This time last year, the latest wave of West Seattle development hadn’t yet resumed its rise; one measure – just one project went before the Southwest Design Review Board in the first two months of 2013. So far in 2014, a different story; between now and February 20th, seven reviews are scheduled – including one just added to the schedule, 2626 Alki Avenue SW, at the corner of 59th and Alki (map).

That’s the project first reported here in Alki Community Council coverage last June, after architect Roger Newell came to the ACC for an early public presentation. Its Early Design Guidance meeting before the SWDRB is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 20th. It’s now described in the city Department of Planning and Development files as “3-story structure containing 14 residential units, 5 live-work units, and 3,250 sq. ft. of commercial space,” with 28 ground-level parking spaces, accessed off 59th (Newell explained in June that they can’t have an underground garage because of peat issues at the site). Documents submitted to the city by the architecture firm further explain that, fronting Alki, the building will have 4 apartments over 5 live-work units which in turn are over commercial space, and behind that, 10 apartments will be on two floors over the parking area. Three buildings are to be torn down at the corner of 59th and Alki and to the northeast, currently holding an office, pet-services shop, medical-marijuana dispensary, and restaurant, plus second-floor apartments in two of those three buildings.

The February 20th meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, where the SWDRB usually meets these days; formal notice should appear within a few weeks in the twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin.