Comments on: 2nd Early Design Guidance meeting ordered for 2626 Alki Ave. SW

By: JoJo

JoJo — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 00:18:45 +0000

I fully agree with David. We cripple these architects through endless complaints at design reviews etc. and then howl and moan
when every final design is an uninspired, bland box. Design by committee does not work. Ever. I’m completely in favor of the democratic process, civic pride and the passion we all have for these WS neighborhoods, but these reviews just seem to
devolve into tyranny of the masses and fear of change. Experts have gone through
countless hours of training and practice to earn their position. Letting the public weigh in on every aspect of a building’s design will end in unremarkable, (or less remarkable) structures every time.
Preservation is a different story. The time in the process before old structures are demolished is the time for public outcry to be heard. Unfortunately, it seems in Seattle, developer$ rule the day like always. once the decision has
been made to rebuild though, we need to let designers take some chances and push
the boundaries a bit, or we’ll get exactly what we deserve…humdrum buildings designed by a collective of amateurs.

By: abby

abby — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 18:13:48 +0000

I Like the rendering….I think it’s a nice refreshing sleek look that will add to Alki…Seattle is a cool city.. i hope they just build it and then all of us can enjoy it!!!

By: Dale

Dale — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 07:41:24 +0000

Yeah, I like the artist rendering too. I’m over 50 but by no means did I take offense to David. Lighten up Francis.

By: Jan Koso

Jan Koso — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 06:54:10 +0000

This looks like a behemoth that should be rejected.
We do not need another large structure here on Alki.
It is right next door and I can only imagine how it will disrupt and damage the quality of life of myself and my neighbors.

By: Deanie

Deanie — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:30:53 +0000

You GO Tracy!

By: David

David — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:28:16 +0000

LOL…sorry, the “sarcasm” didn’t come across there. I didn’t LITERALLY mean that the community design meetings are just “angry old people” just being a smarta**. Sorry dry smarta** humor never works in email or IM. :)

But point was/is…it’s kinda cool. Probably a bit big for that corner, or will feel large. But I felt the same when the old Alki Grocery was torn down and replaced with the much larger/taller building that now has Cactus and such…but folks don’t seem to hate that building now. So perhaps bigger “than it was” isn’t too bad.

By: Dano

Dano — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:29:14 +0000

Tracy…. You ROCK!

By: terri

terri — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:44:11 +0000

I have lived in this neighborhood for 36 yrs.The corner of 59th Sw & alki Is already a problem with traffic when you are turning off Alki with cars parked on 59th Sw & traffic coming off Admiral Way; making the turn onto Spokane then 58th Sw is so narrow & congested now you are talking about an entrance to a parking garage will make that intersection worse. hope they can come up with a better design to address this issue.

By: WSB

WSB — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:49:31 +0000

In reply to David.

David, when is the last time you came to the meetings? Yeah, there are middle-aged and older people there. And younger. People who care about their community. You’re welcome to disagree with their opinion, and you can certainly do so while there (or by comments submitted to the city planner as noted at story’s end), but the stereotype that it’s only the elderly (and if it were, well, good on SOMEBODY for caring) is entirely wrong. Unless you’d consider anyone over 50 elderly, in which case I guess I shouldn’t have recycled the unsolicited AARP card that came in the mail last week and should just accept that I should be sitting around mildewing. – Tracy

By: David

David — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:41:42 +0000

IF they’d actually do THAT…it’s pretty cool. It’s just different looking. I’m afraid they’ll chicken out after angry elderly people yell at them at community meetings and end up just producing a standard cookie cutter town house that looks like every other one in town…something more ‘normal’ looking. Too bad, but this almost 70s retro glass look would stand out and be different. Alki has always been cool because it’s a hodgepodge of styles. Little turn of the century beach cottages, 70s/80s condos, newer houses.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:52:40 +0000

the older hatchback parked in front of it is also a winner ;)

By: Jennie

Jennie — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:49:12 +0000

Yes! Finally something I really like the look of – dripping with plants and lots of glass!

By: Bee

Bee — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 12:28:33 +0000

That is a lot of building for that spot. I do not see Pepperdocks mentioned & hoping that they are safe from demolition. Can you confirm that please? Thanks.