West Seattle scene: Admiral Safeway construction, aerial view

(Click for a larger view)
Construction has been under way for the new Admiral Safeway (along with two other buildings on the site – residential and flex-work space to the southeast, a small standalone retail building on the southwest) for four months now. The ground-level progress is easy to see if you drive past, but here’s a different perspective. One of the longtime project point people, Sara Corn, shares an aerial view, photographed during that sunny day earlier this week – top of the photo is the east side of the site, left side is north, right side is south (facing Hiawatha), bottom is west (facing Lafayette Elementary). She notes that the construction webcam is currently out of service for “repositioning”; it’s been part of the project website, which you can see here. The new store is projected to open next summer; we have an inquiry out for more detailed information on the project’s progress.

1:34 PM UPDATE: Corn says the store remains “on track” for the expected August 12th opening.

pam January 21, 2011 (11:00 am)

Great photo – thanks. It’s been fun to watch the progress.

JanS January 21, 2011 (11:10 am)

I agree, Pam. I live across the street just east of the store, and am constantly amazed at the progress that they’re making..and the weather that they work in…like today – ugh!

acemotel January 21, 2011 (11:47 am)

I wish they would HURRY UP!!!

J.See January 21, 2011 (1:29 pm)

The construction is still very loud, but it’s amazing how you get used to the noise so quickly, I wonder if we’ll miss it when it is gone.

Admirooni January 21, 2011 (1:58 pm)

Anyone know if this Safeway will have a BECU branch in it? The only branch in W. Seattle is at the Roxburry Safeway.

Forest January 21, 2011 (2:04 pm)

As one condition of the land use rezone it received, Safeway was to negotiate with the Friends of Olmsted group and fund a few improvements to the streetscape of Hiawatha Park directly across from the new Safeway. What will those improvements be?

SuperAwesome January 21, 2011 (2:08 pm)

Do we know what kind of grand opening event/festivities Safeway will be planning? I think there is a lot of interest in making this a big community event. I personally can’t wait!

SaraJ January 21, 2011 (2:53 pm)

I can’t wait either. It’s so annoying to drive all the way to the Junction to deal with the tiny parking spots and crowds at all hours. Plus, could their aisles BE any narrower? I’ve been more of a customer at Met Market than Safeway these days.
Bah humbug.

Sue January 21, 2011 (3:05 pm)

Admirooni, it’s unclear if there will be an actual branch, but there will be 2 ATMs per this WSB article: https://westseattleblog.com/2010/08/admiral-safeway-redevelopment-project-becus-atm-plan

kitty January 21, 2011 (4:01 pm)

Hard to tell the size of this store from the photo, but I sure hope they take the opportunity to make this store, in a word, Large! More on the lines of the Roxbury location. No offense to anyone who likes to shop Jefferson Square, but that store is tiny and the parking lot is a nightmare of bad design!

JanS January 21, 2011 (4:03 pm)

J.See..yes, it’s loud. Being here next to it every day, we do get used to it. It sure is quiet in the evenings, though :)

miws January 21, 2011 (4:43 pm)

I think I can see Jan ogling the construction guys, in that pic! ;)

Mike

Union works January 21, 2011 (5:16 pm)

This is a non union. Rat job.hopefully this contractor will come to it’s senses.

Lorelee January 21, 2011 (5:17 pm)

2nd the request for becu. I’m about ready to change banks as accessing their services is a pain these days. Depositing checks as 7-11 feels sketchy

WSB January 21, 2011 (5:27 pm)

Lorelee, I haven’t written a separate item about this lately but recently while checking out a rumor that a certain vacant-but-being-worked-on storefront in West Seattle was going to be a BECU, I talked with their spokesperson, who said they don’t have a location nailed down yet but they are actively looking in WS. – TR

Pgelow January 22, 2011 (9:45 am)

To Kitty

Yes, this store will be large. It is estimated to be around 60,000 square feet, about the same size as the Roxbury store. As for parking, they will have extra on the store’s rooftop to accommodate for its larger size. This store will have all the same offerings a flagship store, like the downtown Bellevue store, offers for the area.

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