WEST SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT: ‘Soft demolition’ begins for project that includes ex-Alki Tavern site


(WSB photo, looking up toward the house now undergoing ‘soft demolition’)

An Alki-area resident called to tell us that while walking along the California Way hill today, he noticed a demolition crew at the vacant house at the top of the development site that also includes the former Alki Tavern (now 4+ years closed). We subsequently confirmed that indeed, the long-in-the-works project at 1307 Harbor Avenue SW is getting going. West Seattle architect Tim Rhodes tells WSB, “Chinn Construction has started a ‘soft’ demolition (pulling fixtures, toilets, etc.) and will have a preconstruction meeting with the City of Seattle next week. We are thrilled. The site will get cleaned up quickly and then you will see us transition into construction.” Rhodes had told us back in January that the project team was eager to get the vandalized structures cleared from the site but the city permit process has been bogged down. The project won final Design Review Board approval almost a year and a half ago.

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(Rendering from final design packet for 1307 Harbor SW project)

It is planned as a six-floor mixed-use building with 15 residential units, office and “light manufacturing” space, ground-floor retail/commercial, 41 offstreet parking spaces, and a public hillclimb/breezeway between California Way and Harbor SW.

12 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT: 'Soft demolition' begins for project that includes ex-Alki Tavern site"

  • ACG May 26, 2017 (10:00 pm)

    Wow!  Has it been over 4 years since the Alki Tavern closed?  Time sure goes by fast!!  Thanks for the update on this site!

  • PeanutGallery May 27, 2017 (8:37 am)

     This reminds me of a retirement home in Florida or twenty-something bachelor pads for single techies who are dating.  Angled boxes in a bid to be edgy.   Like bad prom dresses with corseting or sequins thrown on for extra-extra.  Predictable, ages poorly, and lacking in imagination/integrity.  Small plus: built-in greenspace/patios.

    • Meyer May 27, 2017 (10:07 am)

      I honestly don’t think it looks too bad, I love the large windows.

  • Alki Resident May 27, 2017 (9:34 am)

    Those look like the plastic storage containers I have in my closet. God that’s ugly. 

  • JRR May 27, 2017 (10:29 am)

    I love this design, but I’m curious about the scale at the street level. 

  • Christopher Boffoli May 27, 2017 (12:22 pm)

    I think the design is really elegant and I’m glad to see something clean and modern replacing those old ropey structures.

  • KM May 27, 2017 (1:36 pm)

    That’s a pretty building! Nice to see progress on that site.

  • Nancy R May 27, 2017 (4:49 pm)

    I like the design.   So nice to see some creativity in local architecture!

  • RayWest May 27, 2017 (7:43 pm)

    It’s not attractive at all.

  • Hopes and Dreams May 27, 2017 (9:08 pm)

    Would be great if the ground floor commercial/retail space included  the return of a Alki Tavern. 

  • Vanessa May 27, 2017 (10:40 pm)

    At least it’s different looking than all the cubes and box construction built everywhere else. I think it looks kind of classy. 

    • Diane May 28, 2017 (4:21 pm)

      exactly my thought

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