If you are going to The Junction for the Farmers’ Market (or anything else) today and have time to stroll a block east — check out how massive the excavation for the Capelouto megaproject (announced as Office Depot/QFC/apartments) has become (above photo was taken looking through the fence from the west side, along 42nd). Downtown, big digs like this are old hat, but in West Seattle, not so much.
anyone want to start a pool as to when Whole Foods says ‘nevermind’? IMVHO..they’ve dawdled and postponed (and/or got caught up in beaurcratic BS) for so long, that QFC came in and trumped them out of market share. There’s simply no need for ANOTHER huge grocery store in that neighborhood now.
now here’s an idea…Whole Foods backs out…Trader Joe’s likes the location….voila…happy neighborhood…hehehe.
Yes, I keep thinking that I know, obviously, that we LOVE to eat in West Seattle, but when is enough…well..enough?
From a construction perspective, this appears to be a great project. Regardless what will occupy the lot and regardless whatever public opinion says about the use of someone else’s property, the excavation, shoring and logistics in such a tight space is a thing of beauty. Impressive work that we have the opportunity to appreciate so closely.
Grr, in the year and a half or so we’ve been watching these projects (and some of them have been in the works for a lot longer), we’ve heard the “we heard store X has pulled out” rumor from a variety of people at least once a week regarding both Junction-area projects … and yet things carry on … nothing will be final, ultimately, of course, until and unless the stores actually open their doors. And all this reminds us it’s almost time to check with Trader Joe’s yet again for their official response to the “how about West Seattle? huh? huh?” question – last time we called to ask it, they said their real-estate team wouldn’t be making new-location recommendations until early ’08.
I’ve been impressed to watch how they built that retaining wall on at the back of the site. They assembled it in bands from the top down. Each time they’d complete a section they’d dig down another ten feet and continue building. Most of what they are trucking out of there is this really smooth, dark clay. I’m going to go over there and see if I can grab a few pounds (for sculpting) before they truck it all away.
Christopher – IF YOU REALLY want it, I am sure they would give 2,000 lbs of it, probably deliver it to your front yard. That garbage is ALL OVER Seattle – if you want, you can be prepared for every contractor/developer to put it YOUR frontyard.
BE VERY careful about what you might ask for, you may get it, and a WHOLE BUNCH OF IT.
Willow…it would probably save the contractor money and would unload it for free for you at you residence. But they are probably makeing money of under-earthed soil from the project that is..
grr, personally I don’t think of QFC and Whole Foods competing at all. I would go to QFC or another supermarket for day-to-day shopping, and to Whole Foods for speciality things I cannot get at the regular store. So I don’t think QFC’s presence will be a threat to them at all. I think it would be more of a threat to Jefferson Square’s Safeway which I loathe because of their parking lot – I’d drive another block to get to QFC instead.
I think the only store that should be concerned by Whole Foods is PCC. I definitely prefer Whole Foods, but aren’t always interested in driving to it if I need a handful of items I can get much closer at PCC. Once WF opens, I’ll likely never set foot in PCC again (especially since it will be close enough for me to walk to WF).
Jiggers – Believe me, I know that, but I have lived here way too long to even give them that option. I was addessing Christopher’s comments – you CAN have all of the clay you want – just give them your address, – hopefully, Jiggers, it will be your front yard.
Jiggers, own up, give them your address.
I think I somehow gave the developers the wrong message as they have already been depositing massive amounts of dust onto my car by way of dozens of dump trucks hauling material out of that site for the past couple of months.
Amazing as it is, I live in the Townhouse shown on the edge of that 60foot cliff. The daytime noise and dust has been ruthless, however the contractors have been great. They have done their best to mitigate the impact of this hole. I can’t wait for it to be finished though.
at this point, I’d rather see Trader Joes come in than Whole Foods. I’ll just go to the one downtown if there’s something I can only get there.
And I won’t go to the new QFC..just on principle.
at this point, I’d rather see Trader Joes come in than Whole Foods. I’ll just go to the one downtown if there’s something I can only get there.
And I won’t go to the new QFC..just on principle.
dave, just curious… why will your principles not allow you to shop at a new QFC?
Jonathan, nothing a year’s worth of groceries wouldn’t help, eh?
QFC Should be banned from playing music in their storeS, for one thing. The music they play their drives me out of that place faster than anything else.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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