Speaking of ‘The Hole’: New work around the stalled site

Last month, a spokesperson for the company that holds the note for “The Hole” – the stalled site that we now can describe as “across 39th SW from the future West Seattle Trader Joe’s” – met with local leaders and listened to their concerns (WSB story here); it was a response to the letter sent by the Southwest District Council, which then, two weeks later, received an official written reply (WSB story here). Today, crews were back at the site making good on some of the promises in that reply – as you can see in the “aerial” view shared by an area resident who wants to be anonymous, they’re putting a concrete barricade around the site. We got this view on the ground:

Our anonymous tipster adds, “We got a letter from Chinn yesterday stating that they would be doing this until next Tuesday and that the alley that skirts the west side of The Hole would be periodically closed until then.” Meantime, as for the status of the site itself, the consolidated lawsuits involving a variety of parties continue proceeding toward an October trial date if there’s no settlement before then; the number of actions in the case in the past 14 months, as recorded online, has almost hit 300.

14 Replies to "Speaking of 'The Hole': New work around the stalled site"

  • celeste17 June 17, 2010 (7:49 pm)

    I was wondering why the alley was closed. I saw workers in the area but didn’t put two and two together. Thanks.

  • Marco June 17, 2010 (8:27 pm)

    Just walked by and as of 8:26 they are still working. Maybe they’re sticking to that deadline!

  • homesweethome June 17, 2010 (8:50 pm)

    can they not just fill the hole in and plant grass for now?

  • george June 17, 2010 (9:45 pm)

    Some day a car is going to break through that cyclone fence and then all hell will break out. If there putting a barrier up, it means no more action for a lonnngg time, they’re trying to secure it.

  • austin June 17, 2010 (10:32 pm)

    Some people must really love their lawyers.

  • Concerned June 18, 2010 (5:08 am)

    If I lived by that ugly hole I’d be very VERY upset to have to look at the mess everyday! And if I were to try and sell my home, WHO would buy something next to a “HOLE”! I don’t blame people for being upset!

  • Eddie June 18, 2010 (6:19 am)

    Saw some folks hanging a banner for a Tanning outfit on the chain link fence about a week ago. Figured that would be a violation of some sort. Probably take a year or so for it to come down.

    Oh, can you imagine how much dirt it would take to fill the hole? This isn’t 1900 Seattle where we can just take a big hose and sluice off the top of the hill (Denny, Beacon) to fill in the hole (harbor island and the tide flats). Who’s going to stand for the 200 trucks a day for 90 days or whatever it would take to haul that much dirt in. And moreover, who’d pay for it? Anything public comes out of your and my pockets. Have any spare cash you’d like to donate?

  • Babs June 18, 2010 (6:54 am)

    Hole Foods just lost a goldmine with this hole with word that Traders Joes is coming down the street. Goes to show you snooze you lose.

  • sophista-tiki June 18, 2010 (8:30 am)

    HOLE SHMOLE so what. The point is we got nothing, WE WANT OUR FABRIC STORE BACK.

  • AnotherIdiotInWS June 18, 2010 (10:08 am)

    If that fabric store had enough customers to begin with, none of this would have happened. It’s too late now. Learn to live with the hole. It will be here for a while. Don’t think so? Take a drive on Stone Way. That Safeway hole has been there for years now.

  • sophista-tiki June 18, 2010 (6:11 pm)

    wasnt part of the deal with the “hole foods” is that the FABRIC STORE WAS SUPPOSED TO MOVE INTO THE NEW BUILDING. So they didint leave for lack of business, they had a deal and are now a victem of the hole.

  • sophista-tiki June 18, 2010 (6:33 pm)

    Victim ( sorry , Its typlexia)

  • andie June 18, 2010 (8:09 pm)

    It’s about time! That chain link fence and the 40 foot drop was an accident waiting to happen. Glad someone noticed…18 months later…

  • BJ June 19, 2010 (2:31 am)

    Whole Foods is not the party “hole-ding” this project up. it’s tied up in legal battles between the land owners and contractors. Get your facts straight before assigning blame. It’s a shame though, great spot of real estate sitting dormant.

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