Junction development updates: New crane; new townhomes

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

When West Seattle’s first big construction crane in years started taking shape on New Year’s Eve at Capco Plaza (along Alaska between 41st and 42nd), it was a big deal with reader photos and all sorts of hoopla. Today (photo above), we happened onto West Seattle’s SECOND big construction crane in years taking shape one block south at Mural (aka “the former Petco parking lot”) and while there were a few spectators, pretty much zero hoopla. (Although now we do recall a Harbor Properties exec saying at the West Seattle Chamber lunch the other day that excavation at the Mural site had almost “bottomed out.”) Anyway, for crane fans, we’re making note of the occasion; here’s another pic:

We were actually in The Junction to take a look at this site on the SW corner of 41st and Edmunds (kitty-corner from the south side of Jefferson Square):

An application’s just been filed this week to tear down that house and build a 5-unit townhouse project.

PrayingMan-tis-i February 15, 2008 (12:50 pm)

Hate all this construction and high density living stuff. We will soon be overcrowded with nowhere to go. At least until Contractor X comes by to buy your house and our bright mayor decides to rezone everything else. I’d like to know where families are supposed to live? Oh well, who cares?

k February 15, 2008 (12:52 pm)

just got back from safeway up there. my advice is to steer clear of the mess up there. it makes the already nightmarish jefferson square parking lot an even worse ordeal. ugh.

AlkiMac February 15, 2008 (1:13 pm)

Yeah, I made a stop this morning at the West Seattle Animal Hospital in Jefferson Square. There is no on-street parking on 42nd SW. I had to park a block away. Traffic was light at the time, yet still all messed up. Ugh is right…

RPH February 15, 2008 (2:05 pm)

When we moved to West Seattle last summer, one of its noticeable, attractive qualities was its absence of cranes, which we were glad to be escaping from around our old, lower Queen Anne condo. Let’s just hope we don’t see too many more, which is probably inescapable. It was fun while it lasted.

Teresa P February 15, 2008 (2:58 pm)

STOP!!!!!!!!!

West Seattle is starting to look like Bellevue, also known as condo world.

Sad, sad, sad.

Jen V. February 15, 2008 (3:32 pm)

Let’s build a high rise and cram even MORE people into an already over-crowded area! Oh well, at least they will have plenty of choices for grocery stores nearby, right? ;)

Iridius February 15, 2008 (4:13 pm)

Did anyone look at the base of the crane? It doesn’t look very safe… It’s one of those weighted down deals, which I just don’t trust… paranoia perhaps?

Todd February 15, 2008 (4:23 pm)

I love that people feel the way I do about over crowding and all that goes with it.

Rick February 15, 2008 (4:30 pm)

Aaahhh! When you keep putting more rats in the box they eventually turn on each other. Guess that’s just human (and rat) nature. Sigh

Alcina February 15, 2008 (4:55 pm)

Has anyone else noticed that in Mayor Nickels’ immediate neighborhood in WS they don’t seem to be tearing down houses and building townhomes?

WSB February 15, 2008 (5:44 pm)

Actually, along the nearest major arterial, California, in North Admiral, there has been quite a lot of townhouse development. One of the projects we’ve chronicled was California/Seattle —
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=1584

JenV February 15, 2008 (5:46 pm)

Iridius- my BF operates a crane downtown and he assures me that the crane as it is set up is perfectly safe as long as the ground stays stable.
/still not gonna park under it… ;)

Praying Man-tis-i February 15, 2008 (6:13 pm)

So, how many of you buy into the notion that if they build the transit, they will ride it? There are so many one-passenger cars on the WS bridge that all I can do is sigh. I wonder out loud; What would it take for people to leave their cars at home? MAny don’t work in the immediate downtown area, so traveling by vehicle makes some sense, but even then, why won’t people ride Metro or Sound Transit? Does anyone here drive to a job near by, and if so, what would it take you to try another means of transportation?

JanS February 15, 2008 (6:14 pm)

for those going to appt.s in the Jefferson Square office building. There is free parking underground and an elevator at the north end into the building. You’d have to maneuver the restricted traffic on 42nd SW to enter…I’m not sure if there’s still an entrance on 42st SW or not. There are booths for parking lot attendants…but it really is free…

JanS February 15, 2008 (9:25 pm)

Praying Man-tis-i…….I work at home here in WS, so your question really doesn’t pertain to me, but…I have some medical conditions that require that I have fairly regular dr. visits, mostly on pill hill, but sometimes at Univ. Hospital. I don’t have time to transfer two or three times, take an hour to an hour and a half each way, for a doc appt. that may take 1/2 to one hour. I work…I’m not a person of leisure, even if I do work at home. I see clients on a regular basis, so time is important. So..I drive my car…one person, one car. Is it ideal? Of course not…but until this city recognizes that some of us don’t go anywhere near downtown, but do go to other areas from West Seattle, then that’s the way it has to be…

miws February 15, 2008 (9:55 pm)

Yer right, Rick!

That’s probably why there’s so much anger in today’s society. Everybody’s crammed into cars jammed up in trafic, they’re crammed into small condos/apts.

Although I’m in an apartment, I’m lucky that I get along with my neighbors.

Heck, even though I’ve lived here just under eight years, it seems I’ve known some of my neighbors for like twenty years or so!

Mike

Eaglelover February 16, 2008 (12:04 pm)

Sad to see overdevelopment here, there should be neighborhoods that are zoned for certain sized buildings (small) and others that are ok, like belltown. Anyone check out ballard lately? yuk

Praying Man-tis-i February 16, 2008 (2:05 pm)

JanS – There will always be exceptions to many things, and this is one of them. It’s quite obvious that your overall situation calls that you commute as you do. I was more curious to know about those who have the choice to either driver or have an alternate means of transportation. Out of curiosity, would there be something that could be done which you’d find ideal to your specific situation? I only ask because you made the statement, “until this city recognizes that some of us donâ€™t go anywhere near downtown, but do go to other areas from West Seattle”.

LA in the Junction February 16, 2008 (2:20 pm)

STOP THE MADNESS! I live in the Junction in one of the last houses on a block zoned multi-family, and one by one our neighbors have been picked off and big ugly boxy condos or townhomes built in their place. And now we can barely even get to Safeway, the vet, or the drug store in Jefferson Square — and I mean on foot, for goodness’ sake. Welcome to the Big Dig. We’re doomed.

BGH February 16, 2008 (4:41 pm)

I think it should be catty corner or katty corner
NOT kitty corner.
The word comes from cater-cornered which means diagonal across. From Webster’s Dictionary

WSB February 16, 2008 (4:58 pm)

We aren’t 100% perfect but we have been the style-guide keepers every place we’ve worked so you won’t find many style, grammar, spelling errors on this site – at least in the copy we write. Kitty-corner is indeed one of the standard variants.
http://www.bartleby.com/68/25/3525.html

Robert February 29, 2008 (10:48 am)

I’m a rare breed in this area; a Washington native, for 50 years, no less. I’ve been all around this beautiful state and realize alot of its wonder. That being said, if you have a problem with others coming to this state for employment, retirement, educational opportunites or for whatever reason; ask yourself how you came to this area, and have YOU not been part of this growth? Most of my friends and acquaintenances are NOT from here, and ironically enough, need shelter, food, clothing, supporting services etc. Naturally as growth occurs within an area, real estate development, which follows land-use patterns, supply and demand, other several other factors, ensues. If you have a problem with density issues and how growth is mandated, blame the government for its Growth Management Act. By the way, I just walked the streets of Tampa with my son in college, I loved it. A month ago, I walked the streets of Lyon and Paris, France. I loved it. I hiked Mt. Si last Saturday. I loved it. Get out and breathe and let out the angst. It’s a beautiful, vibrant, growing city in which we live. Embrace some beauty. Merci’

Jeff in Arbor Heights July 31, 2008 (8:14 pm)

So I’d like to know how “WE THE PEOPLE” CAN RALLY TO STOP THIS MADNESS ?? Before it’s too late. It’s already almost too late.
So to all the brilliant people who care only of money. Where will all the cars go? HEY MAYOR (or?) PLEASE PUT A STOP TO THIS MADNESS.
one car pretty much per unit…. times how many new units in west Seattle.
The beautiful, quite, simple West Seattle is being ruined. WE MUST STOP THIS NOW…
I have lived here for almost 14 years now and I’m feeling like moving if this keeps up.
WE ALL NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW. I say hold a meeting to share ideas at a church or public place. People interested in this please send me an e-mail and I will set it up. We could post flyer’s and use Craigslist to help our cause.
PEACE
hotrod325@yahoo.com (WEST SEATTLE in subject line)

Jeff in Arbor Heights August 1, 2008 (8:50 pm)

Yep, Ballard is a joke….so sad.
A lot of one person vehicles still contain energy conscious drivers. I do not drive much and I do make up for my footprint in many other ways.

HEY BUILDERS GO AWAY AND LEAVE US ALONE. WE’D LOVE TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES IN PLEASANT SURROUNDINGS, NOT CHAOS.
If only our voices could amount to something. We have to DO something. IDEA’S ANYONE ?
Complaining just goes no where unfortunately. We must join together.
Peace
hotrod325@yahoo.com (west seattle in subject line)

Sorry, comment time is over.