lot had been identified in the visual as Les Schwab parking). Have to evaluate the capacity of those two remaining lots.

Diane February 6, 2015 (1:41 pm)

@Wsrez; funny; I heard from a friend last night who moved here from NYC 10+ yrs ago, and knows CVS well, that it’s most hated pharmacy around

Diane February 6, 2015 (1:42 pm)

I would also like to know more about the 30 foot covenant

WSB February 6, 2015 (1:58 pm)

I hadn’t heard about it before finding it on this early edition of the EDG “packet.” Looking back in another part of the city files, we find a bit of elaboration in the “pre-submittal conference notes” – download and see for yourself here http://web6.seattle.gov/dpd/edms/GetDocument.aspx?src=EDMS&id=2130176 – I also stand corrected re: an earlier comment; there is a drawing in this doc that notes the midblock crossing is a future feature mentioned in an official city plan (we’ll see how that turns out at Design Review). Anyway, the direct quote is “The pharmacy will be on a ground lease, and the property has a covenant placed on it by the owner that does not allow buildings on the site to exceed 30′ in height. The proposed project will therefore be less than or equal to 30′ in height.”

G February 6, 2015 (1:53 pm)

With the clamoring for parks, you’d think we were living in a concrete jungle. Jeez, really? West Seattle practically is one beautiful park. Schmitz, Lincoln, Camp Long, the golf course, Me Kwa Mooks, Hamilton viewpoint, Alki Beach, Hiawatha, ample greenbelt space, etc, etc. Heck, simply looking across Puget Sound at the Olympics is almost enough to soothe the soul.

Rick February 6, 2015 (2:22 pm)

Oh gosh, I’ve been here for 45-100 years. And It’s always about the money. Screw everything else.

pjmanley February 6, 2015 (9:32 pm)

Rick for the win!

Alphonse February 6, 2015 (11:47 pm)

@Les – I hope you got your Duck boat back safely after the Seahawks parade last year. Because, otherwise, I can’t imagine what you drive that the Jefferson Square parking lot doesn’t accommodate.

jwright February 7, 2015 (4:02 am)

I am ambivalent about CVS coming but it is just kind of sad to have this aesthetically unfortunate design planned for the gateway to West Seattle.

heather February 7, 2015 (10:24 am)

I agree with @Tom. Underground parking, a pocket park, smaller retail venues. And KEEP the produce market – it’s a neighborhood favorite. There IS a difference in designing for a “suburban mall” (large swaths of ground level parking or above ground parking complexes) or a growing in density urban neighborhood (primarily underground parking w/ some above ground) mainly due to the potential rental income.

heather February 7, 2015 (10:27 am)

And @Ely – great comment and ideas!

ben February 8, 2015 (10:57 pm)

I’m late to this party but wonder why people complain about our neighborhood and I’ve never heard one person say “I’m going to buy that and make the neighborhood better”. there are dozens of spots on California that can be rented to start a business in or to buy and convert to a park or left empty to enjoy the view. Who on this thread is talking about doing something? I cant afford to buy property and make it a dog park for everyone to enjoy nor do I want to start a hip shop that gives you that small town feel. want change? open your checkbook, get the neighborhood to fund something otherwise stop complaining.

Vincent Dakotah Langley February 11, 2015 (3:47 am)

…Open what checkbook? If I had an income at all, maybe then I’d have a checkbook. But I don’t have anything like that now — either an income or a checkbook! …This bad economy… [Grin!]

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