West Seattle development: Trees cut at Delridge Way site north of Youngstown

| Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

The North Delridge development boomlet continues. A long-set-for-construction site north of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center suddenly caught a lot of attention today with crews cutting trees (note the “FREE WOOD” sign). That brought in a few questions about what’s happening there. The city files for this site contain a variety of plans that have changed in the past few years, but as far as we can tell, what’s currently approved includes two 2-unit, 4-story townhouse buildings toward the middle of the site, and one single-family house on the north side.

kumalavula May 27, 2016 (3:59 pm)

i live a little more than a stone’s throw from here, and have driven by every day this week while crews have been shoving tree branches into chippers and denuding that hillside little by little. i cannot express the sadness i’ve experienced as i’ve watched more and more green spaces disappear in west seattle (and the city in general) over the past few years.

i’ve lived in seattle since 1993 and it’s just not the place i remember it being. i hate to say it but with the increase in traffic and crime and the diminished green spaces, it hits home (pun very much intended.) the loss of habitat for birds and other animals along with the increase in construction sites on almost every major street makes me reflect on how it used to be.

SRRA May 27, 2016 (4:17 pm)

I agree with kumalavula. We also live very close and it’s been quite sad to watch this. Significantly worse than watching developers tear down homes in my neighborhood for new townhouses.

Elle Nell May 27, 2016 (4:52 pm)

I totally agree with everything being said here… And I don’t have much more to say.

Qc May 27, 2016 (6:02 pm)

I may be in the minority, but I’m excited to see more development on delridge. Sounds like this is purely residential, but more density will hopefully lead to more commercial development in the neighborhood. I’d really like it to be more walkable/bikeable down here instead of so car dependent.

Welcome, future new neighbors!

alyca May 27, 2016 (7:07 pm)

Boo. I live literally one lot away from this (my neighbor’s lot backs up to the clearcut area). Those trees are great for blocking the traffic noise from Delridge, and they housed a ton of birds and squirrels and raccoons. I have even seen owls a few times in there as I walk down the Genessee staircase from 23rd to Delridge. I wonder where they will all head off to.

Also, I just know they are going to close that bus stop down and mess with my commute for months on end.

Krystal May 27, 2016 (11:25 pm)

Agreed, QC. I would rather see our city grow and accept more people than to see sprawl in the woods and wetlands in our outer region. Excited to support more density and see this part of Delridge grow.

kumalavula May 28, 2016 (9:16 am)

….and we’re at it again this morning. for those excited about the prospect of more commerce and multiple occupancy houses in the area, your wish is in the process of coming true. i, for one, just find my heart sinking each time i drive by and see less and less green. in my eyes, that green will soon be replaced by concrete; concrete that makes it mighty tough for woodpeckers and owls and other critters to continue to call home.

John Nakagawa May 28, 2016 (11:02 am)

In light of our ongoing illegal deforestation scandal, and the Environmentally Critical Area related to the slope on these lots, I would be interested to know if this cut is following the landscaping plan for the permits. Delridge development seems to be following a pattern of clear, pour concrete retaining basin, pave and maybe add landscaping at the end. This can’t be good for returning fresh water to the Duwamish and. Eliot Bay. There has to be a better way of doing these.

John May 28, 2016 (1:54 pm)

I reported them to SDOT Wednesday morning. Besides being parked in the bus-only lane, they had strung yellow caution tape across the sidewalk indicating it was “closed”. Can’t do that. The lack of proper signage and advance warning indicated that this closure was done without proper permits. Help me keep them honest!

Mary Fleck June 16, 2016 (8:10 pm)

Care about the future of our city? Sign the online petition at change.org to Stop the Sale of the Myers 30+ acres of city-owned land. We demand a grassroots plan for the future of this land that reflects community priorities.

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-murray-stop-the-city-of-seattle-s-sale-of-myers-parcels

Seattle Green Spaces Coalition is meeting on Sunday, June 26 at Southwest Library at 3:00. Come join us in helping to re-align the city’s actions with community priorities!

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