West Seattle development: 4535 44th SW design packet; 6917 California SW meeting

Updates tonight on two no-parking apartment projects currently going through the city review system:

4535 44TH SW ‘DESIGN PACKET’: One week from Thursday, 4535 44th SW (map) returns to the Southwest Design Review Board, after having been the subject of another meeting last week (WSB coverage here) in which citizens spoke up about concerns related to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) – primarily the five-story project’s no-on-site-parking plan. It’s proposed for 36 apartments and 2 live-work units. The “design packet” is now available via the city website. Above, Nicholson Kovalchick Architects‘ design of the side that would face 44th SW, across from The Junction’s northernmost parking lot for shoppers; below, the side that would face Glenn Way:

Features outlined in the packet include informal gathering space with a small table and chairs envisioned on each east-facing stair landing overlooking 44th. This is the first project up for the SW Design Review Board’s two-project meeting at 6:30 pm December 5th at the Senior Center of West Seattle; the 8 pm review that night is for 4745 40th SW, 135 units and 116 parking spaces – its packet is not yet online.

2 UPDATES ON 6917 CALIFORNIA SW – MEETING & DEADLINE: Also on December 5th, the Morgan Community Association plans a special meeting about the 30-apartment, no-parking project planned at 6917 California SW (map):

This will be a meeting for community and neighbors to get some preliminary background on this multi-family project, learn about the Urban Village strategy and Morgan Junction Neighborhood Plan, land use zoning and the City’s code changes that have taken place since that strategy was adopted. Plus, discussion about the issues and concerns prior to a future meeting with the developer (which is being scheduled).

This citizen-organized community meeting is set for 7 pm December 5th at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. This is the project first made public here in mid-October, and it’s drawn much attention since then. The public-comment period for the development was extended to this Wednesday; to comment, follow the link on the official notice. As reported here two weeks ago, neighbors also have gathered petition signatures in hopes of a SEPA-issues public meeting like the one last Tuesday about 4535 44th SW; their online petition has more than 500 signatures showing right now.

DTK November 25, 2013 (11:21 pm)

If anyone wanted to know what the shark looked like when West Seattle jumped it… this is it.

Diane November 26, 2013 (12:26 am)

wow; this sure looks way different from the last design

Diane November 26, 2013 (12:27 am)

and why oh why oh why is the Morgan meeting the same night/time; I want to do both

Eddie November 26, 2013 (8:13 am)

The Glenn Way view of the 4535 44th structure sure is misleading. Glenn Way has quite a slope to it (downward to toward the north or left side of the view). The picture shown makes it look almost SODO Flat. Neither view of that project portrays a realistic view of the rather severe topography (steep slope east to west from 44th to Glenn Way and the northward sloping Glenn Way).

I also think it’s amusing that the Glenn Way view includes a car parked off street – at the apartment complex to the north – along with a perpetually covered motorcycle parked in the same lot.

Diane November 26, 2013 (12:06 pm)

again, re parking; having just reviewed the design packet (link in WSB story) and the renderings shown here; wouldn’t it be more realistic (and honest) in all the drawings to show what the streets will look like here? FULL of parked cars, ALL the time, especially since this project with 36 mini-apartments and 2 live-work will have zero parking, and is right next to the junction and major bus hub; currently these streets are filled with parked cars because neighbors all over West Seattle who lost bus service now have to drive/park to catch their bus here; and/or shoppers park on these streets; the developers of these zero parking projects (mostly apodments/microhousing, mini-apartments, studios designed for young people without cars) will argue that most of their tenants do not have cars (please show us evidence of that claim), but there is no requirement that residents of zero parking projects not have cars, or that their visiting friends/family not have cars; this premise and the renderings are not accurate or realistic

Anne November 26, 2013 (12:53 pm)

The Glenn way facade looks like a warehouse, and I don’t care if they are after a NY loft look. With a concrete wall built right up to the sidewalk, parked cars on the other side of the sidewalk, and a narrow planting strip in between, I’m afraid it’s going to feel like a canyon walking there, which I do daily from home.
There is a minuscule set-back at the ground level windows where they are showing plants. Are people really going to put plants in that narrow strip and take care of them?
The planted areas around the trees are attractive but 1. Who will take care of them and 2. Car doors will open into them. there are wall to wall cars on this street, you can’t open your door against the plants.