Shoremont mystery

| Development | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

We’ve talked before about the teardown-to-townhouse plan for the 57th/Alki corner (across from Alki Automotive) now mostly occupied by the stately brick Shoremont Apartments (photo above). After WSB reader Fiona e-mailed to point out (thank you!) that the parcel suddenly turned up the other day listed for sale for $2.2 million, we published a post about it half an hour ago – then double checked the listing link – which originally had ad verbiage suggesting the project could proceed OR the apartments could stay (or some combination?) – but that link (as you’ll see if you click it) is suddenly no longer good; sometime in the past 24 hours or so, the listing went away. We’re looking to see if evidence of it is still out there somewhere (that’ll teach us, we need to get screen grabs of everything!), so far can’t find it. Sold, or “never mind”? Fascinating.

cami@alkinews.com October 17, 2007 (12:23 pm)

I just walked down (I’ve been meaning to do so) to the property. The house (on 57th) has a “yahoo” search for number of pru9t8u5 and the apt building on Alki has pru4q5a9. One leads to listing not found and the other leads to another property listed by Lorna Ava. I hope we have this fiqured out in time for the next Beacon!!!

atemybuick October 17, 2007 (12:35 pm)

Funny, the stucco house on 57th that sits right next to this apartment was breifly listed for sale as well. I think the price was around $850k. I still have the MLS number but the listing is gone. The house is personally owned by someone with the last name of Cobb and the property is owned by Cobb Construction.

A.A. October 17, 2007 (12:42 pm)

That is SUCH a beautiful building. I had a friend who lived there, and apparently the inside is a perfect example of all the best architecture of the time it was built. (I have not seen it, so this is hearsay) I would wonder if it couldn’t be afforded historical building status. Hope it stays intact.

WSB October 17, 2007 (1:03 pm)

Since the original post we have it on good authority from a reliable source that the Shoremont actually sold last week. Trying to confirm more details before adding it to the actual post. Now the question – will the new owner(s) go ahead with the townhouses, or preserve the building, maybe even condo-ize it?

Jan October 17, 2007 (3:27 pm)

hmmmm…Cobb Construction is local…wonder if they could give any info…

http://cobbconstruction.com/

jdp October 17, 2007 (4:42 pm)

Cobb- townhouses; need I say more.

Aidan Hadley October 17, 2007 (5:45 pm)

Cobb Construction = horrible, cookie-cutter, faux Craftsman plastic townhouses. These guys might be located in West Seattle but they are poster children for bad townhouse developers. They’re all about profit and have no interest in the neighborhoods where their projects are located. They recently bought a couple of houses on my block (quietly through one of their holding companies) and rented it out to the most horrible tenants. They didn’t even respond to any of the complaints about their tenants and the properties were carelessly maintained. Total eyesores. They also seem to ignore the complaints of their buyers too as they seem to have unresolved complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

GenHillOne October 17, 2007 (7:24 pm)

For any real estate gurus out there, I’ve been pondering two things – 1.One of the facts reported when talking “bubble burst” is the decline of new construction. I wondered if there was ever talk of an increase in home additions, remodels, recycle/reuse, etc. Do they track that? I don’t think I’ve ever heard that angle. 2.Anyone else hear Susie Orman go out of her way to say that Seattle was the best real estate market in the country (and a great investment) on The Today Show recently? Sort of flew in the face of the doom and gloom of declining new construction figures I just heard. Personally, I’m okay with less new construction; I’d even be okay with the Shoremont going condo if it means it will stay.

Jan October 18, 2007 (1:23 am)

GHO…while it’s nice to hear “good” things about Seattle, one certainly hopes that it doesn’t inspire yet more people to move to our fair city :) Maybe they should have pictures like the lonely person standing near Miss Liberty on a rainy day accompanying those stories to offset things :)

GenHillOne October 18, 2007 (8:00 am)

LOL Jan, I had the same thought at the time. Listen up America…it rains ALL the time here – floods, famine, and locusts aren’t far behind!

Christopher Boffoli October 18, 2007 (8:25 am)

Jan and GenHillOne you absolutely have the right idea! :-)

Along the same lines, I was kind of hoping someone would start a rumor that one of the bakers at Bakery Nouveau has some horrible contagious disease so that all of the tourists and “outlanders” would go away and leave me to eat my twice-baked almond croissant in peace.

Sorry, comment time is over.