See now what The Kenney will show design reviewers Thursday

| Development | Fauntleroy | The Kenney | West Seattle news

We’ve reported several times in the past two months about The Kenney‘s major redevelopment proposal (here’s our first in-depth report from August; here’s our coverage of last month’s community meeting), which has stirred some concern because one of the buildings is proposed to be six stories high. This Thursday night, it’s one of two projects going before the Southwest Design Review Board for “early design guidance,” and the city has posted the presentation submitted by The Kenney and its consultants. You can see the full 20-page presentation here (including side views of the three proposed alternatives); the third option is the one closest to what was presented at the community meeting, including a re-creation of part of its “park-like” northwestern corner:

The design-review meeting for The Kenney’s proposal is at 8 pm Thursday, in the Madison Middle School library, following reviewers’ 6:30 pm look at 4106 Delridge (5 stories of residential and retail; city project page here; that project’s presentation is not online yet – we’ll let you know when it turns up).

Vanessa October 21, 2008 (4:39 pm)

I for one am very concerned as to how the final project will affect the 3 residential streets and surrounding homes that border the Kinney. The entrance of the proposed underground parking structure will be located on 47th Ave SW (not on Fauntleroy) as well as the service entrance postioned on Othello. The change in traffic patterns will disturb an otherwise quiet gem of a street. Hey neighbors, are you concerned? Hopefully we’ll see you at the meeting this Thursday evening.

Westie October 21, 2008 (8:43 pm)

I think this proposal could be termed “making a sow’s ear out of a silk purse”. The original Kenney facility has been a community landmark since 1909, around which the residential neighborhood has grown. To consider demolishing it and replacing it with a structure as tall as the top of the cupola is probably the most vandalistic idea I have witnessed in WS.

Now I understand the community PR offensive that the Kenney has been undertaking for the past two years. It was all about this.

Pokey October 21, 2008 (9:15 pm)

I also urge anyone and everyone who shares the concerns of Vanessa and Wesite to show up at the meeting Thursday evening at Madison Middle School. NOW is the time to become active, not down the road when it may be too late.

Ben October 22, 2008 (11:31 am)

I for one think that option three would be the preferrable one. It seems to be the most architecturally appealing, and looks like it will try to serve the community by allowing neighbours to utilize the openspace. At least this way we can enjoy some greenery as opposed to completely enclosing it inside a doughnut shaped building that would look like an unbroken wall from the outside.

c October 22, 2008 (10:21 pm)

What about people? The administration at the Kenney has yet to explain in detail what happens to current residents…

WSB October 22, 2008 (10:25 pm)

Our stories have admittedly focused more on the project from the wider community perspective but I have heard the Kenney’s CEO say twice that nobody will have to move more than once. The folks who will be displaced from the structures on the north side of the current campus, for example, will be moved over to new digs on the south side, which will be built first (after demolition of the residences that The Kenney has purchased on that side).

neighbor October 23, 2008 (11:05 pm)

Seriously 3 extra stories is absurd in this neighborhood. There is no midrise anywhere near there. This is going to be a massive bulky eyesore. Leaving “open space” for the neighborhood is pure BS. Lincoln Park is a block away, who needs the Kinney’s “open space”. This is a total scam and a slap to the rules the rest of us have to follow if we would like to expand our homes in the neighborhood. 3 extra stories is wrong, even if they are a non-profit I mean so what? Why do people always try and bend everything, including the laws to benefit them all the time this is total BS.

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