West Seattle development: Design Reviews ahead for High Point, North Admiral projects; other WS notes

We’ve been overdue for a development/construction update – so here are some notes, starting with the next two Southwest Design Review Board meetings:

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(Added: WSB photo)

6058 35TH SW: This will be the third Design Review for the two-building proposal at High Point’s last remaining major corner, 35th and Graham. Currently it’s described as “two 4-story structures, one containing 61 residential units above 5,533 sq. ft. of commercial space and one containing 41 residential units above 4,612 sq. ft. of commercial space. Parking for 109 vehicles to be provided in a below-grade garage.” (Links to last year’s June and September meeting reports are here.) The review is set for 6:30 pm April 7th at the Sisson Building/Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon).

1606 CALIFORNIA SW: Two years after the first Design Review meeting for this 3-story, 16-apartment, 24-offstreet-parking-space project replacing a smaller multifamily building in North Admiral, it’s going back to the SWDRB at 6:30 pm April 21st, also at the Sisson Building, in what could be its final review, as it moved on to the “recommendation” phase after the 2014 meeting (see the official city report here).

Also from the development/construction/land-use files:

‘STREAMLINED DESIGN REVIEW’ FOR 1714 CALIFORNIA SW: Also in North Admiral, this 4-unit residential proposal is up for “streamlined design review,” which means no public meeting (despite what this city webpage would suggest), but you can send comments to the assigned planner, at magda.hogness@seattle.gov.

‘STREAMLINED DR’ AHEAD FOR NEW PROPOSAL AT 5448 DELRIDGE WAY: “Streamlined design review” also is ahead for a new, denser proposal for this site just south of the Cottage Grove Commons complex, described on the city website as:

Demolish existing house. Remove exceptional trees and replace canopy as needed. Construct four-story building at west side of site containing two commercial spaces at ground level and two dwellings above. Construct three-story building at east side of site containing two townhomes and four parking spaces off of alley.

Watch for the formal comment-period notice.

‘STREAMLINED DR’ FOR 5224 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: And one more “streamlined design review” plan has turned up in the city files – 5224 Fauntleroy Way SW, replacing a single-family house with five townhouses. This, too, is early stage, so watch for the comment period to be announced.

TOWNHOUSES AT 4311 SW BRANDON: An early-stage proposal for 4311 SW Brandon (across Brandon from West Seattle Nursery) would replace a single-family house with four townhouses.

OTHER DEMOLITION PERMITS/APPLICATIONS: Recent addresses on the demolition-permit list, in various application stages (could even be gone already), include these single-family houses:
3700 37th SW
3021 61st SW
3519 SW 97th
5940 21st SW
2161 Harbor SW
4817 38th SW
4823 38th SW
2211 41st SW

15 Replies to "West Seattle development: Design Reviews ahead for High Point, North Admiral projects; other WS notes"

  • heather March 15, 2016 (12:01 pm)

    Thank you for this WSB.

  • Trickycoolj March 15, 2016 (12:03 pm)

    Wouldn’t it be nice if they held the review for the High Point lot in the High Point community in say Neighborhood House or the Community Center? Considering half the neighborhood is low income and transit to the junction is not frequent. But hey wouldn’t want the people in the neighborhood who have been wanting a grocery store or any businesses for a decade to easily provide input. 

  • Deb March 15, 2016 (12:08 pm)

    TR – With the notices of new projects, also relevant to this topic is your recent article of the  proposed changes to the Design Review program. You noted: If the changes are finalized, they could mean fewer public meetings, as the threshold would be raised for what makes a project eligible for a full review by one of the city’s Design Review Boards.

    It is important for everyone to know that  “Revised thresholds” means that there will be a lot more administrative review and fewer public meetings.

    Deb 

  • rpo March 15, 2016 (12:50 pm)

    Any updates on 4700 SW Admiral?  There are homeless people living inside the building ,and quite a few windows are now broken.  It’s looking worse and worse.  I wish they would just level it even if construction of the new building was delayed.

    • WSB March 15, 2016 (1:13 pm)

      RPO, there was an update when Community Police Team Officer Flores briefed the Admiral Neighborhood Association last week, a story I am hoping to finally finish and publish this afternoon. Basically, the site owners have now given SPD permission to “trespass” (cite and boot) anyone found on the property (signs are posted on the fence, or at least were when we went by the other day). But they also were expecting demolition soon. I am checking directly with Aegis if they have any updates on that – TR

      • rpo March 15, 2016 (1:25 pm)

        Well, that’s a good start!  The front door was missing as of a week ago, so anyone could just walk right on in.  I saw someone carry a sink out recently too!

  • LivesInWS March 15, 2016 (8:07 pm)

    Too bad about the “removal of exceptional trees.” 

  • Diane March 15, 2016 (10:33 pm)

    came home today to 2 more neighborhood houses being demolished on my street, neither listed above; one is 2 houses north of NE corner 37th & Hinds; the other is about half block south of same corner; another at SE corner 37th & Manning was demolished last week; it seems to be everywhere and never ending

  • Diane March 15, 2016 (10:37 pm)

    ok, the one at 3700 37th Ave SW is corner 37th/Manning; already gone

    • WSB March 15, 2016 (10:47 pm)

      Re: not listed above, what we listed are just entries from the past couple weeks in terms of city action or filing, no relation necessarily to when the demolition happened or will happen. Sometimes permits are granted months before the actual teardown; sometimes barely a day.

  • John March 15, 2016 (11:57 pm)

    Re: 3700 37th Ave SW.

    The city and county websites indicate that the couple who own the property and live there are rebuilding their home.  

    DPD shows active permits for demolition down to the original foundation.

    Judging from the Assessor’s photo, the old house appeared to be unremarkable in style or quality  and inexpensive when first developed.  It is hard to object to people revitalizing their homes.

  • MsD March 16, 2016 (12:04 am)

    Maybe we need to start a “Vancouver Vanishes” site for West Seattle.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-vanishes-book-laments-demolition-of-character-homes-1.3330369

  • John March 16, 2016 (8:28 am)

    Building mediaVanished?

  • anonyme April 3, 2016 (9:18 am)

    What’s the point of having a tree designated as “exceptional” if you’re just going to bulldoze it anyway?  The idea is that exceptional trees are to be preserved.  One more meaningless statute to be ignored at the whim of developers.  Is it any wonder why the Admiral gang just assumed they could clearcut trees wherever they chose?

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