“Whole Foods project” groundbreaking, and what else is up tonight

(new Fauntleroy Place rendering added 11 am, just sent by Eric Radovich of BlueStar, click image to see full-size version)
We’ve already spotlighted two of tonight’s big West Seattle, or West Seattle-relevant, events — the Parks Board meeting with an agenda including “car-free day(s) at Alki” and “beach-fire-ban briefing,” as well as the Design Review Board meeting for 3811 California (and its acclaimed new design) and 4532 42nd SW — Also happening tonight, the groundbreaking party for Fauntleroy Place, popularly known as “the Whole Foods project”; developers BlueStar invite everyone to the event, with food, entertainment, and the official shovel-turning, 5:30-7 pm at 39th/Alaska (King County Councilmember Dow Constantine, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce executive director Patti Mullen, and West Seattle Junction Association president Dave Montoure are expected) — that’s the Schuck/Hancock site, if you still can’t place it:

BlueStar says FP completion is expected in February 2010. Also tonight, two graduations — West Seattle High School at Memorial Stadium (Seattle Center) at 5 pm and Seattle Lutheran High School at 7:30 pm — and the monthly West Seattle Second Thursday Art Walk (Google map of venues just added to its website). Looking further ahead? The WSB list of West Seattle events already stretches into next year.

Tim McMonigle June 12, 2008 (10:37 am)

I heard a clip from Rush Limbaugh about the beach fire ban/global warming debacle and railed at the city council for even considering the idea, so now it has national exposure.

I sure hope they got the message that this is a ridiculous idea, and that they will decide to focus on the hard solutions that will actually make a difference.

WSB June 12, 2008 (10:59 am)

The day we reported it last week, Drudge (the best national-news favorite aggregator regardless of what you think about the site operator’s politics) linked to one of the citywide media stories about it, and it caught fire, so to speak, from there. That’s why we’re going to tonight’s Parks Board meeting (along with covering most of the other events listed above) – to report back on exactly what is said and what is supposed to happen (or not happen) next.

B June 12, 2008 (11:18 am)

WSB – Where did you get the rendering for the Whole Foods?

WSB June 12, 2008 (11:20 am)

As captioned, it was just sent by Eric Radovich at BlueStar, literally moments ago. We have a followup question out to him about it, too.

charlabob June 12, 2008 (11:24 am)

If Rush and Drudge are opposed to it …. well, say no more :-)

Jeremiah June 12, 2008 (11:24 am)

I get a kick out of seeing these renderings. Notice there is rarely a car in them.
With all of the new residences being added in the next couple of years to the near blocks, and no additional traffic infrastructure planned, this will be a parking lot.
Certainly not a place where a couple can just stroll on across Fauntleroy to Whole Foods.

Quiz June 12, 2008 (11:40 am)

Looks nice :)

B June 12, 2008 (12:45 pm)

Pretty major departure from the original design:

http://www.bluestarmi.com/commercial/projects/fauntleroy.asp

Tim Howard June 12, 2008 (12:53 pm)

Hey Tim McMonigle! ;-> On a whim, while looking for old (prior to recent updates) Whale Tail Park pictures, I came across this section of the WSB and see your name at the top of the comments list. Long time my friend and it’s great to see you’re still in West Seattle. Email me (timothyshoward0717@hotmail.com).

I went to the comments list to publish a comment regarding the destruction of the old Hancock Fabrics building. When I noticed that the ‘Fauntleroy Place’ is to be that of the Hancock Fabrics building some real sadness tore through me somewhat.

Hancock Fabrics made up the entire building that is now a share between Schucks and Hancocks. That store has some very fond memories for me as a very young child. My mother used to take my sister and I up to Hancocks from our house at the top of Jacobsen Rd. Back then, we walked to the store. It was fun walking up the hills to the Junction on the sidewalks which had the embedded paver steps. ;->

While my mother would shop for fabric, this is the very early 70s where families in West Seattle were still mom at home and dad at work and only one car, to make and mend clothes for our entire family, my sister and I would run in and out of the tall fabric hangers on the wall. We’d hide in them, etc.. Very VERY fond memories for me, a simpler time in life and in a much closer community. West Seattle was truly the “Wonder Years” back then.

I do understand that progress will be progress. Nothing seems to “stand” throughout the years anymore. You could say that this new development is another sad reminder to me of how far away those Wonder Years are…and that now, only in my memory, will I have the ability to “see” this place (Hancocks) and be reminded of those fond memories.

wundrgrrrl June 12, 2008 (1:05 pm)

I much prefer the original. The “new” rendering feels like a big wall or obtacle blocking you from entering the junction!

Peter June 12, 2008 (1:07 pm)

Schucks, I will miss you dearly, old friend.

PSPS June 12, 2008 (1:16 pm)

You’ve got to love those “artist’s renderings.” Notice that in fantasy land, there are no cars, no traffic signals, and people casually stroll across Fauntleroy.
.
Oh, and yes, we should all mold our thinking about things to conform to whatever Rush says. After all, who can argue with a drug addict who takes viagra along when he visits carribbean countries famous for their child prostitutes?

d June 12, 2008 (1:17 pm)

I definitely like the original better –

Karen June 12, 2008 (1:28 pm)

This is horrible! The other design at least gives something other than a brick wall. The new design almost jumps out and shouts at you.

changingtimes June 12, 2008 (1:53 pm)

im so excited for whole foods!!!
***jumping up and down***

Disappointed June 12, 2008 (3:03 pm)

I like the first design much better. This new design looks like something from the 1962 Seattle World Fair.

Diane June 12, 2008 (4:10 pm)

what happened to the design?
the original design that everyone was expecting is still shown on their website for Fauntleroy Place
I was really looking forward to this going up
now dismayed

Keith June 12, 2008 (4:24 pm)

The new design seems more reminiscent of the one that was ‘just to show massing’ than the original!

Eric June 12, 2008 (5:51 pm)

I’ll go tonight but I’ll be celebrating in the “Good Riddance Schuck’s” area. Hate to see more apartments in WS, but that store was the worst.

Worms Roxanne, I'm afraid of worms. June 12, 2008 (7:06 pm)

The comment by the BlueStar guy was interesting:

“If the members of BlueStar weren’t developers we we would have been pirates.”

eileen June 12, 2008 (7:50 pm)

The change in the design can be explained by a change in architects. SMR architects was the original (http://www.smrarchitects.com/) and the new architect is Collins Woerman (http://www.collinswoerman.com/homepage.htm). Check out their websites – it explains alot.

WSB June 12, 2008 (7:56 pm)

the WSB team member who was there in person (writeup and photos/video to come) said the Seafair Pirates made a guest appearance … was that remark in that context?

seattle golfer June 12, 2008 (9:20 pm)

Uh oh Eric Radovich,
Seems you have a miss fire here with the unvailing of a 70’s motif Safeway look alike at 11:00 am today as opposed to the subtle brick with Alaska street window shopping appeal you have promised for 22 months. Hope you can redeem your pirate ways when the petition hits your desk.

turbo June 12, 2008 (9:46 pm)

I agree w/Keith…..this does look an awful lot like the picture that generated heated discussion and was dismisssed by BlueStar as a “massing study”.

wundrgrrrl June 12, 2008 (9:57 pm)

aside from the blockade brick wall market, the condo’s/apartments are too reminiscent of the cheap 90’s cracker box construction mentality… “get it done quick, get it done cheap”.

ericak June 12, 2008 (10:22 pm)

I believe this ‘new’ design will have to go through design review. The last meeting that had been scheduled was cancelled in the midst of the change in architects.

I know the residents of this community will have plenty of feedback to give!

grr June 13, 2008 (10:16 am)

yeah..what happened? That original design is sooo nice!

Jill June 13, 2008 (11:16 am)

What is with this increasingly popular monstrosity approach of the new rendering? We’re not trying to fly in from 10,000 feet for god’s sake. No need to pound us with that god-awful wall.

And along the lines of what has already been said, yes, love the nice couple casually strolling across that serene intersection. LOL!

Diane June 13, 2008 (12:35 pm)

thanks to eileen for info on change of architects and urls

why in the world did they change?

SMR Architects does beautiful work; I love their dedication to historic preservation and green building, and the previous design for Fauntleroy Place

most of the projects listed under Collins Woerman look to be biotech and commercial; that does explain a lot about this just revealed, very unappealing rendering for our neighborhood retail and housing; this design would look fine in a high tech commercial area; but not as the entry to West Seattle

we did get one clue last night at the event, sounded like Whole Foods didnâ€™t like the original design and coerced a change???

Iâ€™m still begging any of these developers to get a Trader Joes in West Seattle; I have to drive 8 miles to either Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, or Burien every week or so for food shopping; it would be a dream to walk to my corner TJâ€™s and visit with neighbors

WSB June 13, 2008 (12:44 pm)

We reported the change earlier in the process. Will add the link to this comment when I find it. BlueStar explained at the time that it was a matter of one architect handling the first phase of the project, a second taking it the rest of the way. As for TJ’s, there seems little doubt one will eventually turn up in one of these projects but there reportedly are quite stringent requirements and expectations such as parking that come into play. (Added: We reported the architect change last December
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=4848
BlueStar said at the time the design wasn’t changing much.)