Followup: High Point’s 35th/Graham corner still likely to get some commercial development, says Seattle Housing Authority

| Development | High Point | West Seattle news

We know more tonight about the current plan for part of the highest-profile vacant site in High Point.

(Seen from the east side of 35th in today’s late-afternoon shadows/sun)
We mentioned it in yesterday’s roundup of development notes, after discovering a plan to build 9 houses and 18 duplexes on part of the site at the northeast corner of 35th/Graham. The documents in city files online raised some questions, and today we have some answers, thanks to Seattle Housing Authority spokesperson Laura Gentry.

To a point that is often raised, she says there IS a plan for some commercial development on the site:

As you know, and as was reported by WSB back in January 2011 following a community meeting, we’ve been unable to attract a mixed-use residential/retail developer for the entire parcel. The market just hasn’t supported that type of large-scale residential/retail development. However, we are still looking at options for bringing retail to 35th. SHA intends to continue to own and maintain the corner plot of that parcel (the 35th/Graham corner) and we are in the concept stages of developing a commercial building for that plot which would include retail space, office space and an open street-level plaza. Again, that building is in early concept stages, so there are no site or development plans I can share with you at this time.

Gentry says Lennar has not yet closed on the rest of the property, where the houses/duplexes – which she describes as “all market-rate for-sale housing” – are planned, but “we have a sale agreement with them and they are expected to close sometime in 2014.” And she adds:

We’re also still looking at the remainder of that land on 35th, the piece located between the corner plot I just mentioned and the neighborhood health clinic. SHA is investigating options along with Lennar for residential uses with the potential for small retail uses on the ground floor. Both portions of that strip of land (the plot we will continue to maintain and the remainder that we hope to sell), will go through the city’s Design Review process, so the public will have a say in any plans put forth for any residential or retail development done on 35th.

The 2011 reference involved a previous proposal for the site that fell through – backstory and links here.

skeeter October 30, 2013 (8:31 am)

It’ll have to be a pretty small retail/commercial building. But I guess something is better than nothing.

sophista-tiki October 30, 2013 (9:18 am)

grocery would be nice. Vast tracks of the city are underserved.

Hoppy Daze October 30, 2013 (9:23 am)

This would be a great location for a Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart would be a great option, in the absence of other interested parties. SHA should reach out to them as I am certain they would be interested as the High Point population is a part of their target market.

don't be silly October 30, 2013 (9:45 am)

Really Walmart?! … nice.

WS_neighbor October 30, 2013 (9:53 am)

NO WALMART. NO WALMART. NO WALMART. How about some business that doesn’t exploit its employees and conversely takes in billions?

polly aldrich October 30, 2013 (9:53 am)

Please tell me it will NOT BE A walmart they seem to ruin communities with all their cheap china merchandise grocery store might work well tho if they have the parking

K. Lawson October 30, 2013 (10:10 am)

No to Walmart! Gross!

Wally Martz October 30, 2013 (11:41 am)

I wonder if Hoppy Daze was dipping into his/her latest brew. I bet the land available at 35th and Graham is about 10% or less of the size needed for a Wal-Mart. Worry about a 7/11. Wal-Mart ain’t gonna happen.

skeeter October 30, 2013 (1:00 pm)

Agree with Wally. I doubt the remaining area would even be enough for a 7-11 once you figure in a parking lot.

Civik October 30, 2013 (2:15 pm)

Well that kinda puts a bit of a hamper on the Urban Village concept. Or perhaps that’s just for the Alaska Junction? I’d love to not be snarky about it, but isn’t this the perfect location for that kind of construction and local shops?

trickycoolj October 30, 2013 (9:52 pm)

I suspect none of you have actually purchased groceries at WalMart. Those commercials about big savings over the other major chain grocers are not lying. They don’t carry Chinese knockoff food… It’s not Dollar Tree. I was shocked how much cheaper my drugstore items were when I was tagging along with my mom in her small town. The more things I saw for $3-5 less than I pay at Target the more irritated I got about our lack of affordable food shopping in the immediate vicinity of High Point. But no, don’t worry that lot is way too small for an actual grocery store. I’d like to see a walkable coffee shop, something with to-go food I could walk to like teriyaki. For some reason we just don’t have any walkable food options up here except Pizza Hut and Walgreens? Or that scary store on 35th and Morgan.

faceless October 30, 2013 (10:53 pm)

NO TO WALMART.

Sarge October 31, 2013 (11:19 am)

Walmart has no interest in a 5,500 sq foot store in a residential neighboorhood with really high property taxes.

Walmart comment was just troll bait.

More likley to be a tiny teryiaki joint next to a smoke shop. Vitamin store that goes under in 6 months, medical marijuna shop for a few,T mobile outlet and so on.

gmabetty November 2, 2013 (2:43 pm)

I like trickycoolj’s comment. Would like to know when this meeting for input comes up. I’ve been to others in the past regarding this corner. We always requested coffee shop/deli with couple outdoor tables .

gmabetty November 2, 2013 (2:46 pm)

I do shop occasionally at Walmart but I already know Seattle doesn’t want them. It’s not a big enough property for such a venture anyway and we don’t need any more “minute-mart types this close.

Sorry, comment time is over.