Design Review this week: See the newest plan for 4532 42nd SW

| Development | West Seattle news

Five months after the demolition of that century-old house at 4532 42nd SW (map), the development that’s replacing it has what could be its final Southwest Design Review Board meeting this Thursday night — and the presentation is now available online, with images including this one:

The six-floor Golden Crest development is at left (at right, Capco Plaza/Altamira Apartments at Alaska/42nd). According to the presentation that’s now available (see it in its entirety here), its 35 residential units would range from studio to 3 bedrooms; they would be built over 3,000 square feet of commercial space and 54 “basement” parking slots. This project has already been through the “early design guidance” phase, so if board members give it the thumbs-up on Thursday, it’s done with design review.

Golden Crest is to be reviewed at 8 pm Thursday at Madison Middle School, following the board’s 6:30 pm “early design guidance” look at Transitional Resources‘ 4-story proposal for 2922 SW Avalon (no presentation online yet but here’s the city permit page).

alkisw April 7, 2009 (3:38 pm)

I know it is just a drawing but it looks like there is a 6 lane street in front of it…or that is a really small car parked out front :)

Morgan M&M April 7, 2009 (4:05 pm)

This is sad. I used to live in the Campbell Building Studios. I miss looking at that old house.

nd April 7, 2009 (5:15 pm)

Bleh! I wish builders would take some design risks once in a while. We’re going to look back on this years from now and groan at how boring an era this was.

HunterG April 7, 2009 (6:16 pm)

Such a pretty house, I bet it was gorgeous in it’s hayday.

Michael B April 7, 2009 (9:41 pm)

All of this new construction in West Seattle is disturbing. The buildings are getting taller and closer together. West Seattle is in danger of loosing it’s “small town charm” – the reason we moved here in the first place.

Mike April 7, 2009 (10:05 pm)

Oh boy, more vacant condos that look like a cracker jack box. Developed by some greedy bastard who lives far away and could give a damn less about the area. All about the $$$ they make, screw the rest of us.

Keith April 7, 2009 (10:09 pm)

I had the same reaction as alkisw. They sure take some liberties with reality in these proposals! And it’s always just one lonesome car, when in reality Oregon and 42nd will soon act like like an arterial (but will probably look more like a parking lot.)

alkisw April 7, 2009 (11:19 pm)

Lets be honest Keith, the view they show, is from a parking lot. I know what you meant though.

It is already a street where things are a little tight but most of the traffic is from people avoiding driving through the junction.

It is also a street I can walk to after getting off of one of about five or so different metro routes.

Dano April 8, 2009 (12:35 am)

…Are there REALLY that many buyers out there for all these condos going up?…. Or will this end up like the Whole Foods fiasco?…. They will start the darn thing, then leave it unfinished, with a big dangerous hole left behind…. Looking at all these empty new condos going up in WS would make anyone think that the economy is just booming…..

WSB April 8, 2009 (6:42 am)

Not sure yet about this one but the other projects in The Junction currently are going to be apartments, not condos. Mural (across from Jefferson Square to the west) will be renting soon. Altamira (in the Capco Plaza building across Alaska from Jefferson Square) will be apartments. Conner Homes has said they are leaning toward having the residential units in their building be apartments, though they will be “built to condo spec” in case that intention changes later – TR

M April 8, 2009 (8:36 am)

Just what W. Seattle needs – another eyesore apartment

I hope these guys go broke

Al April 8, 2009 (9:34 am)

Yes, the “view” is from the parking lot. But don’t these elevations get shown around to different groups? So those who aren’t familiar with the street in question may be under a mistaken assumption that that street is quite wide, when it’s actually very narrow and full of parked autos along both sides, effectively reducing it to one lane. That is a very, very different picture than a building sitting on an open street.

westseattleite April 8, 2009 (10:14 am)

Yeah, more beige box shaped buildings….

Bill Reiswig April 8, 2009 (2:37 pm)

Will there be a comisserate rise in bus capacity to handle these extra hundreds of folks in West Seattle? Lets hope so. No, wait! Metro service is being cut.

Aaron April 8, 2009 (5:15 pm)

That house was a classic example of an American Foursquare. One of the most common house types in America. Too bad the most common is now townhouses and condo buildings. That house could have been saved and would have been worth it. Sad about all that old growth wood that went to the landfill.

Mary April 8, 2009 (6:13 pm)

I recently watched a GREAT documentary about development and the power of community called “The Unforeseen”. Watch it and then lets wage a peace war on this sort of shortsighted development :)!

http://theunforeseenfilm.com/blog/trailer/

homesweethome April 8, 2009 (8:17 pm)

so everyone wants to keep West Seattle as Mayberry? no change, no condos, no apartments…everyone should just live in a single family home, preferable a perfectly restored bungalow? this is a city – we need diverse housing choices for all people – and lots of people don’t want a single family box and all its trappings. while this building may not be the most imaginative out there, there wasn’t exactly a stampede to save the old house

Dano April 8, 2009 (9:22 pm)

Again, a simple prediction: There are going to be WAY TOO MANY empty apartments in West Seattle….

Herman April 8, 2009 (11:05 pm)

That wasn’t a house, it was a hospital. West Seattle had a hospital way back then, and that was it.
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The new condo designs are horrible, soulless boxes.
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Something like 2,000 new units are coming online in West Seattle in 2009. Who is going to rent all these?

alki_2008 April 9, 2009 (8:00 pm)

ditto homesweethome.
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I’d suspect that all this over-building would be appreciated by those that promote affordable housing options. With all these units, then there will be more rental options…which would lead to lower rental rates. Many condos are purchased by speculators, or people that plan to keep it as a second-home (so they’ll end up being rented out)…or condos will be purchased by folks that can’t afford single family homes.

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