West Seattle development: Ex-Charlestown Café; 23rd/Findlay houses

Two West Seattle development-related notes today:

CALIFORNIA/CHARLESTOWN: Thanks to those who messaged us to say crews are on site at the former Charlestown Café site again today, continuing deconstruction work that started last week. No heavy equipment on site at last check – this part of the work is being done by hand – but we’re checking with developer Intracorp to see about the timetable for full demolition of the four-years-vacant building, which has been ravaged by tagging/graffiti vandalism at an increasing pace. A 27-unit complex, split between townhouses and live-work units, is planned; we noted its land-use-approval decision four weeks ago. ADDED 1:03 PM: Dan Swallow from Intracorp replied to our question: “Current activity is abatement. Actual demo and heavy equipment will be end of April/early May.”

HOUSES ON SLOPES: Today’s Land Use Information Bulletin has two notices for single-family houses proposed in the 5400 block of 23rd SW (map). The notices are out because, the city says, building on these sites would require a variance of the city’s Environmentally Critical Area rules regarding “steep slope buffers,” and each one says, “This comment period may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of this proposal.” The notice for 5462 23rd SW is here; for 5456 23rd SW, here. The comment period is open for two weeks, until April 19th.

6 Replies to "West Seattle development: Ex-Charlestown Café; 23rd/Findlay houses"

  • Colleen April 6, 2015 (12:11 pm)

    It doesn’t look like it was reported here, but the old dentist across the street from the Cafe has a sign for a Daycare/school coming soon

    • WSB April 6, 2015 (1:02 pm)

      Yes; in fact, the school is a new WSB sponsor. Not open yet but we’ll have a story about it soon. Meantime, I’ve heard back from Intracorp, and this is abatement work – demolition is still a few weeks off – adding the update to the story. – TR

  • Diane April 6, 2015 (11:50 pm)

    I’ve been meaning to ask if you noticed child care signs at dentist office

  • Diane April 7, 2015 (12:03 am)

    and yeh, very different from deconstruction where they get to pull out all kinds of cool stuff; in this pic, where they’re covered in protective suits, they’re dealing with nasty toxic stuff; neighbors should be warned; that poisonous stuff goes airborne, in micro-particles; I got sick last year from demo of 100yr old house to my west; then again after demo of 100yr old house to my north past few weeks; not sure why workers wear haz-mat suits, but neighbors not warned to take precautions; if you breathe that stuff in, you can get really ill with scary symptoms

  • John April 7, 2015 (8:56 am)

    It appears from the photo that the workers in white suits are removing old composition roofing which the builder had tested at a lab for asbestos.
    Asbestos once common in old homes was commonly present in composition roofing, heating systems, insulation, pipe wraps and the ubiquitous ‘popcorn ceilings’ of the late mid-century.

    Brakes for cars and trucks were once a prime source of asbestos in the air.

  • Neighbor April 13, 2015 (2:55 pm)

    Does anyone know when the Spruce (mainly the LA Fitness) is going to open?

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