West Seattle development: Beach Drive house to make way for 9 apartments

We noticed that new land-use sign while walking just south of Weather Watch Park over the weekend. It announces that the century-old house behind it, at 4134 Beach Drive, is to be demolished, making way for a 3-story, 9-unit, 9-underground-parking-space apartment building. So far, this hasn’t appeared in the city’s Land Use Information Bulletin, so the official comment period does not appear to have a deadline yet. But it’s the first new multi-family building we’ve seen proposed on Beach Drive for a while; the house already is sandwiched between multi-family buildings, and is on a 5,000-square-foot site zoned Lowrise-2.

Rick September 15, 2014 (2:31 pm)

Money rules. It always has.

sc September 15, 2014 (3:18 pm)

The building to the south of this house replaced a house that was identical to this one, the 2 houses were side by side. There was an uproar at the time also but the house still was torn down.

WSB September 15, 2014 (3:28 pm)

Thank you, SC. We lived further north on Beach Drive for our first 2 years here, renting a unit in a 6-condo building (across from Harbor West) that I’m sure also replaced a house; one remained next door to it for years but was replaced by a similar-sized building a few years ago. Whenever we go walking down there, it’s the proverbial Memory Lane; we sat on a Cormorant Cove bench and remembered the dusty video games in the little store that preceded the park.

JAT September 15, 2014 (3:51 pm)

Highest and Best Use, Baybeee!
That house once replaced a shack which once replaced some trees.

I just wish we’d cut out the blah-condo middle man and put up a Trump Casino, already!*

(irony for those who’ve never seen my comments before)

dhg September 15, 2014 (4:04 pm)

Good thing you said you’re being sarcastic, JAT. It’s hard to tell. The owner of the original log house has had ambitions to make Alki a destination resort.

G September 15, 2014 (4:15 pm)

And on the flip side, a few more people will enjoy living close to the beach; might even be a West Seattleite looking to down-size out of their house.

JoB September 15, 2014 (5:28 pm)

at least it will have parking

Beachdrivegirl September 15, 2014 (6:40 pm)

Is this the house to the right of la Rustica?

WSB September 15, 2014 (6:54 pm)

It’s not far from La Rustica but it has the blue apartment building – Mar Vista – to the north and some newer townhouses to the south (off the right side of photo). Same style of house but that one is about half a block north. If you Google Map 4134 Beach Drive and choose Street View, it appears to be current. (Wouldn’t give me a direct Street View link or I’d put that here.)

Mike September 15, 2014 (9:33 pm)

Has parking, not 7 stories tall with hundreds of 400sq/ft units. I say this is a win.

David September 15, 2014 (10:40 pm)

Hopefully this helps. The current “rental” is a problem…noisy summer “temp” renters, loud parties. I’m glad a regular apartment (or condo) is moving in there, it will improve the neighborhood.

Lynne September 16, 2014 (6:43 am)

Google Street View URL: http://goo.gl/maps/MB3kJ

WSB September 16, 2014 (7:26 am)

Thank you.

cynaur September 16, 2014 (9:15 am)

Another day, yet another BOX going up in West Seattle. It would be interesting to see the amount of residential rat-traps that have been approved in West Seattle over the last three years, and curious to know whether ANY applications have been denied. Our pro-developer approval process seems to care little for increased congestion and crime in this area, and more about $$$. The old West Seattle is long gone.

WSB September 16, 2014 (9:31 am)

If you’re applying to build something where the zoning allows it, generally you’re not going to get a denial, as far as we’ve ever seen. This site, for example, is zoned for multi-family development and the block is already dominated by it. Not new, either – property records show the apartment building next door was built in 1955, the townhouses next door in 1999, the fourplex across the street (waterfront) in 1979.

Beachdrivegirl September 16, 2014 (10:28 am)

Thanks! The google view helped. I actually think this will be an improvement for the area and I am excited too see the improvement.

I know developers constantly are eyeing properties in that area.

John September 16, 2014 (10:59 am)

Leon Capelouto, himself of old West Seattle, is the developer. Having great local presence, it will be interesting to see if he builds a “residential rat-trap” or generic BOX so inflaming to cynaur. I would be curious to what cynaur would like to see built here with someone else’s money.
–
I wonder why there is no outcry about parking and rent costs?
Will these be affordable?
Will the landlord only accept single car renters?
–
Nine units with nine parking spots will inevitably dump more cars onto the neighborhood streets (the renters who can afford Alki living can afford more cars and toys than those in micros). Beach Drive is already overburdened with parking, a busy bike lane, runners and walkers.

Wsrez September 16, 2014 (7:17 pm)

While it may be sad for those people who live next door- it provides a REALLY cool opportunity for another person to share that view. I met with a broker working on a big project in west seattle the other day and I learned that aside from the current projects in the junction and Fauntleroy corner, west seattle is slated for an additional 3000 apartment units in the next 5 years. This isn’t going to stop or change so if people are really concerned about density, time to consider moving south. I for one, welcome the growth as a local business owner. Better restaurants, shops and services will follow and that’s great!

WSB September 16, 2014 (7:20 pm)

More than 3,200 as of our calculation this past April – not even counting the smallest changes (two homes on a lot that had held one, etc.). And we haven’t updated since then – not so many large projects proposed lately, but redevelopment on this scale, continues.
.
https://westseattleblog.com/2014/04/west-seattle-development-mapped-3272-units-planned-under-construction-almost-done-recently-opened

Wsrez September 17, 2014 (12:07 pm)

Oh wow- so that means even more. He was talking strictly about multi use corporate projects with retail space beneath.

WS Since 66 September 24, 2014 (6:39 am)

cynaur (and others) : “The old West Seattle is long gone.”

It’s all relative to when you moved here. I’ve lived here in WS for almost 50 years. I remember waaaay back hearing the same thing. The Duwamish, and other Tribes, probably expressed the same sentiments back in 1851. It has been changing ever since. Get over it.

Btw, all this density is happening in areas that are zoned to allow it, California Ave, Fauntleroy Way, Alaska, Delridge, etc. I challenge anyone, and perhaps the WSB can provide this in a future article, to get out a map of WS and, using a highlighter (your choice of color) draw around the areas where the construction is in full swing. Now compared to all of the residential neighborhoods on the WS peninsula what would you say the percentage of the total of WS is being “ruined”? I live 5 blocks down the hill west of the Alaska Jct and feel no effect from the increased density just up the hill.

sam-c September 24, 2014 (9:22 am)

I am so sick and tired of people comparing complaining about development now to ‘development’ that impacted Native Americans. Is that really comparable? relevant? it’s apples to oranges. enough already, it’s old.
none of us were here then.

WS Since 66 September 25, 2014 (9:34 am)

sam-c (and others): Yeah those pesky Native Americans! Ok let’s look at it another way. Would it be any better comparing just since I moved here in December 1966 when there were lots less people and density? WS has grown a lot since then. Sometimes rapidly and sometimes not. The fact is you and I both moved here at one time and people were saying the same thing and felt the same as those who want to now keep people out. They will keep on coming to live here for all the reasons we all do.

Btw, how would you handle the expected influx of people wanting to live here on OUR WS peninsula?

What would you do?

Sorry, comment time is over.