West Seattle development: Temporary sidewalk closure ahead, as Junction demolition goes to second phase

For more than a week, we’ve been tracking demolition on the site of Equity Residential‘s two-building West Seattle Junction project. Above is the east half, at 42nd/Alaska, where final cleanup is under way. Susan Melrose of the WS Junction Association tells WSB they’ve been notified that demolition will begin Monday on the west-side building at California/Alaska:

Note the protective enclosures on the trees; Melrose also says that sidewalks around that building will be closed TEMPORARILY for next week’s demolition work.

First, she shares the notice from the general contractor, Andersen Construction:

Demolition of the West Building located at 4706 California Avenue SW will commence on Monday 10/21/13. The sidewalks and parking located along California Avenue and SW Alaska Street will be closed to pedestrians during this time. Demolition work will be complete by 10/25/13.

Next, Melrose’s update, stressing that this is a temporary closure:

The Junction Association is working with the construction company to minimize impacts to our neighborhood and to keep The Junction walkable. I would like to convey to the neighborhood that this will be the only time that the sidewalks on California Ave and Alaska St will be closed. The next 18 months might be noisy and at times inconvenient, but your loyal Junction businesses look forward to your continued patronage. The demolition of this building is a notable day in Junction history.

Some of that history was discussed in this WSB update, which included a half-century-old aerial photo of the area.

Project backstory: The Equity buildings are both planned at seven stories, totaling about 200 apartments, with more than 200 underground parking spaces and ground-floor retail (no tenants announced yet). The project went through the city approval process under its previous ownership, Bellevue-based Conner Homes, which put it up for sale in August 2011 (WSB coverage here) and closed the sale to Chicago-based Equity Residential in December 2011 (WSB coverage here). The businesses in the two buildings were cleared out in summer of last year, but construction was delayed – without explanation – until now.

Bee October 18, 2013 (12:43 pm)

As I was driving by today, it looked like they were smoothing clear plastic of some type over the surface of the brown granite on the corner building. I am curious why they are doing this. Are they using it to remove the pieces of granite to preserve it or what? Thanks.

squareeyes October 18, 2013 (12:49 pm)

Yesterday morning I was waiting at the Erskine/California traffic signal when I noticed a blue box flying through the sky. The TARDIS? I wondered. Nope, just a portapotty being maneuvered by a crane. Really wish I had a camera at the ready for moments like that.

sc October 18, 2013 (1:53 pm)

I noticed that there was a sign near the barbershop about it being there since 1923. Could WSB get a picture before Monday?

cjboffoli October 18, 2013 (2:49 pm)

Bee: I noticed that too as I was walking by today and made the same assumption. But I also noticed around the corner on California that they covered all of the plate glass windows and doors with the same plastic wrap. So now I’m guessing it might just be a material to prevent the granite tiles and glass from explosively shattering everywhere.

georgia October 18, 2013 (4:41 pm)

Hope those new tennants carry a lot of cash. We are avoiding the area like the plauge. No parking, traffic, congestion. We bailed on dinner plans. So now I guess Admiral gets our business as we can only imagine it gets worse during and after construction.

avoidingws October 18, 2013 (4:44 pm)

I had planned to have dinner at a restaurant in that block but because there were several parking places removed by the construction we continued on to Burien. I may never eat at a restaurant in the Junction area again.

Longtime WS October 18, 2013 (5:42 pm)

I will definitely continue to shop and eat in the Junction. The pace of all this change is tough to deal with, I know, but if this oldster can handle it I’m sure many more will as well!

Ever October 18, 2013 (6:18 pm)

Please don’t let the West Seattle Junction become like Lake City. They have to many tall apartment/condo buildings and so the shopping area is dim and dark from all those tall buildings. It is not pleasant shopping there now. Kris

Kate October 18, 2013 (6:26 pm)

I guess I don’t quite understand how avoiding our neighborhood’s main commercial area and thus punishing local businesses is the right response. Write letters! Attend meetings! But the City permitted this as an allowable use in the zone. It’s not the business’ fault. If anything, we should be supporting them. And if that means walking a couple blocks, so be it. (Of course, if personal mobility is an issue, that’s another story. But for most of us, it isn’t)

JayDee October 18, 2013 (6:27 pm)

AvoidingWS: Unless one has an infirmity, all of the Junction restaurants are within walking distance (for now) from easy street parking or the Junction lots. 2-3 blocks. Much easier and cheaper than driving to Burien.

I don’t think any of the restaurants in the Admiral Junction are noticeably cheaper than Alaska Junction places. Mission is cheaper than Matador, but the Firefly Creperie is affordable. But if you really want to stay away, more room for us who still like the Junction, construction and all.

Diane October 18, 2013 (6:40 pm)

why would you blame/hurt the local small businesses in the junction by even suggesting NOT going there anymore; it’s not the fault of the remaining small biz/restaurants; they will suffer enough during construction without patrons threatening to not visit during this transition; please support local biz

sam-c October 19, 2013 (8:16 am)

I certainly don’t think that avoiding junction businesses is an appropriate response to the construction hassle and future development but…..
SOMEONE did sell those properties to the developers for lots of money right? who were the property owners, do they own other existing properties/ businesses still in the junction? I have no idea. but that would be a cause for frustration.

nighthawk October 19, 2013 (9:10 am)

There are definitely certain times that it is hard to find parking. Like a sunny, summer afternoon when the farmer’s market is going on. And maybe on a Friday or Saturday night. That said I have only had to use one of the pay lots once in the last year and there was some event going on. We just check the various Junction business association free lots and usually find something. Sure beats parking in a lot of places.
I do worry about all those added apartments with no added parking or inadequate parking.

JVP October 19, 2013 (10:39 am)

nighthawk, these new apartments and, the ones going in at the Petco site, will have sufficient parking for residents.
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I still think the Junction has, by far, the easiest retail parking of any walkable neighborhood in the city. I’m glad these new buildings will have adequate residential parking. The new zero parking zoning only makes sense if we have good bus service to downtown or light rail. We don’t, since C-line is over capacity at key times. I’m a fan of the idea of a city where you don’t have to drive, but it needs to be realistic.
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I guess the mayors plan is to eliminate parking so that there’s a crushing need for adequate transit, and then voters have the motivation to pay for increased capacity. His approach may work, but it’s not a very pleasant way to move forward. Transit first, then reduce parking. Going from 1:1 parking to no parking is a wee bit drastic in some of the other projects being approved.
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I’d really like to see a rendering of the current plans for this project. My understanding is that Equity may have made some changes, though I’m not sure about that. The drawings for the Petco project look great, and will be an asset to the community. Nice scale too, and it’s really cool that Elliott Bay Brewery and Talaricos remain to break up the scale of the block. I hope this current project has quality materials and a timeless design.

Rick October 19, 2013 (2:08 pm)

The barbershop originally opened in 1927 next to what is now Menashe’s jewelry. (Check out the WestSideStory book)I moved it to the now demolished building in 1989. That location was the entrance to the old West Seattle hospital.

WSB October 19, 2013 (2:12 pm)

We did take some photos yesterday afternoon including as SC suggested the painted sign that said “established 1927” (though it’s been a bit defaced) – that building is still standing; the one that’s been demolished so far is the one where the last tenants included Rocksport/AAA/the city Neighborhood Service Office/Young At Art/shoe repairs and a few more. Anyone who wants to go see the one where the last tenants included Super Supplements, Sound Advice, barber shop, Suite Arrangements, Mind and Body, Rubato, etc., that’s the one scheduled to be torn down starting Monday.

Rick October 19, 2013 (2:58 pm)

Sorry, hadn’t been up that way in a bit. Thought it was already down.

Rob in Arbor Heights October 19, 2013 (7:01 pm)

Just curious — when a private contractor embarks on a project that results in the temporary closing of taxpayer-financed streets and/or sidewalks, does the contractor pay anything to the city for the right to inconvenience the public for private gain?

Jic October 19, 2013 (10:40 pm)

It’s simply a matter of crossing the street. Not exactly what I would call a huge inconvenience.

sc October 20, 2013 (5:04 pm)

WSB were you able to find out if you can publish the photo hanging in the hallway at Zatz a Better Bagel? The photo is of the SE corner of Alaska and California showing the West Seattle Hospital. This is the corner that is being demolished on Monday.

WSB October 20, 2013 (5:11 pm)

SC, I thought I mentioned in that comment thread … but maybe not? … it is copyrighted by MOHAI (Patrick went in and looked). I haven’t yet sent them a note about rights – maybe if I ping them tomorrow I can get clearance.

Sorry, comment time is over.