Fire-gutted Alki home torn down, almost 2 years later

(July 2008 photo by David Hutchinson)
That was one of many photos we published the night of July 25, 2008, when flames engulfed a duplex on 56th SW, just off Alki Ave, sending up smoke that was seen for miles around and drew quite a crowd. What was left of the charred building has stood there ever since – till now:

According to city records, a permit was granted in January for “fire damage repair and addition … to existing duplex”; last month, the permit was amended to add “demolition of fire-damaged portions” of the duplex.

alki_2008 March 3, 2010 (4:24 pm)

I’ve been wondering what they were going to do with that place. It seemed like most of the damage to the living space was from smoke/water, as the fire was mainly on the deck (above the garage).
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Will be interesting to see what will be built in its place.

Living in West Seattle Since 1985 March 3, 2010 (5:01 pm)

ahhh Progress! Very Good!

cami March 3, 2010 (5:23 pm)

Just drove by and thought about the day of the fire. It seems like it was so long ago!

Will March 3, 2010 (6:34 pm)

From the article: last month, the permit was amended to add “demolition of fire-damaged portions” of the duplex.

Not much left so the portion fire-damaged must have been in close to 100%

It will be interesting to see what is built on this small lot. I have heard that decades ago a lot facing Alki was broken into two smaller lots. The fire was on one of the smaller lots. The home that shares the original lot was rebuilt from duplex to single family.

pz March 3, 2010 (9:04 pm)

Amazed it’s been 2 years already! I just walked by the other morning and wondered if anything ever was going to happen at that property.

brandon March 3, 2010 (11:06 pm)

Not amazed. Our City Planning Dept, slogging along.

Leroniusmonkfish March 4, 2010 (1:14 am)

I wonder what the property tax was over this period of vacancy?

will March 4, 2010 (3:31 pm)

I have heard that it was the owners decision not to act. She wanted to tear down and not repair and wants to build a new higher building. So the new should be quite a bit nicer than the original converted beach house on the sand.

Sorry, comment time is over.