Public meeting announced for project across from Alki Elementary

| Development | West Seattle news

We last mentioned this Alki project at 59th/Stevens when reporting on SDOT signage-prep work in the neighborhood two weeks ago. The house on the property where that sign is on display, an 83-year-old home purchased for $795,000 last year by Cobb Construction, is proposed for teardown, to be replaced on the 7,770-square-foot lot by two single-family homes and one three-unit townhouse. The public meeting just announced for May 22 (Admiral library branch, 6:30 pm) is “to gather comments on the project.” Most projects this size don’t get this type of public review; we called the planner assigned to the project, Janet Wright, who explained it’s the result of a petition signed by more than 50 neighbors, linked to the fact the project requires SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review because it’s proposing 5 units on a lot that normally could ot have more than four. P.S. Two people have now pointed out, this site is listed for sale – $1,000,000.

Jaime Gummer May 1, 2008 (4:40 pm)

There is no better example than Cobb Construction as a construction company that pollutes West Seattle with bland, cookie-cutter, Faux-Craftsman townhouses. Last time I checked they had Better Business Bureau complaints against them from people who had the misfortune of buying their townhouses. Most companies will try to remedy such complaints. They seem to choose to just ignore them.
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Living in a neighborhood where they have just completed a multi-unit townhouse build a few doors down I can also tell you that they don’t seem to show a great deal of concern for neighbors. They did nothing to mitigate noise complaints and often wouldn’t even call back when messages were left. And I’m not even talking about construction noise that at least has a purpose. The problem was their contractors who worked all day with their radios blaring in a tightly packed residential neighborhood.
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Prior to that build Cobb had low rent tenants in the property who provided them income in the year between when they acquired the property and when they tore the old house down to build the townhouses. Those tenants had pit bulls that barked loudly at all hours. And the residents had teenaged sons who boomed up and down the street constantly in their janky tuner cars with 150 decibel mufflers. Those complaints were ignored too. The people at Cobb were the worst kind of absentee landlords.
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I feel sorry for the folks who live around an upcoming Cobb build. Cobb Construction seems to prioritize their own convenience and profit over their responsibility to the community, their customers and the neighborhoods where they work.

AMDG May 1, 2008 (5:53 pm)

You all know that this property is for sale again right? MLS # 28072852

Tim McMonigle May 1, 2008 (6:53 pm)

There’s a house across the street from my house that was bought by Cobb last summer. It is an obvious teardown, and they told us they were going to build (I told them I didn’t want any skinny houses in my neighborhood). Well, a for sale sign went up a couple weeks ago.

I’m wondering if they’re trying to sell it as is. Maybe they’re just trying to get rid of some of their inventory?

I had to mow the grass a few times because it was looking pretty trashy.

nants May 1, 2008 (7:29 pm)

I will be at this meeting….this house is not teardown material…it is, at least on the outside, in good shape. Also the lot does seem awfully small for all of those bldgs. I would love to sign the petition…can I do it online or who can I contact to add my name?

AlkiNeighborhood May 1, 2008 (9:15 pm)

To all visitors/attendees of the Alki Playground, Alki Playfield, Alki Community Center and Alki Elementary: Please submit your comments on this proposal either on this website or to prc@seattle.gov or jwright@reidmiddleton.com. This proposal as it is written violates many parts of Seattle’s Municipal Code 25.05.675. To look at the code online, To find the code online, http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/code1.htm, type in 25.05.675 in Code Section Number, click on Submit Query.

For anyone who uses or will use any of the field facilities or school facilities, know that the height, bulk and scale of this project will cast significant shadows on these public spaces (specifically *against* code). Also know that the height, bulk and scale will cause significant impact to sight and visibility lines for both pedestrians and car drivers who walk/drive along the south, west and east side of this lot – which is the northwest corner of an already congested and dangerous intersection. Please consider attending this meeting and if you can’t to send in any comments you may have.

WSB May 2, 2008 (12:35 am)

AMDG – someone else e-mailed us about that and we are adding to the post, thanks.

Nants – your best bet is probably to contact planner Janet Wright, whose contact info you will find if you click on the link behind “two single-family homes and …” in the post above – that takes you to the city project page.

GenHillOne May 2, 2008 (8:16 am)

We knew the family that lived here and didn’t know they moved/sold. 1 – no, it’s a bigger lot, but all of those buildings in that space would be ridiculous 2 – unless they became cat hoarders in the last couple of years or something, doubtful, not a teardown property 3 – glad they got $795K for it, but ticks me off that Cobb could turn around and get a million. Nice…

beachdrivegirl May 2, 2008 (9:00 am)

What a great way to see a neighborhood come together! i love the fact that the neighbors came together, petitioned, and at least are getting soem face time on something they dont want in their neighborhood.

beachdrivegirl May 2, 2008 (9:06 am)

On Cobbs defense. I lived in a neighborhood that had three different town home projects, by three different builders, about a year ago. Cobb construction was the only one out of the three that actually did an alright job, didnt over crowd their space, and the houses seemed more quality than the others. they sold the fastest and have not been resold which is not the case for the other townhome construction project. I understand that townhomes are not always the right fit for a neighborhood, but out of the builders that build townhomes Cobb is of a bit higher quality from what I have seen and heard.

Pookie May 2, 2008 (3:58 pm)

Cobb was the worst type of absentee landlord for a property they owned and eventually redeveloped near the Bubbles on Delridge Way. Cobb had tenants whose dog was so poorly cared for that it took a well respected animal rescue agency to threaten the public release of photographs of the abused dog before Cobb upheld the No Pet clause in the lease they had with the tenants. This threat forced Cobb to allow the animal rescue group to come in and remove the poor dog and place it in a decent home. Cobb could have put a stop to it in a moment but they pushed it off on the neighborhood and the animal rescue people to solve what should have been their responsibility. Gary Cobb Construction, not very respectable in my book.

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