Harbor Avenue around the northeastern edge of the WS peninsula will be in for big changes if either or both of two ambitious ideas presented at last night’s Alki Community Council meeting become reality. It was emphasized that the two plans are not officially linked — but they have undeniable “synergy.” They involve land adjacent to, and east of, what many describe as West Seattle’s “secret gem,” Jack Block Park.
First: The Pier 1/2 concept for a new Water Taxi dock. It’s an unofficial proposal but may be gaining steam, since most would agree the Water Taxi can’t stay at Seacrest forever (among other things, the parking crunch is just too ridiculous). Pier 1/2 is Port of Seattle property adjacent to Jack Block Park. Much more on this and the other proposal, after the click …
West Seattle architect Vlad Oustimovitch outlined the Pier 1/2 “concept” to the ACC, explaining there would be room for 500 cars to park, not just enhancing its potential as a Water Taxi site, but also as someplace where Alki weekend overflow parking could go, with shuttle buses taking visitors to the beach.
Rough estimates are that it might cost as little as $2 million to transform into the Water Taxi’s new home. Not coincidentally, that’s about how much James Bush from King County Councilmember Dow Constantine’s office says is available for the project right now; Bush also told the ACC that an informal feasibility review will be under way in the next 6 weeks or so.
The crowd had lots of questions, which, as they were cautioned, are somewhat premature, since this is just a concept that’s being floated before any sort of official proposal is made. But on the surface, it appears to have lots of potential, including, as described at the meeting, increased JB Park usage by people going to and from the Water Taxi.
Key points of the concept could include:
*a floating dock that could accommodate two passenger ferries
*a new vehicle entrance at Harbor/Florida for both the park and the Water Taxi terminal
*hopes that increased park usage would support a cafe and maybe even bicycle rental
Meeting attendees asked who they could contact to express support for the concept. Bush didn’t have a clear answer for that one, but suggested Port of Seattle leadership as well as King County leadership (Executive’s office, etc., since the Water Taxi is run by Metro, aka the county), even the City of Seattle. We’ll keep watch on this.
Now, right next to all that, could be project #2 — one that the Jack Block Park namesake himself showed up last night to help promote. The Port has to decide the future of a 24-acre industrial parcel south of Harbor/Florida known as the “CEM site” — will it hold boat storage, or a development featuring “workforce” housing and “urban amenities”? Block and an architect team from Mithun showed huge drawings of what that development might look like. (We have a message out to Mithun asking if we can get copies to share with you; no word back yet.)
The drawings were beautiful and utopian, of course, as such things usually are; the concept included a gradual transition from the Harbor Ave/Admiral downslope greenbelt to this development, and even included water features that have something to do with “zero discharge” and storm-water management. The housing units would be owned, not rented, though the land itself would remain under Port ownership, under a longterm lease; the project presenters said the length of the lease would determine how many units there would be.
We’re still working to find out the next step in decisionmaking for this project vs. its reported rival. More to come!
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