FOLLOWUP: Demolition planned for gutted Lam-Bow Apartments building

pumpandflames

Four months ago today, a three-alarm fire gutted one building at the Lam-Bow Apartments complex in Delridge. More than 40 people lost their homes; many stayed in a temporary shelter at Delridge Community Center until the Seattle Housing Authority found new places for them to live. The fire’s cause was never determined.

During her appearance at this week’s “State of Delridge” community-group meeting in Highland Park (WSB coverage here), Councilmember Lisa Herbold was asked about plans for the charred building. That reminded us we had not followed up on it lately, so we took the question to SHA spokesperson Kerry Coughlin, who told us, “The building has been deemed unsalvageable. We will have to take it down completely. That much has been decided. What hasn’t yet been determined is what happens after that and when. We are still looking at options.” As for the demolition timeline, “We have submitted all the paperwork and fees to the City for the permit and are just waiting on that. As soon as we get it we will begin the work.” City files show, in fact, that the demolition-permit application for the building at 6955 Delridge Way SW went in just yesterday.

5 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Demolition planned for gutted Lam-Bow Apartments building"

  • Michelle January 27, 2017 (4:55 pm)

    Am I being too optimistic that they’ll build taller, increased unit building in its place set aside 100% for low income housing?

    • Amber January 27, 2017 (7:09 pm)

      I certainly hope that’s what happens! Land set aside for low income housing is too precious to waste. 

      • Amber January 27, 2017 (7:17 pm)

        On further inspection, the Pre-Application Site Visit Report (http://dpddata1.seattle.gov/dpd/Apps/PPAR/6565362.pdf) says the intention is “…to replace the lost units on-site and design work is underway.” Hurrah!

        • WSB January 27, 2017 (7:26 pm)

          Yes, given that the city is looking for additional properties in their surplus portfolio that could be used for housing, SHA really couldn’t have done anything else here. It is not zoned to go taller, however – it’s LR3 – zoning definitions:

          https://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/dpds021571.pdf

          (though under the HALA MHA rezoning proposal, all multifamily/commercial property would be upzoned, so that could add a floor or so, though that’s believed to be a year from any kind of finalization)

  • Geoff January 28, 2017 (8:39 am)

    Did they ever allow the families to go back in and salvage their belongings?

    The last mention was that nobody was allowed in pending a structural assessment, and I have to assume that letting what survived the fire sit in the exposed wet post fire wouldn’t dare well.

    Just curious if everyone lost everything or if some could recover their keepsakes.

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